The killer took the treasure. Lü Zhong was panicked—this was the first time he had encountered such a situation. He bolted, rushing through the back courtyard and diving headlong into the small grove of trees.

Liu Yue was waiting there. Seeing him sprint over, his face anxious, Liu Yue called out, "What? Did it cause trouble?"

Wang Chang nodded grimly, patting the treasure strapped to his waist. Without the dazzling blue light from before, the item looked like nothing more than a dull, dark stone, showing no reaction.

"I killed that boy. The treasure is here."

"This is it?"

Liu Yue reached out to take it, but Wang Chang subtly shifted, avoiding the grab, and chuckled dryly, "Junior Brother, no need to rush. Let's see the other things first."

Liu Yue missed and his face darkened slightly, but when he saw Wang Chang produce a golden-threaded storage pouch, his expression softened. "Senior Brother, hurry and give it to me! Let's see what good things are inside!"

This time, Wang Tang did not evade. The pouch was snatched away by Liu Yue in one swift motion. A cold sneer flickered across Wang Chang's lips as he subtly reached behind his back and gripped the hilt of his sword.

"What is this!"

Suddenly, Liu Yue roared, his face contorted with rage. Wang Chang flinched, quickly drawing back his hand, only to see Liu Yue holding up the storage pouch, his face icy, pointing to a clear, gaping hole in the bottom!

"Bro... broken?"

Wang Chang’s face turned ashen. The storage pouch he had gone to such lengths to acquire was actually damaged?

Feng Zikang, who had been slumped over the table, slowly straightened up. With a wave of his hand, the bloodstains on the table vanished without a trace. Huo Zhongguang stood behind him with a wry smile. "Junior Brother, did you really have to pull a stunt like that?"

Feng Zikang smiled. "Someone always has to take the blame. That Tai Shan Sword Sect Master, Liu Yuansu, is quite capable. I don't fear him, but there’s no need to stir up extra trouble. Since the Dragon Fang Mirror is in hand, we can leave now."

His main purpose in coming to the Tai Shan Sect was to find clues about the Demon Abode on Dragon Fang Island in the East Sea. Now that he had obtained the crucial Dragon Fang Treasure Mirror effortlessly, he could naturally withdraw with merit achieved. Wang Chang was certainly set up to take the fall.

He flipped his wrist, and an ivory-white ancient mirror appeared in his hand, emitting a faint, eerie blue light.

"This truly is the key to the Demon Abode on Dragon Fang Island. It was obtained without any effort at all..."

"Key?" Huo Zhongguang was utterly confused. He had never seen any key when he entered the Demon Abode.

"When you entered the Demon Abode, you must have had a century's worth of pent-up sword Qi erupting right at the exit. That gave you a fleeting glimpse—a stroke of sheer fortune. I've gathered considerable information from this Dragon Fang Mirror..."

Dragon Fang Island was formed from the tooth of a giant dragon, and the Demon Abode within was carved out by ancient gods and demons. The key to entering was precisely this ancient Dragon Fang Mirror, ground from the tip of that massive tooth.

However, the related information held no connection to the world-shattering strike of the Star Extinction Sword Style that Huo Zhongguang had witnessed; there was only that faint sword mark, silently declaring the essence of the sword technique.

"Let's go!"

Feng Zikang pocketed the ancient mirror, meticulously smoothed his robes, and stepped out the door.

"Senior Brother Wang, what is the meaning of this?"

Liu Yue was burning with rage. He hurled the damaged storage pouch to the ground and glared fiercely at Wang Chang. Storage pouches were condensed spiritual energy, forming a small space of their own. If there was a hole, the spiritual energy would leak out, making it useless for storing anything. In short, the pouch was just a prop, completely worthless.

"If you wanted to privately swallow the spiritual stones and treasures from that boy, why go through this charade? I told you already—I only wanted that treasure. Everything else, we could have negotiated!"

Though he claimed everything was negotiable, Wang Chang thought to himself that Liu Yue would still demand the lion's share, leveraging his father's authority. On the surface, however, Wang Chang could only try to explain.

"Junior Brother Yue... this is a misunderstanding. I didn't tamper with anything..." Wang Chang felt deeply wronged. How had he not noticed the hole in the storage pouch just moments ago? He had been thrilled when he saw the magnificent item; how could it have developed a hole so quickly? Where did all the spiritual stones and other items from that boy Feng go? Had they scattered all along the way? Wang Chang looked back, but nothing was there. Puzzled though he was, he couldn't dwell on it.

"Hmph!" Liu Yue snorted coldly. "Give me the Dragon Fang Mirror and that treasure immediately. Don't waste time, or I’ll tell Father, and you’ll be in for it!"

He adopted the airs of a spoiled young master, raising his voice as if issuing a command.

Wang Chang suppressed his fury, his hand tightening on his sword hilt, murmuring compliance. Suddenly, he whipped his head around, his face changing drastically. "Sect Master! Why are you here?"

"Huh?"

Seeing his father, Liu Yue reacted like a mouse spotting a cat—he was instantly terrified. He turned to look, but the place was empty. In his moment of shock, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his back as a sharp sword pierced straight through his chest.

"You... what are you..."

Liu Yue was petrified, his face pale, his voice laced with a sob. "Shi... Senior Brother, what are you doing?"

"Pah!" Wang Chang spat viciously. "I'm killing you, you idiot! Don't you understand yet? You always made me work like a mule, taking every benefit for yourself. Now you want to hoard this rare treasure too? Absolutely not!"

