When Yan Yong at last produced the
Xuanba Shitian Axe
(Supreme Conquest Sky-Devouring Axe), Dongfang Yelaiâs heart had leapt with joy. He had already imagined how he would receive this priceless artifact.
But to his utter disbelief, he watched as Yan Yong placed the axe into Xie Buyuâs hands instead!
In that moment, Dongfang Yelaiâs fury boiled over. He could not understand why his master had gone back on his promise to give him the axe.
Memories of five years spent groveling at Yan Yongâs feet flashed before his eyesâscenes in which he had humiliated himself daily, like a clown in a circus, all for the sake of earning what he believed was rightfully his share. And in the end, he had received nothing. It was a monumental jokeâand a grave insult.
Unrestrained rage filled Dongfang Yelaiâs chest. He stormed before Yan Yong and demanded, âMaster, what do you take me for? Toilet paperâused once and discarded? You promised to give me that axe! Why didnât you?â
Perhaps affronted by being questioned so openly, Yan Yongâs face darkened. With a thunderous voice, he reprimanded his discipleâs greed: âEven if I was drunk that day and babbled, I have every right to change my mind! Itâs your impetuous characterâday after day you waste your time on trifles instead of refining your cultivation. What makes you worthy to inherit my legacy? Or to take leadership of the Fate Hall?
âMoreover, by all rules of seniority, Xie Buyu is the eldestâit is only fitting she succeed me!â
At this last declaration, Dongfang Yelaiâs eyes turned blood-red. âSeniority? By that logic, I should have been firstâafter all, I was the very first to stand by your side! If you loathe me so, then I will walk my bright path and you yours: we shall never meet again!â
With this scathing retort, he stormed out of the Fate Hall. Yan Yong trembled in anger, pointing after the departing figure, speechless.
Two days passed, and in his pride, Dongfang Yelai refused to return. He resolved to venture alone into the Divine Realm, never to step foot in that cursed placeâor the Divine Allianceâagain.
But then Zhu Qiyuan found him. Instinctively, Dongfang Yelai assumed his Second Senior Brother had come to persuade him. âIf youâre here as a mediator, get lostâI'm never going back!â
Instead, Zhu Qiyuan handed him a flask of divine wine. âMediator? Nonsense. Fourth Junior Brother, you were right. Master is an old fool: he promised you the axe, then gave it to Senior Sister. Itâs a mockery! Why should I, the Second Brother, get nothing?â
As Zhu Qiyuan defended him, Dongfang Yelai seized the wine and drained it. Encouraged, he agreed: âI refuse to submit any longer!â
âWe will take what is ours,â Zhu Qiyuan pressed on. âBut we need help. My eldest brother, the Demon God, will lend us aid. Together, weâll seize the
Xuanba Shitian Axe
from Masterâand then kill him!â
Dongfang Yelai froze. He harbored resentment but had never contemplated patricide. Hastily, he protested: âWe may reclaim the axe, but Master remains Masterâit would be wrong to kill him!â
Zhu Qiyuan slapped Dongfang Yelaiâs cheek with mocking contempt. âHe might see you as a disciple, but does he truly regard you as such? He treats you like a dog!â
Fury welled in Dongfang Yelaiâs fists as he recalled the betrayal. A murderous impulse arose: âIf he will not show mercy, neither shall I!â
That night, Dongfang Yelai and Zhu Qiyuan met with the Demon God Gou Langtu. After planning, they chose to ambush Yan Yong atop Eternal Vibration Divine Mountain in five daysâ timeâon the fifth day of the eighth month, the very day Yan Yong traditionally climbed the peak in solemn remembrance.
Gou Langtu even recruited additional accomplices to ensure a killing blow.
When the day arrived, they lay in wait. Yan Yong appeared, looking gaunt and wearied. Gou Langtu and his men attacked, driving Yan Yong back step by stepâuntil the master drew {Nâ˘oâ˘vâ˘eâ˘lâ˘iâ˘gâ˘hâ˘t} forth the
Xuanba Shitian Axe
.
With its power in hand, Yan Yong rooted himself firm, and his divine energy surged so fiercely that he forced Gou Langtuâs forces to retreat. Seizing the chance, he broke free and fled northward.
Only Dongfang Yelai knew of this annual pilgrimage; no one else could explain Yan Yongâs sudden absence. Determined to prevent his escape, Dongfang Yelai and Zhu Qiyuan risked casting powerful divine seals to hinder him.
They succeeded in halting himâbut in doing so, Dongfang Yelai overreached. Yan Yongâs retreating palm caught the edge of his robe, yanking him off balance. Terror shot through his heart.
Perceiving the betrayal, Yan Yong held back his axeâonly then did Gou Langtu and company strike from the shadows, grievously wounding the master.
Yet fate proved elusive: even mortally injured, Yan Yong staggered back and managed to escape.
As his masterâs retreating form vanished from sight, dread overwhelmed Dongfang Yelai and Zhu Qiyuan. They knew they had gravely miscalculatedâfor in the Divine Realm, crimes against oneâs master could incur a fate far worse than death.