From the fake emperor to the concubine

"What I want is very simple." Zheng Yi raised his longsword, the tip pointing directly at Lin Qingshan and the others. "A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

"Patriarch Zheng, please reconsider!" Yun Zhonghe hurriedly intervened. "Although they have done wrong, their crimes do not warrant death!"

"Not deserving of death?" Zheng Yi's eyes flashed with even more murderous intent. "They poisoned my disciple; if it weren't for Yun Fan's quick thinking, he would probably be dead by now. Since they wanted my disciple dead, they'll pay with their own lives!"

“But…” Yun Zhonghe still wanted to argue.

"No buts!" Zheng Yi interrupted coldly. "Anyone who harms my disciple must pay the price!"

As he spoke, the sword intent within his body began to surge. Although his cultivation was suppressed, the pure killing intent made everyone present feel terrified.

"Patriarch Zheng, if you insist on killing them, then kill me first!" Yun Zhonghe suddenly stepped in front of his disciples. "I have failed in my duty to teach them, which is why they have committed such acts. If anyone should die, it is I!"

Seeing their master risk his life to protect them, Lin Qingshan and the others were moved to tears.

"Grandmaster."

"Shut up!" Yun Zhonghe shouted sternly, "It's all your fault! And now you still have the nerve to cry?"

Zheng Yi looked at Yun Zhonghe, who was blocking his way, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He was not a bloodthirsty person; on the contrary, he always valued the bond between his master and disciple. Yun Zhonghe's act of sacrificing himself to protect his disciple did indeed move him.

But
"Get out of the way," Zheng Yi said coldly. "My target is only these traitors; I don't want to harm the innocent."

“I cannot yield,” Yun Zhonghe shook his head firmly. “They are my disciples. If you wish to kill them, kill me first!”

"Since that's the case," Zheng Yi's killing intent reached its peak, "then don't blame me for being impolite!"

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique - Under the Blazing Sun!"

The blazing sword light erupted once more, this time even more intense than before. The golden light was as dazzling as the real sun, illuminating the entire room as if it were daytime.

Yun Zhonghe's expression changed drastically upon sensing the terrifying sword intent. He hadn't expected Zheng Yi to still possess such formidable strength even with his cultivation suppressed.

"Nascent Soul stage cultivation!" Yun Zhonghe was shocked. "He was actually able to unleash Nascent Soul stage strength under such restrictions?"

Even so, he did not back down.

"Green Mountain Sword Technique - Thousand Mountains Snow!"

Yun Zhonghe unleashed the ultimate techniques of the Green Mountain Sect without reservation, with countless sword shadows dancing like snowflakes in an attempt to block Zheng Yi's attack.

However, the gap in strength between the two is simply too great.

"boom!"

The golden sword light easily tore through the snowflake sword shadow and struck Yun Zhonghe heavily.

Yun Zhonghe screamed in agony as his body flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the wall, spitting out mouthfuls of blood.

"Grandmaster!" Lin Qingshan and the others cried out in terror.

But Zheng Yi's attacks did not stop.

"Since you don't cherish the opportunity given to you, then die!"

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique - The Setting Sun!"

This is one of the most powerful moves in the Zhengyang Sword Technique. A huge golden sun appears behind Zheng Yi, radiating world-destroying power.

Faced with this terrifying attack, Lin Qingshan and the others closed their eyes in despair. With their strength, they were simply no match for an attack of this level.

"stop!"

At this critical moment, a majestic voice suddenly sounded.

Immediately afterwards, a pale golden light shot out from the depths of the hall, accurately blocking Zheng Yi's sword light.

"boom!"

The golden sun collided with the pale golden light, producing a deafening roar. The entire hall trembled violently, as if it were about to collapse at any moment.

"Who is it?" Zheng Yi frowned. The person who could block his sword strike must be a force to be reckoned with.

As the light faded, a middle-aged man dressed in white robes appeared before the crowd. He was handsome, with an ethereal air, and exuded a faint aura of immortality.

"I am Li Xiaoyao, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect." The middle-aged man bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Patriarch Zheng."

"The sect leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect?" Zheng Yi was startled.

As a super power in the cultivation world, the strength of the Heavenly Dao Sect's leader is beyond doubt. Moreover, judging from the exchange just now, Li Xiaoyao's cultivation level is at least at the late Nascent Soul stage, and possibly even higher.

"Why is Sect Leader Li trying to stop me?" Zheng Yi asked coldly.

"Patriarch Zheng, please calm your anger," Li Xiaoyao said gently. "I am not trying to excuse the disciples of the Green Mountain Sect, but I simply feel that killing in this land of immortal inheritance is somewhat inappropriate."

