Chapter 5: A Hidden Expert Makes Their Move
Rumble! He Zhi's single punch descended like divine judgment.
The unmatched Fist Aura shot forward at a speed no one could react to.
Nothing could stand in its way.
Under the overwhelming power of the Fist Aura, the Qingxuan Sect's Mountain-Guarding Grand Array shattered instantly.
The dozen or so Foundation Establishment cultivators outside were exposed beneath the Fist Aura.
"Retreat quickly..."
Among those cultivators, the strongest was a Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator, just one step away from Core Formation.
So in that split second, while the others hadn't reacted yet.
This Perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator's pupils suddenly contracted as he sensed the life-and-death crisis.
He hastily retreated and even managed to shout out two words, trying to warn his companions.
But it was useless. None of his nearby companions could hear his warning.
Because the Fist Aura was far faster than sound. Before those Foundation Establishment cultivators could react, the Fist Aura had already arrived!
The Fist Aura swept away everything like dead leaves, carving a trench ten meters wide in front of the Qingxuan Sect's mountain gate that extended far into the distant forest—no one knew how far.
And those standing before the Fist Aura—a full sixteen Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Blood Yin Sect—were instantly pulverized into a sky full of blood mist, dead beyond dead.
Only one remained alive: that Perfected Foundation Establishment expert. He was an executive of the Blood Yin Sect, just half a step away from advancing to Core Formation and becoming a Grand Elder.
However, this Perfected Foundation Establishment expert didn't survive because of his strength.
Rather, he had been at the edge of the formation from the start, and with his quick reaction, he retreated half a meter to the side before the Fist Aura struck, avoiding the center of its power.
That half a meter saved half his life.
But it was only half a life. He was still grazed by the Fist Aura, and half his body had vanished.
Now he was only half a person, flying bloodily through the air, teetering on the brink, his face full of terror.
With one punch, a full seventeen powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators were reduced to half a survivor!
The power of He Zhi's punch simply exceeded everyone's imagination.
Even He Zhi himself was shocked.
"I actually killed people..."
He Zhi's heart raced. Before striking, he hadn't expected this punch to be so powerful—killing over a dozen people with one blow, leaving only half a person alive.
Looking at the bloody scene, he felt somewhat nauseous.
After all, he was a game booster, not some cold-blooded killer. Having just killed people, it was inevitable his emotions would be stirred.
"These guys were evildoers to begin with. Killing them is an act of righteousness, upholding justice. No need to dwell on it."
However, He Zhi quickly calmed down and didn't feel much psychological conflict.
A bunch of villains—they deserved to die. Good riddance.
"What just happened!"
"Those demonic cultivators from the Blood Yin Sect are actually all dead? No, there's still half of one left!!"
Meanwhile, everyone from the Qingxuan Sect was dumbstruck, each face showing shock.
Even the Sect Master was the same, having lost his composure.
He Zhi's punch just now had been too fast and too fierce. Even with the eyesight of these cultivators, they couldn't see it clearly.
One moment, everyone was prepared to die, thinking today might be the day of Qingxuan Sect's annihilation.
The next moment, they saw seventeen Foundation Establishment enemies reduced to half a survivor.
How could they not be shocked?
"A senior expert must have secretly intervened!
It must be a Core Formation cultivator, and definitely a powerful one among Core Formation cultivators, to have such ability!"
The Sect Master was still the Sect Master—he was the first to react, realizing that an expert must have intervened.
But when he looked around, he saw no one.
***
"Impossible, impossible!
That cultivation method was fake to begin with. Elder Zhao made it up and secretly placed it in that secret realm to trap people. How could anyone actually succeed in cultivating it?
Blood Yin Escape! I must return and report to Elder Zhao!"
Just then, the last remaining "half person" from the Blood Yin Sect suddenly stared ahead, as if seeing something, his face terrified as though he'd seen a ghost.
Then his body transformed into a streak of blood light, instantly retreating and disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.
"No good, he escaped."
Everyone from the Qingxuan Sect was immediately alarmed. They all knew the principle of eliminating evil completely.
"No matter. He was already half-dead, and now using the Blood Yin Escape technique to flee for his life, he's certain to die."
The Sect Master quickly reassured them. He wasn't too worried.
Of course, even if the Sect Master was worried, he wouldn't show it in front of the disciples. Right now, the most important thing was to stabilize morale.
"However, what was with that person just now? He seemed to see something and was frightened..."
Then the Sect Master looked puzzled and followed the Blood Yin Sect cultivator's line of sight.
He wanted to see what exactly that person had seen that made him flee in panic.
A moment later, the Sect Master's expression also changed dramatically.
Because the Sect Master saw a transparent, mysterious figure in that location.
This figure flickered in and out of visibility, emanating a terrifying aura that seemed not to belong to this world, making one's heart palpitate.
This figure was naturally He Zhi. He was completely transparent in this world, originally invisible to all.
However, the aftershocks of that terrifying punch were still reverberating everywhere, with air currents surging.
The chaotic air currents struck He Zhi's body, revealing his figure just a little bit.
The figure wasn't clear—just a vague, mysterious outline.
"That figure is..."
The other members of Qingxuan Sect also quickly looked over and all discovered He Zhi's figure, unable to help crying out in surprise.
Just then, everyone saw the mysterious figure seemingly turn around and glance at them indifferently.
"Sen... Senior? Thank you for saving us..."
The Sect Master quickly lowered his head, not daring to look closely, and spoke respectfully.
In his heart, he was already rapidly pondering: What was the origin of this mysterious figure?
Was it good or evil? Why would it save them?
"Thank you for saving us, Senior!"
The others also quickly lowered their heads respectfully. After speaking, each one's heart pounded, not daring to breathe heavily.
Although He Zhi hadn't shown any malice.
The power of that punch just now was simply too terrifying—with one strike, over a dozen Foundation Establishment experts had perished.
If another strike came, wouldn't it be able to annihilate their entire Qingxuan Sect?
This inevitably made everyone nervous.
***
In the real world.
At this moment, He Zhi had already returned.
"Looks like they really can't find me, and they're quite wary of my strength."
Having returned, He Zhi looked at the screen and nodded slightly.
Just now, facing the thanks from the Qingxuan Sect members, He Zhi hadn't responded but directly returned instead.
He didn't want to have too much direct contact with the cultivators of that world.
Because what he worried about most was that with too much contact, the cultivators might find an opportunity to cross over to the real world in reverse—that would be big trouble.
After all, these cultivators had mysterious and powerful methods. Who knew what abilities they possessed? Better safe than sorry.
This way was best—strike and immediately return to the real world.
Brush off your clothes and leave when the deed is done, with no one knowing who you are.
"This screen is the legendary two-way portal, right? Fortunately, only I can cross through...
Now that I've verified my strength, the next step is to figure out how to gain benefits from that world."
He Zhi looked at the computer screen and muttered to himself.
At this point, he basically had no more doubts or worries about the cultivation world. After all, he was now the strongest in Qingxuan Sect.
So naturally, the next step was to figure out how to obtain benefits from that world, such as...
Cultivation!
* * *
Proofreader & Editor: Fat Goose 🪶