Chapter 5: The Overbearing Ancestor

The Flame Heaven Sect is a force that began to rise six thousand years ago.

It is said that Elder Ancestor Fen Jin of the Flame Heaven Sect was originally an ordinary cultivator who, while exploring a secret realm, obtained the Phoenix inheritance that completely transformed his bloodline, and thus built his fortune and founded the Flame Heaven Sect.

After several generations of effort, their Elder Ancestor Fen Jin broke through to the Quasi-Emperor Realm two thousand years ago, and thus the Flame Heaven Sect entered the Quasi-Emperor-level Dao tradition, becoming the top power in Qingzhou!

At this moment, on the Longevity Sect's plaza, four red silhouettes descended from the sky!

Leading them was a woman of uncommon bearing, possessing Supreme Mid-stage cultivation, whose glancing eyes bore a hint of arrogance.

She is the Flame Heaven Sect Saintess Fen Yanran; when she came of age, she awakened the ancient special physique Divine Phoenix Body, and her cultivated talent is astonishing.

The Elder Ancestor of the Flame Heaven Sect regarded her as his heir, and under the sect's devoted training, Fen Yanran is now only a hundred and forty years old, yet her cultivation has already reached the Supreme Realm Mid-stage.

She is considered among the best of her generation!

"Even the Protective Sect's great formation has vanished; it seems the Elder Ancestor's perception was correct—the Xuanji Emperor Realm's final wisp of imperial soul has dissipated into smoke."

"This so-called Longevity Sect, after the Xuanji Emperor Realm's death, has not a single Quasi-Emperor to take up the banner—how laughable!"

Fen Yanran scoffed, speaking brazenly on another's turf without any fear of being heard by the Longevity Sect members.

Without the Xuanji Emperor Realm, can the Longevity Sect still be called the Longevity Sect?

Soon, Fen Yanran and a few others entered the Longevity Hall, passing through the crowd of Longevity Sect members!

Behind Fen Yanran followed three Supreme Saint Realm cultivators, one of whom was an elderly woman at the peak of the Supreme Saint Realm!

Such a terrifying formation suggests the visitors are not benevolent!

The Longevity Sect members muttered to themselves!

"We are unaware of the Flame Heaven Saintess's arrival—what business does she have?" Grand Elder Shen Qingcang stepped forward to greet her, asking with a smiling face.

Fen Yanran, with an arrogant expression, walked to the center of the Longevity Hall and bluntly shouted, "Break off the engagement!!"

Break off the engagement?!

The Longevity Sect members heard this and their expressions turned rather displeased!

The Flame Heaven Sect lies directly south of the Longevity Sect; the two sects are essentially neighbors.

Two years ago, Yang Xuanji, knowing he could not last many more years, brought a Quasi-Emperor Weapon as a betrothal gift to the Flame Heaven Sect, hoping that after his death the Flame Heaven Sect would support the Longevity Sect.

Even if they offered no assistance, at least they should not act against the Longevity Sect; the two sects should remain friendly neighbors forever!

The betrothal naturally involved Saint Son Xiao Jue of the Longevity Sect and Saintess Fen Yanran of the Flame Heaven Sect!

At that time, the Flame Heaven Elder Ancestor readily agreed!

He also gladly accepted that Quasi-Emperor Weapon!

But they did not expect that the Xuanji Elder Ancestor's imperial soul had just vanished, leading the Flame Heaven people to assume the Xuanji Elder Ancestor was dead and come to break off the engagement!

Breaking off an engagement on the Nine Continents is an extremely disgraceful act…

If they truly break it off, the Flame Heaven Sect will spread the news, and how will other forces then view the Longevity Sect?

"Break off the engagement?"

Above the great hall, Li Zhangsheng lounged lazily, humming softly; he waved at Xiao Jue and asked in a low voice, "What trouble is this again?"

Xiao Jue's expression was uneasy; he whispered a few sentences into Li Zhangsheng's ear, recounting the matter in full detail!

"Oh, so that's it. That brat Yang Xuanji keeps doing things that tarnish his reputation," Li Zhangsheng muttered bitterly.

