22: Chapter 22 The Ancestor Stops It

The voice was not deafening, yet it carried a strange power of penetration.

It instantly drowned out all sounds in the valley, even causing Lu Guan's rising spiritual power to falter.

The four of them, including Ye Xiaoyao who was preparing to fight to the death,

All of them shuddered and looked up in horror.

They saw a figure quietly hovering in the air above the valley, about ten zhang high, though no one knew when she had appeared.

"Openly violating the Sect rules, engaging in private fights within the Sect, and even bullying the few with many, the weak with the strong..."

"Do you all think the Law Enforcement Hall does not exist?"

Another sharp rebuke sounded like a sudden clap of thunder.

Following closely behind was an overwhelming Spiritual Pressure, heavy as a collapsing mountain, which descended with a roar!

This pressure was not a simple Aura suppression, but a tangible restraining force field formed by spiritual power refined to the extreme.

Ye Xiaoyao felt the air around him instantly solidify; he was like a small insect suddenly embedded in amber, and even lifting a finger became incredibly difficult.

An invisible, immense force squeezed in from all directions, trying to press him to the ground in worship.

"Thump!"

"Thump!"

Two muffled sounds rang out almost simultaneously.

Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks, who had the weakest cultivation, could not hold on for even a single breath.

Their faces turned deathly pale, their knees buckled, and they fell heavily to the ground like two rotten wooden stakes. Cold sweat instantly beaded on their foreheads, their bodies trembled like sieves, and they did not even dare to gasp for breath.

Relying on his Qi Refining ninth level cultivation, which was close to Perfection, Lu Guan let out a muffled groan, his internal spiritual power spinning wildly as he tried to resist.

The muscles in his legs bulged, his veins protruded, and he forced himself to keep his back straight, not kneeling immediately.

That Spiritual Pressure was like layers of ocean waves, one higher than the next, ceaseless.

After just one breath, the color drained from his face, and a barely audible "crack" sounded—it seemed to be his kneecap groaning under the unbearable pressure.

He could no longer hold on, and with a "thump," his knees slammed into the ground, kicking up a little dust. His head hung low, his eyes filled with horror and humiliation.

Ye Xiaoyao's experience was the most peculiar.

The moment the Spiritual Pressure descended, he also felt his breathing stop, his limbs feeling as if they were filled with molten lead.

Even so, just as he was about to be crushed and forced to his knees, the sleeping warm current deep within his Dantian seemed to be awakened by the external pressure, suddenly accelerating its flow.

A gentle yet exceptionally tenacious power radiated from within to without.

It was as if an invisible dam had been built within his body, neutralizing a significant portion of that terrifying Spiritual Pressure.

His legs trembled violently, his kneecaps made creaking sounds under the unbearable weight, and his spine felt as if it were about to be bent.

But he gritted his teeth, relying on that mysterious power from deep within his body and a stubborn, unyielding ruthlessness, to endure the initial—and most intense—wave of pressure.

He knelt on one knee, the other knee hovering in mid-air, trembling violently, not fully touching the ground!

He maintained this posture for about a breath, until the Spiritual Pressure fluctuated slightly, seemingly noticing his peculiar resistance and intensifying slightly.

Only then could he no longer hold on, and his other leg crashed to the ground, shifting into a kneeling posture.

But his back still strove to remain straight; he did not prostrate himself completely like Lu Guan.

All of this happened in a flash.

Immediately following that, a red shadow drifted down gracefully.

A tall, graceful figure, as if merged with the breeze, descended slowly from the air over ten zhang high, landing lightly in the center of the valley.

She landed exactly between Ye Xiaoyao and the three kneeling figures of Lu Guan.

The newcomer wore a red robe, as bright as fire, yet it did not look vulgar at all; instead, it set off her skin, which was as white as frost and snow.

Her stature was very tall, with perfect proportions, and a pair of straight, slender, beautiful legs appeared and disappeared amidst the swaying red skirt, outlining breathtaking curves.

