You think I'm afraid of your Song family?

With a decisive and resounding palm, he struck Xu Yitian squarely in the chest!

A muffled thud was accompanied by the crisp snap of bone. Xu Yitian was sent flying backward, spitting out a mouthful of blood mid-air. The sight was horrifying to the onlookers.

Xu Yitian stumbled as he landed, staggering backward repeatedly. Blood gushed from his nose and mouth, and he stared at Niu Youdao with wide, disbelieving eyes. He had been too careless, so careless that by the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late to defend himself. He hadn't even raised his defenses to their maximum.

To the spectators, the scene was a blur. Even Shang Chaozong and the others were startled. To injure an opponent so severely in a single move – was the gap in their strength truly that vast? If so, why did this person appear to be underestimating his opponent?

Niu Youdao's palm remained extended. After repelling his opponent, he slowly lowered his hand, remaining still in his original spot, his expression as calm as ever. Internally, however, he mused that this was the first time he had properly tested his 'Qiankun Palm' on someone. He wondered how his opponent felt.

Xu Yitian, still staggering backward, was finally stopped by Chen Guishuo, who rushed to support him. Seeing the blood still uncontrollably flowing from Xu Yitian's nose and mouth, Song Yanqing and Chen Guishuo knew that Niu Youdao's palm strike had inflicted a serious injury.

The two couldn't help but curse Xu Yitian for his carelessness, allowing himself to be injured so badly by a single palm strike. They both believed Xu Yitian had been far too complacent, to the point of being reckless. Shouldn't he have at least been wary of the Protective Talisman on the opponent?

Little did they know that Xu Yitian had a grievance he couldn't express. Inside his body, a powerful, fierce yang energy and a gentle, yin energy were interacting, one cold and one hot, entangling and churning. This caused his magic power to become chaotic, making it impossible for him to cast spells to suppress and regulate his internal energy. His internal circulation was in utter disarray, leaving him unable to open his mouth or speak a word.

His shock towards Niu Youdao was indescribable. He was certain that Niu Youdao was not cultivating the Shangqing Sect's 'Shangqing Heart Sutra.' The Shangqing Sect's techniques were not this overbearing!

Unfortunately, the shock in his heart could not be conveyed to the other two.

Song Yanqing also felt a pang of regret, regretting not persuading the Shangqing Sect to provide Niu Youdao with cultivation techniques. It seemed that fellow had achieved some results over the years, otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to injure Xu Yitian.

Without needing any prompting, Chen Guishuo released Xu Yitian and strode forward. He leaped into the air, drew his sword, and a beam of sword light shot directly at Niu Youdao as he lunged.

Niu Youdao remained impassive, just as before. Seeing Chen Guishuo about to pounce, he braced himself with his sword-holding arm, using his entire body as a pivot around the sword, and flipped backward. His legs lashed out in the air.

One kick struck the side of the incoming sword, deflecting it. Another kick knocked away Chen Guishuo's incoming palm strike. His other leg, spinning around, landed squarely on Chen Guishuo's chest. With a loud bang, amidst the dizzying spectacle, Chen Guishuo, who had just lunged and hadn't yet landed, was sent flying back by Niu Youdao's kick.

Seeing that the situation was not in his favor, Song Yanqing had already charged forward. He leaped into the air, stepped on the flying-back Chen Guishuo to avoid him, and then ascended again. With a sharp sword cry, he drew his sword in mid-air. The sword light flashed fiercely, descending from above and enveloping Niu Youdao below.

Niu Youdao, still airborne and bracing himself on his sword, hadn't landed yet. As he spun in the air, his body suddenly arched like a shrimp, then violently straightened. His backward spin reversed, and with a flash of cold light, his sword was drawn. He pushed off the scabbard supporting him and shot up into the air, swinging his sword to meet the sky, unleashing a fierce display of light and shadow. This sword move was called: Taiyi Splitting Light Sword!

This sword move was something Niu Youdao couldn't execute with his cultivation from his previous life!

A curtain of sword light unfurled, dazzling in the sunlight.

Song Yanqing, falling backward from the sky, was terrified. The fierce sword shadows soaring upwards looked like blooming lotuses from his perspective. He couldn't distinguish the real from the fake and didn't know how to defend himself. It was only then that he realized Niu Youdao was not the Niu Youdao he had imagined.

With a clatter, Song Yanqing's arm flew off, along with the sword he was holding.

Niu Youdao, spinning past Song Yanqing in the air, unleashed a wave of bloody light. He followed up with a side kick, and with a bang, it struck Song Yanqing's chest. He kicked Song Yanqing flying through the air, leaving two spurting legs behind.

The scabbard on the ground began to fall. Niu Youdao, still airborne, threw his sword. With a clang, a cold light shot down, piercing the scabbard and steadying it.

Chen Guishuo crashed to the ground with a thud.

Immediately after, Song Yanqing also crashed to the ground with a thud.

A moment later, a figure descended gracefully from the sky, their robes fluttering. Niu Youdao, landing lightly, casually rested his hand on the sword's hilt.

No one saw the blood staining the blade. This deadly weapon remained in Niu Youdao's hand like a walking stick. The sword's name was: Loyal Heart of Jade Blood!

The two cleanly severed legs, still spinning in the air, landed on either side.

The surrounding crowd fell silent. The scene they had just witnessed had been truly dazzling. He had defeated Xu Yitian with a palm strike, Chen Guishuo with a kick, and Song Yanqing with a sword. While the first encounter was clear, the latter two exchanges were so swift and chaotic that they were bewildering.

