Zhu Xian: The way of heaven collapses, and I only have one sword!

Chapter 83 The Blood Refining Hall comes to an end. Are you Ji Zai or Chen Qiye?
Everyone standing before the Dead Soul Abyss dared not utter a single sound. Ji Zai's appearance now bore a striking resemblance to Chen Qiye's back then. If it weren't for his long, silver-streaked hair, it would have been nearly impossible to tell the two apart. Yet, for some reason, Ji Zai no longer bore the youthful spirit of his youth.

At this moment, Wild Dog Taoist looked at the people in the Blood Refining Hall nearby and saw that their faces were extremely grim. The disciples of the Ghost King Sect stood behind Ji Zai, and no one dared to approach him either.

"Surrender, or else—die!" Ji Zai's red eyes swept over everyone in the Blood Refining Hall, playing with Chen Qing in his hands, and said in a cold voice.

Everyone in the Blood Refining Hall looked at each other in bewilderment. The elder's face was covered in thick beads of sweat. He looked around with despair. Just as he was about to speak, a Blood Refining Hall disciple nearby roared in anger, wielding a large sword with brute force, and slashed straight at Ji Zai. The whirring sound of the sword was particularly abrupt in the tense and oppressive atmosphere.

A cold glint flashed in Ji Zai's eyes, and a disdainful sneer curled up at the corner of his mouth. Just as the broadsword was about to reach him, he moved like lightning, ghostly sidestepping, easily avoiding the seemingly ferocious blow. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the ghost flute Chen Qing swung out in an arc, its purple-black light suddenly blazing.

A powerful surge of magical energy, centered around Chen Qing, surged in a fan-shaped pattern toward the Blood Refining Hall disciple. The disciple felt a surge of overwhelming force, unable to mount any defense. Like a kite with its string cut, he flew backwards, slamming heavily into the boulder at the edge of the Dead Abyss with a dull thud before slowly sliding down, his life or death unknown.

The faces of the people in the Blood Refining Hall grew increasingly pale, and some began to tremble. Meanwhile, Ji Zai slowly asked again, "Surrender or die?" As he spoke, the petition in his hand was already at his lips, as if it would be blown at any moment.

Seeing Ji Zai's move, the Ghost King Clan retreated in quick succession, for they all knew what it signified. Once the Ghost Flute sounded, it would be the prelude to death, the beginning of a bloody massacre.

Suddenly, someone from the remaining few people in the Blood Refining Hall shouted, "I am willing to surrender. Please... don't kill me..."

As the voice fell, a young disciple ran out, leaving the Blood Refining Hall and coming to where the Ghost King Sect was. With this start, the remaining members of the Blood Refining Hall seemed to have a chain reaction, and those who surrendered ran out one after another, until only Nian Lao Da, Liu Hao, and Ye Gou were left.

The elder's face was bleak, and he couldn't help but sigh. After all, the situation was hopeless at this moment. Then he laughed bitterly and said, "It seems that the Blood Refining Hall has reached its end..." As he spoke, he walked towards Ji Zai and took out a black iron plate the size of a palm from his arms. There was a black heart engraved on it. He handed it to Ji Zai with both hands and whispered, "This is the Black Heart Order of the Blood Refining Hall. The Blood Refining Hall's eight hundred years of foundation are now over..."

Suddenly, someone from the Blood Refining Hall burst out shouting, "No... No, I surrender!"

Along with this voice, a young disciple ran out, left the people in the Blood Refining Hall, and rushed to the Ghost King Sect, but subconsciously avoided the location where Ji Zai was.

This start immediately triggered a chain reaction. The surrendered people ran away one after another, and in the end only Nian Lao Da, Liu Hao, and Ye Gou were left. Nian Lao Da's face was bleak. He looked around and sighed, knowing that the situation was hopeless. He laughed bitterly and said, "Forget it, forget it!"

As he spoke, he walked towards Ji Zai and took out a black iron plate the size of a palm from his arms. There was a black heart engraved on it. He handed it to Ji Zai with both hands and whispered, "This is the 'Black Heart Order' of the Blood Refining Hall. The Blood Refining Hall's eight hundred years of foundation is now over..."

"nonsense!"

At this moment, a loud, terrified shout emanated from behind Nian Lao Da, shocking everyone present. At this critical moment, how could anyone dare to speak so arrogantly? Nian Lao Da turned around and saw the Wild Dog Taoist standing alone beneath the giant rock of the Dead Soul Abyss.

The Wild Dog Taoist stared at the old man and shouted, "Boss, when you first led me into the Blood Refining Hall, we swore a solemn oath in front of the statue of the Black Hearted Patriarch. How could you do this?"

Guilt flashed across the elder's face, and he whispered, "Wild dog, the situation is stronger than you, don't seek death, come here quickly!"

The Wild Dog Taoist was watched by countless eyes, especially by the black-robed Ji Zai, who now glanced at him. The moment they met, he finally understood why Ji Zai was as terrifying as the rumors said, but he still shook his head. "No, Boss! You can ask me to do anything, but you can't ask me to betray the Blood Refining Hall! I've looked like a monster since I was a child. Everyone despised me, even my own parents abandoned me. I was raised by wild dogs and endured countless hardships and humiliations. Only after joining the Blood Refining Hall did I get to bully others. Back then, I swore a solemn oath before the ancestors that I would stay with the Blood Refining Hall for the rest of my life, no matter what happens."

