Chapter 12

"Your Highness, how did it go? Did you break the formation?"

Jiang Zhong actually didn't have much hope. For thousands of years, no one had been able to break the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation. He didn't think Ling Dao could do it. Fortunately, he had a way to get Ling Dao into the Heavenly Martial Sect, so it didn't matter whether he broke the formation or not.

"Um, I broke it!"

"Hmm, it doesn't matter if you didn't break it. Anyway, I have a way to get Your Highness into the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation. What? You broke it? Your Highness broke the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation?"

At first, Jiang Zhong didn't react, thinking Ling Dao meant he didn't break it. When he finally understood, he was stunned. For thousands of years, no one had been able to break the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation. How could Ling Dao have done it?

Looking at Ling Dao, he knew Ling Dao wasn't joking. Jiang Zhong had watched Ling Dao grow up and knew him very well. If Ling Dao said he broke it, then he did. There was no doubt about it. Jiang Zhong was shocked for a long time before he came to his senses.

"Meet Elder Ye!"

At this moment, Jiang Zhong noticed Ye Hongxuan standing beside Ling Dao. The reason Jiang Zhong was confident that Ling Dao could join the Heavenly Martial Sect was because of Elder Ye Hongxuan. Ling Dao didn't know Ye Hongxuan, but Jiang Zhong did.

In Jiang Zhong's view, the Prince of Freedom had saved Ye Hongxuan's life and given him guidance. Now, asking Ye Hongxuan to help Ling Dao was no problem. Unfortunately, not everyone was like Jiang Zhong. Ye Hongxuan and Jiang Zhong were not the same kind of people.

"Great! It won't be long before Your Highness can become a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Sect, and I can rest easy!"

Jiang Zhong knew his condition; he didn't have much time left. The only thing he was worried about was Ling Dao. Now that Ling Dao had broken the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation and had Elder Ye Hongxuan, a senior elder of the Heavenly Martial Sect, becoming a disciple should be no problem.

"Hold on, when did I say he could join the Heavenly Martial Sect?"

Ye Hongxuan glanced sideways at Jiang Zhong and slowly said. This made Jiang Zhong's smile freeze, and Ling Dao's face darkened. No wonder Elder Ye Hongxuan had brought Ling Dao out instead of into the Heavenly Martial Sect.

"The rules of the Heavenly Martial Sect clearly state that anyone who can break the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation can unconditionally become a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Sect. Elder, what do you mean by this?"

Ling Dao had called Ye Hongxuan "senior" earlier, but now he just called him "Elder," reflecting his change in attitude.

"Rules are dead, but people are alive. As the senior elder of the Heavenly Martial Sect, I have the right to kick you out. I know your situation very well. Keeping you in the Heavenly Martial Sect would be a disgrace to the sect."

Elder Ye Hongxuan's words made a flash of anger appear on Jiang Zhong's face. Even if Elder Ye Hongxuan insulted Jiang Zhong, Jiang Zhong wouldn't be this angry.

"The Prince of Freedom saved your life and gave you guidance. Now, not only do you not help His Highness, but you treat him like this. Do you feel guilty towards the Prince of Freedom? Is this how you treat people?"

Jiang Zhong hated ungrateful people the most. He spoke his mind without beating around the bush. He had thought Ye Hongxuan would help Ling Dao, but now he found out that Ye Hongxuan not only wouldn't help but also wanted to expel Ling Dao from the Heavenly Martial Sect.

"While the Prince of Freedom is alive, so is the bond. When the Prince of Freedom dies, the bond dies! I have nothing to do with this boy. With his situation, he wants to join the Heavenly Martial Sect? Don't think I don't know. The Prince of Freedom must have given him some treasure to break the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation. The Prince of Freedom breaking it is possible, but this boy? He doesn't deserve it!"

Ye Hongxuan glanced at Ling Dao with disdain. The Prince of Freedom was a genius, and breaking the Heavenly Martial Sword Formation was understandable. Unfortunately, the Prince of Freedom had entered the Heavenly Dragon Forbidden Zone, where death was almost certain. Otherwise, Ye Hongxuan would have taken good care of Ling Dao.

"You!"

Jiang Zhong's white eyebrows stood on end, and he was so angry he couldn't speak. Ye Hongxuan used to be very polite when visiting the Prince of Freedom's mansion, but now he was so repulsive.

"Leave the Heavenly Martial Sect immediately! Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless and expelling you in front of everyone!"

Elder Ye Hongxuan knew that with the Prince of Freedom dead, there would be many people who wanted to kill Ling Dao. Keeping Ling Dao in the Heavenly Martial Sect would bring a lot of trouble. Expecting Ling Dao to become a supreme master was impossible.

"No, this can't be. Your Highness must join the Heavenly Martial Sect to learn skills. Without the protection of the Heavenly Martial Sect, wouldn't Your Highness be in danger?"

Jiang Zhong's heart was torn. He hated Ye Hongxuan, and he had long wanted to leave. But Ling Dao's safety made him hesitate. Even in his prime, he couldn't protect Ling Dao, let alone now.

"Elder, what do you want for Your Highness to join the Heavenly Martial Sect?"

For Ling Dao, Jiang Zhong could set aside his emotions and preferences. As long as Ling Dao could join the Heavenly Martial Sect, he would do anything.

"Haha, if you kneel and beg me, I might consider it!"

Ye Hongxuan's words made Jiang Zhong and Ling Dao's faces change. No one expected Ye Hongxuan to be so unreasonable. Jiang Zhong's expression kept changing; Ye Hongxuan clearly wanted to trample on his dignity.

"If you're unwilling, take this boy and leave quickly. I don't want to see you!"

Hearing this, Jiang Zhong's fists clenched involuntarily, and his nails dug deep into his flesh, blood dripping out. It didn't matter if he was humiliated, but seeing Ling Dao humiliated made him want to tear Ye Hongxuan apart, though he lacked the ability. He gritted his teeth and slowly knelt down.

"Grandpa Jiang! Get up, don't do this. If we can't join the Heavenly Martial Sect, so be it. What's the big deal?"

Seeing Jiang Zhong kneel, Ling Dao exclaimed and quickly walked to Jiang Zhong's side, trying to pull him up. But Jiang Zhong's legs seemed rooted to the ground, and he couldn't be moved.

"I... beg you... to accept Your Highness... as a disciple of the Heavenly Martial Sect!"

In the past, General Jiang Zhong, who had commanded the battlefield, had never been so humiliated. A man can be killed but not humiliated. Even if he were killed, he wouldn't kneel and beg. But for Ling Dao, he could put aside all his dignity!

"Grandpa Jiang, get up. I don't want to join the Heavenly Martial Sect. Let's leave now. Even if we die, we won't beg anyone!"

Unfortunately, Jiang Zhong didn't get up but repeated his words. Ye Hongxuan watched all this and laughed heartily. The Prince of Freedom had once been so powerful, but now his subordinates and son had fallen to such a low point.

"I didn't expect you to make such a sacrifice, which makes me somewhat admire you!"

Ye Hongxuan's words made a glimmer of hope appear in Jiang Zhong's eyes. But Ye Hongxuan's next words made Jiang Zhong's eyes blaze with anger.

"I've considered it. You two should leave the Heavenly Martial Sect quickly. We don't accept cowards like you in the Heavenly Martial Sect!"