"A mere woman—how dare she be so arrogant!"
"Let this old man deal with her!"
An aged voice boomed like a great bell.
A gaunt old man in elder robes extended his hand with a cruel smile, his figure flickering like a ghost as he lunged forward.
"You ignorant ants."
Hong Qianye's forehead throbbed with bulging veins at being called a "mere woman." His anger twisted into a cold laugh.
"Ahhh—!"
The scream was exceptionally shrill.
Black flames erupted across the gaunt old man's body in an instant. Terror filled his face as the terrifying dark fire consumed him, reducing a Late Body Integration Realm powerhouse to ashes mid-air before he could even touch Hong Qianye.
"What?!"
The expressions of the surrounding Feathered Immortal Sect cultivators changed drastically. Their gazes locked onto the slender red figure, extreme shock flashing in their eyes.
Hong Qianye's long hair whipped wildly in the wind. He stared directly at the vast army of cultivators, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.
"You have half an incense stick's time to withdraw from the Wasteland Province. Leave—or die."
The icy voice echoed continuously, resonating deep in every listener's heart.
Many elders showed fleeting apprehension, but realization quickly hardened their faces into intense killing intent.
"How arrogant! A single devil dares command the number one immortal sect of the Eastern Domain!"
"Everyone—kill this devil woman! Bathe the Xuantian Sect in blood!"
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
Sixty to seventy Body Integration Realm elders attacked in unison. Spiritual artifacts flew, talismans ignited, and divine abilities erupted in a dazzling barrage.
"Since that's the case—this One shall unleash a great slaughter!"
Hong Qianye's eyes turned chillingly cold. He formed hand seals, and countless dark green flames burst from his body.
In an instant, ghostly wails and wolf howls filled the air, sending shivers down spines.
Dense skull heads coalesced—each as large as a millstone—surging forward with piercing shrieks.
They rolled like an army of ghost soldiers sweeping across the battlefield.
"Ah! My hand!"
"Quick—dodge!"
"You absolutely cannot be bitten—you'll be poisoned!"
"Block them! Block them now!"
The group of Body Integration Realm elders was repeatedly forced back. In a single clash, a third of them perished!
It didn't end there. Hong Qianye felt the fight lacked excitement. He manipulated the swarm of dark green skull heads like locusts, sending them rampaging wildly across the sky.
Wherever they passed, massive warships were engulfed in flames. Disciples inside were burned alive; screams, wails, and desperate cries for help filled the air in chaotic waves.
"Everyone—don't panic! Work together to dispel the evil fire!"
A highly respected middle-aged elder roared. He held a Spiritual Qi-infused fan. Behind him, fellow sect members continuously poured their magical power into it.
The middle-aged elder swung the fan with ferocious force, unleashing a terrifying, overwhelming hurricane that slammed toward the skull heads!
Suddenly, a lingering chant drifted from the horizon. Brilliant Buddhist light illuminated the earth, stirring an inexplicable urge in people to convert.
"Amitabha~~"
On ancient-looking flying boats, countless Buddhist cultivators pressed their palms together, chanting sutras in unison.
A powerful monk in kasaya robes spoke solemnly.
"Benefactors, the Hanging Temple has come to your aid!"
"Hmph. More cannon fodder."
Hong Qianye scoffed coldly.
"You devil woman—don't be so arrogant!"
The Buddhist cultivators soared into the air, unleashing mudras in a coordinated assault.
"A bunch of damned baldies!"
Hong Qianye's face turned frosty. He raised his hand to form seals and cast a spell.
Whoosh—
The remaining skull heads converged like streams flowing into the sea, rapidly merging and expanding!
Whoosh—
An enormous skull head materialized, blotting out the sky. It let out chilling cackles, its size dwarfing ordinary people to the scale of grains of rice.
A terrifying oppressive sensation spread like a tidal wave.
"Go. Play with them."
Hong Qianye sneered.
Boom!
The super-large skull head advanced like a moving fortress, its form wreathed in dark green flames of unimaginable heat.
"Amitabha—it's coming!"
"Ahhh—!"
Pig-like screams erupted one after another.
