"A mere first-rank sect dares to be arrogant?"
Monk Shi Yan retracted his palm, his face filled with disdain. He was the chief of the Arhat Hall at Pingning Temple, and Pingning Temple was a branch of Budong Temple!
Furthermore, he was a ninth-rank Grand Ascension Realm "expert." No one dared to disrespect him when he went out.
His visit to Qingfeng Villa this time was to seize all the Iron Thorns Grass seeds from Qingfeng Villa.
Otherwise, why would a dignified ninth-rank Grand Ascension cultivator, a Buddhist practitioner at that, come to such a rural place?
Now, some fool dared to block his way!
This fool was already at the seventh-rank Integration Realm, but he hadn't restrained his aura. A ninth-rank Grand Ascension cultivator was clearly present, and yet this person dared to block him?
If that wasn't foolish, what was?
Since a fight had already started, there was no need for Qingfeng Villa to hold its "Inner Disciple Advancement Celebration."
"The person in charge of Qingfeng Villa, come out, or this Buddha will tear down your broken mountain!"
"How dare you!"
Yang Hong, who was preparing for the ceremony of sacrificing to heaven and earth on the mountainside, had not kept his divine sense spread out. After all, this was a good day for Qingfeng Villa. Zhang Zhenyan had also shown him the invitation list, which consisted of only minor sects.
He hadn't expected a Buddhist cultivator to come and cause trouble.
Boom!
Yang Hong, flying down from the mountainside, did not hold back. A kick exceeding one hundred million jin was fiercely stomped down on Monk Shi Yan's bald head!
Rumble rumble~
Upon seeing Yang Hong, Shi Yan immediately identified him as a sixth-rank Spirit Severing Realm cultivator. He sneered and sent out another palm strike, not even bothering to use his magical power.
Then, he was stomped by Yang Hong, his hand being crushed all the way into the ground. The hundred-zhang wide bluestone steps instantly shattered!
Nearby cultivators were blown away.
However, the disciples of Qingfeng Villa, having seen Yang Hong appear, were prepared. They pulled the visiting cultivators, and the higher-cultivation disciples of Qingfeng Villa even used their magical power to protect the guests.
When the dust settled, everyone saw a young boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a purple python robe, standing on a bald head.
Beside the bald head was a severed palm.
"You~ Who are you? How can a Spirit Severing Realm have such immense strength, and what is your artistic conception? It actually made me unable to even dodge?"
Shi Yan exclaimed loudly as he struggled to break free.
"I am Yang Hong, the Sect Master of Qingfeng Villa."
"Do you know who I am? Hurry and move your stinking foot away!"
Shi Yan's Buddhist power surged, pushing towards Yang Hong, trying to dislodge his foot.
"Heh heh~ Alright."
Yang Hong smiled kindly and slowly lifted his right foot.
"Hmph~ Good that you're sensible, otherwise I'll report you to Budong Temple and flatten your broken mountain, Ah~~"
Before Shi Yan could finish his arrogant declaration, Yang Hong stomped down heavily. Shi Yan bit off half of his own tongue accurately.
"Bald donkey! Does my name no longer carry any deterrence?
My name is Yang Hong! Great Sui, Yang Hong!"
He uttered the last eight words very slowly, stomping down with each word. After the last word, Shi Yan's head went "bang~," exploding like a watermelon.
"Hiss~"
"Hiss~"
"Hiss~"
In front of and behind Yang Hong, there was a chorus of sharp inhales. Yet, no one dared to utter a single word.
They were all terrified by Yang Hong's strength and brutality!
"Yang Hong~ is it? I'll remember this name. You and your Qingfeng Villa will all be buried with me!"
Amidst the silence, Shi Yan's voice rang out again, filled with anger and menace.
Yang Hong had crushed his head, but his Nascent Soul had seized the opportunity to escape his body. It was now floating in the air, spewing threats at Yang Hong.
"Idiot~"
Yang Hong did not indulge the Nascent Soul that was still spewing threats even at the brink of death. He unleashed the [True Essence Grand Hand Seal], gripping it tightly in his palm. His magical power, imbued with the rules of time, was about to crush it.
"Sect Master, please calm down~ Sect Master, show mercy."
