It was really hard work acting just now

Boom!

A tremendous force struck Elder Shi's abdomen.

"Pfft!"

Elder Shi spat a fountain of blood, flying backward like a snapped kite, crashing far away and struggling to rise.

He lifted his head with difficulty, his face grim, and bellowed: "Enemy attack!"

The deafening sound instantly echoed through Kaoshan Peak!

Enemy attack!

All disciples, and even elders, surged madly toward Kaoshan Peak's mountain gate.

They carried their weapons, showing no trace of fear.

With the sect in peril, they would defend it to the death!

"Heh, True Lord Yuntian isn't here, Daoist Xuanhe isn't here—what do you have to fight This Seat with?"

Daoist Xuanhe was Kaoshan Sect's publicly known Old Ancestor, True Lord Yuntian's Master, and the previous Sect Master of Kaoshan Sect!

A being at the Lin Dao Realm!

Ghost Nether Son swaggered into Kaoshan Peak, rose into the air, took a deep breath of Spiritual Energy, and wore a satisfied expression.

"From today onward, Kaoshan Peak is This Seat's prize!"

"Such big talk!"

An elder of advanced age from Kaoshan Peak stepped forward, sneering: "Do you truly believe you alone can match the entire Kaoshan Sect?"

"Indeed, even as a Sect Master, you cannot accomplish such a feat!"

"How ridiculous! Utterly arrogant!"

"Preposterous!"

The gathered elders seethed with rage, glaring and bristling, surrounding Ghost Nether Son in an impenetrable circle.

Counting them, there were over forty elders.

At the very least, all were at the early Divine Infant Realm!

Ghost Nether Son clicked his tongue in wonder, sweeping his gaze across them.

"I must admit, Kaoshan Sect's strength has grown considerably in recent years."

"Taking so many experts away, yet still having this many Divine Infant Realm cultivators left within the sect!"

He rejoiced inwardly, grateful that Ghost Nether Mansion had acted early—otherwise, in another hundred years, they might no longer be a match for Kaoshan Sect!

"Damn it, this man shows no tension at all, as if he doesn't take these elders seriously."

Many disciples, weapons in hand, surrounded the perimeter, watching Ghost Nether Son warily.

Seeing him stroll about as if entering his own garden, they could barely contain their fury.

Some hot-tempered disciples from Limitless Peak openly cursed Ghost Nether Son's ancestors.

"If the Sect Master were still here, how could he be so insolent?"

"Infuriating! I only hate that my strength isn't enough to slay this villain!"

Some disciples beat their chests in frustration, lamenting their lack of power to join the elders' battlefield!

"Ghost Nether Son, aren't you going too far?"

True Lord Xiaxuan arrived, wielding a fiery red Divine Whip—a Lin Dao Realm-level magic weapon passed down by her Master, brimming with formidable Magic Power!

"Heh, it's been years, True Lord Xiaxuan—your beauty has only grown, hasn't it?"

Ghost Nether Son's rigid face cracked into a smile, his eyes roving over True Lord Xiaxuan's figure, a lecherous glint in them. He said:

"I wonder if This Seat might taste your charms and fulfill a long-held wish?"

Such blasphemous words ignited everyone present, who pointed at Ghost Nether Son in furious condemnation.

"Die!"

An elder, wielding a Divine Infant Realm-level Sword Magic Weapon, struck out in rage.

Instantly, a blinding Sword Light appeared between heaven and earth.

The Sword Light stretched ten thousand meters, Sword Qi roaring, imbued with Sword Dao Will.

"A paltry trick."

Ghost Nether Son waved his hand, crushing the Sword Qi, then flicked his finger—the attacking elder was sent flying far away, spitting blood, his aura wilting!

The gap in realms was too vast!

"This is too much!"

True Lord Xiaxuan lashed out with her fiery red Divine Whip, striking toward Ghost Nether Son's body.

Ghost Nether Son neither dodged nor blocked; he raised his hand and caught the Divine Whip, and no matter how True Lord Xiaxuan strained, she could not break free!

"Now do you realize the gap in strength?" Ghost Nether Son said disdainfully, yanking the Divine Whip to drag True Lord Xiaxuan's body closer.

"Do you truly think you can disregard the entire Kaoshan Sect alone?"

"Do you take my Kaoshan Sect for having no one?"

