Chapter 57: Qingzhou is in an Uproar

The Zihe Sword Sect.

Pavilions were nestled among the mountains, dotted throughout the landscape with a breathtaking sharpness. This was not something ordinary craftsmen could have built; it required the assistance of highly accomplished martial artists.

Disciples of the Sword Sect moved through the grounds, their faces filled with pride.

The Zihe Sword Sect was a renowned first-rate sect in Qingzhou. In particular, the Sect Master, Venerable Zihe, was a powerhouse of the Yuan Dan Realm. His recent one-hundred-and-twentieth birthday celebration had drawn crowds like clouds, allowing the Zihe Sword Sect to truly make a name for itself.

Its influence had reached a new height.

But today, the Zihe Sword Sect welcomed an uninvited guest.

High in the sky.

A figure clad in Taoist robes fell like a meteor, coming to a halt above the Zihe Sword Sect. At first, no one noticed, but as a faint voice echoed through the heavens, the faces of all the Zihe Sword Sect disciples instantly filled with horror.

"Zihe, get out here, old man!"

Daoist Longshan stood with his hands behind his back, looking down upon the entire Zihe Sword Sect. A staggering sense of pressure was continuously condensing.

All the disciples of the Zihe Sword Sect looked up in shock

"Flying through the air... a powerhouse of the Heaven-Man Realm!"

At that moment.

A figure in purple robes rushed out from the depths of the Zihe Sword Sect and soared upward.

However, the purple-robed figure clearly did not fly with such ease and leisure. Even as he struggled to reach the same level as Daoist Longshan, he could not succeed; he could only hover below Daoist Longshan, unable to break through that oppressive pressure.

While a Yuan Dan Realm powerhouse could briefly levitate using astral qi, there was still a qualitative difference between them and the Heaven-Man Realm.

Sword qi surged around Venerable Zihe as he felt both shock and rage.

Daoist Longshan’s actions clearly showed that he held him in no regard.

Yet, he could only forcibly suppress the fury deep within his heart and squeeze out a smile, saying

"So it is Brother Longshan. It has been a long time. I did not expect Brother Longshan to have stepped into the Heaven-Man Realm ahead of us. You truly make us envious!"

This was the truth. Who in the Yuan Dan Realm did not wish to break through to the Heaven-Man Realm? There had been rumors in Qingzhou that Daoist Longshan was in secluded cultivation attempting to reach the Heaven-Man Realm, but he hadn't taken it seriously. Only those in the Yuan Dan Realm knew how difficult such a breakthrough truly was.

But now.

Watching Daoist Longshan descend through the void, Venerable Zihe suddenly had a sense of foreboding.

Daoist Longshan looked down at Venerable Zihe with indifferent eyes, completely ignoring the flattery. He simply asked

"Speak. Why did you plot against my Zhenwu Sect?"

Venerable Zihe’s expression changed drastically

"What do you mean by that, Brother Longshan?"

The ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger, and his eyes flickered slightly.

Daoist Longshan had no intention of wasting words with him.

As his Taoist robes billowed, the power of heaven and earth converged, pressing down toward Venerable Zihe. Venerable Zihe roared

"Longshan! Do you think that just because you have ascended to the Heaven-Man Realm, no one in this world can restrain you? Today, you bully my Zihe Sword Sect without cause. Such demonic conduct will surely not be tolerated by Qingzhou!"

He was somewhat blustering, but Daoist Longshan merely gave a cold laugh.

"Stubborn and ignorant."

With a casual wave of his hand, a massive palm print, carrying staggering might, struck downward.

"Do you truly think I, Venerable Zihe, am made of clay? Even if you have stepped into the Heaven-Man Realm, do not think you can act so insolently!"

Venerable Zihe roared toward the sky. Sword qi condensed around him, slashing toward Daoist Longshan with a surging, sharp aura.

In an instant.

Various powerful fluctuations radiated outward from the area where the two were suspended in the air.

The two figures continued to ascend higher.

Under the tense gazes of everyone present, a great battle was about to erupt.

