The evil cultivators had silently endured for several hundred, nearly a thousand years. In recent years, due to insufficient strength, they could only watch helplessly as these hypocritical righteous sects lived prosperous lives. Even lowly ordinary people without cultivation talent had begun wearing silk and satin, living flourishing lives. On the contrary, they, who had once been prominent evil cultivators, seemed to have become flies and bedbugs in the sewers, only able to hide their identities and live tasteless lives.

What did lowly ordinary humans amount to? They bred prolifically, could survive with just something to eat, and would grow another crop after one was harvested. The evil cultivators truly couldn’t understand why those righteous sects bothered to take care of these lowly ordinary people.

Even more laughable was that quite a few righteous cultivators actually lived mixed together with ordinary people, utterly losing face for cultivators.

Cultivating bitterly for so many years—wasn’t it all for being high above others, for experiencing the satisfaction of everyone prostrating at one’s feet?

The evil cultivators disapproved of the righteous sects’ behavior. Seeing the righteous sects dominate the entire cultivation world, they felt both anxious and angry in their hearts. With more righteous sects, most of the world’s spiritual vein resources were also taken by the righteous sects. They evil cultivators were isolated and outnumbered—what good things could they still obtain?

In recent centuries, the righteous sects would produce several extraordinarily talented disciples every so often, especially that Zhongxi from Liuguang Sect—simply a human-shaped killing weapon. Wherever he was, they evil cultivators had no good days.

Finally waiting for their Venerable Master to awaken, and to even possess Great Ascension stage cultivation unmatched in the entire cultivation world, overthrowing those so-called righteous sects was within sight. Naturally they were overjoyed.

On the morning of the eighth day, before dawn even broke, the evil cultivators under the leadership of various Venerables surged into Yong City from all directions, preparing to slaughter within the city.

But before they even entered the city, they discovered something wrong. Why had they run for so long yet still hadn’t approached the city gate?

A stick of incense ago, they had just run past a certain tree—why were they seeing it again now?

Something was wrong, something was wrong. Wasn’t Yong City in an inland region? Why had a vast ocean suddenly appeared ahead, with flames several zhang high surrounding the sea?

The evil cultivators who rushed to the East Gate didn’t dare walk forward. The leading Venerable sneered coldly: “These hypocrites only use these sneaky underhanded methods. Don’t be afraid, all follow me. This is all illusion.”

He waved the magical tool in his hand, and the surrounding illusions immediately disappeared entirely. Where ahead were there any ocean or flames? There was only the city gate with even the gatekeepers having fled.

“These righteous sect disciples are all spineless cowards. Before we even attacked, they hid themselves first.” The leading Venerable became even more pleased. “Their mouths say they want to protect the common people, but when encountering danger, they run faster than anyone.”

The blue-robed cultivator half a step ahead of him looked at the empty East Gate without speaking. Seeing the arrogant-toned Venerable leading other subordinates charging forward, his eyes changed slightly as he imperceptibly retreated several steps.

“Venerable Muxi.” The previously very arrogant Venerable suddenly turned his head to stare at him. “Where are you going?”

Venerable Muxi coldly refused to answer, transforming into a flowing light and disappearing.

“Hmph, what trash.” Having his face rejected by Venerable Muxi in front of so many subordinates, the lead Venerable was somewhat displeased. He spat on the ground. “If not for him swearing up and down that he could use the mortal realm ordinary people’s resentful energy to affect the righteous sect cultivators’ state of mind, making such tremendous momentum only to be discovered by Liuguang Sect and Yunhua Sect disciples, the righteous sects wouldn’t be so guarded against us.”

To activate that formation in the mortal realm, they not only filled it with the lives of tens of thousands of common people, they also captured several scattered cultivators and unpopular evil cultivators for sacrifice, spending several years’ time. To say it failed just like that—so many people sent to the mortal realm, and only he alone escaped back, yet he still had the face to show attitude?!

“Venerable, you’re right. That Muxi just relies on the Venerable Master’s trust, which is why he’s so arrogant.” The confidant following behind the Venerable chimed in. “If he truly had such ability, when he stayed in the mortal realm for so long, he should have discovered that five spiritual root female disciple who joined Yunhua Sect, instead of letting the righteous sects pick up the bargain for nothing.”

The Venerable sneered coldly: “Such good cultivation material—a female disciple with good aptitude, no matter how rare, what of it? In less than twenty years’ time, could she possibly overturn all the hypocrites in the cultivation world?”

