62: Invincible Kitchen Knife 3

(This story continues from Chapters 43 and 44—invincible kitchen knife)

The female Sword Cultivator Yi Zhan was originally a peerless Genius of her Sect, upholding a heart of chivalry and performing countless good deeds.

Little did she expect to be coveted and plotted against by a crowd of enemies, falling step by step into the abyss.

She had saved her hypocritical Junior Sister, Liu Qinmei, who was being hunted by demonic Cultivators.

But the other party stole her natal sword manual, slandered her for colluding with the Demonic Path, and caused her to be expelled from the Sect.

While passing through a mountain village, she saved an orphaned girl, Pity Moon, who was being bullied by a tyrant.

Who knew that the other party was actually an undercover demonic Cultivator? She used Yi Zhan's kindness to get close to the Sect, stole the Mountain-protecting Treasure, and then framed her, making her bear the infamy of colluding with the enemy.

In a Secret Realm, she risked her life to save Profound Brightness, the legitimate daughter of the Shen Family who was trapped.

Yet the other party, jealous of her sword Dao talent, secretly bribed assassins to cripple her meridians and spread rumors that she had snatched the Secret Realm's Opportunity.

On her journey, she helped the Loose Cultivator Bai Lingxi, whose spiritual power was exhausted.

The other party immediately leaked the location where she was healing and joined forces with her enemies to snatch the healing Spirit Medicine she had worked so hard to find.

She even lent a helping hand to a beggar girl named Lin Yue, whom she didn't even know.

But the girl was the daughter of an enemy, who intentionally lured her into a Formation and destroyed her Dantian.

Even her Senior Sister Qin Yuwei, who had once received her favors...

...turned against her due to the struggle for the Sect's inheritance rights, forging evidence to solidify her "crimes."

Yi Zhan's repeated acts of kindness were met with betrayal, framing, and plundering; her meridians were completely severed, her Dantian destroyed, and her cultivation entirely lost.

She was even spurned and hunted by the entire Cultivation World, eventually losing all her glory and becoming a ragged, starving beggar.

Wandering the streets of the mortal world, she endured the cold stares and ridicule of her enemies every day.

Until she walked into a cave and encountered the invincible kitchen knife that was currently Cultivating.

Yi Zhan was shocked: "This kitchen knife has such a powerful pressure!"

The invincible kitchen knife said indifferently:

"Miss Yi, you have finally come. I have been waiting for you for a long time."

"Your immense righteousness has moved me. Take me and go seek your revenge!"

With trembling hands, Yi Zhan grasped the invincible kitchen knife floating in the air.

The hilt felt warm in her hand, fitting the lines of her palm as if it were alive.

Golden Saber Qi flowed from the blade, spreading along her arm to her entire body.

In an instant, her severed meridians were reconnected by a gentle yet powerful force.

Her damaged Dantian was repaired by the golden light, and her long-lost spiritual power surged back like a tide.

"This... this is..."

Yi Zhan looked at the golden light surrounding her in disbelief.

"I have reconstructed your Foundation with Supreme power."

The spiritual consciousness of the invincible kitchen knife calmly transmitted into her mind.

"Your cultivation has now reached the Peak of the Soul Transformation Stage."

"And your Saber Intent has undergone Fusion with my Saber Qi. Even an ordinary Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation might not be your match."

Feeling the surging power within her, Yi Zhan's tears fell silently.

All the humiliation, betrayal, and pain she had suffered over the years seemed to turn into a blazing fire of revenge at this moment.

"Thank you, Senior, for the grace of remaking me!"

She knelt on one knee, holding the knife in both hands, her voice choked but firm.

"I, Yi Zhan, will certainly not fail Senior's high expectations. I will settle the scores with those who have wronged me, one by one!"

The invincible kitchen knife vibrated slightly:

"There is no need for such formality."

"Your experience reminds me of my former self."

"It's just that you are even more miserable. At least Su Xue never truly intended to kill me."

"But your 'benefactors' each want you dead."

Yi Zhan stood up, a cold light flashing in her eyes:

"Senior, where should we go for the first stop?"