Laughably, the Hanging Temple's Buddhist cultivators suffered devastating losses the moment they arrived.
Tens of thousands of monks were swallowed whole by the giant skull head.
The scene was visually staggering!
"You devil head—Buddha will not forgive you!"
The Head of the Protector Courtyard, Huizhi, had bloodshot eyes. At the Perfected Body Integration Realm, he radiated boundless golden light. Raising his hand, he unleashed a blazing Arhat Palm Print, determined to slay the lawless fiend.
"Even if Buddha himself comes, this One will slaughter him for you to witness!!"
Hong Qianye's gaze was filled with disdain. He reached out to grab.
A terrifying flaming giant hand formed, forcefully blocking the Arhat Palm Print. It then transformed into several fire dragons—fanged and clawed—lunging fiercely at Huizhi.
"You fiend—how dare you!!"
Huizhi was so enraged his lungs nearly burst. He poured all his power into evading the fire dragons.
"Ah ah ah…" But in less than two seconds, he was reduced to ashes, vanishing forever between heaven and earth.
"Head!"
The Hanging Temple monks cried out in grief.
"Combine forces—kill this devil woman!"
A Feathered Immortal Sect elder roared.
In an instant, the combined might of the two major powers unleashed a barrage of magical techniques and divine abilities, overwhelming Hong Qianye.
Dazzling light shone brilliantly, like a radiant sea of stars.
That large skull head, burning with dark flames, was annihilated unceremoniously mid-air.
"This…"
Xu Younian's mouth went dry. A chill raced over his body. Facing the joint assault of the Feathered Immortal Sect and Hanging Temple, he would be crushed to dust in an instant!
Such massive energy impact would obliterate any Body Integration Realm cultivator!
Yet Hong Qianye's expression remained calm and unhurried. He sneered, raised his hand to form seals, and unleashed the fire-elemental divine ability he had recently mastered.
Buzz buzz buzz~
Flames as dark as ink burned through the air, devouring everything like a bottomless abyss.
A vast energy fluctuation swept outward, then slowly dissipated—as if nothing had happened.
"How is that possible?!!"
Countless cultivators stared in incredulity, crying out in shock.
"What a bizarre fire-elemental spell—simply unheard of!"
An elder's face filled with terror.
"See? Even if all of you combine forces, you're no match for this One. All of you—go to hell!"
Hong Qianye laughed wildly, his bloodthirsty nature fully unleashed. With a casual raise of his hand, the sky collapsed, the earth shattered, and the sun dimmed.
Unimaginably, the cultivators of the two major powers retreated steadily. Blood flowed like rivers; millions of corpses littered the ground.
That invincible fiery-red figure etched itself deeply into countless minds.
The entire Wasteland Province trembled because of him!
"Red Fairy is invincible! Long live Red Fairy!"
"As expected of a disciple taken by Peak Lord Ye—what terrifying strength!"
"With this, the Xuantian Sect is safe!"
…
The disciples and elders of the Xuantian Sect were stunned speechless.
All the alien creatures wore expressions of pure shock.
No wonder their Immortal Tree Lord had ordered them stationed here—Hong Qianye's strength alone was terrifying enough. What was even more horrifying was that she was merely a disciple of that Peak Lord Ye!
Any lingering doubts the creatures once harbored had now completely evaporated.
One by one, they became utterly submissive!
"Senior Brother Ye, this wicked disciple of yours has terrifying talent. Our Xuantian Sect is too small to accommodate such a great Buddha!"
Xu Younian broke out in cold sweat, forcing a wry smile.
"Indeed. If it comes to it, whatever he wants, we'll try our best to satisfy him. Absolutely do not go against him—staying alive is paramount."
The Sword Hidden Peak Lord recalled unintentionally offending the other party earlier; a wave of lingering fear washed over him.
Though Hong Qianye's betrayal was a stain, she had also resisted external enemies and protected the Xuantian Sect. Merits and demerits canceled each other out—they had nothing left to complain about.
Most importantly, even if they were furious, they couldn't defeat her!
What else could they do?
At this moment, after witnessing Hong Qianye's dominance, everyone's thoughts had shifted.
