Deng Yin was extremely ostentatious, leaving the clear sky tainted with blood, and by the time he reached the airspace over Jiuhua Mountain, his bloody aura had cast a gloom over the entire mountain range, making it look like the site of a grisly murder.

People on the mountain, be it those who could see what was happening, such as Yi Zhou, Jiang Shu, the Three Immortals, and the Two Elders, or those whose mana was insufficient to discern the events, all felt disconcerted and puzzled about Deng Yin's intentions.

Soon, they also spotted Shi Feiyang next to Deng Yin, causing everyone's attitudes to diverge even further.

Those from the Emei Sect whispered among themselves, "Shi Feiyang is mingling with the Blood Demon again! Is he planning to help the Blood Demon massacre our Emei Sect?"

The male and female disciples all gathered at the spot where the Three Immortals and the Two Elders were, with some even preparing spells, ready to face the enemy at any moment.

Only Jiang Shu fully trusted Shi Feiyang and immediately soared up to greet him with respect, "I knew big brother was coming, so I prepared a reed tent in advance."

The reed tent constructed by the Qingcheng Sect was located midway up the North Mountain, at an even higher elevation than the terrains on the east and west sides, arranged in three rows, rising tier upon tier along the mountainside.

At the very top, right in the center, was an extremely large and luxurious reed tent. While other tents were made from local materials, this one had been specially constructed from Crystal Jade Divine Wood transported from elsewhere. It had six courtyard pillars, each ten zhang tall, supporting a massive canopy. Below was a floor standing three feet above the ground, surrounded by railings, and furnished with a bed, tea table, low stools, and cushions.

This structure, called a reed tent, was actually a huge hexagonal pavilion, specially prepared by Jiang Shu for Shi Feiyang!

Shi Feiyang entered the pavilion and Jiang Shu invited him to sit on the central cloud bed, which offered an excellent vantage point that allowed him to oversee all the reed tents and the dueling grounds below, with an unobstructed view.

Jiang Shu's feelings for Shi Feiyang were distinct from others. Over the years, he often reminisced about the times they fought side by side as youngsters against their enemies. However, being the Sect Leader of the Qingcheng Sect meant he was constantly busy with affairs, and Shi Feiyang often secluded himself for cultivation, sometimes for many years, so the two brothers seldom met.

After washing his hands with the help of his disciple Red Flower, Jiang Shu personally brewed tea. He filled a jade cup and carried it over to Shi Feiyang with both hands, "This is the Cloud Mist Tea from Qingcheng Mountain, specially refined with mountain spring water and nurtured with True Sun Fire. Its flavor is truly unique, please have a taste, big brother."

Drinking the aromatic tea, Shi Feiyang suddenly felt that over the years, he might have neglected his sworn younger brother a bit.

He called Deng Yin over and said to him, "When we became sworn brothers, I told you that we have another brother, and that's Master Jiang here."

Deng Yin cheerfully addressed Jiang Shu as 'third brother' straight away.

Jiang Shu was taken aback, and Shi Feiyang said to him, "Ah Yin and I have sworn brotherhood, and you were included at that time. The three of us are brothers, though not by blood."

Hearing this, Jiang Shu was somewhat displeased but still respectfully acknowledged his 'second brother'.

Shi Feiyang sat squarely in the middle, with both brothers seated to his left and right. The Red Corpse God Monarch and the Jiulei God Monarch, after meeting with Jiang Shu, sat next to Deng Yin.

They had only exchanged a few words when the people from the Huangshan Sect arrived.

Sect Leader Shi Zhu of the Huangshan Sect, accompanied by Qiu Yuan and disciples like Jiang Weiyu, Pan Xiuhu, and Yan Hu, came up to pay homage to their ancestor.

Shi Feiyang invited them in; Shi Zhu led the way with Qiu Yuan at the forefront. Shi Zhu had recovered his past life's mana, but his memories were yet to return. Shi Feiyang had sealed them tightly in the past with the Circulation Golden Talisman. Unless he could fully comprehend the myriad changes of the surroundings and master the calculations of the Heavenly Dao, he would never be able to recall the memories of his previous life as Elder Kuzhu.

