### Chapter 22: First Update
Yuan Lian’s eyes darkened, and the green leaves in her hair trembled slightly. She reached up to smooth them, and they calmed down.
She was curious to see what these people were like when they weren’t in front of her.
At this moment, with hundreds of disciples watching and Yuan Lian herself standing behind him, even Yan Hang couldn’t maintain his composure.
He struck out angrily, his palm filled with spiritual energy that seemed to shatter the very space around them. “Zuo Xihuang, you’re courting death!”
But Zuo Xihuang wasn’t afraid at all. He charged in recklessly, leaving no room for retreat as he engaged Yan Hang.
Zuo Xihuang had used a divine artifact before entering, and now everyone was blocked at the entrance of the secret realm. It would take some time for others to get in, and at this level of combat, no one else could intervene. Zuo Xihuang could fight without worry, but Yan Hang had to consider the disciples still inside the secret realm. The lowest among them were only at the Qi Condensation stage, and the aftermath of their battle could shatter their heart veins. Ling Yao alone couldn’t protect them all.
Yan Hang was already at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation, and with his hands tied, he could only watch as Zuo Xihuang grew more arrogant.
Zuo Xihuang let out a long, sharp laugh that could pierce eardrums.
“Hahaha—Wanyi Sect trash! Is this all you’ve got? I don’t even need my master to step in; I alone can defeat you all. And you dare to participate in the Hundred Sect Assembly!”
“You might as well have your master hand over the benefits directly!”
Not only Yan Hang, but even the disciples of Wanyi Sect in the secret realm, despite their current predicament, couldn’t help but glare at him angrily.
Yan Hang’s jaw was clenched tight. He was furious at the unprovoked insult to his sect and ashamed that the dispute between the two factions had dragged Yuan Lian into it.
Zuo Xihuang, of course, didn’t really dare to provoke the Xianzun. Despite his loud boasts, he was only taking advantage of the fact that divine senses couldn’t easily probe the secret realm, and the venerables of Buzhou Mountain couldn’t hear him.
Notice how Zuo Xihuang never directly mentioned Yuan Lian by name, only using a title, clearly afraid that she might sense his disrespectful words.
Moreover, the bond between Wanyi Sect and Xianzun Yuan Lian wasn’t close enough for them to complain about grievances. These major sects were all very concerned about their reputation. Because of their own reasons, letting the Xianzun be verbally insulted and then asking her to back them up… just thinking about it made Yan Hang feel he couldn’t face it.
It’s said that the Forbidden Demon Cave easily produces madmen, but in Yan Hang’s view, these madmen are all quite measured, a unique group of lunatics.
Yan Hang sneered inwardly, circulating his true essence, and exchanged another move with Zuo Xihuang.
By now, Zuo Xihuang had noticed Yan Hang’s concerns and couldn’t help but laugh sinisterly. His vigorous true energy brushed past Yan Hang.
This madman was willing to get hurt, directing his attack at the ordinary disciples inside the secret realm!
Even though Ling Yao was on guard, she couldn’t cover everything, and quite a few disciples were affected.
Zuo Xihuang, as Yan Hang said, appeared mad but was actually very shrewd. With just a few glances, he figured out which direction Ling Yao cared about the most. He shot a sinister look at Yan Hang and then charged towards the third floor of the Xiao Canglou Secret Realm.
For low-level cultivators, the fierce true energy was like lightning and thunder, leaving no room to dodge.
It was like a mortal at the foot of a mountain facing an avalanche, with no hope of escape—especially since this attack came even faster than an avalanche.
Unfortunately, Chang Songzhu and Kuang Yuming were directly below.
They had no power to resist, only managing to instinctively close their eyes tightly.
Zuo Xihuang was hit solidly from behind by Yan Hang. After all, they were cultivators of the same level, and Yan Hang wasn’t to be trifled with. Zuo Xihuang spat out a mouthful of blood.
But he didn’t care at all, even smiling… until the next moment when that smile froze.
Chang Songzhu opened her eyes in confusion.
The faint light emanating from in front of her wasn’t dazzling, but it caught everyone’s attention.
A long, emerald-green sword hovered in front of her, slowly rotating. Centered around this sword, a semicircular barrier formed, covering most of the third floor.
Chang Songzhu stared blankly at her ever-present sword, murmuring, “Changqing?”
The Changqing Sword seemed to understand, glowing even brighter in response to its master.
Kuang Yuming was dumbfounded, staring at Chang Songzhu. He never expected that the inconspicuous sword she carried on her back was actually a defensive artifact—one strong enough to withstand a full-force strike from a Jade Immortal.
Ling Yao, seeing that Yuan Lian hadn’t acted, had a similar suspicion but wasn’t sure. She tried her best to save all the disciples from Zuo Xihuang’s attack, but the gap between an Earth Immortal and a higher stage was like a chasm, impossible to cross. Her rescue efforts couldn’t match the speed of his attack.
…But now, it seemed she didn’t need to intervene.
