142: Chapter 142 onwards is called the Taiyi Branch of the Hehuan Sect!

Dao Tae's ten-thousand-height Dharma Idol blotted out the sun.

The terrifying pressure forcibly cleared the sea of clouds above the Hehuan Sect.

The Heaven-Opening Axe, carrying supreme power, crashed down with a thunderous strike.

Chu Qianqiu, Dao Tae, and three other Soul Transformation Stage old monsters hovered behind and to the side of the Dharma Idol.

Looking at the giant axe that seemed ready to split heaven and earth, their eyes were filled with fanaticism and excitement.

It was a sure thing! Absolutely guaranteed!

Against a world-slaying strike of this level, even a true Early Stage Void Refining Cultivator would have to temporarily avoid its sharp edge.

No matter how bizarre Cao Kun was, he was ultimately just at the Nascent Soul Stage.

However...

The giant Heaven-Opening Axe, which should have been locked onto Cao Kun, took an abrupt, sharp turn in mid-air.

The axe blade reversed, carrying the destructive Law of Stars.

It locked directly onto the five men, including the grinning Chu Qianqiu.

The next second,

The rapidly enlarging axe blade was reflected in Chu Qianqiu's pupils.

He instinctively raised the taiyi divine sword—which had already been bent from a previous impact—to parry.

"Sect Master, what are you doing..."

Before he could finish his sentence,

*Puff!*

The giant axe crushed directly through the top of Chu Qianqiu's head.

The dignified Third Elder of the Taiyi Dao Sect, along with his sword, was instantly cleaved into a cloud of crimson blood mist.

Before his Primordial Spirit could even escape, he completely dissipated into heaven and earth.

Blood rained down from mid-air.

The nearby Grand Elder, Second Elder, Ji Daoyuan, and the Qingyun Sect old monster were all dumbfounded.

Dao Tae had gone mad! He wanted to kill them!

"Run!"

Without a second thought, the four of them immediately circulated their full spiritual power, attempting to tear through space and flee for their lives.

But it was too late.

The pressure of a Half-step Void Refinement Dharma Idol had already transformed into an invisible cage.

It pinned them firmly in place, making even moving a finger a luxury.

"Sect Master Dao! You're crazy! We came to help you!"

"Sect Master, spare me! I'm the Second Elder you watched grow up!"

Ji Daoyuan's eyes nearly split from the strain as he shouted for mercy in despair.

Dao Tae didn't answer at all.

The Heaven-Opening Axe swept out horizontally.

*Puff, puff, puff, puff!*

Four consecutive dull thuds echoed.

Four Soul Transformation Stage old monsters who could summon wind and rain in Qingzhou didn't even have room to resist; their physical bodies exploded on the spot.

Four weak Primordial Spirits screamed as they fled from the blood mist, attempting to hide.

But they were cleanly strangled by the power of the Laws attached to the axe blade.

They followed in Chu Qianqiu's footsteps.

Below, on the square...

The tens of thousands of members of the Righteous Path alliance, pinned to the ground by the Formation, were all staring in shock.

No one could understand what kind of madness had gripped the Sect Master of the Taiyi Dao Sect.

Killing his own people?

What happened to 'upholding justice on behalf of heaven'?

How did he start by wiping out his own high-level leadership?

Not just them, even the women of the Hehuan Sect on the jade carriage were completely bewildered at this moment.

Yu Linglong arched her beautiful eyebrows, rolled her eyes elegantly, and complained in a charming voice:

"Aya~ Did this old geezer get a concussion from Master's sword strike just now?"

"If you can't win, you can't win, but why kill your own teammates to liven things up?"

Meng Yudie was also full of astonishment. She instinctively snuggled closer into Cao Kun's arms and asked softly and seductively:

"Master, what's his play?"

Cao Kun didn't speak, only looking at the sky with great interest.

In mid-air, that majestic ten-thousand-height Dharma Idol quickly dissipated.

Dao Tae, dragging his battered body, fell from the high altitude.

He forcibly stabilized himself about tenheight away from the jade carriage.

Then,

In front of the tens of thousands of Righteous Path alliance members below,

This high-and-mighty Half-step Void Refinement powerhouse, who had lived for over three thousand years in the Qingzhou cultivation world,

*Thud.*

He knelt down straight in the void.

"Master Cao, spare my life!"

Dao Tae's head slammed heavily against the air, sending out a ripple of transparent waves.

