My junior sister sees everyone as a heretical cultivator.

Chapter 245 Wait—! ! !
Anhe City, Su Mansion.

Su's mother was humming a little tune as she prepared dinner for the family.

"I wonder how Ling'er is doing at Qingxu Temple... It's been so long since I've seen the immortals there. I wonder if I could ask someone to send her a message..."

As she was thinking, she picked up a bowl of freshly served hot soup, preparing to put it on the table, when she tripped over something as she turned around.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, and the porcelain bowl slipped from her hand.

"Crack—!" A shattering sound was particularly jarring in the kitchen. Soup was splashed all over the floor, and the porcelain bowl was broken into countless pieces.

"This..." Su's mother squatted down with heartache and began to pick up the broken pieces on the ground. Just as she picked up the largest piece, the edge cut her fingertip.

A drop of blood quickly seeped out and fell onto the porcelain shard, looking shocking. She stared at the wound on her fingertip, stunned.

A nameless panic welled up in her heart. She looked up at the sky outside the window, which was dyed red by the sunset, and the unease in her heart grew stronger.

I have a feeling... something has happened...

……

"Wait a minute—!!!"

Just as Su Ling'er's consciousness sank completely into darkness, a voice tore through the canyon! This voice caused Xuan Yuan Daoist's hand, which was pressing on Su Ling'er's head, to suddenly stop!
A powerful aura, also belonging to the Great Perfection of Core Formation, arrived in this area!

Xuan Yuan Dao Ren felt a chill run down his spine. Before he could even react further, an instinctive sense of crisis made him subconsciously pull his hand back.

A sword light flew past his palm, almost grazing it. Although he dodged quickly enough, the sharp sword energy still left a bloody mark on his fingertip. He was horrified. If he had been even a fraction slower, his hand would have been ruined!

Could it be that the Guixi Sect has come knocking on our door?!

He looked up abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply. Above the canyon, a vortex of swords composed of hundreds of flying swords of various kinds had appeared out of nowhere!

Ancient swords, golden swords, silver swords... every sword radiated spiritual light, and their tips were all pointed at him.

"Damn it!" Xuan Yuan Daoist retreated in a sorry state, but the vortex of swords did not fall; it simply hovered there quietly, exuding a silent intimidation.

At the end of the rain of swords, a figure in black robes slowly descended, lightly touching the ancient sword "Wait" with its head on it, his robes fluttering.

Lin Qingfeng has arrived.

He glanced down at his junior sister, who was covered in blood, and then at Wang Xiedi, who was barely breathing beside him. He couldn't help but sigh.

How did Ye Longtao manage to mess with a Core Formation Grand Perfection cultivator? A bunch of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators dare to challenge him? No wonder you're so good at causing trouble!

At this moment, Shi Gandang, Lu Wu, Ji and others also arrived one after another. Without saying a word, Lu Wu flicked his finger and shot two pills into the mouths of Su Ling'er and Wang Xiedi, keeping them alive until the last breath.

Immediately afterwards, a ten-thousand-year-old warm jade coffin descended from the sky with a "clang," covering Su Ling'er, who had just caught her breath, and placing her inside the coffin.

On the other side, a Sifangzhen beast-drawn carriage, the familiar prison cart, also came down and locked Wang Xiedi inside.

Lin Qingfeng also took the opportunity to release Wang Xiedi's "wife" Shen Jiaye from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner and threw them into the prison cart together, so that they could "reunite as husband and wife".

Confined in the coffin, Su Ling'er felt the warm spiritual energy nourishing her body, and her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

My senior brother... he really came to save me... but... how did he know about this place? And... why did they have to use a coffin and a prison cart to rescue me...?

The priest carried his black coffin, approached the warm jade coffin, and tapped the coffin lid with a bang. He said with a regretful expression, "Oh dear, Your Highness, if only I had been a little bit closer, I could have truly provided you with a complete funeral service."

"That would truly be a farewell gift for the Holy Maiden of my Guixi Sect! How about making a reservation now? I'll give you a 2% discount!"

This isn't funny at all! What the heck is a 2% discount? I don't need that kind of discount!
Su Ling'er weakly retorted from inside the coffin, but the heart that had been hanging in her throat finally settled down.

She looked out through the cracks in the coffin. In the canyon, Lin Qingfeng slowly descended, his gaze fixed on Xuan Yuan Daoist not far away.

Xuan Yuan Daoist had also calmed his mind. He looked at the spiritual energy fluctuations on Lin Qingfeng and the others, and his thoughts became slightly heavy.

He no longer concealed his true intentions, but instead straightened his back, revealing a pained expression on his face, and loudly proclaimed: "I am Xuan Yuan, and I did not expect to disturb you fellow Daoists! I was just passing by when I saw these young friends speaking rudely, so I offered them a little advice."

He knew in his heart that this matter could only end here, and it was best to slip away first.

However, Lin Qingfeng laughed after hearing this, and even nodded seriously.

While casually wiping the ancient sword "Wait" in his hand, Lin Qingfeng tilted his head and sized up the other party: "You're being rude, aren't you? Trying to give me a hint? You want to argue that it's reasonable for you to take action against them?"

"This... let's call it quits for today. I'll leave immediately, how about that?"

"Not so much." Lin Qingfeng's smile suddenly turned cold. "Unfortunately, you offended the Holy Maiden of my Guixi Sect and injured the man of Shen Jiaye, the mascot of my sect."

Su Ling'er: Huh? When did Shen Jiaye become the sect's mascot?

Xuan Yuan Daoist: Hmm? ??? How could someone with Su Ling'er's talent be able to sit in the position of the sect's Holy Maiden?

Looking at the person opposite him, Lin Qingfeng seemed to realize something, paused for a moment, and thought, "Wait! This is a Core Formation cultivator, and a humanoid Core Formation cultivator NPC at that! So the lines I'm about to say are confirmed!!!"
"Everyone says you are the number one person below the Nascent Soul stage, but in my opinion, you are just a Core Formation cultivator."