That female disciple called Kong Hou had ruined many of their good plans. The lead Venerable found it very difficult to have any favorable feelings toward her. Hearing his confidant bring her up, his expression was somewhat displeased: “Let’s go, first enter the city and slaughter until not a single one remains.”

Their group charged into the city. They had thought the streets would be filled with crying and shouting, but the entire street was empty. The ground was covered with flower petals left behind after the ceremonial procession flew overhead. The entire street was filled with floral fragrance.

The lead Venerable faintly felt this scene was somewhat uncanny and retreated a step. This action saved him, because a sword energy flew out from somewhere unknown. Before he could react, most of his nearby confidants were already dead.

The Venerable secretly thought this was bad. Turning to flee, he found cultivators with Nascent Soul stage cultivation and above had appeared above him, behind him, and before him.

Behind these three cultivators were quite a few disciples holding their life-bound magical tools. These disciples wore the clothing of various major sects, clearly coming from various sects and schools.

“We have been waiting here for you all for quite some time.” Hefeng Retreat’s Retreat Master An He held his sword, traced a sword flower, refined as jade. “Where are you all trying to go?”

The lead Venerable looked at the righteous sect people guarding all around impenetrably, his complexion like frost: “You were already prepared?”

An He scoffed. These evil cultivators’ actions were frequent—who in the entire cultivation world wanted to live days of constant fear? Today having an opportunity to catch them all in one net, who wouldn’t want to contribute some effort?

“Do you truly believe that killing us can guarantee your continued glory as before?” The lead Venerable’s eyes swept over this area. There were no Liuguang Sect people here. “The Liuguang Sect people haven’t told you that our Venerable Master is already a Great Ascension stage Great Perfection cultivator?”

“Great Ascension stage perfection, so what? Could he possibly ascend on the spot before our very eyes?” An He scoffed. “If he can truly ascend on the spot, leaving you scum behind for us to clean up, that would be even better.”

The arrogance on the lead Venerable’s face immediately vanished. He brought out his life-bound magical tool: “You堂堂 illustrious righteous sects, so many people surrounding us—I’m afraid there’s suspicion of bullying the few with many.”

“There’s no such suspicion. We originally intended to bully the few with many.” Tan Feng, who was sitting cross-legged on his flying sword with his legs crossed, patted clean the dried fruit shells on his body, stood up, and cupped his hands toward the sky. “You all have committed numerous murders and done much evil. Today, even if we’re cursed by the world for bullying the few with many, we must protect the common people of the world from being bullied by you ruthless lot. The Heavenly Dao is above—surely it can understand us.”

The lead Venerable: “…”

Fearing they couldn’t win so relying on numbers to achieve victory—saying such shameless things so righteously, the righteous sects truly became more brazen with each generation.

War was imminent. No one moved. The two sides’ forces faced off, as if whoever moved first would lose.

An He straightened the new brocade robe he had just changed into today, saying to his junior brother behind him: “Truly worthy of being fellow sect siblings. That Tan Feng’s words are as infuriating as Fairy Kong Hou’s.”

Could this be Yunhua Sect’s method of dealing with enemies—before even fighting, first anger people half to death, so when truly starting to attack, the opponent was already dizzy with anger, making it very easy to find their weak points?

Never would have thought, never would have thought that Yunhua Sect would act so unconventionally.

An He’s junior brother smiled awkwardly, looking around several times. Seeing no one paying attention to this area, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone here was a cultivator—speaking was very easily overheard.

Half a stick of incense passed. The lead Venerable could no longer endure the oppressive atmosphere all around. Just as he prepared to fight these people to the death and wait for the Venerable Master to come rescue them, the subordinates beside him one after another fell to the ground. In a short time, more than half had fainted.

“Looks like the medicine Wuming Zhenren and Martial Uncle researched is very effective.” The formation outside the city gate was indeed an inconspicuous illusion formation, but that formation truly wasn’t to prevent these evil cultivators from approaching the city gate, but rather to make them unknowingly inhale narcotics with a scent similar to seawater.

Anyone with cultivation wouldn’t easily be poisoned, because they would hold their breath for a long time. Only by making them think the ocean smell was the illusion affecting them could they be poisoned unknowingly.

As for the floral fragrance smelled after entering the city gate, that was poison upon poison. Their Yunhua Sect always emphasized steady victory in their actions, obtaining the greatest victory at the smallest cost.

