The Birth of Sword God-Chapter 263 - 230: Warding Off All Evil

Among the Four Great Sects of East Continent, aside from the Daoist Sect, each of the other three sects has no fewer than three Ninth Realm experts.

And this is just the combat power that is visible on the surface.

Take the Sword Sect as an example; although the most powerful person in the Sword Sect visible now is the Sword Venerable, in reality, the previous generation Sword Venerable is merely retired, not deceased.

In fact, if the promotion to the Ninth Realm didn't require Origin Fragments, there would have been even more Ninth Realm experts in these three sects!

As for why the Daoist Sect is in such a state today, it's purely because during the last occurrence of the Fifth Floor of the Origin Spirit Realm, some unexpected incident seemed to happen, resulting in only the mad Zhong Ming emerging from that generation of genius Junzi Temple disciples.

No one knows what actually transpired that day.

However, the high-level combat power of the Daoist Sect was indeed almost entirely lost there.

Since that battle, the Daoist Sect has been desperately supported by Jiang Zhi, who achieved the Ninth Realm, and an ancestor who had yet to reach the end of his lifespan.

After that ancestor exhausted his lifespan, Jiang Zhi also fell into a Fallen Realm due to cultivating secret techniques. On the surface, the Daoist Sect is indeed currently the weakest among the Four Great Sects.

If Zhong Ming hadn't gone mad, the situation would have been much better.

He was so full of talent and brilliance, universally acknowledged as the next Observatory Master.

Even the arrogant and superior Jiang Zhi held him in high regard.

What's more peculiar is that although he's clearly gone mad and has been locked in that small courtyard for many years, his cultivation hasn't been damaged in the slightest, and has even.... progressed!

When Zhong Ming entered the Fifth Floor of the Origin Spirit Realm, his cultivation was at the Fourth Heaven of the Ninth Realm.

After going mad, he hasn't cultivated, spending his days either in a daze, endlessly making Victory Cakes, or being alone in madness.

Yet under such circumstances, he still managed to break through to the Fifth Heaven of the Ninth Realm!

This situation leaves members of the Daoist Sect baffled.

In the eyes of Xiang Yan and others, if Zhong Ming could truly be healed, it would be a monumental blessing.

Moreover, everyone could find out the truth of what happened in the Origin Spirit Realm that year!

It's important to know that their masters also died in there!

Not long after, Chu Huaixu was brought by the crowd into the small courtyard within Junzi Temple.

"Shuangjiang, you stay outside and wait with us," Xiang Yan said.

"Fifth Martial Uncle cannot stand too many people," he explained.

As a result, even during the Mid-autumn Festival or New Year's Eve, they always come to visit him one at a time, never en masse.

If too many people gather in the house, Zhong Ming will fall into madness!

In fact, he is much calmer when he is alone.

Chu Huaixu followed Jiang Zhi into the room this way.

Once inside, he immediately smelled a fragrance.

It was the scent of pastries.

An old man was in the midst of making Victory Cakes.

Except his limbs were all adorned with black iron rings, inscribed with obscure runes.

However, these iron rings weren't binding him; they were actually protecting him, preventing self-harm during episodes of madness.

"Fifth Brother, the little junior disciple is here to see you," Jiang Zhi tenderly spoke upon entering the room.

Chu Huaixu followed behind him, looking at the old man.

Then, he respectfully saluted, regardless of whether the elder understood, performing the necessary formalities to demonstrate politeness:

"Disciple Chu Huaixu, paying respects to Fifth Ancestor."

The old man glanced at them, then buried his head back into his work.

Chu Huaixu quietly inquired, "Junior Martial Uncle, should we try it now?"

Jiang Zhi raised a hand to refuse, saying, "Let's not disturb your Fifth Ancestor yet; he must be allowed to finish making the Victory Cake." 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

"Even though there are restrictions here, if he falls into madness, even a slight disturbance of spiritual power might injure you."

"Moreover, he can't withstand stimuli anymore."

Upon hearing this, Chu Huaixu nodded.

"Sit, let's sit and wait."

"We must finish eating what's been made."

After a long while, the Victory Cake was finally done.

The old man brought it over, placing it in front of Jiang Zhi and Chu Huaixu.

The presentation was excellent, and it smelled fragrant.