Xuan Yuan Daoist: Hmm? How come I didn't know I was the number one person below the Nascent Soul stage?
Su Ling'er: How come I didn't know the sect leader was the number one person below the Nascent Soul stage? When did this happen?
"So, how about I take your life, you old Taoist priest?" Xuan Yuan Daoist's expression changed. "Fellow Daoist, don't make a mistake! I am a righteous Daoist... Pfft!"

Lin Qingfeng's figure vanished in front of him in an instant, and the next second, a foot appeared on his face, magnified infinitely!
"boom--!!!"

"Did I tell you to speak?!" With a loud thud, the foot slammed into his face! His air of a sage and his otherworldly demeanor vanished under that kick!
He was kicked flying!
"The righteous path? You're the righteous path? You killed our people, so are we some kind of evil heretics? You're slandering our righteous sect!"

Lin Qingfeng's figure followed closely, appearing in his path as he flew backward, and delivered another whip kick to his waist!

"boom!"

Xuan Yuan Daoist was kicked into the air, intending to use the momentum to escape.

but!

"Get down here!" Shi Gandang's massive warhammer slammed down on his back with tremendous force!
"boom--!!!"

Xuan Yuan Daoist was slammed into the ground, creating a huge crater!
He struggled to climb out of the pit, spitting out blood, but then heard a lazy voice coming from above.

"Sigh, what's the point of struggling... lying still... isn't that fine too... look, this pit isn't too big or too small... it's perfect for sleeping..." Wang Xian was lying in his grieving beast sleeping bag, yawning.

That feeling of lethargy, which made one lose all fighting spirit, enveloped Xuan Yuan Daoist.

At the same time, dozens of tough vines broke through the soil, binding him and the pit tightly, and strange flowers bloomed on the vines.

Shen Nong's figure flashed past the edge of the pit.

But all of this is just the prelude.

"This is outrageous!" Xuan Yuan Daoist roared from inside the pit! He was, after all, a Great Perfection Core Formation cultivator and the head of Qingxu Temple! How could he endure such a humiliating disgrace!
He bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain stimulating his soul, forcibly dispelling the feeling of lethargy. "Pure Void Secret Technique - Sword Heart Clarity!"

Om-!
A pure and sharp sword intent erupted from his body! The vines binding him were instantly shredded by the sword energy!

He transformed into a streak of sword light, soaring into the sky, his eyes filled with determination and madness. "Today, it's either you or me! For the sake of Qingxu Temple's lineage, I will fight you to the death!"

He spoke with a fierce tone, as if he wanted to perish together with everyone. Suddenly, he opened his mouth and spat out a golden pill!
Above the golden core, the light shone brightly, and mysterious runes flowed around it. At this moment, the spiritual energy of the entire canyon became violent!

"He's going to self-destruct his golden core!" Lu Wu exclaimed in surprise. Shi Gandang and the others immediately turned serious and adopted defensive stances.

Although there are different kinds of Core Formation Perfection cultivators, the self-destruction of a Core Formation Perfection cultivator is enough to attract their attention!

Xuan Yuan Daoist made hand seals and chanted incantations, causing the aura of the golden elixir to rise to its peak!
"With my crippled body, I will defend my lineage! Fellow practitioners, we shall meet again on the road to the Yellow Springs!" he roared, shoving his golden core forward with all his might!
But at the very moment the golden core left his hand, he himself fled for his life at an even faster speed in the opposite direction from the golden core, without looking back!
He never intended to fight to the death! All those impassioned words and his show of wanting to die together were just a performance to cover his escape!
That seemingly self-destructing golden core was nothing but a disguise; it was a one-time attack magic weapon that he activated using a secret technique!
However, just when he thought he was about to escape, a figure appeared on his escape route even faster than him.

It is Lin Qingfeng.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I told you, your life is in my hands, how about that? Why are you running away so fast?"

Xuan Yuan Daoist was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. Without thinking, he tried to change direction, but it was too late.

"Buzz—!" A huge black coffin appeared in front of him, blocking his way. The priest was watching him from a distance with a sorrowful expression.

“Fellow Daoist, I see that your face is dark, and you may suffer a bloody disaster today. Why don’t you enter my coffin and I will perform a ritual for you to ensure a peaceful departure?”

"Get out of my way!" Xuan Yuan Daoist roared, slapping the black coffin with his palm, sending it flying before continuing his escape!

But at that moment, the "golden core" behind him also underwent a strange change. The golden core, which was about to explode, was suddenly grabbed by a claw.

It was Wang Xian's wretched beast. It rubbed its sleepy eyes, opened its mouth wide, yawned, and then... "Awoo!" it swallowed the magic treasure "Golden Pill" in one gulp, like eating a candy.

"Burp~" The Wraith Beast burped, lazily rolled over, and went back to sleep.

Just as Xuan Yuan Daoist's attention was diverted, Lin Qingfeng appeared behind him without him even noticing.

He stretched out a hand and gently pressed it on the top of Xuan Yuan Dao Ren's head. The movement, the position, the force... were exactly the same as when Xuan Yuan Dao Ren had treated Su Ling Er before.

He mimicked Xuan Yuan Dao Ren's previous tone, his face filled with compassion, his voice calm and undisturbed.

"little tricks."

"But the cicadas of summer can never understand the snow of winter. All your struggles are meaningless in my eyes."

Upon hearing this retort, Xuan Yuan Daoist trembled with rage, his eyes filled with humiliation. He tried to struggle, but the aura of the Youyuan Beast and Shen Nong's vines followed in quick succession.

Meanwhile, the ritual was constantly casting various negative buffs and curses on him.

Lin Qingfeng's palm completely sealed him in place.

He has no chance left...

"you……"

Lin Qingfeng's hand, which was pressing on his head, began to slowly exert force.

“Crack…Crack…”

The sound of bones shattering rang out, this time coming from above Xuan Yuan Daoist's head.

“Your Dao heart is quite good,” Lin Qingfeng’s voice echoed calmly in his ear. “I also used my hand to give you my final respect, but that’s where it ends.”

Inside the coffin, Su Ling'er stared blankly through the crack at the scene before her. The Xuan Yuan Daoist who had previously driven her to the brink of despair, the elegant yet cruel one, the one who was as invincible as a god, was now being humiliated in the same way and with the same words.

