Gasps of disbelief echoed across the battlefield.
Chaos reigned.
"H-He killed all eighteen core elders… by himself?!"
"What are we still doing here?! Run!"
"Retreat—now!!"
A tidal wave of cultivators turned and fled in sheer panic, as if some apocalyptic demon were chasing them down.
Ye Junlin watched the retreat with amusement, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"Well, I've still got about sixty percent of my spiritual energy left. Might as well test out that new divine ability from the rewards."
With his cultivation having risen again, his reserves had multiplied. In the past, he'd be running on fumes by now—but not anymore.
"Junior Brother Ye's strength is beyond comprehension…" Xu Yonian murmured, visibly shaken.
"Master is incredible!" Bai Xiaoxi cheered.
But none were more stunned than Hong Qianye. Frozen stiff, he stared at Ye Junlin's figure as if seeing a god descend.
No one could comprehend just how deeply this blow landed.
"Wait… what's that?" Hong Qianye's face twitched as his gaze shifted upward.
High above the sky, spiritual energy from heaven and earth gathered into a spiraling vortex, pouring into Ye Junlin's palm. He slowly raised his hand, condensing a massive five-colored orb of light. It grew rapidly—resplendent, blinding—like a second sun that lit up the heavens. Even cultivators thousands of miles away could see it clearly.
For a moment, time itself seemed to freeze. Under the shocked gazes of the world, that radiant sphere dominated all vision.
The Five Extremes Reincarnation Destruction Technique!
Swish!
Ye Junlin casually tossed the massive orb forward.
It was like watching an ant hurl a star.
Boom! Boom! Boom…
The orb exploded in the midst of the fleeing army, releasing a roaring storm of five-colored energy that surged across the battlefield in a brilliant ocean of destruction.
"Quick, activate the defensive arrays!"
Warships deployed their protective shields, but under the force of the five-colored energy, they shattered like brittle glass. Cultivators inside screamed, faces pale with horror, as they were swallowed by the light.
Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Transformation Stage experts—all were vaporized without mercy.
"Amitabha… we should've never come. This Demon is far worse than the legends…" whispered a group of Zen monks aboard a flying boat, smiling bitterly as the blinding light engulfed them.
Boom boom boom—
Under the devastation of the Five Extremes Reincarnation Destruction Technique, nearly a million cultivators vanished from existence.
Disciples and elders of the Xuantian Sect stood frozen, stunned speechless.
"…Whew."
Ye Junlin wiped the sweat from his forehead and clicked his tongue.
"What a divine technique."
Then came the silence… followed by earthshaking cheers.
"We won! We really won!"
The Arid Province trembled under the cry of victory, and countless local cultivators stared in awe.
"Venerable Ye wiped out a million enemies alone. Has anyone in history ever accomplished something like that?!"
"Unfathomable… we're in the presence of a legend!"
"Invincible! Venerable Ye is invincible!"
Back at Mysterious Peak, the atmosphere was euphoric.
"Senior Brother Ye, do you need some ornaments for your legs?" The Cangjian Peak Master rushed over, flattering shamelessly.
"Pfft, Ye Shidi wouldn't want anything from a stinky man like you." The Tianxiang Peak Master rolled her eyes and gently pushed him aside, then gave Ye Junlin an adoring look. "Ye Shidi, you worked so hard. Let me give you a shoulder massage."
Her gaze practically melted.
Xu Yonian gave a dry chuckle.
"This battle finally revealed your true cultivation level. How long were you planning to keep that from us, Shidi—no, Venerable Ye?"
"Indeed!" The other peak masters eagerly chimed in.
Ye Junlin cleared his throat.
"Let's not make a big deal out of it. We should stay humble."
Then he reclined comfortably on a lounge chair, happily biting into a hot, juicy piece of Orleans chicken.
At that moment, Hong Qianye stood frozen nearby, looking utterly humiliated.
He had considered fleeing—but was there any point?
After witnessing Ye Junlin's power, he realized the gap between them had grown impossibly wide.
