Kneel Down, and I'll Apologize to You

Mind-blowing!

Absolutely mind-blowing.

Li Yang really couldn't keep it together anymore.

Kids, this wasn't funny.

"You're saying you used all sorts of top-tier artifact-forging materials to make a grade-two spirit sword with four markings, right?"

Third Senior Sister folded her arms across her chest.

"That's right! Don't even think about denying it. The inscription I wrote especially for Junior Brother is still on the blade."

Seeing her admit it with such absolute conviction, Li Yang found it even harder to keep it together.

"Let me confirm this again. You used premium geng metal, ten-thousand-year-old purple essence copper, and ten-thousand-year-old mystic jade, only to produce a grade-two spirit sword with four markings. Is that right?"

Third Senior Sister frowned, deeply displeased by his words.

"Qin Feng, what are you getting at?"

Li Yang sighed.

He picked up the spirit sword, his face filled with regret.

"What a criminal waste! What a criminal waste of precious materials!"

His voice brimmed with pity. "I've seen useless people before, but never an artifact forger this useless.

Premium geng metal, ten-thousand-year-old purple essence copper, ten-thousand-year-old mystic jade-these three top-tier materials would've been more than enough to forge an eight-marking spirit sword.

'I' should never have handed you over to a useless fool. It was an insult to you. You could have become a superb flying sword, slaying enemies on the battlefield, yet here you are, suffering this disgrace."

Third Senior Sister's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

She had never imagined things would turn out like this.

Qin Feng actually dared to humiliate her like this and disparage her work as utterly worthless.

This was no longer about stealing a spirit sword.

This was Qin Feng denying her entire worth!

"Qin Feng! I'll give you one chance to rephrase that. Otherwise, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson!"

As she spoke, the aura of a golden core cultivator surged toward him.

Yet there wasn't the slightest trace of panic or tension on the face of the "Qin Feng" before her.

"What am I supposed to rephrase? Explain why I was blind enough to steal a grade-two, four-marking spirit artifact made from top-tier materials?

Finding such a worthless sword on Sect Master Peak drags down the reputation of the entire peak.

And you even made it with materials I gave you.

If I'd known you were this useless, I'd rather have buried them back in the ground."

Li Yang didn't even care about spirit transformation pressure. A mere golden core cultivator? It wasn't as though he hadn't killed one before.

"You! How dare you!"

Third Senior Sister's face alternated between green and white.

"I'm simply not good at forging spirit swords, artifacts that require no technical skill whatsoever. You're not even an artifact forger. What do you know?"

Clap, clap, clap! Li Yang applauded with a smile. "So by your logic, sword cultivation is also a path that requires no technical skill?"

Seeing Third Senior Sister rendered speechless with anger, an unusual glint flashed through Ye Zhiqiu's misty, peach-blossom eyes.

"Senior Brother, even if you refuse to admit stealing my treasured sword, you can't insult Senior Sister!"

The moment Li Yang heard that voice, his temper flared.

He smiled, narrowing his eyes.

"Junior Brother Ye, I admit I was wrong. Come over here and kneel down, and I'll apologize to you."

Ye Zhiqiu froze.

I kneel down, and you apologize?

"That came out wrong. I'll come outside and kneel down to apologize."

Li Yang walked out of the wooden hut.

Third Senior Sister gave a cold snort through her prominent nose.

She had thought Qin Feng's temperament had changed. Apparently, he was merely throwing a little tantrum.

"Hurry up and kneel to apologize to Junior Brother. But what you said was far too outrageous. I'll consider whether to forgive you, depending mainly on how you behave."

Although Ye Zhiqiu sensed something was off, he knew what sort of person Qin Feng was.

He said, "There's no need, Senior Brother. Just admitting you were wrong is enough."

His body was much more honest, however, retreating a little to leave just enough room for Li Yang to kneel.

But the instant Li Yang reached him-

He raised his foot and stamped viciously into Ye Zhiqiu's face with the speed of a thunderbolt.

Using the dust on his sole as ink, he stamped his seal.

Bam!

The smug expression was still frozen on Ye Zhiqiu's face as that heavy, powerful kick sent him flying.

The uneven force sent him spinning more than fifty times through the air. He smashed through several large trees before coming to a stop.

The footprint on his face was plain to see.

His once straight, firm nose had collapsed and was bleeding. He had no dignity left whatsoever.

"Qin Feng!"

That sudden kick thoroughly enraged Ye Zhiqiu. His pitiful expression and little affected gestures vanished.

He was now the very picture of humiliation boiling over into furious rage.

"You're courting death!"

Having recovered from her shock, Third Senior Sister flew into a complete rage and swung a slap at Li Yang's face.

Her secondary profession was artifact forging, so she cultivated both the sword and her body.

She held nothing back in that slap.

Had the original Qin Feng, at the fourth level of foundation establishment, taken that blow, he would have been severely crippled if he didn't die outright.

