Chapter 234: 234. Chapter 231: The Brutal Ding Huan

234. Chapter 231: The Brutal Ding Huan

Hong Tiao saw Ding Huan's actions and felt a chill run down his spine.

Ding Huan had nailed all two Primordial Soul realm sect leaders and dozens of True Dan and Foundation Establishment cultivators' corpses to the outside of Lanxing Sect.

How brutal is that?

The cultivators watching from afar were stunned, their mouths wide open.

Is he trying to make war against the entire Daoist world?

Such brutal conduct is utterly horrifying.

As for why Ding Huan did this, very few bothered to wonder.

In their minds, with Zixiagu Sect destroyed, sects like Yanyue Sect and Shuanghun Sect could take over, and other major sects could divide up the spoils.

As for this guy who appeared out of nowhere—what right does he have to establish his own sect here?

After nailing all the corpses outside the sect gate, Ding Huan looked at the crowd still lingering in the distance and said:

"From today, Lanxing Sect opens its gates. We do not oppress other sects, nor will we allow any sect to bully us."

"If anyone thinks Lanxing Sect is easy to bully, these corpses are your example."

The crowd fell silent; everyone understood Ding Huan was establishing dominance, using them to spread Lanxing Sect's name.

Yet even Primordial Soul realm cultivators had died here, proving Lanxing Sect's strength surpassed even that of the former Zixiagu Sect.

Some cultivators fearing recognition slipped away quietly.

Less than half a stick of incense later, the once-bustling entrance of Lanxing Sect was empty.

"Greetings, Lord Ding…"

He Xinxin, Si Baiye, and Chong Qusheng, who had been hiding nearby trembling, hurried forward and bowed deeply as Ding Huan returned.

Ding Huan nodded: "You may leave now."

"Yes, thank you, Sect Master." He Xinxin and the others bowed again carefully, then swiftly departed from Lanxing Sect.

When the other sects attacked the gate, they had already known—and had carefully stepped out.

Now seeing all attacking cultivators slain, even two sect leaders killed, He Xinxin began to doubt whether her choice had been right.

Whether right or not, they would never get a second chance.

"Yinzhu, you all go to the main hall immediately; we'll hold the sect assembly shortly." Ding Huan gestured for Liu Liu Yinzhu and the others to wait in the main hall.

After this battle, Lanxing Sect had made its name—and would surely draw the ire of stronger foes.

Ding Huan feared nothing; having chosen to establish himself prominently in the Daoist world and found a sect, he had long anticipated this.

If he had to cower like a turtle to survive, he might as well not have founded Lanxing Sect at all.

"Lord Hong, wait here for now; I'll return when your partner arrives…"

Ding Huan had no intention of waiting half the day with Hong Tiao.

Hong Tiao wouldn't assume Ding Huan had left—he quickly said:

"Lord Ding, my partner will arrive here within no more than half an hour."

He was certain: the moment Ding Huan walked away, he would trap him in a Level Six Binding and Killing Array.

Inside that Level Six Binding and Killing Array, he trembled with fear; one misstep and he'd be cut down—what a terrible loss.

His life today had not come easily—he had nearly exhausted his sect's top-tier wealth.

Ding Huan grew puzzled:

"Lord Hong, your Wanshou Sect is far from here—can your partner arrive in half an hour?"

This time it was Hong Tiao's turn to be surprised:

"Lord Ding, Wanshou Sect can teleport directly to Zi Yuan City."

"Zi Yuan City?" Ding Huan was even more confused—but Liu Liu Yinzhu and the others had already left, and he had no chance to ask right now.

Hearing Ding Huan's words, Hong Tiao realized Ding Huan truly didn't know—clearly, he had no understanding of Zixiagu Sect's advantages.

Faced with Ding Huan's question, he had to explain clearly:

"Lord Ding, Zi Yuan City was built for Zi Yuan Zhongshan."

"Was it established under Zixiagu Sect's direction?"

Ding Huan thought to himself: Liu Liu Yinzhu hadn't told him this—she'd been negligent.

Then again, he hadn't even assigned her any duties yet.

Hong Tiao spoke awkwardly:

"When this city was built, Zixiagu Sect didn't participate. It was jointly established by Ziyuan Zhongshan, Yanyue Sect, Jiuyinmen, the Daoist Merchants' Guild, and Wudan Dao Gate."

"Its purpose is to serve cultivators heading to Zi Yuan Zhongshan for trials: any cultivator wishing to enter Zi Yuan Zhongshan must register and pay a fee at Zi Yuan City."

Ding Huan chuckled:

"If I recall correctly, Zi Yuan Zhongshan should belong to Lanxing Sect, right?"

"Yes, yes…"

Hong Tiao repeated "yes" several times.

Zi Yuan Zhongshan was naturally Lanxing Sect's—formerly Zixiagu Sect's—but even its former sect master, Gu Mo, could only secure a few entry slots for Zixiagu disciples.

Gu Mo's lifelong dream had been to reclaim Zi Yuan Zhongshan, but lacking strength, it remained only a wish.

Previously, Jiuyinmen conspired against Zixiagu Sect, using toxic mist as a prelude.

In Jiuyinmen's plan, they were determined to annihilate Zixiagu Sect and seize Zi Yuan Zhongshan—until Ding Huan suddenly appeared.

