Chapter Twenty-Four: Night Assault

This sword, its mouth split open and its blade worn down, was held together at the crack by yellow talisman paper. If not for the faint spiritual aura it emitted, no one would have suspected it was a magical artifact.

Li Erwa’s eyes were red with emotion as he knelt, his voice choked, “Thank you, Master, for your magnanimity and forgiveness, and for bestowing a magical artifact upon me! Rest assured, I will make this sword renowned across the world.”

“It’s not as exaggerated as you say. Though this sword is shabby and hasn’t even reached the lowest grade, it might not be inferior to a mid-grade magical artifact,” Chu Tiange explained.

“Thank you, Master.” Li Erwa gave thanks sincerely, kowtowing hard.

Zhang Tiedan felt numb; what a pair of master and disciple, each accommodating the other—one bold enough to say, the other bold enough to act. Li Erwa was truly a gifted actor; he would surely become a dragon among men in the future.

“As for you, Tiedan, I’ve just taken up the position as Peak Master of Maiden’s Peak. Today is the ninth of May, and it’s eighteen days until I receive my stipend. For now, I have nothing to bestow, but you may show me your magical artifact,” Chu Tiange said, smiling at Zhang Tiedan.

“My magical artifact?” Zhang Tiedan’s heart suddenly felt uneasy, but he dared not disobey and hurriedly produced an artifact.

It was a sword, two feet and three inches long, and about an inch thick. Its body gleamed like black jade, and its hilt was a vibrant green, intricately carved with a lively azure dragon.

Compared to Li Erwa’s battered magical artifact, this sword was worlds apart.

Li Erwa’s heart burned with envy, yet he kept his gaze fixed stubbornly on his broken sword, shouting inwardly, “Only this broken sword is the best in the world! The rest are mere scrap!”

Chu Tiange took the sword, gently stroked it, and said, “High grade?”

Zhang Tiedan smiled wryly, “Life has been hard these years… Only a high-grade magical artifact; if Master desires it, take it as your disciple’s filial gift.”

“Haha, life’s been hard, and yet you say that aloud. But if you lend me this sword, what will you use yourself?” Chu Tiange chuckled and asked.

“I have a mid-grade magical artifact,” Zhang Tiedan replied. “If Master needs it, I’ll hand it over right now.”

“That won’t be necessary.” Chu Tiange shook his head and put away the sword. With the Immortal Gate’s joint examination approaching, he happened to lack a magical artifact.

Zhang Tiedan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Though only eight years old, he was clever enough to carve earth bones, and he knew that presenting gifts would make his days easier. He also congratulated himself on his foresight—this shameless fellow really would have taken his magical artifact, but fortunately he hadn’t brought out his trump card.

“Maiden’s Peak has, aside from the main hall and cave, twelve secondary caves. Choose whichever you like. Three days from now, the Immortal Gate examination—I'll summon you. Now, I must enter seclusion,” said Chu Tiange.

“Thank you, Master,” Zhang Tiedan and Li Erwa responded, then left the main hall.

Once they were gone, Chu Tiange entered the main cave of the hall.

The cave was deep and tranquil.

With his arrival, the dim chamber came alive with a single lamp, illuminating the extraordinary beauty of the female cultivators carved within.

Inside the cave, the women’s statues, each uniquely beautiful, seemed to compete to accompany Chu Tiange.

The sect leader Xiao had “hidden beauties in golden chambers,” filling the cave with statues of women.

At the center of the hall stood an ancient desk, upon which lay brush, ink, paper, and vermilion powder.

On the wall opposite the desk hung a calligraphy scroll—

Heaven’s movement is vigorous; the gentleman should strive ceaselessly. Earth’s nature is receptive; the gentleman should carry all with great virtue.

“Amazing—thinking of women every day, yet never forgetting to strive for strength,” Chu Tiange sighed at the mysterious Xiao Sect Leader, his gaze traversing the statues until he found the meditation chamber.

He entered, and the darkness faded.

Chu Tiange sat cross-legged on the mat, eyes half-closed, scanning the surroundings for traces of the Azure Sky Mirror.

At this point, if Chu Tiange failed to realize his immortal bones had been discovered by Xiao Sect Leader, he would truly be foolish.

The immortal bone is indeed extraordinary, surpassing all others. Yet, throughout the history of the Azure Profound Continent, prodigies have always emerged—some incredibly brilliant. Though rare, an immortal bone appears every century.

