"First up, a call for monthly tickets! There will be a third update later! Feng Zikang lowered his head, accepting the instruction, but a flicker of cold light crossed his eyes.

'However, how does Martial Uncle Mo plan to deal with the myriad demons in Mangcang Mountain? Could you perhaps enlighten me? That way, I can report back to my sect clearly and precisely!'

Mo Bai's eyebrows arched slightly, his expression displeased. 'Martial Nephew truly possesses a stubborn streak; no wonder you and A-Li became close.'

He frowned but decided to explain the whole affair from beginning to end. He didn't want this hot-blooded youth to return and spout nonsense that might tarnish the Mo Family's reputation.

'This matter is a long story,' Mo Bai patiently began his explanation.

Feng Zikang was certainly no mere hot-blooded youth, but the killing intent in him had not yet subsided. With the obstacle of his Demonic Heart remaining, he absolutely would not let the White Bone Divine Lord of Mangcang Mountain—that demon—off the hook. Hearing that Mo Bai intended to call it a day, merely giving Mangcang Mountain a 'lesson,' his face immediately grew cold.

'So, you mean the thousands of common folk in the Southwest and the Southern Barbarian lands simply died for nothing? And your own junior martial nephew, Mo Li, also died utterly without value?'

It was quite comical that Feng Zikang, in his guise as the Formless Heavenly Demon avatar, would question someone with such righteous indignation. Mo Bai found the words grating and awkward to hear.

'Martial Nephew Feng, what is the meaning of this? This affair concerns the greater scheme of things, something you, a mere youth, cannot possibly comprehend! Withdraw immediately!'

Mo Bai also felt deeply wronged. He had taken the blame to clean up their mess, yet this young man was ungrateful and spoke back rudely. If not for recognizing him as a disciple of the Military Strategists—a kindred branch—Mo Bai would have turned hostile on the spot.

'The greater scheme? Ha, the greater scheme?'

Feng Zikang let out a few cold laughs. 'It turns out the Linzi Mo Family is simply afraid of that Nascent Soul stage old demon! I thought every member of the Mo Family was as chivalrous and righteous as Senior Brother Mo Li and Senior Sister Fenghuang. I didn't realize there were so many spineless individuals among you.'

'Insolence!'

Mo Bai’s face flushed with anger. 'Stop spouting nonsense! Were it not for respecting your master’s face, I would teach you a lesson right now! You’ve gained notoriety recently; perhaps you can’t hold onto your original heart anymore? The supposed number one rising star of the Righteous Path—seeing you today is truly disappointing!'

Seeing Mo Bai enraged and spewing harsh words, Feng Zikang laughed instead of growing angry.

'Since your Mo Family will not concern itself with the affairs here, then fellow Daoist, please depart on your own. I will take my Qi Condensation mid-stage disciples to challenge that old demon of White Bone one-on-one; we won't need your help.'

His words were carefully crafted to strike at the heart. The notion of merely Qi Condensation mid-stage disciples challenging an old demon made Mo Bai's insides churn like a cat scratching at them, igniting a raging, obscure fire of karma, making him desperately want to slap this boastful youth dead.

In the preceding two centuries, Mo Bai had indeed been considered a rising talent among the Righteous Path disciples. However, General Lu and Ye Tiansheng of the Military Strategists had reputations so immense they suppressed all ambition in their contemporaries. General Lu was like a celestial being, the world's foremost expert—that was acceptable. Ye Tiansheng was only at the Golden Core stage, yet he had cultivated for two centuries longer than Mo Bai, so why did he command such renown?

Mo Bai had always harbored a hidden sense of dissatisfaction. Alas, though his aptitude was excellent, it was only superior when compared to those good-for-nothings who couldn't even establish their foundations. It took him over a hundred hard years just to form his Dao foundation, and despite desperately trying to advance his cultivation, he saw no real progress, resulting in a growing silence over the years.

Now, the third generation of disciples were emerging. Feng Zikang of the Little Bamboo Grove was famous throughout the world. This brat was merely at the sixth level of Qi Condensation yet enjoyed a glory Mo Bai had never attained, and he was so young and aggressive, utterly lacking in decorum—how could this not infuriate him?