But Li Yang wouldn't let himself suffer even the slightest injustice.

He decisively gripped the spirit sword engraved with the character "Ye."

The instant he entered battle-

Clang!

Scarlet slaughter sword intent poured out wildly, and his entire aura became irresistibly sharp.

Even though Third Senior Sister was at the third level of golden core, Li Yang still dared to raise his sword and kill her!

Facing the incoming slap, Li Yang reacted with astonishing speed.

He thrust his sword tip toward it.

He had no other advantages, but his offensive power was absurdly strong.

This sword strike was enough to break through Third Senior Sister's physical defenses, pierce her palm, then stab into the space between her brows.

Third Senior Sister had developed killing intent. So had he.

Killing an enemy a major cultivation realm above oneself was impossible even for the protagonists of many novels and biographies.

But the killing intent Li Yang had accumulated through countless slaughters granted him this overwhelming offensive power.

He could already envision himself piercing Third Senior Sister's skull before her slap sent him flying with grave injuries.

Everything happened in a flash of lightning.

Third Senior Sister had merely struck in anger.

Li Yang, however, had already prepared to kill before he kicked Ye Zhiqiu.

Only-

"You two-ah!"

A commanding voice descended from above, its tone helpless.

Sect Master Ling Wujie abruptly appeared between them, neutralizing both attacks.

He knew Li Yang's temperament: he wouldn't tolerate the slightest injustice. That was why he had been watching all along.

If the real Qin Feng had possessed even half of Li Yang's ruthlessness and decisiveness, he would never have ended up like this. That love-addled brain of his was truly revolting.

"Outrageous! You're fellow disciples, senior sister and junior brother of the same peak, yet you're trying to kill each other here! What regard do you have for the sect's rules?!"

Still deeply indignant, Third Senior Sister hurried over to help Ye Zhiqiu up.

She stared at Li Yang with venom in her eyes.

"Master, all you ever do is favor Qin Feng. Is it because he's a member of the Qin Household? According to the sect's rules, he should still be punished for hurting Junior Brother!"

Ling Wujie sighed and shook his head.

Li Yang saw helplessness on his face.

"Qin Feng." Ling Wujie looked at Li Yang and patted his shoulder. "Don't go too far.

If you really want to fight, Li Yang of Crane-Cry Peak has sent out quite a few invitations to death matches. Quite a few people have accepted and come here.

But Li Yang is reportedly in seclusion. You can accept their challenges on his behalf."

Li Yang understood.

He cupped his fist in salute. "Your disciple obeys!"

Then he handed Ling Wujie the spirit sword engraved with the character "Ye."

"I used up all my resources during the Clan Battle. I don't even have a sword that suits my hand. Master, please reforge this for me.

After all, how can a sword cultivator without a sword be called a sword cultivator?"

Li Yang knew the sect master was a grade-five master artifact forger, so he promptly seized the chance to gain a little benefit.

Ling Wujie took it. An orange-red flame leaped forth, melting the spirit sword in an instant, and he began reforging it on the spot.

In just a quarter of an hour-

A brand-new spirit sword was placed in Li Yang's hand.

Grade two, with eight artifact markings!

After all, such top-tier materials were more than sufficient to forge a grade-four spirit sword.

Although its appearance was plain, nowhere near as exquisite as before, holding it directly ignited the flames of Li Yang's desire for slaughter.

"Thank you, Master. I'll be right back!"

Ling Wujie nodded. "After the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm in Immortal Relic Province closes, the sect will open the Sword Pellet Mini-World once. You can try again then."

Li Yang nodded deeply. "Understood."

Only after watching Li Yang leave did Third Senior Sister speak indignantly.

"Master, you're terribly biased. He treated Junior Brother Ye like that, yet you turned a blind eye. Not only did you refuse to punish him, you even gave him a treasure."

"I'm unfair?" Ling Wujie looked at her.

"Yes!" Third Senior Sister's voice rang with conviction. "He struck Junior Brother. I was going to teach him a lesson. You shouldn't have saved him!"

"Saved him?" Ling Wujie sighed. "I was saving you!"

With that, he took a step forward and disappeared.

"I'm at fault too. I've spoiled you too much... but you are the daughters of my departed friends, after all. I hope that boy can bring you to your senses.

The Ancient Immortal Secret Realm is fraught with danger this time. Your affected little junior brother cannot protect you. Only someone strong enough to slaughter enemies until their courage shatters can show you the cruel laws of the world beyond sheltering wings."

Meanwhile-

On Duel Sword Peak of the Mystic Heaven Sword Sect-

The place was already packed with people.

A group of prodigies from outside the sect were shouting.

"Where is Li Yang?!"

"You fool who doesn't know life from death! You killed our sect's prodigy, then dared to demand that I come fight you to the death!"

"Li Yang! You killed my junior brother! You'll repay that debt with your blood!"