Chapter 85: A Blood Oath

The old man Yan Nantian’s gaze sharpened, and only then did he speak: “Very well. Since the corpse of the Willow Demon has already turned to jade, I fear the life-bound Demon Lantern is no longer there. Yu Wei, stand down.”

Chu Yuwei stared at the shimmering fish-scale saber on the ground with unwillingness, then glanced at Yan Yunfei’s domineering presence, and finally took a step back.

In that instant, Chu Youcai finally came to his senses, his heart welling up with immense gratitude towards Yan Yunfei.

Had Yan Yunfei not risked everything to intervene, the Willow Demon’s corpse would have been desecrated without mercy!

Had Yan Yunfei not staked his life, he too would have died here!

Yet at the same time, his gaze fixed hatefully on Chu Yuwei, his heart brimming with loathing!

He felt as feeble as an ant, subject to slaughter at will. These so-called chivalrous men of the Yan clan—how were they any different from demons, acting in such a ‘righteous’ manner? In their pursuit of what they desired, they trampled over all, speaking of justice while behaving with utter baseness.

An unending fury surged within him!

But what was more tragic was that he had only rage, and could do nothing.

Because he had no power!

“I want to extend Yun Cui Xian’s life, I want to venture into the depths of this world, to search for any trace of my sister, but now, I can’t even protect the corpse of the Willow God— I nearly lost my own life at their hands!”

“I thought I could protect those around me, that I’d built a foundation in Daoist arts and literary spirit, that I possessed the Dragon Tortoise Pearl, the Fish-Scale Saber, had mastered the Six Jia Divine Array— I thought I had gained strength, but in truth, I have nothing!”

Beneath the Daoist arts, all things are ants! He finally understood this to the core.

At that moment, seeing Chu Youcai staring at him like a wild beast, Chu Yuwei’s gaze grew colder. Thoughts flickered through his mind as he addressed Chu Youcai: “Third Brother, if not for Master’s mercy beyond the law, you’d be dead already. Should you not thank him? And I see you have several demons at your side. If your heart is just, why not slay one or two to prove your Daoist resolve?”

His voice was full of spite, and his eyes regarded Chu Youcai as if he were already dead, the fish-scale saber already his by right.

Upon hearing this, Wen Ji and Jiang Xue turned pale and stepped back in alarm.

In that instant, Chu Youcai’s heart clenched.

Sensing that his opponent meant to use this chance to provoke and drive him to despair, the fire in Chu Youcai’s soul boiled like magma.

But in a heartbeat, he lowered his head, took a deep breath, then raised it again; the ferocity in his eyes had settled into calm.

Yet beneath that calm, dark currents surged. In those fathomless eyes, it seemed as though countless forests stood, and a latent dragon coiled within.

Seeing Chu Youcai suddenly restrain his emotions, Chu Yuwei felt a chill in his heart. He found that he could no longer see through this brother of his, who had always been weak, humble, and easily provoked. At this moment, he sensed that if Chu Youcai ever gained power, he might become his greatest adversary.

Chu Yuwei suppressed his unease and said, “What’s wrong? Afraid?”

Hearing his opponent’s aggressive words, Chu Youcai’s gaze turned steely, his voice resolute and unwavering: “Elder Brother, have you ever heard the saying: ‘In all matters of success and failure, accept fate; to rebel against fate brings only strife and misery?’”

Chu Yuwei frowned deeply. At this moment, Chu Youcai’s demeanor was utterly changed, as though a dragon was about to soar from the depths.

Chu Youcai fixed him with a steady gaze and continued: “Throughout one’s life, poverty or wealth should follow the will of Heaven. To go against it is to wander restlessly, to suffer humiliation and oppression. But have you ever pondered what Heaven’s true endowment is?”

“Heaven’s endowment is to remedy the flow of fate!”

“To hold authority yet yield to fate—why would Heaven bestow such gifts? Why create me at all? What purpose does my life serve?”

Chu Youcai’s voice was like a rending blade: “Thus, there are things that must be done, even knowing they are impossible! That is the Way! That is Heaven’s true endowment! To slaughter demons indiscriminately is to harbor demonic nature within! And to seize what others possess for selfish gain, while feigning righteousness—how are you any different from the demons?”

His words were like hammered steel, making Chu Yuwei shudder involuntarily.

At the same time, humiliation and anger welled up in Chu Yuwei. He glared at Chu Youcai with murderous intent. As a favored son of Heaven, admired and revered by many, when had he ever been lectured by a peer? His voice rose, trembling with rage: “What right do you have to lecture me? You’re nothing but a cast-off son of a noble house, and you haven’t even set foot on the Daoist path. What use is your so-called foundation? Beneath the Daoist arts, all are ants! In my eyes, you’re just a worm. You dare speak of Heaven’s endowment to me? You, a man of talent?”

At that moment, Chu Yuwei spread his arms wide. Ten rays of sword-light flashed from his ten fingers. “This is my Wind-Forged Sword Art, which I mastered at the age of ten. And you—what can you do?”

The ten rays of sword-light burst forth, sending countless gales howling. Under this onslaught, Chu Youcai could barely stand, forced back three or four steps by the sword’s pressure before he managed to steady himself.

Seeing this, Wen Ji and Jiang Xue bit their lips and stepped protectively in front of Chu Youcai, shielding him from the cutting edge. Though Chu Youcai had been battered and his life threatened, so much weaker than Chu Yuwei, his spirit, resolve, and willpower moved them deeply.

At the same time, Erniang and Yan Yunfei gripped their weapons, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

Chu Youcai’s gaze fixed solely on Chu Yuwei. Clenching his fists, his eyes bloodshot, he stepped forward and declared, “Chu Yuwei! You have merely walked this path a few steps ahead of me. One day, when I ascend to the Daoist arts, I will wash away today’s humiliation with vengeance!”

With that, Chu Youcai stretched out his hand, and the fish-scale saber on the ground soared into his grasp. He pressed the blade hard against his own arm, slicing open his sleeve and sending blood gushing forth. “You have cast aside brotherly affection—so now, by blood oath, we are severed! From this moment, our bond is broken forever!”

His voice grew ever more raw, torn from his throat: “Since you wish to enter the Hall of Heaven’s Execution, you must claim the martial champion’s title at the Yanyun Nine Provinces Sacred Trials! Then, on the life-and-death arena of those trials, will you dare face me, with no quarter given?”

Chu Youcai’s words rang out like clashing jade, each syllable resounding with indomitable power, echoing across heaven and earth!

Everyone around them was stunned.

The life-and-death arena—once entered, there could be no turning back.

And with only three months until the Yanyun Nine Provinces Sacred Trials, Chu Yuwei possessed twenty years of Daoist cultivation, and would soon gain a bronze-tier Cursed Treasure, along with the Yan clan’s unique techniques. How could Chu Youcai possibly be his match?

Yet Chu Youcai had sworn this oath, cutting his robe and spilling his blood to declare war!