"These five old beasts actually dared to speak impudently to you just now. I couldn't bear to watch, so I have cleaned house on your behalf!"

"I only beg Master Cao to stay your hand and spare my dog life!"

As soon as these words were spoken,

The Righteous Path alliance below was even more confused.

A dignified Half-step Void Refinement expert...

In order to survive, he actually lowered himself to such a degree?

Dao Tae didn't care at all about the gazes of the people below.

He raised his head, his eyes fanatical, as his hands quickly formed seals.

Immediately after, he forcibly tore a wisp of golden-glowing Origin Life Soul from his brow.

The agonizing pain of tearing his life soul made his whole body tremble and his old face contort.

But he forced out a flattering smile that looked worse than crying.

Holding that wisp of life soul high with both hands, he offered it to Cao Kun.

"I am willing to offer my life soul and swear a Heavenly Dao Blood Oath! I will hand over everything the Taiyi Dao Sect has accumulated over thousands of years!"

"I am willing to serve as a beast of burden for Master Cao for all generations, only asking your Excellency to stay your hand and spare my dog life!"

Dao Tae shouted with all his might, fearing Cao Kun wouldn't hear him.

Cao Kun looked at this comical scene and raised an eyebrow.

This old man was more 'on the ball' than he had expected.

Surviving for three thousand years really wasn't just down to luck.

"Sensible."

Cao Kun flicked his finger.

That wisp of golden life soul drifted into his palm and then vanished into his Sea of Consciousness.

In an instant, Cao Kun felt the connection between himself and Dao Tae.

He now only needed a single thought to make this Half-step Void Refinement powerhouse's Divine Soul perish.

He had complete control over his life and death.

Seeing Cao Kun accept the life soul, Dao Tae didn't feel despair.

Instead, he let out a long sigh of relief as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

His entire being relaxed.

He, Dao Tae, had lived for three thousand years; what storms hadn't he seen?

During his five hundred years of secluded cultivation, he had read countless ancient storybooks and records.

He knew all too well.

When encountering a 'Heavenly Anomaly' like Cao Kun—whose cultivation soared and who killed across levels as easily as drinking water,

And for whom even the Heavenly Dao's lightning strikes would take a detour,

The only outcome of opposing him was the total annihilation of the sect; even the dog at the entrance would get slapped twice.

Cao Kun's sword strike just now had directly shattered all of his pride.

What to do if you can't win?

Join them!

Those five idiots couldn't see the situation clearly.

They wanted to drag him down with them; if he didn't kill them, was he supposed to keep them around for New Year's?

As long as he could survive under this Heavenly Anomaly, what did being a dog matter?

Being able to follow a big shot who would sweep across the myriad realms in the future...

This was a massive Opportunity that made his ancestral graves smoke with good fortune!

It wasn't shameful at all!

Having thought this through, Dao Tae even straightened his back a bit.

Cao Kun ignored the old man's colorful internal monologue.

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion in the air.

The five Storage Rings left behind by Chu Qianqiu and the others turned into five streaks of light and fell into his hand.

Cao Kun put the Storage Rings away and looked past Dao Tae.

He looked at the tens of thousands of trembling Righteous Path alliance members pinned to the ground below.

Tens of thousands of Nascent Soul and Golden Core Cultivators.

It would be a waste to kill them, and even more impossible to let them go.

"Dao Tae," Cao Kun spoke indifferently.

"Your old servant is here!"

Dao Tae scrambled forward, instantly settling into the role of a lackey.

"I've accepted your 'token of loyalty'."

"These ten thousand or so people are all Golden Core and Nascent Soul Cultivators; it's a waste to let them sit idle."

"My grand Formation just happens to lack a batch of Formation cores to provide energy."

"Do you understand what I mean?"

Cao Kun looked at Dao Tae, revealing a capitalist's smile.

Dao Tae had been around for three thousand years; even his eyelashes were hollow with experience.

Hearing this, he immediately perked up.

He patted his chest and gave a solemn guarantee.

"Master Cao, rest assured! This old servant understands!"

"This old servant will go down right now and organize these useless trash into three large groups!"

At this moment, Dao Tae seamlessly switched to being a ruthless, cold-hearted, black-souled overseer.

"Every day, on schedule, twelve double-hours without interruption! They will work in three shifts to supply spiritual power to your grand Formation!"

"If anyone dares to slack off, this old servant will pull out their Divine Soul on the spot and use it as a sky lantern!"

Hearing this, Cao Kun shook his head.