The many elders joined forces to unleash powerful spells, blotting out the sky and pressing down on Ghost Nether Son.

Even with Ghost Nether Son's cultivation, he could not fend off the combined attack of over forty Divine Infant Realm cultivators while dealing with True Lord Xiaxuan!

He hastily released the Divine Whip, letting True Lord Xiaxuan slip free.

Then he thrust both hands forward, his entire body radiating a fierce aura, stirring the Heaven and Earth Great Dao to summon divine thunder, which instantly shattered the elders' spells!

"Pfft!"

Some elders of slightly lower realms suffered backlash, spitting blood.

But no one retreated; they still fixed their gazes on Ghost Nether Son.

They swore to live or die with the Sect!

"Do you know why you can't break through to the Heavenly Human Realm?"

Ghost Nether Son swept his gaze across the crowd. "It's not because of talent, only because you are ignorant!"

"You don't know what a Heavenly Human is!"

"Now, This Seat will show you what a Heavenly Human is!"

He raised both hands high above his head. Above Kaoshan Sect, dark clouds gathered, and the Heaven and Earth Great Dao rumbled in response to his call.

In an instant, the wind and clouds shifted, and a gale howled!

A Heavenly Human—every word and deed can summon the Heaven and Earth Great Dao!

Ghost Nether Son was even at the ninth layer of the Heavenly Human Realm!

The power of heaven and earth he could wield was utterly incomparable to True Lord Xiaxuan, who was only at the early second layer of the Heavenly Human Realm!

Ghost Nether Son now stood like a giant looking down on the crowd, his expression indifferent. "Now do you see the gap between us? Without True Lord Yuntian and Daoist Xuanhe here, no one is my match!"

Under his heavenly might, everyone was suppressed.

His terrifying Heavenly Human Realm aura restrained their strength!

"Damn it!"

The elders and disciples gritted their teeth, but there was nothing they could do.

True Lord Xiaxuan gripped the fiery red Divine Whip tightly, her pretty face solemn. Ghost Nether Son's strength was simply too great!

Even if she unleashed her hidden power, she could only stall for a little while, with no way to defeat him!

But!

True Lord Xiaxuan looked toward Dao Origin Peak. Hua Yunfei shot straight over, landing beside her, hands behind his back, expressionless.

"Ghost Nether Son, have you heard of catching a turtle in a jar?"

Seeing Hua Yunfei arrive and stand beside True Lord Xiaxuan, some disciples immediately recognized him!

"It's True Lord Dao Origin!"

"Right, it's him. He rarely shows himself, but now that the Sect is in danger, he's appeared!"

"Graceful and handsome, a true Heavenly Prodigy!"

Many disciples stared at Hua Yunfei with joy.

Most had never seen him, and many had only glimpsed him once or twice.

Seeing him rush over, they grew excited!

The Sect Master said that this True Lord Dao Origin of ours was the most low-key—wonder if that's true...

"Oh?"

Ghost Nether Son looked at Hua Yunfei, sizing him up. "So you're that elusive Peak Master of Dao Origin Peak?"

Even someone of his status had heard that Kaoshan Sect had a mysterious True Lord Dao Origin.

Hua Yunfei ignored him and said to all the elders, "Elders, step back first. Don't get splattered with blood."

"Hahaha!"

Ghost Nether Son laughed, his expression mocking. "That 'catching a turtle in a jar' you mentioned—surely you don't mean This Seat?"

Hua Yunfei revealed a faint smile. "I hope you can still laugh later."

Before the words faded, he pointed with two fingers, and all seven main peaks of Kaoshan Sect trembled, instantly erupting with violent fluctuations.

A surge of vast, righteous energy appeared, and a bowl-shaped protective barrier materialized in the sky!

"You should be familiar with the Sect Protecting Grand Array, Senior, right? I imagine Ghost Nether Mansion has one too."

At this moment, True Lord Xiaxuan, who had been wearing a grave expression, suddenly broke into a smile.

That act just now was really exhausting.

The elders also laughed, put away their weapons, and clasped their hands behind their backs, ready to watch the show.

Elder Shi, standing nearby, rubbed his belly, wobbled as he stood up, and bared his teeth in a chuckle at Ghost Nether Son.

All an act!

"Holy crap!"

The disciples were indeed kept in the dark, staring wide-eyed and clueless.

Ghost Nether Son's expression turned cold, dark as water!