64: Invincible Kitchen Knife 5

"Puff, puff, puff—"

Three heads flew up, and three headless corpses fell to the ground.

An instant kill.

Yi Zhan walked into the Immortal Cave and found the Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Lingzhi in a jade box.

Although some of its medicinal power had been consumed, it was still a rare treasure.

"Next, Lin Yue."

Lin Yue, that seemingly pitiful beggar girl from back then, was actually the illegitimate daughter of one of Yi Zhan's enemies.

Her father had been killed by Yi Zhan for kidnapping a common girl, so she plotted revenge.

She pretended to be pursued and fled to Yi Zhan to beg for help.

Yi Zhan protected her behind her back and repelled the "pursuers."

Lin Yue was "moved to tears of gratitude" and said she would take Yi Zhan to a safe place to heal, but she actually led her into an ancient killing Formation.

The power of that Formation was terrifying; Yi Zhan barely managed to escape with all her strength.

But her Dantian was severely damaged by the Formation's power, making it impossible for her cultivation to progress further, and eventually, she was completely crippled.

"Lin Yue, I know you are in the 'Hundred Flowers Valley'."

Yi Zhan arrived at a valley filled with flowers.

This was the base of a second-rate Sect, the "Hundred Flowers Sect." Lin Yue was now an Inner Sect Disciple of this Sect.

"Who dares to trespass into my Hundred Flowers Valley!"

The mountain-guarding Disciple shouted.

Yi Zhan didn't bother with nonsense, split the mountain gate with one strike, and entered the valley directly.

The Sect Master of the Hundred Flowers Sect, a female Cultivator at the Late Stage of Soul Transformation, flew out:

"Fellow Daoist, why did you destroy my mountain gate?"

"I'm looking for Lin Yue. Hand her over, and I can spare the Hundred Flowers Sect from death," Yi Zhan said calmly.

"Arrogant!"

The Sect Master was furious and summoned a flower-basket-shaped Magic Treasure. Countless flying flowers turned into sharp blades and shot toward her.

Yi Zhan struck once, the flower basket shattered, and the Sect Master spat blood as she was sent flying back.

"Last chance, hand over Lin Yue."

The Disciples of the Hundred Flowers Sect looked at each other in dismay. A young female Disciple tremblingly pointed toward the back mountain:

"Lin... Senior Sister Lin is in seclusion in the back mountain..."

Yi Zhan arrived at an Immortal Cave in the back mountain and split the stone door with one strike.

Inside the Immortal Cave, Lin Yue was cultivating. Seeing Yi Zhan, her face turned pale:

"You... you're not dead..."

"Are you very disappointed?"

Yi Zhan approached step by step,

"Back then, you plotted against me and destroyed my Dantian. Did you ever think this day would come?"

Lin Yue suddenly knelt and kowtowed:

"Sister Zhan, spare me! My father forced me back then!"

"He said if I didn't do it, he wouldn't recognize me as his daughter! I was also forced into it!"

"Forced into it?"

Yi Zhan sneered,

"I've checked. After your father died, your mother remarried, and it's true you ended up on the streets."

"But when you met me, your mother had already passed away from illness. No one was forcing you at all."

"You voluntarily plotted to harm me to avenge your scumbag father."

Lin Yue knew she couldn't deceive her anymore and suddenly lunged, shooting a bunch of poison needles from her sleeve!

The invincible kitchen knife flew up automatically, and with a sweep of Saber Qi, all the poison needles were turned into powder.

"I gave you a chance."

Yi Zhan struck down,

"If you had been honest about your identity back then, I might have spared your life due to your youth and ignorance."

"But you chose deception and murder, so you must bear the consequences."

Lin Yue died.

Yi Zhan looked at the trembling crowd of the Hundred Flowers Sect in the distance:

"Today, I only execute the primary culprit and will not involve the Sect."

"But if the Hundred Flowers Sect accepts such ill-intentioned people again in the future, I will surely return."

After saying that, she departed on her saber.

The last stop, Heavenly Zither Peak.

Qin Yuwei, Yi Zhan's former Senior Sister, was one of the most outstanding Disciples of the previous generation of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The two were once like sisters, adventuring and practicing together.

Yi Zhan had even saved Qin Yuwei's life three times.

However, when the old Sect Master decided to choose one of them to inherit the position of Sect Master, Qin Yuwei changed.

She forged "ironclad evidence" of Yi Zhan's interactions with the Demonic Path,

and at the critical moment, she struck, leaving Yi Zhan unable to defend herself, and she was eventually expelled from the Sect.

Qin Yuwei naturally became the Young Sect Master and was now the acting Sect Master,

only waiting for the old Sect Master to enter seclusion to charge for the Mahayana stage before she could officially take over.

"Qin Yuwei, come out and face me."

Yi Zhan stood at the top of Heavenly Zither Peak, her voice spreading throughout the entire Heavenly Sword Sect.

Figures flew up to the Peak, led by Qin Yuwei.

