Chapter 1163: Cleaning House

*Crack!*

The hall doors slowly parted, and a figure emerged from within. The person wore a mask, and their aura was indistinct, making them difficult to perceive.

For the past month, Qin Sang had been exploring the vicinity of the Azure Sun Demonic Sect. As he expected, the sect had sealed itself off, and he hadn't encountered any core disciples, making it hard to gather information.

Suddenly, someone walked out of the Sect Master's main hall and spoke provocatively. Both sides were stunned. When they clearly saw the newcomer, Aunt Mei and Zhao Shanran's eyes widened, staring intently at the iron ring on the person's finger, their faces filled with shock.

Lu Xing also saw the iron ring on Qin Sang's hand. A suspicious look crossed his face. He glanced at Aunt Mei and Zhao Shanran, then sneered, "That old geezer disappeared over a hundred years ago; his body must have long turned to dust somewhere. You dare to find someone to impersonate him? Do you take everyone in the Demonic Flame Sect for fools?"

Aunt Mei ignored Lu Xing, hurrying forward. Still somewhat disbelieving, her voice trembled, "Are you truly... the Sect Master?"

"Aunt Mei, how much of what I told you before I left do you still remember?" Qin Sang asked, smiling at Aunt Mei and casually mentioning a few details.

"Your disciple remembers every word and has never dared to forget a single one!" Aunt Mei wept with joy.

"Quite an act..." Lu Xing remarked, still skeptical and sarcastic, but he was silenced by Sect Master Dong, who immediately looked alarmed. Sect Master Dong frowned at Qin Sang, a strong sense of alarm rising within him. He was a late-stage Core Formation expert, yet he couldn't discern Qin Sang's true strength, only faintly feeling a hint of threat from him.

Suddenly, Sect Master Dong felt a strong gust of wind, and then his vision blurred.

"Watch out!" Sect Master Dong cried out loudly, "Be careful!" His reaction wasn't slow; just as he was about to unleash his Natal Artifact, he suddenly found another figure by his side. He gasped in surprise and retreated in alarm.

Lu Xing, even more terrified, had initially thought the other party was an imposter. He never expected the person's movements to be as ghostly as they were, appearing before him in an instant.

"What use is there in keeping such a traitor?" Qin Sang snorted, then struck Lu Xing's forehead with his palm! To Lu Xing, that seemingly light palm felt like a thousand, ten thousand palms. The surrounding space seemed to be sealed off, leaving no escape. He realized, to his horror, that no matter how he dodged, he couldn't evade this attack.

"Ah!" Lu Xing roared in desperation, a brilliant red light erupting from his body. His Natal Artifact, the Seven Sun Ruler, flew out from within him, hastily countering the attack. The Seven Sun Ruler surged with fiery power, forming waves of flames that rushed towards Qin Sang's palm. Qin Sang showed no intention of stopping, striking straight down with his palm.

*Boom!*

A muffled thud. The Seven Sun Ruler was the first to suffer. The artifact's luster suddenly dimmed, emitting a mournful cry, and then its fiery power scattered, actually being forced back by that single palm! The next moment, the palm, carrying the Seven Sun Ruler, landed on Lu Xing's forehead. Lu Xing's pupils dilated, and he stood frozen on the spot. Immediately after, as if by invisible flames, his entire body was incinerated into ash, starting from his head and gradually turning into dust that dispersed with the wind. Ultimately, he vanished without a trace.

Inside the Demonic Flame Sect, silence reigned supreme.

Qin Sang lightly tossed the Seven Sun Ruler in his hand, then carelessly threw it to Zhao Shanran. Then, with a smile, he turned to Sect Master Yin Quan, giving a slight bow. "Fellow Daoist Dong, I established my sect here and haven't had the chance to pay my respects. My apologies for the oversight."

Qin Sang didn't want the Azure Sun Demonic Sect to notice him just yet, so the True Essence he used was actually only equivalent to that of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. However, his physical body was simply too powerful; even with a bare hand, Lu Xing couldn't hope to harm him, which was why he displayed such a terrifying scene before everyone.

