119: Chapter 119 Seizing the Sect Master, Battle Returns to Truth! (4k)

The atmosphere inside the Heavenly Sound Hall was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.

The gazes of everyone present converged like solid beams upon the white-clad figure standing at the center of the great hall.

Some of those gazes held undisguised anticipation, eager to see how this former Prodigy of the Demonic Sect would fall from grace.

Some were filled with contempt, as if looking at a stray dog with nowhere to go.

Most, however, held mockery and amusement.

The Demonic Sect was a place where the strong preyed on the weak. Stepping on the head of a former Genius to climb higher was the most thrilling spectacle here.

Li Feng stood to the side, a cold sneer curling the corner of his mouth.

He stood with his arms crossed, looking down at Chen Ran.

"Junior Brother Que, why so silent?"

"Could it be you were scared witless in the capital, to the point you've forgotten how to speak?"

Li Feng's voice echoed through the hall, carrying undisguised ridicule.

"If you truly can't present any decent achievements, this Senior Brother could plead with the Elders on your behalf."

"After all, the fact you managed to crawl back to the Sect alive could be considered a 'miraculous feat' in itself."

As soon as these words were spoken, a low wave of snickering laughter rippled through the hall.

Luo Chuan chimed in with a sinister tone, "Senior Brother Li, you are mistaken."

"Our Demon Sound Sect does not keep idle people."

"If Junior Brother Que has truly become a cripple, he might as well go teach in the outer Sect. That would still be a contribution to the Sect."

Bai Peilin covered her mouth with a light, tinkling laugh, her eyes seductive and curved like silk threads.

"Why must you two Senior Brothers be so harsh?"

"Junior Brother Que is so handsome. If he truly has nowhere to go, why not come to Senior Sister's room? I will surely take good care of you."

The mockery from the three True Disciples stabbed towards the man at the center like sharp knives.

The surrounding Disciples whispered to each other even more, pointing and gossiping.

Jin Tianli, standing behind Chen Ran, had an expression as ugly as it could get.

He clenched his fists so tightly the veins bulged on the back of his hands.

But he knew now was absolutely not the time to act out.

Circumstances were stronger than any individual.

Li Feng was currently at the peak of his power, backed by the Grand Elder.

Que Wuhua's failure in his mission had already cost him the qualification to compete for the position of Young Sect Master.

If conflict erupted now, they would be the ones to suffer.

Jin Tianli took a deep breath, lowered his voice, and spoke quickly into Chen Ran's ear:

"Young Lord, endure for now, and the wind and waves will calm."

"As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood to burn."

"Your talent is still there. As long as you focus on Cultivating, there will surely be a chance for you to rise again."

Jin Tianli's tone held a note of earnestness.

"This time, let them have the position of Young Sect Master."

"When the Sect Master emerges from seclusion, remembering your past contributions and talent, he will surely give you some compensation."

"You must not act impulsively at a time like this!"

Jin Tianli pleaded with heartfelt sincerity.

In his view, even though Que Wuhua had recovered his cultivation, facing the current situation, he was powerless to turn the tide.

Taking a step back was the wisest choice.

However.

Chen Ran seemed not to have heard Jin Tianli's words at all.

He stood quietly in place, his gaze sweeping over Li Feng, Luo Chuan, Bai Peilin, and finally settling on the few Inner Sect Elders seated on the high platform.

He stood where he was, leisurely stretching his neck.

His joints emitted crisp cracking sounds.

He patted the dust from his sleeves, his gaze sweeping over Li Feng and Luo Chuan before finally stopping on the few Inner Sect Elders on the high platform.

The snickering laughter in the great hall gradually died down.

The atmosphere grew somewhat strange. Those Disciples who had been mocking moments ago inexplicably felt a chill run down their spines.

Chen Ran finally spoke.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"I truly have no interest in this position of Young Sect Master."

Li Feng's hand, which had been gripping his sword hilt, loosened slightly. A cold snort escaped his nostrils.

