The cultivators from every sect unfurled their various magical artifacts, and for a moment, the mid-air was thick with a kaleidoscope of treasures.

Liu Ye stood surrounded by enemies, yet he showed no fear. The Seven-Tailed Divine Fox he conjured suddenly opened its maw wide toward the cultivators and unleashed a furious roar—a sound so earth-shattering it was truly terrifying. The very mountain seemed to tremble from the force of this single bellow, and the surrounding air vibrated violently.

Li Yundong, though not directly in the epicenter, still felt a sharp pain pierce his eardrums and his whole body shuddered, as if struck squarely in the chest. His vital blood surged and roiled; had his Inner Core not been tempered like steel, this single roar could have instantly shattered his soul from his body!

After Liu Ye’s tremendous roar, many cultivators with lesser cultivation immediately spat out a mouthful of blood with a cry of "Waa." Some whose minds were weak and Inner Cores unstable were violently shaken until their spirit and flesh separated, their Yin Spirits darting from their bodies and shrieking in terror in the air.

Though some of these cultivators possessed formidable artifacts, even the mightiest treasure requires a master to drive it. But under the impact of Liu Ye’s roar, their minds were utterly thrown into disarray, their internal energies a chaotic mess. Instantly, their respective artifacts dipped low in the air, limp as cabbages hit by frost.

Zhang Tianhe, relying on the solid fundamental skills he had honed since childhood, merely swayed slightly. His complexion cycled through violent changes, from pale to red, then back to white, before finally settling into a normal hue.

Zhang Tianhe took a deep breath, shock churning in his heart: The Fox Zen Sect truly is a centipede—tough to kill even when seemingly dead. This Sect Master Liu Ye looks like a withered old man, yet how can he possess such terrifying power! If he were to attack now, we would surely suffer terrible losses!

Having made up his mind, Zhang Tianhe let out a sharp cry, "Hold your arrogance!" With that, his figure flashed, and he lunged forward.

After emitting that world-shaking roar, Liu Ye’s illusion dissolved, and the wrinkles on his face deepened noticeably, as if the effort had drained a significant portion of his True Essence.

Seeing Zhang Tianhe charge, he did not hold back, meeting the attack with a cold sneer.

In an instant, the most promising young disciple of the Zhengyi Sect and the most cunning old Sect Master of the Fox Zen Sect clashed in a deadly embrace. The field became a whirlwind of two streaks of blue light interwoven, the Seven Star Sword and the jade cigarette holder in Liu Ye’s hand locked in battle—a true contest of artifact against artifact, cultivator against cultivator. The two combatants fought with unparalleled ferocity, sending sparks flying in every direction.

For a time, neither Li Yundong nor the assembled cultivators from the various sects dared to blink or even draw a full breath, terrified of missing a single second that might decide the outcome.

This was Li Yundong’s first time witnessing a duel between such master cultivators. As an observer, he possessed the clarity of one standing outside the fray, naturally allowing him a clearer assessment of their strengths and weaknesses.

In his view, Zhang Tianhe possessed rich and pure True Essence, truly deserving of the title of Orthodox Xuanmen. Every move and stance he adopted was methodical, stable, and rigorous. Moreover, his arsenal of spells was vast; he occasionally unleashed Earth or Wood elemental spells to harass Liu Ye, and the moment Liu Ye’s movements were affected, he would strike with a palm strike, radiating astonishing momentum.

Liu Ye, however, was agile and slippery. Several times, just as Zhang Tianhe was about to land a blow, Liu Ye slipped away—a worthy testament to his "old fox" reputation. The massive drain from his earlier roar meant he was gradually falling behind Zhang Tianhe in the intense contest.

Yet, his vast experience allowed him to evade critical strikes in the most improbable places, prompting Li Yundong to nod inwardly, a faint realization dawning in his mind.

The cultivators from the other sects at the periphery were also whispering amongst themselves, analyzing the situation. The Senior Disciple was offering critiques to the Junior Disciples, explaining how he himself might have compensated for the opponents’ advantages.

Suddenly, a clear voice cut through the din from the sidelines: "Master, you always talk about how powerful that old fox Liu Ye is, but I don't see it. Isn't he being beaten senseless by a clean-shaven youngster with no comeback?"

