The entrance to the Qianlong Abyss, like a mirror, was still and placid, yet everything below was obscured.
"It's been veiled by a thirteen-realm small world of the demon race."
Su Qingjiu frowned. "Something has indeed happened below!"
"Break through this small world!"
Lin Zhao retreated on his sword and said solemnly, "Make way, I'll go first!"
With that, he took out the remaining four Heavenly Thunder Talismans, ignited them all at once, and threw them directly into the small world of the Qianlong Abyss. Instantly, dark clouds rolled in the sky, and streaks of golden lightning descended, bombarding the top of Yu Zhi's small world. Following that, Su Qingjiu and Tu Zhi drew their swords together, their sword lights sharp, unleashing boundless sword energy.
Chen Ben also didn't hold back. The moment the Heavenly Thunder Talismans' power was exhausted, he descended with a punch, concentrating all his fist intent into a single blow. The air was filled with booming thunder, and golden fist qi rained down, its momentum on par with the attacks of Su Qingjiu and Tu Zhi, both twelve-realm Sword Immortals.
...
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Within the Qianlong Abyss, Huang Tingyu, imprisoned on the Dragon-Coiling Pillar, couldn't help but laugh, tears almost streaming down his face. "See? My little brother Lin Zhao has brought people to rescue old Huang and bring him home! Hahahaha, those military thunder talismans are truly powerful. After taking four talismans from my brother Lin Zhao, why are you still spitting blood, sister Yu Zhi?!"
Blood trickled from Yu Zhi's lips, and she trembled with anger. She hadn't expected Zhao Jingyu and Qing Nan to be so useless, defeated so quickly. Even more infuriating to Yu Zhi was that even with her and Feng Quan working together, they still couldn't defeat Gu Lingyu. Since when were the twelve-realm scholars so formidable?! If they were this strong, Gu Zixi wouldn't have lost back then, and wouldn't have been able to crush Lu Hai, a twelve-realm expert, into a pulp?!
"No more!"
Yu Zhi gritted her teeth and said, "Since I can't kill Gu Lingyu, I'll kill Huang Tingyu. This traitor must not leave the Qianlong Abyss alive, or what face will our demon race's ancestral mountain have!?"
"Yes!"
Feng Quan turned and unleashed more than ten sword strikes, countless sword energies surging like a tide towards Huang Tingyu below. Yu Zhi waved her long sleeve, and five mid-grade magical artifacts transformed into a ball of fire, rushing down. Both of them had murderous intent, using their ultimate moves. Huang Tingyu, whose琵琶骨 (pipa bone) had been pierced and rendered him unable to use any demon power, was no match for such an onslaught.
Without a second thought, Gu Lingyu slid a pale gold bamboo slip from his sleeve, his life-bound artifact. He drew more than ten bamboo slips from the slip and then threw them out like lightning. These bamboo slips shot out, faster than the techniques of the other two, forming golden characters that protected Huang Tingyu. Consequently, Yu Zhi's magical artifacts and Feng Quan's sword energy all struck Gu Lingyu's life-bound bamboo slips, only depleting Gu Lingyu's cultivation but failing to harm Huang Tingyu in the slightest.
"Pfft!"
After several life-bound bamboo slips were destroyed, Gu Lingyu spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale.
At that moment, the top of the small world Yu Zhi had erected began to hum. Su Qingjiu's sword tip had already pierced through it, and the sword Lingxi was continuously deepening, about to pierce through the entire world.
"No time!"
Yu Zhi gritted her teeth. "Use the Earth Evasion Talisman!"
Instantly, she and Feng Quan each used a green talisman. The next moment, they both transformed into streaks of earth-yellow light and plunged into the abyss walls, disappearing without a trace.
...
"Old Huang!"
"Lingyu!"
A figure descended from the entrance of the Qianlong Abyss on his sword, it was Lin Zhao. At that moment, both Huang Tingyu and Gu Lingyu smiled. Huang Tingyu had finally waited for his little brother to fulfill his promise, and Gu Lingyu, after fighting two great demons in the Qianlong Abyss and suffering greatly, found solace in the concerned call from his junior uncle.
"Lin Zhao!"
Although Huang Tingyu was still bound, he revealed a brilliant smile. "Damn it, I, Huang Tingyu, can finally see the light of day! Hahahaha, that's great!!!"
Gu Lingyu smiled. "Junior Uncle, we're fine."
"That's good, that's good!"
Lin Zhao descended gracefully and raised his sword, Liquan, to strike the iron chains that bound Old Huang. However, after clanging sounds, only sparks flew, and the chains couldn't be cut. He then scratched his head and chuckled awkwardly, "My sword isn't quite up to par. Xiao Jiu'er, you try."
"Oh!"
Su Qingjiu, in a red dress and white shirt, stepped forward gracefully with her long sword Lingxi.
"Yo, Xiao Jiu'er has grown so much!"
Huang Tingyu laughed. "Tsk tsk, much prettier than when you were little. You've become a true mountain fairy now... although the parts that should be plump aren't plump enough. What's going on, haven't you eaten well? Old Huang will squat a baked sweet potato for you later to make up for it!"
Xiao Jiu'er looked speechless. "Aren't I saving you then?"
"No, no, no!"
Huang Tingyu quickly said, "I still need saving, we're all family."
Su Qingjiu raised her sword and chopped, cutting all the chains.