Jin Tianli let out a long, heavy sigh of relief. *It seems the Young Lord knows what's good for him. At least he's saved his own life.*

But Chen Ran's next words caused the very sound of breathing to halt within the entire hall.

"However..."

Chen Ran lifted his head, looking at the empty black throne.

"Since this Sect Leader's seat is vacant..."

"Why not hand it over to me to sit in? How about that?"

The hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Jin Tianli's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees right there.

What had he just heard?

The Young Lord said... he wanted to be Sect Leader?!

Madness.

Utter madness.

After a brief moment of silence, the hall erupted like a boiling pot.

"Has water gotten into his brain?!"

"Daring to covet the Sect Master's position, he's tired of living!"

Upon the high platform.

The Grand Elder slammed his hand down on the armrest of his chair and shot to his feet.

The solid wood, intricately carved armrest instantly exploded into splinters, flying in all directions.

A terrifying pressure, like a tangible mudslide, crashed down upon Chen Ran.

"How dare you!"

The Grand Elder roared, the sound shaking dust loose from the ceiling of the hall.

"Que Wuhua, do you have any idea what kind of dogshit you're spouting?!"

"You failed your mission and show no remorse, yet you dare to spout such arrogant nonsense!"

"Do you truly think this old man wouldn't dare to cut you down where you stand?!"

A violent surge of killing intent erupted in the Grand Elder's eyes.

He was a supporter of Li Feng's faction to begin with, and had been searching for an excuse to eliminate Que Wuhua. Now, this brat had stretched his own neck out for the chopping block.

Even if he killed the boy on the spot today, the Sect Master would find no fault with it when he emerged from seclusion.

The heavy pressure descended.

The surrounding Disciples, unable to withstand it, retreated with pale faces. A few with weaker cultivation directly fell onto their backsides.

Jin Tianli felt as if a massive boulder were pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. He closed his eyes in despair.

*It's over.*

*All is lost.*

Yet Chen Ran, at the very center of the pressure, remained calm and composed.

He looked at the furious Grand Elder, his tone flat:

"I want this Sect Leader's seat."

"Are you deaf?"

Before the words had fully faded.

The blue stone tiles beneath Chen Ran's feet exploded.

*Boom!*

His body became a blur, a streak of afterimages as he forcefully pushed through the pressure, shattering the air itself.

A dull sonic boom resonated through the hall.

The Grand Elder didn't even have time to draw the weapon at his waist.

Chen Ran was already before him, raising his right hand, fingers spread like iron-forged steel claws, grabbing straight for the Grand Elder's face.

The Grand Elder roared, a dazzling Protective Aura erupting from the surface of his body.

The Protective Aura was as thick as a wall, gleaming with a metallic luster.

But the moment that hand grabbed onto the Protective Aura...

*CRACK!*

A sound that set teeth on edge rang out.

That layer of proudly displayed Protective Aura, in the face of pure, raw power, didn't even last half a breath before it was directly and brutally crushed.

Chen Ran's fingers met no further resistance as they clamped onto the Grand Elder's skull.

Then.

The muscles in his arm tensed violently, veins bulging.

He pressed the Grand Elder's head and smashed it down towards the ground.

*BOOM!*

The entire Heavenly Sound Hall shook violently.

The hard blue stone floor was smashed into a crater half a meter deep.

The Grand Elder's head exploded at the bottom of the crater like an overripe watermelon.

Red and white matter splattered everywhere, even staining the shoes of the nearby Elders.

Not even a scream was uttered.

The only sound left in the hall was heavy, ragged breathing.

Everyone stood frozen in place, their eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.

The Grand Elder of the prestigious Demon Sound Sect, a figure who commanded the wind and rain in the outside world.

Dead? Just like that?

Everyone was shocked by this scene, rubbing their eyes to confirm it wasn't an illusion.

Jin Tianli stared blankly at the white-clothed youth standing at the edge of the blood pool, his mind a complete blank.

Was this still the Young Lord he knew?

Chen Ran slowly straightened up.

