Chapter Fifty-Five: Visitors from the Heavenly Dao Sect

As soon as this voice rang out, the chaotic battlefield fell silent for a moment. Many cultivators, caught in the midst of battle, were left bewildered, though some were so blinded by bloodlust that they ignored the command and continued their assault. With a thunderous crash, a single palm strike instantly reduced a section of the fighting to ashes—whether they belonged to the Gate of Life and Death or the Celestial Union Sect, all were annihilated by that one blow. “When the Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect speaks, are you deaf? Any who act again will be killed without mercy!” a furious voice bellowed.

Only then did the crowd look up to see five figures flying in from the horizon. Leading them was a woman clad in white, her beauty unearthly, her presence not to be defiled. Even with her brows knit in displeasure, she was breathtaking—her sorrow seemed to make one’s own heart ache. She was accompanied by two men and two women, all exuding an air of arrogance, their noses almost pointed to the sky. The one who had struck earlier, an elder with a visage full of murderous intent, stepped forward and explained to the woman, “Saintess, these disciples from the subordinate sects have shown no respect for etiquette—they deserved punishment.”

“Enough have died already. Without my order, none shall act rashly,” the woman in white said sorrowfully, and her four attendants assented at once.

Zhou Qi gazed at the woman approaching from the sky. She was stunning beyond compare, her elegance so profound it demanded reverence. Even her frown stirred compassion. Jiang Yiyi—the Saintess of the Heavenly Dao Sect? Zhou Qi’s heart skipped a beat; this was bad. He began to quietly edge away, trying to escape the battlefield.

“Everyone, stay where you are and do not move. Any who disobey will be executed on the spot,” the elder who had acted earlier commanded. Zhou Qi silently retracted his foot, lowered his head, and dared not look at Jiang Yiyi, fearful of being noticed.

“The Gate Master of Life and Death, Han Yuanzheng, and the Gate Master of the Celestial Union, Long Chengye, pay their respects to the Saintess,” two voices rang out. Han Yuanzheng and Long Chengye both bore wounds, evidence of a fierce struggle. The Gate of Life and Death had two remaining Nascent Soul cultivators, while the Celestial Union had three left. The rest, who had followed them into battle, had mostly perished—of the original eight, only five now remained.

Jiang Yiyi and her retinue landed, forming a subtle protective formation around her.

“Gate Masters, please rise,” Jiang Yiyi said, halting their bows.

Only then did Han Yuanzheng and Long Chengye dare to look up at the Saintess. Both men, having cultivated for thousands of years and long abandoned mortal desires, found their hearts unexpectedly stirred at the sight of Jiang Yiyi’s beauty. Realizing their lapse, they hurriedly lowered their heads again.

Jiang Yiyi was well accustomed to such reactions; she had been the center of attention since childhood and knew the effect her beauty had on others. With a touch of resignation, she said, “Gate Masters, there’s no need for such formality. I have come on the orders of my master, commanding the Gate of Life and Death and the Celestial Union to cease all hostilities at once.”

By “master,” she referred, of course, to the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect.

“Since this is an order from the High Sect, we will obey,” Han Yuanzheng and Long Chengye replied, having anticipated this outcome and waiting for further instruction.

“The Gate of Life and Death and the Celestial Union will henceforth merge into a single sect, to be named the Heavenly Gate. Elder Wen Zhuo of the Heavenly Dao Sect will serve as Gate Master, with Han Yuanzheng and Long Chengye as Deputy Gate Masters, assisting Gate Master Wen,” Jiang Yiyi announced unhurriedly.

The two men were shocked. After all this fighting, the position of Gate Master was lost to them—bitter disappointment filled their hearts. This was not the result they had imagined, but they dared not protest, and so they listened on.

“The original subordinate sects under both gates will be merged into five branches. When matters here are settled, the two of you will oversee the integration,” Jiang Yiyi concluded, saying no more.

“Saintess, if I may be so bold as to ask—if the two gates were to be merged, why were we made to go to war?” Long Chengye could not suppress his frustration. The Elder from the Heavenly Dao Sect had assured him that by initiating war, he might seize control of the Spirit Mountain, and now, though the mountain was won, the position of Gate Master was not his.

“How dare you question the Sect Leader’s decision!” the elder who had struck earlier advanced, unleashing his Nascent Soul aura. Though Long Chengye was himself a Nascent Soul cultivator, he was forced to retreat, unable to stand his ground. Alarmed, he hastily begged forgiveness.

“Gate Master Wen, please calm yourself. Since they are to be your subordinates, perhaps it is best for you to explain,” Jiang Yiyi intervened.

Only then did Long Chengye and Han Yuanzheng realize that this elder was to be their new superior, Wen Zhuo.

“Why war? Because there are too many cultivators—some must be eliminated. Those who died were weak, lacking in both cultivation and talent. Keeping them alive would only waste precious spirit stones and elixirs. The war was a means of natural selection and a necessity for the greater good,” Wen Zhuo said coldly.

Bitter resignation settled in the hearts of Han Yuanzheng, Long Chengye, and the surviving five Nascent Soul cultivators.

“Once I take over as Gate Master, you must remember to raise the standards for recruiting disciples. Those with poor aptitude or comprehension are not to be accepted. As for the merger of the two gates, it is to consolidate resources and will eventually be implemented among other sects as well. The union of the Celestial Union and the Gate of Life and Death is a pilot project for the Heavenly Dao Sect’s reorganization of its subordinate sects,” Wen Zhuo continued.

So many lives lost, all for a mere experiment of the Heavenly Dao Sect? After all the bloodshed and enmity, in the end, they were to become brethren of the same sect.

Long Chengye and Han Yuanzheng were stunned by the Sect Leader’s ruthlessness.

“Do not concern yourselves with issues arising from the merger. I trust that the cultivators will make the correct choices,” Wen Zhuo said with a cruel smile—the implication clear: those who refused would be eliminated.

Seeing that resistance was futile, Han Yuanzheng and Long Chengye ceased to struggle. All those present were subdued, which greatly pleased Wen Zhuo. He then asked, “If you have any other questions, speak now. The Saintess is pressed for time and must return to the Heavenly Dao Sect soon—she cannot be delayed by trivial matters.”

“Saintess, Gate Master, my son Long Feiyu was killed by Zhou Qi. I have but one final request: hand Zhou Qi over to me so I may avenge my son. I swear by the heavens that I will henceforth serve the Heavenly Gate with all my heart and soul, until my dying breath,” Long Chengye pleaded, tears streaming down his face.

“Saintess, Gate Master, there is more to Long Feiyu’s death than meets the eye. Zhou Qi may not be the killer. Long Chengye is convinced of Zhou Qi’s guilt, which was the pretext he used to start the war between the two gates. I implore you, Saintess and Gate Master, to see clearly—Zhou Qi has always acted for the good of the sect, and his master, Elder Liu Ruitai, was brutally slain by the Celestial Union. If Long Chengye is allowed to kill Zhou Qi, it will surely foment dissent,” Han Yuanzheng argued, recalling Han Qiaoman’s disappointment last time and fearing to offend the new Gate Master, but daring to speak nonetheless.

“How dare you! From this day forth, there is only the Heavenly Gate—no more Gate of Life and Death or Celestial Union. To raise such a fuss over a mere disciple is intolerable!” Wen Zhuo rebuked at once.

Zhou Qi? At the mention of this name, Jiang Yiyi paused. Could it be the man she had met in the Sacred Hall of the Medicine Immortal—the one bold enough to flirt with her?