"Senior Brother Hong is amazing! Go, Senior Brother Hong!"
Bai Xiaoxi waved her pink fists excitedly, her mouse-like face beaming as she cheered him on.
Ye Junlin stroked his chin.
"No wonder this guy dares to be so arrogant. Turns out killing Body Integration Realm cultivators is as easy as slaughtering dogs for him!"
He could sense that the cultivation aura Hong Qianye revealed fell neither fully within the Body Integration Realm nor the Tribulation Transcendence Realm—it hovered somewhere in between.
"Activate Eye of Insight."
Ye Junlin's eyes flickered as he stared at the distant fiery-red figure.
Instantly, a virtual character panel appeared before his eyes!
When he saw [Half-step Tribulation Transcendence] displayed under the [Cultivation] column, Ye Junlin immediately understood.
"Half-step Tribulation Transcendence—no wonder!"
Hong Qianye's base combat power was already monstrous, and with this realm advantage, sweeping through the army of cultivators was effortless.
"Heh heh, this is good too. If he comes to deal with me, wouldn't I naturally break through?"
Ye Junlin thought to himself.
Once the leeks are fattened, shouldn't they be harvested?
Rumble!!!
Just then, vast and boundless terrifying auras erupted, instantly projecting onto the battlefield from deep within the sky.
Whoosh—
Eighteen powerful figures appeared standing with hands behind their backs in mid-air, enveloped in brilliant, blazing light. Each breath they took stirred the heaven-and-earth spiritual qi within a radius of ten thousand li.
From afar, they resembled eighteen golden suns spanning the sky, their dazzling radiance illuminating the mortal world!
The Feathered Immortal Sect cultivators looked up as if grasping at a life-saving straw and shouted excitedly,
"Look! The Core Elders are here to help us!"
Every Core Elder held a position as heavy as Mount Tai in the sect—they were the unshakeable pillars supporting the Feathered Immortal Sect, beings revered by countless disciples!
Now, to suppress the Xuantian Sect and display the foundation of the Eastern Domain's number one immortal sect to the world, eighteen Core Elders had personally descended!
"Greetings, Venerables."
Even the Body Integration Realm elders—who usually held significant positions—carefully bowed with cupped hands, eyes filled with awe.
They were both elders, but the gap in status within the Feathered Immortal Sect was enormous.
After all, these were the small group of people closest to the sect's absolute pinnacle!
At this moment, with the eighteen powerful figures' arrival, the entire Wasteland Province fell deathly silent.
Birds and beasts trembled in fear, an indescribable terror gripping their hearts.
On Misty Peak.
Xu Younian and the others looked horrified, voices trembling.
"Ve-Venerables?!"
One must know that Tribulation Transcendence Realm cultivators were called Venerables in the outside world—a title carrying the meaning of Supreme.
A Tribulation Transcendence expert could live for fifty thousand years! In other sects, they were true old monsters!
Compared to them, Body Integration Realm cultivators were like fireflies beside a bright moon!
Unexpectedly, for this battle, the Feathered Immortal Sect had dispatched eighteen Tribulation Transcendence powerhouses!
What terrifying foundation was this?!
No wonder it was hailed as the strongest immortal sect in the Eastern Domain—eternally indestructible!
While others paled in fear, Ye Junlin's eyes lit up.
Goodness—compared to Half-step Tribulation Transcendence, true Tribulation Transcendence Realm was even more enticing!
Facing the Feathered Immortal Sect's act of delivering experience packages from a thousand miles away, Ye Junlin silently gave them a thumbs up.
"A bunch of useless trash—you've completely disgraced the Feathered Immortal Sect's face!"
Among them, a short, dwarfish old man with white hair roared, his face twisted in fury.
His booming voice crashed like thunder, leaving the cultivators below dizzy and disoriented.
"The army of the Eastern Domain's strongest immortal sect—defeated by a little girl. If we hadn't personally come to oversee this battle, wouldn't you have become the laughingstock of the entire world?"
The speaker was a silver-haired old woman in golden robes, clutching a snake-headed staff. She stared coldly at Hong Qianye. Upon seeing his flawless, exquisite appearance, a surge of jealousy twisted in her chest.