Her waist was slender enough to be encircled, and above that were proud, undulating peaks.

Her appearance was extremely beautiful; unlike the bright and charming beauty of Cao Sini, or the cold and deep detachment of the Saintess, she possessed a unique bearing that blended Immortal Qi with heroism.

Her waterfall-like dark hair was tied high into a neat ponytail with a red ribbon, swaying lightly with the wind, adding a touch of valiant spirit.

On her feet were a pair of exquisite embroidered shoes, untainted by even a speck of dust.

She just stood there quietly, with no earth-shattering spiritual light flashing around her, but that invisible Aura, stemming from a higher level of life and vast cultivation,

Had already made the air in this valley seem to stagnate, becoming filled with reverence.

The Red-robed Female Cultivator swept her indifferent gaze over the four kneeling figures, like a Heavenly Immortal looking down upon ants.

Then, her mind stirred slightly.

The terrifying Spiritual Pressure that had shrouded the valley retreated quietly like the tide, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

With the pressure suddenly gone, Ye Xiaoyao and Lu Guan both took a deep breath almost simultaneously, feeling as if they had come back to life.

The two quickly exchanged a glance, both seeing unparalleled shock and realization in each other's eyes.

A Foundation Establishment Cultivator could never possess such Spiritual Pressure that was handled with such ease, yet was as vast as an abyss!

"Core Formation Stage True Person!"

This thought exploded in their minds like a thunderclap.

Without any hesitation, the moment Ye Xiaoyao and Lu Guan straightened their backs, they bowed again, performing a respectful grand salute toward the Red-robed Female Cultivator.

Their voices trembled slightly from the lingering terror:

"This Junior pays respects to Grandmaster!"

Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks were a beat slower; only now did they recover slightly from their state of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering. They scrambled to adjust their postures, following their leader, and stammered, "Pa... pays respects to Grandmaster!"

The Red-robed Female Cultivator's expression was indifferent, as if she had only handled a trivial matter. Her red lips parted slightly, her voice clear and resonant: "All of you, rise."

"Thank you, Grandmaster!"

The four of them felt as if they had been granted amnesty, and only then dared to stand up cautiously. However, they remained hunched over, heads bowed, not daring to look directly at her, waiting quietly for her judgment.

The valley was dead silent, with only the rustling of wind through the leaves.

"Within the Sect, private fights are strictly prohibited. You few certainly have guts."

The Red-robed Female Cultivator's voice betrayed no joy or anger, yet it made cold sweat break out on Lu Guan and the others again.

"Considering this is your first offense and no dire consequences have occurred, I will let you off with a minor punishment as a warning this time. If there is a next time, I will certainly not be lenient, and you will be sent to the Law Enforcement Hall for severe punishment."

Hearing this, a heavy stone in the hearts of Lu Guan, Sharp Mouth, and Monkey Cheeks fell.

They nodded like pounding garlic, hurriedly promising, "We Disciples know our wrong! We will never dare to offend again! Thank you, Grandmaster, for your magnanimity!"

The Red-robed Female Cultivator no longer looked at them, turning her gaze to Ye Xiaoyao, who was still bowing. She paused for a moment before saying indifferently:

"You three, why are you still standing here? Are you waiting for me to invite you to the Law Enforcement Hall for tea?"

"We dare not! This Disciple will get out now! We will get out now!"

Lu Guan was so scared he shuddered, no longer caring about any demeanor or face, and turned to run.

His steps were unsteady, and he almost tripped over a stone on the ground.

Sharp Mouth and Monkey Cheeks were even more terrified, scrambling to their feet using both hands and feet, chasing after Lu Guan's retreating figure while wailing and crying for their parents.

They scrambled and stumbled until they disappeared at the end of the dense mountain forest path.

Their disheveled and pathetic appearance was a far cry from the arrogance and ruthlessness they had shown just moments before.