Inside the Crimson Flame Valley, deathly silence reigned. Only the Swift-Burning Incense continued to burn unhurriedly, its trail of blue smoke rising straight, as if silently mocking the disgrace and wretchedness of the Liyang Sect.
Of the three elite disciples at the peak of Foundation Establishment on whom so much hope had been pinned, one was now slumped on the ground, spiritual energy rampaging within him, his face twisted in pain. Another clutched a swollen, reddened wrist, blood at the corner of his mouth, his eyes vacant. The last was utterly dispirited, barely able to stand. And their opponent—that young man in green robes—breathed steadily, his clothes immaculate, as if the lightning-fast exchange had been nothing more than casually brushing away a few fallen leaves.
Overwhelming victory. An indisputable, crushing defeat.
On the Liyang Sect's side, from ordinary disciples to elders, every face looked like an overturned dye vat—a mottled mix of blue and red, unspeakably ugly. Fire Cloud Daoist's chest heaved violently. The withered muscles of his face twitched. His eyes, which danced with flames, were filled with shock, shame, and a sliver of something he himself was unwilling to admit… fear.
He saw more clearly than the disciples. What Tang Xiaoqi had demonstrated was not merely strength far beyond the Foundation Establishment stage, but a terrifying level of control that reached the realm of "minute subtlety" in the application of power! The exquisitely precise footwork, the transformative use of basic techniques, the keen eye that could accurately interrupt spiritual power nodes, and finally that ancient pressure which had shaken even him, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator… This young man's true combat power far exceeded his apparent cultivation level—unfathomably deep.
Yan Gang opened his mouth, wanting to shout something to save face, but found his throat dry; not a single word came out. Han Feng hung his head low, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. His earlier arrogance had vanished completely.
"Shall we continue?"
Tang Xiaoqi's calm voice broke the suffocating silence again. He looked evenly at Fire Cloud Daoist, neither arrogant as a victor nor pressing further. Yet the invisible pressure was harder to bear than any bluster.
Continue? With what? Send a Golden Core elder into the fray? Leaving aside the fact that the other side had Liu Yun, the Enforcement Elder, watching like a hawk—someone who was no pushover herself—even if they threw shame to the wind and fought a war of attrition, who could guarantee they would take down this unfathomable Tang Xiaoqi? If even a Golden Core elder lost, the Liyang Sect would lose all face and become a laughingstock throughout the cultivation world!
Countless thoughts flashed through Fire Cloud Daoist's mind in an instant. The Sect Master's orders had been to probe and seize benefits, not to fight a life-or-death battle with Qingxu Temple! And now the results of the probe were clearer than ever—Qingxu Temple had not declined due to the demonic calamity; on the contrary, it had produced a monster like Tang Xiaoqi! To press the matter further would only cost the Liyang Sect more, and might even trigger uncontrollable consequences.
Admit defeat. He had to admit defeat. Cut his losses.
Once this thought arose, it could no longer be suppressed. Humiliating as it was, as the Sect's Punishment Elder, he had to consider the overall interests of the sect.
Fire Cloud Daoist took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the churning in his chest and the sense of disgrace. He squeezed out an extremely ugly smile and spoke in a dry voice: "Elder… Elder Tang's cultivation is profound, his methods unfathomable. This old man… yields."
These words were tantamount to admitting the Liyang Sect's complete defeat in this contest. Behind him, the many Liyang Sect disciples showed expressions of humiliation and unwillingness, but there was nothing they could do. Their morale plummeted to rock bottom.
Tang Xiaoqi did not gloat at the other side's concession. He simply nodded slightly. "In that case, Elder Fire Cloud, the terms proposed earlier…"
Fire Cloud Daoist's face changed again. He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice: "Releasing your sect's disciples, withdrawing from Crimson Flame Valley, repairing the boundary marker… these, my sect can comply."
He paused, feeling his face burn, but continued with difficulty: "As for compensation… my sect is willing to pay three thousand spirit stones and ten bottles of 'Crimson Sun Pill,' a mid-grade healing medicine, as expenses for the treatment of your sect's injured disciples. Furthermore, we pledge not to infringe upon the boundaries of Crimson Flame Valley again without cause."
This compensation was not trivial for the Liyang Sect, but still within acceptable limits—barely preserving a shred of face.
Tang Xiaoqi turned his gaze to Liu Yun. Liu Yun understood and spoke in a cold voice: "Recorded for the archives: The Liyang Sect admits to the offenses of destroying the boundary marker, crossing the border, and injuring our disciples. It voluntarily compensates with three thousand spirit stones and ten bottles of Crimson Sun Pill, and guarantees no further border violations. Any breach will be considered an act of provocation, and the consequences shall be borne by the violator!" Her voice was clear, carrying the ironclad authority of the Enforcement Elder, sealing the matter definitively.
Fire Cloud Daoist's lips twitched, but he could not refute. He only muttered: "…Agreed."
"Then," Tang Xiaoqi finally showed what might be considered a gentle smile today. He raised his hand and waved, sending a gentle stream of spiritual energy over the three injured Liyang Sect disciples, helping to stabilize their chaotic internal energy, "please honor your commitments."
The situation being what it was, Fire Cloud Daoist said no more and immediately gave the orders. Like defeated roosters, the Liyang Sect disciples dejectedly began to withdraw. They released the three Qingxu Temple herb-gathering disciples who had been detained and sent men to clean up the fragments of the boundary marker and prepare to re-erect it.
Watching the dispirited retreat of the Liyang Sect group, the Qingxu Temple disciples could finally contain themselves no longer and burst into thunderous cheers! All the pent-up frustration and anger transformed at that moment into exhilaration and pride.
"Elder Tang is mighty!"
"World-Purifying True Lord! Invincible!"
The cheers echoed through Crimson Flame Valley, lingering for a long time.
Liu Yun walked over to Tang Xiaoqi, watching the orderly withdrawal of the other side, and said in a low voice: "Just let them go like this? Isn't that too easy on them?"
Tang Xiaoqi gazed into the distance, his eyes deep. "The sect needs time to recover. We shouldn't start a large-scale war again. Today's display of power has been made—it will deter the Liyang Sect and any forces that might be backing them for a while. Knowing when to stop is the wisest course. Besides," he paused, "after this incident, the prestige of our Qingxu Temple will surely rise to another level."
Liu Yun thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. Indeed, Tang Xiaoqi, by himself, had crushed three Foundation Establishment peak elites and forced a Liyang Sect elder to concede on the spot and pay compensation. Once word spread, his personal renown would reach a new peak, and Qingxu Temple's strength and inviolability would be deeply impressed upon everyone. This would safeguard the sect's interests and security far better than a bloody border conflict.
*To subdue the enemy without fighting is the pinnacle of excellence.*
Tang Xiaoqi's trip to Crimson Flame Valley had not involved large-scale conflict. Relying solely on a clean, overwhelming victory in a duel and his composed, mountain-like demeanor, he had successfully resolved the border crisis and defended the sect's dignity and interests. The name "World-Purifying True Lord" would, through this textbook example of deterrence, spread far and wide once more, becoming a symbol that the surrounding powers would not lightly provoke. The borders of Qingxu Temple had, for the time being, entered a precious period of peace.