Chapter 964: Farce

This person—no, this demon—who had put the entire Nine Peaks Mountain on high alert, spoke these words precisely at the moment of his transformation, just when everyone on Nine Peaks Mountain expected a battle to erupt.

Within the Grand Formation of Nine Peaks Mountain, led by Sect Master Zhao Yu and his Martial Uncle, the True Immortal Elder, all the cultivators of Nine Peaks Mountain stared at Zhuang Ze, who stood atop Cliff Mountain. Listening to this person, whose aura was now undeniably demonic, listening to the words of this former disciple of Nine Peaks Mountain, everyone was at a loss for how to react. The other cultivators instinctively turned their gaze towards the Sect Master and the high-ranking elders beside him.

Sect Master Zhao Yu, along with the many Nine Peaks Mountain elders, and even the True Immortal of Nine Peaks Mountain, all felt a sense of helplessness as their understanding was shattered.

The demonic thoughts and aura emanating from Zhuang Ze were purer and more unfathomable than any demon or monster they had encountered throughout their long years. Yet, his very first words were about the rules of Nine Peaks Mountain?

"Sect Master, this demon has already reached the Myriad Transformations realm upon his emergence. His words cannot be trusted. We must slay this fiend here and now to uphold the Way of Heaven and Earth!"

"Indeed, Sect Master. The advantage is ours today; this demon is trapped within our Nine Peaks Mountain Grand Formation. If we allow him to escape, it will be much harder to eliminate him later!"

Zhao Yu gazed down at Cliff Mountain, a decision forming in his heart, yet he hesitated greatly.

"Martial Uncle, what is your opinion?"

As a cultivator of True Immortal cultivation, and currently the most powerful person on Nine Peaks Mountain, the old cultivator who had been in long-term seclusion looked at Ah Ze and inquired.

"Zhuang Ze, you have now become a demon, yet you still remember being a disciple of Nine Peaks Mountain. This truly surprises us. You were born against the natural order, and the purity of your demonic essence is something I have never seen or heard of. If we could truly avoid a battle with you and spare our Nine Peaks Mountain disciples from sacrifice, that would naturally be ideal. However, as cultivators of the righteous Immortal Dao, how can we allow your supremely demonic form to depart safely and bring ruin upon all creation?"

A strong surge of anger clearly rose within Ah Ze, an anger like the flames of a blazing sun, scorching his mind. Moreover, various chaotic thoughts urged him to slaughter the cultivators before him. He even understood that by simply killing this True Immortal, the Nine Peaks Mountain Grand Formation might not be able to contain him. Many Nine Peaks Mountain disciples would die—yes, many would die, perhaps even leading to the destruction of the entire Nine Peaks Mountain sect.

These were chaotic and deeply malevolent thoughts, much like the many unspeakable thoughts that might arise in an ordinary person's mind, yet they are held in check by one's will and moral character. Outwardly, Ah Ze's aura remained unchanged; all the demonic thoughts merely swirled within his mind.

Ah Ze looked at this Nine Peaks Mountain True Immortal Elder, whom he had never met before. There was a faint trace of Mister Ji's aura about him, but it was far too different from the Mister Ji in his memories. He also looked at Sect Master Zhao Yu, the other elders, and the numerous cultivators of Nine Peaks Mountain. At this moment, Ah Ze seemed to perceive the desires and emotions of everyone present; he was far more sensitive than his former self. With just a glance, he could discern their thoughts through their eyes and expressions.

In Sect Master Zhao Yu's eyes, there were emotions like regret, anger, and heartache. Most of the elders held anger, while the cultivators largely harbored unease...

Ah Ze did not speak immediately. After taking in all their gazes, he suddenly turned back to face the True Immortal and Zhao Yu and posed a question.

"Dare I ask, esteemed immortals, what defines a demon?"

Ah Ze's question was not just for the two individuals before him; his voice echoed throughout the entire Nine Peaks Mountain. The nearly one thousand cultivators surrounding the grand formation, along with all the Nine Peaks Mountain disciples stationed across various parts of the mountain, clearly heard his question.

"What defines a demon? Zhuang Ze, we all witnessed your transformation into a demon. Is that not enough to consider you one?"

One of the Nine Peaks Mountain elders, speaking hastily, offered an answer based on his own understanding, which aligned with conventional cultivation world views. However, Ah Ze didn't even glance at him, keeping his gaze fixed solely on Zhao Yu and the True Immortal, causing the latter to frown.

To the cultivators, this question was somewhat irrational, even absurd. A verifiable demon was asking them, in a very serious tone, what defines a demon?

The Sect Master recalled Mister Ji Yuan's flying sword message, which clearly stated that even if Zhuang Ze truly became a demon, Mister Ji Yuan would still be willing to trust him.

Zhao Yu had initially dismissed such words as mere pleasantries, thinking that if Zhuang Ze truly became a demon, how could immortals not execute him? But now, he was seriously contemplating the meaning behind Ah Ze's words. Was there an underlying implication?

"Zhuang Ze, what do you believe defines a demon? If you ask for my opinion, your current state is indeed that of a demon."

Ah Ze then looked at the True Immortal. The True Immortal remained silent, but his perception seemed to be no different from Zhao Yu's. Yet, the demonic thoughts within Ah Ze's mind held no anger; instead, they were filled with various chaotic mockeries. What appeared on Ah Ze's face, however, was an unchanging calm.

"So, by that logic, if one walks through a market and sees someone with a hateful appearance, they must be killed because they are not good?"

"Do not judge a book by its cover"—such a simple principle, a piece of plain wisdom passed down through generations even among mortals. Yet, spoken by Ah Ze at this moment, it left the Nine Peaks Mountain cultivators speechless. Still, they felt Ah Ze was arguing fallaciously, because they believed the demonic aura was irrefutable proof; how could it be confused with mortal sayings?