Thus, he obediently knelt down with Qiu Yuan and kowtowed to Shi Feiyang. Those former Jianghu knights who had also become well-known Sword Immortals in the Human World followed suit.

These individuals, having transitioned from Jianghu heroes to the Immortal Path, carried with them a strong sense of chivalry. Armed with Immortal Swords in dealing with Jianghu affairs, they were highly effective, vanquishing the strong and eradicating evil, bringing peace and order, and earning esteemed reputations as heroes. Some were even honored by locals with temples, hailed as the Eight Immortals of Huangshan.

In addition to them, Ling Hun and Cui Wugu also brought the disciples of the Snow Mountain Sect, and Lingling Zi of the Wudang Sect accompanied by the Four Friends of Wudang.

Zen Master Zhifei of the Kunlun Sect had indeed taken the path of Buddhism and ascended to the Western Paradise.

Mr. Zhong, having undergone Soldier Disintegration and being reborn, now appeared as a young man with a consistently serious demeanor. Along with his junior fellow disciples, the Heavenly Pond Monk and the Youthful Dragon Wei Shaoshao, as well as disciples like Yu Xiao, they all made their way to the gathering.

The Sect Leader of the Shaolin Sect, Zen Master Fang Zheng, along with several junior monks also wished to pay respect to the Great Ming National Master, Master Yuan Yang.

Many Loose Cultivators, drawn by Shi Feiyang's reputation, also came to visit.

Shi Feiyang met with the more significant figures one by one, discussing matters with those who had them and making small talk with the others before letting them go.

He kept the Sect Leaders in the Crystal Jade Hexagonal Pavilion to discuss the upcoming swordfight.

Among the Sect Leaders, those who were more formidable wore worried expressions, "This swordfight, I'm afraid no matter the outcome, it won't end well."

In the end, their focus centered on Shi Feiyang. By this time, they had full recognition of his strength.

After all, Shi Feiyang had defeated Grandmaster Ha Ha, subdued Elder Kuzhu, and now even Blood Demon Deng Yin acknowledged him as a brother. Some who had not known before were now witnessing Deng Yin seated to his right, and it was hard for them to believe that this was the fearsome Blood Demon, renowned enough to make one's jaw drop in amazement.

What's more, Deng Yin affectionately called him 'big brother' without any reluctance, his pre-laughter voice hearty and his tone cheerful, making one feel as if bathed in the warmth of spring. Many secretly exchanged whispers, "Is this really the same Blood Demon who forced the Emei Sect into a fifty-year seclusion to close their mountain?"

However, Deng Yin reserved his amiable demeanor for Shi Feiyang alone. Even when facing Jiang Shu, his divine energy carried a hint of pride, and when dealing with others, he exuded an aura of terrifying superiority.

When he heard people secretly discussing him, he glanced over, and with just one look, he instilled fear and horror in their hearts, as if a strong and terrifying breath directly entered their bodies through their eyes, pressing down on their hearts!

Deng Yin restrained himself because of Shi Feiyang, otherwise, with just a glance, he could cast others into the Demon Realm. Apart from a few people like Ling Hun and Mr. Zhong, the rest wouldn't have stood a chance.

However, Jiang Shu was also deeply annoyed by him!

Deng Yin thought Jiang Shu's Mana was too weak, and his seniority too low, not worthy to be compared with himself, and even less to be considered Shi Feiyang's brother.

Jiang Shu also despised Deng Yin, a Great Demon cursed by everyone, stinking to high heaven for miles. His own brother was pure as ice and as clean as jade; recognizing such a Blood Demon as a younger brother was nothing but an unwarranted stain!

These two only exchanged smiles and played nice when Shi Feiyang paid them attention, showing the outward signs of kindly brotherhood.

When Shi Feiyang was talking to others, their glances toward each other were filled with contempt and provocation. The more they provoked each other, the more anger flared between them, almost to the point where they couldn't wait to come to blows.