Is this...is this really the same person?
And when did the eldest brother arrive?
How much of what they said did the eldest brother hear...?

……

The force emanating from the hand above his head seemed to be crushing his bones and all his dignity. Xuan Yuan Dao Ren felt the excruciating pain of being squeezed bit by bit without being able to struggle, and his consciousness gradually blurred in humiliation and pain.

Countless images flooded his mind.

That year, he was a ragged boy, on the verge of death from famine.

It was his master, who was also the head of Qingxu Temple at the time, who saw his talent, rescued him from the pile of corpses, and brought him back to the mountain gate.

He became the only direct disciple in the temple.

He, like Su Ling'er, once yearned for the so-called righteous path.

He once thought that cultivating immortality meant slaying demons and protecting all living beings, and that as long as one was sincere, the Great Dao was within reach.

But reality soon gave him a resounding slap in the face.

He followed his master and stepped out of the mountain gate for the first time to pay respects to the elders of the upper sect, the "Heavenly Furnace Sect," and to pay the annual "tithe tax."

It was not an equal visit, but a one-sided report and tribute. Xuan Yuan saw how his master, the seemingly omnipotent head of Qingxu Temple in his heart, was so cautious and obsequious in front of that elder of Tianlu Sect.

And those layers of social classes do not only exist in titles and etiquette.

It's like an impenetrable net, from resources to talent to cultivation techniques, forever fixing the Heavenly Furnace Sect and other low-ranking sects like the Qingxu Temple within their own social strata.

It is difficult to go any further.

The techniques are monopolized.

The sect's most prized martial arts technique, which they take pride in, is nothing more than a more incomplete rubbing of the "Original Dao Canon" passed down from the Tianlu Sect.

The true core techniques are firmly controlled by those top sects and are never passed on to outsiders. Even a sect like the Heavenly Furnace Sect does not possess a more complete version.

These lower-level sects, being subordinate to the lowest ranks, don't even have the qualifications to get a glimpse of the whole picture. This fundamentally determines that the disciples they cultivate can never surpass the upper sects in terms of potential.

Resources are controlled. The best spiritual veins and the rarest mineral deposits have long been designated as forbidden areas by the upper sects, leaving Qingxu Temple to struggle for survival on those barren lands.

In the nearby city of Anhe, most people are ordinary folks, and few possess spiritual roots. Having two spiritual roots is enough to make one a prodigy in the inner sect.

After all, the upper class eats meat, while they have to be mindful of others' attitudes even when drinking soup.

The upper sect possesses the most advanced cultivation techniques, controls the most core resources, and monopolizes the best and most talented disciples.

Want to resist?

The superior sect doesn't even need to take action personally; simply cutting off some of the support they provide is enough to slowly wither and die you.

That day, as he watched his master argue vehemently with that elder over the ownership of a single pill, only to be met with the elder's contemptuous sneer, his understanding of what constitutes the righteous path gradually deepened.

He had also followed his master to learn about the so-called "battle between good and evil" from afar.

In his youth, he also thought it was a decisive battle between light and darkness. Later, Xuan Yuan realized that it was a catastrophe that affected the entire region.

Countless righteous cultivators, inspired by the slogans of "upholding justice" and "wiping out all demons," rushed towards the demonic territory with lofty ideals, only to end up as mutilated corpses.

Those who die are always the rogue cultivators without any background, the cannon fodder used as expendable resources, or the disciples of affiliated sects who need to rely on the righteous or demonic paths to survive.

Those truly at the top of the righteous immortal sects and demonic giants rarely personally participate; they sit high in the clouds, overlooking this bloody meat grinder.

The two sides, representing good and evil, are like playing a game of chess. This vast land is the chessboard, and the rest are the pieces.

The disciples of both sides, driven by the promises made by their superiors and their own righteous or demonic ideals, fought tooth and nail on the battlefield, driven by a desire to protect or plunder, until they were locked in a life-or-death struggle.

They both regarded each other as irreconcilable enemies between good and evil.

Meanwhile, those powerful beings who set the rules might be in some secluded celestial palace, sipping celestial tea and calmly discussing the terms of a ceasefire.

Perhaps the day before, a certain affiliated sect had been severely reprimanded by the superior sect for poor performance in battle, and the entire sect was holding back their anger, preparing to fight the demons to the death the next day.

The following day, they received a ceasefire order because the powerful figures on both sides had reached a consensus on the ownership of a newly discovered ancient secret realm and decided to develop it peacefully.

And so, the war ended abruptly.

What about those disciples who died? They died, and that's all.

Their names may appear in the list of merits, and if they still have spouses or family members, they may receive some compensation.

Their deaths never shook the interests of the upper echelons of either the righteous or the demonic forces.

Blood and life are merely an insignificant exchange in the game of chess.

Qingxu Temple, being too weak, didn't even qualify to be a pawn or cannon fodder. It was only by chance that it could survive in a corner by simply paying taxes.

Xuan Yuan once asked his master whether this was something to be thankful for or something to be sad about.

The master simply stroked his head and sighed, "Xuanyuan, you must remember that the lineage of Qingxu Temple is more important than anything else. As long as the lineage remains, we still have hope."

Later, when his master's lifespan came to an end, he passed on the position of sect leader to me before he passed away.

He could feel that what his master's withered hands was not just the token of the sect leader, but also an expectation for the future. He placed all his hopes on himself.

"Xuan Yuan...promise me...let Qingxu Temple...live on..."

That was the last sentence his master left him, and it was also the obsession his master held in this life.

From that moment on, the distinction between good and evil no longer mattered to him. As long as the lineage of Qingxu Temple could continue, he would stop at nothing.

But now... is Qingxu Temple about to perish at its own hands?
No! Absolutely not! I must not fail my master's trust! I must not let the lineage of Qingxu Temple be destroyed in my hands!
Even if it costs me my life, even if it means fleeing to the ends of the earth with the remaining disciples of Qingxu Temple, I will definitely pass on this lineage!
A surge of unwavering determination erupted within him, and he roared into the void!

"Elder Huohua! We are both righteous! Are you really going to stand idly by and watch my Qingxu Temple's lineage end here?!"