Below, Fen Yanran paid no heed to the Longevity Sect members' reactions; she even lifted her gaze toward the throne above the Longevity Hall, unaware who now ruled the Longevity Sect.

Who would have thought, after that glance, her delicate body suddenly trembled!

Ah, what a handsome man!

Stars glittered in her eyes as she thought, "I could keep the engagement, but could I get a different man!"

She shook her head; no, she must not forget the main matter!

Damn, I almost got caught!

Who is this person? Why is he sitting in the seat of the Longevity Sect's Sect Master?

And when did the Longevity Sect acquire such a handsome Sect Master, never heard of him before?

She calmed herself, and her face returned to its cold expression.

"Breaking off the engagement, no problem, do it as you wish," Li Zhangsheng said nonchalantly, "Oh, and remember to return that Quasi-Emperor Weapon."

As for reputation, he doesn't care at all!

Reputation isn't given by others; it's forged by oneself!!

Upon hearing that the Quasi-Emperor Weapon should be returned, Fen Yanran and her companions' expressions shifted slightly.

The Quasi-Emperor Weapon is a priceless treasure!

For ordinary forces, having a Quasi-Emperor Weapon stationed boosts their strength by a tier!

Only a deep‑rooted, venerable sect like the Longevity Sect could offer such a treasure as a betrothal gift!

Which ordinary force could produce such a thing?

Having obtained this treasure, the Flame Heaven Sect naturally has no intention of returning it.

After all, in their eyes Yang Xuanji is already gone, so why return the Quasi-Emperor Weapon?

Moreover, their Elder Ancestor told them that this visit is only to break the engagement, not to return the betrothal gift!

"Hmm? Is there a problem?" Li Zhangsheng asked, looking at Fen Yanran and the others' slightly hesitant expressions.

"Ha, the illustrious Longevity Sect—once something is sent out, must it be taken back? Aren't they afraid the world will laugh?" the peak Supreme Saint Realm elderly woman behind Fen Yanran scoffed.

She spoke bluntly, showing no regard for the Longevity Sect members.

She made it clear to the Longevity Sect members: we only break the engagement, not the betrothal gift!

Your Longevity Sect's Elder Ancestor's imperial soul has vanished; who knows how many forces are eyeing you, ready to carve up the Longevity Sect!

Your Longevity Sect is vast and powerful; the Flame Heaven Sect is merely shouldering a single Quasi-Emperor Weapon for you!

Do you still dare to make the Flame Heaven Sect your enemy?

"Calling off the engagement but not the betrothal gifts?" Li Zhangsheng muttered faintly.

He spoke so righteously it left Li Zhangsheng feeling a bit at a loss!

This is nothing but cheating the betrothal gifts!!

So shamelessly brazen!

Although it's merely a quasi-emperor weapon, Li Zhangsheng couldn't care less!

But cheating on the betrothal gifts is an act he loathes, loathes it intensely!!

"That quasi-emperor weapon—are you sure you won't return it?" Li Zhangsheng asked again to confirm.

"Hmph, not returning—what can you do about it?" the old woman behind Fen Yanran, a peak Supreme Saint Realm cultivator, said fearlessly, "Could it be that your Longevity Sect still wants to be enemies with our Blazing Heaven Sect?"

"Hehe, not returning—then it's naturally much easier." Li Zhangsheng gave a light smile.

Frankly, he rather likes this sort of unruly person!

Speaking, Li Zhangsheng extended a finger and lightly tapped the old woman who was a peak Supreme Saint Realm cultivator.

Boom!

In the next instant, that old woman directly exploded into a cloud of blood mist!

The blood mist drifted down!

Fen Yanran and her companions were already wearing red robes!

Stained by this blood mist, their clothes became even more vivid!

Hmm?

What splattered onto me? It's so sticky!

Eh, where's the Grand Elder?

Just now it seemed someone exploded!

Oh, the person who exploded seems to be the Grand Elder!

