21: Chapter 21 Now that I've accepted the gift, I must share the sect leader's burdens.

Outside Qingshi Town, on the official road.

The sun set in the west, casting long shadows of the Hehuan Sect group.

"Sect Master, Sect Master! Look at my skirt, it actually glows!"

"Sect Master, Sect Master! This qingshuang sword is so sharp; I just gave it a light swing and it cut right through a rock by the road!"

Lin Xiaowan, wearing that "flowing cloud water-sleeve skirt" worth hundreds of Spirit Stones and carrying the "qingshuang sword" on her back, was like a peacock that had just molted its feathers, chirping incessantly around Wang Yang.

Wang Yang fanned himself with a cattail leaf fan. Although he found it noisy, he couldn't help but smile at Xiao Wan's unsophisticated excitement.

"Alright, stop showing off. Haven't you heard of not flaunting your wealth?"

Wang Yang tapped her on the head. "Keep prancing around like that and someone might just snatch it from you."

"Heehee, with the Sect Master and Sister Ye here, who would dare rob us?" Lin Xiaowan lifted her chin, looking arrogant as she basked in their reflected glory.

However, no sooner had she spoken.

"Hmph! Such bold words!"

An old and sinister voice, sounding as if it were squeezed through teeth, exploded from the road ahead.

Immediately after, two streaks of light descended from the sky, blocking their path.

The dust settled.

There stood Zhao Guang, the dandy who had been "blown away with a glare" by Wang Yang earlier. He was being supported by someone, standing there with a limp.

His face was full of resentment as he pointed at Wang Yang's group:

"Third Elder! It's them! It's this kid is the one who broke my leg and stole the woman I had my eye on!"

Beside him stood an old man in a gray robe with a withered face.

The old man radiated a suffocating Spiritual Pressure—it was a genuine Foundation Establishment Middle Stage!

The Third Elder of the Liuyun Sect, Li Changfeng.

"So it was you who injured my Liuyun Sect Disciple?"

Li Changfeng's eyes swept over Wang Yang like a hawk's before landing on Ye Qingcheng and Su Qingge behind him.

Upon seeing these two peerless beauties and Lin Xiaowan, a flash of undisguised greed instantly crossed Li Changfeng's originally gloomy eyes.

"Good, very good."

Li Changfeng licked his lips and smiled sinisterly:

"Not only did you injure someone, but you also dare to parade around with such top-grade cauldrons. Boy, do you really think my Liuyun Sect has no one left?"

"Today, the man will have his cultivation crippled and his limbs broken."

"As for the women... they will all be taken back to the Liuyun Sect to serve me as—"

Zheng—!

A clear and murderous zither note interrupted Li Changfeng's foul language without warning.

Before Wang Yang could even speak.

A green figure stepped out from the group and blocked the way in front of him.

Su Qingge held an ancient zither in her arms, her green robes fluttering in the wind.

She looked down and stroked the emerald-green "cold jade bracelet" on her wrist, a flash of determination in her eyes.

She had just received a generous gift from the Sect Master and accepted a favor from the Madam.

If she didn't do something, her role as an "Elder" would be far too pathetic.

"Sect Master."

Su Qingge didn't look back, her voice cold:

"Why should the Sect Master personally deal with a mere old dog?"

"Since Qingge has accepted the position of Elder, please leave this first battle to me."

Wang Yang raised an eyebrow, glanced at Su Qingge's determined back, and then checked the System panel.

[View Panel]

Su Qingge: Early Foundation Establishment Stage (S-Rank talent, Dual Cultivation of zither and sword, powerful combat strength).

Li Changfeng: Foundation Establishment Middle Stage (C-Rank talent, reached through stacking Medicinal Pills, unstable Foundation).

Although there was a one-Rank difference, with Su Qingge's talent, challenging someone at a higher level was not an issue.

"Granted."

Wang Yang took a step back and even leisurely pulled out a handful of melon seeds from his storage ring, handing them to Ye Qingcheng and Lin Xiaowan.

"Come, let's watch the show."

Opposite them, Li Changfeng laughed out of sheer anger.

"What an arrogant little girl! An Early Foundation Establishment Stage dares to talk big in front of me?"

"Since you're so eager to throw yourself at me, I shall fulfill your wish!"

Boom!

A ghost-head greatsword appeared in Li Changfeng's hand. Earth-yellow spiritual energy erupted from him as he charged at Su Qingge like a bull, carrying the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

"Mountain-Splitting Slash!"

The blade glow was like a bolt of silk, powerful and heavy enough to split mountains and shatter rocks.

Su Qingge's expression remained unchanged as her fair hands rapidly plucked the zither strings.

"Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu!"

The five tones chimed together!

