In the Dao Sect plaza, all elders and disciples focused their gazes on Ye Ling, with more than half of them so shocked their jaws nearly hit the ground.
Jian Sanliu was the strongest in the Dao Sect, second only to the Grand Elder Ji Ning and the Sword Ancestor Jian Shisan. His cultivation ranked among the top ten throughout the entire Dao State!
Yet, such a supreme figure was actually kicked flying in front of the entire sect?
This act left Jian Sanliu utterly humiliated!
Ye Ling, however, did not feel he had done anything excessive. He looked at the other elders and smiled, "Esteemed elders, do you believe I am qualified to be an elder?"
The elders present exchanged glances but dared not speak.
Although Ye Ling's strength had indeed convinced everyone, Jian Sanliu would certainly not let go of the matter of being publicly kicked flying and losing face!
It could be said that before Ye Ling had even officially joined the Dao Sect, he had already made an mortal enemy of the Dao Sect Leader.
In this situation, no one dared to take sides easily.
After all, Jian Sanliu's influence was deeply rooted in the Dao Sect, and he had the Sword Ancestor Jian Shisan standing behind him. As for Ye Ling's relationship with Ji Ning, it was not yet clear.
Seeing the elders remain silent, Ye Ling merely smiled, spread his hands, and said, "Very well, it seems the esteemed elders still have doubts about my strength. Then, the martial competition shall continue."
"Next, who is it?"
When Ye Ling spoke, the elders all took a step back in unison, completely lacking the courage to challenge Ye Ling.
Even Jian Sanliu was kicked flying; anyone else stepping forward would be inviting humiliation.
For a moment, some elders felt ashamed of their earlier thought of going easy on Ye Ling.
What were they, to be in a position to go easy on him?
"Wang Liren, I haven't lost yet!"
At this moment, Jian Sanliu's cold voice echoed from the shattered great hall. Then, he emerged from the ruins, enveloped in golden sword qi, his aura condensed to its absolute limit!
The entire Dao Sect mountain gate trembled with Jian Sanliu's imposing presence!
"Sword Fiend Qi?"
Upon seeing Jian Sanliu unleash his aura, all the elders cried out in alarm, their expressions changing drastically!
"This is the Sword Fiend Qi passed down by the Sword Ancestor to the Sect Leader. Anyone touched by it dies. The Sect Leader actually used such a deadly move in the sect competition! Does he intend to kill Wang Liren?"
"It seems the Sect Leader is truly enraged and wants to regain his honor! This Sword Fiend Qi is his guarantee of being invincible among his peers!"
"Elder Wang, you should just surrender! The Sword Fiend Qi is unstoppable!"
For a time, the elders engaged in heated discussion, with some even advising Ye Ling to surrender.
After all, Ye Ling's strength had been proven, and his joining the Dao Sect would strengthen the sect and solidify its position in the Dao State.
If Ye Ling were to die in this sect competition, it would be a huge loss for the entire Dao Sect.
Moreover, if Ji Ning were to hold them accountable, no one could bear the consequences!
"Wang Liren, I'll give you one chance. As long as you beg for mercy now, I will spare your life and simultaneously acknowledge your status as a Dao Sect elder. What do you say?"
Jian Sanliu, controlling the Sword Fiend Qi, condensed several golden giant swords around himself and spoke coldly to Ye Ling.
"Sword Fiend Qi, huh..."
Ye Ling looked at Jian Sanliu's current state, and a trace of cold killing intent flashed in the depths of his eyes.
At this moment, in his small world, Tian Xing was still suffering under the torment of the Sword Fiend Qi!
Thinking of Tian Xing, Ye Ling curled his lips into a cold smile and said to Jian Sanliu, "Sect Leader Jian, since you want to play, how about we play big?"
"How do you want to play?" Jian Sanliu asked with a cold laugh.
Ye Ling: "If I win against you, I will become the Dao Sect Leader."
"Nonsense!"
Jian Sanliu roared, "You, an outsider of unknown origin, dare to covet the position of Sect Leader?"
"Unknown origin?" Ye Ling chuckled. "I returned with the Grand Elder. Are you questioning the Grand Elder?"
"I..." Jian Sanliu was immediately stunned and dared not reply.
