"Come, accept my invitation from the heart. Tonight, we fight for Mingjiang."

Zhou Xuan’s rallying cry stirred the blood of every passionate soul in Mingjiang Prefecture. They all closed their eyes, responding in their hearts to Zhou Xuan’s call.

Even Zhao Youting of Dun Jia, the unfortunate disciple nailed by the Hulu Taoist to the carriage compartment with a Dao Nail, felt an impulse to "watch the play."

But he suppressed his inner urge, more concerned about the fate of his wife and children far away in the Capital Mansion...

...

In the Capital Mansion and Dun Jia Mountain,

The Butcher slaughtered his way from the mountain gate to the highest peak of Dun Jia—Jade Mountain Peak.

The rooms of the Daoist temple on Jade Mountain Peak housed people of considerable standing within the sect.

This peak is the highest; opening the doors and windows affords a breathtaking view,

Spring reveals the vitality of all living things in the mountains,

Summer showcases clear springs flowing and mist encircling the mountain,

Fall sees a blanket of red leaves, the forest blanketed in color,

Winter shows the snow-covered landscape, silver leaves, and ice needles scattered across the mountain,

But now, opening the doors and windows on Jade Mountain Peak, all one could see was blood—thick layers of blood, and the Butcher clad in blood.

"Someone’s here."

The Butcher sensed the presence of "people," headed towards a room, entered, and lifted up the bed board,

A plainly dressed woman was there, trembling as she held a boy and a girl.

Seeing the bed board lifted, the woman suddenly gathered courage, shielding her children behind her, and said to the Butcher, "You can kill me, just spare my children... they’re innocent."

"What’s your name?"

The Butcher asked.

"I... I am... Yun Niang." Yun Niang swallowed, trying to calm herself.

"I know your name."

The Butcher’s blood-red eyes flickered with a glint of humanity as he asked again, "Why didn’t you leave?"

"My Huan Er’s been sick with a fever these past few days. When the mountain gate sounded its continuous bell, I was caring for him, unable to move... I wanted to leave..."

"Then you can go."

The Butcher pulled out a dozen letters folded into paper cranes from his long robe, handing them to Yun Niang: "Your husband misses you greatly. He’s a capable man."

After leaving the letters, the Butcher turned and continued up the mountain.

He talked to himself as he walked.

"I’ve turned to the dark side, but at least I’m more principled than that Hulu Taoist."

"On my way up here, at least I haven’t slaughtered any kids."

"Zhao Youting, you’re a wise man. If the Hulu Taoist listened to you, how could I have cut through Dun Jia Mountain’s gate?"

The Butcher had fallen to darkness, but he was not entirely devoid of reason,

Feeling a certain bond had formed after dropping Zhao Youting’s dozen letters home, he drew a Blood Talisman in the air with a wave, saying,

"The Blood Talisman will send word of your family’s safety, Zhao Youting. When you die in Mingjiang Prefecture tonight, you can rest in peace,

Of course, that’s provided my Blood Talisman reaches Mingjiang Prefecture before you’re slain by the Master."

Having sent the Blood Talisman, he continued towards the summit of Jade Mountain Peak, where he would begin severing Dun Jia Mountain’s gate...

...

A talisman made of blood flew in front of Zhao Youting and suddenly exploded.

In the air, a row of blood letters formed—Your wife and children are safe; do not worry.

Zhao Youting’s heart leaped into his throat, then his entire body relaxed, and tears began to flow.

"Thank you, Butcher. Thank you, heavens. There is still compassion in this world."

In the calamity at Wuwen Mountain, those swordsmen and their families were slain by Earth Child and the elders of Dun Jia.

In this quest for vengeance, the Butcher planned to leave Dun Jia Mountain in ruins.

Zhao Youting had long resigned to his family’s certain death—the way of the martial world was such: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,

Wipe out my family, and I’d cut down yours; it was only right and proper.

But to his surprise, the Butcher showed mercy,

"In this world, some are indeed compassionate, yet some deserve death."

Gray now streaked Zhao Youting’s forehead; his vitality and lifespan were being drained by the Dao Nail.

"I’m not sure I’ll survive the night, but before I die, I only wish to see—how those six elders meet their end."

With this thought, Zhao Youting felt no more worries, closed his eyes, and entered Zhou Xuan’s Battlefield Stage.

...

Around the stage, countless eyes appeared out of thin air.

Every pair of eyes belonged to an audience.

The people of Mingjiang Prefecture had mostly entered the stage.

Though they were in the stage, eyes bright with excitement, in reality, they’d fallen into a deep sleep.

Thus, an extremely eerie scene unfolded in Xie Family’s Cave in Mingjiang Prefecture—all those listeners seated, one by one, dissolved into sleep.

Countless people slept; not a single sound was heard.

The previously bustling Xie Family’s Cave was now as silent as a ghost town.

...

The invited audience wasn’t just those ordinary listeners,

but also painters, music masters, Li Chengfeng, Peng Sheng, King Xishan, and other wandering spirits,

as well as Zhou Lingyi, Yuan Buyu, Yu Zhengyuan, and the entire Zhou Family’s Troupe.

Zhou Xuan’s invitation was relayed back to the Zhou Family’s Troupe by the Ancestor Tree,

In today’s Zhou Family’s Troupe, Zhou Xuan’s name carried immense weight, even at times more so than Zhou Lingyi, the Class Leader.

Whether old acquaintances of Zhou Xuan or the new apprentices and masters in the troupe, they all wanted to be in the audience, to support their Young Master.

"The Young Master says the more people, the stronger he becomes. The Zhou Family’s Troupe has been kind to me; I must support this event."

Beyond the wandering spirits, the Zhou Family’s Troupe, and the listeners,

two Heavenly Dome God-level beings also entered the colorful stage as audience members—the Eternal Life Sect Leader and Tiancan Monk.

They simply came to see—what mysterious paths lay hidden in the stage of the Colorful Play Master.

...

Zhou Xuanqing gazed around at the countless eyes; some were familiar, some he could never forget,

But most eyes felt strange, though the killing intent in their gaze was familiar.

"Great Master is mighty, avenge Mingjiang Prefecture."

"Great Master, I support you always."

"Tonight, the Great Master fights for us in Mingjiang Prefecture."

Zhou Xuan felt the intense goodwill and, with a fist clasped, as if making a promise, said, "I’ll cut down Dun Jia and the Buddha Country’s swine and dogs. Zhou Xuan shall not fail."

With this promise, the audience grew even more enthusiastic.

And countless gazes of good intention coalesced into a page, slowly drifting towards Zhou Xuan...

```