Chapter 583: Unbeatable

“This…”“So powerful…”

Hearing the voice and seeing the massive pit before them, everyone turned pale with fright, unable to utter a single word. Sect Leader Bai was not the strongest among them, but certainly not the weakest either. His speed, in particular, was so great that even Sect Leader Luo Huang would need hundreds of kilometers to catch up. Yet, with such incredible speed, he was struck down in less than half a breath.

Even more astonishing, Master Yang in the air hadn't even moved. Using some unknown method, he not only killed the man but also created such an enormous crater. Judging by the might of that strike, not only could Sect Leader Bai not resist it, but even dozens of them combined wouldn't be enough to withstand a single blow! It was beyond imagination! Terrifying! Everyone trembled ceaselessly, gripped by a primal fear.

Just moments ago, they had relaxed, hearing Master Yang speak rather courteously. Only now did they truly understand that even as half-step 5-star master teachers, in his eyes, they were barely stronger than ants! A master teacher of such power could not only kill a half-step 5-star without repercussion, but even if he destroyed the entire Phantasm Feather Empire, the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters wouldn't say a word.

Rules were for the weak! True powerhouses only believed in their fists. As long as they possessed strength, no one could do anything to them; all rules and regulations were nonsense. Just like this 8-star master teacher before them: if you listened respectfully, all was well. But if you didn't, he'd kill you on the spot, and who would dare to object?

The Master Teacher Pavilion would never try an 8-star master teacher for killing an ant who hadn't even reached 5-star. What's more, this "ant" had already violated regulations by disobeying a high-ranking master teacher's words! The dignity of a master teacher was not to be insulted; this was more than just a saying. Every word was like an imperial decree. If he commanded you to die, you must die. To dare to flee? Not only would killing you be justified, but even annihilating your sect and your clansmen... if word spread, people would only cheer, and no one would offer a shred of sympathy. If master teachers lacked even this much prestige and status, how could they educate people and spread knowledge throughout the world?

“Was that... a martial art or a treasure?” Hall Master Kang, Alliance Leader Zhao, and the others flinched, their lips twitching as they stared intently at the massive pit in the distance and Sect Leader Bai, of whom no trace remained. Master Yang's attack earlier was simply too fast; even with their keen eyesight, they couldn't discern how he had struck. Vaguely, it seemed as if a golden book had appeared in the air and been directly slammed down... but whether it was actually a book, they couldn't be sure.

After all, they had seen people use swords, spears, and even more unorthodox weapons like meteor hammers, nine-section whips, or crocodile shears... but they had never heard of anyone using a book as a weapon! That thing... no matter how thick, it would be no more than a brick, and its soft texture would be utterly useless against the powerful physical body of a Transcendent Mortal. How could it possibly kill someone? If it really was a book, to instantly smash a late-stage Spirit Unification realm expert to death, without even giving him a chance to resist, and also create such a deep crater... how powerful must his true strength be? Regardless of what it was, it was beyond the comprehension of low-level individuals like themselves to casually speculate upon!

“This is...” Everyone was shocked to see Master Yang kill Sect Leader Bai with a single move. Only Wang Ying's body trembled slightly. Her gentle nature made her seem unremarkable among the many disciples, but she was meticulous in everything she did, observing details without fail. This was why, despite her talent not being as outstanding as others, her strength was in no way inferior. This was because she had a more thorough understanding of the cultivation techniques Master Zhang had taught. In the eyes of Zheng Yang, Sun Qiang, and others, Master Zhang had also used this move before, so it was not surprising that Master Yang, as Master Zhang's teacher, could also perform it.

But she... she could clearly see that this move was identical to when Master Zhang had used it, only faster! That day, Lu Chong died saving their teacher, and Master Zhang, in a fit of rage, threw a golden book, instantly smashing his opponent into a pulp and even killing Lin Long... The technique used was no different from the one just witnessed. Even with master-student inheritance, everyone's techniques are different; they cannot be perfectly replicated. It's like students taught by the same chef making the same dish – the taste will never be identical. For Master Yang, being so powerful, to use a technique identical to Master Zhang's, there was only one possibility... that the two were very likely the same person!

Unable to resist, she looked up at Master Yang in the air. After just one glance, Wang Ying couldn't help but cover her mouth. Master Yang in the air looked completely different from Master Zhang, and their attire was dissimilar. Logically, she shouldn't have noticed anything, but... she clearly saw a faint bluish-gray mark on Master Yang's chin! Back in the Witch Soul Tomb, Master Zhang's neck had been gripped by Mo Hunsheng, leaving a bluish-gray mark. Although nearly two months had passed, it had faded and was almost invisible, but its outline was still clear. Just recently, when she met Master Zhang, she had seen it... And this mark on Master Zhang's chin was exactly the same as the one on Master Yang's chin!

Master Zhang had a mark, Master Yang also had one, and they used the same method to kill enemies... Furthermore... it seemed Master Zhang never appeared when Master Yang was present, meaning the two had never appeared at the same time! Could it be... Master Yang was Master Zhang? Such a thing wasn't impossible; Master Zhang had once impersonated Master Liu, and none of them had been able to tell the difference. Her heart shook violently, and Wang Ying's delicate body swayed. No one noticed the slight tremor of a junior disciple; even if they had, they would have assumed it was due to being awed by Master Yang's heaven-defying methods.