This statement managed to offend both the Fox Zen Sect and the Zhengyi Sect simultaneously, drawing all eyes toward the speaker. Li Yundong, hidden in the shadows, also looked over, and his eyes widened, his heart jolting: Ding Nan? How could she be here! Is she a cultivator too? No way!!!

Ding Nan was dressed in fashionable, modern civilian clothes, making her strikingly conspicuous among the throng of cultivators. She seemed oblivious to the stares, a smile playing on her lips, layered with deep meaning. She said, "Master, don't you agree?"

Standing beside her was a short, vibrant elderly man with white hair and a youthful complexion—Zheng Yuan, the Sect Master of the Yin Yang School. Among the assembled cultivators, he was one of the few elders present. Having heard that the Six Great Sects were besieging the Fox Zen Sect, he had brought Ding Nan along to witness the excitement.

After returning to the mountain with Zheng Yuan, Ding Nan had lied, claiming that after possessing this body, the original owner’s soul fought back fiercely, resulting in damage to her consciousness during the struggle, leaving her unable to recall many things clearly. Zheng Yuan, accepting this without suspicion, answered whatever she asked.

Hearing Ding Nan's words, Zheng Yuan chuckled, saying, "You mustn't say that. Liu Ye is indeed a formidable old fox. Look at his Qiankun Jade Staff—it’s a treasure impervious to blades or water, designed specifically to strike vital acupoints. Once struck, the Yin and Yang dual energies rush in, leaving one wishing for death but unable to find it."

"As for the Seven Star Sword, hehe, that’s even more incredible! This is the Zhengyi Sect's ancestral treasure, ranked alongside the Xuanyuan Sword, the Three Emperors Sword, the Zhuxian Four Swords, and the Eight Desolations Six Harmonies Sword as one of the Five Great Swords of the Cultivation World! Just hearing its name should tell you how powerful it is!"

Zheng Yuan spoke fluently: "Don't be fooled by how fiercely the Qiankun Jade Staff and the Seven Star Sword are battling. That's not the main battlefield; the true contest is between the individuals. Even though you see Liu Ye being suppressed by that boy Zhang Tianhe, it’s actually a case of mutual restraint."

"When Liu Ye let out that roar just now, look how many people vomited blood? If I hadn't protected your vital heart meridian, your soul might have scattered!"

"Zhang Tianhe has been cultivating since before he left his mother’s womb, twenty years now. His Inner Force and True Essence are that of the orthodox Xuanmen, naturally countering the demonic energy possessed by those practicing crooked paths. Heh, the Zhengyi Sect is truly impressive; it seems Grand Master Zhang of the Zhengyi Sect has a worthy successor."

As they spoke, the tide of battle between Liu Ye and Zhang Tianhe suddenly shifted.

Liu Ye had been struck on the back by Yan Fang earlier; though it missed a vital point, he had sustained some injury. Then, the roar had consumed much of his True Essence, compounded by his innate aura being naturally constrained by Zhang Tianhe—the more he fought, the more uncomfortable and anxious he became.

Liu Ye suddenly gritted his teeth, deliberately taking a blow from Zhang Tianhe to his shoulder, and simultaneously lashed out with an elbow, whipping toward Zhang Tianhe like a steel whip.

Zhang Tianhe retreated with lightning speed. Liu Ye seized the opportunity, rapidly pulling back himself, retreating to the side of the other Fox Zen Sect members who had been incapacitated by Yan Fang. His fingers flew, touching their pressure points to awaken them one by one, shouting, "Get up quickly! Our Fox Zen Sect faces a great disaster today; we must fight side-by-side! Everyone..."

Before he could finish, his chest suddenly seized, and the tip of a sword blade pierced through it, dripping with gruesome blood!

Horrified, Liu Ye spun around and struck the person behind him with a palm, sending them flying backward. He turned to look and saw Gu Feng lying on the ground, struggling to rise.

Liu Ye’s Dao Heart shattered. He stammered in disbelief, "Gu Feng, what—what are you doing? Could it be, like Mo Ashi, you are also a counterfeit substituted in Li's place?"

Gu Feng, his chest deeply caved in from Liu Ye's blow, spat blood while cackling, "Old thing, at least you aren't completely hopeless!" As he spoke, he pressed a few points on his own body, and in an instant, his face contorted wildly, transforming into an entirely different appearance.

