Countless spectators had already gathered outside the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Seeing the master and his three disciples emerge, they all perked up and followed from far behind.
To their surprise, Ye Chen did not head straight for the Clear Void Sword Sect. Instead, he procured a huge plaque from somewhere.
Eight characters were written on it: Kunlun Holy Land, convincing others through reason!
Su Jian and Mu Yan carried it, one at either end.
Everyone looked utterly bewildered. What were this master and his three disciples up to?
Convincing others through reason?
Take a look at yourself. Do you even believe that?
You slap everyone to death, then claim you convince others through reason?
Like hell I believe you!
At first, they only dared to follow from five hundred li away, not daring to approach any closer. After all, everyone had witnessed Ye Chen's ferocity.
Later, some gradually grew bolder. When they approached within ten li and remained unharmed, more people followed their example, trailing behind Ye Chen and his three disciples in a vast, teeming crowd.
Mu Yan, who was tasked with carrying the plaque, felt somewhat embarrassed for some reason.
Su Jian, however, looked utterly earnest. He felt that his master was personally teaching him the guiding principle of the Kunlun Holy Land!
That was right. The Kunlun Holy Land convinced others through reason. They still believed in reason; they were not murderous fiends!
Ye Chen was in no hurry. He wanted the name of the Kunlun Holy Land to spread even further.
After more than half a day, they finally arrived above the Clear Void Sword Sect.
"Remember, we believe in reason. We don't casually smash through other people's sect gates, unless we can't help ourselves."
Ye Chen did not forget to turn back and instruct his three disciples.
All three nodded earnestly, feeling that they had learned a great deal more about life's philosophy from their master.
The Clear Void Sword Sect had already detected their arrival in advance. Thousands upon thousands of disciples gathered before the sect gates as though facing a formidable enemy.
More than a dozen figures with powerful presences flew high into the sky, facing Ye Chen and his three disciples from afar!
"Ancestors, they really came. How should we respond?"
The newly elected acting sect master nervously sought help from the three Tribulation Transcendence Realm ancestors beside him.
The three Tribulation Transcendence Realm ancestors did not answer immediately. Instead, they carefully examined Ye Chen's presence, trying to probe his true strength!
Vast Divine Sense swept over and landed on Ye Chen without any obstruction.
"Hm?"
One ancestor found it strange. That youth seemed to give off no fluctuations whatsoever, yet also seemed to have reached the Tribulation Transcendence Realm?
"He should be at the peak of the Mahayana Realm!"
Yet another ancestor gave a different answer.
"That can't be right. I detected that he should be at the peak of the Body Integration Realm, didn't I?"
The third ancestor was equally bewildered. Why had the three of them detected different fluctuations from the same person?
Who was right?
"There is indeed something strange about this boy! His cultivation is definitely not in the Body Integration Realm. Otherwise, how could he have slain so many Body Integration Realm experts in a single strike?"
"He is most likely at the peak of the Mahayana Realm, or even in the Tribulation Transcendence Realm!"
"As for our mistaken perceptions, he probably possesses some Secret Method or treasure that conceals his presence and misled us!"
The first ancestor earnestly offered the most reasonable analysis, earning the agreement of the other two ancestors.
As long as their opponent was not a True Immortal, things would be easy!
With the ancestors backing him, the acting sect master's confidence soared. He flew to the forefront to face Ye Chen and his disciples from afar.
"You brazen villains! You killed so many members of our sect, and not only did you refuse to flee, you actually dared to come knocking at our gates? I say your deaths are at hand!"
The acting sect master's resounding voice spread throughout heaven and earth. Wisps of sword intent emanated from his body, his imposing presence pressing down upon them!
Ye Chen smiled. "Your former sect master was domineering and far too arrogant. I'm sure many people disliked him. Eliminating him not only accorded with the people's wishes, but also prevented him from bringing an even greater calamity upon your sect in the future."
Hearing those words come from his mouth, everyone thought they had misheard.
He had clearly slapped the man to death.
Why did it sound as though he had been carrying out heaven's justice instead?
The entire Clear Void Sword Sect was even more furious, feeling that Ye Chen had humiliated them.
You've already killed him. How can you utter such high-sounding words?
The acting sect master's chest heaved violently, so exaggeratedly that it resembled a pair of bellows. The fury in his eyes was almost ready to erupt.
As though he saw none of it, Ye Chen continued reassuring them. "So you can rest easy. That one rat dropping won't spoil the whole pot of soup."
"We aren't unreasonable people. Though we've done you this great favor, we won't become arrogant over our contribution."
Those words left the people of the Clear Void Sword Sect so enraged that they nearly ground their back teeth to pieces!
The acting sect master could no longer control his own presence, trembling all over with rage.
"Today... none of you are leaving today!"
The acting sect master let out an earth-shaking roar, his violent presence finally bursting forth like an erupting volcano.
Such terrifying power left the great crowd of spectators following behind pale-faced and drenched in cold sweat.
Only Ye Chen remained smiling as he said amiably, "Hahaha, your sect truly is hospitable. Are you asking us to stay as guests?"
"That won't be necessary. I only came to collect a fee. Once I've collected it, I still have two other sects to visit."
Ye Chen's words left everyone bewildered.
Collect a fee?
What fee?
What was he talking about?
"We helped you clean house and preserved the Clear Void Sword Sect's good reputation. Shouldn't you pay us a fee? Do you people believe in reason or not?"
Ye Chen explained patiently.
It would have been better if he had not explained. The moment he finished speaking, the acting sect master's eyes bulged wide. He spat blood in his fury, his presence instantly weakening.
"You... you shameless scoundrel!"
The acting sect master pointed a trembling finger at Ye Chen and began to question his life.
All the spectators' jaws nearly hit the ground. They could hardly believe it. He actually wanted to charge a fee?
And he dressed it up as "cleaning house"?
How the fuck was any of this reasonable?
This was beyond absurd!
The disciples and elders throughout the Clear Void Sword Sect were so furious their hair stood on end. They drew their treasured swords one after another, declaring that they would fight Ye Chen to the death!
One of the ancestors could no longer endure it either. He immediately appeared high in the sky, his expression dreadfully dark.
"Brat, you killed members of our Clear Void Sword Sect, and now you've come to humiliate us? Today, I will take your life!"
This ancestor had a fiery temper. The full power of his Tribulation Transcendence Realm cultivation erupted directly from his body, enveloping all of heaven and earth.
Countless people were forced downward by that oppressive might, utterly unable to remain in the sky!
Even the sect master of the Treasure-Gathering Heavenly Sect, the pavilion master of the Vast Righteousness Pavilion, and the sect master of the Shadow Moon Sect, who were hiding in the distant void to watch the spectacle, turned pale, their eyes filled with fear!
"It's Ancestor Xuanjian! He's Ancestor Xuanjian! I knew he couldn't be dead yet!"
"What terrifying power! Could he have already reached the True Immortal realm?"
"This is the Clear Void Sword Sect's hidden foundation! This Kunlun Holy Land will have a hard time extricating itself now!"
After recognizing that the old man was actually the powerful sword cultivator whose fame had shaken the Falling Moon Region ten thousand years ago, the three sect leaders watching the spectacle could not help crying out.