A mont later, three of the Mingcang Sect disciples lying on the ground began to stir and slowly regained consciousness. However, their mories had already been tampered with by the Bald Old Demon, becoming entirely different from before. All they rembered was a fierce battle alongside their fellow disciples against the Demon Cultivators of Perch Eagle Land. Just as they were gaining the upper hand, a formidable Gray Wolf suddenly appeared, scattering them in disarray. Six Hua Dan Cultivators struggled to hold their ground and were forced to order them back to avoid a massacre.
The Bald Old Demon, possessing a certain vanity, deliberately altered their mories to make his true form appear imposing, powerfully majestic, and extraordinary.
Yet the Old Demon was exceedingly cautious. He knew that sending all twenty or so disciples together might exhaust their efforts to breach the prohibition barrier, leaving no retreat. Thus, he decided to first dispatch a few disciples as scouts. Should any gaps appear in his plan, he could still make tily adjustnts.
The three disciples flew to hover above Bamboo Island’s sky, but since they couldn’t penetrate the barrier, they circled and lingered overhead.
The tunneling light imdiately alerted a disciple on the island tasking with maintaining the prohibition barrier. His na was Tu Song. Having begun his cultivation practice relatively late, his cultivation level stagnated upon reaching the Xuan Guang Realm. Watching himself age year by year, he’d gradually lost his enthusiasm for cultivation. However, Tu Song was known for his warm-hearted nature, often helping disciples with lower cultivation levels, earning him great respect among the Ming Qi Disciples. For this reason, Ge Shuo had entrusted the subtoken talisman to him, though it had remained unused until now.
Upon spotting the disturbance in the sky, Tu Song quickly ascended and called out across the barrier, "Where do you few senior brothers co from?"
One of the three imdiately replied, "Brother Tu, don’t you recognize your junior? I am Pan Hong, under Senior Brother Fang’s tutelage."
Tu Song exclaid in astonishnt, "It is indeed Junior Brother Pan! Weren’t you accompanying Master Ge and the other senior brothers to battle against Perch Eagle Land? How have you co to be here?"
Pan Hong sighed, "Ah, it’s a long story. Brother Tu, please lift the barrier so we can enter."
Tu Song hesitated briefly before clasping his hands in a respectful gesture and said, "I am not sure of the matter. It would be best to explain it clearly. Master Ge once stated that without a Jade Token, the prohibition barrier must not be lifted. I am carrying out my duty, and I hope my junior brothers can understand."
Pan Hong appeared genuinely considerate and understanding, without a hint of insincerity, and proceeded to recount his version of the events.
"What?" Tu Song was startled upon hearing such accounts but remained conflicted about whether or not to believe them. For a while, he wavered.
Pan Hong hurriedly interjected, "Brother Tu, you don’t need to feel troubled. I recall hearing that other brothers are following behind. Wait for a mont longer, and once you listen to their accounts, you may lift the barrier without haste."
Tu Song felt a surge of relief, reasoning that if one or two individuals might speak untruthfully, a larger group would allow discernnt of the truth.
Indeed, before long, more and more disciples arrived in small clusters, their numbers surpassing ten. Their accounts matched perfectly, and with this confirmation, Tu Song finally felt assured. Producing the subtoken talisman, he was about to open the barrier when suddenly soone stepped forward and seized his wrist, exclaiming, "Hold on!"
Tu Song, alard and perplexed, turned to see the intruder, an extraordinarily handso and composed young cultivator. He paused and asked, "Who is this junior brother? Why do you stop ?"
The cultivator replied coolly, "I am Zhang Yan."
"Zhang Yan?" Tu Song was montarily taken aback before sneering, "Ah, so it’s the True Disciple. Quite the display of authority. What now? Is teaching a lesson to Junior Mo not enough for you, and now you wish to interfere with my stewardship duties?"
It turns out Tu Song was the sa middle-aged cultivator who had torn the talisman from Mo Tianhua’s body earlier. Though unaware of the full story, this incident left Tu Song with a highly negative impression of Zhang Yan. With preconceived bias, he saw Zhang Yan as an arrogant disciple who used his status and alchemy skills to act recklessly.
Zhang Yan’s expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "Brother Tu, there is no need to be angry. I have my reasons for stopping you."
Tu Song growled, "What reason could you possibly have?"
Zhang Yan smiled lightly and said, "Brother, you just ntioned that Master Ge instructed not to open the barrier without a Jade Token. So, let ask you—where is the Jade Token?"
"This..." Tu Song faltered hesitantly.
Away from the discussion, the Bald Old Demon listened attentively through the ears of the disciples under his Heart Spell. Muttering to himself, he cursed, "Who is this ddleso little thief? Dare he ruin my plans?"
With urgency, he focused his ntal thod to incite anger in one of the enchanted disciples.
The disciple, already harboring resentnt toward Zhang Yan, couldn’t contain his fury when provoked by the Old Demon. He burst out, "Bah! Zhang Yan, you are rely a Pill Master! What do you know of our hardships fighting outside? And what right do you have to ddle in matters unrelated to you, only to spout such idle words?"
As his accusation rang out, the others joined in a chorus of denunciations. Soone even added, "I recall Zhang Yan should be in Master Ge’s elixir room practicing alchemy. How did he find his way here? Suspicious—is he a spy? Brother Tu, don’t fall for his trickery!"
Tu Song, hearing such remarks, seed to resolve himself. Pulling his wrist free from Zhang Yan, his tone turned icy. "Junior Brother Zhang, this matter does not concern you. Whatever consequences it brings, I, Tu Song, will bear them alone. Leave at once!"
Despite the harsh words and collective rebuke, Zhang Yan remained composed and replied unhurriedly, "Brother Tu, don’t rush. I have a proposal that benefits both sides. Since Master Ge and the senior brothers are struggling against a Great Demon, we must undoubtedly request reinforcents from the sect. Thus, why not let these brothers return to the Mountain Gate and report this matter to the Sect Leader and True Masters? In doing so, we both uphold the sect rules and ensure safety. What do you think?"
Tu Song mulled over Zhang Yan’s suggestion, finding a degree of sensibility in it, and began to hesitate, realizing Zhang Yan might truly not be seeking conflict.
On Bamboo Island, the Bald Old Demon froze in surprise, his voice filled with frustration. "How could I forget that? Who is this ddleso brat? Why is he so difficult to handle? However, my cunning still prevails..."
Manipulating his ntal thod further, he seized control of a disciple’s body under the Heart Transference Spell. Forcing several coughing fits accompanied by blood, the disciple collapsed, his body seemingly giving way.
The surrounding disciples cried out in alarm and rushed forward to catch him, shouting, "Junior Brother Chen, what’s wrong?"
"Junior Brother Chen," now under the Old Demon’s control, spoke feebly, "A strange Dharma technique from a Demon Cultivator wounded earlier. I’ve been relying on elixir pills to sustain myself, but now they’ve run out. I can no longer hold on."
Pan Hong turned to Tu Song and urged, "Brother Tu, we can all refrain from entering the island, but Junior Brother Chen is gravely injured. Surely we must let him inside?"
Brother Tu nodded firmly, saying, "Naturally."
Turning to Zhang Yan, Tu Song braced for opposition only to see Zhang Yan offer a faint smile and say, "Brother Tu, breaking rules is breaking rules—letting one person in is the sa as letting everyone in. Why not allow them all to enter?"
...
... (To be continued. If you’ve enjoyed this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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