"Let's start with your 'closest' Junior Sister, Liu Qinmei."

...Three days later, in front of the Heavenly Sword Sect's gate.

Today was the Heavenly Sword Sect's once-in-a-century grand ceremony. Elders of various Peaks and both Inner and Outer Sect Disciples gathered in the square.

The Sect Master and various Elders sat on the high platform. Liu Qinmei, as the newly appointed Deputy Hall Master of the Hall of Justice...

...stood beside the Sect Master in white clothes, with a gentle smile and an ethereal temperament.

"Junior Sister Qinmei is not only exceptionally talented but, more importantly, possesses a pure and kind heart."

"Exposing Yi Zhan's collusion with the Demonic Path back then was truly an act of sacrificing personal feelings for the greater good. She is truly a model for our Sect!"

An Elder was praising her loudly.

Liu Qinmei lowered her head slightly, acting shy:

"The Elder overpraises me. Qinmei only did what should be done."

"It's just that whenever I think of Senior Sister Zhan going astray, my heart still feels sad..."

Before she could finish her sentence, a golden Saber Qi suddenly broke through the clouds and slashed straight down!

"Boom—!"

A trench several feet deep was carved into the ground in the center of the square, with rubble flying and dust filling the air.

"Who is it? Who dares to intrude upon my Heavenly Sword Sect!"

The Sect Master stood up with a roar, and the pressure of the Soul Transformation Stage instantly swept through the field.

As the dust cleared, Yi Zhan, dressed in green and holding the kitchen knife, slowly descended.

Her clothes were simple, but her aura was awe-inspiring. The golden Saber Qi surrounding her made all the Cultivators present feel a sense of dread.

"Zhan... Senior Sister Zhan?"

Liu Qinmei's face changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure, a hint of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes.

"You traitor to the Sect, how dare you return!"

Yi Zhan looked at her coldly:

"Liu Qinmei, three years ago when demonic Cultivators attacked East Mountain Village, you were besieged by three Demon Nascent Stage Cultivators."

"Who was it that risked heavy injuries to save you?"

Liu Qinmei's face froze:

"Why bring up these old stories? Do you think playing the emotional card will earn you mercy?"

"I only ask you,"

Yi Zhan approached step by step,

"After I saved you, I placed you in a safe cave and went to draw away the pursuers myself."

"During those three days, what did you do in the Immortal Cave where I was temporarily staying?"

"I... I was healing!"

Liu Qinmei forced herself to stay calm.

"Senior Sister Zhan, I know you feel resentful about being expelled from the Sect, but there's no need to fabricate lies to slander me!"

Yi Zhan smiled, a cold smile:

"In my Immortal Cave, there was a handwritten copy of the Nine Heavens Sword Art. It was an advanced Cultivation Technique I created based on our Sect's sword techniques, which I hadn't perfected yet, so I only kept it under my pillow."

"When I returned three days later, the sword manual was gone, yet your cultivation had greatly advanced. Junior Sister Liu, can you explain that?"

The whole place was in an uproar.

The Nine Heavens Sword Art! That was an exquisite sword technique that even the Sect Master had praised. Yi Zhan had become famous among the younger generation precisely because of this sword technique.

Three years ago, she was suddenly expelled for "colluding with the Demonic Path," and the sword manual was lost. No one expected there to be such an inside story!

"Nonsense... Pure nonsense!"

Liu Qinmei said urgently,

"What evidence do you have?"

"Evidence?"

Yi Zhan raised the invincible kitchen knife,

"This knife is called the invincible kitchen knife, a Supreme Divine Artifact. It has a Divine Ability—'Time Reversal'."

Before her voice fell, the blade of the invincible kitchen knife shone with brilliant golden light, and a light screen unfolded in the air.

The scenes from three years ago were clearly displayed on the light screen:

A heavily injured Yi Zhan placed Liu Qinmei in the Immortal Cave and hurriedly left.

After Liu Qinmei was sure she was far away, she immediately got up and searched, pulling out the Nine Heavens Sword Art from under the pillow, a look of greed flashing in her eyes.

