For they had all seen clearly just a moment ago that Mo Yang had not channeled any true qi; he was no different from his past self.
"Considering you were once a disciple of Wood Peak, I will spare your life. Now get out!" Mo Yang swept a cold glance at Luo Hao before turning his attention to the others.
Though those men had come with Luo Hao, their cultivation levels were similar, and seeing Mo Yang’s display, they stood there in shock and uncertainty, their courage already failing them.
Just then, a figure flashed over at high speed—it was the Second Elder.
Having heard the commotion, he had come to investigate. His gaze fell first on Luo Hao, who remained pale and in immense pain. His brow furrowed in confusion, and after a quick scan of Mo Yang, he asked the other disciples, "What is going on here?"
The disciples, who had been hesitant, regained their bravado at the sight of the Second Elder. With a look of malice, they pointed at Mo Yang. "Mo Yang wounded Luo Hao!"
"Second Elder, the Fourth Elder taught Mo Yang many techniques and secret arts over the years. We thought it improper for him to leave with them, fearing they might be leaked, so we tried to persuade him. But this waste... he suddenly ambushed us and wounded Luo Hao!"
"Yes, that’s right—this waste suddenly launched a sneak attack and injured Senior Brother Luo Hao!"
As they pointed at Mo Yang, they habitually started to call him a "waste," but remembering what had just happened, they quickly corrected themselves.
The Second Elder frowned, deeply perplexed. He knew just how useless Mo Yang was; the boy couldn't even condense true qi. How could he have wounded Luo Hao, a Level 1 Spirit Awakening Realm cultivator, through a mere ambush?
Furthermore, seeing Mo Yang today, he felt a strange sense that something was different compared to yesterday.
However, hearing the disciples' claims, he didn't dwell on it. His gaze turned icy as he looked at Mo Yang. "The techniques and secret arts of Lingxu Sect must not be leaked. Even though you cannot cultivate, to be safe, I must cripple your meridians!"
A flicker of anger crossed Mo Yang’s eyes, followed by a cold sneer. "My master passed these techniques to me. What right do you have to take them?"
For years, the Fourth Elder had often left the sect to search for Spiritual Medicine for him, leaving him no time to attend to sect matters. Many of the other elders were deeply dissatisfied, and Mo Yang, being the root cause, had long since become a thorn in their side.
Mo Yang was well aware of this. Knowing he couldn't leave safely, he decided to stop being polite.
As expected, the moment Mo Yang spoke, the Second Elder flew into a rage.
"You little beast! Forget crippling your meridians—today, I’ll take your life whenever I please!" Infuriated by Mo Yang’s insolence, the Second Elder struck, channeling his true qi and slamming a palm toward Mo Yang’s head.
For any ordinary person, this blow would be fatal. It was clear the Second Elder intended to kill him.
*Chapter 3: Hostage to the Sect Master’s Daughter*
The disciples watched with gloating expressions, especially Luo Hao, whose face was twisted with malice. They had been wondering how to add fuel to the fire, but they hadn't expected Mo Yang to seek his own death by standing up to the Second Elder so bluntly. They knew the Second Elder intended to kill, and if that palm landed, Mo Yang would certainly die.
However, just then, Mo Yang’s body retreated with shocking speed. At the same time, a powerful wave of energy erupted from within him.
Mo Yang was furious. He hadn't expected the Second Elder to attempt murder without the slightest hesitation. Although he knew the Second Elder was in the Heaven Profound Realm—a full major realm above him—he had no choice. If he didn't fight back, he would surely die.
The Second Elder’s palm struck empty air. He stared in astonishment at Mo Yang, who stood ten meters away, now radiating a powerful wave of true qi.
After a closer look, his expression shifted violently. It was the energy signature of the Level 1 Earth Profound Realm!
How was this possible? In the Lingxu Sect, everyone knew Mo Yang was a waste who couldn't cultivate. Yet, the aura he emitted now was stronger than that of the sect’s top geniuses. Even the acknowledged number-one genius of the Lingxu Sect was only at the Peak Level 3 Spirit Awakening Realm, far from the Earth Profound Realm, and that disciple was several years older than Mo Yang.