As everyone stood in shock, pondering who this woman was who saved so many with just a sword, Zuo Xihuang was also stunned.
He was initially bewildered, but as he realized what had happened, his expression twisted.
“Good, good! What a bitch!” Zuo Xihuang’s face was sinister, terrifying enough to scare children into silence.
He mockingly taunted Yan Hang, who was also surprised, “Your Wanyi Sect is truly blessed. Some people can become Jade Immortals just by lying down and sleeping… Now, a mere Qi Condensation stage… think about whether you’re worthy!”
Chang Songzhu, bewildered, had become a thorn in the side of a Jade Immortal, with no one to turn to for justice.
But she had no time to worry about that now. Once Yan Hang drew Zuo Xihuang’s attention away again, she immediately hugged the Changqing Sword tightly, not letting anyone see it.
Yan Hang calmly defended against Zuo Xihuang’s frenzied attacks while transmitting to Ling Yao, “Get them out as soon as possible. I can’t hold off this madman for long…”
“It’s useless! It’s useless!” Zuo Xihuang laughed wildly, attacking like a swift black panther, tearing into his prey: “Outside is the divine artifact our master obtained—you can’t get out. I can kill whoever I want!”
The disciples were terrified by his words. The younger ones, having never seen such a person, huddled together, trembling.
Yan Hang gritted his teeth, but on second thought, although it was embarrassing, with his master present, things wouldn’t go to the worst. If he held off Zuo Xihuang, his master wouldn’t just watch him die…
Probably not… right?
Given Yuan Lian’s previous behavior, Yan Hang really couldn’t predict her mood.
Zuo Xihuang was laughing, but he was actually in a bad mood. His attack had been blocked by a Qi Condensation stage woman, which would be a great humiliation if spread. He was also furious at Wanyi Sect’s wealth, wondering how many good things they had obtained from… there…
“You only have this much skill. If it weren’t for Buzhou Mountain backing you, Wanyi Sect might not even exist today.” Zuo Xihuang, unhappy himself, naturally wanted to make others more unhappy, his insults particularly harsh.
“Yan Hang! Where’s your master?” Zuo Xihuang shouted loudly, his voice clear inside and outside the secret realm: “Isn’t she hiding in Buzhou Mountain, afraid to show her face?”
Yan Hang was extremely angry and couldn’t let him spout nonsense. Just as he was about to retort, a cold voice suddenly sounded in his ear:
“Move aside.”
Yan Hang’s reaction had never been so swift. He didn’t hesitate for a moment, instantly withdrawing from the battle and retreating from Zuo Xihuang’s sight.
Then everyone saw a serene stream of light flash through the air.
The light was like the tail of a star, unbelievably beautiful and light, tracing an elegant curve with a hint of coldness, moving swiftly towards Zuo Xihuang.
Just like Zuo Xihuang’s attack, disciples below the Spirit Light stage couldn’t easily compare. He sensed the light but couldn’t react at all.
He widened his eyes, watching helplessly as the stream of light approached.
Under everyone’s gaze, the once arrogant Jade Immortal, like a demon lord descending, was struck head-on. The next moment, he fell like a kite with a broken string.
Zuo Xihuang’s cultivation was already at the highest level. The true essence and spiritual energy he carried, combined with his weight, were powerless against the mighty force that struck him. Suddenly, he tore through the space he passed, and upon landing, shattered the edge of the Xiao Canglou Secret Realm.
He was forced out of the realm, and the aftermath even flattened the peak of Wangchen Peak nearby.
Zuo Xihuang’s body created a flat area on the mountaintop, rolling a few times in the mud before finally stopping. He then spat out several mouthfuls of blood, soaking his front and mixing with the mud.
Just a moment ago, he was extremely arrogant, threatening to kill everyone. Now he was in such a sorry state, he hadn’t even realized what had happened.
And Yan Hang, still in the secret realm, though he had some expectations, couldn’t help but shiver at Yuan Lian’s thunderous strike.
But once he regained his senses, the first thing he wanted to do was eagerly check Zuo Xihuang’s fate. He left the frightened disciples to Ling Yao and rushed out excitedly.
At this moment, Zuo Xihuang felt intense pain in his dantian. Without even needing to check internally, he knew his qi sea was in chaos, and his spiritual foundation was likely half shattered.
This made him afraid to move, only seeing someone gently land in front of him. A pair of white embroidered shoes touched down, hovering half an inch above the dirty mud, with a clean and delicate light blue hem draping over them.
Zuo Xihuang slowly raised his head.
Yuan Lian’s face was slightly lowered, her pale gray eyes devoid of emotion, casting a light gaze upon him.
—Like looking at an insignificant pebble on the roadside that had stubbed her toe.
“!!!” Zuo Xihuang’s narrow eyes widened to the point of almost popping out: “Yuan, Yuan…”
Having lived for thousands of years and reached such a level of cultivation, he was actually stuttering. He lay on the ground, not daring to move, feeling his heart about to leap from his throat, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he trembled:
“Greetings, Lian Zun…”