Chapter 235: Tongming Valley Beneath Tongtian Peak
The journey back to the Sect was smooth. The Song Family sent no pursuers, and the Yang Family remained ghost-quiet.
Gao Feihuang winked at Zhou Kai, his peach-blossom eyes crinkling. “Junior Brother Zhou, I have connections. I’ll find you another prime location later. Guaranteed to rake in gold daily.”
Zhou Kai scoffed internally. This guy sings better than he acts. All this drama was just to save his own face and drag me and Su Xuan into his mess.
Outwardly, his face was impassive. “Then I thank Senior Brother Feihuang.”
Su Xuan twirled his jade flute, a perfectly measured smile on his lips. “The Song Family’s move was unintentional, yet it forced Senior Brother Gao—a blade hidden for years—to finally unsheathe himself.”
Gao Feihuang laughed, swinging his red robes with vigor. “Perfect! I was tired of hiding! Suppressing my cultivation every day makes my bones rust. Let’s take this blind fool back and let the Young Master deal with him!”
Su Xuan’s gaze shifted to Zhou Kai. His smile didn’t waver, but his topic pivoted seamlessly. “Regarding this, we need Junior Brother Zhou to pass a message. Please invite the Eldest Miss to Yantian Peak as well.”
Stepping into the main hall of Yantian Peak, the scent of ancient wood and incense smoke assailed them. The hall was bright, massive beams casting long shadows, creating an atmosphere of crushing solemnity.
It was Zhou Kai’s first time here.
On the throne at the head sat the Patriarch of the Li Family, the First Seat of Yantian Peak—Li Juefeng.
Li Qiwen, Gao Feihuang, and Su Xuan stood on his left. Li Youci, Zhou Kai, and Shen Hanyi stood on his right.
Li Juefeng’s gaze rested on his son. His eyes were calm, but his voice carried the weight of a mountain range.
“Qiwen. Youci’s Cicada Shell Body is nearing completion. My stance remains: transfer Gao Feihuang and Su Xuan to her team. Ensure absolute safety.”
Li Qiwen bowed, though his neck remained stiff. “Father. I wish to contend for the position of Holy Son. I want to grasp the Sect’s Divine Artifact with my own hands.”
Li Juefeng looked away. He swept his gaze over the six people below.
“You are the pillars of Yantian Peak’s future. Remember: whoever dares to use lethal force to sever a fellow disciple’s Dao Path… I will sever their life first.”
“We obey the First Seat’s teachings!” The six bowed in unison.
Li Juefeng nodded slightly. He looked back at Li Qiwen. “Escort the captive back to the Song Family personally. Do not lose our dignity.”
“Understood, Father.”
Li Juefeng waved a hand, dismissing them. But his gaze locked onto Zhou Kai and Li Youci.
“You two. Stay.”
Gao Feihuang winked at Zhou Kai. Su Xuan cast a meaningful glance. They exited with the others.
BOOM.
The heavy doors slammed shut. The light dimmed. The air solidified.
A violent Aura Pressure crashed down, grinding Zhou Kai’s bones.
Li Juefeng stood. Without using a drop of Qi, he descended the steps, each footfall carrying the momentum of a collapsing mountain.
He stared at the empty space beside Zhou Kai. His voice was devoid of emotion, colder than a blade.
“The inheritance of Yantian Peak… Bloodline is the root. Dao Lineage is the soul. Not a trace of confusion is allowed. Zhou Kai, do you agree?”
With each step, Zhou Kai felt another mountain add to the load on his shoulders.
The pressure wasn’t just physical; it was a hammer striking his soul.
Zhou Kai forcibly suppressed his churning Vitality. He stood ramrod straight, meeting the Patriarch’s gaze.
“The First Seat is correct.”
Li Juefeng stopped three feet away.
“Then what do you think? How should Li Yunmian’s inheritance be passed? And Youci’s?”
“My Li Family’s Daughter and Aunt, forming Dao Companions with the same man. Would this not make our inheritance the biggest joke under Heaven?”
Bearing the crushing pressure, Zhou Kai spoke clearly, enunciating every syllable.
“We are mutually devoted. We have already become Dao Companions. This matter has nothing to do with inheritance. It concerns only our true hearts.”
“True Hearts?” Li Juefeng’s pressure spiked. “Easily said!”
