Chapter 485 – My Master Is Not Human – His Plans Were Ruined Again (31)
As one major sect after another fell and the demonic cultivators sent to seize the Le’an Immortal Sect’s Keystone all failed, the time left for Wang Cheng was running out. At last, he could no longer hold back. Leading his subordinates personally, he launched a full-scale assault on the Le’an Immortal Sect.
Standing once again at the mountain gate of the Le’an Immortal Sect after so many years, Wang Cheng was filled with emotion. He had returned. And this time, he had returned in glory.
The mountain gate looked just as it had the day he first entered it years ago. Misty immortal energy drifted through the air, and spiritual energy remained abundant, as though the chaos raging outside had nothing to do with the Le’an Immortal Sect. The entire place exuded a peaceful serenity, detached from worldly conflicts.
But that peace would not last much longer.
Soon, this place would become a sea of blood.
Wang Cheng could already picture those lofty peak masters, who had once looked down on everyone with disdain, kneeling at his feet. To save their own lives, they would bow and scrape before him. Just imagining the scene filled him with delight. He could hardly wait to see it become reality.
“Reporting to the Sect Master! This is bad! The demonic cultivators have surrounded the mountain gate!” a gatekeeping disciple rushed in to report.
Sect Master Siyuan and the others immediately turned pale.
“Activate the Grand Protective Formation!” he shouted.
The demonic cultivators outside were most likely here for the Sect Keystone. Although they did not know what the enemy intended to do with it, under no circumstances could they allow it to fall into their hands.
The Demon Saint Biguang was quite curious about the mysterious figure who had been stirring up turmoil across both the righteous and demonic factions. He leisurely walked outside to have a look.
Bai Tang followed after him. He also wanted to find out who the person behind all the schemes against him really was.
The moment Bai Tang moved, Pei Boyi naturally followed as well.
When the group arrived at the mountain gate, they saw a dense ring of figures dressed in black hooded robes surrounding the entrance.
The lingering aura in the air felt familiar, though it was faint. It was identical to the aura that had once carried a divine sense to manipulate demonic qi and attack Tangtang. It seemed that the demonic cultivator responsible for that attack had come as well and had likely left only moments earlier.
Looking at the unfamiliar demonic cultivators, Demon Saint Biguang asked, “Who is your master?”
The leading demonic cultivator let out a cold laugh.
“Demon Saint Biguang, we still address you as ‘Demon Saint’ out of courtesy, yet you’ve chosen to consort with so-called righteous disciples. What right do you have to command us now? Who our master is has nothing to do with you. If you know what’s good for you, leave now, and our master may spare you from punishment. Otherwise, you can die together with them.”
“Hand over the Sect Keystone, and we’ll spare your lives. Refuse, and you’ll die without even a place to be buried.”
The black-robed cultivator leading the group was Wang Cheng’s most trusted subordinate. Having long understood the depth of Wang Cheng’s hatred toward the Le’an Immortal Sect, and possessing exceptional ability himself, he had earned Wang Cheng’s favor.
His master had promised him that once their plan succeeded, he would tear open the void and leave this world. And when that time came, he would become the ruler of this world.
“Such arrogance from someone so young.” Demon Saint Biguang was so angry he almost laughed. These days, it seemed anyone dared to throw their weight around in front of him, completely ignorant of the consequences.
Everyone had a temper, and Demon Saint Biguang’s was no exception. He usually kept his emotions in check so his tribulation would be easier to overcome. But now, someone had actually come to his doorstep and acted so brazenly. Who could possibly tolerate that?
The moment Demon Saint Biguang made his move, scores of demonic cultivators behind the black-robed leader dropped where they stood.
Pei Boyi covered Bai Tang’s eyes, refusing to let him watch.
A scene this bloody was better left unseen.
Although Bai Tang couldn’t see anything, he could still smell the thick scent of blood hanging in the air. It was unpleasant—foul enough to make him wrinkle his nose.
He turned around and buried himself in his husband’s arms, taking the opportunity to act a little spoiled.
With his vision blocked, his other senses became even sharper. Besides, Bai Tang had always possessed exceptionally keen hearing.
The vines beneath the earth emerged and informed him that the person who had been framing him was not far away. That person was slaughtering the Le’an Immortal Sect cultivators who had been rushing toward the main hall, using their blood to activate a formation.
