Just as it took Mo Yan and Yu Sui two months to reach Grandmaster Qinji, it took Yu Sui the exact same amount of time to return. But by now, he had become so ruthless and changed that it was almost impossible to recognize him; even his appearance was no longer the same.

  In the Xuemo Sect, the day that Lin Chaoyuan had dreamt of every day and night had arrived. All the people were forcibly gathered in the sacred academy, where peach blossoms displayed their beauty, but beneath them, a horrifying atrocity was taking place. Lin Chaoyuan was holding his coronation with Lady Shiyan Lee, Lady Wang Ayi, and all the other people gathered. His soldiers and officials were celebrating. He had already seized the Liuguang Sect, and now, along with the Linyan Clan and the Fuzi Xion Clan, he had cast his poisonous gaze upon a sacred sect like the Xuemo Sect.

  Since the academy was the highest location, Lin Chaoyuan was performing this spectacle there. His son, Lao Duan, lay slumped beside him in a drunken stupor, with some servants leading him inside. In the center, all the citizens of the Linyan Clan, the Fuzi Xion Clan, and Lady Shiyan Lee (Master Kin Lishuan's wife) and Lady Wang Ayi (Master Chui Yong's wife) were seated on the ground, shackled in chains. The noise of his fake celebration was everywhere.

  But then, the winds began to pick up, and the moon hid behind thick black clouds. Everyone felt the changing mood of the atmosphere. Lady Wang Ayi and Lady Shiyan Lee themselves sensed this strange shift. A few other people also instantly felt a danger, and then a profound silence descended spontaneously. Everyone began looking around; everyone felt something unusual. Lin Chaoyuan himself stood up, observing this spreading silence.

  And in this silence, a whistle echoed a ruthless and frightening whistle that reverberated all around. No one could pinpoint its exact location; the sound came sometimes from above, sometimes from behind, but it was continuous.

  And then, Yu Sui, shrouded in a black aura, with glowing red eyes, entered from the front. The sword drawn from its sheath in his hand was gleaming. His black hair looked like the threads of death. But the moment Lady Shiyan Lee saw Yu Sui, and Yu Sui saw Shiyan Lee, both their souls were shattered. Because not only was Lady Shiyan Lee, whom Yu Sui revered like his mother, shackled in chains like a prisoner, but also Lady Wang Ayi, the mother of his closest friend Mo Yan.

  His eyes now burned with even greater fury, but Lady Shiyan Lee’s heart was torn to pieces seeing her son in this form. They all knew the whole truth, and today, for the first time, Yu Sui was in his true form before everyone.

  Without another word, Lin Chaoyuan drew his sword, and instantly, all of Lin Chaoyuan's officials and followers drew their swords. But Yu Sui remained calm. Then, he took a deep breath and lunged with full force. Lin Chaoyuan's officials and followers tried to stop him until Lin Chaoyuan could officially become the King, but no one could stand before Yu Sui for more than a moment. His sword advanced, spinning in the air. One person's throat was cut, another's chest pierced. In an instant, chaos broke out; people fled. The only sound was the clashing of swords against swords.

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  Duie began to lead Lady Wang Ayi and Lady Shiyan Lee, along with all the other people, out of the academy. Everyone got out of the academy in just a few moments, but Wang Ayi was not ready to leave. She was screaming, weeping, expressing her pain at what had happened to her innocent child. How had he become a protector who was now cutting the throats of countless people, having never even harmed a bird? But Lady Shiyan Lee also understood her pain; she too was worried about Mo Yan.

  But Duie came forward, even though his hands were bound in chains.

  "Master Shiyan Lee, now is the time for defense! We still have a chance to go to the Fuzi Xion and Linyan Clan! We can be safe there, and after Master Kin Lishuan left, you are the only one who can prepare the Spiritual Protection Energy. This is our last resort; we must go!"

  Everyone agreed with Duie, and Lady Wang Ayi also thought it right. And then, with heavy hearts, carrying a stone on their chests, they all turned back, unaware of what was about to happen next.

  Inside, almost everyone had been killed, and only two people stood facing each other: Yu Sui and Lin Chaoyuan. Both their gazes were fixed on the other like eagles, as if a predator was eyeing his prey. Lin Chaoyuan then advanced. A fierce clash erupted between the two. Their swords struck with equal force. But seeing Lin Chaoyuan in front of him, Yu Sui was losing control. His every strike became faster and more powerful, and his eyes were changing from red to a black aura.

  But Lin Chaoyuan, whose very blood was betrayal, what loyalty could be expected from him? None. When he saw that he was failing to defeat Yu Sui head-on, he sought an opportunity to strike him from behind and he did. He deliberately lowered his sword just as Yu Sui was about to attack. Yu Sui lunged forward, and Lin Chaoyuan took advantage of the opportunity, delivering a fast, lightning-like strike to his back. This caused the Phoenix Sigil on Yu Sui's back to be sliced into two halves.

  Yu Sui had not unleashed his Phoenix just to save innocent people because the Phoenix would have emerged just as enraged as he was, unleashing chaos on the innocent as well. He could have incinerated everything in an instant with the help of his Phoenix, but that would never have quenched the fire within him. However, according to the rule of the Golden Scroll, if the Sigil of your spiritual beast is severed, it causes the death of your spiritual beast.