Although he was of the Jian Shisan faction and had Jian Shisan protecting him, so he didn't need to fear Ji Ning too much, Jian Shisan was currently unconscious and his life or death was uncertain. Currently, Ji Ning was the only supreme expert in the Dao Sect, and Jian Sanliu truly dared not defy Ji Ning.
Ye Ling continued to provoke him, "Or are you, this useless person, afraid of me and thus dare not gamble with me?"
"I would be afraid of you, this pretty boy?"
Jian Sanliu was successfully provoked by Ye Ling and said sternly, "Fine! If I lose, I will voluntarily give up the position of Sect Leader!"
"However, I alone cannot decide who the next Dao Sect Leader will be. If you win against me and wish to become Sect Leader, you'll have to rely on your own abilities!"
Ye Ling chuckled, "That's fine too. As long as the Sect Leader isn't you, I'll be happy!"
"You arrogant bastard..." Jian Sanliu's teeth itched with anger at Ye Ling's arrogant attitude. "My bet is placed. What is your bet?"
Ye Ling: "If you win, I will let you deal with me as you please!"
Jian Sanliu: "You said it yourself!"
"Esteemed elders, all disciples are present as witnesses. This is not me deliberately making things difficult for Wang Liren, but he is insisting on courting death!"
"Even if I kill Wang Liren, the Grand Elder will have nothing to say!"
"Stop the nonsense and start quickly. You'll be out of the position of Sect Leader soon." Ye Ling said with a smile, beckoning Jian Sanliu with his finger.
"Arrogant!"
Seeing Ye Ling's arrogance, Jian Sanliu became even more enraged. He directly manipulated the golden giant swords he had condensed and sent them flying rapidly towards Ye Ling!
Several streaks of sword light flashed across the training ground, reaching Ye Ling in the blink of an eye.
"So fast!"
The elders exclaimed. In their eyes, they only saw streaks of sword light; they couldn't even track the golden giant swords!
Jian Sanliu's eyes glinted with killing intent. He looked at Ye Ling as if he were looking at a dead man!
The Sword Fiend Qi, condensed to its extreme, was enough to break through all defenses in the world!
As long as Ye Ling touched even a sliver of Sword Fiend Qi, he would surely die!
However, Ye Ling seemed to completely ignore the incoming golden sword qi. A faint smile played on his lips as he stepped forward, leisurely walking towards Jian Sanliu.
*Whoosh!*
The golden giant swords passed through Ye Ling, yet they did not harm him in the slightest!
"This!!!"
Seeing this, a monstrous wave of shock surged in everyone's hearts!
Jian Sanliu's pupils contracted when his sword qi failed to harm Ye Ling. He refused to believe it and shot out several more sword qi, but the result remained unchanged!
The sword qi simply passed through Ye Ling's body, unable to harm him at all!
"What is going on? Why did the Sect Leader's sword qi pass through Wang Liren's body?" an elder exclaimed, thinking he was seeing an illusion!
"Can Wang Liren ignore Sword Fiend Qi?" another elder speculated.
"Impossible! Sword Fiend Qi is the power of the Sword Ancestor, capable of eroding everything in the world. Even supreme experts cannot withstand it. No matter how strong Wang Liren is, he cannot possibly resist Sword Fiend Qi directly!" An elder who knew the power of Sword Fiend Qi immediately dismissed the other elder's speculation.
For a time, all the elders and disciples engaged in heated discussion, trying to reach a conclusion!
Jian Sanliu's Sword Fiend Qi being unable to cause any harm to Ye Ling left everyone utterly astonished.
"Impossible... why is my Sword Fiend Qi passing through his body?"
Jian Sanliu also couldn't comprehend the current situation. He shot out more and more sword qi, but no matter how much he shot, it didn't harm Ye Ling in the slightest!
Instead, his face turned pale due to the excessive consumption of Sword Fiend Qi.
"Sect Leader Jian, are you capable of this?"
Ye Ling taunted Jian Sanliu and leisurely walked up to him!
Seeing Ye Ling approach, Jian Sanliu couldn't help but retreat two steps, staring at Ye Ling with a sweaty face and asking in shock, "This, this is impossible! Why can you ignore my Sword Fiend Qi?"
Ye Ling smiled and said, "It's very simple. Dodge it, and then return to your original position."
"Dodge it and then return to the original position?" Jian Sanliu was stunned at first, then his body trembled violently.