Bai Tang pushed Pei Boyi away.
Pei Boyi’s expression immediately turned serious.
“They’re behind us?” he asked in a low voice.
Bai Tang nodded and grabbed Pei Boyi’s hand, pulling him as they ran toward Wang Cheng’s location.
After leading his group back toward the main hall, Yue Xiyin noticed that the number of people didn’t add up. He hurried off to investigate and, following a suspicious figure, arrived at the rear mountain.
There, he discovered Wang Cheng using the cultivators’ blood as a sacrifice to awaken the slumbering Evil God.
Without a word, Yue Xiyin charged forward with his magical treasure and attacked.
After exchanging more than a hundred moves, Yue Xiyin realized that Wang Cheng’s cultivation was no weaker than his own—they were almost evenly matched.
However, Wang Cheng seemed to be protected by some mysterious force. Whenever he was unable to evade one of Yue Xiyin’s attacks, an unknown golden light would appear and neutralize it. After this happened several times, the attacks even rebounded, injuring Yue Xiyin instead.
Struck by his own spell, Yue Xiyin faltered for a moment.
Wang Cheng immediately seized the opportunity and sent him crashing to the ground with a powerful kick.
“Pfft!“
Every attack Yue Xiyin had launched at Wang Cheng had been executed with his full strength. Now that the backlash had turned against him, the impact nearly shattered his heart meridians.
Wang Cheng would kill anyone who stood in his way, whether man or Buddha. Victory was within his grasp, and he would not allow anyone to ruin his plans again.
Now that Yue Xiyin no longer had the strength to fight back, Wang Cheng intended to finish him off.
Just as Du Ting arrived, he saw Wang Cheng about to drive a mass of demonic qi straight into Yue Xiyin’s chest.
“Master—!”
The young man’s heart-wrenching cry failed to stop Wang Cheng’s attack.
He hurled out his natal magical artifact. With a loud clang, it barely managed to block the fatal blow—but the artifact shattered in the process.
To a cultivator, a natal magical artifact was as important as their own life. It felt as though Du Ting’s soul had been struck by a bolt of lightning. His connection to the artifact was severed, and he suffered severe internal injuries as a result.
Even so, forcing his battered body to keep moving, he rushed to Yue Xiyin’s side. Using the last of the spiritual energy within him, he erected a protective barrier around the two of them.
As long as he still lived, that demonic cultivator would not lay another finger on his master.
“Du Ting… leave. Hurry…” Yue Xiyin said weakly.
“No. I’m not leaving. Wherever Master is, that’s where I’ll be.”
Du Ting was stubborn.
He couldn’t run, didn’t want to run, and knew he wouldn’t be able to escape anyway.
He could sense just how powerful the enemy was. There was no way he could defeat him. But if he could hold out for even a little longer…
His fellow disciples had already gone to notify the Sect Master.
As long as he could buy a little more time, once the Sect Master arrived, his master would be saved.
Only in the face of life and death could the true value of sincere feelings be revealed.
Until now, Yue Xiyin had believed that Du Ting was merely young and immature, that he didn’t truly understand love and had simply mistaken admiration and attachment for romantic feelings.
But now, seeing the tall young man standing before him, willing to stake his life to protect him, Yue Xiyin could no longer deceive himself.
His youngest disciple’s feelings for him were real.
Summoning the last of his strength, Yue Xiyin slowly sat up and took Du Ting’s hand.
“Master…”
Yue Xiyin’s spotless white robes were stained with dirt and blood, but he paid them no mind. He simply gave Du Ting a gentle smile.
“If we both survive… we can give us a chance.”
An overwhelming wave of joy washed over Du Ting.
He was ecstatic.
But the moment he moved, the agonizing pain from his shattered dantian pierced him to the bone, reminding him that he had little time left.
Du Ting smiled, tears shimmering in his eyes.
“Master… I’m so happy. Truly… happier than I’ve ever been…”
Every time Wang Cheng tried to kill someone, he was interrupted again and again—first by Bai Tang, and now by Yue Xiyin.
Humiliated and enraged, he launched one relentless attack after another against the protective barrier.
Having overdrawn his spiritual energy, Du Ting’s body deteriorated even faster.
Cracks spread across the barrier.
Du Ting’s face turned as pale as gold paper, and with every passing second, his complexion grew worse.
