Cleaning House

*Creak!* The hall doors slowly parted to either side, and a figure emerged from within. He wore a mask, his aura concealed and difficult to detect. Over the past month, Qin Sang had taken a circuit around the Qingyang Demonic Sect. Just as he had anticipated, the Qingyang Demonic Sect had also sealed their mountain; he had not seen any core disciples, making it difficult to gather information. Someone had suddenly stepped out from the Sect Master Hall and spoken such brazen words. Both sides were stunned. When they clearly saw the newcomer, Meigu and Zhao Shanran widened their eyes, staring fixedly at the iron ring on his finger, their faces filled with shock. Lu Xing also spotted the iron ring on Qin Sang's finger. A suspicious look crossed his face. Glancing at Meigu and Zhao Shanran, he sneered, "That old bastard has been missing for over a hundred years. His corpse must have long since turned to dust somewhere! How dare you two find an impostor and treat everyone in the Demon Flame Sect like fools?" Meigu, however, paid Lu Xing no heed. Stepping forward hastily, still finding it hard to believe, her voice trembled: "Are you truly... Sect Master Zhenren?" "Meigu, of the words this old man spoke to you before my departure, how many do you still remember?" Qin Sang looked at Meigu with a smile and casually recited a few sentences. "This disciple has kept them all firmly in mind and has never dared forget a single word!" Meigu wept tears of joy. "Quite a convincing act..." Uncertainty flickering in his eyes, Lu Xing voiced a sneer, but was held back by Sect Master Dong, which gave him a sudden start. Sect Master Dong frowned as he looked at Qin Sang, warning bells ringing loudly in his mind. As an expert of the late Core Formation stage, he was actually unable to see through this man's depth, yet he could faintly sense a trace of threat radiating from him. Suddenly, Sect Master Dong felt a gust of fierce wind sweep in, followed by a blur before his eyes. "Not good!" Sect Master Dong shouted in alarm, "Look out!" His reactions were by no means slow. Just as he was about to unleash his life magic treasure, he discovered that a figure had suddenly appeared beside him. Crying out in shock, he scrambled back in terror. Lu Xing was even more terrified. He had thought the newcomer was an impostor, never expecting the man's movement technique to be so ghostly that he was right before him in an instant. "What use is there in keeping such a treacherous traitor alive?" Qin Sang gave a cold snort and brought a palm down toward Lu Xing's brow! To Lu Xing, this feather-light palm seemed like thousands upon thousands of palms, and the surrounding space felt completely sealed off, leaving him no escape. In horror, he discovered that no matter how he dodged, he could not evade this strike. "Ah!" Lu Xing roared in desperation as red light erupted from his body. His life magic treasure, the Seven Yang Ruler, flew out from within him, meeting the strike in haste. The surging, tempestuous power of flames upon the Seven Yang Ruler gathered into waves of fire that surged toward the palm. Qin Sang, however, showed not the slightest intention of pulling back, driving his palm straight down. *Boom!* A dull roar rang out. The Seven Yang Ruler bore the brunt first. The magic treasure's radiance abruptly dimmed with a wailing cry, and then its fiery might scattered in disarray, forced back in reverse by a single palm! The next moment, carrying the Seven Yang Ruler with it, the palm pressed against Lu Xing's forehead. Lu Xing's pupils dilated as he stood petrified. Immediately after, as if an invisible flame were burning him to ashes, he began to disintegrate from the crown of his head, turning bit by bit into flying ash that scattered in the wind. In the end, his entire person vanished without a trace, leaving behind not the slightest remnant. Inside the Demon Flame Sect, dead silence fell in an instant. Qin Sang tossed the Seven Yang Ruler in his hand once or twice, then tossed it casually to Zhao Shanran. Then, with a smile on his face, he turned toward the Sect Master of Yinquan Sect and cupped his hands slightly. "Fellow Daoist Dong, this old man established my sect here yet never had the opportunity to pay you a visit. Forgive my breach of etiquette." Qin Sang did not want the Qingyang Demonic Sect to take notice of him for now, so the true essence he had channeled was merely equivalent to the late Core Formation stage. However, his physical body was simply too formidable; even against a bare palm, Lu Xing had no hope of harming