Just as he was about to crush the Nascent Soul, Zhong Chengfeng, who had been blown away earlier, ran over and shouted a plea.
"Chengfeng, do you want to crush him yourself?
No problem, I'll cripple him first, then you can finish him off."
Seeing that it was Zhong Chengfeng, Yang Hong paused his grip and said gently.
However, the other cultivators who heard this all shivered, including Zhong Chengfeng himself.
[Are you speaking human language? Killing a ninth-rank Grand Ascension realm cultivator is already heaven-defying, and now you want your disciple to crush this ninth-rank Nascent Soul?
And you want to cripple him first to make it easier for your disciple to kill him?]
Zhong Chengfeng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly said, "Ahem~ Thank you, Sect Master, for avenging this disciple. However, it might be best not to kill this Buddhist cultivator's Nascent Soul."
"Oh~ Why?"
"In the past two years, it seems that the space has stabilized. Travelers and Venerables descend to the mortal realm from time to time, and Buddhism has become even more prosperous."
Zhong Chengfeng whispered urgently to Yang Hong, explaining this matter. It was relatively secret, and not many people knew about it.
"Mm~ It's fine. He's just a bald donkey. Buddhism wouldn't dare to trouble me."
Hearing Zhong Chengfeng's concern, Yang Hong smiled slightly and directly crushed Shi Yan's Nascent Soul, stopping just short of a complete soul annihilation.
"Sweet rain descends~"
As the spiritual energy from Shi Yan's demise dispersed, Yang Hong cast an eighth-rank healing spell.
Having done this, Yang Hong bowed to all directions.
"A small accident occurred, everyone. This healing spell is a form of apology. Please continue your ascent.
Also, fellow Daoists without invitations should observe from the foot of the mountain."
"Sect Master Yang is too kind~"
"Sect Master Yang is generous~"
"Sect Master Yang, please, please lead the way~"
The cultivators who had come to witness the ceremony quickly and voluntarily divided into two groups upon hearing Yang Hong's words.
The smaller group consisted of low-level cultivators with invitations, the highest cultivation being only a third-rank Fusion Realm.
At this moment, they walked with excitement, their hands and feet moving in unison, their chests held high as they ascended the mountain. This might be the most glorious moment of their lives.
Due to their excitement, some even stumbled, but they quickly got up and continued their ascent.
The larger group contained several ninth-rank Grand Ascension cultivators. However, no matter how high their cultivation, they could only obediently accept the guidance of Qingfeng Villa disciples and line up on the stone steps.
They dared not harbor any complaints.
Many of them recognized Shi Yan, who had been arrogant and overbearing, and knew they were no match for him.
Yet, such a Grand Ascension cultivator had died so simply!
Qingfeng Villa was not simple!
Having resolved this minor interlude, Yang Hong returned to the front of the sect hall on the mountainside to prepare for the ceremony of sacrificing to heaven and earth.
When the sun reached its zenith, at its fiercest point, the sacrifice began.
"The auspicious hour has arrived. First bow~"
Yang Hong, along with all the disciples holding three sticks of incense, knelt down and bowed towards the eastern sky.
This bow was to heaven and earth, thanking them for their nurturing grace.
"Second bow~"
Yang Hong and the disciples rose and turned towards the sect hall. Three characters hung there: a "Dao" in the center, and "Heaven" and "Earth" on either side.
This bow was to the inheritance, taking the meaning of "Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Dao, and Dao follows nature."
After this bow, Yang Hong stepped forward first, lit incense in the censer before the calligraphy, bowed respectfully three times, and then sat down in a grand tutor chair placed before the characters.
"Third bow~"
Following the announcer's voice, the disciples knelt and bowed to Yang Hong, performing the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows.
This bow was the formal discipleship ceremony. From now on, all cultivators of Qingfeng Villa would be Yang Hong's disciples.
"The ceremony is complete~"
Yang Hong had said he wanted it to be simple, so Zhang Zhenyan and the others dared not make it too complicated, at least not to trouble Yang Hong. The sacrificial ceremony was considered complete.
However, Yang Hong, seated in the grand tutor chair, suddenly narrowed his eyes, looking down at the disciples, a thoughtful expression on his face.