Luo Hao and the others were also stunned, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
"I only want to leave in peace!"
Mo Yang’s voice rang out. His entire demeanor had changed; a faint, ethereal glow flowed across his skin—the sign of true qi manifesting, the hallmark of the Earth Profound Realm.
"Level 1 Earth Profound Realm... how could you..." The Second Elder was momentarily dazed; it was all too sudden. He clearly remembered that just yesterday, he had sensed that Mo Yang had zero cultivation. How could he change overnight?
Just then, the First Elder appeared, clearly drawn by the commotion. Seeing Mo Yang, he too was filled with disbelief and shock. However, realizing the situation, he quickly set aside his confusion and spoke to Mo Yang. "Since you have achieved cultivation, you should stay in the Lingxu Sect. The sect will not treat you poorly; it will be a worthy reward for the heart’s blood the Fourth Elder poured into you over these years!"
"Heh, will not treat me poorly? How has the sect treated me over these years? If not for my master’s protection, would I even be alive today?" Mo Yang laughed coldly.
The facade was already broken; he had no need for pretense. He had lived in the Lingxu Sect for ten years and knew the faces of these elders well. Now that they saw his talent, they were acting differently. If he had only revealed his Qi Condensation Realm strength, the First Elder would likely have attacked him too.
He continued, "My master died at the hands of a powerhouse from the Great Dao Sect. The sect dared not express anger, and I can understand that. But you should not have aimed all your hostility at me. I wanted my master to live more than anyone!"
The First Elder’s eyes narrowed, his expression turning cold. "You refuse to stay?"
There was a hint of menace in his voice. Mo Yang slowly shook his head.
"If you want to leave, you can—but you must cripple your own meridians first!" Seeing Mo Yang’s resolve, the First Elder’s tone turned icy.
"You ungrateful wolf! The sect has raised you for years. Without the sect, could you have reached this point? Do you think you can come and go as you please?" The Second Elder added, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Mo Yang sneered and shouted, "In that case, I hereby renounce the sect!"
As he spoke, he silently activated the first layer of the *Star Emperor Sutra*, sending his internal true qi surging wildly. Both the First and Second Elders were shocked by the sheer intensity of the aura Mo Yang emitted, which far surpassed that of an ordinary Level 1 Earth Profound Realm cultivator.
By now, many disciples had gathered, drawn by the commotion. Mo Yang was frantically searching for a way to escape alive. He knew the First and Second Elders were formidable; if it came to a head-on clash, he wouldn't last a few rounds.
He cast a calm look at the surrounding disciples, then his eyes landed on a girl who had just arrived: Su Feier, the Sect Master’s daughter!
*Whoosh!*
Mo Yang poured all his power into his movement technique, the *Lingxu Step*, feigning an attack before darting swiftly to the side, bypassing the elders and charging directly toward the disciples.
"You beast, you’re courting death!" the Second Elder roared.
"Mo Yang, you wouldn't dare! All disciples, fall back!" the First Elder shouted.
But it was too late. Mo Yang shot forward like an arrow, appeared before Su Feier, snatched her toward him, and used his left hand to tap her pressure points, sealing her true qi, while his right hand clamped firmly around her throat.
The disciples were dazed, having just arrived and unaware of what was happening. Seeing Mo Yang—the notorious "waste"—moving so fast, no one had thought to move out of the way.
"Mo Yang, you waste! How dare you touch me!" Su Feier, not yet comprehending the situation, began to scold him.
The First and Second Elders froze, their faces drained of color.
"I only want to leave safely. Do not force me to kill her!" Mo Yang said, his voice sharp as he stared at the elders.
"Mo Yang, do you realize the consequences of what you are doing?" the First Elder shouted.