Dressed in the robes of a Sect Master, she had an elegant aura, and her cultivation had reached the Peak of Soul Transformation, just one step away from Undergoing Tribulation.

"Junior Sister Zhan, you've returned."

Qin Yuwei had a gentle smile, as if she were still the kind Senior Sister who took care of her Junior Sister,

"I heard you've done many great things recently. Congratulations on recovering your cultivation."

Looking at her hypocritical smile, Yi Zhan felt a wave of disgust in her heart:

"Qin Yuwei, there are no outsiders here; there's no need to act."

"I've come today for only two things: first, to take your life; second, to expose your true face."

Qin Yuwei's face darkened slightly:

"Junior Sister Zhan, I know you have a misunderstanding about me, but the evidence back then was conclusive; it wasn't just my word alone."

"If you insist on slandering me, don't blame me for disregarding our past friendship."

"Past friendship?"

Yi Zhan laughed,

"You still have past friendship for me? When you were besieged by demonic Cultivators at Black Wind Cliff, I fought to the death to save you,"

"When you were poisoned in the Eastern Sea Secret Realm, I used my Life Essence Blood to detoxify you,"

"When you almost suffered Qi Deviation during your Heart Demon Tribulation, I acted as your Protector for three days and three nights to help you through it,"

"Are these what you call past friendship?"

A flicker of emotion passed through Qin Yuwei's eyes, but she quickly returned to being cold:

"One thing is one thing. I am grateful that you saved me."

"But your collusion with the Demonic Path and betrayal of the Sect is a matter of principle."

"What a 'matter of principle'."

Yi Zhan raised the invincible kitchen knife,

"Then we will use the most direct method—Time Reversal—to let everyone see what that so-called 'evidence' was really about."

The invincible kitchen knife released golden light again, and a light screen appeared in the air.

In the light screen, Qin Yuwei snuck into the Sect's Forbidden Ground late at night and stole a Memory Stone.

Then she found a demonic Cultivator proficient in illusion (who had previously been killed by Yi Zhan),

and had him forge an image of Yi Zhan meeting with a demonic Cultivator in the Memory Stone.

Then she forged several "secret letters" and placed them in Yi Zhan's Immortal Cave... "No! This is fake!"

Qin Yuwei said sharply,

"This is your illusion! Elders, quickly capture this demoness!"

But this time, no one moved.

Because the images on the light screen were too real, even the details were crystal clear,

that Memory Stone was still in the Sect's treasury,

that demonic Cultivator had indeed appeared near the Heavenly Sword Sect three years ago,

and the paper of those "secret letters" was exactly the "Heavenly Silkworm Silk Paper" unique to Qin Yuwei... "Qin Yuwei..." a white-haired Elder said tremblingly, "You... you really..."

"Fake! It's all fake!"

Qin Yuwei seemed crazed,

"You'd rather believe a traitor than me? I am the Young Sect Master! The future Sect Master!"

"You are not."

An old voice sounded.

The old Sect Master descended from the sky; he was originally in death seclusion but had been disturbed.

"Mas... Master..."

Qin Yuwei's face turned pale.

The old Sect Master looked at her with grief and indignation:

"Yuwei, I felt something was fishy back then, but the evidence was too favorable to you, and I was about to enter seclusion, so... sigh, it was this Master who was muddled!"

He turned to Yi Zhan and bowed deeply:

"Yi Zhan, the Sect has let you down."

Yi Zhan stepped aside to avoid it:

"The old Sect Master need not be like this. Today I have come only for Qin Yuwei."

Knowing the situation was hopeless, Qin Yuwei suddenly laughed wildly:

"Good! Well done, Yi Zhan! But I, Qin Yuwei, am not to be trifled with either!"

She tore open her collar, revealing a blood-colored jade pendant:

"This is the 'Life-Binding Jade Pendant' I refined with my life's blood! I have linked it to the lives of the three thousand Disciples of my Heavenly Zither Peak!"

"If I die, they all die with me! Yi Zhan, do you dare to kill me?"

The crowd was in an uproar.

The Disciples of Heavenly Zither Peak looked at Qin Yuwei in horror, unable to believe that their respected Young Sect Master was so malicious.

Yi Zhan frowned slightly:

"Senior, can it be broken?"

The invincible kitchen knife was silent for a moment:

"Yes, but it takes time."

"This jade pendant is linked to the life force of three thousand people. Forcibly breaking it will damage their Foundations."

"How long will it take?"

"At least the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

Yi Zhan nodded and looked at Qin Yuwei:

"You think you can threaten me like this?"

Qin Yuwei sneered:

"You can try. Either let me go, or let three thousand people be buried with me."

"Yi Zhan, don't you pride yourself on being righteous? Would you kill three thousand innocent Disciples just to kill me?"

Everyone looked at Yi Zhan.

The old Sect Master sighed:

"Yi Zhan, let her go. Three thousand Disciples... nothing must happen to them."

Yi Zhan, however, smiled:

"Qin Yuwei, you forgot one thing."