Ji Zai raised his eyebrows slightly, a glint of interest flashing in his eyes as he sized up the stubborn Wild Dog Taoist before him. He spoke slowly, his voice low but clear, carrying far in the dead silence. "You're quite good. Such loyalty and integrity are rare."

The Wild Dog Taoist gritted his teeth. Although his body trembled slightly in the face of Ji Zai's powerful oppression, his eyes were still firm.

Ji Zai took a step forward, the purple-black demonic flames around him pulsating slightly, but he no longer carried the same intense killing intent as before. He chuckled and said, "Except for you, almost everyone in the Blood Refining Hall has surrendered. If I kill you, the Blood Refining Hall will truly be wiped out. I'm afraid that the black-hearted old ghost will die with regret. So, stay by my side from now on."

The Wild Dog Taoist was slightly startled, then roared, "You almost wiped out our Blood Refining Hall, and you still want me to follow you?"

Ji Zai remained calm, unperturbed by the Wild Dog Taoist's roar. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze fixed on the swirling dark clouds above the Dead Spirit Abyss. He spoke slowly, "You only see the superficial destruction of the Blood Refining Hall, but fail to see the larger trend. The Holy Church is now fractured and riven with internal strife. Small factions in this chaotic world are but flickering candles in the wind, destined to vanish sooner or later. My destruction of the Blood Refining Hall is actually giving you a chance for a new life." Wild Dog Taoist's face was filled with resentment and resentment. He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. "A new life? You've cost the lives of so many of our brothers, and this is what you call a new life?"

Ji Zai withdrew his gaze from the dark clouds and fell on the Wild Dog Taoist. There was a subtle trace of pity in his eyes. "If they hadn't been so stubborn, they wouldn't have died. If you join the Ghost King Sect, with your loyalty and integrity, you will definitely be valued and you will be able to promote the Blood Refining Hall in your heart in the future."

The elder elder listened silently at the side and could not help but advise: "Wild Dog, what the deputy sect leader said is not without reason. In the current situation, we are powerless to reverse it. To have such a way out is a blessing in disguise."

Wild Dog Taoist struggled internally, his mind reeling back to his days in the Blood Refining Hall, the brothers who had shared life and death together, and the statue of the Blackhearted Patriarch. His loyalty to the Blood Refining Hall ran deep, but Ji Zai's words caused him to waver.

A conflict raged within Wild Dog Taoist, his brow smeared with sweat, his teeth clattering. Finally, he heaved a long sigh, his knees buckling, and he fell to his knees with a thump. He kowtowed three times toward the Dead Abyss, each blow sending dust flying from the ground.

"Ancestor, I am incompetent and cannot guard the Blood Refining Hall anymore. I hope you won't blame me." The Wild Dog Taoist's voice was choked with sobs, and when he raised his head, his eyes were already red.

Ji Zai nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face. He extended his hand and gently waved it, and a gentle magical force lifted Wild Dog Taoist to his feet. "From today on, you will stay by my side and hone your skills. Don't let your character down." Ji Zai's voice was a little gentler.

When the old man and Liu Hao saw that the Wild Dog Taoist had also surrendered, they felt mixed emotions.

The elder handed the Black Heart Order to Ji Zai, his hands trembling slightly, "Deputy Sect Leader, please keep this Black Heart Order."

Ji Zai reached out to take it, his eyes lingering on this token that had been passed down for eight hundred years for a moment, and then he put it in his arms.

"Can I ask you a question?" Wild Dog followed Ji Zai and asked in a low voice.

"Ask." Ji Zai nodded.

"Who are you? And do you still remember Chen Qiye?" Wild Dog couldn't help but speak.

Ji Zai paused, slowly turning to look at the Wild Dog Taoist. A flicker of confusion flashed across his eyes, then he regained his composure. "I'm Ji Zai, Vice-Leader of the Ghost King Sect. As for Chen Qiye..." He frowned slightly, a vague image flashing through his mind, one he couldn't quite grasp. "I seem to have heard this name somewhere before, but I can't quite place it."

Ji Zai, accompanied by the Wild Dog Taoist and the newly recruited members of the Blood Refining Hall, returned to the Ghost King Sect in a mighty procession. The entire journey was silent, with only the whistling of the wind in his ears. Wild Dog Taoist would occasionally glance at Ji Zai, filled with confusion and curiosity. What was the past of this seemingly familiar yet unfamiliar figure?

As they entered the Ghost King Sect's mountain gate, the disciples had already received the news and came to greet them. Their eyes lingered on Ji Zai, a mixture of awe and curiosity. Ji Zai nodded slightly and walked straight towards the main hall.

The Ghost King had already been waiting in the main hall. Seeing Ji Zai's return, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. "Ji Zai, you have successfully incorporated the Blood Refining Hall this time. This is a great achievement."

Ji Zai bowed slightly, "Everything is possible only because of the reputation of my father-in-law and the concerted efforts of all the brothers."

At this time, Bi Yao walked out from the back hall with light steps, her eyes full of tenderness and concern, "Husband, you are finally back. Were you hurt along the way?"

Ji Zai gently held Bi Yao's hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine."

Wild Dog Taoist stood aside, watching this tender scene, feeling a pang of discomfort. He recalled what he had heard about Chen Qiye and Lu Xueqi in the Blood Refining Hall. The scene before him seemed inextricably linked to what he knew, yet so different.

(End of this chapter)