42: Pay up to ransom them! Even body cultivators have dignity!

"Madman! He's a complete madman!"

The Late Golden Core Stage Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect was so angry that his beard was shaking. "A mere Body Cultivator dares to extort our three great Sects?!"

"Fellow Daoists, this brat is ruthless and has already entered the Demonic Path! Let's attack together, tear him into ten thousand pieces, and reclaim the Legacy!"

"Kill!!!"

With an order, over a dozen Golden Core Stage experts attacked simultaneously.

In an instant, Spiritual Qi erupted at the ruins' entrance. Flying Swords, Dharma Seals, and thunder poured down on Gu Yang like a violent storm.

This kind of momentum was enough to instantly level a mountain peak!

Facing this world-destroying offensive, Gu Yang didn't even blink.

He grabbed the Legacy Stone Tablet, which weighed millions of catties, with one hand, using it like a giant shield to block in front of him.

"Come on!"

Boom boom boom—!!!

Countless Spells bombarded the stone tablet, exploding into a sky full of brilliant light.

But this stone tablet was a treasure passed down for ten thousand years by the Giant Spirit Sect. Its material was indestructible, and it actually withstood all the attacks without even a single stone chip falling off.

Gu Yang, hiding behind the stone tablet, was completely unharmed, aside from feeling a slight vibration.

"Finished? Then it's my turn!"

Gu Yang gave a thunderous shout, and the muscles in his arms instantly doubled in size.

He swung the ten-zhang-tall giant stone tablet like a brick used for smashing cucumbers, slamming it down hard toward the high-and-mighty Cultivators!

"Eat this... the weight of knowledge!"

Whoosh—

The massive stone tablet brought with it a terrifying wind pressure that blotted out the sun.

An Early Golden Core Stage Elder charging at the front was scared out of his wits as he watched the rapidly expanding shadow. He wanted to flee, but found that the space around him had been locked by that terrifying power.

Splat!

A dull thud.

The Elder didn't even have time to scream before he was swatted like a fly into the ground by the stone tablet, turning into a pile of meat paste.

"What?!"

The remaining Elders were scared to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and they retreated one after another.

What kind of weapon is this? What kind of Body Cultivator uses such a massive stone tablet as a weapon?!

"Where do you think you're going!"

Gu Yang didn't let up and charged into the crowd carrying the stone tablet.

Divine Ability—Extreme Dao Force Field! 20x Gravity!

Buzz!!!

The gravity within a hundred-meter radius instantly increased twenty-fold!

The Spell Cultivators, who were originally flying through the air with nimble movements, felt their bodies suddenly become heavy as if filled with lead. They fell from the sky one after another like dumplings being dropped into water.

"My Flying Sword! It can't fly!"

"Damn it! What kind of gravity is this? My internal organs are about to shatter!"

Gu Yang was like a tiger among a flock of sheep.

He threw a punch, and the Golden Core Stage protective spiritual light shattered like soap bubbles.

He kicked out, and a Middle Golden Core Stage Cultivator's ribs all snapped as he was sent flying while spitting blood.

This was the terror of Core Formation of the Physical Body!

Under the suppression of the Extreme Dao Force Field, the fragile Physical Bodies of Spell Cultivators were simply unable to withstand a single blow!

"Brat, don't be so arrogant!"

Just then, a vast, sea-like Divine Sense pressure suddenly descended.

In the sky, an illusory figure slowly condensed. It was a Divine Thought Clone of the Heavenly Sword Sect's Nascent Soul Ancestor!

"To dare harm my Heavenly Sword Sect's Elders, you deserve death!"

The Nascent Soul Clone pointed a finger, and a brilliant Sword Qi condensed into shape. With the power to cut through the Void Realm, it aimed directly at the space between Gu Yang's brows.

This strike surpassed the limits of the Golden Core Stage!

Gu Yang's expression changed slightly, but he didn't back down.

Primordial Indestructible Golden Body—Full Power!

