However, the Amber Zhu Silk and the Tianya Sword moved as fast as lightning, appearing before Lin Jingyu in almost an instant.
The Amber Zhu Silk glowed with brilliant five-colored radiance, unleashing stream after stream of ethereal light.
Carrying the might of thunder and lightning, the Tianya Sword went straight for Lin Jingyu's vital points. Little Lu was truly furious—Junior Brother Zhang Yuan was her tribulation!
Feeling the oppressive aura bearing down on him, Lin Jingyu's expression changed drastically. He might not even be able to handle the Amber Zhu Silk on its own, let alone with the Tianya Sword as well.
With both immortal magical treasures bearing down on him, he was forced to unleash his ultimate trump card. He retreated sharply, gripping his sword incantation: "Rise."
A resounding dragon roar rang out! A dragon-shaped immortal sword instantly materialized in mid-air, radiating emerald light. Within it, a divine dragon seemed to swirl, and fierce Sword Intent surged everywhere.
It completely enveloped his body in an airtight defense.
For a moment, neither the Amber Zhu Silk nor the Tianya Sword could break through his defense.
"Is this the Dragon-Slaying Sword?"
Tian Buyi's expression grew even uglier.
To think Daoist Cangsong had actually given the Dragon-Slaying Sword to Lin Jingyu—what a lavish gesture! It seemed Cangsong was determined to win this Seven Meridians Martial Gathering. At the last Seven Meridians Martial Gathering, Dazhu Peak had been suppressed by Cangsong's lineage, and now he was pulling stunts like this again.
Seeing Lin Jingyu block the two women's attacks, Qi Hao slowly let out a sigh of relief.
Daoist Cangsong had said that Lin Jingyu was a rare prodigy once in a century. If anything unfortunate happened to him at Dazhu Peak, Qi Hao truly wouldn't know how to answer to his master.
Seeing that their prolonged attacks failed to break through, the two women flew into a genuine fury, each unleashing their signature skills to attack Lin Jingyu once more. This time, the assault was even more ferocious; in a split second, a dense web of silk ribbons bound Lin Jingyu tightly within.
Lu Xueqi's Tianya Sword thrust straight toward Lin Jingyu's face. Unable to move, Lin Jingyu had no choice but to raise the sword in his hand to parry.
Yet it was a hurried block.
He could summon very little strength at all.
Lin Jingyu felt his arm go numb, and the Dragon-Slaying Sword instantly slipped from his grip, falling to the center of the Shouxingtang main hall. For a cultivator, losing one's weapon in battle was equivalent to losing half their strength—like a tiger with its teeth pulled out. Combined with the fact that he was already bound, his situation became even more perilous.
Seeing that Lin Jingyu was in danger and that Uncle Tian was ignoring the situation, Qi Hao gritted his teeth and hastily summoned a white immortal sword. He simply could not stand by and watch Lin Jingyu get hurt.
This immortal sword was called the "Frost Sword," a blade of considerable renown in the cultivation world.
Qi Hao had risen to great prominence back then precisely because of this Frost Sword.
Glancing ahead, Tian Buyi knew it was time for him to step in. If he didn't make a move now, the situation would only grow harder to control.
"Stop right there."
With a stern shout from him, Qi Hao's mind reeled in instability, the energy in his Dantian churning in chaos. The Frost Sword in his hand practically stalled, and his body stiffened in place.
Hearing Tian Buyi's voice, Tian Ling'er and Lu Xueqi dared not act rashly and halted their ensuing attacks. As the master of a pulse, Tian Buyi still commanded that much authority.
Although his cultivation was somewhat inferior to Daoist Cangsong's, it was not behind by much. The moniker "Fatty Tian" was not earned for nothing.
"Master."
"Uncle Tian, Lin Jingyu wounded a fellow disciple without cause; I beg you to deliver justice for Xiaozhu Peak."
Lu Xueqi turned her head and bowed slightly toward Tian Buyi, a faint trace of anger still lingering in her lovely eyes. Clearly, the fury in her heart had not yet subsided.
"Rest assured!"
"I have my own judgment in this matter, and I will handle it impartially. Step back behind me for now." Tian Buyi spoke coldly, enunciating each word with a tone laden with varying degrees of resentment. His wife, Su Ru, was from Xiaozhu Peak, and he had always maintained good relations with them, as well as being close personal friends with Master Shuiyue—an affection that naturally extended to everything associated with them.