Deng Yin thought that dealing with Jiang Shu's trivial Mana would be effortless, that even if he spared his life for Shi Feiyang's sake, he could still strip away all of his dignity.

Yet Jiang Shu was not intimidated at all. He had reached the Realm of a Heavenly Immortal and held the Demon Refining Treasure, the Heavenly Escape Mirror, that belonged to Guang Chengzi, confident that even if he couldn't beat the Blood Demon, he could still protect himself.

As long as he could reveal the true face of the demon in front of his brother, he would have succeeded!

Both were bursting with the urge to beat the other, and after a few silent glances, they silently agreed on the time and place.

Jiang Shu stood up first: "With guests from all around today, there's still much to be addressed. Please excuse me for leaving early."

Shi Feiyang wasn't even there, his mind entirely focussed on Chi You.

According to his calculations, the Taiyin Hunyuan Ancestor should have already suppressed Chi You's control over him, and he should be in a completely normal state. If everything went as expected, regardless of who won or lost the swordfight, Chi You wouldn't show up.

But the Gua Xiang indicated that Chi You would ultimately appear, the key being in an uncertain variable, which he couldn't figure out at the moment. So he chatted more with several Sect Leaders, hoping to gather more information to unravel the divination.

Jiang Shu wandered around the front area before departing to the back mountain of Jiuhua Mountain, to the spot agreed upon with Deng Yin.

Knowing that Shi Feiyang was cautious of him, Deng Yin realized that getting up to leave would certainly attract Shi Feiyang's attention. So, he discretely used an External Body, dropping a drop of blood into his empty teacup, covered it with the lid, and summoned Red Flower: "I don't like the pattern on this cup. Go and get me another one."

Red Flower personally collected his teaset and took it out, ordering a new set to be brought in for him.

Deng Yin then drank alone in peace.

After the teacup was taken away, the drop of blood he left behind transformed into a stream of blood essence, which flew out from the cup and merged into the air.

Moments later, the blood essence took form in the back mountain of Jiuhua, assuming the appearance of Deng Yin.

Upon seeing him, Jiang Shu sneered, "You think a blood-simulated External Body is enough to duel with me? You're looking down on people too much!"

Deng Yin said, "This External Body cultivated from the 'Blood God Scripture' is different; it embodies spirit over form. Although it's not as potent as my true Technique Divine Power, it's more than sufficient to deal with you."

"Cut the repartee, let's see the truth in the fight!" Jiang Shu said, ready to act.

Deng Yin held him back: "Hold on! If we start fighting, we'll cause a heaven-shaking tumult. If Big Brother finds out, the fight's off."

Jiang Shu replied, "Then we'll just go further away."

"With Big Brother's vast Divine Skills, even a blade of grass stirring within five thousand miles can't escape his eyes."

"Then let's go even further, with our speed, from Kunlun at dawn to Cangwu at dusk, even if we fly to the North Sea for a fight, we can rush back within the time it takes to eat a meal."

"Why bother with such a hassle!"

From his mouth, Deng Yin produced a clamshell, which he opened to reveal a cloud of five-colored smoke.

Looking at the clamshell, a momentary sadness flickered in his eyes.

Over a thousand years ago, when he first started practicing the Dao with his beloved wife, Shen Wugou, they went out together to accumulate merits. Back then, they had found this clamshell together.

How enamored they were as a couple back then, he truly wished to remain devoted to her for eternity, never to part again.

He still vividly remembered how the Red Flower Princess captured him, tortured him with various Demon Path Techniques, and pressured him to forsake Shen Wugou, which he endured without yielding.

Fate had played a cruel joke on them.

Shen Wugou had long since ascended to Heaven, while he was still mired in the Human World. Both princesses of the Demon Cult had lost their physical forms, trapped within the Demon Scripture.

Truth be told, Shen Wugou was the untouched white moonlight in his heart, whom he both revered and feared...

Having exfoliated to practice his powers, he was neither human nor ghost. Even if Shen Wugou were still alive, standing before him, he wouldn't have the courage to acknowledge and reconcile with her, always feeling shamefully inferior...

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