When the two severed legs finally landed, the onlookers looked at Song Yanqing, who was writhing on the ground, barely clinging to life. They then realized that Niu Youdao had severed one of Song Yanqing's arms and both of his legs. They were all inwardly shocked. Cultivators were indeed cultivators, not comparable to ordinary martial artists!

Many had underestimated Niu Youdao due to his age, including Shang Chaozong, Shang Shuqing, and Lan Ruoting. Only now did they realize they had misjudged him. In an instant, he had defeated three cultivators from the Shangqing Sect. Even if the Shangqing Sect sent three such cultivators, they wouldn't be a match for this seemingly young Niu Youdao!

Shang Chaozong couldn't help but feel ashamed, realizing he had failed to discern character. He had been disrespectful in his words along the way.

He recalled his own sarcastic remarks when Niu Youdao had discarded his rations, and how truly magnanimous Niu Youdao had been not to hold it against him.

Yuan Gang, standing in the crowd, watched Niu Youdao silently and let out a soft sigh. "Daoist Master's strength is far beyond what it was!"

A group of warrior monks, especially Abbot Yuan Fang, looked panicked and uneasy, their hearts crying out in despair. They hadn't wanted to get involved in the troubles of such important figures, and now... He wanted to run but dared not!

Chen Guishuo, propped up as he tried to stand, clutched his chest and looked at the miserably fallen Song Yanqing. His face turned even paler, and he looked at Niu Youdao with a hint of fear. The past flashed before his eyes.

He had stood up, and someone else had fallen. Xu Yitian, who had managed to stand, coughed up another mouthful of blood and could no longer hold himself up. His insides churned like a raging sea, and he collapsed onto the ground. However, after spitting out the blood, his breathing finally eased slightly, allowing him to gather enough energy to suppress the chaos within him.

His fall gradually brought the onlookers back to their senses. Lan Ruoting sighed inwardly, wondering why Niu Youdao had shown mercy to the other two but dealt such a severe blow to Song Yanqing. Didn't he know Song Yanqing's background? If he had crippled Song Yanqing like this, would the Song Family let him go? The cultivation sects that the Song Family could command were likely not comparable to just the Shangqing Sect.

Little did they know that for Niu Youdao, upon seeing Song Yanqing there and learning that Song Yanqing was sent to kill him, he knew there could be no peace between them. Setting aside the past grievance of being confined and humiliated, the fact that he had taken Tang Yi as his wife was a sin in itself. Having lived two lives, he understood people like Song Yanqing all too well. If he let Song Yanqing go this time, Song Yanqing would not let him go either and would still send more formidable individuals to trouble him. Since the outcome of letting go or not letting go was the same, he might as well get his fill first!

In his past life, he, as a Daoist Master, could tolerate things and swallow his pride in the martial world, but he was by no means a stranger to bloodshed!

Niu Youdao stared coldly at the fallen Song Yanqing, slowly walked over, leaning on his sword. He stood before Song Yanqing, looking down at him, and gently tapped Song Yanqing's face with the scabbard. "Hey, I told you, I don't like fighting. It would have been better if we parted amicably, with no losses for either side. Why did you force me to act? Do you think I'm afraid of your Song Family? In my eyes, your Song family is just a bunch of bumpkins, nothing at all!"

Shang Chaozong and the others were speechless. A prominent family like the Song Family was a bumpkin in your eyes?

Song Yanqing struggled to lift his head. His face was contorted in pain, but he forced a smile. "Junior Brother, Junior Brother, I was wrong. Please be magnanimous and let me go, won't you? You can ask for anything, as long as you let me go!"

Niu Youdao ignored him and turned to look at Shang Chaozong. "Your Highness, please have your men step aside. I have something I need to ask this scoundrel!"

Shang Chaozong immediately waved his hand, signaling his guards to withdraw.

Abbot Yuan Fang flinched, turning to flee. However, Niu Youdao said lightly, "Did I say you could leave? Your Highness, have these people detained and interrogated. If their accounts don't match this scoundrel's later, we can settle the score then!" He also gestured towards Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo.

Without a word, a group of guards rushed forward and bound the twenty or so monks. Not a single monk dared to resist. Even Yuan Fang obediently surrendered. The monks of Nanshan Temple were thus taken away. Xu Yitian and Chen Guishuo naturally met the same fate. Having witnessed Niu Youdao's prowess and being injured, they knew they couldn't escape.

The surroundings became quiet. Niu Youdao gently tapped Song Yanqing's face with his scabbard. "Speak, why did you want to kill me?"

Song Yanqing wailed, "Junior Brother, it wasn't me who wanted to kill you. Elder Tang ordered it. I had no choice!"

He was by no means a person of integrity. He only knew that living was paramount, so he tried to shift the blame rather than admit it was due to his act of stealing Tang Yi.

"Elder Tang wants to kill me?" Niu Youdao was taken aback. He did recall that the old woman had never seemed to have a good impression of him, and had almost killed him the first time they met. "Ever since I joined the Shangqing Sect, I've been confined in Peach Blossom Spring. I believe I haven't done anything to wrong the Shangqing Sect. Why does she want to kill me?"

Shang Shuqing and the others were surprised to hear this. Confined all along?

"The reason is simple, and you can probably guess it. Elder Tang wants Tang Yi to secure her position as Sect Master. As long as you are here, Tang Yi's position as Sect Master is not legitimate, and someone could always seek to overturn things for you..." Song Yanqing wailed, revealing a shocking secret unknown to the outside world.

Please give me a little push!