Even if he gave everything he had, he wouldn't survive a single strike.
He couldn't even compare to the strength in Ye Junlin's pinky.
What do I do now? What the hell do I do?!
Damn it… That bastard! Hiding Peak Great Ascension strength behind a fake Unity Stage face—shameless!
Sweat dripped from his forehead. Panic set in.
He'd gone too far—exposed his ambitions, wounded his peers… Even preserving his life now seemed unlikely.
Ye Junlin munched through his sixth wing and took a long, satisfied sip of milk tea. Then his gaze landed on Hong Qianye.
"…Oh? You're still here?"
Xu Yonian and the others blinked. He hadn't noticed until now?
Hong Qianye's heart sank.
Is it over?
But the next moment, despair consumed him. The look in Ye Junlin's eyes chilled him to the bone.
"Senior Brother Jin," Ye Junlin called casually, "please chop him into minced meat and fertilize the phoenix tree in my courtyard."
He sounded perfectly serious.
The Cangjian Peak Master blinked in surprise, then nodded.
"Oh, sure."
He drew his sword and took a step forward.
Thud!
Without hesitation, Hong Qianye dropped to his knees and shouted,
"Master, spare me! I'll atone! I beg you!"
The Cangjian Peak Master paused, looking awkwardly at Ye Junlin.
Ye Junlin smiled faintly.
"Weren't you acting all tough earlier? What happened to your spine?"
Hong Qianye flushed with shame, wishing he could disappear.
"Master, I was blinded by arrogance. Please give me another chance. I'll prove myself!"
Ye Junlin said calmly, "Slap yourself. I'll tell you when to stop."
"Yes…"
Trembling, Hong Qianye raised his hand and began slapping himself hard. Blood flew from the corners of his mouth.
He didn't care. As long as he survived—anything was worth it.
Slap! Slap!
The sharp sound echoed across the peaks.
"Brother Hong…" Bai Xiaoxi looked pained, stepping forward to help, but was stopped by a glance from Ye Junlin.
Xu Yonian's expression shifted before he sighed.
"Betraying the sect deserves punishment, yes—but Hong Qianye did protect Xuantian Sect when it mattered most. He's not without merit. I propose sending him to the back mountain to reflect."
As sect leader, Xu Yonian still saw potential in him. Though his character had flaws, he believed that with Ye Junlin around, Qianye could be corrected.
Ye Junlin took the cue.
"In that case, the death sentence is lifted. But the punishment stands—report to the back mountain for reflection."
Hong Qianye stopped, his face swollen like a pig's head. He rose and gave a deep, solemn bow.
"Disciple Hong Qianye… thanks Master for his mercy."
Then he stumbled off toward the back mountain.
Xu Yonian shook his head.
"Your disciple really doesn't give us any peace of mind."
"Without Ye Shidi keeping him in check, we'd all be in trouble," the Cangjian Peak Master muttered.
"Exactly. We're only able to keep him because of Ye Shidi," the Tianxiang Peak Master added with a smile.
Ye Junlin sighed.
"I was too soft on him, that's why he turned out this way. Don't worry. I'll make sure he learns his lesson."
He glanced at the distant figure and grinned, amused at how his disciple, miserable as he was, still had to force a smile.
"Xiaoxi!"
"Mouse Mouse is here!"
"I want hot pot."
"Yes! Mouse Mouse will get it ready right now!"
"Ye Shidi, what's hot pot? Is it really food if it's cooked in a burning cauldron?"
"Haha. Everyone's curious, huh? Then stay and try it yourselves!"
"…Alright, why not!"
---
Back Mountain
A crimson figure stood silently by the pond.
Staring at his reflection—swollen and bruised—Hong Qianye's eyes filled with tears. His body trembled with resentment and bitterness.
He never imagined the road to redemption would be this humiliating.
"I won't believe you'll stay undefeated forever…"
"As long as I work hard, I'll catch up. I'll break through to Great Ascension… even higher!"
"Ye Junlin—just wait and see."
---