Chapter 76

Zhuang Ze was startled when he felt the blue light about to hit him. In a panic, he dodged to the side, and the Starry Sword Pill fell mercilessly, slicing his flying boat in two on the spot. Stunned for a moment, he shouted in anger, "Zhang Yan, you dare! Don't you know who I am...?"

Zhang Yan wouldn't waste words with him. With a flick of his finger, the Sword Pill turned in the air and slashed again.

Seeing Zhang Yan's icy gaze, Zhuang Ze was seized with fear. Without time to think, he hurriedly cast a spell, and with a hiss, a white Sword Pill shot up into the air. He leaped forward, intending to block it.

However, just as the two were about to collide, the Starry Sword Pill, as if endowed with a spirit, suddenly turned and bypassed it. Zhuang Ze was taken aback and hurriedly twisted his body to retreat, desperately urging his Sword Pill to entangle it.

But once Zhang Yan's "High Waves" sword momentum was unleashed, how could it be so easily blocked?

The Sword Pill spun in the air, and when the energy stacked to twenty-four, the surrounding star dust crackled and exploded. The blue light blazed like a flame, the momentum terrifying.

Zhuang Ze struggled to defend, running for his life.

Seeing that he was running out of strength, Zhang Yan didn't hesitate. He cast a spell, and the Sword Pill suddenly descended, striking the other's Sword Pill with a "zing." This ordinary Sword Pill, made of gold and white materials, could not withstand the impact of the Starry Sand. It burst like a taut string being snapped.

With his mind connected to the broken Sword Pill, Zhuang Ze spat out a mouthful of blood. Before he could react, the blue light continued to charge at him. In fear, he roared, and a small gray flag flew out from his body. He grabbed the flagpole and unfurled it, the flag expanding rapidly to several times its size, like a dark cloud shielding him from view.

Zhang Yan sneered and pointed his fingers. A green light shot out from his sleeve, its speed surpassing even the Sword Pill.

With a "pfft," the green light pierced through the flag. A scream of agony followed, and amidst the blood, Zhuang Ze's right hand, holding the flag, was severed. Terrified, he didn't dare stay, clutching his injured arm and fleeing.

Before he could run far, a green light caught up, piercing his back and exiting through his abdomen. He grunted and fell from the sky.

Zhang Yan caught up, grabbed him, and knocked him unconscious. He then carried him back to the island, threw him on the ground, and said to Luo Xiao, who had come to meet him, "Use some elixirs to keep him alive, but don't let him die. I have other uses for him."

Luo Xiao was surprised, "Master, is this person really an impostor?"

Zhang Yan shook his head and smiled, "He should be under Zhuang Bufan's command. Otherwise, how could he have such audacity?"

"What?" Luo Xiao was shocked, "If Master captures him, won't Zhuang Bufan take action against you?"

That day, she had seen Zhuang Bufan's power and was deeply frightened. When he unfurled his sleeve, it covered the sky, making one feel helpless and unable to resist.

Zhang Yan smiled, "You needn't worry. I have my reasons for capturing him. Although Zhuang Bufan is powerful, he must still follow the rules of the sect. He cannot act recklessly. Watch how I handle him."

Luo Xiao, who had great faith in Zhang Yan, felt reassured.

Zhang Yan calmly returned to his cave, took out paper and pen, wrote a letter, rolled it up, and inserted it into the handle of the Xiaozhe Golden Sword. He cast a spell, and a golden light rose, heading toward the Alchemy Hall.

After a meal's time, the golden sword returned. He opened the letter, understood the contents, and looked into the distance, sneering to himself, "Zhuang Bufan, we had no grudges before, but since you've come to provoke me, how can I not retaliate?"

He stood up, put on the robe of a true disciple, called Luo Xiao in to give her instructions, and then released a flying boat, carrying the unconscious Zhuang Ze, heading for the Zhengqing Hall.

The Zhengqing Hall was located on one of the nine peaks of the Xuanturtle Continent, Tianqiu Peak. Outside the hall, seven massive stone tablets were lined up, inscribed with the sect's rules and regulations. Each tablet had a Bixie crouching on it, glaring at passersby.

The entrance to the hall was simple, with large blue stones laid out from the open space in front of the hall, leading straight into the inner hall. At the entrance were two high cloud pavilions, each with seven killing swords hanging from the eaves, and a drum and a gong on either side, one for life and one for death.

As Zhang Yan approached, he felt the entire mountain enveloped in a solemn and stern atmosphere.

From a distance, he descended from the clouds, woke Zhuang Ze, and led him toward the mountain gate.

When Zhuang Ze woke up, seeing himself in front of the Zhengqing Hall, he was both surprised and delighted, shouting, "Zhang Yan, I am an official of the Zhengqing Hall, under Deputy Head Zhuang. How dare you harm me? You are lawless and arrogant! You are beyond redemption! I will report to Deputy Head Zhuang and have your cultivation stripped!"