Then she quickly transcribed it, hid the original in her bosom, and forged several traces of "Demonic Path Communication Talismans" in the corner of the Immortal Cave... "No! This is an illusion! It's fake!"

Liu Qinmei screamed.

But the images on the light screen continued:

Three days later, when Yi Zhan returned, Liu Qinmei pretended to be weak but secretly shot out a communication talisman.

Shortly after, Disciples from the Hall of Justice arrived and "searched out" demonic items in the Immortal Cave.

Liu Qinmei tearfully claimed she "found evidence of Senior Sister Zhan's dealings with the Demonic Path and secretly sent a message for fear of being silenced"... "Enough!"

The Sect Master's face turned ashen.

"Liu Qinmei, what else do you have to say?"

Liu Qinmei knew she could no longer talk her way out and suddenly lunged.

Her Early Stage Soul Transformation cultivation was fully unleashed as a longsword pierced straight toward Yi Zhan's throat:

"Go die!"

This sword strike was as fast as lightning, containing all her power. Even a Middle Stage Soul Transformation Cultivator would find it hard to block.

But Yi Zhan didn't even move.

The invincible kitchen knife flew up automatically, its blade gently moving horizontally.

"Clang—!"

Liu Qinmei's top-grade spirit sword was cut into two pieces like tofu. The remaining momentum of the Saber Qi didn't decrease, slicing across her right arm.

"Ah—!"

Liu Qinmei screamed and retreated, her right arm severed at the shoulder, blood spurting out.

"This strike is for myself."

Yi Zhan said coldly,

"You stole my sword manual, defiled my reputation, caused me to be expelled from the Sect, and left me wandering the streets for three years."

Liu Qinmei gritted her teeth to seal her wound. With her left hand, she performed a hand seal and summoned a small black flag. It was actually a Demonic Weapon!

"As expected, she is involved with the Demonic Path!"

An Elder roared.

The small black flag grew in the wind, releasing rolling Devilish Qi that turned into countless hideous ghostly faces pouncing on Yi Zhan.

Yi Zhan shook her head and swung the invincible kitchen knife casually.

The golden Saber Qi was like the sun melting snow; wherever it passed, the Devilish Qi dissipated, and the ghostly faces wailed as they turned into blue smoke.

The Saber Qi pierced through the small black flag, and the flag's surface tore into pieces with a "rip" sound.

Liu Qinmei suffered a backlash and spat out a mouthful of black blood.

"This strike is for the Sect."

"You possess a Demonic Weapon and practice Demonic Techniques, yet you framed your fellow Disciple. Your heart is truly detestable."

"Senior Sister Zhan, spare my life! I was wrong! It was... it was someone who instructed me!"

Liu Qinmei finally broke down and knelt, begging for mercy.

"It's Profound Brightness! The Young Miss of the Shen Family! She was jealous of your talent and gave me benefits to frame you!"

"That Demonic Weapon was also given by her!"

"I will find Profound Brightness myself."

Yi Zhan raised her knife.

"This strike is for those fellow Disciples who died unjustly because of your unfair law enforcement."

A flash of saber light.

Liu Qinmei's pleas for mercy stopped abruptly. A blood line appeared on her neck, and her head rolled to the ground, her eyes still filled with terror and resentment.

The whole place was dead silent.

A dignified Deputy Hall Master of the Hall of Justice, a Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator, was actually decapitated in one strike!

Yi Zhan put away her knife and looked at the high platform:

"Sect Master, Liu Qinmei has been executed."

"I, Yi Zhan, return today first to clear out the scum and second to prove my innocence."

"If the Sect still regards me as a traitor, I will leave immediately and have nothing more to do with the Heavenly Sword Sect from now on."

The Sect Master was silent for a long time, then let out a long sigh:

"It is this Sect that has failed you."

"From today on, your status as a True Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect is restored, and you are promoted to the Chief of the Hall of Justice."

"Are you willing?"

Yi Zhan shook her head:

"I have already decided to leave."

