Chapter 110: Escape (Part I)

"You must be mistaken! We have not obtained any White Emperor Glazed Tripod," Duan Xingyun said without even batting an eyelid.

"Junior Brother Zhang Tianhao!" Lei Peng did not address Duan Xingyun, but simply called out. Immediately, a disciple from behind him stepped forward. It was none other than Zhang Tianhao. Jiang Feng was startled; he remembered killing Zhang Tianhao clearly and could not believe the man had escaped. However, in the presence of these three core disciples, Zhang Tianhao was merely a junior brother.

"Who would have thought that a core disciple of the esteemed Jiuyan Town Langya Chamber of Commerce would be such a compulsive liar? I saw it with my own eyes. Just now, this Jiang Feng was refining the Royal Tripod, and not only did you fail to stop him, you were even standing guard for him!" Zhang Tianhao laughed. "To be honest, I was hiding nearby using a Heaven-Evasion Talisman. Naturally, the underworld arts of your Jiuyan Town could never detect the mysteries of such a talisman."

Duan Xingyun’s expression shifted upon hearing this; he had not expected to be spotted by someone from the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce.

"Junior Brother Zhang, stand back," said Su Bing, another core disciple, waving his hand. He then continued, "The White Emperor Glazed Tripod is an artifact of the Demonic Sect; it is not for us to keep. It is unsuitable for disciples of the Jiuyan Town Langya Chamber of Commerce to use, and even harder to refine, so it must be taken back and destroyed. You need not worry that we would pocket it for ourselves. If we were to use such a demonic artifact, the primary sect rules would never tolerate us! The rules of our Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce dictate that any disciple who practices demonic arts or uses demonic artifacts shall have all their underworld arts abolished and be reduced to a common mortal!"

"Your Jiuyan Town Langya Chamber of Commerce is also a righteous sect; I hope you will not hide demonic artifacts and ruin the reputation of the righteous path. I recall that during the last Assembly of Immortals, your senior brother, Hua Tianjin, explicitly stated that you intended to draw a clear line between yourselves and the Demonic Sect. Please hand over the demonic artifact, or accompany us back to the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce to have it destroyed in public," added another core disciple, Huo Liu.

"Your Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce possesses vast resources. Having eaten the meat, do you begrudge us small sects even a taste of the soup? The rules of my Jiuyan Town Langya Chamber of Commerce do not forbid disciples from practicing demonic arts or using demonic artifacts, provided they do no harm. Cultivating both the righteous and demonic paths is acceptable, for a tool is righteous or evil depending on the hand that wields it! As for your Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce, three hundred years ago, your senior disciple Qian Bo fell into the demonic path. Who knows how many lives were lost? It caused our righteous path to suffer a grievous blow, allowing the Demonic Sect to flourish. Let us set that aside; I am a core disciple of the Jiuyan Town Langya Chamber of Commerce. Do you intend to interfere in our internal affairs?"

Jiang Feng laughed loudly and suddenly took flight, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Duan Xingyun.

"What did you say?" Lei Peng glared at Jiang Feng, his aura chilling, a flicker of murderous intent appearing in his eyes.

Qian Bo’s fall to the demonic path was an eternal wound for the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce. That disciple had betrayed the sect three hundred years ago, joined the demonic path, and led demonic sects to attack the Chamber, leaving it severely weakened. Mentioning Qian Bo was akin to a slap in the face of the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce, the greatest righteous power. The disciples of Lingbo Town were humiliated, and as core disciples, how could they not be enraged?

Jiang Feng had intentionally provoked them, seeing their aggressive, self-righteous attitude. It was certain that Lingbo Town disciples would not use demonic artifacts, but dictating what other sects could do was an overreach. Of course, there was also jealousy involved—a fear that Jiang Feng would gain the tripod and surge ahead, strengthening the Jiuyan Town branch.

They did not yet know that Jiang Feng and Duan Xingyun had already defected from Jiuyan Town. Jiang Feng was fine, but Duan Xingyun could never return. Thus, they would rather destroy the artifact than let others have it. After all, the power of the White Emperor Glazed Tripod was too great. Jiang Feng, shrewd enough to squeeze oil from stone, easily saw through the intentions of the Lingbo Town disciples.

"What did I say? Did you not hear clearly? My Jiuyan Town branch has its rules, and your Lingbo Town branch has yours. You wish to force your rules upon us—have we become your vassals? Has your Lingbo Town branch unified the righteous path?" Jiang Feng fired back, pinning one accusation after another upon them.

"I said no such thing," Lei Peng paused, then exchanged glances with Su Bing and Huo Liu. "However, the great demon White Emperor was struck down by our senior brother from Lingbo Town eight hundred years ago. By right, the White Emperor Glazed Tripod must be handed over to us for disposal. As for the treasures you obtained after killing the Island Master of Wuming, you may keep them."