"Inappropriate?" Zheng Yi sneered. "When they harmed my disciples, didn't they feel it was inappropriate?"

"The actions of the Green Mountain Sect disciples are indeed despicable and they deserve punishment," Li Xiaoyao nodded. "However, I believe there are other ways to handle this; it doesn't necessarily have to take their lives."

"Other ways?" Zheng Yi scoffed. "What other way could compensate for the harm my disciple suffered?"

"Alright then," Li Xiaoyao pondered for a moment, "If Patriarch Zheng is willing to give me face, I can guarantee that these Green Mountain Sect disciples will receive their due punishment, and the Zheng family will also receive satisfactory compensation."

"I've already said, I don't need compensation," Zheng Yi said coldly. "I just want their lives!"

"Why is Patriarch Zheng so aggressive?" Li Xiaoyao's tone began to turn displeased. "The cultivation world values ​​harmony above all else; it's better to resolve conflicts than to create them."

"Peace is paramount?" Zheng Yi almost laughed in anger. "When they harmed my disciples, did they ever consider the importance of peace?"

“Now that it’s already happened, what’s the point of dwelling on it?” Li Xiaoyao frowned. “The key is to look forward and seek solutions.”

"The solution is simple." Zheng Yi raised his longsword. "A blood debt must be paid in blood!"

“Since Patriarch Zheng is so stubborn, then I have no choice but to offend him.” Li Xiaoyao’s face darkened completely. “These disciples, I will protect them!”

"Is that so?" A dangerous glint flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes. "Then let's see if you have the ability!"

Although Li Xiaoyao's cultivation was very strong, Zheng Yi was not someone to be trifled with either. Even with his cultivation suppressed, he was confident that he could fight his opponent.

"Heavenly Dao Sword Technique - Heavenly Dao is Ruthless!" Li Xiaoyao made the first move, and a dazzling sword light slashed straight down.

This sword light contained the majesty of the Heavenly Dao, as if it represented the absolute rules of heaven and earth, making it impossible for anyone to have the thought of resisting.

"Zhengyang Sword Technique - Rising Sun in the Sky!" Zheng Yi showed no weakness, his golden sword light as dazzling as the real sun, colliding head-on with Li Xiaoyao's attack.

"boom!"

The two sword lights collided, unleashing a deafening roar. Terrifying energy fluctuations spread outwards, and countless cracks appeared on the walls of the entire room.

Lin Qingshan and the others were so shocked by the energy fluctuations that they bled from all seven orifices. If it weren't for Yun Zhonghe's desperate protection, they would probably have been killed by the aftershocks long ago.

"Such formidable strength!" Li Xiaoyao exclaimed in shock. "His cultivation was clearly suppressed, so how could he still unleash such immense power?"

"Again!" Zheng Yi roared, launching another attack. "Zhengyang Sword Technique - Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin!"

Countless golden sword shadows appeared in the air, enveloping Li Xiaoyao like a net.

"Heavenly Dao Sword Technique - Heavenly Dao Reincarnation!" Li Xiaoyao dared not be careless and unleashed the ultimate technique of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

A giant cycle pattern appeared before him, absorbing all the sword shadows into it before changing direction and shooting them back.

"Interesting." Zheng Yi's lips curled into a cold smile. "Then let me show you the true way of the sword!"

"The True Yang Sword Technique - Ultimate Secret - Void-Piercing Slash!"

This is the strongest move Zheng Yi can currently unleash; even with his cultivation suppressed, its power is still terrifying.

A seemingly ordinary sword light ripped through the void, as if it could sever everything in the world.

Li Xiaoyao felt the terrifying power of the sword and his expression changed drastically.

"Heavenly Dao Sword Technique - Heavenly Dao's Protection!"

He unleashed the Heavenly Dao Sect's defensive techniques in an attempt to block the sword strike.

But this sword strike contained not only power, but also Zheng Yi's understanding and will regarding the way of the sword.

"puff!"

The sword light easily tore through the protection of Heaven, leaving a deep sword wound on Li Xiaoyao's chest.

Li Xiaoyao screamed and staggered backward, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"That's impossible. Your cultivation level was clearly suppressed."

“Cultivation can be suppressed, but the way of the sword cannot,” Zheng Yi said coldly. “My understanding of the way of the sword is beyond your comprehension.”

Indeed, although Zheng Yi's cultivation level was suppressed to the late Foundation Establishment stage, his understanding of swordsmanship remained unaffected. This understanding cannot be suppressed by external forces; it comes from years of cultivation and countless life-or-death trials.

"Now, who else dares to stop me?" Zheng Yi turned to look at Lin Qingshan and the others, his killing intent undiminished.

