176: Chapter 176 The Ancestor of the Heavenly Gang Sect

Deep within the Tiangang Sect, the valley was deep and secluded, with cliffs on all four sides as if carved by knives and axes, isolating this patch of heaven and earth from the outside world.

Spiritual mist swirled, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it had almost condensed into substance, flowing slowly through the air like a thin veil shrouding the entire valley.

At the bottom of the valley, a deep pool was as green as jade, its surface as calm as a mirror, reflecting the clouds drifting in the sky above.

Beside the deep pool, on a piece of bluestone, a white-haired old man sat cross-legged.

He was gaunt, with a refined face and white hair and beard. He wore a grey Daoist robe that had been washed until it turned pale, making him look completely unremarkable.

Yet the aura radiating from him was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea.

Peak of the ninth level of the Asking Dao Realm!

He was just one step away from the Saint Realm!

He was the Old Ancestor of the Tiangang Sect — Ancestor Li Jue.

At this moment, Ancestor Li Jue's eyes were slightly closed, his breathing long and steady, with Dao runes faintly circulating around his body.

Wisps of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi gathered from all directions, condensing into a swirling cloud of Spiritual Qi above his head, rotating slowly.

Within the cloud, the faint sound of thunder could be heard—a sign that the Saint Tribulation was about to descend.

However — at this very moment!

Ancestor Li Jue suddenly opened his eyes!

From those murky old eyes, two beams of sharp light suddenly erupted like unsheathed swords, piercing directly toward the entrance of the valley.

"Who?!"

His voice was hoarse, yet it exploded in the valley like a thunderclap, causing the entire valley to tremble slightly.

The spiritual mist surged, and the Spiritual Qi cloud trembled violently.

Ancestor Li Jue stood up, hands behind his back, his gaze like a blade, staring fixedly at the valley entrance.

There, the Void Realm rippled like water, and a golden crack slowly tore open.

From the crack, several figures walked out.

Leading them was a young man with his hands tucked into his sleeves. He wore a green shirt, had a lazy demeanor, and a faint, ambiguous smile played on the corners of his mouth.

Behind him followed a woman in white, her dark hair like a waterfall, her brows and eyes as cold as frost, with a faint chill lingering around her.

A white-haired old man with a gaunt face, wearing a navy blue robe, looked around with a hint of curiosity in his murky old eyes.

A stooped old man, hands tucked into his sleeves, followed closely behind at the very end. There was not a single trace of Spiritual Qi fluctuation about him, and he looked completely unremarkable.

There was also a deep-aured old man wearing a simple cyan Daoist robe, with Dao runes faintly circulating around his body.

Ancestor Li Jue's gaze swept over the group, finally landing on the old man in the cyan Daoist robe, his pupils slightly constricting.

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi!

Grand Elder of Yinxian Village, a powerhouse at the Peak of the Asking Dao Realm!

"Great Elder Yun Zhongzi?" Ancestor Li Jue frowned, a flash of gravity in his eyes. "You have trespassed into my place of seclusion; what is your intention?"

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi did not answer, merely stepping slightly to the side to make way.

His gaze fell upon the lazy young man in the lead, his eyes filled with respect.

Ancestor Li Jue followed his gaze, and his frown deepened.

This young man was only at the sixth level of the Meridian Opening Realm?

His aura was shallow, his Foundation unstable; he was clearly just a showpiece built up by relying on Medicinal Pills.

Usually, he wouldn't even bother to glance at such trash.

Yet at this moment — Great Elder Yun Zhongzi was so respectful to him?

Ancestor Li Jue felt a chill in his heart. He sent out his Divine Thought, scanning Shen Qingyuan repeatedly.

But no matter how he probed, he could only see a Cultivator at the sixth level of the Meridian Opening Realm.

"Playing tricks!" Ancestor Li Jue snorted coldly, withdrawing his gaze and fixing it back on Great Elder Yun Zhongzi. "Great Elder Yun Zhongzi, what exactly do you want to do?"

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi still did not answer.

Shen Qingyuan finally spoke.

He stared at Ancestor Li Jue, looking him up and down, a faint arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Old Ancestor of the Tiangang Sect? You are only a few points away from ascending to the Saint Realm; you do have some Opportunity."