In the past hundred years, Lu Shiqi was one, and the joyful Bodhisattva An Miaoyi was another. Within the Nine Gates, two figures with immortal bones had appeared, not to mention the top talents among the Three Great Teachings yet to debut.

So, if it were merely the immortal bone, Xiao Sect Leader would simply recruit Chu Tiange as a disciple, which would be the highest honor.

Yet, the Sect Leader made him the Peak Master of Maiden’s Peak—a completely different significance. As the Peak Master, Chu Tiange would be considered a peer of the Sect Leader.

“The immortal bone may be powerful, allowing me to overcome one or two small barriers with favorable circumstances, but I directly defeated Ning Wujue, a peak spirit-gathering cultivator, during my bone transformation stage,” Chu Tiange murmured.

“But that’s only speculation, not certainty. Hence, the journey to Filial Son Town. The Yin Pearl was in the Bodhisattva’s hands—Lu Shiqi and Xiao Shijing never saw it; it wasn’t an act. Only the immortal bone allows one to perceive the unseen.”

The immortal bone is truly miraculous, like condensed immortal energy, the real mark of a true immortal. It enables one to see through all falsehoods and illusions.

Anyone who attains immortal bone status has the hope of becoming immortal. Such figures, in any era, are highly revered and can ensure the sect’s glory for tens of thousands of years.

It is said that the founder of the Azure Profound Chen Dynasty, the Azure Profound Dao Lord, possessed the immortal bone. With Chu Tiange in the Morning Immortal Sect, so long as he remains faithful and survives, he could elevate the sect to a great teaching.

“This is why the Sect Leader entrusted Maiden’s Peak to me—he values my talent,” Chu Tiange breathed out, accepting this truth and feeling no further hesitation about his position.

He would use the sect’s resources to regain his peak and break through to immortality. Meanwhile, the Sect Leader would use his rise to transform the sect from Morning Immortal Sect to Morning Immortal Teaching.

It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

For the next three days, Chu Tiange remained cautious, not entering the World of Creation.

With a wave of his hand, three items appeared before him.

A high-grade spirit sword, vermilion powder, and talisman paper.

Clearly, he intended to refine the sword, modifying it.

Chu Tiange had not exaggerated; the artifact he gifted Li Erwa was a second-rate item, not even reaching the lowest grade, but he had imbued the broken sword with six “Ghost Suppressing” talismans, granting it defensive power comparable to a mid-grade artifact against ghosts.

The “Ghost Suppressing” talisman was defensive.

Now, Chu Tiange would craft “Evil Slaying” talismans, which were offensive.

These two talismans came from the “Collection of Suppressing Ghost Talismans” discovered in Chu Tiange’s past life; he also acquired Buddhist methods, vastly enhancing the talisman’s power.

It was thanks to the “Collection of Suppressing Ghost Talismans” that Chu Tiange could survive repeated crises.

The Ghost Suppressing talisman required only blood energy to draw, while the Evil Slaying talisman needed spiritual power.

The greater the spiritual power infused, the more powerful its effect.

Following a precise sequence, Chu Tiange dripped vermilion onto the talisman paper, drawing complex symbols.

Time passed, and as the moon rose high, the symbols took shape, forming a single crimson rune.

Chu Tiange channeled his spiritual power into the rune, which soon glowed, growing brighter with the infusion.

“Command!” Chu Tiange intoned, and the crimson rune shot into the sword.

Buzz—

The high-grade spirit sword trembled.

Blood-red lines appeared on the sword’s surface, flowing and emitting a faint glow, becoming part of the sword.

By inscribing the talisman onto the sword, its power would increase.

This talisman exhausted all of Chu Tiange’s spiritual power, containing a strike beyond his limits.

Chu Tiange rested, then resumed drawing talismans.

A high-grade artifact could bear five Evil Slaying talismans.

By dusk on the second day, Chu Tiange had completed all five, inscribing them onto the sword.

Chu Tiange smiled, “These Evil Slaying talismans will elevate my sword’s power by a whole level—even top-grade artifacts would pale in comparison.”

He stood, gripping the sword.

Immediately, the blade radiated brilliant crimson light, sharp and intimidating.

“For now, I’ll call it the Evil Slaying Sword…” Chu Tiange smiled with satisfaction, slinging it across his back as he exited the meditation chamber.

Night was deep and the mountain winds whispered across Maiden’s Peak.