This roar seemed to trigger a switch, causing ripples to spread across the clouds above the canyon, and the surrounding mist to detour around him as he approached.

A soft laugh echoed in everyone's ears: "Hehe... Xuan Yuan, you've really suffered a big setback this time. However, we are fellow righteous disciples, of the same ilk, and naturally we will not stand idly by."

Before the words were even finished, a powerful pressure suddenly descended!
That oppressive aura far surpassed that of any of the Core Formation Grand Perfection cultivators present; they were only one step away from entering the Nascent Soul stage!

Under this oppressive force, everyone's bodies suddenly sank, and their expressions became extremely solemn. In the void, a figure holding a beast bone slowly emerged.

It was Elder Huohua of the Heavenly Furnace Sect!
He didn't even glance at Xuan Yuan Daoist on the ground, his gaze fixed directly on Lin Qingfeng: "Young friend, could you spare the life of this righteous fellow disciple of yours for my sake?"

"We are all from the same righteous sect, and should be of one mind and one heart. If he has made any mistakes, let him apologize to you, and we can let this matter rest, how about that?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingfeng raised his head, narrowed his eyes, and decided to probe the other party's background first: "Oh? May I ask which sect or school you belong to? And what is this talk of being of the same blood?"

He applied a little force, and Xuan Yuan Daoist let out another muffled groan.

"Furthermore, since we are both righteous sects, what crime should he be punished for relentlessly pursuing and killing my Guixi Sect disciples?"

Elder Huohua stroked his beard, a look of impartiality on his face: "Xuanyuan was indeed at fault first. How about this, I'll make the decision, and you'll be allowed to kill a few of his inner disciples as well. One life for one life, and we'll call it even. What do you say?"

"Moreover, I am Huo Hua, an elder of the Heavenly Furnace Sect. My Heavenly Furnace Sect is a pillar among the righteous sects. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can report to my Heavenly Furnace Sect and act under my banner, which will save you a lot of trouble."

Upon hearing this, Lin Qingfeng almost burst out laughing in anger.

I'm playing a game and I have to be a lackey for you NPC sects? Are you crazy or am I?

He quickly glanced at the explorable areas on the sect map but did not find the "Heavenly Furnace Sect" marker.

No? You're not over 800 miles away, are you? That makes things a bit tricky.

He immediately initiated an emergency meeting in the sect's communication channel.

【Zongmen Channel】

[Lin Qingfeng]: Brothers, come out! Does our sect have any Nascent Soul stage cultivators now?
[Shi Gandang]: Holy crap! I just managed to leave the sect, and then I ran into someone who can shake my Nascent Soul? How disgusting! Is this the true value of a second-tier sect? The destruction of the Marriage Pavilion was indeed well-deserved!

[Shen Nong]: This is tolerable, but even my aunt can't tolerate it!
[Sacrifice]: Even if the aunt can tolerate it, the uncle can't!
[Lu Wu]: The old man can tolerate it, but the old woman can't!
[Wang Xian]: +1... So... does it actually exist...?

[Shi Gandang]: No! Guild leader, you know how fun the Inner Demon Illusion is. I got stuck in it and couldn't level up!

[Shen Nong]: Should we promote one person to the next position?
[Lin Qingfeng]: Are you crazy? No wonder they interrupted you on the spot! Besides, that old guy on the other side is only one step away from the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm. A one-on-one fight between someone who has just entered the Nascent Soul realm is not necessarily a sure thing.

[Wang Xian]: This is so troublesome... Let's activate newbie protection... Let the invincible Sect Leader Qian take action and blast everything away...

[Lin Qingfeng]: What's the point of the sect leader slapping him away? We're near the sect now, and the newbie protection should cover this area. But just slapping him away, even if we could finish him off while he's weakened, is too frustrating. The newbie protection is designed to prevent anyone from taking advantage of our weakness and knocking him out of our exploration range! The Heavenly Furnace Sect is probably over 800 miles away; we can't even reach them to retaliate! Wouldn't that be incredibly frustrating?
[Sacrifice]: Indeed, once we reach level three and the newbie protection is gone, if this old guy's sect has some Nascent Soul cultivators or something even higher level coming to our door, won't we end up following the same path as the Marriage Pavilion?
Everyone offered their opinions, but for a moment they couldn't come up with a perfect solution.

……

Inside the coffin, Su Ling'er listened quietly to everything outside.

The Heavenly Furnace Sect... the upper sect of the Qingxu Temple...

So this is the same old face.

The upright and righteous immortal sects she had read about in storybooks, who fought for the people and eliminated evil, were shattered in the face of reality.

Is this what the so-called right path should be like? ...The right path shouldn't be like this!
The righteous path, a single sword chilling fourteen provinces, establishes a heart for heaven and earth, and secures a destiny for the people!

The right path should be to uphold one's principles, punish evil and promote good, and never bow down even in the face of power!

The right path should be to seek both longevity and peace of mind!

But... everything she saw was a cruel mockery of her naivety.

At that moment, she even felt that these so-called "righteous paths" were nothing more than another form of heretical cultivation.

She feels like she really does see everyone as a heretic now...

If there is no true righteous path in this world...

If all the lights have rotted away...

In her own way, she lit a candle of her own in the endless darkness!

Even if the light is faint...

Even if it gets blown out by a strong wind...

Even... having this demonic sect as her backing...

……

Outside, Lin Qingfeng held Xuan Yuan Daoist's hand firmly.

Seeing this, Elder Huohua's face showed a hint of displeasure, then he chuckled and threw out a trump card: "Young friend, why be so persistent? Do you know whose side this Holy Maiden you are protecting is on?"

He glanced meaningfully at Xuan Yuan Daoist on the ground: "One of his useless disciples actually became a Holy Maiden in your Guixi Sect. There must be quite a story behind that, right?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's attention focused on the ancient warm jade coffin.

Elder Huohua continued, "Give me some face, and let this matter drop. The Heavenly Furnace Sect will also help you cover this up. How about it?"

Lin Qingfeng turned around, glanced at the coffin, and asked loudly, "Junior Sister, are you a spy under his command?"

