16: Chapter 16 Old man, you've overreached.

Boom—!

But he couldn't wait, and Mo Yuanshan could wait even less.

"Abomination!"

A thunderous roar exploded like a clap of thunder, causing the signal flags around the martial arts arena to snap in the wind.

At the highest point of the viewing stand, a sandalwood table instantly turned into powder.

A terrifying Aura, capable of crushing steel, smashed down from the sky.

Half-step Divine Sea Realm.

The bluestone slab beneath Ye Feng's feet didn't even have time to crack before it disintegrated into fine stone powder.

His kneecaps emitted an unbearable creaking sound, his once straight spine was suddenly bent by this invisible, immense force, and fine beads of blood instantly seeped from every pore on his body.

This was the inner Sect Grand Elder.

"Slaughtering fellow Disciples, using ruthless methods, and even hiding a Demonic Technique that devours blood essence!"

Mo Yuanshan stepped through the air, his originally cloudy old eyes now filled with greedy Killing Intent, staring fixedly at Ye Feng's tightly clenched right hand. "This child has entered the Demonic Path and cannot be kept! Today, I will purge the Sect!"

Before his voice had faded, his withered fingers formed a claw, reaching through the air toward Ye Feng's crown.

The air was torn apart by violent spiritual power, emitting sharp, explosive sounds.

An invisible giant claw condensed above Ye Feng's head, each finger wreathed in suffocating black gale.

He couldn't dodge.

The gap in Realm was too great; even moving a pinky finger had become a luxury.

Ye Feng gritted his teeth, his ears buzzing, and two lines of blood trickled down from his ear canals.

Purge the Sect?

Bullshit.

He just coveted that earth fire sword core, or perhaps he feared the Shen family would hold him accountable later and wanted to silence him.

Seeing that lethal claw about to pierce his brain.

A gentle yet resilient cyan sleeve wind intervened, effortlessly dispelling the murderous giant claw into nothingness.

"Junior Brother, you've gone too far."

The Sect Master, Qing Yangzi, had appeared on the Life and Death Stage at some point.

He stood with his hands behind his back, his Daoist robe spotless, his gaze toward Ye Feng devoid of sorrow or joy, as if looking at a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Saved?

The chill in Ye Feng's heart only grew colder.

Qing Yangzi did not look at his wounds, his gaze passing over his shoulder and landing straight on his right hand clutching the sword core.

"Shen Lang's skills were inferior, so he died."

Qing Yangzi's tone was flat, as if it wasn't the outer Sect's number one Genius who had died, but a stray dog. "However, this earth fire sword core is a rare treasure of heaven and earth. You are merely a Servant, your destiny is too thin, and you cannot suppress such a vicious object."

"Hand it over."

Qing Yangzi extended a fair palm, his tone brooking no argument. "Furthermore, the Cultivation Technique you used today is too strange. Come with me to the inner Sect's 'Marrow Cleansing Pool.' I, the Sect Master, will personally perform a soul search to investigate you. If there is no Devilish Qi, I will naturally clear your name."

Soul search?

A mocking curve tugged at the corner of Ye Feng's mouth.

A soul search would inevitably destroy the Sea of Consciousness, turning him into an idiot, and naturally, he would then be "innocent."

This is a righteous Sect.

This is a Sect Master.

One robs openly, the other steals in secret; their behavior is disgustingly ugly.

If he handed it over, he would be fish on the chopping block; if he didn't, his death was imminent.

Either way, it was death.

A look of madness suddenly exploded in Ye Feng's eyes.

Since you want it, I'll give you a show!

Under the gaze of the two Divine Sea Realm powerhouses, Ye Feng, bearing the pressure that threatened to crush his bones, suddenly raised his hand.

He did not hand the sword core to Qing Yangzi.

Instead, with lightning speed, he shoved it into his own mouth!

Crunch!

His teeth clamped down hard, and the crystal, hard as iron and searing like magma, was actually crushed by him.

"How dare you!"

"Stop!"

Mo Yuanshan and Qing Yangzi both changed color, wanting to stop him but already too late.

Gulp.

The fragments, mixed with blood, were swallowed into his abdomen.

A terrifying high temperature instantly erupted.

Ye Feng felt as if he had swallowed an entire volcano.

His throat was instantly scorched, his vocal cords carbonized by the high temperature, and his esophagus burned with a trail of char.

The excruciating pain completely twisted his features, but in that moment, he stared fixedly at the two high and mighty figures before him.

Because his throat was destroyed, he could not make a sound.

But he raised his blood-stained right hand, extended his thumb, and slowly made a slicing motion across his throat.

Old bastard.

As long as I don't die, sooner or later, I will kill you all.

"You reckless thing! Is that something you can digest? Spit it out!"

Mo Yuanshan trembled with rage; that was a supreme treasure he had reserved for his grandson's Breakthrough, and it had actually been chewed up by this Trash in public!

If he couldn't have it, he would refine him into a pill!

No longer caring that the Sect Master was at his side, Mo Yuanshan's sleeves billowed, and he struck out with a palm carrying the momentum to destroy heaven and earth, once again blasting toward Ye Feng's chest.

Just at this moment.

A black light shot out from the most inconspicuous corner of the shadows in the viewing stand.

The speed was so fast that even Qing Yangzi only saw an afterimage.

The black light arrived first despite starting later, flying past Mo Yuanshan's palm and embedding itself deep into the stone pillar half an inch in front of him.

It sank three inches into the stone, with only half left exposed.

It was a token made of unknown material, entirely black, with only two ancient seal script characters carved on it—Tongtian.

Mo Yuanshan's palm force stopped abruptly in mid-air, a layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

If that strike had been off by half an inch, it wouldn't have pierced the stone pillar, but his wrist.

"Tongtian Token..."

Qing Yangzi's pupils shrank, and he instinctively glanced at the empty corner, his expression turning extremely ugly.

That crazy old man isn't dead yet? And he's still paying attention to this Servant?

The scene fell into a deathly silence.

After a long time, Qing Yangzi took a deep breath and withdrew his aggressive posture.

"Since there is this token as a guarantee..."

He gave a deep look at Ye Feng, who was kneeling on the ground in pain and smoking all over. "Three days from now, the final battle of the inner Sect Grand Competition; you are permitted to participate."

After speaking, he turned to look at Mo Yuanshan, his tone meaningful:

"Grand Elder, take him to the Marrow Cleansing Pool to 'treat his injuries.' Since he is to participate in the Grand Competition, as a Sect, we naturally must help the Disciple to properly 'cleanse his essence and marrow,' lest that Devilish Qi ruin his Foundation."

Mo Yuanshan paused for a moment, then immediately grasped the underlying meaning, his originally livid face instantly turning into a sinister grin.

"Sect Master, rest assured, I will definitely... treat him... very, very, well."

Two Law Enforcement Disciples stepped forward and, like dragging a dead dog, hoisted the half-conscious Ye Feng and walked toward the depths of the inner Sect.

The stone steps leading to the Marrow Cleansing Pool were dark and damp, and the air was filled with a sickly sweet, strange smell.

Mo Yuanshan walked in the lead, quietly flicking a wisp of grayish-white powder from his fingertip, which dissolved into the pool water bubbling with green froth ahead.

That was "Bone Melting Powder," which could soften even the bones of a Yao Beast.

"Kid, once you enter this pool, even a true Dragon has to coil up for me."

Mo Yuanshan looked back at the unconscious Ye Feng, a cruel curve tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Enjoy these last three days."