“You, you shameless people!” The lead Venerable looked at the subordinates lying on the ground, their life or death unknown, his eyes red as blood. He roared at Tan Feng: “I’ll kill you.”

Tan Feng immediately without hesitation pulled out a defensive magical treasure to block before him, flashing to hide behind the profound cultivation Elder Guyu.

Elder Guyu, as the person who spoke the least among Yunhua Sect’s three elders, struck with his sword very decisively. Attacking simultaneously with him were two elders from Zhaohan Sect and Biyu Sect. This evil cultivator Venerable ranked in the top five among evil cultivators, a master who could shake the earth with a wave of his hand.

But he never imagined that the righteous sects would act so shamelessly—using poison before even fighting, surrounding them in such imposing numbers, while the ones actually attacking were three cultivators with similar cultivation to his.

“If not to wait for the toxicity to take effect on you all, why would we perform such a show and accompany you in so much nonsense?” Tan Feng jumped down from his flying sword, calling to other cultivators around. “Fellow daoists, eliminating demons and protecting the dao is our generation’s responsibility. Now that evil cultivators are here, how can we remain indifferent?”

After saying these words, he swung his sword. Among the unconscious evil cultivators on the ground, several had already lost their heads.

“Daoist Tan Feng speaks truly. Eliminating demons and protecting the dao—we naturally should not shirk this duty.”

“Today we absolutely cannot let a single evil-doing evil cultivator escape.”

Everyone passionately brandished their magical tools, smashing and hacking, slaughtering all the unconscious evil cultivators on the spot.

“Amitabha.” A Qingjing Temple monk delivered salvation to several evil cultivators lying beside him, then turned his head to compassionately chant Buddhist scriptures. “Though evil cultivators are wicked, we still cannot bear for them to die in pain. Passing on so unknowingly and easily is also a merit.”

“The master speaks truly.”

“The Heavenly Dao is benevolent. How could we bear to let so many people suffer?”

“Coming into this world crying, letting them leave peacefully—the cycle of life and death, isn’t it just so?” The monk shook the kasaya in his hand and draped it over himself. “善哉善哉 Good, good.”

“You…” The Venerable spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, whether from anger or internal injury. He looked at the corpses covering the ground while the righteous side had not a single casualty, feeling only absurd mockery, his breathing uneven.

Unfortunately, he could no longer cry out. In the next moment, he was struck by Yunhua Sect’s Elder Guyu who shattered his spiritual platform. He fell backward, lifeless.

Elder Guyu used a handkerchief to wipe his hands clean, cupping his hands toward everyone: “Guests are guests. We dare not trouble you all to clean up here. Leave it to our humble sect.” Finished speaking, he turned to look at Tan Feng. “You lead the disciples to clean this place up. The day after tomorrow is Yong City’s great market gathering. Don’t let the common people smell the scent of blood.”

“Yes.” Though Tan Feng dared act frivolously before evil cultivators, before sect elders, he was so proper that not half a fault could be picked. He immediately pulled out a dozen disposable storage pouches, distributed them to the Yunhua Sect disciples behind him, and began handling the scene.

All the evil cultivators at the East Gate were caught in one net. The evil cultivators at the South and North Gates weren’t having much better. Before they even broke through the city gates, they fell into formations. These formations were great killing formations jointly set up by major sects. By the time they emerged from the formations, their numbers had already been reduced by thirty percent, with many injured and much spiritual energy consumed.

When they finally managed to climb out, what awaited them wasn’t powerless common people, but elite disciples, peak masters, and elders from the four major sects of Liuguang Sect, Zhaohan Sect, Jiufeng Sect, and Shouwang Sect.

This wasn’t fierce battle, but one-sided slaughter.

Before dying, the evil cultivators couldn’t understand why their planned assault had become waiting for rabbits, and they were those foolish rabbits.

The ten major sects had long been prepared, which was why the entire cultivation world collectively mobilized, all hidden in prosperous Yong City.

They were using Zhongxi and Kong Hou’s dao companion ceremony to deliberately lure them into the trap.

Having already understood this point, however, they were already too late to escape. They could only watch helplessly as they perished under the sword cultivators’ swords or were killed by fierce beasts controlled by Shouwang Sect disciples.

