Chapter 447: Elder Yao's Breakdown

"Senior, please, have a seat!"

"Senior, have some tea!"

"Senior..."

The Sect Master of the Dongling Sect watched with a twitching mouth as his own Elder, who had just been high-minded and righteous, turned into a bootlicker in the blink of an eye; he did not know what to make of it.

However, as a Spirit Array Master, he likewise understood the Elders' actions.

What Xiao Han possessed was a trump card capable of fundamentally strengthening combat ability and elevating the status of Spirit Array Masters, hitting the exact weak point and soft spot of every Spirit Array Master.

After all, who does not have a heart that yearns to dominate the battlefield?

He now somewhat understood where Xiao Han's confidence in integrating the four sects came from; any Spirit Array Master would be unable to resist such temptation.

In a situation where seizing it by force was unrealistic, joining was the only logical course of action.

Xiao Han smiled as he enjoyed the 180-degree turn in the Dongling Sect's attitude.

"I am taking over as Sect Master; does anyone have any objections now?"

"You may bring them up."

Xiao Han said, appearing democratic.

"None."

"We firmly support the decision of the Sect Master."

Hm?!

The crowd looked toward the source of the voice with dull expressions.

It was none other than the Dongling Sect Master, who was supporting Xiao Han's decision to become Sect Master with such a distinct attitude that it made one wonder if Xiao Han was actually occupying his position.

Since even the leading Sect Master had agreed, the others had even less reason to object, and one by one, they expressed their agreement.

"Sect Master, are you preparing to incorporate the other three sects?"

When the affairs of the Dongling Sect came to an end, the former Dongling Sect Master, now the Vice Sect Master, Yang Ling, took the initiative to step forward and ask.

"Do you have any suggestions?"

Xiao Han asked in return.

"I suggest that Sect Master start with the South Blade Pavilion."

"How so?"

Yang Ling said with confidence: "Reporting to Sect Master, although the remaining three sects are evenly matched in comprehensive strength, in terms of combat power alone, the South Blade Pavilion stands head and shoulders above the rest."

"Furthermore..."

"The people of the South Blade Pavilion are a bunch of brutes." Yang Ling seemed to recall something, his expression complex.

"They believe in the strong; as long as Sect Master can overwhelm them in the way of Spirit Arrays, subduing them is a certainty."

"Once the South Blade Pavilion is subdued, the other two forces will collapse without a fight and won't be able to stir up any trouble."

"Very well, for this trip to the South Blade Pavilion, you shall lead the way."

Xiao Han gave his final approval to Yang Ling's suggestion.

"You were still being conservative!"

Xiao Han's tone was complex; standing before the mountain gate of the South Blade Pavilion, he once again gained a profound understanding of the style of the former, as described by Yang Ling.

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling gave a sheepish smile, his heart turning cold as he looked at the chaotic mountain gate of the South Blade Pavilion.

Today was truly a case of a small knife cutting the buttocks—it opened my eyes.

Damn it!

Can anyone tell him which sect's disciples would actually start a brawl right in front of their own mountain gate?

If it were an ordinary Spirit Power sect, that would be one thing, but this was a force of Spirit Array Masters.

They were even more hooligan-like than bandits!

It perfectly interpreted the saying, "A Spirit Array Master who cannot engage in hand-to-hand combat is not a proper hooligan!"

If it weren't for the fact that the fighting South Blade Pavilion disciples were all exclusively using Spirit Arrays, he would have suspected he had gone to the wrong place.

"The Sect Master of the Dongling Sect has come to pay a visit; please trouble yourself to announce it."

Yang Ling took the initiative to step forward and negotiate.

However, the response from the crowd of South Blade Pavilion disciples was an offensive Spirit Array; the moment a fire dragon lunged toward Yang Ling, the latter's heart trembled.

"Sect Master, I have been rude."

Turning his head to give Xiao Han a strained smile, he then unleashed Spirit Seals that covered the sky and earth, walking step by step toward the brawling crowd.

Can't I, a High-level Spirit Array Master, handle a few little brats?

"Ten Thousand Binding Spirit Array!"

Countless chains bared their fangs and brandished their claws behind Yang Ling, shooting out toward the people of the South Blade Pavilion in front.

After a dozen seconds and a series of crackling sounds, Yang Ling stared expressionlessly at the South Blade Pavilion disciples who were tied up like dumplings.

"Speak, where is your Sect Master?"

"You are the Sect Master of the Dongling Sect?!"

The disciple widened his eyes; only then did he realize who was standing before him.

"Eh..."

Yang Ling hurriedly denied it, gesturing toward Xiao Han, who stood calmly behind him.