Mo Yang remained silent, retreating slowly while keeping his grip on Su Feier’s neck. The disciples finally realized what was happening, and upon feeling the terrifying aura emanating from Mo Yang, they were all shocked. *Wasn't Mo Yang a waste? Why is his aura so terrifying?* And most importantly, he was using the Sect Master’s daughter as a hostage to threaten the elders.
Su Feier, terrified, turned pale and didn't dare to move, fearing Mo Yang might actually hurt her.
"Mo Yang, I won't bully you ever again, please don't..." The sharp, penetrating energy radiating from his hand made her panic. She began to plead, her voice trembling with tears.
"Mo Yang, are you truly going to turn against the sect?" A slightly aged voice rang out.
A middle-aged man and an elderly man appeared and walked toward them. Mo Yang’s heart tightened. The Sect Master and the Supreme Elder had both arrived. The Sect Master’s cultivation was even higher than the First Elder’s.
"Mo Yang, don't do anything foolish. If the Fourth Elder were still alive, he would not want to see you do this," the Sect Master said, his tone seemingly calm. He looked at Mo Yang with dignity, though inside he was far from calm. He couldn't fathom how Mo Yang had attained the Earth Profound Realm. He and the Supreme Elder had been aware of the situation for some time, which was why they were speaking so calmly.
Mo Yang knew clearly that the reason they hadn't attacked was because of the Earth Profound Realm power he had displayed—a level of strength that now surpassed every other disciple in the Lingxu Sect.
"Look at the mess you’ve caused!" The Supreme Elder walked over, shot a cold glare at the First and Second Elders, then looked at Mo Yang with a look of surprise and satisfaction. He nodded and said, "Rest assured, if you stay, Wood Peak will not be merged, and no one in the sect will dare to trouble you again."
He shot another warning glare at the First and Second Elders before adding, "The Fourth Elder’s cenotaph has just been built. Do you truly wish to leave?"
This struck a chord in Mo Yang.
The Sect Master then spoke, "If you truly wish to leave, I will not stop you. But if you choose to stay, you may remain in Wood Peak and cultivate in peace. You may visit the library as you wish; no one will disturb you." He sighed, "We, too, wished to avenge the Fourth Elder, but as you know, our Lingxu Sect is too weak compared to the Great Dao Sect. We must consider the lives of the hundreds of disciples in our sect..."
A heavy silence fell, the atmosphere turning strange as all eyes turned to Mo Yang.
After a long time, Mo Yang sighed. "I will stay to observe the mourning period for one hundred days!"
With that, he released Su Feier. He had chosen this course both out of genuine respect for his master and because he knew that if he pushed things to a complete breaking point, he would not leave alive.
The Sect Master and the Supreme Elder exchanged a silent, pleased look. "That is excellent!"
Su Feier hurried to her father’s side, glaring at Mo Yang with indignation. The Sect Master quickly cautioned her, "Feier, do not be rude. You two should interact more in the future; you are the future of our sect!"
The First and Second Elders dared not speak. This was the best outcome; even if Mo Yang was only at Level 1 Earth Profound Realm, he was stronger than any other at that level they had ever seen. If he stayed, he would be a great asset.
Mo Yang said nothing and walked back toward Wood Peak.
The bloody crisis was averted. The disciples breathed a sigh of relief and began to whisper among themselves.
When they had finally dispersed, the Sect Master frowned at the Supreme Elder. "I checked his condition not long ago. He had absolutely no trace of true qi in his body. How could he have suddenly..."
The Supreme Elder watched Mo Yang depart toward Wood Peak and sighed. "This little one is not simple. The barrier to his cultivation seems to have been completely shattered. With his talent, he will surely shine in a few years."
"I worry he won't stay in the sect forever," the First Elder remarked.
"His talent is extraordinary," the Supreme Elder said deeply. "If we cannot keep him, then do not push him too far. Otherwise, he will become a great threat to the Lingxu Sect."
*Chapter 4: The Demoness Su Feier*
Back at Wood Peak, Mo Yang settled his mind and began to meditate. Having wasted ten years, he now had only one thought: to become strong as quickly as possible.