Chu Tiange wandered among the woods.

Suddenly, he stopped, frowning as he sensed something.

Whoosh!

A cold gleam shot from afar, aiming to kill.

Chu Tiange reacted swiftly, sidestepping.

Bang!

An ice spear struck a tree, piercing it through. The next moment, the spear exploded into countless ice crystals, scattering in all directions. Each shard carried ferocious killing intent and deadly force.

Chu Tiange’s expression darkened, but he used no spells—he leapt and hid beneath a massive boulder.

“Heh, Chu Tiange—becoming Peak Master of Maiden’s Peak, you’re still a worthless fool,” a voice sounded from the darkness, disdainful.

“Who are you? Attacking a peak master without permission—isn’t that a crime punishable by the Hall of Punishment?” Chu Tiange replied coldly.

The voice scoffed, “Hall of Punishment? Who am I? Of course I fear their torture, but if you, Peak Master Chu, have the guts, report me. Everyone would love to see a dignified peak master trampled by a mere disciple. Hahahaha!”

“You’re right; I won’t make this public,” Chu Tiange nodded.

“You only climbed to power by relying on women. It’s disgusting that Xiao Yicai favors men, choosing a worthless fool like you as a peak master. Isn’t he afraid of ridicule?” The voice dripped with hatred.

Apparently, he held a grudge against Xiao Yicai and mocked Chu Tiange relentlessly.

“So, you’re a disciple of some elder who wanted to become Maiden’s Peak Master?” Chu Tiange guessed.

Who would resent him most for becoming Peak Master? Only those elders repeatedly denied the position by Sect Leader Xiao.

But there were many such elders, some of whom became secondary peak masters. Identifying the culprit wouldn’t be easy.

“Tonight is your death—there’s no chance for you,” the voice in the dark said sinisterly.

“Is that so?” Chu Tiange replied calmly.

Just then, a shrill sound tore through the air—a short spear gleaming with metal shot in an arc like lightning toward Chu Tiange.

Boom! The boulder shattered, its thunderous noise alerting two disciples in the secondary caves.

“You’ve acted rashly—Maiden’s Peak still has two disciples,” Chu Tiange retreated two steps, steadying himself.

The short spear struck the ground, its shaft protruding.

A figure appeared, the same as before.

Now, his eyes were blood-red, filled with violent, bloodthirsty frenzy like a wild beast, fixed on Chu Tiange, ready to kill.

“So it’s you!” Chu Tiange’s pupils contracted.

“You recognize me? Then you definitely can’t be allowed to live. As for your two disciples, they’re mere mortal bone stage cultivators—I could crush them like chickens. Tonight, I’ll bathe Maiden’s Peak in blood!”

He was a masked man in green, face shrouded in ghostly aura, eyes crimson as a beast.

Above his head, the blood-red character “slave” glowed in the night.

It was the same disciple Chu Tiange had seen enslaved during the peak master ceremony.

He hadn’t expected to be sought out—the man had come to him.

“Spirit Pill stage—indeed capable of slaughtering Maiden’s Peak. If nothing unexpected happens,” Chu Tiange nodded, showing no fear.

Just then, two figures rushed over, the short and stout Tiedan in the lead.

“Who dares cause trouble at my Maiden’s Peak? Take a punch from Grandpa Egg!” Zhang Tiedan leapt forward, about to charge.

“Earth bone is impressive. Perhaps in twenty years I’d fear you, but now, you’re just a chick!” The ghost slave laughed, ignoring Zhang Tiedan, and struck in that direction.

A torrent of energy gathered, forming a powerful palm print several feet wide, bearing down on Zhang Tiedan.

“Tiedan, be careful!” Li Erwa called anxiously, recognizing danger. He stopped, fled toward the mountain, and shouted, “Master, I’ll get help!”

Zhang Tiedan roared, raising his right arm, muscles knotted like iron.

“You underestimate Grandpa Egg! Fear the strength of an eight-year-old!” Zhang Tiedan intended to take the blow head-on.

Thud!

Zhang Tiedan was slapped aside, crashing into the mountain wall, coughing blood, his body limp.

“So much hatred! Why must Grandpa Egg be only eight years old?”

“Are you stupid? He’s Spirit Pill stage—why not let your master handle it? Why not learn from Li Erwa?” Chu Tiange shook his head, sighing.

“Haha, Maiden’s Peak is destined to be bathed in blood. Next, it’s your turn.”