He flicked the blood off his hand, not even glancing at the headless corpse in the crater.

"Too weak."

Three simple, flat words hammered against everyone's eardrums.

Only then did the crowd snap out of their stupor. Li Feng bit the tip of his tongue hard, the sharp pain forcing him to sober up.

He knew that if he didn't kill Que Wuhua today, he would be the one to die.

"Traitor!"

Li Feng drew his long blade, pointing it at Chen Ran as he shrieked.

"Que Wuhua has gone mad!"

"He ambushed and killed the Grand Elder! He intends to rebel!"

"All Elders, attack together and kill him! We absolutely cannot let him leave the Heavenly Sound Hall alive!"

The other seven Inner Sect Elders on the high platform finally jolted awake from their stupor.

The Grand Elder's head had been publicly smashed. This was rubbing the face of the Demon Sound Sect in the dirt.

"Kill him."

The seven Elders roared in unison.

Seven powerful auras shot into the sky.

Frenzied True Qi rampaged through the hall, grinding tables and chairs into wooden splinters that flew everywhere.

The seven figures pounced towards Chen Ran from different directions.

Blade lights, sword shadows, palm winds.

A sky-blotting, earth-covering onslaught of attacks sealed off all of Chen Ran's possible escape routes.

Facing the siege of seven.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

A series of deafening metallic clashes rang out within the hall.

The long blade that struck his shoulder directly snapped into two pieces. The broken blade spun away and embedded itself in a pillar.

The sharp sword thrust at his chest bent into an exaggerated arc before shattering inch by inch.

This person was actually withstanding the attacks head-on, looking completely unscathed.

The faces of the seven Elders were filled with horror. Their hands gripping their weapons were shaking, the webbing between thumb and forefinger split open, blood flowing freely.

*What kind of monster's Physical Body is this?!*

But Chen Ran gave them no time to think.

He raised his arm, clenching his fingers into a fist.

Power surged from his waist, his spine like a fully drawn great bow, driving his arm in a mighty swing.

*BOOM!*

The air was blasted apart by pure force, emitting a deafening roar.

Chen Ran's fist landed solidly on the chest of the Third-Rank Elder who had charged ahead first.

*Thump!*

That Elder's chest caved in on the spot, his back bulging outwards violently.

The man flew backwards as if struck head-on by a battering ram, at a speed ten times faster than his charge, smashing through three stone pillars before coming to a stop.

Chen Ran's movements didn't pause.

He took a step forward, his figure like a rampaging Vicious Beast, crashing into the group.

One punch.

One palm.

One whip-like kick.

*BOOM!*

He was like a wolf among sheep. In just a few breaths...

The seven figures slammed heavily against the coiling dragon pillars and walls, sliding down, all severely injured.

Li Feng, who had been charging last, saw the situation turning bad and tried to retreat.

Chen Ran casually picked up a broken sword fragment from the ground and flicked it with his finger.

The broken sword transformed into a streak of light, directly piercing through Li Feng's thigh and nailing him firmly to the wall.

"AHHH—"

Li Feng let out a shrill, agonized scream, his hands clawing desperately at the broken sword in his thigh. Blood flowed down the wall.

Within the hall, not a sound could be heard.

Those Disciples who had originally wanted to watch the spectacle now all huddled in corners, their legs trembling, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Jin Tianli was drenched in cold sweat, his clothes clinging tightly to his back.

He looked at the white-clothed youth in the center of the hall.

*This is not Que Wuhua!*

No matter how much of a Genius Que Wuhua was, he could never have possessed such monstrous strength!

Right at that moment.

From a distant mountain peak, a deafening roar suddenly erupted.

An immense, sinisterly cold Devilish Qi shot into the sky.

The clouds above the Heavenly Sound Hall were dyed ink-black, as if doomsday had arrived.

"Who dares to run wild in my Demon Sound Sect!"

A hoarse, majestic voice, like rolling thunder, came from afar.

A black figure tore through the sky and landed with a crash outside the Heavenly Sound Hall.

