Chapter 42: A Thousand Swords Through the Heart

Chapter 42 – A Thousand Swords Through the Heart

“Oh? You want to duel me?”

Yun Zimo raised an eyebrow and let out a cold laugh.

“I’m not like Fourth Brother. I won’t suppress my cultivation. Against someone as arrogant and disrespectful as you, I have no reason to hold back—even if my realm completely overwhelms you, I won’t feel the slightest shame!”

Like Zhang Hanxiao, Yun Zimo was at mid-stage Foundation Establishment, but he had far superior resources.

Zhang Hanxiao spent spirit stones as soon as he earned them, while Yun Zimo saved them, accumulating wealth and knowledge.

On top of that, he dabbled in artifact refinement and formation techniques, making him far more difficult to deal with than an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Li Qingran, however, remained unfazed.

She locked eyes with him and asked, “Third Senior Brother… are you afraid?”

“Don’t try to provoke me. I won’t fall for it.”

Yun Zimo retrieved a flying sword from his storage bag, his gaze lingering on Su Xian Sword before he sneered,

“Your sword is impressive, but unlike Fourth Brother, I won’t lose because of my weapon. I have plenty of swords.”

But Li Qingran ignored him, instead turning to Sect Master Wu Duantian.

She cupped her fists and spoke loudly,

“Sect Master, Qingyun Sect upholds the principle: ‘Only virtue may flourish; evil must never be tolerated.’”

“To slander others, to conspire against one’s fellow disciples—such acts are grave crimes within the sect. Is that correct?”

Wu Duantian, lost in thoughts about elixirs that could restore Dantian injuries, was caught off guard by the sudden question.

It took him a moment to react.

“…That is correct.”

Yun Zimo’s expression flickered—a barely perceptible flash of panic.

But he quickly regained his composure.

What could she possibly have on him?

She had no evidence.

All he had to do was deny everything.

Li Qingran glanced at him briefly before turning back to Wu Duantian.

“And what is the punishment for such crimes?”

Wu Duantian narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard as he answered,

“For false accusations and defamation, the offender is given a verbal warning by the Law Enforcement Hall. A repeat offense results in exile to the Cliff of Penitence.” 𝘙Α𝐍ÓꞖÊS̩

“For conspiring to harm a fellow disciple, however… the punishment is severe. If proven true, the offender shall have their tongue cut out, eyes gouged, and molten iron poured into their ears. Treatment is forbidden for one month as a lesson to all.”

Even though cultivators could eventually heal from such injuries, the agony of such punishment was unimaginable.

A month of complete blindness, deafness, and silence—trapped in endless darkness and suffering.

It was a punishment feared by all.

Li Qingran listened calmly, then once again bowed.

“Sect Master, Yun Zimo, the third personal disciple of Chixiao Peak, conspired with an Outer Sect Elder to frame and persecute his fellow disciple.”

“Since Qingyun Sect is a prestigious sect, it surely won’t ignore such a crime, will it?”

Her words sent a wave of shock through the crowd.

She hadn’t explicitly named anyone, but everyone knew what she meant.

Yun Zimo gritted his teeth in fury, but his clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil.

He knew.

If this blew up, the consequences would be dire.

But as long as he denied everything, she had no proof.

He could still get away with it.

“Scoundrel! You actually did such a thing?!”

Daoist Qingxuan slammed the table, his sword flashing into his hands as he glared at Yun Zimo.

His half-black, half-white hair whipped in the wind, his rage uncontrollable.

But at that moment—

【Tsk. I told you to sit down.】

That ethereal presence swept through the air once more.

A command, undeniable.

Daoist Qingxuan’s veins bulged in frustration.

After three deep breaths, he reluctantly sheathed his sword.

He couldn’t afford to provoke this person.

If this mysterious expert had truly refined an elixir capable of restoring a shattered Dantian, then he was at least Fusion Realm or above.

Even if every elder in the sect joined forces, they wouldn’t stand a chance.

Unless Ancestor Qingyun emerged from seclusion.

But disturbing the Ancestor in the middle of his breakthrough attempt was out of the question.

For now… he had to endure it.

Wu Duantian’s expression hardened.

This situation was serious.

If Li Qingran hadn’t spoken up, he never would have known.

Normally, he would have swept it under the rug for the sake of keeping peace between sect members.

But today—

That mysterious expert was watching.

And more importantly—

He still wanted to ask for a way to restore Zhao Lingtian’s Dantian.

“…Yun Zimo.”

Wu Duantian’s gaze turned icy.

“Is what Li Qingran said true?”

The late Nascent Soul pressure locked onto Yun Zimo like a predator’s jaws.

A chill ran down his spine.

But he forced himself to remain calm.

“Sect Master, I swear I never did such a thing!”

“This is a slanderous accusation!”

Wu Duantian narrowed his eyes.

He already suspected the truth.

“…Li Qingran.”

“If you were expelled from Qingyun Sect because of this, I will personally see that justice is served.”

“But in all matters, evidence is required.”

“Do you have proof?”

Proof?

Li Qingran almost laughed aloud.

Wu Duantian wasn’t asking this for her sake.

He was asking for the sake of the mysterious cultivator behind her.

If she hadn’t had Senior’s support, she wouldn’t have gotten anything today.

She took a deep breath.

“I do have proof.”

“The day I was expelled, I sought out an outer disciple involved in the scheme.”

“I paid him 1,000 low-grade Spirit Stones to reveal the truth. Since I was already being forced out of the sect, and he had nothing to lose, he confessed everything.”

Li Qingran’s gaze swept across the hall, pausing briefly on Yun Zimo and the other Chixiao Peak disciples.

At the time, she could have exposed Yun Zimo before leaving.

But she hadn’t.

Because she had still held onto hope.

She had still believed in brotherhood.

She had still believed she might one day return.

Only when Zhang Hanxiao had thrown her into that filthy shack had she finally understood.

Chixiao Peak was no longer worth hoping for.

Her heart grew firm.

Her voice carried the weight of the past.

“…And he made me swear an oath before he spoke.”

“If I ever broke that promise… then I would suffer…”

“A Thousand Swords Through the Heart.”

As soon as the words left her lips—

SHING!

A phantom sword pierced through her chest from behind.

Her face went deathly pale.

A single trail of blood dripped from her lips, falling onto the stone ground with an eerie ‘plop’.

Her hands trembled as she clutched her chest, barely staying upright with her sword.

SHING! SHING! SHING!

More phantom swords rained down, stabbing into her body.

A horrific pain like a thousand insects devouring her nerves spread through her.

“…Ugh…”

She coughed up mouthfuls of blood, crimson staining the ground.

Yet—

She did not make a single sound of pain.

Silence filled the sect square.

Everyone stared in utter disbelief.

Within just two breaths of time,

Countless swords had impaled her body.

Pinned down, her long black hair draped onto the blood-soaked ground.

She could no longer stand—only kneeling on one knee could keep her from collapsing completely.

Glowing Daoist script circled the blades.

A thousand swords through the heart.

The Dao had answered her oath.

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