Inside the coffin, Su Ling'er's heart trembled violently. Before... but now... it's no longer the same...

"No!" Lin Qingfeng then turned around and shrugged at Elder Huohua.

"Look, even my sect's Holy Maiden Junior Sister has said no, what else do you have to say?" Elder Huohua was shocked by this farcical scene.

No... you're really sure like that?! You just asked, and they say no, so it's no?! Isn't your sect's decision-making a bit too hasty?!

Just as Lin Qingfeng turned around, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the disheveled figure who had been dragged along by the reins and was now finally scrambling to get here.

Dong Changsheng has arrived.

His words... Lin Qingfeng instantly formed a plan in his mind.

He immediately issued a series of new instructions in the sect's communication channel.

[Lin Qingfeng]: Although we don't have a Nascent Soul stage yet, we're not worried.

[Shi Gandang]: Chairman, what are you up to?

[Lin Qingfeng]: We have a city-wide treasure, a boundary-wide treasure, and even a civilization-wide treasure—Dong Changsheng! Hmmm… He should be useful until his luck stat runs out! Anyway, NPCs aren't limited by range, so let's deploy Dong Changsheng and see how grateful he is!

[Sacrifice]: As long as Dong Changsheng feels grateful to the Heavenly Furnace Sect, I don't believe they won't die! The problem is how to make him feel grateful.

[Lu Wu]: Another problem is that we don't know where the Heavenly Furnace Sect is!
[Lin Qingfeng]: So, everyone listen up! Provide full cover for Ji and Yan Bulu! Ji will mark the location of the Heavenly Furnace Sect in the dark area of ​​the map! Yan Bulu will be responsible for seeing what they can steal!
[Yan Buliu]: Huh? President, is there anything I can do for you? I thought I was always just a nobody...

[Lin Qingfeng]: How is that possible! You even managed to steal Elder Qian's socks! We'll see what you can steal from this Nascent Soul old monster later! Anyway, this stupid sect has messed with us, we can't let them get away with it so easily!

……

Dong Changsheng, who had just arrived, was completely dumbfounded by the bizarre scene before him.

Why is the sect leader kneeling before the senior brother? And who is that even more powerful-looking old man in the sky? What's going on here?
With the tactical arrangements complete, Lin Qingfeng had no more reservations and unleashed his full firepower.

"You dare call yourselves the righteous path? I think you're just a bunch of heretical and evil cultivators who twist the truth!"

"My junior sister has already said she's not a member of Qingxu Temple, yet you still spew slander and distort the truth, wanting to take my Guixi Sect as a subordinate sect? You fucking dare to say that?!"

"We are the true righteous sect!" "What a load of bull, the Heavenly Furnace Sect! It's clearly a demonic sect, only fit to carry our shoes!"

He suddenly exerted force with the palm that was pressing on Xuan Yuan Daoist's head!
"You dare!"

Upon seeing this, Elder Huohua could no longer remain calm.

He tried to take back the crystal ball from Xuan Yuan Dao Ren's hand, but found that Xuan Yuan Dao Ren was holding it tightly and wouldn't let go.

If he tries to take it by force, he will only crush the crystal ball, and the soul inside will scatter. He may end up with nothing!
An immense pressure descended upon Lin Qingfeng!

Lin Qingfeng felt his bones groaning instantly, and the ground beneath his feet cracked inch by inch.

But he just sneered and withstood the pressure head-on. The force of his hand on Xuan Yuan Daoist's head increased instead of decreasing!
"Why wouldn't I dare? I'm determined to kill this old Taoist priest! Even Jesus couldn't stop him! I said it!"

Every word he uttered seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Under the pressure of the Nascent Soul cultivator, his pressing motion was extremely difficult. The veins on the back of his hand bulged out one by one, and his arm was trembling slightly, but his five fingers still tightened inward little by little!
Xuan Yuan Daoist's skull creaked, the shadow of death had completely enveloped him, and out of the corner of his eye, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of the figure that had just arrived.

It is Dong Changsheng.

In an instant, an absurd idea began to grow wildly in his mind.

Could it be... that Dong Changsheng lured these people here? Did he harbor resentment towards him for long ago for treating him as a pawn? So, he set up this scheme to kill someone using someone else?
But this speculation was quickly dispelled by the force above his head.

He felt the excruciating pain of being crushed, and all the emotions in his eyes slowly faded away, turning into a gray-white expanse.

He remembered his master's cloudy yet hopeful eyes before his death.

He recalled the vow he made when he took over as sect leader: "I will definitely make Qingxu Temple flourish."

When exactly did he become like this?

He couldn't even remember what he looked like when he first started cultivating immortality.

Perhaps... this is karma...

A final sense of relief flashed through Xuan Yuan Dao Ren's mind.

Although he had entrusted his personal disciple with the task of leading a group to evacuate Anhe City before he arrived, what has become of them...? Have they successfully evacuated...? Will his personal disciple be able to successfully continue the lineage of Qingxu Temple...?

I'm sorry... Master... Qingxu Temple... I seem to be... unable to do anything more for it...

Inside his crystal ball were the souls of the disciples of Qingxu Temple. Xuan Yuan Daoist used his last bit of strength to tighten his grip.

Since we're all going to die anyway, let's send these disciples... to the afterlife...

"boom--!"

Finally, with a muffled explosion, Xuan Yuan Dao Ren's head, along with the crystal ball he had deliberately crushed, turned into a cloud of blood mist and specks of light.

Countless liberated souls transformed into specks of light under the sunlight, dissipating into the world.

……

Dong Changsheng hid in the shadow of the stone wall, covering his mouth tightly, his body convulsing with grief.

The sect leader... is dead.

The sect leader who had shown him kindness and mentorship, the benefactor he had always wanted to repay, had his head crushed by that demonic senior brother!

It's all my fault... If... if I hadn't hesitated just now, if I had stopped my senior brother without hesitation... perhaps the sect leader wouldn't have died... I still haven't been able to repay the kindness...

……

Seeing everything turn into nothing, Elder Huohua was furious!
"You brat! You're asking for death!"

