Chapter 54: Punishment with a Single Sword

Such formidable power, not to mention that Lu Changfeng was merely at the peak of the Zhoutian realm at this moment!

Even if he were at the peak of the Yuandan realm, it would still be impossible for him to withstand it.

In the blink of an eye, a towering palm print materialized before the elder, whistling through the air as it crushed down directly toward Lu Changfeng's position.

"It's over! That boy is a dead man!"

"Hmph, looking at where he is, how dare he act so presumptuously?"

"Shut your mouth, don't invite trouble upon yourself! He is from the Daoyan Sect!"

"Will the Daoyan Sect just sit by and do nothing?!"

Countless cultivators whispered among themselves.

Under the enraged strike of a peak Spirit Platform realm cultivator, Lu Changfeng was bound to perish, even if he possessed the Dao-One Sword. Besides, this was the territory of the Sacred Origin Sect. Would the Daoyan Sect really fall out with the most powerful sect in the Tianyuan Domain just for a lowly disciple?

After all, if the Daoyan Sect intervened, it would truly trigger a full-scale war between the sects!

Just as everyone waited, the palm print drew ever closer to Lu Changfeng.

The entire plaza was filled only with the howling gale, and everyone watched the mid-air scene with bated breath and anxious hearts.

The next moment,

"Hmph!"

A chilling voice resounded across the heavens and earth.

A slender figure flashed out from beside Lu Changfeng, extending a single finger to gently tap against the descending palm print.

Boom—!

A deafening roar instantly echoed through the air.

The massive palm print in mid-air fractured into pieces in an instant, dissolving into wisps of pure spiritual energy that dissipated into the atmosphere.

An invisible shockwave swept across the entire plaza.

Many low-cultivation practitioners were instantly sent flying backward. Meanwhile, several sect elders widened their eyes, staring fixedly at the graceful figure standing upon the high platform, thinking to themselves, "She actually intervened? It's over!"

"Could the Sacred Origin Sect and the Daoyan Sect really be going to war?!"

Standing before Lu Changfeng, Yue Qingshuang wore a cold expression as she slowly withdrew her right arm.

Before her, the elder of the Sacred Origin Sect widened his eyes in horror as a streak of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, his gaze filled with terror.

"For an elder of the Sacred Origin Sect to make a move, do you take my Daoyan Sect for having no one?!"

Yue Qingshuang spoke in a chilling voice, her words brimming with a frosty intent to kill.

Lu Changfeng glanced at Yue Qingshuang's back, a wave of warmth washing over his heart.

The Sacred Origin Sect elder swallowed hard, suppressing the panic rising within his heart as he said, "Your Daoyan Sect disciple dared to slander the reputation of our Sacred Origin Sect's Holy Son without any basis!"

"Shouldn't he be taught a lesson?!"

"Or is this disciple's behavior a reflection of the Daoyan Sect's intentions?"

"We kindly invited you to attend the banquet, yet you humiliate the Sacred Origin Sect in such a manner?"

"Isn't this going too far? Think carefully about whether you can bear the wrath of our Sacred Origin Sect!"

He widened his eyes, the aura emanating from his body growing even more violent. Since he had already struck, he would never back down; otherwise, he would simply be bringing shame upon the Sacred Origin Sect!

"Dare to touch my disciple, and I will tear you into ten thousand pieces!"

Yue Qingshuang remained indifferent, unfazed by the threat of the Sacred Origin Sect elder, and spoke coldly.

Upon hearing this, the Sacred Origin Sect elder surged with an even more terrifying momentum. He stared fixedly at Yue Qingshuang before him and sneered, "Disciple?"

"Heh... Who knows whether he's a disciple or your kept toy!"

"If you dare to block me again, I will kill you along with him!"

As he said this, he cautiously glanced upward at his sect master. Realizing that his sect master showed no reaction whatsoever, his confidence soared.

He Youran, the Peak Master of the Divine Dan Peak, stood up and spoke in a chilly voice, "Sect Master Wu! Is this the attitude of your Sacred Origin Sect?"

