"It's truly unbelievable that the first person to die is from Qingcheng Mountain!"
"And to be killed by someone from Huaxia Five Dragons in an over-level battle!"
The onlookers from various factions exclaimed in astonishment. They had initially expected someone from Qingcheng Mountain to emerge victorious, perhaps with some casualties.
However, they never imagined that Qingcheng Mountain wouldn't gain an advantage since the fight began.
Suddenly!
Amidst their exclamations, casualties also appeared on the Hunyuan Realm battlefield.
The Hunyuan Realm expert fighting Ning Xiang also died! His body was severed.
Ning Xia had directly slapped him, severing his head!
"Another person is dead! And it's someone from Qingcheng Mountain!"
"It's over, Qingcheng Mountain is collapsing on both battlefronts. This breach is widening!"
After their astonishment, the onlookers hadn't even had time to calm their nerves when the third casualty appeared!
The strongest person in Qingcheng Mountain's Zhenyuan Realm also died!
The protector of Qingcheng Mountain had his body exploded by a punch from Luo Yiren, meeting his demise.
This time, the onlookers didn't even have time to exclaim.
Something happened again in the Hunyuan Realm!
Han Xiyao, fighting two opponents alone, severely injured two Hunyuan Realm experts!
Everyone only saw a flash of green light, followed by a dragon's roar, and then two Hunyuan Realm experts bled from their orifices, falling to the ground and coughing incessantly.
Even if they survived this, their strength would likely be compromised.
"Damn it! How could this happen!"
Witnessing this, Daoist Qing Niu fell into a frenzy.
He never expected Qingcheng Mountain to suffer such a devastating defeat, with three people dead and two severely injured, three of whom were elders in the Hunyuan Realm!
Furthermore, they hadn't even managed to eliminate one of the Huaxia Five Dragons. Daoist Qing Niu could not accept this outcome at all.
"Zhang Yang, you deserve to die!" Daoist Qing Niu roared.
He blamed everything on Zhang Yang. If Zhang Yang hadn't tied him down for so long, he would have been able to disengage and help others earlier.
With this thought, Daoist Qing Niu held nothing back, circulating his vital energy to its maximum strength.
With a boom.
Instantly, a surging tide of energy swept towards Zhang Yang.
The terrifying impact force was so great that the crystal coffin couldn't absorb it all immediately.
Zhang Yang's body retreated, his internal organs violently shaken, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
However, he quickly circulated the white pill within his body, stabilizing his retreating posture again, and then raised the crystal coffin to smash it towards Daoist Qing Niu once more.
"Old man, today I will smash you into a meat patty." Zhang Kuang's face contorted in anger. No longer relying solely on the power absorbed by the crystal coffin, he channeled his true qi, initiating a counter-attack!
Instantly.
Zhang Yang, who had been moving sluggishly, broke through all resistance, and in the blink of an eye, he was within three meters of Daoist Qing Niu.
This startled Daoist Qing Niu, his face filled with horror as he hurriedly urged his vital energy to blast Zhang Yang away.
But!
It was too late. Zhang Yang raised the crystal coffin high with both hands and brought it down directly.
"Die for me!"
Boom!
This crystal coffin, with immense power and weight, struck Daoist Qing Niu squarely, his pupils dilating in terror.
"Ah!"
After a scream, Daoist Qing Niu's entire body was embedded in the arena, his aura becoming extremely weak!
The onlookers below, seeing this, retreated in fear, rubbing their eyes in shock!
"How is this possible? Daoist Qing Niu has also been defeated, and so miserably! My heavens!"
"What kind of monster is this Zhang Yang? Daoist Qing Niu is a late-stage Hunyuan Realm expert, the second most important figure in Qingcheng Mountain!"
"It seems that after this, Huaxia Five Dragons is truly going to rise."
"..."
Daoist Qing Niu's defeat not only shocked the crowd below but also threw the people of Qingcheng Mountain into a panic.
Their faces changed drastically, unable to concentrate on the fight.
And at this moment, it was the counter-attack of the Huaxia Five Dragons.
"Now! Kill!"
Huo Zhu shouted, alerting everyone, and then struck out with his palm, sending his opponent flying.
Another Qingcheng Mountain Hunyuan Realm expert was severely injured!
He Ao and Jiang Pan, with cold expressions, unleashed their full strength!
Two more Zhenyuan Realm experts were severely injured!
Luo Yiren was more ruthless; she didn't bother with incapacitating her opponents. If she could kill them, she would!
With a boom!
Another Qingcheng Mountain Hunyuan Realm expert died!
Defeated.
Completely defeated.
Qingcheng Mountain was either dead or injured.
The only one still able to speak was Daoist Qing Niu.