"Senior Zheng, we know we were wrong. Please spare our lives!" Lin Qingshan and the others were already terrified and could only kneel on the ground and kowtow repeatedly, begging for mercy.

"It's too late." Zheng Yi raised his longsword. "Some mistakes cannot be forgiven."

"Wait!" Yun Zhonghe forced himself to stand up despite his severe injuries. "Patriarch Zheng, I am willing to exchange my life for theirs!"

"Grandmaster!" Lin Qingshan and the others burst into tears.

"Your life?" Zheng Yi sneered. "How much is your life worth?"

"If that's not enough, then add my life!" Li Xiaoyao gritted his teeth and stood up. "Patriarch Zheng, that's enough!"

"You think your lives are worth anything?" Zheng Yi said disdainfully. "In my eyes, all your lives combined are worth less than a single hair on my disciple's head!"

As he spoke, he raised his longsword once more, preparing to give these traitors their final judgment.

"Master, let it go."

Just then, a weak voice came from outside the door. Zhang Yunfan dragged his badly injured body in, his face still pale, but his eyes were very determined.

"Yunfan? Why are you out here?" Zheng Yi looked at his disciple with concern. "Your injuries haven't healed yet!"

"Master, I have something to say." Zhang Yunfan slowly walked to Zheng Yi's side. "Please stop."

"Why?" Zheng Yi asked, puzzled. "They hurt you, shouldn't they pay the price?"

“They should pay a price, but not necessarily their lives,” Zhang Yunfan said calmly. “Master, you taught me that cultivators should have compassion. Killing them might avenge us, but it won’t benefit my cultivation of the Dao.”

Hearing his disciple's words, Zheng Yi felt both gratified and helpless.

It's gratifying that Zhang Yunfan has indeed grown; he was able to remain rational even in such a state of anger, which shows that his Daoist heart is truly firm.

Unfortunately, this disciple was too kind; even after being hurt, he was still unwilling to go so far as to kill everyone.

"Yunfan, you're too kind," Zheng Yi sighed. "Kindness to the enemy is cruelty to oneself."

“Master is right, but I believe that sometimes compassion is also a strength,” Zhang Yunfan said earnestly. “If we lose our reason because of anger, how are we any different from them?”

Zheng Yi fell silent.

He knew Zhang Yunfan had a point, but as his master, he simply couldn't tolerate anyone harming his disciple.

“Master, please believe in your disciple,” Zhang Yunfan said sincerely. “Your disciple will not let you down.”

Seeing the determination in his disciple's eyes, Zheng Yi finally slowly lowered his longsword.

"That's enough," he said coldly to Lin Qingshan and the others. "For the sake of my disciple, I'll spare your lives today. But this is the only time. If there's a next time, I will show no mercy!"

"Thank you so much, Senior Zheng, for sparing our lives!" Lin Qingshan and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon and quickly kowtowed to express their gratitude.

"However," Zheng Yi changed his tone, "the death penalty may be waived, but punishment is inevitable."

"The Righteous Yang Sword Technique: The Destroyer of Meridians Divine Finger!"

Zheng Yi flicked his fingers, sending seven thin, thread-like sword energies shooting towards Lin Qingshan and the others' dantian.

"what!"

The seven people screamed in agony as their meridians were instantly severed by the sword energy, and their cultivation was completely destroyed.

From now on, they will become ordinary people and will no longer be able to cultivate.

"This is a lesson for you," Zheng Yi said coldly. "Remember what happened today, and from now on, you must have a bottom line!"

After crippling the cultivation of these seven people, Zheng Yi turned around and helped Zhang Yunfan up.

“Let’s go,” he said coldly to the others. “I hope I never see you again.”

After saying that, the master and apprentice left the room without looking back.

After leaving the blood-soaked room, Zheng Yi helped Zhang Yunfan to a quiet corner of the main hall.

"Yunfan, how are your injuries?" Zheng Yi asked, checking on his disciple's condition with concern.

"Thank you for your concern, Master. I'm much better now." Although Zhang Yunfan's face was still pale, his spirits were noticeably better than before. "The healing pills I took earlier were very effective."

"That's good." Zheng Yi breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned and asked, "How is the Immortal Sword Technique you sealed in your consciousness? Is there anything unusual?"

"There's no problem for now, but it definitely needs to be dealt with as soon as possible," Zhang Yunfan replied truthfully. "This disciple can sense that the amount of information contained in that sword technique is extremely vast. If it's sealed within one's divine sense for an extended period, it could indeed cause damage."

“In that case, let’s find a safe place as soon as possible so you can fully absorb that sword technique,” ​​Zheng Yi decided. “Now that the trial here is over, there should be other gains waiting for us.”

The master and disciple began to carefully explore this Immortal Trial Hall. (End of Chapter)