An evil cultivator Venerable, before having his spiritual platform crushed, murmured as he looked at Qiushuang before him: “Which of us are truly the evil cultivators…”

Qiushuang kicked away this Venerable’s corpse with one foot. Her beautiful fine dress wasn’t stained with half a drop of fresh blood: “The world originally has no distinction between righteous and evil, only bottom lines of what can and cannot be done. You treat ordinary people as fish and meat. We don’t treat ordinary people as friends—different paths cannot work together. Your mistake was trying to steal our path. For the sake of those who come after us on this path to have peaceful good days, we can only trouble you to die.”

Turning to look at the corpses covering the ground, Qiushuang said to all the junior disciples: “All cultivators below Out-of-Body stage cultivation, all return to Yunhua Sect immediately. No delays.”

“Yes!” Hearing this, the Yunhua Sect disciples who were cleaning up corpses threw down their half-finished work and ran, without half a moment’s hesitation.

People from other sects saw Yunhua Sect disciples running so fast, hesitated briefly, then also followed running. However fast Yunhua Sect ran, they followed that fast. Very quickly on the entire Yong City streets, only a sparse few cultivators above Out-of-Body stage remained.

A great wind rose. The white-robed man appeared at the city gate. His steps were neither hurried nor slow, as if he were just a tourist coincidentally entering the city. Behind him followed a blue-robed cultivator. This cultivator had delicate features, like a weak scholar who couldn’t lift with hands or carry on shoulders.

“Venerable Master Jiu Su and… Formation Master Muxi. Today our sect’s junior generation is holding a dao companion ceremony and has no energy to receive you two. Please return.” Qiushuang played with the round fan in her hand, her smile beautiful as flowers.

“I’ve long heard that Fairy Qiushuang has the appearance of a peony. Seeing you today, I realize peonies don’t compare to half the fairy’s beauty.” Muxi bowed in salute. “Since today is Fairy Kong Hou’s grand wedding, my Venerable Master and I wish to shamelessly ask for a cup of celebratory wine. I wonder if the fairy would be willing?”

“You praising my good looks—I’m indeed very happy to hear it.” Qiushuang gently fanned herself with the round fan. “Unfortunately, I’m stubborn. Even if you two handsome young gentlemen say ever so many pleasant words, I still won’t let you enter.”

“If the fairy is unwilling, then this humble one can only presume.” Muxi smiled. His eyes were ice-cold. “Pardon the offense.”

Qiushuang didn’t dare be arrogant. Though this Muxi’s cultivation was lower than hers, beside him was Jiu Su. This Jiu Su’s moods were unpredictable, extremely difficult to fathom. Fortunately, other sect elders arrived very quickly. Everyone together… took a beating from Jiu Su.

All old arms and old legs, all highly respected elders in their sects, they hadn’t been this disheveled in several hundred years. However, since everyone was beaten miserably, no one laughed at anyone else. Instead, they developed a friendship born of shared fate.

Having his pace hindered by all the high cultivation elders from the ten major sects, Jiu Su’s expression was extremely ugly. Yet these old folks were extremely united. For a time, he actually couldn’t take their lives either.

“If you all are willing to choose one person to die, I’m willing to spare the others’ lives.” Jiu Su placed his hands behind his back, looking down at these elders covered in wounds. “Or would you prefer to stay here and die together?”

The elders looked at each other, none speaking. The elders from Jiufeng Sect and Zhaohan Sect took advantage of this opening to fiercely glare at each other.

“Should be about time.” Elder Qiushuang looked up at the sky, covering her chest with her hand and spitting out a mouthful of blood. “What are you waiting for? All flee!”

As soon as her words fell, all the elders uniformly threw out several attacking magical tools. Taking advantage of this opportunity, they leaped into midair. Lin Hu, who had been hidden in midair, caught them, urged his flying sword, and rushed toward Yunhua Sect’s direction.

“Want to escape?”

Jiu Su chuckled softly, turning to look at Muxi who stood bowing behind him: “What are you doing?”

“I’m looking at several Venerables’ remains.” The smile on Muxi’s face disappeared. “Several Venerables worked with me for a hundred years. Shouldn’t we…”

“You stay here first to collect their corpses. Anyway, with your cultivation, following me to Yunhua Sect would be useless.” Jiu Su coldly glanced at the evil cultivator corpses on the ground. In his eyes, these dead evil cultivators were utterly useless.

“Improper!” Muxi said urgently. “These righteous people are all hypocrites with cruel and evil methods. Venerable Master, if you go alone, how can this subordinate feel at ease? As for these corpses, after Venerable Master you seize the entire cultivation world, why would we lack people to serve you?”

