This handsome young Daoist, who called himself "Little Dao," was one of the standouts among Highspring Valley Sect’s second-generation disciples. His cultivation had already reached the Innate Eighth Layer. Even though Logan Long was at the Innate Ninth Layer, this Daoist was brimming with confidence.
“Absolutely not!”
The Long Family Patriarch shouted. If not for the previous duel, he might have let Logan Long take the stage, but now there was no way he could allow it. Against the Immortal-Dao Alliance’s magic treasures, Logan Long’s life would be at serious risk.
Logan Long, on the other hand, looked eager to try. Since switching to cultivate the Origin-Nurturing Scripture, the true essence in his body was several times more refined than that of an ordinary martial artist at the same realm.
Even though he had only recently broken through to the Innate Ninth Layer, he was confident that typical Innate Ninth Layer cultivators were no match for him.
“What’s this, Long Family Patriarch—do you look down on our Immortal-Dao Alliance?”
Master Qingyan spoke again, his tone openly hostile.
“I do look down on you!” Just then, a calm voice rang out. Ian Song strolled forward at a leisurely pace, his gaze sweeping over the Immortal-Dao Alliance, eyes full of disdain. “Looks like I didn’t beat you hard enough last time—you still dare to show your faces here!”
At the sight of Ian Song, the Immortal-Dao cultivators all wore expressions of venomous hatred. Hearing his insulting words, every one of them glared at him in rage.
The next moment, Master Qingyan stepped forward and barked coldly, “Ian Song, you brazen thief! The Immortal-Dao Alliance is not what it once was. If you know what’s good for you, cripple your cultivation and come back with us to face punishment—or else, not just you, but your family will suffer the consequences!”
Ian Song didn’t take the threat to heart at all. He replied indifferently, “Are you done? If you’re finished, get lost. Hanging around here is just an eyesore.”
“How dare you! You insult our sect master—prepare to die!”
The handsome young Daoist let out a cold shout and spat out a silver flying sword.
The flying sword shot toward Ian Song’s brow like a bolt of lightning.
Clang!
Just then, Ian Song suddenly raised his right hand and flicked his finger. The silver flying sword, about to pierce his brow, shattered inch by inch into dozens of fragments, which clattered to the ground.
Spurt!
With his life-bound flying sword destroyed, the young Daoist’s face changed dramatically. He spat out a mouthful of blood, staring at Ian Song in disbelief. “No, impossible! That flying sword was personally refined by my Grand-Master, its quality nearly that of a fifth-grade treasure. How could it be destroyed so easily?”
“Idiot!”
Ian Song rolled his eyes, then slapped the Daoist, sending him flying straight out of the banquet hall.
“Heavens, was that silver streak just now really a flying sword?”
Not far away, Faye Shangguan stared in awe, while Cynthia Murong was also utterly shocked. She felt as if she’d stepped into a mysterious new world.
“You little punk, you’ve gone too far! Die!”
Master Qingyan slapped a talisman onto his chest. Instantly, a thin layer of golden light enveloped him, runes flickering within it, looking profoundly mystical.
This talisman was personally drawn by his master, Master Mingxiang. Once activated, it formed protective golden light that could last for half an hour—supposedly strong enough that even a late-Foundation cultivator would struggle to break it.
With that shield in place, Master Qingyan’s confidence soared. A cyan longsword appeared in his grip, and he strode forward, slashing straight at Ian Song.
“Scram!”
Ian Song slapped out again, sending Master Qingyan flying out of the banquet hall just like before. The protective golden light around him shattered layer by layer, dissolving into sparks that vanished into the air.
Master Qingyan staggered to his feet, coughing up blood with a gasp. He stared at Ian in horror. “How… how did you do that?”
That shield was supposed to withstand a full-power strike from a late-Foundation cultivator. How could it be broken so easily?
Ian couldn’t be bothered to answer. His gaze swept over the remaining Immortal Gate crowd. In a cold voice, he said, “Abolish your own cultivation and you’ll live. Otherwise, you die.”
The Immortal Gate crowd was shocked and furious at his words.
After a long pause, a sect master stepped forward. “Ian Song, don’t go too far. I’ll tell you the truth: our Immortal Gate has already birthed a Golden Core Zhenren. If you apologize to us now, you might have a sliver of hope!”
“Noisy!”
A flash of impatience crossed Ian’s eyes, and he slapped out again.
“Pfft!”
The sect master’s body exploded into a cloud of blood, spraying across the hall.
“Sect Master!”
Several Immortal Gate disciples cried out in grief.
“Ian Song, you bastard! I’ll fight you to the end!”
With that, several disciples unleashed their magic tools and charged at him.
“Scram!”
Ian waved his hand, and the disciples—along with their magic tools—were instantly reduced to fragments.
Seeing this, the remaining Immortal Gate members were stunned into silence, their eyes filled with deep fear as they looked at Ian. He was just too ruthless—even sect master–level experts had been killed with a single slap. Even if they all attacked together, they wouldn’t stand a chance.
“Abolish your own cultivation or die. I’ll give you ten seconds!”
Ian spoke again.
At his words, the remaining disciples turned pale, completely at a loss for what to do.
After three breaths, an Innate Ninth-Layer disciple stepped forward. “Ian Song, as the saying goes, ‘leave a little leeway for future encounters.’ Must you really drive us all to extinction?”
“You’re not even qualified for my mercy!” Ian sneered.
“...You…!” The disciple’s face flushed red with anger, but he was helpless.
“Time’s up. What’s your choice?” Ian stared coldly at the remaining disciples.
Just then—
With a thud, one disciple dropped to his knees. “Senior Ian, I know I was wrong! Please spare me! I swear, if you let me live, I’ll never step outside the Immortal Gate again!”
“You still want to return to the Immortal Gate? From today on, it has no reason to exist!” Ian shook his head lightly.
“You little brat, you’ve got a big mouth! Do you really think our Immortal Gate is made of clay?”
At that moment, a young man in a green Daoist robe appeared outside the banquet hall. His entire body radiated an overwhelming aura that made everyone inside feel a primal fear.
“Quit posturing and get over here!”
Suddenly, Ian snapped, reached out, and the young Daoist was yanked through the air, neck landing in Ian’s grip.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Ian slapped him several times across the face.
Each slap not only made his cheeks swell, but also shattered his imposing aura.
“How… how is this possible?”
Seeing this, Master Qingyan and the remaining Immortal Gate disciples were all petrified. That young man in green was none other than Master Mingxiang, the Immortal Gate’s newly advanced Golden Core Zhenren.
How could a dignified Golden Core Zhenren be slapped around by Ian Song with no power to resist?