“Master… I… I don’t think… I can stay with you any longer. I-I’m sorry…”
When the barrier finally shattered, Du Ting exhausted the very last trace of his spiritual energy.
Unable to bear the strain any longer, he closed his eyes and collapsed.
“No! Du Ting! Du Ting, don’t die! Please don’t die…”
Yue Xiyin caught Du Ting in his arms.
His pale lips, deathly complexion, and faint, faltering breaths all told Yue Xiyin the same cruel truth—
Du Ting was dying.
For his sake.
Du Ting was dying to protect him.
“What touching devotion between master and disciple. No… I should say, such devotion between cultivation partners.”
Wang Cheng looked at Yue Xiyin, the once noble and elegant Peak Master of Le Peak. Now his eyes were vacant, his spirit utterly broken as he knelt there, diminished before him.
Suddenly, Wang Cheng no longer felt like killing him.
Killing him would only allow the two of them to become a pair of tragic lovers in death.
It would be far more satisfying if one lived while the other died—leaving the survivor to suffer every waking moment for the rest of his life.
That, to Wang Cheng, was the greatest form of revenge.
As if that weren’t enough, Wang Cheng maliciously prepared to inject demonic qi into Yue Xiyin’s body.
Hadn’t Yue Xiyin always looked down on demonic cultivators?
Then let him become one himself.
His beloved would die at the hands of a demonic cultivator, dying in his own arms. That agony would surely be magnified to its utmost.
Just as Wang Cheng gathered his power and was about to force the demonic qi into Yue Xiyin’s body, a soft, gentle voice called out,
“Stop.”
At the same moment, a flash of sword light swept past his hand.
Had he not withdrawn it quickly enough, the sword qi would have severed his hand.
Bai Tang summoned vines that wrapped around Wang Cheng, dragging him away.
Together with Pei Boyi, he rushed to Yue Xiyin’s side.
A tear rolled down Yue Xiyin’s face as memories of Du Ting clinging to him from childhood until now flashed through his mind.
“Master, I don’t understand this page.”
“Master, can you see if my fingering on the seven-string zither is correct?”
“Thank you for celebrating my birthday with me, Master. My wish is to stay by your side forever.”
“Xiyin, I like you. Stealing a kiss from you was wrong… but loving you wasn’t.”
Their years together replayed before his eyes like scenes from a lantern show.
So it turned out…
That drunken kiss had already stirred his heart.
Yue Xiyin gave Bai Tang a sorrowful smile.
“Tang Tang… Du Ting is dead.”
“He died for me.”
“I’m dying too. I couldn’t keep the promise I made while I was alive… When we’re gone, bury us together.”
“Senior Brother Yue…” Looking at the deathly pallor on Yue Xiyin’s face, Bai Tang felt an indescribable ache in his heart.
He hurriedly took out a medicinal pill.
“Senior Brother Yue, take this. Quickly.”
Pei Boyi checked Du Ting’s pulse.
Its weak beats were growing slower and slower, until a long time passed between each one.
Seeing the anxiety on Bai Tang’s face, Pei Boyi’s eyes darkened.
He quietly mobilized the power of his soul to protect Du Ting’s heart meridians, then stuffed several medicinal pills into his mouth.
“Du Ting won’t die. His recovery will take time, but he won’t die. Martial Uncle Yue, don’t lose hope. If you die while he survives, it will only become another tragic story.”
Pei Boyi’s words gradually restored the light to Yue Xiyin’s eyes.
Grabbing Pei Boyi’s hand, he asked urgently, “Are you certain?”
Taking advantage of the moment Yue Xiyin opened his mouth, Pei Boyi suddenly caught Bai Tang’s hand, popped a medicinal pill into Yue Xiyin’s mouth, and gave him a light pat to help him swallow it.
Caught completely off guard, Yue Xiyin nearly choked. However, as the medicinal pill replenished his spiritual energy, some color finally returned to his pale face.
“You…”
“You understand pulse diagnosis yourself, Martial Uncle. Check for yourself.”
With that, Pei Boyi moved both Du Ting and Yue Xiyin safely aside.
At that very moment, Wang Cheng broke free from the vines binding him.
The lush green vines shattered into countless fragments.
Gripping his massive natal weapon, he glared furiously at Pei Boyi and Bai Tang.
“Today… will be the day you die.”