"What?"

"I have a Supreme Divine Artifact that can cut all Karma."

The invincible kitchen knife suddenly shone brightly, and an invisible Saber Intent spread out, enveloping the entire Heavenly Zither Peak.

"This is..."

Qin Yuwei felt the connection in the jade pendant rapidly weakening,

"No! Impossible!"

"Supreme Divine Ability—Karma Severing."

The spirit of the invincible kitchen knife said calmly,

"An incense stick? To deal with such a crude Restriction, three breaths are enough."

Three breaths later, the blood-colored jade pendant on Qin Yuwei's chest shattered with a "crack."

The life-binding Restriction was broken!

"Now,"

Yi Zhan raised her blade,

"What other trump cards do you have?"

Qin Yuwei was completely desperate and knelt on the ground, crying bitterly:

"Junior Sister Zhan, spare me! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I shouldn't have been jealous of you!"

"I shouldn't have framed you! Please, for the sake of our past feelings, spare my life! I am willing to abolish my cultivation and be your slave forever!"

Yi Zhan looked at her, a hint of complexity flashing in her eyes.

Once upon a time, this was her most respected Senior Sister. The two of them practiced swords together, watched the moon together, and made a vow to "wield swords across the world and eliminate demons for the Dao"... "Senior Sister Qin,"

Yi Zhan said softly,

"Do you still remember what you said to me when we first met?"

Qin Yuwei was blank.

"You said: 'On the path of cultivation, do not forget your original intention, and you will reach the end.'"

Tears welled up in Yi Zhan's eyes,

"But Senior Sister Qin, when did you lose your original intention?"

Qin Yuwei froze as the past rushed back like a tide.

The self who was determined to become a heroine, the self who taught her Junior Sister to act heroically, the self... When did she become this demon who would stop at nothing for power?

"I..." She opened her mouth but couldn't say a word.

Yi Zhan wiped away her tears, her gaze becoming firm again:

"Qin Yuwei, you are not worthy of being my Senior Sister."

"This strike is for myself, and also for those who suffered because of your lust for power."

The blade fell.

Qin Yuwei did not dodge and closed her eyes to accept death.

Her head rolled off, and her face actually carried a hint of a relieved smile.

Perhaps at the last moment, she finally found her long-lost original intention... After Qin Yuwei was executed, the old Sect Master publicly announced that he would pass the position of Sect Master to Yi Zhan.

But Yi Zhan refused.

"I am used to being alone and am not suited for leading a Sect."

She said,

"However, I can serve as a Guest Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect. If the Sect is in trouble, I will surely come to help."

The old Sect Master knew her mind was made up and did not push further.

For the next half year, Yi Zhan held the invincible kitchen knife and traveled throughout the Cultivation World, settling scores with all the enemies and accomplices who had participated in framing her or kicking her when she was down.

Her reputation also gradually changed from "Vengeful Demoness" to "Justice Blade Sovereign."

Because the targets of her revenge were all wicked people without exception; and wherever she went, she would punish local bullies, help the common people, and uphold justice.

The fame of the invincible kitchen knife also spread throughout the world. A single kitchen knife cutting through all injustice in the world became a legend in the hearts of countless Cultivators and commoners.

On this day, Yi Zhan stood at the Peak of the Eastern Sea, watching the sunrise in the east, with golden light spilling over the sea surface.

"Senior, my revenge is all finished."

She lightly stroked the blade,

"Thank you for accompanying me all the way."

The invincible kitchen knife vibrated:

"There is no need for thanks. Your experience has allowed me to see the evil of human nature, as well as the relief and sublimation after revenge."

"Now that you have touched the threshold of Undergoing Tribulation, what are your plans for the next step?"

Yi Zhan looked into the distance:

"I want to start a Sect, but not a traditional one."

"I want to establish a 'Justice Alliance' specifically to recruit those Cultivators who have a chivalrous heart but have nowhere to go for various reasons."

"Together, we will maintain order in the Cultivation World, punish the wicked, and protect the weak."

"Like you were back then?"

The invincible kitchen knife asked.

"Like I was back then,"

Yi Zhan smiled,

"But stronger and more powerful than I was back then, so that good people will no longer be bullied and the wicked will not go unpunished."

The invincible kitchen knife's golden light flowed:

"A good ambition. I will continue to accompany you until you no longer need me."

"No,"

Yi Zhan said seriously,

"I will always need you. You are not only my weapon but also my teacher and my friend."

The sea breeze blew, and her green robes fluttered.

The former sword Dao Genius, now the Blade Sovereign Yi Zhan, holding the Supreme kitchen knife, began a new journey.

And in every corner of the Cultivation World, a legend began to spread:

If you encounter injustice, if you encounter oppression, if you encounter evil that cannot be resolved,

you might as well chant in your heart: "Blade Sovereign above, please grant justice."

Perhaps, that golden kitchen knife will cross thousands of mountains and rivers to cut through the darkness for you and bring the light.