"You beast, you'd stoop to something like this." Hearing this, Wang Long could no longer control his rage, but his body, corroded by the Ghost Lotus, felt terribly weak.

"Old fool, save your breath. Everyone here dies today!" Chen Feng raised the sword in his hand, sticking out his tongue. "Who here can match me? The so-called new Sect Master, you all perish!"

"You..." Wang Long clutched his chest, lacking the strength to even speak, able only to watch as the man ran wild.

Damn it! Ye Xiu kept his eyes half-lidded, saying nothing, but he simply couldn't hold his breath any longer; if he did, he would surely die.

"Ye Xiu!" Chen Feng sauntered closer to Ye Xiu, preparing to swing his sword at him. "Ever since you arrived, everything that should have been mine became yours. By what right? Show me your cultivation! Where is your swordsmanship!"

Chen Feng's sword began its descent into Ye Xiu's field of vision; Ye Xiu was searching desperately for an opening.

"Despicable wretch, I never realized you were this kind of person!" At that moment, Hong'er suddenly raised her sword and charged in swiftly from outside the hall.

Chen Feng was momentarily startled, but then his expression relaxed; Hong'er’s power was no match for his, and he could handle her effortlessly.

Seeing this, Ye Xiu felt the moment had finally arrived. He immediately sprang up, drew the Muzi Sword from his back, and thrust it toward Chen Feng, but the strike seemed to have no effect whatsoever.

"You silly girl, why announce every sneak attack so loudly? Shouting so cheerfully, what kind of sneak attack is that?" Ye Xiu didn't forget to turn back and mock Hong'er.

"Hmph! What is this supposed to mean?" Hong'er was naturally provoked by the goading, given her stubborn nature.

"Hahahaha!" At this point, Chen Feng also stood up, brushing the dust off his robes and laughing heartily. "You have some skill; the Ghost Lotus couldn't touch you. But don't forget, your cultivation is still far below mine."

"At least there are two of us." Ye Xiu was truly bluffing, inwardly cursing the fate that gave him this useless wooden sword from the Northern Gate Lord—how was a wooden sword supposed to kill anyone?

"Senior Brother Chen, I always regarded you as a brother, now die by my hand." Hong'er was itching to cut down this villain. "Today I will certainly avenge my sister!"

"Fine, fine! Both of you come at me! Today I start a massacre." Saying this, Chen Feng raised the Gui Qi in his hand, and a flurry of the Ghost Flash Sword technique swept toward the two of them, scattering like autumn leaves in a gentle breeze.

"Ah!" Hong'er launched another single-handed, sweeping thrust, preparing to stab forward.

Ye Xiu watched from the side, utterly speechless, shuffling forward with small steps. "Is that your only move? Can't you learn something from your senior brother?"

"Mind your own business!" Hong'er was thoroughly annoyed. "This is all I know!"

"Die, you still have the energy to talk." Chen Feng's sword spread out, making it seem as if the entire space within the room was filled with the relentless rustle of autumn winds sweeping away fallen leaves. In just two swift shua sounds, deep gashes appeared across the faces of both Ye Xiu and Hong'er.

"It’s over, it’s all over." Ye Xiu looked at Hong'er's wounded face and lamented, "Is this guy really that strong? You can't do anything against him."

"Giving up already? I can't believe my father thought highly of you." Hong'er complained again. "Let’s go out and fight him to the death."

"Give up? What a joke. I'm just worried that if I die, you won't be able to get married," Ye Xiu had his moments of willfulness, especially when talking to Hong'er. "This beast is something else too; even when hitting people, he aims for the face. Truly despicable."

"Still talking tough when death is at your door!" Chen Feng was completely enraged. He stopped caring about subtlety and unleashed the Ghost Flash Sword technique with even sharper intensity, the blade tips poised for this final, decisive blow. "Die!"

Chen Feng’s sword was an instant away from piercing Ye Xiu’s chest. He smiled triumphantly; killing this man meant he would become the new Ghost Valley Sect Master.

Ye Xiu’s heart sank into near despair. He couldn't believe he had to wait for death right after transmigrating, and the death would be so meaningless.

But regardless of whether he survived here or not, Chen Feng’s sword was coming, and this strike was destined to draw blood.

"Pfft..." Indeed, it plunged deeply, piercing straight into his body.

"Father!" Hong'er's scream filled the entire room. "How could you..."

It turned out that Wang Long, using the last vestiges of his strength, had lunged in front of Ye Xiu to block the sword. Thus, the blade drove straight into Wang Long, skewering him through.

"Master." Ye Xiu stood there, somewhat stunned, watching as blood poured from Wang Long’s mouth in successive gulps. He felt an unexpected surge of emotion.

"Old man, you weren't dead yet," Chen Feng cursed as he wrenched the sword out. "I didn't expect you to take this blow for this brat."

"Father! Woo..." Hong'er immediately threw herself forward, tears streaming down her face. "Chen Feng, you monster."

"Master," Ye Xiu supported Wang Long, his expression blank. "Why did you take that sword for me?"

Wang Long was almost entirely devoid of the strength to speak, and blood continued to froth at his lips. He looked at Ye Xiu, intending to impart some final words, but in that moment, he simply drew his last breath.

Chen Feng withdrew his sword and violently flung the clinging blood against the wall. He laughed: "Old thing, you sought your own death; don't blame me. You can't save them either."

"Chen Feng, you animal, I will kill you!" Hong'er was spiraling toward collapse. Her sister was gone, and now even her father was dead—the grief was unbearable. "I will kill you, kill you!"

"Hong'er!" Ye Xiu grabbed her arm and turned, glaring fiercely at her. "Don't lose control; let me handle this."

Hong'er had never seen such a serious look in Ye Xiu's eyes. In truth, she had always known that this rascal she verbally abused harbored no ill will toward her, but pride had always prevented her from admitting his good nature.

Ye Xiu gently laid Wang Long’s body down, raised the Muzi Sword, and stood coldly before Chen Feng. "Chen Feng, you will die!"

"On your own merits?" Chen Feng certainly knew Ye Xiu's capabilities; the only thing he was uncertain about was that mysterious wooden sword. "You think you can take my life with a wooden sword? Impossible!"

Ye Xiu offered no reply. He simply closed his eyes slowly. The techniques of the Northern Gate Lord swirled in his mind. He raised the wooden sword, meeting Chen Feng’s Gui Qi—it happened in an instant.

The Ghost Lotus essence suffusing the main hall quietly vanished, leaving only the faint evening breeze drifting in from outside. The wind was soft, burying the fiery confrontation beneath its gentle touch.

"Ah!" Chen Feng's shout startled everyone present. In this single confrontation, the victor or loser was not yet clear, as the decisive moment between the two strikes seemed to hang suspended in time.

Ye Xiu took a deep breath. The phantom leaf in his heart seemed to still be outlining its shape, but the wooden sword had already been unleashed. The outcome remained unknown.