C47 Disband the Kunlun Sect

Lan Linglong overheard Lang Ye and silently mused, "To be the head of the Kunlun Sect at the Deification Early Period? The sect must truly be in decline."

Qin Buyi simply nodded, showing no sign of surprise.

He had visited the Kunlun Sect twice before, and on those occasions, he had slain nearly all of its upper echelon.

Now, only a Deification Early Period cultivator remained, standing out like a tall figure among dwarves.

After Lang Ye had responded, Qin Buyi handed him over to Lan Linglong with a directive, "Keep an eye on him."

Then, Qin Buyi's voice echoed across the Kunlun Sect:

"Effective immediately, I hereby announce the dissolution of the Kunlun Sect. All members are to depart within three days."

Qin Buyi's declaration sent shockwaves through the sect, with disciples staring at him in disbelief.

"The Kunlun Sect is disbanding?"

"How can this be? You must be joking."

"My family invested heavily for my place in the Kunlun Sect. If it disbands, all the Spirit Stones they spent will have been for nothing."

"Let's stay calm, everyone. Our Kunlun Sect is backed by the Kunlun Secret Realm. Surely the realm's mightiest won't allow this man to wreak havoc unchecked."

After making his announcement, Qin Buyi settled into meditation, biding his time.

Dismantling the Kunlun Sect was just the first step in undermining the Kunlun Secret Realm.

It was a deliberate move by Qin Buyi, a test of the Secret Realm's ability to protect its own. Failure would surely tarnish its reputation.

With Woo Qiankun dead, Zhang Feng's sea of consciousness impaired, and one remaining in hiding, the Kunlun Secret Realm's three Void Refining Perfection cultivators were diminished.

Qin Buyi's current concern wasn't a confrontation with the remaining Void Refining Perfection from the Secret Realm.

Rather, he worried they might choose to stay hidden within the realm, avoiding him altogether.

This was one of the reasons Qin Buyi declared the dissolution of the Kunlun Sect, yet stipulated that all members could only leave seventy-two hours later.

His aim was to coax the emergence of the Void Refining Perfection from the Kunlun Secret Realm.

Soon enough, within Qin Buyi's divine consciousness, he observed several Kunlun Sect disciples extracting Sound Transmission Jade Talismans to relay messages to the outside world.

Qin Buyi did not intervene, allowing the messages to be disseminated...

Lan Linglong's worldview had been thoroughly upended by Qin Buyi's actions.

The Kunlun Sect, an institution of ancient standing, loomed large in her childhood memories. Her father, while he lived, had even taken her there to visit.

Back then, the Sect Master, Woo Qiankun, was at the Void Refining Stage, and the position of Vice Sect Master was typically held by direct descendants of the Woo family, with cultivation levels generally in the Deification Middle to Late Periods.

But now, Woo Qiankun was dead, and not a single Deification Stage cultivator could be found in the entire Kunlun Sect.

The man responsible for this upheaval was right beside her, a man who defied convention, whose cultivation advanced swiftly and whose combat prowess was extraordinarily high—his true capabilities remained an enigma to all.

Lan Linglong gazed at Qin Buyi with mixed emotions, now understanding his intentions yet still finding them utterly surreal, as if she were in a dream.

"To think a single person could take on an entire secret realm—and succeed..."

The faces of the Kunlun Sect disciples were etched with despair, a melancholic air enveloping the sect.

Lang Ye, standing next to Lan Linglong, bore no such despondent look. He was already contemplating his next move.

He knew that, regardless of whether the Kunlun Sect disbanded, there would be no place for him there after this.

"How wonderful it would be to enter the Water Moon Secret Realm, with its multitude of beautiful ladies," he mused, indulging in a fantasy of being encircled by a bevy of beauties.

Yet the realization that the Water Moon Secret Realm was exclusive to female disciples brought him back to reality, prompting a soft sigh from Lang Ye.

"It looks like my only option is to join the Fire Cloud Secret Realm. I just hope I won't run into that man again once I'm in," Lang Ye mused, casting a silent glance at Qin Buyi before swiftly averting his eyes and sneakily observing Lan Linglong beside him.

Lan Linglong was the epitome of elegance, a beauty among beauties. Lang Ye, being an average man, couldn't pass up the chance to admire such a sight, especially when he had the privilege of being in close proximity to her.

Bang!

In the midst of his furtive glances, a hand chop to the back of his neck sent Lang Ye tumbling into unconsciousness. His last coherent thought before blacking out was, "Knocked out for the third time in the Kunlun Sect... is this what fate has in store for me?"

Lan Linglong withdrew her hand, the one responsible for Lang Ye's current state, and looked down at him with disdain. "Ugh! Creep!" she exclaimed with a spit.

Qin Buyi, through his Divine Consciousness, witnessed the scene unfold but chose not to intervene. He had allowed Lan Linglong to keep an eye on Lang Ye because he had previously assessed that Lang Ye was not the type to sacrifice his life for the Kunlun Sect. Qin Buyi was curious to see if he could extract more information by keeping him close.

Seeing Lang Ye faint once more, Qin Buyi couldn't help but inwardly scoff, "That's what you get for snooping around carelessly."

As time marched on, a day swiftly passed. The Kunlun Secret Realm remained still as stone; not a single disciple, let alone one at the stage of Void Refining Perfection, had made an appearance. The sense of desolation among the Kunlun Sect disciples deepened.

That day, Qin Buyi's announcement of the Kunlun Secret Realm's dissolution sent ripples of shock through the other factions.

In S City, Lan Wenhao read the message from Lan Linglong, and the frown that had been his constant companion eased slightly, only to return with a vengeance moments later.

