Chapter 83: I’m Nothing Like Y’all
"Elder Mei, what is the meaning of this?" Elder Guo questioned, his sword pointing directly at Elder Mei’s throat. The courtyard had descended into chaos around them, with disciples fleeing in every direction and bodies of the fallen scattered across the ground.
"You actually colluded with outsiders to attack your own people," Elder Huang added, her blade steady as she flanked him from the other side. Her eyes burned with fury. "Martial Uncle treated you so well, and this is how you repay him?"
"Colluding?" Elder Mei’s lips curved into a smile. He threw his head back and erupted into laughter that echoed across the courtyard. The sound sent chills down the spines of the remaining disciples who watched from a distance.
Elder Guo and Huang exchanged nervous glances, their grip on their weapons tightening.
"Why would I need to collude with them?" Elder Mei wiped away a tear of mirth. "I was never one of you to begin with."
In the next heartbeat, his hands began channeling a dark, ominous energy that seemed to devour the surrounding light. Black mist swirled around his fingers, carrying the unmistakable taint of demonic cultivation.
Elder Guo’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You—you were actually a demonic cultivator from the start?"
Elder Mei’s smile only widened. "I hadn’t planned to reveal myself before getting the treasure, but who cares now?" The demonic energy around his hands intensified.
"Treasure?" Elder Huang followed his gaze toward the towering pagoda behind them. Realization dawned on her face. "You’re actually after the Heaven-Testing Pagoda?"
"Hmph." Elder Mei scoffed, the sound dripping with disdain. "What Heaven-Testing Pagoda? That’s clearly a treasure of our Wuming Cult ancestor’s making." His eyes gleamed with fanatical devotion. "The Demon-Sealing Tower."
He shook his head dismissively. "Well, there’s no point in educating you orthodox sect bastards."
Without warning, Elder Mei unleashed a vicious claw attack toward Elder Guo. Though the elder attempted to block, the demonic strike connected squarely with his chest, sending him flying backward through the air.
Elder Huang seized the opportunity to attack from behind, but Mei sensed her approach. He caught her sword arm mid-strike, then pivoted and hurled her like a ragdoll toward the already airborne Elder Guo.
Their bodies collided with a sickening thud before both crashed against the pagoda’s outer wall.
"Junior Sister, are you okay?" Elder Guo asked, cradling Elder Huang in his arms amidst the dust and debris.
A faint blush colored her cheeks before she quickly jumped to her feet, composing herself. Elder Guo attempted to rise but stumbled, coughing violently. A stream of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Elder Huang rushed to his side. "Senior Brother, are you okay? Did your injury relapse?"
Elder Mei approached them leisurely, his step unhurried, his laughter echoing in the courtyard. Elder Huang positioned herself protectively in front of Elder Guo, her sword raised despite her trembling hands.
"To think the sect genius has fallen to this state," Elder Mei mocked, looking down at Elder Guo with undisguised contempt. "This wouldn’t have happened if you had just minded your own business."
"What do you mean by that?" Guo struggled to rise, his face pale with exertion.
Elder Huang placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. "Senior Brother, don’t force yourself."
"Well, I guess I can tell you now that things have come to this," Elder Mei said.
Years ago, the Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect had three disciples: his biological son, and two adopted sons he treated as his own—Mei Zhiyuan and Guo Shantian. Among them, Guo Shantian shone brightest, his talent unrivaled and his future limitless. He was the natural successor to become Sect Master when the old master passed away.
"But the sect genius didn’t want to be Sect Master," Elder Mei continued, his voice bitter with old resentment. "So all I had to do was get rid of the useless son, and I’d be Sect Master." His eyes narrowed. "But you just had to interfere."
If he had become Sect Master back then, his mission would have been completed years ago. Because of Guo Shantian, his plans had been delayed for over a decade.
"You—" Elder Guo rose to his feet, pushing Elder Huang away as understanding dawned on his face. "Does that mean you had something to do with Master’s death?"
Elder Mei’s only response was a smug smile.
Something snapped within Elder Guo. His face contorted with rage. "You bastard!" he roared.
Suddenly, a brilliant golden aura erupted around him, pulsating with pure spiritual energy so intense that it forced Elder Huang back despite her attempts to approach him.
"Senior Brother, don’t!" she cried out, shielding her eyes from the blinding light.
Elder Mei took an involuntary step backward, momentary fear flashing across his face. "You actually managed to recover your strength?" Then, noticing Elder Guo’s strained expression, his confidence returned. "No, there’s no way a lower-level sect like the Azure Cloud Sect could afford it. You’re burning your Golden Core to achieve this power. If you do this, you’ll never be able to advance again, even if you survive."
But Elder Guo was beyond listening. The golden aura intensified until it seemed he stood within a miniature sun. When the light stabilized, he fixed Elder Mei with a gaze of pure hatred.
"It doesn’t matter if I can’t advance anymore," he declared, his voice resonating with power. "I will definitely kill you today."
He charged forward, his sword coated with brilliant energy as it descended upon Mei. The traitor raised a shield of demonic energy that met the blade with a sound like metal striking metal. But Elder Mei lost the contest of strength and was thrown several meters backward, his feet carving furrows in the earth.
He stared at Elder Guo in shock. How could a mere burning of the Golden Core produce such power? Elder Mei himself had reached the early stage of the Golden Core realm using resources from the Wuming Cult. He had calculated that with his strength and subordinates, he should have easily overwhelmed the sect. Yet here he was, being tossed around like a novice.
As another blow sent him flying, his face twisted with hatred. This damn Guo Shantian, always ruining his plans—back then, and now again today.
No, he wouldn’t allow it. Elder Mei’s body began emitting even more demonic power until he was completely enveloped in darkness. When Elder Guo’s next punch came, he caught it mid-air, his palm smoking where it connected with the golden energy.
"It’s my turn now," he spoke menacingly, demonic qi swirling around him.