Ancestor Li Jue's expression darkened.

An ant at the Meridian Opening Realm dared to call his name directly?

"What are you?" Ancestor Li Jue said coldly, the pressure of his Peak Asking Dao Realm cultivation erupting and crushing toward Shen Qingyuan. "Is this a place for you to speak?"

That pressure was like the sky collapsing and the earth sinking; wherever it passed, the air trembled, the ground cracked, and gravel flew.

Great Elder Yun Zhongzi's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously took half a step back.

Elder Ancestor Shen Haocang's face was even paler; the Spiritual Qi within his body surged frantically as he desperately resisted the pressure, yet he was still pressed until he couldn't breathe.

Old Turtle stood with his back hunched, a flash of gravity in his murky old eyes.

Peak Asking Dao Realm—three minor Realms higher than him.

This pressure was indeed terrifying.

Shen Qingyuan stood where he was, unmoving.

That pressure, which was enough to crush those in the Primal Chaos Realm and make those in the Asking Dao Realm feel burdened, was like a gentle breeze brushing against his face in front of him, not even lifting a corner of his clothing.

Ancestor Li Jue's pupils constricted slightly.

"Interesting." He snorted coldly, stopping his probing, and took a step forward!

His figure appeared before Shen Qingyuan like a ghost, and he struck out with a palm!

He used his full strength for this strike.

A full-strength strike from the Peak of the Asking Dao Realm; the palm wind whistled, and the Spiritual Qi transformed into a pitch-black ribbon, carrying world-destroying power as it headed straight for Shen Qingyuan's face!

Where the palm wind passed, the Void Realm twisted slightly, and the ground was torn into a deep trench; gravel flew, and dust filled the air!

This strike was enough to instantly kill any Cultivator below the Asking Dao Realm!

However — Shen Qingyuan didn't even dodge.

He merely raised his hand and lightly flicked his slender finger in the Void Realm.

"Pop!"

With a soft sound, Ancestor Li Jue's world-destroying palm wind burst like a bubble at Shen Qingyuan's fingertip, dissipating into specks of black light that filled the sky.

The Spiritual Qi storm swept in all directions, and the entire valley trembled violently!

Rocks on the cliffs cracked and tumbled down, smashing into the deep pool and splashing water everywhere.

Ancestor Li Jue's expression changed abruptly; his entire body was forced back three steps by the rebound force, each step leaving deep cracks in the ground.

The web between his thumb and index finger split open, and blood flowed freely.

"You — —!"

Ancestor Li Jue widened his eyes, staring fixedly at Shen Qingyuan, his face full of disbelief.

He was a peerless powerhouse at the Peak of the Asking Dao Realm, only one step away from the Saint Realm!

He had used his full strength for this strike!

Even a powerhouse of the same level would not find it easy to take this strike head-on.

Yet this young man before him — with a casual flick!

He had neutralized his full-strength strike?

And injured him?!

"Impossible! This is impossible!" Ancestor Li Jue's voice trembled, his eyes filled with horror.

A young man who looked only about twenty years old could neutralize his full-strength strike with a casual flick?

What kind of strength was this?

A Saint?!

"Who exactly are you?!" Ancestor Li Jue's voice was hoarse as he stared fixedly at Shen Qingyuan.

Shen Qingyuan withdrew his hand, tucked his hands back into his sleeves, and looked at him lazily.

"Who I am is not important."

He paused, a faint arc appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"What is important is that you are going to die."

Ancestor Li Jue's expression stiffened, and then he flew into a rage.

"Arrogant!"

He roared, the Spiritual Qi within his body surging frantically as he released the aura of the Peak of the Asking Dao Realm without reservation!

The entire valley trembled violently; rocks on the cliffs cracked one after another, water in the deep pool exploded into sprays, the Spiritual Qi cloud churned violently, and the sound of thunder became denser and louder!

"I have cultivated for thousands of years; today I shall ascend to the Saint Realm. Who can kill me?"

Ancestor Li Jue shrieked, his eyes filled with madness.

"Just by relying on you few, you dare to stop me?!"