Following the rhythm of the zither, five invisible sound waves transformed into sharp swords and clashed against the blade glow.

Clang, clang, clang!

Sparks flew and spiritual energy surged.

Li Changfeng's blade momentum was actually forcefully blocked by these seemingly weak zither notes!

"You have some skill! But it's not enough!"

Su Qingge frowned slightly.

After all, he was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; his total spiritual energy surpassed hers.

In a head-on confrontation, she was indeed struggling a bit.

Standing in the back cracking melon seeds, Wang Yang narrowed his eyes slightly, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

Target Li Changfeng, Gravity Multiplied!

Buzz!

Li Changfeng, who was aggressively preparing to slash through Su Qingge's defense, suddenly felt his body grow heavy!

It was as if a mountain had suddenly been placed on his back, or like he had fallen into a deep-sea mire.

His originally fluid movements instantly became incredibly stiff, and even the spiritual energy circulating within him stagnated for a split second.

"What's going on?!"

Li Changfeng was shocked. "My body..."

In a fight between experts, even a split-second opening is fatal.

Although Su Qingge didn't know what had happened, how could an S-Rank Genius like her miss such a perfect opportunity?

The cold light in her eyes instantly intensified.

"Zither Heart... Sword Soul!"

Su QinggeHe slammed the instrument case down..

Qiang!

A soft sword like autumn water shot out from the zither's body and was caught in her hand.

Following the sword, she transformed into a streak of light!

Under Li Changfeng's terrified gaze, Su Qingge's figure seemed to teleport, piercing through his now-sluggish curtain of blade strikes.

Puchi!

A flash of sword light.

Li Changfeng remained in his blade-raising posture, frozen in place.

The next second.

A line of blood appeared on his neck.

"You..."

Li Changfeng's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the green-clad woman behind him. A "gurgling" sound came from his throat as if he wanted to say something, but he could no longer make a sound.

Thud.

The head fell to the ground.

The Third Elder of the Liuyun Sect, a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator, fallen!

Beside him, Zhao Guang had already wet himself in fear.

He really had urinated; his crotch was soaked.

"The... The Third Elder is dead?"

"Insta-killed?"

Su Qingge sheathed her sword back into the zither and lightly flicked away a drop of blood from the tip.

She turned around to look at Wang Yang, a relieved smile appearing on her cold face:

"I have fortunately fulfilled my mission."

She knew in her heart that if Li Changfeng's movements hadn't suddenly faltered, she might have won, but it certainly wouldn't have been so easy and elegant.

It was the Sect Master who had acted.

Like a gentle rain that nourishes things silently, yet he controlled everything.

"Clap, clap, clap."

Wang Yang tossed away the melon seed shells and led the applause.

"Splendid! Elder Su's dual mastery of zither and sword truly lives up to its reputation."

Ye Qingcheng also nodded with a smile. "Sister has excellent sword techniques."

Lin Xiaowan's eyes shone with admiration. "Sister Su is so cool!"

Wang Yang walked up to the terrified Zhao Guang.

"Don't... don't kill me..." Zhao Guang knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately. "I'm from the Liuyun Sect... my father is..."

"I know you're from the Liuyun Sect."

Wang Yang interrupted him, squatted down, and patted Zhao Guang's pale face with his cattail fan.

"Go back and bring a message to your Sect Master."

"From now on, Qingshi Town's surname is Wang."

"If he wants revenge, tell him to come to the Hehuan Sect and find me personally. Don't send any more trash like this to die; it's quite a waste of everyone's time."

After saying this, Wang Yang stood up.

"Scram."

"Yes, yes, yes! Thank you for sparing my life!"

Zhao Guang felt as if he had been granted a massive amnesty, scrambling away into the distance, ignoring even the pain in his broken legs.

Watching Zhao Guang's departing back, Su Qingge felt a bit worried:

"Sect Master, letting the tiger return to the mountain... the Liuyun Sect probably won't let this go. I've heard that the Liuyun Sect Master is at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage..."

"Foundation Establishment Late Stage?"

Wang Yang sneered disdainfully.

He glanced at the System panel showing the Absolute Domain covering a radius of 7.44 kilometers.

Never mind a Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Even if a Core Formation Old Ancestor comes, as long as they dare enter this circle, even a Dragon would have to coil up like a worm for me!

"No matter."

Wang Yang put his hands behind his back and looked at the Hehuan Sect's mountain gate under the sunset, his tone indifferent:

"It just so happens the Sect is expanding lately, and we're still short on 'building Materials' (points)."

"If they don't come to deliver them, I would have to go looking for them myself."

"Let's go! Home! To split the loot... ahem, to organize the spoils of war!"

...