He dropped the stone tablet and crossed his arms to tank the sword strike.

Pshhh!

The Sword Qi cut through his glazed red-gold skin and sliced three inches into his muscle, causing blood to splatter.

But that was all!

The sword strike, which was enough to insta-kill someone at Golden Core Perfection, was actually stuck on Gu Yang's bone, unable to advance any further!

"Nascent Soul Ancestor? Nothing more than this!"

Gu Yang grinned ferociously and, ignoring his injuries, lunged forward.

His large, blood-stained hand actually grabbed the neck of the Nascent Soul Clone!

"A Clone? It doesn't even have flesh. Poor rating!"

"Shatter for me!!!"

Gu Yang exerted strength with both hands, and his violent blood-Qi power instantly erupted.

Rip—

Under countless horrified gazes, the high-and-mighty Nascent Soul Ancestor's Clone was actually torn to pieces by Gu Yang!

The entire field was deathly silent.

The wind stopped, and the clouds dispersed.

Only Gu Yang remained standing in the sea of blood and corpses, holding two clumps of dissipating spiritual light in his hands like a descending demon god.

"Who else?!"

Gu Yang looked around. Everywhere his flaming eyes swept, the Golden Core Elders lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze.

They were afraid.

Completely beaten into submission.

Gu Yang snorted coldly and turned to walk toward the "mountain of people" he had specifically piled in the corner—dozens of unconscious Prodigies from various Sects.

He plopped down on top of the Heavenly Sword Saint and shouted loudly:

"Now, we can talk business."

"One Genius, ransom of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. For every stone missing, I'll take a leg."

"This is for 'medical fees,' 'mental distress fees,' and 'loss of work fees.' Quite reasonable, right?"

"Reasonable! Reasonable!"

"We'll pay! We'll pay right now!"

The Elders of the major Sects took out their Storage Pouches with tears in their eyes. Even if their hearts were bleeding, they had to pay! Those were the futures of their Sects, the Nascent Soul seeds!

Just then.

Rapid footsteps were heard.

The Old Blacksmith from Star City arrived at the scene panting, leading a large group of ragged and emaciated Body Cultivators (either escaped from the Slave Fighting Pits or down-and-out Loose Cultivators).

He had originally heard there was a fight here and came to collect Gu Yang's body.

But when he looked... the ground was covered in Golden Core Elders lining up to pay ransoms? Gu Yang was sitting on a pile of people counting Spirit Stones?

The Old Blacksmith rubbed his eyes and looked at the massive Legacy Stone Tablet behind Gu Yang, tears streaming down his face.

"Ancestral Master has blessed us! The Giant Spirit Sect... has a successor!"

He suddenly knelt on the ground and shouted at Gu Yang:

"Greetings, Sect Master! We, the descendants of the Giant Spirit Sect's outcasts, are willing to follow the Sect Master and restore the glory of Body Cultivators!"

The hundreds of destitute Body Cultivators behind him also knelt, hope burning in their eyes. They had been suppressed for too long; Gu Yang's battle had restored the dignity of Body Cultivators!

Gu Yang's hand counting Spirit Stones paused.

"Sect Master?"

He looked at this group of emaciated guys, and his first reaction was—how much meat will it take to feed them all?

He wanted to refuse, but then he had a second thought.

With a Sect, there will be people to help me mine, farm, and raise Spirit Beasts. Then I can focus on eating at the buffet?

It seems... not a bad deal?

"Ahem."

Gu Yang put away the last bag of Spirit Stones, stood up, and waved his hand:

"Fine! Since everyone is so enthusiastic, I'll reluctantly take on the role of Sect Master!"

"However... the name 'Giant Spirit Sect' is too rustic. It sounds like a place for manual laborers."

"From today on, we're changing the name!"

"It shall be called... the Giant Spirit Fitness Club!"

"Our slogan is: Eat meat! Lift iron! Crush all who refuse to submit!"