"That is our Dongling Sect's Sect Master."

Subsequently, he was met with a look of disdain.

"Are you trying to fool a simpleton? Do you really think I don't know what the Sect Masters of the four sects look like?"

"It seems our Pavilion Master was right; the Dongling Sect has indeed fallen, to the point where even the Sect Master dares not admit their own..."

"Slap!"

Yang Ling slapped that South Blade Pavilion Disciple on the head.

"Ouch!"

"Did your Sect Master not also say, do not provoke experts you cannot afford to offend to their faces."

Staring at the simpleton shaking his head before him, a touch of helplessness rose in Yang Ling's heart; as a senior, it was not convenient for him to quibble with a group of juniors.

Dealing with the South Blade Pavilion has this one downside: nagging mouths and simple-minded people.

To be angry is not worth it, but to endure it is infuriating!

Two words: miserable!

"Sect Master." Yang Ling returned to Xiao Han's side.

"The South Blade Pavilion Elder has likely sensed the disturbance in front of the mountain gate and will be here soon."

"Mm."

Xiao Han first nodded, then recalled the way Yang Ling had interacted with that South Blade Pavilion Disciple just now, and couldn't help but smile:

"You certainly have a good temper."

"Sigh!" Yang Ling's expression stiffened, and he sighed:

"Sect Master..."

He was not a cruel person; a little harmless offense was not worth making a big deal out of.

"Alright, the person we are waiting for has arrived."

Raising a hand to stop the words about to leave Yang Ling's mouth, Xiao Han fixed his gaze on the stream of light whistling over from afar.

"Who dares to cause trouble in front of my South Blade Pavilion mountain gate!"

Before the person arrived, the voice had already reached them; the old man's resonant voice echoed throughout the mountain gate.

"Boom!"

A thin, withered old man emerged from the thick smoke; if one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, it would be hard to believe that the source of such a voice was an old man who looked almost frail enough to be blown away by the wind.

"Sect Master Yang?"

The old man recognized Yang Ling at a glance, cupped his hands casually to offer a greeting, and directly ignored Xiao Han at the side; in his view, the former was likely just an attendant, not worth worrying about.

"Yao, this is the current Sect Master of my Dongling Sect."

Yang Ling clearly had not dealt with this withered old man for the first time; he held his forehead and corrected Yao's mistake.

"The Dongling Sect changed Sect Masters?"

Only then did Yao look at Xiao Han properly, though his tone was still not much better.

"A new face?"

Yao's eyes darted around nimbly, and he chuckled at Xiao Han.

"Just took over?"

Xiao Han laughed secretly in his heart, but remained calm on the surface, responding:

"I just took over the position of Sect Master a while ago."

"Want to spar with this old man?"

Yao rubbed his hands together, saying excitedly.

"Yao..."

Yang Ling's expression changed, thinking to himself that he knew something bad was going to happen.

He knew the temperament of the South Blade Pavilion all too well; they were all beings obsessed with battle. Even he, the former Dongling Sect Sect Master, had encountered such sparring requests countless times.

In particular, this Elder Yao was a standout of the South Blade Pavilion, ranked in the top three of the sect, and wanted to test his skills against any expert he met.

He understood that Elder Yao could not be unaware that someone qualified to be the Dongling Sect Master would have extraordinary strength, and he likely wasn't expecting to win; perhaps he was just aiming to challenge an expert.

But the gap was too large, and he would be crushed; Yang Ling wanted to save this lamb that had gone astray.

However...

"Enough, don't speak." Yao interrupted dismissively.

"I am talking to your Sect Master."

"Fine." Yang Ling was so angry he laughed, stepped aside, and stopped talking, watching coldly; the old brat wouldn't shed tears until he saw his own coffin—he brought this upon himself!

"Very well, let us have a spar, stopping at the point of contact."

Xiao Han went along with Yao's wishes, saying quite readily.

"Good lad, straightforward enough!"

Yao was extremely excited, "Just for those words, this old man will give you three moves."

Yang Ling covered his face: You idiot, are you complaining that you won't die miserably enough!

"Then I shall respectfully comply."

Xiao Han cupped his hands slightly and made the first move, unfolding a Spirit Array, and Yao received the move...

"Elder Yao, you have conceded!"

Xiao Han lightly withdrew the lethal Spirit Array he was about to unleash, bypassing Elder Yao, who was already on the verge of collapse.

"If you had known today would come, why act as you did in the beginning?"

Yang Ling looked at this babbling Elder Yao with pity and walked over.

At this moment, the latter had a dull look in his eyes.

"How is this possible?"

"This isn't a Spirit Array!"