him. That was how such a horrifying scene had unfolded before everyone. The Yinquan Sect Master snapped out of his daze as if waking from a dream, shivering all over. He and Elder Wu retreated several dozen zhang without even realizing it, utterly shaken by Qin Sang's display. He knew that if he personally made a move, he could slay Lu Xing, but it would be utterly impossible to do so with such ease. Even if this person had been hiding inside the Sect Master Hall and plotting this all along, catching Lu Xing off guard, such strength was still terrifying. Calming his nerves, the Yinquan Sect Master remained on guard. After confirming that Qin Sang was only at the late Core Formation stage, he said, "Fellow Daoist Lu was already expelled from the Demon Flame Sect by Sect Master Mei and agreed to serve as a guest elder of my Yinquan Sect. For Fellow Daoist to strike with such murderous intent before us... isn't that somewhat inappropriate?" At first, he had suspected whether this man was some old Nascent Soul monster, but he quickly dismissed the thought. If they were facing a Nascent Soul Patriarch, Lu Xing would not have been the only one dead. "Meigu is merely the acting sect master. Before this old man has spoken, Lu Xing is naturally still a disciple of the Demon Flame Sect. This old man is merely cleaning house. Does Fellow Daoist intend to meddle in my Demon Flame Sect's affairs?" Qin Sang said meaningfully. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare..." The Yinquan Sect Master gave a dry laugh. "In that case, it was a misunderstanding on Dong's part... Might I ask for Fellow Daoist's Daoist name?" "This old man's Daoist name is Qingfeng." Qin Sang gestured down the mountain. "This old man has just returned from a long journey, and sect affairs are messy and inconvenient. I shall invite you fellow Daoists to visit another day." Meigu's eyes went wide upon hearing this. She recalled that in the past, a disciple had told her about meeting an old acquaintance of hers whose Daoist name was Qingfeng. The Yinquan Sect Master took no offense and nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course. Dong shall take his leave first and not disturb Fellow Daoist Qingfeng." Turning around, his face instantly grew dark as water. "Furthermore, in the coming days, Meigu will lead half the disciples to meet up with Fellow Daoist," Qin Sang added in an unquestionable tone. The Yinquan Sect Master's expression stiffened. He nodded and hurried down the mountain without looking back, his retreating silhouette appearing exceptionally disheveled. Qin Sang turned back and found the disciples of the Demon Flame Sect staring at him blankly. Even Meigu felt as if she were dreaming, finding it completely surreal. The Sect Master Zhenren who had been missing for so many years had returned, possessing immense power that obliterated Lu Xing in an instant and frightened off the Yinquan Sect Master. "This disciple pays respects to Sect Master Zhenren!" Meigu dropped to her knees in obeisance. "We pay respects to Sect Master Zhenren!" All the disciples shouted in unison, dropping to their knees in a great wave. Joy showed on every face, full of heartfelt reverence. Zhao Shanran gripped the Seven Yang Ruler tightly, his hands and voice both trembling. The hearts of the people were usable. Qin Sang nodded and walked toward the main hall, speaking as he went, "Rise, all of you. The sect's rules remain as before; hereafter, Meigu is still your acting sect master. Meigu, come with me. Zhao Shanran and the late Foundation Establishment disciples shall remain outside." "Yes!" ... After making arrangements for the others, Meigu suppressed her surging emotions and stepped into the Sect Master Hall, only to freeze once again. Inside the hall, Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the portrait. It was also a view from behind. The portrait had captured him well enough, yet it could not match even one ten-thousandth of Qin Sang's true demeanor, appearing so frail and pale by comparison. "Nascent Soul Patriarch..." Meigu's mind was blank. Today, she had been shocked time and again until she thought she had gone numb. Yet at this moment, her mind went completely blank, utterly at a loss. "Over the years, you have done well." Qin Sang turned around, an appreciative look on his face. Meigu stared blankly at Qin Sang. Suddenly, she broke down in tears. The grievances and suppressed emotions of so many years could finally be released. From now on, she finally had someone to rely on, and she no longer had to shoulder everything alone.