"However, out of gratitude for the Sect's nurturing, if the Heavenly Sword Sect faces trouble in the future, I will certainly come to its aid."

With that, she rose on her saber, turning into a golden light and disappearing into the horizon.

Leaving the crowd of Cultivators staring at each other, with only one thought in their minds:

That former Genius Sword Cultivator is back! And she is stronger, more ruthless, and even more untouchable!

Seven days later, Black Wind Mountain, the headquarters of the demonic Cultivator stronghold, the Blood Moon Cult.

The orphaned girl, Pity Moon, whom Yi Zhan had saved back then, was precisely the Saintess of this cult.

She had used Yi Zhan's trust to infiltrate the Heavenly Sword Sect and steal the Heavenly Firmament Sword Seal, the Mountain-protecting Treasure.

This caused a loophole in the Mountain-protecting Formation, allowing the Blood Moon Cult to take the Opportunity to launch a sneak attack, resulting in the deaths and injuries of dozens of Disciples.

Today was the Blood Moon Cult's triennial sacrificial ceremony. The cult members gathered at the altar on the mountain Peak.

They were preparing to sacrifice the blood souls of a hundred young boys and girls to summon the Extraterrestrial Demons.

Pity Moon, in a blood-red dress, stood in the center of the altar, her appearance seductive and her aura already at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation.

Holding the Heavenly Firmament Sword Seal, she was presiding over the ceremony.

"The Saintess is brilliant! By designing a trap to deceive that stupid woman from the Heavenly Sword Sect back then, we not only got the Sword Seal but also let her take the blame. It's killing two birds with one stone!" an Elder said flatteringly.

Pity Moon chuckled:

"That idiot Yi Zhan really thought she was some kind of savior."

"But her sword Dao talent was indeed terrifying. If I hadn't designed a way to cripple her, she would probably be in the Tribulation Crossing Stage by now."

"It's a pity we let her escape and didn't kill her completely."

Another Elder said regretfully.

"No matter. A waste with severed meridians—living is more painful than dying."

A cruel look flashed in Pity Moon's eyes.

"The time has come. Begin the sacrifice!"

A hundred bound children were escorted onto the altar, their cries shaking the sky.

Just then, a golden Saber Qi descended from the sky, splitting the altar directly in half!

"Who is it?!"

Pity Moon looked up in shock and anger.

Yi Zhan slowly descended, invincible kitchen knife in hand, her eyes cold as frost:

"Pity Moon, long time no see."

"It's you?!"

Pity Moon's pupils constricted.

"Impossible! Your meridians were clearly..."

" Thanks to you, I have found a new Opportunity."

Yi Zhan scanned the children on the altar, her killing intent surging.

"Sacrificing children to practice demonic techniques—your Blood Moon Cult should be destroyed today."

"What arrogance!"

Pity Moon shouted.

"Even if you've recovered your cultivation, so what?"

"My Blood Moon Cult has three thousand members, eighteen Elders, and five Soul Transformation Stage experts!"

"Coming here alone is simply seeking death!"

She waved her sleeve: "Deploy the Formation! Blood Moon Formation!"

The three thousand cult members moved in unison. Blood-colored runes lit up from the ground, forming a massive Formation that covered the entire mountain Peak.

A thick blood-red baleful aura filled the air. Cultivators with lower cultivation would lose their minds just by standing in the Formation.

Five Soul Transformation Stage Elders surrounded Yi Zhan from five directions, each summoning a Demonic Weapon.

The Skeleton Banner, Blood Soul Bell, White Bone Sword, Vengeful Spirit Pearl, and Corpse Fiend Seal—the demonic aura was overwhelming.

Pity Moon held the Heavenly Firmament Sword Seal and sneered:

"Yi Zhan, I could deceive you once back then, and I can kill you a second time today!"

"This Blood Moon Formation is an ancient demonic Formation. Even a Cultivator Undergoing Tribulation would lose a layer of skin inside! Die!"

The five Elders attacked simultaneously, and the five Demonic Weapons released terrifying demonic power, turning into five blood-red pillars of light that blasted toward Yi Zhan.