Before he could continue, Li Youci stepped forward, blocking Zhou Kai. She looked up at her father, eyes burning with stubborn fire.
“Father! This is my choice! It has nothing to do with him!”
Blocked by his daughter, Li Juefeng looked over her shoulder, locking eyes with Zhou Kai again.
The brat’s face was deathly pale, sweat pouring like rain. But those eyes… they were like tempered flint. Unwavering.
He looked for a long time. Anger, disappointment, hatred for the absurdity… and a trace of begrudging appreciation.
Finally, he sighed.
He waved his hand, turning back to the throne. “Go.”
After they left, Li Juefeng’s figure faded from the hall. A single thought circled in his mind.
That kid’s eyes… too similar. No wonder Yunmian and Youci both fell for him.
This thought guided him like a ghost to the cloud-shrouded Tongtian Hall.
Inside, Jie Sanxing sat cross-legged, merged with the Star Chart. He opened his eyes only when Li Juefeng’s aura disturbed the starlight.
“Junior Brother Juefeng. What makes you look so spirited?”
Li Juefeng paced, smiling thinly. “Senior Brother, look at this hall. The starlight is in chaos. The love affairs of the young… let them make a fuss. At our age, why let our hearts be disturbed?”
Jie Sanxing’s face darkened. The stars dimmed.
“The pitiful one is you. My feelings for Yunmian never changed, but I have long since let go. You, her brother, ignored her for years, forcing her to seek a Creation Spirit Yang Body in desperation. What face do you have to mock me?”
Li Juefeng’s smile vanished. “I act for the Family. You act for the Sect. We follow our own paths. What is there to pity? If you have truly let go… why is your heart disturbed?”
Outside the main hall, the mountain wind brushed their faces. Zhou Kai inhaled deeply, feeling the stone in his chest lighten.
He turned to Li Youci, teasing. “Your father wants to transfer Gao Feihuang and Su Xuan to you. It seems he doesn’t think my strength is lacking… he just finds his son-in-law an eyesore.”
“And Fang Lizhe… he is your Guardian too. Why haven’t you found him a decent body technique and saber art?”
Li Youci rolled her eyes charmingly. “He is a blockhead. Who can he blame for his leaky Vitality? Besides… you worry about your little brother, but have you ever given me a single Spirit Stone?”
Zhou Kai choked. “My Eldest Miss… are Heavenly Spirit Roots and special physiques common as cabbages?”
“Hmph. Wasn’t that just a side effect of your own pleasure?” Li Youci argued, pouting.
While they bickered, Shen Hanyi spoke up, her voice cool. “I want to leave the Sect for a time.”
They both looked at her.
“Why?” Zhou Kai asked.
“To search for Demonic treasures,” she replied simply. “My Sword Embryo needs them to advance.”
“No need.” Li Youci smiled mysteriously, grabbing Shen Hanyi’s hand. “Once the candidates for Holy Son and Holy Maiden are set, the Sect will open a Forbidden Area. We can search inside. Guaranteed satisfaction.”
Zhou Kai perked up. “What Forbidden Area?”
Li Youci pointed a slender finger at the mountains, then at Taiji Peak.
“Ask yourself: Our Sect is called Calamity Abyss Valley. Where is the ‘Valley’? And where does the Extreme Yin Ghost Qi of Taiji Peak come from?”
Zhou Kai flicked her forehead. “Don’t play riddles. Speak.”
“Ow!” Li Youci rubbed her head. “Beneath Tongtian Peak lies Tongming Valley. It suppresses countless Demonic Creatures and fierce souls. The Forbidden Area is the entrance.”
She grinned. “To show off, the Sect will invite the younger generation from the other four Sects to observe the ceremony and enter the valley for training.”
Zhou Kai clicked his tongue. “Are we not losing out? Inviting outsiders to dig in our backyard?”
“What loss?” Li Youci waved a hand. “We attended the ceremonies at Jade Flower Palace and Heavenly Spring Sect and took plenty of benefits. When Wang Yan of the Purple Star Sect ascends, we will raid their ‘Purple Subtlety Star Realm’ too.”
“Only those Taoists from the Jade Void Sect… they just sit in seclusion. Poor, miserly, and boring. They only take, never give!”
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