Chapter 0016

Chapter 16: When You Ask for Help, Act Like It

The crowd finally realized what was happening and murmured: “So it was him.” Everything felt dreamlike and absurd, and the scene looked both ridiculous and laughable.

If this was true, then the entire Jade Purity Sect was a troop of clowns, and very pure-bred at that. They had expelled the only disciple under heaven who could arrange Array Arts that drew the power of the Heavenly Dao, even forcing him to abolish his cultivation and making him their enemy for life. Even someone with a pig’s brain would not have done something so stupid.

Ying Shao Xuan of the Grand Clarity Sect was here too; he pounded his chest and glared at Mo Liu Su as anger twisted his face: “If I hadn’t believed this woman’s slander, Zhou Tong would already belong to the Grand Clarity Sect. How could the Joyous Union Sect have picked up such a huge bargain?”

Jiang Yu Yao and Ge Hong Qiu reacted first and jumped up, pointing at Zhou Tong’s nose as they ordered: “Since you can fix it, why are you still sitting here? Go repair the Array Arts now.”

Zhou Tong didn’t move at all. He calmly kept chatting with the little demoness. That only poured oil on the fire, and the two women were instantly enraged.

Jiang Yu Yao roared, her face twisted as she flipped the table in front of Zhou Tong so wine and fine dishes spilled everywhere: “Didn’t you hear me? If junior brother has an accident, your cheap life isn’t enough to pay for it.”

No one stepped in to stop them. Everyone watched the drama with bright interest. The Jade Purity Sect was losing face today. Even a street scoundrel knows that when you ask for help, you should act like you are asking. Immortal Maiden Mo claims to be pure, elegant, and well-mannered, yet her disciples were this rude and crude. It was eye-opening.

Zhou Tong asked in a flat voice as he looked at the two women: “Are you asking me for help?”

They exploded again. Ge Hong Qiu snapped with contempt: “Ask you? Who do you think you are? Don’t try to make yourself look important. We are giving you a chance to atone.”

Jiang Yu Yao backed her up with a cold sneer: “That’s right. You traitor destroyed a heavy treasure of the sect. Not killing you was already a huge mercy, one you could never repay. Now you must fix the Array Arts for our junior brother.”

Zhou Tong’s smile deepened as he said with ease: “I refuse. What can you do about it?”

Their eyes went red as they prepared to call the strong cultivators at their sides: “You deserve death. Whether you want to or not, you will fix it today, or you won’t leave alive.”

Just then, Chen Ling’er leaped down from the high platform and landed before them. She stared at Zhou Tong, her expression as cold as ever, and said: “Zhou Tong, stop playing hard to get. It only disgusts people. Don’t you want to return to the sect? Using a tiny, insignificant skill to push your luck is ugly. Fine, for junior brother’s sake I’ll plead for you after you save him. Whether it works depends on Master’s decision.”

The crowd felt like they were struck by thunder. For the first time, they saw how shameless the Jade Purity Sect could be. Even if Zhou Tong were truly crippled and could never cultivate again, countless sects would still fight over him for his ability to carve Heavenly Dao Array Arts. But the Jade Purity Sect, despite a shred of old ties, had no interest in making it right. They still wanted to treat Zhou Tong like an animal. Listen to that woman’s nonsense: even if Zhou Tong saved them from disaster, whether he could return would still depend on their mood. That would make him a beggar kneeling for scraps. Talk about a thick face.

Zhou Tong stood up, his gaze sharp as he faced them: “In my eyes, you aren’t even worth a fart.”

From the high platform, Tang Qi screamed even louder: “Ah, ah, ah… save me, hurry and save me, Master, it hurts so much, I’m about to die.”

Chen Ling’er trembled, then snapped at Zhou Tong as she reached for his shoulder: “Don’t make me hate you. If junior brother has an accident, you can’t bear that blame. Come with me now.”

The little demoness flared with anger and struck without fear as her palm met Chen Ling’er’s. Their clash sent wind roaring and thunder booming. Chen Ling’er was completely forced back and knocked flying.

She stared in shock, unable to accept it. Before this, their strength had been close, with only a tiny gap at most. Why was the difference so big now?

The little demoness was surprised too, then she seemed to realize something and smiled with joy. For days she had sparred with Zhou Tong. He had taught her and cleared her doubts, and her understanding of the Joyous Union Heavenly Art had leaped ahead. Now she could easily suppress Chen Ling’er.

A cold shout cracked the air as Mo Liu Su’s voice fell like a hammer. A heavy pressure crashed down from above and pinned both Zhou Tong and the little demoness where they stood. She looked down and issued an order like before: “Go save him.”

Zhou Tong looked up at her with a mocking calm: “What status are you using to talk to me?”

Mo Liu Su’s face shifted again and again before she said, each word icy: “I order you as the strong.”

Zhou Tong’s smile was bright: “Do you think you alone can be supreme?”

She answered with a chill: “Controlling you is more than enough.”

“Not necessarily,” said Zhou Tong without fear.

A voice cut in sideways. Ying Shao Xuan stepped forward, his tone righteous: “Mo Liu Su, you are the Jade Purity Sect’s spokesperson. To bully and force a youth like this, don’t you feel any shame?”

Zhou Tong had a good impression of Ying Shao Xuan and had already guessed he would help him out. [He could read the situation, hated dirty tricks, and understood Zhou Tong’s value. If he didn’t offer a timely favor now, then when?]

Mo Liu Su’s face tightened as she tried to brush him off: “This is our Jade Purity Sect’s affair. Senior Ying, it would be better not to interfere.”

Ying Shao Xuan struck without mercy: “Wrong. Zhou Tong is no longer your disciple.” He was set on making her lose face.

Mo Liu Su had no right to act tough in front of him. She drew a slow breath, then glared at Zhou Tong and said with her chest heaving: “Fine. Since Senior insists on protecting this wretch, I will take a step back. You want benefits, don’t you? Name your terms.”

Zhou Tong looked around the hall and then pointed at Chen Ling’er, Ge Hong Qiu, and Jiang Yu Yao: “You, you, and you, kneel and beg me. Also, I want the Jade Purity Sect’s Seven-Star Azure Blood Lotus.”