Damn it… she's even more beautiful than I was in my youth…
Hong Qianye's eyes turned icy.
"Where did you crawl out from, old hag? How dare you speak so disrespectfully to this Venerable!"
"What did you say?!!!"
The silver-haired old woman's voice shot up sharply, her eyes bulging with rage.
This was an outright insult!
"Gold Serpent Venerable, no need to waste words on someone who's about to die."
A tall, iron-tower-like middle-aged man spoke indifferently, his presence radiating heavy oppression. His posture was high and mighty.
These three were the most prestigious among the Core Elders—and also the strongest in cultivation and authority.
"You—with your meager abilities—want to kill this Venerable? What a colossal joke!"
Hong Qianye sneered.
Back when he was besieged by immortals from all directions, he had still carved out a bloody path. A scene like this wasn't even worth his full attention!
"Hmph. That Ye Junlin is putting on airs. He only sent his disciple to deal with us—clearly underestimating the Feathered Immortal Sect."
A Core Elder said coldly.
"Since that's the case, let's kill his female disciple first. This Venerable wants to see if he'll feel any pain while hiding inside."
Another fellow sect member added meaningfully.
"Get lost!"
"This Venerable has nothing to do with him!!!"
Hong Qianye's face turned as cold as ten-thousand-year-old ice. His voice sharpened like a blade.
"Hehe… such deep master-disciple affection."
Gold Serpent Venerable revealed a sinister smile.
"Who among you will capture her for me? This old woman wants to ruin her face—and pull out her tongue!"
"I will!"
A Core Elder, eager to show off, stirred the surging magical power within him and raised his hand to form a spell.
Rumble rumble rumble—
It was as if a millstone turned in the sky. A massive hand emitting green light stretched out, its palm spanning ten thousand meters wide. It carried crushing oppression as it slapped down toward Hong Qianye!
The attacker was an Early Tribulation Transcendence Realm powerhouse, intending to suppress him in one move!
Swish!
Hong Qianye sneered and flicked his sleeve toward the sky.
Countless purple flames instantly soared upward, containing terrifying power. They disintegrated the giant spirit palm pressing down from above.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
Star-like fragments rained down like a meteor shower.
"Hmm?!"
The Core Elder was stunned. His gaze toward Hong Qianye shifted dramatically.
How could it be destroyed so easily? This person's cultivation isn't in the Body Integration Realm?!
"Elder Wu, I'll assist you!"
Another fellow sect member attacked, unleashing the Golden Radiance Chaotic Flow Fist.
Dense golden fist prints surged forward like a torrential flood.
"Just you?"
Hong Qianye gathered power and struck out with a palm. A flame palm print covered the sky and blotted out the sun, its heat threatening to melt the ground itself.
Rumble rumble rumble—
A massive energy fluctuation erupted between the two sides.
The golden fist prints gradually annihilated—a sight that shocked everyone present.
"That devil woman actually blocked a Venerable's attack?"
Cries of astonishment erupted across the battlefield.
"Did you feel it? This person is Half-step Tribulation Transcendence!"
The dwarfish white-haired old man narrowed his eyes.
"To block a Tribulation Transcendence Realm expert while at Half-step Tribulation Transcendence… I didn't expect such a rare prodigy to exist in this remote, desolate place."
The burly man said in a deep voice.
"Damn it—this little girl cannot be allowed to live! All of you—go! Kill her!!!"
Gold Serpent Venerable shrieked.
The other Core Elders knew further delay would be disgraceful. They immediately joined the assault to suppress and kill Hong Qianye.
Vast, boundless energy currents surged, nearly shattering the void realm along their path.
The sight was horrifying and terrifying!
"This Venerable wants to see how capable you all truly are?"
Hong Qianye stood between heaven and earth, his fiery-red robe fluttering wildly. As he moved his hands, dozens of fire dragons roared forth, bellowing with thunderous fury.
The clash between the two sides was cataclysmic: the sun and moon dimmed, mountains and rivers trembled.
"Great Stele Palm!"
"Sky Shattering Finger!"