At this moment, the pressure was entirely directed at Lin Qingfeng!
A gigantic hand, blotting out the sky, slammed down fiercely towards Lin Qingfeng's location!
"Proceed according to plan! Retreat!" Lin Qingfeng roared at the crowd, facing the palm strike alone.

It was at this moment that he activated the secret technique he had just acquired.

[Secret Technique: Seal-Style Evasion - Beginner]

His entire demeanor changed. Facing the colossal, sky-covering hand, he didn't retreat but advanced, simply extending one hand to gently brush his hair.

Immediately afterwards, he tilted his head back and turned to the side in an extremely elegant manner.

"boom--!!!!!"

The giant hand just brushed past him and slammed onto the ground beside him!
The entire canyon was trembling violently, and dust billowed into the sky, but Lin Qingfeng stood unharmed between the fingers of that giant hand.

Elder Huohua's pupils suddenly contracted.

That's impossible! He just said how he dodged it. How could I not have seen it clearly?

However, what enraged him even more was Lin Qingfeng's provocative voice afterward.

"Hey, you old codger, are you the weakest Nascent Soul cultivator in the Heavenly Furnace Sect? You can't even hit me, a Great Perfection Core Formation cultivator. You think you're worthy of being an elder?"

"You're not just hanging around the Heavenly Furnace Sect doing nothing, are you? No way? No way? It can't be what I think, can it?"

"You brat!" Elder Huohua was furious!

The person he was protecting was crushed before his eyes, his sect was humiliated, and now he was being mocked to his face by a junior in the Core Formation stage! As an elder of the Heavenly Furnace Sect, he had never suffered such a humiliation!
"die!"

He slammed his beast bone staff down, and in an instant, hundreds and thousands of fire crows imbued with the energy of Geng metal shot towards Lin Qingfeng, covering the sky!

However, Lin Qingfeng's movements remained as free-flowing, and as... infuriating.

Facing the fire crows attacking from the left, he brushed his hair with one hand, tilted his head back, and turned away. The fire crows flew past his back.

Facing the fire crows swooping in from the right, he brushed his hair aside again, tilted his head back, and took a step to the side, the fire crows flying past his nose.

Every time he dodged an attack, he would repeat the same pretentious "flicking his hair, tilting his head back, and turning to the side" move, all while continuing to verbally attack.

"Oops, it's crooked."

"Hey old man, haven't you eaten yet? Want me to order you some roast chicken?"

"With your subpar Nascent Soul cultivation, you should just retire! What's the point of living?"

"You've reached the Nascent Soul stage, yet you struggle so much to kill even a Perfected Core Formation cultivator. You're truly a disgrace to Nascent Soul cultivators!"

Elder Huohua was so angry that he was practically fuming. His attacks became increasingly ferocious, but no matter how tricky the angles or how numerous the attacks were, Lin Qingfeng could always easily deflect them with his usual style.

While Elder Huohua's attention was drawn to Lin Qingfeng, the others had already begun their planned actions.

Wang Xian's Ghostly Beast Sleeping Bag swallowed Shi Gandang, Ji, Yan Bulu and others whole, and then the entire sleeping bag turned into a phantom and disappeared into the void.

Using the unique inertia field of the Wraith Beast, they silently circled around to Elder Fire Birch's blind spot.

When the Wraith Beast reappeared and had already closed to a certain distance, Elder Huohua instantly sensed the presence of other beings!

"How dare you, you petty scoundrel!"

The sleeping bag opened, spitting everyone out. The first to be hit was Ji, who had been "thrown" by Shi Gandang with a hammer.

He roared and with a backhand motion, unleashed a wall of fire formed from beast fire, heading towards the sacrificial priest who had been thrown at him! Facing the raging beast fire, the priest's face still wore that compassionate expression.

"Brothers! I'm going first!"

The next second, he was completely engulfed by the beast fire and burned to ashes. An invisible death mark silently landed on Elder Huohua's body.

【Zongmen Channel】

【祭】: OK, it's marked.

At the very moment of the sacrifice, Lin Qingfeng seized the opportunity and brazenly closed in!

"Azure Lotus Sword Song!" Countless sword lotuses bloomed around Elder Huohua, forcing him to be distracted, while on the other side, a shadow had already approached his body.

The swallows do not linger.

"Hmph, ant." Elder Huohua sneered, without even turning around, he used his aura alone to imprison Yan Bulu, and then squeezed his hand!
"boom!"

Yan Bulu's head exploded with a thud, but at that moment he also used the [Taking Something from a Bag] technique!
【Zongmen Channel】

【Yan Buliu】: Guild leader, I didn't get anything good, I just took his identity token.

[Lin Qingfeng]: Enough! I want this thing! From now on, if I cause trouble, I'll be a member of the Heavenly Furnace Sect! Any bad luck I get into will be blamed on the Heavenly Furnace Sect!

Having achieved his goal, Lin Qingfeng immediately withdrew and fled.

"Ready to fire? Everyone, evacuate!"

"okay!"

"Don't forget to start the live stream, senior brother! I'm going to watch it while I'm lying down!"

Upon seeing this, Elder Huohua grinned maliciously and was about to launch a pursuit when he saw Lin Qingfeng appear calm and collected!
[New Player Protection - Enabled]

In an instant, a strange aura suddenly descended.

The expressionless and vacant-eyed "Sect Leader Qian" appeared in front of Lin Qingfeng in an instant.

At this moment, Elder Huohua had also pushed his spiritual energy to its limit!
"Secret Technique: Forge of Ten Thousand Beasts!"

The beast bone staff in his hand shone brightly, and countless phantoms of ancient ferocious beasts roared out from it, merging with his alchemical fire to transform into a giant fire beast that roared towards Lin Qingfeng!
This move seems capable of burning mountains and boiling seas!
However, "Master Qian" only extended one hand.

"Snapped."

A sound so crisp it was almost excessive.

The mighty, fiery behemoth, along with its roar, was shattered by his slap...

Lin Qingfeng was also worried that the aftermath of the battle would affect him, so he quickly retreated to the side of the ten-thousand-year-old warm jade coffin and lifted the coffin lid.

"Well, you're really enjoying yourself, lying in such a big space all by yourself!" He looked at Su Ling'er, who was staring blankly outside, and moved his mouth slightly. "Move over a bit, I want to come in too."