"What’s this? You want the Island Master of Wuming’s collection too?" Jiang Feng licked his lips.

"The collection contains many demonic artifacts. Naturally, they must be destroyed without leaving a trace," the inner disciple Zhang Tianhao said coldly. "However, if you hand over the White Emperor Glazed Tripod, it will show your intent to draw a line with the demonic path, and we shall let the smaller artifacts slide. Our Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce is not one to haggle over trifles."

"Not haggle over trifles?" Jiang Feng’s eyes narrowed into slits. "It seems you truly consider your branch the sole master of the righteous path, needing to interfere in everything. It appears today’s matter will not end peacefully. Then let me see whether the underworld arts of your Lingbo Town branch are superior, or those of my Jiuyan Town branch!"

"What? Jiang Feng, you intend to fight the Lingbo Town Langya Chamber of Commerce?" Duan Xingyun was shocked, using secret transmission to communicate. He had not expected Jiang Feng to be so bold.

"Why not? They already think we represent the Jiuyan Town branch; we might as well let them take the blame for this," Jiang Feng replied.

"This is a new rule set by Senior Brother Hua Tianjin," Duan Xingyun said with impatience. "He says we must keep a low profile and tolerate any disputes with the Lingbo Town branch. Since the new president arrived, we have been told to endure everything to accumulate strength and appear weak. For days, any disciples who argued with Lingbo Town members were severely punished by Hua Tianjin! Now, our disciples automatically bow their heads when they meet them. That is why they are so arrogant!"

"Hua Tianjin! You are a disgrace to the Chamber of Commerce!" Jiang Feng roared suddenly.

"To dare insult your own senior brother? It seems I must teach you a lesson in his stead. If you can withstand the sword in my hand, I shall let you leave today. If not, I will bind you and deliver you to Hua Tianjin myself for judgment!" Lei Peng extended his hand, and a flying sword appeared, its light flickering with formidable power. As the core disciple’s expression shifted, a surge of overwhelming confidence erupted, as if he were the only person in the world.

"Jiang Feng, be careful! This man has reached the realm of knowing Yin and Yang! His underworld power has gained spiritual sentience. Though he is not as strong as Xuanyuan Zi, you are by no means his match!" Jue Yi, seeing Lei Peng’s aura, warned Jiang Feng in alarm.

"What? He is clearly only at the ninth stage of the Void Underworld Realm!" Jiang Feng was stunned. He had not expected this fellow to be just like him—someone whose true strength exceeded his cultivation level!

While he hesitated, a faint smile played on Lei Peng's lips. The sword in his hand flared with brilliance, and with a *whoosh*, he struck. The sword intent condensed into a single line, a sharp, murderous force aimed directly at Jiang Feng’s head, intending to pierce his consciousness and destroy his underworld power in one blow. The strike was ferocious!

With just one blow, Duan Xingyun’s star-mist was shattered; his Star-Sand Sword was useless against Lei Peng’s momentum. Jiang Feng felt illusions flooding his vision, the opponent’s sword intent enveloping his soul, leaving him unable to move, like a fish on a chopping block. The power of that single sword was earth-shaking!

Jiang Feng knew this was a matter of life and death. His opponent’s underworld arts were two stages higher than his own, and his experience was likely far superior. The Lingbo Town branch was infinitely more powerful than the Jiuyan Town branch; their techniques could not be lacking.

"Wood Emperor Divine Needle!" Gritting his teeth to clear his mind, Jiang Feng opened his hand. A dark, forest-like Wood Emperor underworld power emerged and transformed into a divine needle, thrusting toward Lei Peng in a desperate bid for mutual destruction.

"Hmph!" Lei Peng snorted. As the needle struck, he did not change his sword stance. Instead, a surge of underworld power erupted from his body, forming a crimson tiger that swallowed the needle in one gulp. Meanwhile, his flying sword tore through Jiang Feng’s protective aura, grazing his skin.

A single strike, and Jiang Feng would be dismembered!

*Hum, hum, hum...*

At that moment, a sound of clashing metal rang out. Jiang Feng vanished, and Lei Peng’s sword struck a tripod the size of a house, showering the air with sparks.

"You actually refined the White Emperor Glazed Tripod..." Lei Peng froze.

As a core disciple of the Lingbo Town branch, Lei Peng possessed profound arts and immense power. At Jiang Feng’s current level, he was no match. Not only had the opponent reached the ninth stage of the Void Underworld Realm—with underworld power that was sentient, fluid, and dense—but his raw power was at least double that of Jiang Feng, likely reaching the first stage of the True Underworld Realm.

Jiang Feng’s power was only equivalent to the ninth stage of the Void Underworld Realm, and his cultivation was barely at the third stage. By all logic, he should have been killed or captured instantly. However, he had refined the White Emperor Glazed Tripod and used it to protect his body. Before the fight began, he had used a concealment talisman to hide the tripod, and the moment the fight started, he had retreated inside it for protection.