Fen Yanran, together with the two behind her, only then realized—their pupils contracted… then they were shocked… and turned to terror.

"What?!"

All three of Fen Yanran's group were startled, a string of question marks flashing through their minds!

What happened???

The Grand Elder is a peak Supreme Saint Realm cultivator!

He was fine—how did he suddenly explode?

They hadn't noticed Li Zhangsheng's finger tap just moments before.

All they saw was the Grand Elder suddenly exploding where he stood, with no warning and no sensation of any aura fluctuation.

Who?

Who unleashed that?!

Yang Xuanji's imperial soul isn't gone, is it? Who in the Longevity Sect still has this kind of power?!

Fen Yanran and her two companions looked around warily.

Meanwhile, all the members of the Longevity Sect turned their gazes to Li Zhangsheng!

They knew for sure that just now it was the Patriarch who made the move!!

Soundless and formless, killing invisibly!

As expected of the Patriarch, this method is truly terrifying!

"You Longevity Sect actually dared to kill our Blazing Heaven Sect elder—do you want to be enemies with our Blazing Heaven Sect?"

At that moment, another Supreme Saint Realm powerhouse behind Fen Yanran finally reacted and shouted angrily.

Besides the Longevity Sect, who else could be attacking them here!

"Enemies?" Li Zhangsheng scoffed, "Do you even qualify to be enemies of the Longevity Sect?"

As he spoke, Li Zhangsheng casually waved his hand!

Boom!

The speaker turned into a cloud of blood mist.

Now Fen Yanran and the remaining Supreme Saint Realm cultivator finally saw clearly that it was Li Zhangsheng who did it!

Hiss!

They both sucked in a breath of cold air!

This extraordinarily handsome youth in white robes possesses terrifying strength!

"You…" the last Blazing Heaven Sect Supreme Saint Realm cultivator was about to say something.

"Huh?" Li Zhangsheng glared at him.

Then…

He too departed peacefully!!

The three Supreme Saint Realm cultivators, after being pointed at, waved at, and glared at by Li Zhangsheng, all turned into blood mist!!

Fen Yanran was so frightened her soul nearly fled, standing there trembling with terror!

This… what kind of method is this?

She dared not utter a word, fearing she'd share the fate of those three!

Because those three turned into blood mist precisely because they spoke!

This seems to be the killing pattern of that white-clad youth!!

As long as you figure out his killing pattern, you won't die!

Fen Yanran harbored a lucky hope!

Li Zhangsheng also had no intention of killing her; he simply said lightly: "Go back and tell your family's elder that tomorrow he should personally bring that quasi‑imperial weapon over, and don't make me have to go up your Heavenly Gate myself!"

"Also, let me correct this broken engagement: it was Xiao Juexiu who dismissed you; you must prioritize clearly, understand?"

Feng Yanran trembled, daring not to look up at Li Zhangsheng, nor to speak.

Afraid that speaking would trigger Li Zhangsheng's killing pattern.

"Hm? Where's the answer?" Li Zhangsheng slightly furrowed his brow.

"Yanran… understood. Yanran will definitely take the senior's words back," Feng Yanran whispered hoarsely.

"Hm, you may leave now!" Li Zhangsheng said coldly.

Then, Feng Yanran, trembling with great pressure, walked out of Changsheng Hall!

Her expression was fearful and utterly honest, a stark contrast to her former self!

The moment she stepped out of Changsheng Hall, she exhaled a sigh of relief!

Only then did she realize her whole body was soaked with cold sweat.

She hadn't expected that the seemingly harmless, handsome man would kill so irrationally!

She had often heard the saying, the prettier the woman, the more dangerous!

Today, she reached another conclusion: the more handsome the man, the more dangerous as well!

She darted away, not looking back, swiftly flying off, leaving this place of dispute!

Phew, that scared the baby to death!

This matter must be reported to the Elder Ancestor immediately!!

After Feng Yanran left, everyone at the Changsheng Gate in the main hall looked at Li Zhangsheng with admiration.

What a domineering Patriarch!

With the Patriarch here, I feel completely safe!!