Chapter 166: Chapter 0166 A Scheme Uncovered_1
Zhang Bin’s gaze turned icy as he stared at Han Tie. His heart burned with a raging anger that instantly spread throughout his entire body.
This was the man who had killed him and Qian Bing two months ago, stolen his Jade Scroll Simple, and even threatened to kill everyone in their village.
He was nothing more than a beast in human skin.
Today was the day to settle the score.
Qian Bing, just like Zhang Bin, stared intently at Han Tie. His eyes were filled with a deep-seated hatred, and he wished he could lunge forward and annihilate him on the spot.
After all, the terrifying memory of having his throat slit had followed him like a relentless nightmare, devastating both his mind and body. If Zhang Bin hadn’t saved him, he would have long since become a corpse.
Having dedicated his life to the nation, he was always prepared for sacrifice. However, he refused to die so senselessly, so humiliatingly. At that moment, he had been overcome with unwillingness, grief, and indignation.
"Zhang Kai is here for you today. He’s a disciple of the Taiqing Sect," Luo Chengliang said coldly.
"Sect Master Han, your crimes have come to light," Zhao Dawei added.
"A Taiqing Sect disciple?" A look of astonishment crossed Han Tie’s face as he turned his gaze to Zhang Bin. "What kind of sect is the Taiqing Sect? How have I never heard of it? What business do you have with me?"
Of course, an unsettling feeling welled up inside him. Previously, I speculated that Zhang Bin had inadvertently inherited the legacy of an ancient cultivator, which was why he became a cultivator. I thought he became so powerful due to a high-quality cultivation technique and his exceptional talent. The Jade Scroll Simple I took didn’t reveal any sect; it was merely a cultivation method—the Three Purities Secret Technique—along with some elixir recipes. Of course, it did state that Daoist Elder Taiqing left the Jade Scroll Simple behind.
Could it be? Was my speculation wrong? Zhang Bin didn’t receive an ancient inheritance but instead joined a sect called the Taiqing Sect? And now a disciple of this sect has come knocking?
Anyway, they have no evidence, so I don’t need to be afraid. Besides, although this Taiqing Sect disciple is a genius, he’s only at the Mid Stage of the Qi Sea Realm. He can’t withstand a single finger from me! And since the Taiqing Sect has sent a Qi Sea Realm disciple to trouble me, it seems they don’t have any stronger masters. They pose no threat to me at all. If they incur my wrath, I’ll just obliterate the Taiqing Sect, leave none alive, and seize all their treasures and wealth!
"You don’t need to concern yourself with what kind of sect the Taiqing Sect is. Just hand over the Jade Scroll Simple and commit suicide. If you do, our Supreme Pure Gate will let the matter rest." Zhang Bin’s left hand was already pressed against his Sword Box as a destructive aura erupted from him. His face was filled with confidence, as if he could annihilate any enemy.
Han Tie was, after all, a master at the Liquid Transformation Late Stage, and he immediately sensed a palpable sense of mortal danger.
Although he didn’t know if this deadly premonition was coming from the youth before him, he instinctively retreated, flashing more than twenty meters back in an instant.
Zhang Bin still hadn’t drawn his Flying Sword. He had no desire to kill his enemy so easily.
The pleasure of revenge wouldn’t be as intense if his enemy died too quickly.
So, he merely sneered, "What’s the matter? Afraid? Trying to run? You killed a disciple of our sect and stole its heritage. Even if you flee to the moon, our Supreme Pure Gate has the means to drag you down and kill you."
"This naive youth sure talks big. Is the Taiqing Sect really that powerful?"
Not only were Han Tie and the disciples of the Iron Sword Sect surprised, but Luo Chengliang, Zhao Dawei, and the other members of the Special Action Team also wore expressions of astonishment.
"Afraid? Kid, you should ask around. Who have I, Han Tie, ever feared? The mere Taiqing Sect isn’t even worth my notice," Han Tie said arrogantly. "I stepped back only to avoid a misunderstanding. Let me tell you, I didn’t do it. I, Han Tie, am an upstanding man. How could I possibly do something so depraved? That time, I merely sent my junior brother to seek justice from Zhang Bin because he had crippled my disciple’s cultivation. *He* went too far! But instead, Zhang Bin defeated my junior brother, Gu Yang, and crippled his cultivation! Your Taiqing Sect owes me an explanation! My junior brother cultivated painstakingly for decades. His cultivation level was not easily achieved, only to be crippled by him? Is that something a human being would do?"
"Do you think our Iron Sword Sect is so easily bullied? Come on, kill us then!"
"Avenge Junior Uncle Gu Yang!"
"The Taiqing Sect is too oppressive! We can’t tolerate this!"
The disciples of the Iron Sword Sect roared in anger, a frigid killing intent bursting from them.
Zhang Bin had already had Tutu investigate thoroughly. Although the Iron Sword Sect possessed significant strength, its most powerful masters were Han Tie and Gu Yang. As for the rest, none were considered particularly formidable masters.
However, today Zhang Bin had discovered a master among these disciples—a middle-aged man who had reached the Mid Stage of the Qi Sea Realm and was not on Tutu’s list of anaylzed targets.
Therefore, he slightly raised his guard. Looking at Han Tie, he sneered, "Idiot, our sect’s Jade Scroll Simple is specially refined. For two months, you sat cross-legged on that cliff studying the stolen scroll. To us, you were like a torch lit in the dead of night; we saw everything clearly. Did you really think I wouldn’t know you hid the Jade Scroll Simple among the rocks on that cliff?"
Normally, the cliff was shrouded in dense fog, making it impossible for even China’s satellites to monitor it clearly. However, Tutu could access satellites from every country in the world, monitoring the area around the clock. When the fog thinned, a relatively clear image was finally captured.
Zhang Bin’s revelation struck Han Tie like a bolt from the blue. He felt dizzy, and his hands and feet began to tremble.
This is bad. They already have evidence. What do I do?
An unprecedented sense of panic surged through Han Tie’s heart. He had not yet reached the Golden Core Stage, so he was far from invincible. Even Luo Chengliang could fight him to a standstill. Moreover, the Special Action Team had the even more powerful Master Tianlong, and the Daoyi Sect had even more masters at the Golden Core Stage.
Han Tie’s drastic reaction was a clear admission of guilt. Flames of fury ignited in the eyes of Luo Chengliang, Zhao Dawei, Qian Bing, and Sun Tie, and a cold, murderous aura erupted from their bodies.
Even the momentum of the Iron Sword Sect disciples faltered. They all had the same thought: Could the Sect Leader have really done it?
Han Tie was, after all, a ruthless and influential figure. He quickly composed himself and roared, "If you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext! Han Rui, kill him!"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
The middle-aged man at the Mid Stage of the Qi Sea Realm strode to the center of the training ground. CLANG! He drew the iron sword from his waist. Lifting it slightly, he roared with an imposing, mountain-like aura, "Zhang Kai, your Taiqing Sect has gone too far! Come! Let’s fight one-on-one. Life and death will be decided by fate. What do you say?"