However, Daoist Qing Niu's condition was also dire. Compared to the burning gazes of the onlookers, he wished he could just pass out.
"Oh, Daoist Qing Niu likes digging holes now?" He Ao teased.
"Don't talk nonsense, he knows he's about to die, so he's burying himself first," Ning Xiang chuckled.
"Let's rename him, 'Digging Mouse' sounds pretty good," Han Qingxuan chimed in.
"Digging Mouse? Then let's play Whack-a-Mole!" Luo Yiren, finding a wooden mallet from somewhere, struck Daoist Qing Niu's head with a clang.
Daoist Qing Niu's mind went blank, feeling dizzy and disoriented.
"Hahaha, I must say, this Whack-a-Mole is quite interesting. Let me have a go." Ning Xiang took the wooden mallet from Luo Yiren and also struck down.
Daoist Qing Niu immediately spat blood, on the verge of collapse.
It wasn't that the wooden mallet hurt his head, but the humiliation was too much!
"Zhang Yang, kill me if you want, this old man won't even frown!" Daoist Qing Niu shouted!
"I never said I wouldn't kill you. It's just that today is the grand reopening ceremony of our Huaxia Five Dragons. Letting them play Whack-a-Mole is a good form of entertainment," Zhang Yang sneered.
Clearly.
He didn't want to kill Daoist Qing Niu so soon.
Since they dared to come and provoke them today, Zhang Yang intended to use him to establish his authority!
However, he had no intention of holding back against the other Zhenyuan Realm experts from Qingcheng Mountain.
He suddenly stepped forward, his palm curved, summoning the crystal coffin back, intending to squeeze out their remaining value before they died.
But!
Just as Zhang Yang was about to deliver the killing blow, an ancient voice suddenly came from afar.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a wisp of green smoke drift over, landing steadily in front of Zhang Yang.
"Young friend, please wait. Can you spare the life of my sect disciples?"
The speaker was an old man, bearing some resemblance to Daoist Qing Niu.
Zhang Yang did not recognize him and frowned slightly.
However, Huo Zhu and He Ao cried out in unison.
"Daoist Qing Shan!"
Daoist Qing Shan was the master of Qingcheng Mountain, a figure whose strength ranked among the top in China.
"Hello." Although Daoist Qing Shan's expression was somewhat darkened with anger, he was very polite to Huo Zhu and the others, nodding in greeting.
"I've arrived late. I didn't expect things to escalate to this point. Elder Huo, we are old acquaintances. Can you spare the lives of my Qingcheng Mountain disciples?" Daoist Qing Shan said.
Hearing this, Huo Zhu and the others were slightly taken aback.
They had expected Daoist Qing Shan to come and engage them in combat.
Who would have thought he was here to plead for mercy?
The crowd exchanged glances, thinking, "Is there some hidden reason behind this?"
They all looked at Zhang Yang, none of them making a statement.
Daoist Qing Shan observed for a moment and realized that the Huaxia Five Dragons were led by Zhang Yang. He immediately smiled at Zhang Yang.
"Young friend Zhang, you truly surpass your predecessors. You are much stronger than your father, Zhang Yingxiong. I truly admire you."
"Today's events are indeed the fault of Qingcheng Mountain. Can you, on my account, spare their lives?"
Zhang Yang frowned slightly.
He neither agreed nor refused, merely retorted.
"Are all people from Qingcheng Mountain so shameless? They attack when they want, and beg for mercy when they lose? What do you take us for?"
Daoist Qing Shan looked somewhat ashamed and glared at Daoist Qing Niu with disappointment, as if he were a failure.
In fact, Daoist Qing Shan was aware of the news of the Huaxia Five Dragons' reconstruction.
Upon learning of this, he had sent elders from the mountain to offer congratulations.
Who would have thought that this matter would be known to Daoist Qing Niu?
The latter, secretly hiding it from Daoist Qing Shan, had taken half of Qingcheng Mountain's strong cultivators to Jiangnan City.
Daoist Qing Shan knew Daoist Qing Niu like the back of his hand.
He knew that with so many people descending the mountain, they were definitely not there to offer congratulations.
This was because Daoist Qing Niu had suffered significant losses in past conflicts between the Huaxia Five Dragons and Qingcheng Mountain, even losing his woman during the battles.
Therefore, Daoist Qing Niu harbored deep hatred for the Huaxia Five Dragons.
Daoist Qing Shan had guessed the other's intentions and rushed down the mountain to prevent this disaster.
However, despite his haste, he was still a step too late.
Some had already sacrificed their lives, some were severely injured, and some were crippled.
And these people were all from their Qingcheng Mountain.
They had lost face and dignity.
"Young friend, Qingcheng Mountain was indeed wrong today. I apologize on their behalf. Can you spare their lives?" Daoist Qing Shan's attitude was extremely humble.