"Twelve double-hours a day in three shifts is too easy."

He held up two fingers.

"Two shifts."

"Work six double-hours, rest six double-hours. Eating, sleeping, and meditating to recover will all be handled at the Formation nodes."

"Exploiting... oh no, training their limits, that's what's best for them."

Dao Tae gasped.

Two shifts?

This was going to work people to death!

Even he, a three-thousand-year-old 'Bane of the Demonic Path', felt this method was pitch black.

But after the shock, only deep admiration remained in Dao Tae's heart.

As expected of a Heavenly Anomaly; with this level of ruthlessness, he deserved to achieve great things!

"Master Cao is wise!"

Dao Tae flattered loudly.

"For these useless trash to be able to serve as your beasts of burden and contribute to the construction of the Hehuan Sect, that is a blessing they've earned over eight lifetimes!"

On the jade carriage, the Jade Beasts were dumbstruck.

They watched Cao Kun and Dao Tae play off each other.

With just a few words, they had arranged the fate of over ten thousand elites of the Qingzhou Righteous Path.

From now on, beneath the Hehuan Sect, there would likely be a massive human-shaped Spirit Gathering Array.

Cao Kun was very satisfied with Dao Tae's awareness.

"Oh, right, one more thing."

Dao Tae immediately flew to the front of the jade carriage and bowed to listen: "Master Cao, please give your orders."

"The name 'Taiyi Dao Sect' no longer needs to exist in Qingzhou."

"Go back, take down the plaque, and change the name to the Hehuan Sect Taiyi Branch."

Dao Tae's mouth twitched slightly.

The three-thousand-year-old Taiyi Dao Sect was gone just like that.

But he didn't dare hesitate for a moment and immediately responded loudly:

"Your old servant obeys! This name is good! High-end, atmospheric, and classy!"

"Your old servant will have people use top-grade Purple-gold Spiritual Jade to craft a new plaque as soon as I return!"

"Mm." Cao Kun nodded.

"After changing the plaque, take your people and visit every one of those Schools that came to attack the Hehuan Sect today."

His gaze swept across the distant sea of clouds, his voice gradually turning cold.

"Those willing to hand over their Sect Head's life soul and rename themselves as a branch of the Hehuan Sect may stay."

"Those who dare say half a word of dissent..."

"Wipe them out on the spot, leaving not even a chicken or dog behind."

"I want Qingzhou to have only one voice from now on."

Dao Tae's heart shook violently.

His master wanted to unify Qingzhou!

Using thunderous methods to forcibly reshape the structure of the cultivation world.

"Your old servant accepts the command!"

"Master Cao, rest assured, within half a month, this entire Qingzhou region will be the property of the Hehuan Sect!"

With that, Dao Tae stood up.

He turned to look at the group of terrified Righteous Path Cultivators below.

The fawning expression vanished.

It was replaced by the coldness and majesty of a Half-step Void Refinement powerhouse.

"Did you all hear that!"

Dao Tae's voice resounded through the clouds.

"From today on, you are the exclusive Formation maintenance personnel of the Hehuan Sect!"

"If anyone dares to have half a word of complaint, this old man will cleave them alive right now!"

Under Dao Tae's tyrannical pressure,

The ten thousand Righteous Path Cultivators, who were usually high and mighty, didn't even dare to fart.

They could only obediently begin to line up and form groups.

On the jade carriage,

Qin Canglan looked at Cao Kun's back, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a strange light.

This man had truly stepped on the entirety of Qingzhou.

That naturally-born aura of a superior ruler...

Made her, a Sect Master who had led the demonic gate for hundreds of years, feel her legs go weak.

"Alright, we're done here."

Cao Kun stretched and turned to look at the women behind him.

His gaze swept over the proud figures of Yu Linglong, Meng Yudie, Qin Canglan, and the others.

"Let's go, back to the palace."

"It's also time to properly check your recent cultivation progress."

"Let's see who's been slacking off again."

The women's faces flushed crimson.

They were... going to be checked together?

Yu Linglong pouted coquettishly: "Oh~ Master is so bad, in broad daylight..."

"What's wrong with the daytime?"

Cao Kun laughed loudly and drove the jade carriage.

Amidst the fanatical worship of thousands of Hehuan Sect Disciples, they flew toward the Main Peak's grand hall.

Leaving behind a group of Righteous Path Cultivators about to start their 'two-shift blessing', bewildered in the wind.

Liu Rumeng