Ah Ze's words were not finished; he continued in a calm voice.

"I, Zhuang Ze, have not harmed innocent beings, nor have I tormented the emotions of the populace, nor have I brought ruin to any part of Heaven and Earth, nor have I accumulated monstrous karma. I ask you, what defines a demon, then?"

As he spoke, Ah Ze, cradling the unconscious Jin Xiu, stood up and slowly floated into the air, ascending towards them.

"Although I am no longer a disciple of Nine Peaks Mountain, and whatever love and hate I experienced here are now in the past, Sect Master Zhao, as I just said, simply let me leave. I will not be the first to act against the disciples of Nine Peaks Mountain."

Everyone understood the implicit meaning of Ah Ze's words. Thus, seeing him slowly ascend, they all stood as if facing a formidable enemy, yet no one dared to strike first. Even the elders who had previously spoken most vehemently dared not risk the consequences of rash action, instead deferring the decision entirely to Sect Master Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu smiled bitterly to himself. Although some Nine Peaks Mountain elders had verbally implied he was an unfit Sect Master, ultimately, they still placed the most difficult choice and this immense pressure squarely on his shoulders.

"Sect Master, you decide. I will obey your command."

The True Immortal Elder, standing beside him, also deferred the decision to Zhao Yu. Zhao Yu's breathing was steady, but his hands, hidden in his sleeves, clenched into fists. Several times he considered ordering the activation of the formation, but each time he held back. The reasons might have been his observation of Ah Ze's growth over twenty years, Mister Ji Yuan's message, Ah Ze's own words, or perhaps Jin Xiu, whom Ah Ze carefully held.

Even as Ah Ze floated directly before Zhao Yu, the Sect Master still did not issue the order to act. Apart from Zhao Yu and his True Immortal Martial Uncle, the other elders retreated, forming a semicircle to surround Ah Ze. Many among them had already gripped their magical artifacts.

Ah Ze, however, simply looked at one of the female cultivators and extended Jin Xiu, allowing her to slowly float before the female cultivator.

"Xiu'er!"

This female cultivator was Jin Xiu's grand-master. She carefully received Jin Xiu into her hands and channeled her spiritual energy to examine her condition. She found that Jin Xiu was completely unharmed; even her unconsciousness was a protective state induced by an external force.

*Could it be that Zhuang Ze protected her, fearing she might be affected and fall into the demonic path?*

The female cultivator channeled her spiritual energy as a guide, and Jin Xiu, stimulated by it, gradually regained consciousness.

"Grand-master... Ah! Sect Master... What is this...?"

Jin Xiu looked around in some alarm, her memory still centered on the shocking change that occurred after she fed Ah Ze the medicine.

"Sister Jin, who gave you that bottle of medicine?"

Ah Ze's calm voice reached her, causing Jin Xiu to immediately shift her gaze. Seeing a seemingly unharmed Ah Ze, she first breathed a sigh of relief, then instantly realized something was amiss. Even she could sense the disharmony emanating from Ah Ze and perceived that the entire sect was treating him as a formidable enemy.

Filled with myriad doubts yet vaguely understanding the grim outcome, Jin Xiu did not question him agitatedly. Instead, her voice slightly trembling, she replied.

"A female cultivator I met at Ruan Mountain Ferry. She, she said Mister Ji sent her with a spiritual medicine that could help you..."

Ah Ze nodded.

"Was it 'Aunt Ningshin'? How truly meticulous..."

Murmuring softly, Ah Ze showed Jin Xiu the only smile he had displayed during this entire time.

"Sister Jin, Ah Ze is leaving!"

With that, Ah Ze respectfully bowed to Zhao Yu in the manner of a Nine Peaks Mountain disciple, then flew alone towards the Grotto-heaven Realm. Along the way, the Nine Peaks Mountain disciples, who had received no command from the Sect Master and were themselves unwilling to face such a formidable demon, parted to either side.

"Ah Ze—you are not a demon! Sister Jin will never believe you are a demon, you are not a demon—"

"Xiu'er!"

Jin Xiu's grand-master, standing beside her, restrained her, preventing her from speaking further or giving chase. Ah Ze, already departing, paused for a moment but did not look back. With his next step, his form gradually dissipated, and he left the Nine Peaks Grotto-heaven.

"Alas! This act today, I wonder if it portends fortune or calamity..."

The True Immortal Elder sighed, while Zhao Yu, standing beside him, slowly closed his eyes.

"I, Zhao Yu, cannot shirk my responsibility. Effective immediately, I will no longer serve as Sect Master of Nine Peaks Mountain!"

As he spoke, Zhao Yu removed the Heavenly Star Crown from his head and casually tossed it. The treasure shot like a meteor towards the main peak of Nine Peaks Mountain, and then Zhao Yu flew away from Cliff Mountain alone.

"Sect Master!" "Sect Master!"

"Sect Master, you cannot!"

The cultivators of Nine Peaks Mountain were thrown into disarray. Even those who had previously held prejudices against Zhao Yu couldn't help but feel a certain panic. But it was clear that Zhao Yu's mind was made up, and he did not look back.

"Perhaps for you, being able to cultivate in peace might not be a bad thing!"

The True Immortal Elder said this, then looked at the numerous Nine Peaks Mountain cultivators.

"As for the next Sect Master, choose among yourselves. Just don't choose me."

Having spoken, the True Immortal also transformed into a beam of light and departed, leaving behind the bewildered cultivators of Nine Peaks Mountain. What was supposed to be a battle to eliminate a demon and protect the sect had devolved into this, truly a farce.