"Although our Daoyan Sect may be inferior to the Sacred Origin Sect, if it truly comes to a life-and-death struggle, you are not guaranteed to win!"

"If you truly intend to fight, our Daoyan Sect will accompany you to the bitter end!"

Having occupied a position of high authority for decades, her intimidating words carried immense weight, and a formidable aura instantly enveloped the entire plaza.

The Sacred Origin Sect elder who had made the initial move suddenly stiffened, halting all his actions.

For a moment, all the disciples of both the Sacred Origin Sect and the Daoyan Sect stood up, locking eyes with one another. Waves of murderous intent surged among them.

The Sect Master of the Sacred Origin Sect swept a cold, indifferent gaze over the members of the Daoyan Sect, his eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation. In his eyes, these people were nothing more than a mob of paper tigers, entirely unworthy of his personal intervention.

And indeed, he possessed the capability to hold such a view.

Standing beside him, Lu Tianyun watched this scene with a cold internal sneer, thinking, "Lu Changfeng, is this the sect you chose?"

"You will never surpass me in this lifetime!"

"Once I grow a little stronger, I will surely eradicate the entire Daoyan Sect!"

"And as for you... you can only die!"

Across the entire plaza, everyone grew tense, not daring to show the slightest negligence. The conflict between these two major sects was entirely capable of dragging smaller sects into the vortex. And for those minor sects, there was only one consequence of being dragged in—complete annihilation.

"Is a war about to break out? We need to hide!"

"That young female cultivator from the Daoyan Sect possesses considerable strength, but she is still far too reckless!"

"If a fight truly breaks out, I doubt a single person from the Daoyan Sect will survive!"

Just as everyone murmured among themselves, watching the figures on the high platform, Yue Qingshuang raised her hand with a beckoning gesture.

A streak of flowing light instantly flashed forth.

Boundless sword qi erupted with explosive force, slamming mercilessly into the body of the Sacred Origin Sect elder in an instant.

"Swish—!"

As the sword qi whistled through the air, the aura surrounding the elder withered away in a mere moment, resembling a punctured balloon.

Not even Wu Tian阳, who was at the Divine Concealment realm, managed to react in time to this sword strike.

Puff—!

The Sacred Origin Sect elder's body shuddered violently. His head of raven-black hair instantly grew sparse and turned stark white, and his posture hunched over. Even age spots began to emerge across his face.

"Damn it! What is happening?!"

The expression of the Sacred Origin Sect elder changed drastically. He could clearly feel the life force within his body draining away at a frenzied pace.

"No! M... My skin! Ahhhhh!"

He lowered his head, watching as wrinkles multiplied across his arms as if he had aged into a decrepit old man in the span of a breath. He abruptly lifted his head, staring fixedly at Yue Qingshuang as he shrieked, "What... what did you do to me?!"

Even as he spoke, his teeth began to loosen and drop from his mouth.

Wu Tianyang furrowed his brow, observing the scene before him with a puzzled expression as he muttered, "Could this be... the Fleeting Years Sword Technique?!"

"You are a member of the Yue family from the Yue Spirit Domain?!"

Yue Qingshuang cast a cold glance at Wu Tianyang.

Then, she turned her gaze toward the surrounding crowd and spoke in a chilling voice, "This man slandered my disciple and showed disrespect to a Daoyan Sect peak master."

"With this sword strike, I did not take his life; it is merely a punishment."

"If there is a next time, I shall slay him with a single sword!"

"If your Sacred Origin Sect refuses to accept this, you are more than welcome to declare war on the Daoyan Sect!"

"I, Yue Qingshuang, shall accompany you to the very end!"

As these words fell, the cultivators across the entire plaza fell utterly silent. They stared with wide-open mouths, fixing their gaze entirely on Yue Qingshuang.

In their eyes, for Yue Qingshuang to dare draw her sword in the presence of Wu Tianyang was an act of blatant provocation!

She was even issuing threats!

This was nothing short of courting death in the most naked sense!