A violent gust of air swept in, forcing everyone to squint.

The newcomer wore wide black robes, his hair and beard white, his face covered in wrinkles.

Thick, black Devilish Qi swirled around him, seemingly devouring even the surrounding light.

The Sect Master of the Demon Sound Sect, Fang Tianxing!

Seeing Fang Tianxing appear, the remaining Disciples in the hall seemed to have grasped a lifeline.

"Sect Master!"

"Sect Master, save us!"

Li Feng, nailed to the wall, shrieked miserably, "Sect Master! Que Wuhua has gone mad! He killed the Grand Elder! He wants to rebel!"

Fang Tianxing paid no heed to the cries of the crowd.

His sharp gaze locked firmly onto Chen Ran standing in the center of the hall.

His perception was extremely acute.

From this white-clothed youth before him, he could sense a suffocating pressure.

Fang Tianxing's brows furrowed tightly as he barked sharply:

"You are not Que Wuhua!"

"Who are you, truly?"

Chen Ran looked at Fang Tianxing but did not answer.

He raised his hand. The muscles on his face shifted and changed, finally turning into a thin layer of skin, which he casually tossed to the ground.

It revealed his originally handsome, cold, and stern features. Chen Ran looked at the old man and chuckled softly:

"A Return to Truth Realm Martial Artist, and wounded at that... Perfect to test my strength..."

As his words fell.

Chen Ran pushed off powerfully with his feet.

*BOOM!*

The blue stone ground within a three-zhang radius of where he stood instantly turned to powder.

Chen Ran's body shot forward like a cannonball, covering dozens of meters in the blink of an eye, appearing right before Fang Tianxing.

Fang Tianxing's expression changed drastically.

*What incredible speed!*

"Seeking death!"

Fang Tianxing roared, unleashing the True Qi within his body without reservation.

Thick, black Devilish Qi condensed before him, forming a heavy black shield.

Demon Sound True Art·Heavenly Demon Shield!

The strongest defense of the Demon Sound Sect.

Chen Ran's expression remained impassive. He spread his fingers, the muscles on his arm bulging as he thrust out a palm.

[Cloud-Turning Palm]!

The surrounding air seemed to be pulled, continuously converging towards a central point.

Finally, a massive palm imprint, roughly five zhang wide, materialized ahead.

*Thump!*

The palm imprint collided with the demonic shield.

The Heavenly Demon Shield, reputed to be indestructible, upon contact, was like a piece of fragile, thin ice.

With a *crack*, it exploded into pieces.

The palm imprint, its power undiminished, smashed heavily into Fang Tianxing's chest.

*BOOM!*

Fang Tianxing's figure was sent flying backwards, thrown dozens of zhang away, carving an extremely deep trench in the ground.

His body finally slammed through the great hall with a *smack*, crashing into the mountainside, and fell silent.

The area fell deathly silent, even the sound of breathing vanished.

A terrifying pressure enveloped the entire main hall, pressing down on everyone until they could barely breathe.

They turned their gazes towards the massive breach in the hall's wall, taking a long moment to process what had happened.

Fang Tianxing, Sect Master of the Demon Sound Sect, a mighty existence of the Third-Rank Return to Truth Realm.

At this moment, he had shown not the slightest ability to resist. He had been toyed with and crushed at will, like a plaything.

*Who is this person?*

Chen Ran withdrew his hand, muttering to himself.

"It seems the Return to Truth Realm isn't as formidable as I thought..."

He swept his gaze around the surroundings, then step by step walked towards the black throne at the very front of the hall.

Under the gazes of everyone present, filled with terror,

Chen Ran walked to the throne, turned, and sat down.

He rested his chin on one hand, his knuckles lightly tapping the armrest, producing a steady *tap, tap, tap* sound.

His gaze swept over the shivering crowd below before he finally spoke, his tone faint:

"From this day forth, I am the new Sect Master of the Demon Sound Sect."

"Who agrees, and who opposes?"