Liu Ye was both shocked and enraged, letting out a loud "Waa" as blood streamed from his mouth. The Fox Zen disciples he had awakened rushed forward to support him, but Liu Ye violently shoved them all away. His face a mask of fury and shock, he spat out, "I recognize you! You are Gu Feng’s disciple! When I first saw you join the sect with existing skills, I suspected you were defecting with prior training, and I specifically warned Gu Feng to be cautious of you, but I never thought he’d fall for your trick! Your disguise skills are so superb that you fooled me while posing as Gu Feng right beside me. Are you perhaps from the Myriad Manifestations Gate?"

The cultivators from the other sects were stunned into silence by the sudden shift on the field. Upon hearing the name "Myriad Manifestations Gate," they were further shocked. The more knowledgeable among them immediately cried out in alarm, "The Myriad Manifestations Gate? Impossible! Wasn't that sect annihilated by the Fox Zen Sect during the late Tang Dynasty?"

Gu Feng lay on the ground, drenched in blood, roaring with laughter, "Our Myriad Manifestations Gate will never be destroyed! Hahaha, Liu Ye, remember this: the one who kills you is Wang Yu of the Myriad Manifestations Gate!" With that, he threw his head back and laughed three times before the laughter abruptly ceased, and his body collapsed heavily.

Seeing him dead, Liu Ye’s eyes snapped open in incandescent rage, "Gu Feng! What about him? Did you kill him? Speak!"

In his agitation, the wound in his chest burst open with a gush of blood. His body swayed, and he fell backward onto his rear.

The other Fox Zen disciples rushed to support him. At this moment, Liu Ye looked decades older, his face ashen grey, too weak to push his supporters away.

Liu Ye trembled, tears streaming down his face: "I never imagined that the thousand-year legacy of the Fox Zen Sect would end in destruction under my watch, and that too, by a group of inexperienced brats. I am not reconciled!"

His lament tore at the hearts of the other Fox Zen disciples, who erupted into heartbroken sobs.

A pall of mournful cries and dark clouds descended upon the scene. However, some cultivators from the other sects felt that with Liu Ye defeated, the final pillar of the Fox Zen Sect had crumbled. The gates to the Fox Zen Sect's treasures were now open to them—if they didn't seize this chance now, when would they?

A cultivator leaped out and shouted, "Why show mercy to these fiends and monsters? How many of our brethren did these devils kill just now? Everyone, charge!"

With that, he led the charge.

Though some of the righteous cultivators from the various sects hesitated, feeling that attacking now was dishonorable and cruel, others were swayed by this man's words. They moved, surging toward the Fox Zen group.

Li Yundong, who had previously suspected someone within the Fox Zen Sect was trying to harm him when he didn't know Mo Ashi was Yan Fang, now felt the knot in his heart unravel. Worried about Su Chan’s whereabouts, and disgusted by the so-called righteous parties ganging up on the weak, he could hold back no longer. He leaped out immediately.

Just as these cultivators were about to cross the Yin-Yang diagram marking the field, a gigantic black shadow suddenly swooped down upon them. The rushing wind was fierce, making a sharp metallic sound, and before it even drew near, they felt a searing pain as if their skin were being sliced.

The cultivators were instantly alarmed and simultaneously retreated. With a deafening boom, a deep, long gash was scored into the ground of the Yin-Yang diagram by a massive black iron fan, stretching precisely between the two cauldrons marking the Yin and Yang points.

The cultivator at the very front suddenly saw a dark silhouette appear before him, followed by a fist growing larger and larger in his vision, which connected with a Puh sound, sending him flying far away.

This sudden turn of events caused an uproar. They focused their eyes and saw a young man standing tall in the arena, his brow furrowed in cold disapproval as he addressed them: "So many of you attacking one old man and a group of women—have you no shame?"

These cultivators, wondering which crack this young man had crawled out of, roared in anger, "Impudent brat, which weed are you? Scram, before your grandpa beats you!"

"Where did this little mongrel come from? Get lost, or my blade won't recognize friend from foe!"

The young man regarded them coolly until a great shout erupted: "Om!!"

This great shout of the True Word shook every person present to their core. Innumerable Buddhist chants suddenly echoed deafeningly in their minds, causing everyone to clamp their mouths shut.

Zhang Tianhe started violently and bowed solemnly, "I do not know which high master has arrived. Please announce your name!"

The young man returned the salute with a cold, stern gesture, his voice resounding clearly: "I am Li Yundong!"

For more novels, visit storyread.net.