There was no trace of the arrogance of a hegemon of the Central Plains.
Zhang Yang frowned slightly, not wanting to refuse someone who was being polite.
The attitude of the Qingcheng Mountain Master was very good. Firstly, seeing the deceased Qingcheng Mountain disciples and the humiliated Daoist Qing Niu, who was being treated as a 'digging mouse', he was not angry.
Instead, he politely admitted his mistake and asked for Zhang Yang's forgiveness.
This...
After thinking about it, Zhang Yang felt it would be difficult to remain firm.
Putting aside the potential consequences of being unyielding, based solely on the Qingcheng Mountain Master's attitude, he could show leniency.
"Alright, I can give face to the Qingcheng Mountain Master. But if there's a next time, no one will be able to plead for mercy!" Zhang Yang said sternly.
"Good, thank you, young friend, for your mercy." The Qingcheng Mountain Master breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
Then, he cupped his hands slightly towards Huo Zhu and the others, and with his right hand, he gently stroked out.
A soft, luminous vital energy enveloped the injured Qingcheng Mountain disciples, stabilizing their wounds.
And he himself pulled Daoist Qing Niu, whose head had been beaten bald, from the ground.
"Junior brother, you went too far this time! Look how many disciples had to pay the price for your impulsiveness!"
"Go to Reflection Cliff and meditate for a year upon our return! You are not allowed out without my command!" the Qingcheng Mountain Master said coldly.
"Yes, senior brother," Daoist Qing Niu replied dejectedly.
This battle had shattered Zhang Yang's confidence, planting a demon in his heart.
Especially for the several deceased elders and protectors of Qingcheng Mountain, Daoist Qing Niu felt immense self-blame.
"Mountain Master, we have disgraced you."
At this moment, the surviving Qingcheng Mountain experts approached, heads bowed, and said to the Qingcheng Mountain Master.
"Alas, it is fate. You have all been too complacent for too long, always thinking Qingcheng Mountain is invincible. Have you ever considered that there are always people beyond people in this world?"
"Take the deceased disciples back to Qingcheng Mountain for burial, and we shall depart."
The Qingcheng Mountain Master sighed, then bid farewell to Zhang Yang and the others, and left.
The group, which had arrived in great splendor, with everyone greeting them respectfully, now departed in a state of disarray, sorrow, and dejection.
Thus, this battle concluded.
The fame of the Huaxia Five Dragons was thoroughly established.
Although not as powerful as they once were, their strength was sufficient to contend with all factions below Qingcheng Mountain.
Those factions that had kicked them while they were down now felt a sense of unease.
They wanted to sneak away with the Qingcheng Mountain group, but!
He Ao had been watching them, and not a single one was allowed to leave.
"Want to leave? Do you think my Huaxia Five Dragons are a charitable organization? That we won't pursue responsibility?"
"You people are opportunistic dogs. Not a single one of you will get away with it! Arrest them first!"
He Ao said sternly.
"No... Minister He, we were blinded by greed just now. Please spare us. From today onwards, we will obey the Huaxia Five Dragons!"
"Yes, Minister He, our sect has a hundred-year-old healing sacred medicine, which we are willing to contribute to the Huaxia Five Dragons."
"We have one too, our sect has a peerless sword that we can also offer."
"I have pills for advancing cultivation..."
The people from these factions pleaded for mercy, willing to offer treasures.
They knew what fate awaited them if they were detained.
However, He Ao sneered.
"Hmph, do you think I can't destroy you and then personally search for the treasures you speak of? Why should I accept your tribute?"
"Come, arrest them! Not a single one can be let go!"
He Ao shouted, and Luo Yiren and the others immediately moved!
Although they were few in number, at this moment, they dared not resist.
Perhaps there was still a glimmer of hope if they didn't resist; resistance would mean immediate death.
Even the Qingcheng Mountain Master, upon seeing the death of Qingcheng Mountain's elders and protectors, could only ask Zhang Yang for leniency.
Their resistance would be nothing short of a joke.
In a short while, most of these people were taken away.
To prevent them from escaping, Han Qingxuan personally sealed their vital energy hubs.
However, He Ao surrounded three factions, with no intention of arresting them.
Because these three factions were none other than Seven Killings, Hehuan Sect, and Shujian Mountain.
These were the factions that had tried to kill them at the Zhang family ancestral home.
"Zhang Yang, how should we deal with these three groups?" He Ao asked, unsure.
Zhang Yang pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
"It's a waste to kill them. Let's cripple them first, arrest them as hostages, and notify their sects. Tell them to exchange something of equivalent value."
"Remember to tell them they have only one day. If they don't come, or if the items they offer are not worth exchanging for them, then we will execute them!"