Huang Tingyu's gaze fell on the one-armed female Sword Immortal Tu Zhi, and he was taken aback. "Isn't this Tu Zhi? Still so beautiful after all these years. Lost an arm, huh? Must have been injured in the battle at Xueyu Tianchi, right? It's okay, one less arm is fine as long as you're still this beautiful. Tsk tsk, Xiao Jiu'er, look at Tu Zhi, her body has grown in the right places..."
"Swish!"
Tu Zhi drew her sword and placed it at Huang Tingyu's neck, squinting and smiling. "If Old Lord Huang says one more word, your dog head will be gone..."
"Oh dear..."
Old Huang looked embarrassed. "I can't afford to offend you, I can't afford to offend you. You've all grown up and your realms are higher, so you're all so hot-tempered! Hurry and save this old Huang, it's been so many years since I've stretched my muscles."
Tu Zhi swept her sword across, cutting all the chains binding Huang Tingyu's琵琶骨 (pipa bone). Instantly, Huang Tingyu broke free from the chains after a hundred years, accompanied by the tearing of flesh as he completely detached from the chains. His demon energy began to recover, like a spring that had been dried up, slowly filling up again.
"Lingyu, you're injured."
Lin Zhao looked at Gu Lingyu, feeling a pang of self-blame. "I was careless, and my plan had flaws. I forgot that the demon race wouldn't let us rescue Old Huang so easily."
"It's nothing, just a minor injury," Gu Lingyu replied.
"Who?"
"Yu Zhi, Feng Quan."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao gritted his teeth, naturally imagining how perilous it had been for Gu Lingyu here. A thirteen-realm great demon alone had the absolute ability to kill a twelve-realm human scholar. Coupled with Feng Quan, a twelve-realm Sword Cultivator with extraordinary sword mastery, the surrounding rock walls of the Qianlong Abyss were covered in countless sword marks and scorch marks from demon techniques. The residual aura of the two great demons was very strong, indicating a prolonged battle. Gu Lingyu had not only to fend off the two great demons but also protect Old Huang. This was truly not easy.
"Thank you, Lingyu."
Lin Zhao gently patted the young scholar's shoulder and smiled. "Don't worry, I won't mistreat you. At tonight's celebration banquet, only you will be qualified to drink Purple Bamboo Wine. Everyone else will only drink Red Bamboo Wine."
"Ah?!"
Gu Lingyu was overjoyed. "Really?"
"Yes, it's your reward."
"Thank you, Junior Uncle!"
At this moment, Gu Lingyu was genuinely happy.
...
Front mountain.
Lin Zhao led everyone back. The front mountain was guarded by Chu Yu and Mu Ya, and no incidents had occurred. Zhao Suiguang, a twelve-realm expert, was still pinned to the mountain rock by Su Qingjiu's sword, bleeding profusely and close to death. Li Tong, an eleven-realm Pear Demon from Guiyuan Sword Sect, was still trapped in a corner by Gu Lingyu's scroll.
"Sir, how should we deal with them?"
Tu Zhi frowned and asked.
Lin Zhao glanced at Zhao Suiguang. "Take Zhao Suiguang back to Xueyu Tianchi and lock him up for now. As for the rest of the disciples... kill those who deserve to be killed, and release those who deserve to be released. Who among you has the ability to discern good and evil karma?"
"Junior Uncle, I can," Gu Lingyu said with a smile. "I can see how much evil a person has done and the karma they leave behind."
"Good."
Lin Zhao nodded. "We must have clear rewards and punishments. For the disciples of the Qingliang Sect who have taken lives, kill them directly. For those who have not taken lives but have done bad deeds, give them a slight punishment and dismiss them. For those who have done nothing wrong, allow them to remain in the Qingliang Sect. We are only destroying Zhao Jingyu this time, not the Qingliang Sect. We will find a way to re-establish rules for the Qingliang Sect in the future."
"Yes!"
Chu Yu, Mu Ya, and others nodded with smiles.
Su Qingjiu recalled the sword blade from Zhao Suiguang's chest with a wave of her hand, shook her wrist, and the bloodstains on the blade dispersed. Su Qingjiu frowned and smiled. "You're lucky. My Brother Lin Zhao never intended to kill you from the start."
Zhao Suiguang trembled and dared not meet Lin Zhao's gaze, lowering his head directly.
Lin Zhao didn't look at him further and walked up to the eleven-realm Pear Demon Li Tong. Li Tong still glared at Lin Zhao with venom in her eyes, as if she wished she could pierce his heart with a pear blossom branch.
"..."
Lin Zhao frowned and spoke to Xiao Jiu'er with his mind. "This pear demon has too much killing intent. If released, she will still kill innocents, so there's no need to keep her. However... she is a pear demon, and Dongcang is an apricot girl. Will she have anything that would benefit Dongcang? If so, take it before killing her, don't waste it."
"Yes," Su Qingjiu smiled. "The reason this pear demon was able to reach the upper five realms is because she refined a section of her life-bound wood. Since they are both fruit trees, this section of upper five-realm life-bound wood is a rare treasure for Dongcang. Let Dongcang carry it with her for slow nourishment. If she can eventually refine it, perhaps Dongcang can also reach the upper five realms. Even if she can't refine it, its essence will be very beneficial for Dongcang's spiritual nourishment."
"Understood, proceed as planned."
"Mhm."
Su Qingjiu smiled and nodded, then looked down at the eleven-realm pear demon. With a slight smile, she raised her hand and extracted a golden section of life-bound wood, about the size of a finger, from Li Tong's forehead. Then, with a streak of sword light, she pierced the opponent's forehead. Instantly, this eleven-realm spirit passed away peacefully, without any pain.