Hong Tiao didn't know the full details, but he was certain Jiuyinmen's downfall and Zixiagu Sect's destruction were both tied to Ding Huan.

With Ding Huan's temperament, if he didn't clash with Zi Yuan City, he'd be blind.

He didn't care what Zi Yuan City did or who built it—he cared only about Zi Yuan Zhongshan.

Ziyuan Zhongshan was clearly the territory of Zixia Valley, now the territory of Lanxing Sect—why should Zi Yuan City collect spirit stones?

Hong Tiao had not lied; less than half an hour later, a female cultivator in a green dress hurried to the outside of Lanxing Sect.

She was filled with rage—how dare they imprison the sect leader of Wanshou Gate and demand she bring so many items in exchange? It was asking for death.

Do they think the words "Wanshou" are just for show?

When she arrived at Lanxing Sect and saw the corpses of the Yanyue Sect and Shuanghun Sect leaders nailed to its outer walls, her fury vanished instantly.

It seemed Hong Tiao had not lied—had she brought fewer items, they would never meet again.

They dared kill Primordial Soul realm cultivators—not just one—and would they fear a single Wanshou Gate?

"Xing Yue." Seeing the green-dressed woman arrive, Hong Tiao called out excitedly.

The woman's heart leapt when she saw Hong Tiao was missing an arm.

But she quickly calmed herself, rushed forward to support Hong Tiao, and handed him a ring and a spirit beast pouch.

"Greetings, Elder Xing…" Qian Wu, standing beside Hong Tiao, bowed quickly.

Hong Tiao handed the spirit beast pouch and the ring to Ding Huan:

"Ding Sect Leader, here are the items—check them."

Ding Huan's divine sense had already pierced the seals and seen clearly what was inside.

Inside the ring: a starlight spirit vein, ten million superior-grade spirit stones, and a box of Yunhun wood—inside the box, indeed, was a beast egg.

The Level-Two Sharp-Mouthed Tiger in the spirit beast pouch made Ding Huan think it looked more like a rat than a tiger.

He guessed Hong Tiao wouldn't dare give him junk, so after taking all the items, he said:

"We part here. May you and your spouse travel safely—I do not see you off."

Ding Huan approved of the bond between Hong Tiao and Xing Yue.

Under these circumstances, Xing Yue dared enter his trapping and killing array—clearly, she had genuine feelings for Hong Tiao.

A less scrupulous person might have used the trapping and killing array to capture the couple outright—after all, the items had been delivered; killing them would still yield the same gains.

"Thank you, Ding Sect Leader, for overlooking past grievances. Hong hereby takes leave."

Hong Tiao dared not be careless—he bowed again, then departed with his spouse.

As soon as they left Lanxing Sect, Hong Tiao summoned his spaceship and called for his spouse Xing Yue and the Foundation Establishment cultivator Qian Wu to board.

The spaceship swiftly departed from Lanxing Sect—clearly, Hong Tiao did not wish to linger a single moment longer.

"Tiao-ge, that man was too outrageous—should we go to Zhenyun Dao City and seek Master Hu to plead our case for Wanshou Gate?"

After the spaceship launched, Xing Yue could no longer hold back, her eyes red.

Hong Tiao sneered:

"I was betrayed by Hu Wuxin."

At this moment, Hong Tiao understood perfectly—Hu Wuxin knew Ding Huan was not to be trifled with, so he made their three sects the first to strike.

In other words, they had been used as pawns—if they had easily seized Zixia Valley, he was certain Hu Wuxin would have emerged to claim his share.

"But Master Hu is a Void Spirit realm cultivator—wouldn't Lanxing Sect's array be powerless against him?"

Xing Yue still found it hard to believe.

Hong Tiao shook his head:

"I'm certain Hu Wuxin won't enter Lanxing Sect—this trapping and killing array is a Level-Six trapping and killing array, and I suspect Ding Huan himself arranged it…"

"What?" Xing Yue was stunned by her spouse's words.

Could Ding Huan arrange a Level-Six array? Did that mean he was a Level-Six Array Master?

How many Level-Six Array Masters were there in the Dao cultivation world?

"Almost certainly—no one else would have arranged the trapping and killing array within his sect."

As long as Ding Huan remains in Lanxing Sect, as long as Hu Wuxin dares enter, I'm certain he will never leave."

The more Hong Tiao spoke, the more certain he felt his guess was correct.

"He's that powerful?" Xing Yue was stunned.

Qian Wu, who had remained silent until now, spoke up:

"The Sect Leader's guess is likely true—I hid at the life gate of the trapping array and faintly saw Ding Huan kill Yi Wandao with a single spear."

"And when I saw Ding Huan kill Yi Wandao, he seemed to deliberately pause the trapping array—he's even stronger than we imagined."

Hong Tiao sighed:

"I survived, probably because of that starlight spirit vein—if not, I would have met the same fate as Yi Wandao."

"Will Ding Huan go after Yanyue Sect and Shuanghun Sect?" Xing Yue had lost all desire to seek Hu Wuxin's help.

Hong Tiao chuckled:

"Those two sects may seek out Ding Huan before he even goes to them. As for Ding Huan, I suspect he won't leave for now—his cultivation hasn't yet broken into the Primordial Soul realm."

Once he breaks into the Primordial Soul realm, I think the Dao cultivation world will have quite a show to watch.