At this moment, everyone was deathly pale and dared not utter another word.

“I was blinded by greed, losing the composure a master teacher should have when I heard about Master Kong's notes. Even if I die, I deserve it!” Sect Leader Luo Huang's eyes showed a desolate expression as he looked at Sect Leader Bai, whose body was nowhere to be found. Since Master Yang could act against Sect Leader Bai, he could also act against him. Rather than being killed by him and completely enraging him, it would be quicker to commit suicide. Gritting his teeth, he raised his head, his gaze firm: “I hope that after I commit suicide, Master Yang will not trouble our Flowing Cloud Sect or my student, as they are innocent...”

His death alone wouldn't be much; as long as the Flowing Cloud Sect remained, its foundation wouldn't be greatly shaken. He feared provoking the other party, who might then annihilate the Flowing Cloud Sect with a flick of his hand, in which case there wouldn't even be time to cry.

“Teacher...” Hearing that his teacher was about to die and was pleading for them, Luo Xuan was filled with anxiety. He had been severely injured last time by the Demonic Stellar Beast's sitting attack, but after days of recovery, he was nearly back to normal. That's why he had followed along, never expecting to witness such an astonishing scene, and to personally see a super master teacher who was possibly 8-star!

“No need to say more. After I die, let Elder Wang inherit the position of Sect Leader...” Knowing that he couldn't escape his fate, Sect Leader Luo Huang remained calm, waving his hand as he made his final arrangements.

“Teacher...” Seeing that he was about to commit suicide at any moment, Luo Xuan gritted his teeth and stepped forward: “Master Yang, since we can leave by paying spirit stones, could our Flowing Cloud Sect pay one hundred mid-grade spirit stones to... spare my teacher's life?”

“What nonsense are you spouting...” Sect Leader Luo Huang shook his head, hearing his student say such a thing. The other party was an 8-star master teacher! His earlier words were merely to avoid a full massacre, to give the Master Teacher Pavilion some face... Did this student really think such a powerful expert would care about a few mid-grade spirit stones? Forget mid-grade, even high-grade or top-grade spirit stones might not sway such a person! To buy his life with spirit stones... impossible! An 8-star master teacher's word was law; even a 7-star master teacher's plea wouldn't work, let alone some completely useless spirit stones... If it were that simple, Sect Leader Bai wouldn't have risked his life only to be instantly turned into a pulp.

Just as he was thinking his student was a bit naive at this crucial moment and planning to dissuade him, the faint voice of the figure in the air sounded: “150 mid-grade spirit stones can spare his life!”

“Gak?” Sect Leader Luo Huang's body swayed; he thought he had misheard. My life... is only worth 150 mid-grade spirit stones? Although mid-grade spirit stones were extremely valuable, the Flowing Cloud Sect's reserves could certainly produce them. After all, winning the Master Teacher Grand Competition so many times in a row meant terrifying rewards, not to mention the considerable value of half-step 5-star master teachers' remote lesson jade tokens... While 150 mid-grade spirit stones were precious, compared to the life of a grand sect leader, they were nowhere near as valuable! But... it was exchanged just like that?

“What? You don't have them? If not, then commit suicide!” Just as he was in disbelief, Master Yang's displeased voice echoed from above.

“I do, I do...” Only then did he confirm it was real. How could he dare to hesitate? With a flick of his wrist, a pile of mid-grade spirit stones appeared before everyone, their spiritual energy like dragons, their aura like a sea. Exactly 150 spirit stones, not one more, not one less.

“Hmm!” Master Yang in the air nodded with satisfaction. With an aerial grab, the spirit stones were swept into his storage ring, and then he looked over indifferently. “You don't need to commit suicide now. Collect the others' spirit stones and get out!”

“Yes...” Sect Leader Luo Huang quickly gathered the Flowing Cloud Sect members, collected each person's 20-stone quota, and hurried away. Seeing that Master Yang indeed had no intention of killing them, he finally let out a sigh of relief. Then, he glanced at the large pit not far away, his expression peculiar. *Cough cough*, Sect Leader Bai died too unjustly... If only he had known that spirit stones could buy his life, he probably wouldn't have run even if beaten to death! Now look, he was instantly smashed into a meat paste, not even knowing how he died... A dignified sect leader, worth only 150 spirit stones, less valuable than even a Spirit Unification realm spirit beast... What kind of situation was this! However, this clearly showed that Master Yang truly didn't care about their lives! Right, what did it matter to him whether ant-like people lived or died? It was just like how he wouldn't care about the life or death of a 1-star master teacher.

Having walked a considerable distance, Sect Leader Luo Huang finally relaxed and instructed his student Luo Xuan: “Go back and inform all disciples: never offend Master Zhang, his students, or even anyone from Myriad Kingdom City! Master Yang, not only can we not afford to offend him, but even the Phantasm Feather Empire and the Hongyuan Empire cannot afford to offend him... Putting aside his identity, based solely on his cultivation... within the Conferred Empire... he is invincible!”