The *Star Emperor Sutra* corresponded to the first four realms—Qi Condensation, Spirit Awakening, Earth Profound, and Heaven Profound. Having reached the Earth Profound Realm, he intended to re-cultivate the first two realms to reconstruct his foundation. Though he had never heard of the "Star Emperor" or the level of the technique, the name alone suggested it was immensely powerful. Recalling the figure he saw in the stone pagoda—a being like an ancient god or demon with an aura that dominated the world—he felt a sense of awe.
When he first practiced the sutra the night before, he hadn't noticed anything unusual, but as he began to re-cultivate, the old paths of energy circulation were forcibly altered. As he meditated, the surrounding spiritual energy was pulled in, seeping into his body. It felt as though he were undergoing a transformation; his meridians were being widened, and his previous earth-yellow true qi gradually turned golden as the technique cycled.
Most strangely, when he finished, he found a mysterious, vague mark in his dantian.
"A powerful technique is indeed different. By re-forging my foundation, my true qi has become several times denser. At my current level, I can complete the re-cultivation of the previous two realms in half a month. By then, my combat power will reach a whole new level," Mo Yang thought, sighing in wonder.
He then entered the stone pagoda to attempt to decipher the runes on its walls.
...
After the recent events, Wood Peak fell into a state of absolute quiet. No disciple dared to cause trouble or even set foot on the peak.
Early the next morning, as Mo Yang stepped out of the pagoda, he sensed a presence approaching his courtyard. He frowned and peered through a gap in the door, seeing a figure skulking around the courtyard entrance—it was Su Feier.
Mo Yang had little contact with her. Aside from yesterday, their past encounters mostly involved her bullying him. As the daughter of the Sect Master, she was used to getting her way in the Lingxu Sect. Combined with her beauty and her impish, mischievous personality, she was often seen as a "demoness."
Mo Yang frowned; given she had been his hostage yesterday, her presence likely boded no good. He pushed the door open and stepped out. Su Feier was startled, then looked at him with indignation.
"What are you here for?" Mo Yang asked coldly.
"How dare you, you waste Mo Yang! You think just because you can cultivate now, you can talk to me like that? Do you think I can’t deal with you?" Seeing his attitude, her rage only intensified.
She whipped a short sword from her sleeve and lunged at him.
Mo Yang stood still, not retreating an inch. Only when the blade was upon him did he move. He channeled his true qi into his palm and grabbed the cold, gleaming steel.
The sharp blade was stopped by a layer of protective true qi, unable to touch his skin. Then, Mo Yang squeezed. The blade buckled, and with a crisp *snap*, it shattered.
Su Feier stood stunned, a flash of fear in her eyes, and she instinctively stepped back. But Mo Yang moved like a ghost. Before she could react, he had already clamped his hand around her throat.
The sharp, intimidating aura made her feel as if a real blade were pressed against her neck. She froze, paralyzed.
Mo Yang didn't harm her. He stared at her and said coldly, "I am no longer the man I used to be. Others may spoil you, but I will not. If you dare strike at me again, do not blame me for being ruthless."
Su Feier was stunned. Mo Yang’s eyes were like deep, bottomless pools; one look made her heart race. Furthermore, the aura he emitted was even more terrifying than it had been yesterday.
Before she could recover, Mo Yang released his grip, turned around, and walked back into his room, shutting the door with a loud *thud*.
Stunned, Su Feier stomped her feet in rage and glared at his door. "Mo Yang, you just wait! I’m going to tell the Supreme Elder that you molested me!"
With that, she tore her own dress in several places, messed up her hair, and stormed out of the courtyard in a fury.
Mo Yang ignored her entirely. After washing up, he left the courtyard and headed down Wood Peak, intent on visiting the library. In the Lingxu Sect, disciples were not usually permitted to enter the library, as it contained all the sect's techniques and secret manuals; it was only opened as a reward or on special occasions.