No, perhaps it was not a battle, but rather a one-sided beating.

Venerable Zihe had barely finished his sentence.

His entire being had already plummeted from the sky.

In just a few breaths.

The outcome was decided.

A massive palm print had forcibly struck the high-and-mighty Yuan Dan Realm expert from his lofty position back down to the mortal realm. At this moment, his bones were broken, he lay on the ground coughing blood incessantly, and even his ceremonial sword was shattered.

The surrounding disciples watched this scene with horror and confusion, not daring to approach. The former strongest expert of the Zihe Sword Sect was now in such a pathetic state that it felt unreal to them.

Their gazes toward Daoist Longshan were filled with even greater awe and terror.

At this moment, they truly understood the gap between the Heaven-Man Realm and the Yuan Dan Realm.

Venerable Zihe struggled to prop himself up with his broken sword, his eyes full of bitterness. He had originally thought that if he gave his all, he might have a chance to resist, but he never expected to lose so miserably.

He waved his hand, stopping the disciples who were attempting to rush forward, and looked toward the opponent.

Daoist Longshan, hands behind his back, stepped through the air and slowly descended.

Looking at Venerable Zihe’s wretched state, Daoist Longshan showed no mercy. He gazed calmly at him and said

"Name those who were involved, and you shall die alone."

"If you do not speak, the entire sect shall be annihilated."

His words were calm, yet everyone was utterly terrified. Daoist Longshan had already proven with his strength that he had the right to say such things.

Venerable Zihe continued to cough up blood, endless regret flooding his heart. Had he known this would happen, he would never have involved himself just to hitch a ride on a powerful faction. He let out a sigh and smiled bitterly

"The world says Brother Longshan is peerlessly brilliant. In the past, I always thought it was mere exaggeration and that I could rival you. Only today do I realize how ridiculous I was."

"I only hope Brother Longshan keeps his promise."

Venerable Zihe looked around at the Sword Sect and his many disciples, then shouted in a heavy voice

"Today's events are my own doing! After my death, the Zihe Sword Sect is disbanded. You all must find your own paths, cultivate well, and harbor no delusions!"

The disciples of the Zihe Sword Sect were all filled with sorrow.

With that said.

Venerable Zihe brushed past his broken sword, held it horizontally, and committed suicide.

He had just passed his one-hundred-and-twentieth birthday banquet; his life was now frozen at one hundred and twenty years.

Daoist Longshan merely watched this scene calmly, feeling no pity. He could feel compassion for the weak, but he would never feel sympathy for those who plotted against the Zhenwu Sect. If it weren't for his young disciple, Ning Qi, he feared that upon exiting his seclusion, he would hear the worst news of his life.

Looking at the Zihe Sword Sect shrouded in an atmosphere of grief, Daoist Longshan merely left a sentence—"Take care of yourselves"—before stepping through the air and departing.

These people were not important; without Venerable Zihe, they could not even preserve their foundation.

Before committing suicide, Venerable Zihe had already told him everything he wanted to know.

"Wang Qingfeng of the main lineage of the Wang Family in Qingzhou? Come one by one."

Daoist Longshan’s eyes narrowed slightly. The Wang Family of Qingzhou was a top-tier clan, even possessing a Heaven-Man Realm ancestor. But he did not fear them. That ancestor was not long of years and was only in the first stage of the Heaven-Man Realm. If they truly decided to tear faces with him, he would simply fight them to the end!

However.

Although this matter originated from the Wang Family, that ancestor likely knew nothing of it.

Daoist Longshan intended to settle the accounts one by one.

Daoist Longshan departed.

The next day.

The news that Venerable Zihe had been suppressed by Daoist Longshan and had committed suicide spread, causing an uproar in Qingzhou.

The world knew that Daoist Longshan had emerged from seclusion and had stepped into the Heaven-Man Realm. From then on, he was a true peerless powerhouse in the Great Yan Empire. Now, the ripples were rising; everyone knew that Daoist Longshan was about to settle all previous accounts.

(End of Chapter)