Jiu Su snorted coldly: “Crafty schemes, so what? This seat now has Great Ascension perfection cultivation. Just one step away from seizing the opportunity to ascend. How could I fear these clown methods?”

“But…”

“No need to say more. You remain here and lead the remaining subordinates to await this seat’s return.”

“Yes, this subordinate receives the command.” Muxi stood in place, watching Jiu Su’s figure disappear into the clouds. Only after he could no longer be seen did he turn to walk out. He walked faster and faster, almost flying off the ground out the city gate.

A sword blocked before him.

The elders were chased by Jiu Su very disheveledly. Finally escaping back to Yunhua Sect’s main hall, seeing that Huan Zong and Kong Hou’s dao companion ceremony was already complete, they had all disciples with low cultivation hide.

“Can’t do it, can’t do it.” Qiushuang gasped for breath, fanning her round fan frantically. The hair ornament by her temple moved back and forth. “We few old folks can’t hold out. We need to go inside the hall to recover. You all come.”

Finished speaking, without waiting for Jin Yue, Heng Yan, Kong Hou, Huan Zong and others to react, these several very disheveled elders hid behind the hall doors.

“I’ll also go hide. I’m good at pill refining, but not so good at fighting.” Qingyuan took out a large package of pills and stuffed them to Kong Hou. “If you need any pills later, come ask me for more.” Finished speaking, he quickly slipped into the hall. With a wave of his long sleeve, he shut Kong Hou and the others outside the door.

“Sect Master Heng Yan Martial Uncle, Fairy Kong Hou is still young. Why not let her also enter?” Seeing Kong Hou shut outside the door, Lingyue felt compassion. Evil cultivators attacked ruthlessly. Kong Hou’s age wasn’t even a fraction of those present. Her lifespan was still long—how could she perish today?

“Thank you, Fairy Lingyue.” Kong Hou hadn’t expected that at this critical moment, Lingyue would still think of preserving her life. “Huan Zong and I are one. Where he is, I am.”

Lingyue wanted to say that Jiu Su’s cultivation was profound, that no one in the cultivation world was his match. But seeing Kong Hou and Huan Zong’s hands clasped together, she fell silent. If they couldn’t defeat Jiu Su today, no matter where they hid, ultimately they couldn’t escape Jiu Su’s clutches.

Better to stand together hand in hand. Whether life or death, at least they wouldn’t be lonely.

Understanding this point, Lingyue smiled at the two, summoned her life-bound sword, and stood behind Jiufeng Sect’s sect master.

As righteous sect disciples, the moment they embarked on the cultivation path, they already understood this principle. When the world is in peril, our generation should act without shirking.

The sect masters, lead disciples, profound cultivation peak masters and disciples from the ten major sects—Liuguang Sect, Jiufeng Sect, Zhaohan Sect, Qingjing Temple, Shouwang Sect, Liangyi Sect, Danxia Tower, Biyu Sect, Yunhua Sect, and Yuexing Sect—at this moment all stood outside the main hall doors, not retreating half a step.

Wind and clouds rose. The brocade-robed man in white descended from the sky.

He looked coldly at the ten major sects’ people, mocking: “Do you think that with just your meager abilities, you can stop me?”

“Amitabha.” Qingjing Temple’s abbot, Master Fatan, said: “Benefactor Jiu Su, you already have Great Ascension stage cultivation. You’re only one step from crossing tribulation and ascending. Why make enemies of all living beings in the entire cultivation world?”

“One step away?” Jiu Su sneered coldly. “For many years no one in the cultivation world has ascended. Do you truly not know the reason?”

Everyone remained silent.

“Cultivation is fundamentally about competition—competing for opportunities, competing for spiritual energy, competing for all resources. But you all in these years have done well—not only publicizing various cultivation methods, but also making the entire cultivation world into ‘you’re good, I’m good, everyone’s good.'” Jiu Su sneered coldly. “Unwilling even to compete, the entire cultivation world becoming increasingly peaceful and also increasingly prosperous, yet losing the opportunity to ascend.”

“You all like the cultivation world being harmonious, unwilling to harm others for the opportunity to ascend. Then this matter can only be done by me.” Jiu Su sneered coldly. “Truly laughable. Those seniors from thousands of years ago probably wouldn’t think even unto death that they fought desperately for opportunities, tried every method to ascend, while their descendants were foolish enough to share their sects’ various cultivation methods.”