The old man looked at the two, apparently waiting for them to taste it.

Jiang Zhi skillfully picked up a piece, ate it in one bite, and then vigorously swallowed without chewing thoroughly.

Chu Huaixu also attempted to pick up a piece, maintaining politeness with, "Thank you, Fifth Ancestor."

Then he took a small bite.

—Damn it, it's awful!

He had never tasted such horrible cake!

Chu Huaixu now understood why Jiang Zhi ate as he did.

He began imitating him, swallowing big mouthfuls.

At this moment, Junior Martial Uncle suddenly laughed.

He looked at Chu Huaixu with amusement, saying, "You Refiners have big appetites, right?"

"Junior Martial Uncle, you can't be serious!" Chu Huaixu immediately guessed his intention.

But somehow, he felt that Jiang Zhi's demeanor changed once they were inside this room.

He was no longer the peerless killer, no longer always pretending to hold the Wisdom Pearl. Rather, he seemed more like an old trickster.

"How many servings is this Victory Cake made for?" Chu Huaixu was slightly speechless.

Though we Refiners indeed eat a lot, we don't eat just anything!

The elder and the youngster continued eating diligently, complaining in their hearts as they ate.

Chu Huaixu ate till he wanted to vomit and began suggesting to Jiang Zhi:

"Junior Martial Uncle, although Fifth Ancestor easily becomes agitated around crowds, perhaps the Sect Leader and others can come in pairs, switching batches to eat."

"We have so many people, with such little cake, each person would only get a few pieces!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi's eyes brightened and he started evaluating Chu Huaixu.

For some reason, today he found this extremely handsome boy remarkably pleasing to the eye, winning his favor!

Little did he know, Chu Huaixu was internally complaining: "Obviously, Jiang Zhi's admiration for Zhong Ming couldn't compare to Xiaoxu's admiration for me."

"If someday I go mad, Xiaoxu will surely cry while eating all the Victory Cake I made, no matter how terrible, refusing to let others have any!"

At this moment, Junior Martial Uncle took another glance at the troubled young man beside him and said with a smile, "Use this strategy next time, but eat more today; perhaps Fifth Brother will be more inclined to approach you."

"Later, when you perform the spell, he might be more cooperative."

Chu Huaixu: "..."

He began to eat with abandon, unleashing his true gluttonous capabilities.

After eating like a whirlwind, he seemed to have developed a peculiar appetite, finishing all the Victory Cake.

After eating, regardless of whether mad Zhong Ming could understand, he began to close the distance, suppressing the urge to vomit, and praised, "The cake made by Fifth Ancestor is indeed delicious!"

Unexpectedly, Zhong Ming seemed to have a good first impression of Chu Huaixu and was actually willing to respond.

As he did before, he merely echoed the last few words others said repeatedly, endlessly muttering: "Truly delicious, truly delicious..."

Chu Huaixu: "..."

Is he pretending to be mad, or is he really fooling me?

Jiang Zhi laughed at this moment, saying, "Fifth Brother, today we're letting Chu Huaixu take a look at your condition. Please remain calm and avoid hurting him."

Having said this, he signaled to Chu Huaixu with his eyes.

Chu Huaixu nodded, raising his left hand.

In his palm, golden runes began to appear, featuring the words "Nan Liujing" within them.

A burning power began moving towards Zhong Ming.

—The evils are repelled!

...

...

A thousand miles away, at Qingming Mountain.

Cheng Yuyan and Ming Xuanji continued sitting, drinking tea together.

He poured another cup of fine Spirit Tea for the elderly man before him and watched him perform divination endlessly.

Cheng the Scholar actually didn't understand; what was the point of living like this?

Of course, Ming Xuanji also didn't understand Cheng Yuyan; what fun was there in exploring human nature, what was the joy in manipulating it?

However, soon the old man's head suddenly lifted, and within those hollow eyes, a trace of anxiety flashed.

"Not good!"

"They're attempting to rescue that mad Zhong!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yuyan's complexion immediately altered.

"Zhong Ming?"

"Is there a method to save Zhong Ming?"

Ming Xuanji instantly retrieved an item from his Storage Ring, his expression also turned grave.

"No! The mad Zhong must not be saved!"

...

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