Chapter 0014

Chapter 14: The Little Demoness’s Confession

Chen Ling’er screamed as she flew into a rage: “Go to hell!” She had always been proud, but her pride shattered the instant Zhou Tong struck her. Spinning like a top, she staggered back and slammed into a pillar.

For someone as special as her, Zhou Tong used special force.

With a snort the little demoness burst out laughing: “Pfft!” She was very pleased with how Zhou Tong handled it. The people around them could not help laughing too.

Chen Ling’er came to her senses with disbelief all over her face. Shame and fury burned through her. In the past, Zhou Tong would never have made her look bad. She snarled, eyes red: “You really dared hit me. Even my father never hit me!”

Zhou Tong said with a cool smile: “Then you should thank me, since I just made up for your missing fatherly love.” The crowd roared again, and the little demoness laughed the loudest.

Chen Ling’er glared at her. The little demoness hugged Zhou Tong’s arm and looked back at Chen Ling’er with smug delight.

Chen Ling’er snapped as jealousy spiked: “Let him go. I’m going to teach him a lesson today!” She looked like something precious had been snatched away. Even Mo Liu Su’s chest rose and fell as if she might take action at any moment.

A young man in splendid robes stepped forward and spoke in a smooth voice that turned heads: “Senior brother, aren’t you going too far?” It was Tang Qi, handsome and eye catching. The moment he opened his mouth, countless female disciples glanced over.

Whispers rose from the crowd: “Wow, that’s the fast rising Tang Qi, right? He really is good looking. I heard his talent is second only to Zhou Tong. Is that true?” Another voice answered with scorn: “That’s old news. Zhou Tong is a cripple now. He doesn’t deserve to be compared with Tang Qi.” A third voice added: “Of course. Otherwise why would Immortal Mo take him as a true disciple? Zhou Tong stood by Immortal Mo for over ten years and still wasn’t qualified!”

Tang Qi lifted his chin and looked down on everyone. Mo Liu Su studied Zhou Tong’s face, wanting to catch a crack in his calm.

Zhou Tong didn’t care at all. His eyes, sharp as a sword, fixed on Tang Qi as he said coldly: “You are not worthy to call me senior brother. Shameless. Listen, all of you: I, Zhou Tong, severed all ties with the Jade Purity Sect long ago. In this life and the next, I will never return. Even if I become a handful of yellow dust or a strand of drifting duckweed, I will never fall upon the lands of Primal Heaven Earth Mountain, unless before that day the Jade Purity Sect has already turned to ash!”

His vow boomed like thunder, as if wrapped in the sound of the great Dao. No one could doubt his resolve.

Before his words finished echoing, Zhou Tong felt a gentle squeeze on his arm. The little demoness had leaned close, eyes soft as she whispered: “Don’t say foolish things like that. As long as I live, and as long as Master lives, someone will keep you first in their heart. You won’t be alone, and you won’t drift like duckweed.”

Zhou Tong faltered; his eyes grew a little wet. This woman had touched something tender inside him. He muttered with a teasing snort: “Demoness, your charm arts have reached this level, daring to shake my will,” yet his hand still slid around her slender waist.

Many eyes went red with envy. A fairy and an immortal, a perfect pair. Demoness or not, cripple or not, in this moment they were a scene everyone envied.

Tang Qi nearly choked on his jealousy. He stared at the little demoness, as if he wanted to swallow her whole. Such stunning beauty, born to bewitch, even eclipsed his five senior sisters. If he could get her, wouldn’t that be heaven?

Chen Ling’er scoffed with cold disdain: “Doing something so shameless in broad daylight. Have you no sense of honor?” Mo Liu Su’s face was icy as she said, turning away: “Sit wherever you like. The apprenticeship ceremony is about to begin, so watch carefully.” She stepped up the tall platform, one measured step after another. Chen Ling’er threw down a final line as she followed: “You really disappoint me.”

On the platform, Mo Liu Su lowered her voice: “Ling’er, tell me, has that unworthy disciple truly made up his mind?” Chen Ling’er answered with calm certainty: “Master, don’t worry. I saw through him long ago.” Mo Liu Su smiled with interest and said: “Oh? Let me hear it.” Chen Ling’er said, thoughtful and sure: “If he had really joined the Joyous Union Sect, he should have called You Cang Yue senior sister. But he called her…” Mo Liu Su’s eyes lit up as she finished it herself: “Demoness!” To her, that could only be an insult. “So the wretch still wants to come back. He is just acting more convincingly this time.” Chen Ling’er sniffed: “He’s just forcing himself. Let’s see how long he can keep it up.” In her heart, she was already planning how to punish Zhou Tong.

Mo Liu Su made up her mind with a spark of excitement: “I’ve decided. At today’s ceremony I will use the power of the whole sect. I will draw the Heavenly Dao’s gaze for your junior brother and help him rise in one step.” She wanted to do it right in front of Zhou Tong, to show him how she favored Tang Qi, to prove that what he dreamed of was something she could give to someone else with a wave of her hand. After seeing that, surely he would break.

Zhou Tong and the little demoness found a secluded place to sit. No one dared approach them, and a wide empty ring formed around the two.

At high noon, sunlight bathed the land. A clear voice rose to the sky: “The auspicious hour has arrived. Open the altar and begin the rites!” All eyes went to the platform. It had nine levels that climbed into the clouds. Nine disciples stood on each level, swords in hand, faces solemn and grave, sword auras keen and cold.

Someone gasped: “With a setup like this, are they trying to draw the Heavenly Dao’s gaze?” Shock rippled outward. The prodigies from other sects could hardly believe it. The Jade Purity Sect was being truly lavish, doing all this for one disciple. They really meant to crown him the number one of the young generation.

Many gazes slid to Zhou Tong.

Zhou Tong’s eyelids twitched. This ritual that guided the Heavenly Dao cost a fortune. It didn’t only burn through resources. It also needed eighty one sub arrays and one master array to be linked as one. The Jade Purity Sect had done this once for Chen Ling’er, a Sword Dao rite that helped her become first in the Sword Dao. Back then, Zhou Tong himself had carved the Array Arts.

There was a reason. The level of each array was not high, but their structures were extremely complex, and they touched upon the Heavenly Dao. Ordinary array masters didn’t dare try for fear of backlash. Back then, only Zhou Tong, clear minded and iron willed, could shoulder the work.

Worse, the Heavenly Dao Array Arts had harsh storage rules. Use them once and they must be discarded. Re using them would lead to big trouble.