Feng Zikang was doing this intentionally.

Today, with the obstacle of his Demonic Heart, he would not rest until Mangcang Mountain was purged. If Mo Bai had come to help him, that would have been one thing.

He could have remained in the shadows, leveraging Mo Bai's strength. But this man had not come with that purpose; he was here to mediate and smooth things over.

Under such circumstances, not only could Feng Zikang, whose state of mind sought breakthrough, not agree to stop, but even purely to adhere to his own principles and vent that slight displeasure caused by Mo Li’s death, he had to treat Mo Bai as an obstacle.

If he was an obstacle, then naturally, he must be slain, whether he was Buddha or God blocking the way!

Though Mo Bai was a disciple of the Mo Family, his capacity for tolerance was somewhat narrow—a fact Feng Zikang had deduced upon their first meeting. Later, when Mo Bai mentioned Ye Yusheng from the Little Bamboo Grove, there was a hint of underlying sourness in his tone. With the keen perception of the Formless Heavenly Demon, Feng Zikang naturally detected the tiny jealousy lurking in his heart.

Heaven knows, this was truly just minor jealousy. Mo Bai had cultivated for many years and had long suppressed this jealousy deep in his heart, never letting it show. If not for his state of mind faltering today and encountering the instigation of the Formless Heavenly Demon, it would not have flared up to this extent.

Under Feng Zikang’s verbal goading, Mo Bai even developed a trace of jealousy toward this junior who was acclaimed as the hope of the Righteous Path, even wanting to strike him down, yet he was desperately using reason to suppress this loathing emotion. Hmph.

'What of it? You dare kill me?' Feng Zikang maintained an arrogant posture, glancing sideways at Mo Bai. That expression was truly enough to drive anyone’s temper past endurance.

'Court death.'

Mo Bai’s fury surged. He drew the silk sash from his waist and whipped it fiercely towards Feng Zikang’s head.

The moment he struck, regret bloomed in his heart. Regardless, the other was a disciple of the Military Strategists, someone he couldn't discipline. Moreover, the youth acted out of goodwill, seeking revenge for his close friend by eliminating demons. Mo Bai stopping him to prevent a disaster made sense, but most people couldn't understand that. Attacking in anger now only put him further in the wrong!

With this thought, he deliberately slowed his hand.

Feng Zikang had been waiting for this hesitation. That five-colored silk sash possessed formidable power; when brandished, it felt like Mount Tai bearing down, an immense pressure—truly a rare treasure. Unfortunately, the one wielding it lacked the killing intent. As he swung, he tried hard to rein it in, giving Feng Zikang the opening he needed.

Feng Zikang struck without mercy. Dodging the blow from the five-colored sash, his sword shot out like lightning, piercing Mo Bai’s right arm while the latter was still wavering!

'It hurts terribly!'

Mo Bai cried out, dropping the five-colored sash as he retreated several steps, his anger burning.

But before he could speak, Feng Zikang shouted.

'What a distinguished senior of the Mo Family! To protect the horde of demons in Mangcang Mountain, you resort to murder to silence me? Humph, humph. I wonder how you attained your Foundation Establishment cultivation, to ambush and strike at a junior in the Qi Condensation stage, only to have your arm wounded by me!'

'You!' Mo Bai was so furious his face turned purple, unable to form complete words. Clearly, he had shown restraint, and this ruthless junior had injured him accidentally when he let down his guard. Yet, in Feng Zikang’s telling, he had become the villain attempting a sneak attack, one who was also outmatched and injured by a mere sixth-level Qi Condensation disciple!

If I truly wanted to kill you, why would I give you a chance to fight back? Mo Bai ground his teeth, clutching his wound, and bent down to retrieve the five-colored sash. It was his proudest magic weapon and could not be lost. But as he did so, another sword light flashed, blocking his path.

Feng Zikang stood holding his sword, treating him as an actual opponent!

'Junior! I was momentarily flustered just now, intending only to discipline you. I had no intention of causing harm. You have violently injured me; I will certainly petition your master about this. Now, retreat immediately!'

It was rare that Mo Bai, in his fit of rage, could restrain himself enough to say these words. He detested Feng Zikang, but as a Mo Family disciple who had long cultivated his mind, he could still control his emotions.