Sect Master Yin Quan, as if waking from a dream, shivered. He and Elder Wu simultaneously retreated several tens of feet, startled by Qin Sang's display. He mused that while he could kill Lu Xing himself, it would never be so effortless. Even if Qin Sang had hidden in the Sect Master's hall and plotted meticulously, taking advantage of an unsuspecting opponent, such power was still truly horrifying.

Sect Master Yin Quan composed himself, maintaining his guard, confirming that Qin Sang was only at late-stage Core Formation. "Fellow Daoist Lu has already been expelled from the Demonic Flame Sect by Acting Sect Master Mei and agreed to become an honored elder of my Yin Quan Sect. Is it really appropriate for you to kill him so brutally in front of us?" He initially suspected this person might be a Nascent Soul expert but quickly dismissed the idea. If a Nascent Soul Patriarch were present, Lu Xing wouldn't be the only one dead.

"Aunt Mei is merely the acting sect master. Since I haven't spoken yet, Lu Xing is, of course, still a disciple of the Demonic Flame Sect. I am merely cleansing my sect. Does Fellow Daoist intend to interfere in the affairs of my Demonic Flame Sect?" Qin Sang asked, his words filled with deeper meaning.

"I wouldn't dare... I wouldn't dare..." Sect Master Yin Quan let out a dry laugh. "In that case, it was a misunderstanding on my part... May I know Fellow Daoist's dharma name?"

"My dharma name is Qingfeng," Qin Sang replied. Qin Sang gestured towards the foot of the mountain. "I have just returned from a long journey, and there are many complicated matters within the sect. It is inconvenient at the moment. I will invite all fellow daoists to be my guests another day."

Aunt Mei's eyes widened when she heard this. She remembered that a disciple had once told her he met an old acquaintance of hers whose dharma name was Qingfeng.

Sect Master Yin Quan showed no offense, nodding repeatedly. "Of course, of course. I will take my leave first and not disturb Fellow Daoist Qingfeng." Turning away, his face instantly darkened like water.

"Also, in the coming days, Aunt Mei will lead half of the disciples to meet up with you," Qin Sang stated unequivocally. Sect Master Yin Quan's expression froze. He nodded, then hurried down the mountain without looking back, his retreating figure appearing unusually disheveled.

Qin Sang turned around and found all the Demonic Flame Sect disciples staring at him in a daze. Even Aunt Mei felt as if she were dreaming; it seemed unreal. The Sect Master, who had been missing for years, had returned, incredibly powerful, instantly eradicating Lu Xing and forcing Sect Master Yin Quan to retreat in alarm.

"Your disciple pays respects to the Sect Master!" Aunt Mei knelt in worship.

"We pay respects to the Sect Master!" All the disciples shouted in unison, kneeling in a flurry. Everyone was overjoyed and genuinely convinced. Zhao Shanran clutched the Seven Sun Ruler tightly, his hands and voice trembling. The people were ready to be swayed.

Qin Sang nodded and walked towards the main hall, saying as he went, "You may all rise. The sect rules remain the same. Aunt Mei will continue to be your acting sect master. Aunt Mei, come with me. Zhao Shanran and the late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples, stay here."

"Yes!" Aunt Mei arranged for the others, then, suppressing her excitement, entered the Sect Master's main hall and was stunned once again.

Inside the hall, Qin Sang stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at a portrait. It was also a depiction of a back. The portrait was well-rendered, but it paled in comparison to a fraction of Qin Sang's true aura, appearing thin and lifeless.

"A Nascent Soul Patriarch..." Aunt Mei's face was filled with bewilderment. Today, she had been shocked time and again, thinking she had grown numb. But at this moment, her mind went blank; she was utterly bewildered.

"You've done well these past years," Qin Sang said, turning around with a look of approval. Aunt Mei stared blankly at Qin Sang, then suddenly burst into tears. Years of grievance and suppression finally found release. She finally had someone to rely on, someone to shoulder the burdens, so she wouldn't have to carry everything alone anymore.