"Star Plucking Hand!"
"Dragon Subduing Combat Art!"
"Soul Extinguishing Seal!"
All manner of divine abilities and techniques erupted effortlessly from the Core Elders. Their faces twisted with killing intent, determined to eradicate the great enemy before them!
Bang bang bang~
The dozens of fire dragons crisscrossed the sky, roaring high and resonant—but each one was individually shattered by the Core Elders.
Among the attackers were nine Early Tribulation Transcendence Venerables and six at the Middle Stage.
Hong Qianye's eyes remained cold as he surveyed the gradually closing figures around him. He frantically mobilized the qi within his body. With a whoosh, the crimson flames enveloping him transformed into ink-black flames.
The black flames emitted wisps of eerie black qi, appearing extremely bizarre.
This was the Nirvana Demonic Flame—possessing the power of devouring!
"Kill!"
Staring at the layer of strange black fire, the Venerables suppressed their unease and simultaneously unleashed their killing moves.
"Hmph!"
Hong Qianye spread his arms wide. His black hair danced wildly as the Nirvana Demonic Flame around him suddenly boiled, devouring the incoming techniques from all directions like a black hole.
Buzz buzz buzz…
The energy fluctuations turned violently turbulent, pounding against everyone's hearts.
"What?!"
The fifteen Core Elders who had attacked all changed expressions dramatically.
The burly man observing from the sidelines was visibly moved.
"To resist the attacks of fifteen Venerables alone? Can a Half-step Tribulation Transcendence truly do this?"
"Such talent… even this old man has never witnessed it before."
The dwarfish white-haired old man spoke solemnly.
"Are you all blind? This is clearly an evil cultivation technique! We must eliminate this devil woman immediately—otherwise the consequences will be endless!"
Gold Serpent Venerable roared furiously. She grasped her snake-headed staff, outlining a profound rune array before pointing it at Hong Qianye.
Boom—
A thick, snake-shaped beam of light shattered the void realm and slammed into the strange black flames.
"Attack!"
The other two top Venerables could no longer hold back. They unleashed their respective methods.
With these three joining in, the pressure multiplied by thousands in an instant!
"Damn it…"
Hong Qianye gritted his teeth. Large beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Though the Nirvana Demonic Flame possessed devouring power, at this rate of consumption, his qi reserves would soon run dry.
Once he could no longer sustain techniques, his combat power would plummet to rock bottom.
That would be disastrous!
Damn it—it's all Ye Junlin's fault for not giving this Venerable the secret treasure sooner!
Hong Qianye cursed inwardly.
Who could have known the Feathered Immortal Sect would go to such extremes—directly dispatching eighteen Venerables just to deal with a small sect in a desolate backwater?
Truly using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!
"Break for me!"
A thunderous shout exploded through the sky.
The burly man's entire body glowed with white light, which converged on his fist before detonating outward.
The sonic boom was deafening; the punch pierced the heavens.
Venerable-tier Intermediate Divine Ability—Overlord Fist!
Bang!
A massive ball of light erupted. A fiery-red afterimage shot backward from high in the sky, crashing heavily onto Misty Peak.
Rumble rumble rumble—
Mushroom-cloud smoke billowed upward. The entire mountain shook violently.
"Cough… cough cough…"
Hong Qianye lay covered in dust, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He struggled to his feet in a disheveled state.
"Senior Brother Hong!"
Bai Xiaoxi cried out worriedly.
Ye Junlin, casually holding an Orleans roasted wing, shook his head and sighed.
"My good disciple—didn't you say you could repel them? Why are you being beaten like a dog now?"
"Your master is truly, truly disappointed in you!"
Upon hearing this—
The full mockery in Ye Junlin's words made Hong Qianye's forehead veins bulge. His cheeks burned with humiliation. He gritted his teeth and snarled,
"Still daring to make sarcastic remarks? This Venerable can at least retreat safely—while you just wait here to die!"
With that, he made up his mind: he would use a secret technique to escape far away.
After all, the Feathered Immortal Sect's main target was this shameless bastard!
As for these irrelevant ants—they could stay and be buried alongside him!