Zhang Yan ignored his words, carrying him all the way to the mountain gate of the Zhengqing Hall, then threw him to the ground, letting him scream and rant.

On both sides of the gate, over a hundred golden-axe bearers stood, and upon hearing Zhuang Ze's words, they all looked at Zhang Yan with strange expressions. How dare he harm an official and still come to the Zhengqing Hall to show off?

However, Zhang Yan remained calm, seemingly unbothered, and must have had some backing. Without orders, no one dared to act. For a moment, no one at the Zhengqing Hall gate dared to move, except for Zhuang Ze's shouting.

Passing disciples all looked on in shock, their eyes wide. Most were here to receive punishment, and none dared to act rashly. How could anyone be as reckless as Zhang Yan, daring to capture an official of the Zhengqing Hall and throw him at the gate? They all stopped to watch.

Seeing the situation, an official disciple hurriedly went in to report.

After about an incense stick's time, a middle-aged cultivator came out. He had a broad build, a round face, and a Daoist bun on his head. Upon seeing Zhang Yan's true disciple attire, he frowned slightly, then looked at Zhuang Ze, who was covered in blood and missing an arm, clearly severely injured. His frown deepened as he looked at Zhang Yan and asked, "Who are you? Why are you causing a disturbance at the Zhengqing Hall?"

Before Zhang Yan could speak, Zhuang Ze, lying on the ground, shouted, "Deputy Head Pan, my name is Zhuang Ze, an official under Deputy Head Zhuang. This person is named Zhang Yan. Today, I was ordered to read Deputy Head Zhuang's decree to clear the demons and beauties from his island. But he not only refused to listen but also cut off my arm. Please, Deputy Head Pan, do something for me."

Deputy Head Pan asked sternly, "You claim to be an official of the Zhengqing Hall. What proof do you have?"

Zhuang Ze hurriedly replied, "I have a token as proof, and there are people in the hall who recognize me."

Deputy Head Pan instructed the official disciple, "Go get the token."

The official disciple quickly approached, took the token from Zhuang Ze, and handed it to Deputy Head Pan.

After verifying it, Deputy Head Pan called a disciple to confirm. Once it was confirmed that Zhuang Ze was indeed under Zhuang Bufan, he glanced sharply at Zhang Yan and said, "You have injured an official of the Zhengqing Hall. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Zhang Yan was not afraid at all. He pointed at Zhuang Ze on the ground and said, "Deputy Head Pan, if this person is indeed an official of the Zhengqing Hall, then I have a question: Is his name on the official roster?"

Upon hearing this, Deputy Head Pan's expression changed, his lips moving, but he couldn't find the words to say.

Zhang Yan smiled faintly. His guess was correct. This loophole, even the people of the Zhengqing Hall would overlook.

In the Lingcang Sect, the number of official positions recorded in each hall was limited, usually only a dozen or so, such as the head, the chief, and the officials. Once someone took an official position, the sect had to grant them spirit shells, divine sand, elixirs, and other resources, which were substantial. Therefore, these positions were highly coveted and had already been divided among the noble families and master-disciple lineages.

Those who held official positions were all influential, and the heads of the halls could not command them. However, they had no power to change this, so they had to arrange other people to handle their affairs.

Over the centuries, this had become the norm. Although these people claimed to hold official positions in the halls, they were only nominal.

For example, Zhang Yan himself held the position of inspector in the Alchemy Hall, but it was a nominal position with no real power and no name on the official roster. Therefore, he could not receive any additional resources from the sect. His authority came from Zhou Chongju, and if Zhou Chongju were to leave, his position would be meaningless.

If the rules were strictly enforced, Zhuang Ze was merely a servant of Zhuang Bufan and had no right to call himself an official of the Zhengqing Hall. His arrogance was only due to Zhuang Bufan's influence. If this facade were to be removed, they would be nothing.

Zhang Yan said coldly, "The Zhengqing Hall stands for rectifying the source. This person is clearly not an official of the Zhengqing Hall. Why does he dare to claim this title and threaten a true disciple? It is clear that Zhuang Bufan is behind this, using his position for personal gain. As a deputy head, if Zhuang Bufan cannot set a good example, how can he expect others to follow?"

Seeing Zhang Yan's accusations, Deputy Head Pan's expression changed from initial shock to a subtle smile.

He realized that Zhang Yan had brought Zhuang Ze here and thrown him at the Zhengqing Hall to stir up trouble. The main goal was not just to embarrass Zhuang Bufan but to provide a reason for others to attack him.

The Zhengqing Hall had significant power in the sect, and the position of deputy head was highly coveted. Zhuang Bufan had only recently taken the position and was not yet firmly established. Many were watching him, and if he were to be caught in a misstep, he would face a united attack. How long could he hold onto this position?

Deputy Head Pan sneered inwardly, "Zhuang Bufan, you came here acting superior, treating us as nothing, and talking about rectifying the sect's morals. Who would have thought it would come to this?"

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