Su Ling'er was taken aback: "You...you're coming in too? No...the sect leader is already here, why do we need to hide?"

"Who knows how loud they'll get if they fight?" Lin Qingfeng said matter-of-factly. "It's safer to hide in the coffin."

Looking at Lin Qingfeng's face that was leaning closer, Su Ling'er's mind started to wander again.

Could he... he be trying to take advantage of me?

Looking at her thoughtful expression, Lin Qingfeng felt that this little yellow girl was thinking about something again.

"How about I lock you and Wang Xiedi together, and I'll have this single cell all to myself?" Su Ling'er glanced at the prison van next door, where Shen Jiaye was taking care of the unconscious Wang Xiedi, and decisively shook her head.

The prison van wasn't very big to begin with, and it already felt a bit cramped with just two people. Adding another person would be terrifying!

"It's too crowded. I don't want to disturb their time together." She obediently moved to the side, making room for Lin Qingfeng.

And so, the two of them lay on either side of the same coffin, watching the great battle outside through the cracks.

……

"Fellow Daoist, why did you interfere in this matter?" Elder Huohua suppressed his shock and confusion. "If you are a fellow Daoist from the Guixi Sect, then I have something to say. It was the Guixi Sect that insulted me first, and I was only forced by circumstances..."

"Snapped!"

Without uttering a word, the vacant-eyed "Sect Master Qian" slapped Elder Huo Hua across the face.

Lin Qingfeng and Su Ling'er, both inside the coffin, gasped in shock.

"hiss--"

Is this... sect protection? Not very harmful, but extremely humiliating!
"Senior, I—Pfft!" Elder Huohua received another slap.

"Pfft!" Elder Huohua covered his face, daring not to speak out in anger.

This person is completely impossible to communicate with!
Left with no other choice, Huo Hua once again activated his secret technique, burning his life essence to unleash an even more powerful attack.

"Return of Ten Thousand Fires to the Origin - Strike of the Fiery Hell Beast King!" A fiery beast king, even more solid and ferocious than before, roared out, and even the surrounding canyons showed signs of carbonization under its scorching heat!
However, the invincible "Master Qian" still only received one slap.

"Crack!" The Beast King was smashed apart once again.

Elder Huohua was completely dumbfounded.

Just what is the background of this Guixi Sect?!

He instantly thought of Ye Longtao, who had been executed by Xuan Yuan himself.

If the useless Qingxu Temple could send the information back, there's no reason why their Tianlu Sect couldn't! But all of this depends on... whether I can get back alive!

Upon realizing this, Elder Huohua lost all will to fight and only had the thought of escaping left in his mind!
He gritted his teeth and transformed into a raging ball of beast fire, heading in the opposite direction from "Sect Master Qian." He used the Fire Escape Technique at the cost of burning his own essence, preparing to escape!

The speed was so fast that it appeared at the end of the canyon almost instantly!

However, just as he was about to burst out of the canyon, a hand reached out from behind him and grabbed his ankle. Sect Leader Qian still had that empty look in his eyes.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Elder Huohua didn't even have time to react before "Sect Master Qian" grabbed his ankle and slammed him back to the center of the canyon, bringing him back into Lin Qingfeng's sight!

The ground trembled violently again, and smoke and dust filled the air.

"Fellow Daoist! Let's talk this out! My Heavenly Furnace Sect..." Elder Huohua struggled to speak and negotiate, but "Sect Master Qian" didn't give him the chance at all.

Grab it, swing it, and smash it down.

Grab it, swing it, and smash it down.

……

There are no fancy spells, no exquisite moves, only the most primitive, brutal, and unreasonable physical beatings.

Elder Huohua, a dignified Nascent Soul cultivator, was being tossed around in a way that was utterly devoid of any beauty in this valley that he himself had scorched black with beast fire.

Every time he tried to transform into flames and escape, he would be pulled back the next second and continue to be slammed and beaten.

His blood and qi surged, blood seeped from his seven orifices, and countless bones were broken, leaving him covered in wounds.

Although these injuries caused him immense pain, they cleverly avoided all vital points and did not damage his fundamental Dao foundation.

……

Inside the coffin, the two peered through the cracks at the scene outside.

Su Ling'er couldn't help but quietly nudge Lin Qingfeng beside her.

"Elder brother..."

"what?"

"Our sect's... Sect Master."

"His attack moves...don't they have anything...more like those from a cultivation novel? Isn't this a bit...too..."

Lin Qingfeng nodded in deep agreement.

"It's really tacky."

"This style of play is a bit too down-to-earth. It lacks aesthetic appeal but is extremely humiliating."

I have to complain to the official team later. The attack animation of this sect leader NPC is too monotonous. They need to improve the art style!
While the two of them were watching the battle, "Sect Master Qian" grabbed Elder Huohua and slammed him to the ground for a full three minutes.

Suddenly, a system window popped up in front of Lin Qingfeng.

[Dear Guixi Sect President and Senior Brother, thank you for using this "Newbie Protection" service. To further improve our service, please rate your experience.]

【☆☆☆☆☆】

[Friendly Reminder: Submit a 5-star review to receive a "New Year's Gift Pack" and have a chance to receive priority feedback from official customer service!]

Lin Qingfeng looked at the words "New Year's Gift Package" and clicked the fifth star without hesitation.

immediately.

[Feedback: Excellent! Very good! Excellent! Five-star rating! Although it's already very beautiful, I feel there's still room for improvement in terms of aesthetics. I hope the developers can optimize the battle animations of the sect leader NPC and strive to make it better and better!]

Then, submit.

The moment he submitted his positive review, "Master Qian" outside also stopped his violent actions.

He picked up Elder Huohua, whose face was already bruised and swollen, and even covered in bruises, swung him around a few times, and then suddenly swung his arm and threw him into the sky with all his might!
"Whoosh-!"

Elder Huohua was transformed into a shooting star and thrown directly into the sky, eventually disappearing into the clouds.

Lin Qingfeng immediately switched his gaze to the map. The death marker representing Elder Huohua, which Ji had shared, was moving rapidly towards the northwest corner of the map.

