Creak! The hall doors slowly opened to either side, and a figure stepped out. The man wore a mask, his aura concealed and difficult to discern.

During the past month, Qin Sang had circled the area around Devilish Qingyang Sect. As he had expected, the sect had sealed its mountain as well. No core disciples had appeared, making it difficult to gather information.

When someone suddenly walked out of the sect leader’s hall and spoke such bold words, both sides froze.

Once they clearly saw the newcomer, Mei Gu and Zhao Shanran widened their eyes and stared fixedly at the iron ring on his finger, their faces filled with shock. Lu Xing also noticed the iron ring on Qin Sang’s hand.

Suspicion flashed across his face. Glancing at Mei Gu and Zhao Shanran, he sneered. "That old fellow has been missing for over a hundred years. His corpse has probably long turned into white bones somewhere. And you dare find someone to impersonate him, treating everyone in Devilish Flame Sect like fools?"

Mei Gu ignored Lu Xing completely and hurried forward. Still somewhat unable to believe it, her voice trembled. "Are you really... the sect leader?"

"Mei Gu, how much of what I told you before I left do you still remember?" Qin Sang said with a faint smile.

"I remember every word in my heart and have never dared forget a single sentence!" Mei Gu burst into tears of joy.

"Quite a convincing performance..." Lu Xing’s expression wavered as he mocked them, but Sect Leader Dong suddenly held him back, causing Lu Xing to start in alarm.

Sect Leader Dong frowned at Qin Sang, a strong sense of warning rising within him. As a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, he could not see through this man at all. Yet he faintly sensed a trace of danger from him.

Suddenly, Sect Leader Dong felt a gust of wind rushing toward them. His vision blurred.

"Crap!" Sect Leader Dong shouted loudly. "Be careful!"

His reaction was not slow. He had just begun to summon his life-bound astra when he suddenly discovered a figure had appeared beside him. With a startled cry, he retreated in horror.

Lu Xing looked even more terrified. He had assumed the man was an imposter, but the man's movement art was ghostlike, appearing before him in the blink of an eye.

"What use is there in keeping such a traitor?" Qin Sang snorted coldly and struck a palm toward Lu Xing’s forehead.

The seemingly light palm appeared to Lu Xing like thousands upon thousands of palms. The surrounding space seemed sealed off, leaving him nowhere to escape. To his horror, no matter how he tried to dodge, he could not evade the strike.

"Ah!" Lu Xing roared desperately. Red light erupted from his body as his life-bound astra, the Seven Yang Ruler, flew out to intercept the attack.

The flames on the Seven Yang Ruler surged violently, forming wave after wave of fire that rushed toward the descending palm. Qin Sang showed no intention of holding back. His palm fell straight down.

Boom! A dull explosion sounded.

The Seven Yang Ruler was the first to suffer. The astra suddenly dimmed, letting out a mournful cry. The flames collapsed and were forced back by the single palm strike!

The next moment, Qin Sang’s palm pressed forward along with the Seven Yang Ruler and struck Lu Xing’s forehead.

Lu Xing’s pupils widened as he froze in place. Then it was as if an invisible flame ignited him. Starting from the top of his head, his entire body turned into ashes, gradually crumbling and scattering in the wind.

In the end, nothing remained. Silence fell across Devilish Flame Sect.

Qin Sang casually tossed the Seven Yang Ruler in his hand and threw it to Zhao Shanran.

Then he turned with a smile toward the sect leader of Yinquan Sect and offered a fist-and-palm salute. "Daoist Dong, I established my sect here yet never had the chance to visit and pay respects. Forgive the discourtesy."

For the moment, Qin Sang did not want Devilish Qingyang Sect to notice him. The true essence he had used was only equivalent to a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

However, his physical body was far too powerful. Even with his bare palm, Lu Xing had no chance of harming him. Thus the scene he had displayed before everyone was extremely shocking.

The sect leader of Yinquan Sect snapped out of his daze with a shudder. Together with Elder Wu, he retreated several dozen zhang away, stunned by Qin Sang’s display.

He believed that if he personally fought Lu Xing, he could kill him. But there was no way he could do it so easily. Even if Qin Sang had waited in ambush inside the sect leader’s hall and struck with surprise, such strength was still terrifying.

Sect Leader Dong steadied himself and remained secretly on guard. After confirming that Qin Sang’s aura was only at the late stage of the Golden Core Realm, he said, "Daoist Lu was already expelled from Devilish Flame Sect by Sect Leader Mei and agreed to become a guest elder of Yinquan Sect. You killed him before us like this. That is not very nice, is it?"

At first he had suspected that Qin Sang might be some Spiritual Infant old monster, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

If a Spiritual Infant grandmaster had appeared in person, Lu Xing would not have been the only one to die.

"Mei Gu is merely the acting sect leader. Since I had not yet spoken, Lu Xing was naturally still a disciple of Devilish Flame Sect. I was simply cleaning the house. Do you intend to interfere in the affairs of Devilish Flame Sect?" Qin Sang spoke meaningfully.

"Of course not... Of course not..." Sect Leader Dong forced a laugh. "Then it seems like I misunderstood. May I know your Dharma name?"

"My Dharma name is Qingfeng." Qin Sang gestured toward the mountain below. "I have only just returned from a long journey. The sect has many matters to handle, so it is inconvenient to entertain guests. I will invite you all on another day to visit."

Mei Gu’s eyes widened. She suddenly remembered that one of her disciples had once mentioned encountering an old acquaintance of hers whose Dharma name was Qingfeng.

Sect Leader Dong did not show offense and nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course. I will take my leave first and not disturb you, Daoist Qingfeng."

The moment he turned around, his face darkened.

"And another matter. In the coming days, Mei Gu will lead half of the disciples to join you," Qin Sang said firmly.

Sect Leader Dong’s expression stiffened. He nodded and hurried down the mountain without looking back, his retreat appearing rather miserable.

Qin Sang turned around and discovered that all the disciples of Devilish Flame Sect were staring at him blankly.

Even Mei Gu felt as though she were dreaming. The sect leader who had been missing for years had returned, and his strength was overwhelming. With a single strike he had annihilated Lu Xing and frightened off the sect leader of Yinquan Sect.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!" Mei Gu knelt and bowed.

"Greetings, Sect Leader!" All the disciples shouted in unison and knelt across the ground. Every face was filled with joy and sincere admiration.

Zhao Shanran gripped the Seven Yang Ruler tightly. Both his hands and his voice trembled. The people’s hearts could be rallied.

Qin Sang nodded and walked toward the hall. "Rise, everyone. The sect’s rules remain the same. From now on, Mei Gu will still serve as acting sect leader. Mei Gu, come with me. Zhao Shanran and the late-stage Foundation Building disciples, stay behind."

"Yes!"

After making arrangements for the others, Mei Gu suppressed her excitement and entered the sect leader’s hall. Once inside, she froze again.

Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the portrait. It was the same back view.

The portrait had been painted quite well, but it could not compare even to a fraction of Qin Sang’s real presence. It seemed thin and pale in comparison.

"A Spiritual Infant grandmaster..." Mei Gu’s face was blank with disbelief.

Today she had already been shocked again and again, thinking she had grown numb. Yet at this moment, her mind turned completely blank.

"You have done well these past years." Qin Sang turned around and spoke approvingly.

Mei Gu stared at him blankly. Suddenly she burst into tears. All the grievances and pressure she had endured for years finally found release. At last she had someone to rely on and no longer had to carry everything alone.