'Hahahaha!' Feng Zikang burst into wild laughter. 'So this is how formidable a Martial Uncle at the Foundation Establishment stage is—nothing more than a painted stick! Since you’re afraid, hurry and leave. I won't press the matter if you go!'

Mo Bai’s tolerance finally reached its limit. The arrogance of this junior was simply too much!

The gap between Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation could never be bridged by just a few divine abilities, not to mention Mo Bai had practiced for over a hundred years, possessing vast powers. Could he possibly fear a mere young disciple who had only cultivated for ten years?

His expression shifted in anger. He formed hand seals. 'Mechanism Man, summon!'

'Roar!'

With a deafening roar, a giant mechanism figure, entirely colored green, descended from the sky, swinging colossal fists with a metallic clang—it was the Mo Family’s secret art, the Bronze Mechanism Man!

Feng Zikang glanced over, noticing the two white stars on the mechanism man’s chest, and let out a cold sneer. 'So, Senior is only at the second level of Foundation Establishment. Not much higher than us third-generation disciples of the Military Strategists! Humph!'

Mo Bai’s face burned crimson, and he offered no reply, only intent on giving this ignorant junior a thorough lesson. With a wave of his left hand, the Bronze Mechanism Man lunged forward. Feng Zikang showed no fear and met the charge with his sword.

After all, this was a Bronze Mechanism Man at the Foundation Establishment stage, possessing extraordinary divine abilities. It punched, kicked, breathed fire from its mouth, and shot beams of light from its eyes. Its entire body was a weapon. Feng Zikang found himself dodging left and right, appearing somewhat strained.

Mo Bai let out a cold laugh and stood aside, no longer in a hurry to retrieve the five-colored sash, adopting the posture of a master observing the spectacle.

Feng Zikang defended for a while. Although he was at a disadvantage, his sword maneuvers were tight, forming a faint golden arc around him, within which stars flickered, successfully blocking the Bronze Mechanism Man's assault.

This was the defensive secret of the Star Annihilation Sword Art he had just comprehended: his surroundings were like a starry cosmos. No matter how fierce the enemy's attack, as long as his aura and sword momentum remained unbroken, what could they do to him in the short term?

Mo Bai saw that his sustained attack was proving fruitless and was beginning to lose face. Lacking other offensive means, he stopped playing the high and mighty role and bent down to pick up the five-colored sash lying on the ground.

But just then, Feng Zikang let out a long laugh, and another stream of sword light shot out, sealing his escape route.

'It turns out, Senior, you only have these few signature moves left? If you don't have a magic weapon in hand, you can't even execute them properly? In that case, let's test my true abilities!'

Feng Zikang had held back until now, waiting for Mo Bai to exhaust all his trump cards before moving to annihilate him without restraint!

'Four Symbols Divine Demon Formation!'

'Long Que, emerge!'

With the earth shaking and mountains trembling, four Divine Demons manifested in the air, completely encircling Mo Bai. And Long Que, overjoyed, leaped out and viciously pounced toward the Bronze Mechanism Man.

Feng Zikang moved to the side with a grin and picked up the five-colored sash from the ground.

'That... that thing is—'

Mo Bai ignored the assault of the Divine Demons surrounding him, staring at Long Que with a look of utter shock!

Wasn't this the mysterious mechanism beast that Mo Fenghuang mentioned had merged with Mo Li and self-detonated? How did it end up in the hands of this Military Strategist disciple, and one he could command so skillfully?

Mo Bai glanced back at the four fierce Divine Demons besieging him, and a sudden chill shot through his heart.

This brat revealed so many ultimate moves at once, even daring to expose that he had mastered the secrets of the Mo Family's mechanism beasts. Was he truly planning to execute him right here? Distracted, fighting off the four Divine Demons while commanding the Mechanism Man to keep Long Que occupied, cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he looked back toward Feng Zikang’s position.

He saw Feng Zikang standing solemn, examining the five-colored sash in his hand. Sensing Mo Bai's gaze, he suddenly looked up and gave a cold smile, his eyes filled entirely with blood-red killing intent.

Who exactly is this brat? Mo Bai felt a sudden alarm, a cold draft creeping up his spine!"