"Understood, Master."
"Alright."
Hearing this, Tian Ling'er and Lu Xueqi obediently retreated behind Tian Buyi.
Tian Buyi walked over to the front of Zhang Yuan, pulled open his robes, and checked his injuries. His expression grew even gloomier. Right on Zhang Yuan's chest was a distinct fist print, the impact having caved his chest inward.
One could only imagine just how immense the attacker's strength had been! This was clearly an attempt to take his life.
Tian Buyi retrieved a Qi-Restoration Pill from his robes, pried open Zhang Yuan's mouth, and fed it to him. Then, he turned his gaze back to Qi Hao and Lin Jingyu, his voice cold yet filled with authority, rolling across the surroundings like majestic heavenly might.
"Lin Jingyu intentionally severely wounded a fellow disciple, ignored sect rules, and slaughtered a fellow sect member as though he were an enemy. This act is no different from that of the Demonic Path."
"Do you know your crime?"
At these words, Qi Hao's expression turned extremely unsightly. Ever since that fatty Tian had spoken up, he had known things were about to blow up.
That fatty Tian really intended to go strictly by the book.
Qi Hao's legs suddenly went weak, and he dropped straight to his knees. "Uncle Tian, Lin Jingyu is young and ignorant; I beg you to spare him. He is Daoist Cangsong's beloved disciple, after all. I implore you to spare a thought for Daoist Cangsong and give Lin Jingyu a chance to turn over a new leaf. Another day, my master Daoist Cangsong and I will personally come to make amends and apologize."
Daoist Cangsong?
Hearing this name, Tian Buyi's expression turned even colder.
Those four words—Daoist Cangsong—were like four daggers reopening a wound that had already been inflicted upon his heart.
Tian Buyi had long been at odds with Daoist Cangsong and harbored grievances against Longshou Peak. For Qi Hao to bring up Cangsong at this moment was akin to tearing open his scars.
"Oh..."
"I almost forgot, Lin Jingyu is Daoist Cangsong's disciple. But does being the disciple of Daoist Cangsong give someone the right to intentionally severely wound a fellow disciple?"
Tian Buyi asked coldly in return.
Cold sweat poured from Qi Hao. Faced with Tian Buyi's questioning, he had no idea how to respond. He was merely an ordinary disciple; how could he possibly be qualified to argue with the master of a peak?
"Indeed!"
"Zhang Yuan is still severely injured and unconscious right now, with his chest caved in. We cannot simply let Lin Jingyu off like this. Never mind that he is Daoist Cangsong's beloved disciple—even if he were the Sect Master's beloved disciple, he should still be punished for breaking the rules."
Lu Xueqi said indignantly.
She didn't care for the intricate politics within the sect; she only knew that Lin Jingyu had harmed her fellow junior brother Zhang Yuan, and therefore he deserved punishment.
Hearing Lu Xueqi's words, the cold sweat on Qi Hao's forehead broke out even more profusely. Lu Xueqi was Master Shuiyue's beloved disciple—why was she also pleading for that blind Zhang Yuan? Lin Jingyu had offended two out of the seven peaks all at once.
Even if Daoist Cangsong were to speak up personally, his words might no longer carry enough weight.
Oh, Jingyu! You really know how to cause trouble for me and Master.
Seeing Senior Brother Qi Hao kneel, Lin Jingyu couldn't help but drop to his knees as well.
"Uncle Tian."
"Jingyu knows he was wrong. Earlier, when I saw Junior Brother Zhang Yuan, I couldn't help but spar with him a little. I never expected that Junior Brother Zhang Yuan... wouldn't even be able to take a single punch from me. I am willing to accept punishment."
"Are you truly willing to accept punishment?" Tian Buyi asked.
"I am willing," Lin Jingyu replied.
"Good. Since that is the case, you will leave the Dragon-Slaying Sword behind as an apology to Junior Brother Zhang Yuan. Our Dazhu Peak and Xiaozhu Peak will consider this matter settled. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind going to the Sect Master myself to ask how malicious assault upon a fellow disciple should properly be punished." Tian Buyi said coldly.