Wang Chang had long entertained murderous intent, regardless of what happened today, he had to eliminate his Junior Brother. He and Liu Yue had a long-standing grudge. Truly, this time, after hearing Feng Zikang's reckless bragging, he became determined to obtain that fictitious treasure and would never tolerate yielding to Liu Yue. If Liu Yue lived, he would never get his way. Even without the episode of the damaged storage pouch, this sword stroke was destined to be delivered!

"I'll tell Old Yu... I'll tell..."

"You won't get the chance!" Wang Chang twisted his sharp blade, gouging a bloody hole in Liu Yue's chest. At this point, ruthlessness had overtaken him. He actually lunged forward, breaking free of Wang Chang's sword range, and fled desperately, having lost all sense of direction.

"Where do you think you're going!" Wang Chang’s heart hardened. He knew it was a case of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.' If he let Liu Yue escape today, his own life would be forfeit. He pursued with all his might, determined to slay him.

Liu Yue fled, bleeding profusely, crying out in agony. But since he had chosen this secluded spot in the back mountains as their rendezvous point, no one could hear his cries for rescue.

Feng Zikang stood proudly in the air, watching their desperate chase, and smiled faintly. He turned to Huo Zhongguang, "Are those people drawn over?"

"As ordered, Senior!" Huo Zhongguang pointed forward, where a group of poorly dressed junior disciples were stumbling and cursing, rushing after them.

If the audience isn't present when the actors are set, wouldn't the bright pearls be hidden in the dark? Huo Zhongguang had deliberately caused a disturbance, drawing the junior disciples of Tai Shan up to the back mountain to watch this good show of brothers turning on each other. At this moment, Wang Chang was completely oblivious, only focused on the chase, his mind fixed on silencing his victim. He had no idea that a crowd of people, who would also need silencing, lay ahead.

"Liu Yue, you can't escape! How much blood do you have left to spill!"

A pierced chest was a fatal wound; without timely treatment, death was certain. Liu Yue ran frantically, his blood flowing faster, leaving a trail of crimson behind him. His mind was muddled now; he just ran aimlessly until he reached the edge of a cliff and realized there was nowhere left to go. His face turned deathly pale as he turned back, staring despairingly at Wang Chang.

"Senior Brother, spare my life..."

"Go to hell!" How could Wang Chang spare him now? He swung his sword down. Liu Yue jumped to evade, but due to excessive blood loss, his strength failed him. Both his legs were severed at the knee by the sword light. With a scream, he tumbled over the precipice! Only two severed legs remained on the edge of the cliff.

"Hahahaha!" Wang Chang laughed maniacally. This was a ten-thousand-foot abyss; how could Liu Yue, severely wounded, survive the fall? He had removed the bane of his existence and was now gloating, thinking that with the treasure in hand and the witness silenced, his future was limitless.

His laughter finally subsided, ragged and hoarse. Suddenly, he felt something was wrong—a chilling dread prickled his spine from behind.

He turned and saw a line of Tai Shan disciples staring at him, dumbfounded!

Liu Yue fell over the cliff, hovering between life and death. His vision was blurred, and knowing he was doomed, he wept tears of grief. Suddenly, he felt someone walking nearby.

"Sa... save me..."

He struggled to raise his right hand, grasping upward, letting out a faint cry for help.

The person lightly kicked his head. Stimulated by the contact, he forced his eyes open and recognized the face standing before him—it was remarkably familiar.

"Young Feng... you... weren't you killed by my Senior Brother..."

At the threshold of death, he thought this was a vengeful spirit coming to claim him, so he calmed down. This Feng Zikang had just been killed by Wang Chang, a plot he and his Senior Brother had conspired on. Unexpectedly, he was now being killed by Wang Chang himself—truly, divine retribution was swift.

"You... are you a ghost? Don't take me! It was all Wang Shan... he..."

Wang Chang remembered that those who committed evil would be captured by fierce ghosts and sent to hell to suffer. Fear gripping him, he hurriedly distanced himself from the accusation. Then he heard Feng Zikang chuckle, "Senior Brother Liu, I am not a ghost. I know everything about your conspiracy with that Wang Chang..."

"Though you acted unjustly, I cannot be unethical. Since there is a karmic debt remaining, I have come to escort you on your way, concluding this affair."

"You... you're not dead!"

Liu Yue finally grasped something, but his mind was still muddled, a chaotic mess. Feng Zikang lowered his head and gave him a strange smile—part mockery, part perhaps pity.

"Senior Brother Liu, rest in peace. I have already drawn the Tai Shan disciples to surround Senior Brother Wang. I fear that even with his immense cultivation, he won't escape retribution. Even if he survives, he'll be stripped bare."

"Save... save me..." Liu Yue felt his vision growing dimmer; his life was rapidly draining away. He couldn't even think about revenge anymore; he only wanted to beg for help.

Feng Zikang burst into loud laughter and let out a sharp whistle. Two magnificent celestial steeds descended from the sky, pulling a cloud chariot of such exquisite splendor that compared to Liu Yue’s so-called Eight Steeds chariot, it was like heaven and earth—simply incomparable.

"You... you..."

Liu Yue summoned his last ounce of strength, raising his right hand, and extended his middle finger.

"You goddamn show-off!"

Amidst Liu Yue's curses, Feng Zikang roared with laughter, driving the chariot away. Liu Yue stared wide-eyed, his breath catching, dying with his eyes open in indignation.

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