Finally, after flying over the sect's exploration range of eight hundred miles, the marker plunged into the black territory that represented the unknown, and after moving for a distance, it finally stopped.

Lin Qingfeng looked at the coordinates and roughly estimated the landing location in his mind. Seeing that there was no longer any threat around him, he climbed out of the coffin.

Then... with a "bang," the coffin lid was slammed shut on Su Ling'er.

Su Ling'er was stunned. "Wait, why are you locked inside again? Isn't there no danger outside?"

As soon as Lin Qingfeng emerged from the coffin, he flicked his wrist, and the thread of fate that was around Dong Changsheng's neck was pulled sharply.

"Whoosh—!" Dong Changsheng was pulled from a distance by a tremendous force and fell involuntarily in front of Lin Qingfeng.

He looked at the scorched earth, his body still trembling uncontrollably, but his eyes held a stubbornness as he searched around.

He seemed to be trying to find a trace of blood or ashes left by the sect leader, Xuan Yuan Dao Ren, in these ruins.

Lin Qingfeng looked at him, his mind racing with thoughts and calculations.

How can we make this guy "grateful" to the Heavenly Furnace Sect?

I've got it! Let me borrow the words of the old master of the Heavenly Furnace Sect!
Having figured out the script, a sly glint flashed in his eyes. Then, he raised his hand and slapped Dong Changsheng hard across the face!
"Slap!" This slap completely stunned Dong Changsheng. "I knew long ago that you were an undercover agent sent to my sect by that old Taoist Xuanyuan!"

Dong Changsheng: ? ? ? Senior Brother figured it out?!
Lin Qingfeng's voice was stern, and he slapped her again with his backhand!

"Snapped!"

"Speak! What exactly are you plotting?!"

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

A series of crisp slaps made Dong Changsheng see stars.

As Lin Qingfeng smoked, he angrily denounced, "That Xuan Yuan Daoist, just to save you, actually brought out the elders of the Tianlu Sect, wanting to wipe out my entire Guixi Sect!"

"They even twisted the truth about our sect, it's truly despicable!"

"Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Dong Changsheng was dizzy from the slaps, but Lin Qingfeng's words resonated in his chaotic mind.

Was it... that the sect leader summoned the elders of the Heavenly Furnace Sect to save me? But... I... I only saw the sect leader for the last time...

He was heartbroken.

But something seems off...

Seeing his rapidly shifting gaze, Lin Qingfeng knew the time wasn't right and had to interrupt his thinking to forcefully instill his own script!
So he delivered another round of slaps.

"The elders of the Heavenly Furnace Sect, after hearing your master's recommendation, believe you are a prodigy and are eager to personally take you under their wing! The reason they attacked us just now was to rescue you!"

"I even heard your old Taoist master's last words! He said he had entrusted you to the Heavenly Furnace Sect! You heinous bastard, how can you not repay such a deep debt of gratitude?!"

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

Dong Changsheng was completely stunned by these words. His master... had actually gone to such lengths for him? The elders of the Heavenly Furnace Sect... actually valued him so much?

His heart was instantly filled with emotion and guilt!

"However! The Heavenly Furnace Sect and my Guixi Sect are already mortal enemies! He actually wants to destroy my sect. As the senior disciple, I must eliminate this scourge of yours!"

"Goodbye! I must eliminate you! You can go now!" With that, he grabbed the Seeking Fate Silk and began to swing Dong Changsheng around like a flail!

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—" Dong Changsheng was thrown around in mid-air, feeling dizzy and disoriented, letting out a series of screams of "Ahhh!"

As Lin Qingfeng shook the object, he secretly mobilized his spiritual power, while mentally calculating the location and distance of the death mark on the map, as well as how much force he needed to use.

After making the judgment, he suddenly flexed his arm muscles and threw it with all his might!
"Go!"

“Ahhhhh——!”

Dong Changsheng transformed into a streak of light, piercing the sky and flying towards the darkness, eventually disappearing into a tiny black dot.

After Lin Qingfeng finished shaking it, he let out a long sigh of relief. He activated the "auto-pickup" function of the Seeking Fate Silk, and happily began to plan:

From now on, I won't have to keep seeing this disgusting thing waving around in front of me. Whatever opportunities Dong Changsheng has obtained over there, the Seeking Fate Silk will automatically be delivered to me.

He could even be sent to wreak havoc on rival sects. Even if there were any cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage or above, he wouldn't be afraid. He might even be able to kill them and continue to provide benefits to himself. It's practically perfect!
……

Inside the coffin, Su Ling'er stared at this outrageous scene, completely stunned.

Originally, she was filled with gratitude for her senior brother's rescue from the sky. Although her gratitude had not faded, she wondered what her senior brother was up to.
The eldest disciple just turned around and threw Senior Brother Dong out like trash? What's going on? This sect... really is a demonic sect!

She thought of the Qingxu Temple spies who died in the battle, and the fellow disciples who had been given missions by the sect leader but ultimately disappeared without a trace, and her mood became somewhat depressed again.

Lin Qingfeng patted the coffin lid and then looked at Wang Xiedi, who was still unconscious in the prison cart.

Wait, this guy, why was he asleep the whole time? He didn't even get to see how heroic we were, what a pity. Luckily I recorded it, I can let him enjoy it later. Hmm, I'll also post it on the sect channel, so everyone can learn a thing or two!
He then patted the warm jade coffin and knocked on the prison cart: "Let's go, let's go home."

……

On their way home, everyone had their own thoughts and concerns.

Lin Qingfeng opened the map, looked at the newly unlocked cities within a 800-mile radius, stroked his chin, and began to plan where he would be best to train.

He fixed his gaze on the city called "Anhe City" in the southeast direction.

Hmm, let's go to Anhe City for a visit next.

Su Ling'er, lying in the coffin, was also looking southeast through the crack.

Anhe City...that's where her home is.

The path to immortality is long and arduous. What has become of Anhe City's parents now? Are their younger siblings still, as before, holding those storybooks and fantasizing about flying on swords to become immortals?
And should I... explain to them the true tip of the iceberg of the cultivation world beyond the stories...?

(End of this chapter)