Over the past couple of days, he successfully led the Lan family to safety, escaping the Fire Cloud Secret Realm. The journey, however, was far from smooth or pleasant.

Huo Qianyun, wary of the Lan family's elder, Lan Yan, refrained from attacking. Still, he didn't hesitate to strip the Lan family of their resources...

Lan Wenhao found this loss tolerable.

After all, it was a preferable outcome compared to what might have happened if Huo Qianyun had discovered the passing of their ancestor, Lan Yan. Paying to avert disaster was undoubtedly the better option.

Lan Tianhe picked up on the shift in Lan Wenhao's demeanor and inquired, "Third Brother, what's the matter?"

Lan Wenhao passed the Jade Talisman to Lan Tianhe, who received it and projected his Divine Consciousness into the artifact.

Upon reviewing the message within the talisman, Lan Tianhe couldn't help but feel a bit of schadenfreude.

"Qin Buyi's move is brilliant. He's essentially putting the Kunlun Secret Realm over the flames."

"The entrance to the Kunlun Secret Realm lies within Kunlun Mountain itself. Qin Buyi has effectively sealed it off."

Lan Wenhao continued with a sigh, "What's more extreme is that the Kunlun Secret Realm has been blocked for a whole day with absolutely no response..."

Lan Tianhe, puzzled, looked at Lan Wenhao and commented, "Isn't the lack of reaction from the Kunlun Secret Realm a good thing? In three days, the Kunlun Sect will be dissolved, and we'll see how the Secret Realm fares then."

Lan Wenhao patiently clarified, "The Kunlun Secret Realm won't wait around for Qin Buyi to dissolve the Kunlun Sect in three days. The absence of any response means something is definitely brewing..."

In the Water Moon Secret Realm.

The ruler of the Water Moon Secret Realm, Hong Wanrou, addressed Yinyue, stating,

"We've received news from the Kunlun Secret Realm. I've decided to send you and Elder Hongxiu on this mission."

Yinyue, looking at Hong Wanrou, asked, "Is it to encircle and confront Qin Buyi at the Kunlun Sect?"

Upon hearing Yinyue's question, Hong Wanrou gave a slight nod. Yinyue, however, shook her head, "I won't go."

"Why not? You and Elder Hongxiu are only tasked with securing the perimeter; it's not particularly dangerous," Hong Wanrou pressed for an answer.

Yinyue pressed her lips together, remaining silent as she fixed Hong Wanrou with a resolute gaze.

Recognizing Yinyue's determination, Hong Wanrou conceded with a sigh, "Fine, have it your way this time."

With a respectful bow, Yinyue turned on her heel and departed.

As she walked away, Lan Wenhao's image surfaced in her thoughts. He had warned her to steer clear of this affair at all costs, lest he be put in a tight spot.

The thought of Lan Wenhao's occasionally smug expression sent Yinyue's heart fluttering. Despite her outward coolness towards him, her affection had long since taken root.

"These days must be tough for him," Yinyue mused internally. "Having just guided the Lan family out of the Fire Cloud Secret Realm and throwing his full support behind Qin Buyi, I truly hope he comes out on top in this gamble."

In the Fire Cloud Secret Realm, Huo Qianyun addressed the figure before him with a tone of negotiation, "Elder Huo Dao, I entrust this task to you."

Huo Dao regarded Huo Qianyun with a nonchalant air, "Qin Buyi is hardly a concern. With the three great secret realms joining forces, what could possibly go wrong?"

Huo Qianyun's voice carried a note of complexity, "True, but we're well aware of his capabilities. His cultivation has advanced rapidly. It's the unexpected we must guard against."

"You worry too much. Can a duck that's ready to eat still take flight?" Huo Dao replied dismissively.

Ignoring Huo Dao's scorn, Huo Qianyun pressed on, "Elder Huo Dao, it's time to set out."

Without further word, Huo Dao turned and strode away.

Huo Qianyun watched his retreating figure, his hand alternately clenching and unclenching within the concealment of his sleeve.

With the Lan family's exit, the Fire Cloud Secret Realm had lost one of its three great Void Refining Perfections, leaving only two.

What the Fire Cloud Secret Realm needed most was solidarity. If they couldn't endure Huo Dao's departure without resentment, then resentment would surely drive him away.

Huo Qianyun was in a tough spot, facing a battle he couldn't win alone, and the Fire Cloud Secret Realm was on the brink of decline.

Thus, when confronted with Huo Dao's demeanor, Huo Qianyun had no choice but to suppress his fury and keep his cool.

In the Kunlun Secret Realm, Taoist Priest Kunxu, the realm's master, regarded Zhang Feng, whose Divine Consciousness had been impaired, and advised him,

"This time, I'm setting out to eliminate Qin Buyi. Make sure you focus on your recovery."

Zhang Feng, visibly moved, responded, "Please be cautious. That kid wields a method of Divine Consciousness attack that's incredibly difficult to defend against."

Kunxu nodded in acknowledgment, understanding the gravity of the situation. Zhang Feng, his voice tinged with anger and bitterness, continued,

"Qin Buyi has crossed the line, brazenly stirring up trouble right at the doorstep of our Kunlun Secret Realm. He's truly courting death."

Hearing this, Taoist Priest Kunxu's face turned sour, and he spoke with venom in his voice,

"Hmph, I've already reached out to the Fire Cloud Secret Realm and the Water Moon Secret Realm. Their reinforcements will arrive shortly."

"This time, that kid has no way out. He had the audacity to kill members of my Kunlun Secret Realm and act so insolently. We'll make sure he'll neither live in peace nor die in comfort!"