He looked at Ye Ling in shock, and a monstrous wave of shock surged in his heart!
If that were the case, Ye Ling was even more terrifying!
What kind of speed would it take to deceive the eyes of everyone present?
"Are you kidding me? Do you think I'm an idiot?" Jian Sanliu couldn't accept the truth. He roared and punched towards Ye Ling's face!
However, similarly, Jian Sanliu's fist passed through Ye Ling's face.
Jian Sanliu's punch missed!
The next moment, Ye Ling's afterimage disappeared, and his real body appeared behind Jian Sanliu, holding a demonic sword in his hand.
"Sect Leader Jian, you lost."
Killing intent appeared in Ye Ling's eyes. He aimed the demonic sword in his hand at Jian Sanliu's neck and slashed down fiercely!
Jian Sanliu suddenly felt a fatal crisis coming from behind him, and a chill shot straight up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head!!!
Ye Ling intended to kill him!
"Wang Liren."
Ji Ning suddenly appeared beside Ye Ling, gently夹住 Ye Ling's demonic sword between two fingers, unmoving.
Seeing Ji Ning appear, Ye Ling's killing intent instantly vanished. He put on a smile, dispelled the demonic sword, and greeted Ji Ning, "Senior? Why are you here? I was just having a friendly spar with Sect Leader Jian!"
Ji Ning looked at Ye Ling faintly and said, "If I hadn't come just now, you would have already killed Jian Sanliu."
"How could that be? Sect Leader Jian is divinely powerful. Sect Leader Jian would surely be able to block my attack just now!" Ye Ling scratched his head and smiled, feigning innocence.
Jian Sanliu, after being saved by Ji Ning, also knelt on the ground powerlessly, his expression utterly dazed.
The blow he received after fighting Ye Ling was too immense!
The elders and disciples were also dumbfounded.
They had all truly felt Ye Ling's genuine killing intent towards Jian Sanliu!
And now, with Ji Ning's appearance, Ye Ling's killing intent had vanished instantly...
Such a monster, capable of controlling his emotions with such precision and being so ruthless, was truly terrifying!
Ji Ning glanced at the kneeling Jian Sanliu, a hint of disdain flashing in her beautiful eyes. She then said coldly to Ye Ling, "I asked you to join the Dao Sect to contribute to it, not to kill our people."
Ye Ling cupped his fists and bowed to Ji Ning, saying firmly, "Junior naturally remembers! From now on, the Dao Sect is junior's home, and junior will definitely dedicate himself to the Dao Sect!"
Ji Ning gave Ye Ling a deep look, then said, "Let this not happen again."
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Senior!" Ye Ling cupped his fists and bowed again.
Ji Ning no longer looked at Ye Ling and instead questioned Jian Sanliu, "Jian Sanliu, Wang Liren is a newcomer, and he was ignorant this time. But as Sect Leader, how could you be so reckless with the position of Sect Leader?"
Jian Sanliu trembled and quickly kowtowed to Ji Ning to apologize, "Grand Elder, this disciple knows his mistake. This disciple is unworthy of being the Sect Leader and is willing to resign from the position!"
"Nonsense!" Ji Ning's sharp voice cut off Jian Sanliu's words.
The entire plaza fell silent, the atmosphere becoming extremely oppressive.
Ji Ning said coldly, "The position of Sect Leader was chosen by me and the Sword Ancestor. If you resign now, are you slapping my and the Sword Ancestor's faces?"
"This disciple dares not!" Jian Sanliu quickly kowtowed!
"You continue to hold this position of Sect Leader." Ji Ning's expression softened, and she said to Jian Sanliu.
"Yes." Jian Sanliu dared not defy her and could only kowtow in agreement.
After speaking, Ji Ning looked at Ye Ling again, "As for you..."
Ye Ling quickly cupped his fists and bowed, "Please punish me, Senior!"
Ji Ning said coldly, "You attempted to assassinate the Sect Leader upon entering the sect, committing a grave mistake. You cannot be an elder!"
"From today onwards, you will go to the outer sect and start as a handyman disciple!"
Ye Ling's mouth twitched. He thought he had misheard and looked at Ji Ning incredulously, "Senior... I'm going to be a handyman? Are you joking?"
Killing intent flared in Ji Ning's eyes, "You are unwilling?"
Ye Ling immediately replied, "Of course, I am willing!"