Chap 7 - Offending the Catastrophe

As the Patriarch charged forward, his body met an invisible force that sent him hurtling backward at incredible speed. The impact crushed the surrounding buildings, reducing them to rubble that became one with Spring Mountain.

The mountain, once a revered gathering place for sect meetings and ancestral dwellings, crumbled under the tremendous collision, sending shockwaves through the entire sect.

Even the disciples and elders, who were previously pinned down and immobilized, widened their eyes in astonishment and drew in sharp breaths.

The rocks from the shattered mountain scattered in all directions, some crashing into vital sect structures in the Upper Area while others transformed a few unfortunate disciples in the Lower Area into unrecognizable carnage.

"Scream! Flee for your lives!" The desperate cries echoed from all directions, mingling with the tumultuous crashes of large stones descending from the sky. Tears streamed down the faces of some, while others resigned themselves to their grim fate.

Blood and human organs painted the surroundings in a grotesque tapestry of horror. In a matter of minutes, the once-majestic Thousand Illusionary Sect had been reduced to a merciless battlefield.

Pills and herbs from the Pill Room lay strewn about, their medicinal properties rendered useless, and the sacred texts of the Thousand Illusionary Library were torn asunder.

On this chilling midnight, disaster befell one of the prominent sects in Xi Ning Province. Severely injured individuals, immobilized and helpless on the ground, could only bear witness while clenching their jaws.

Fear and resentment mixed in their gazes as they stared at Xia Wei.

"Gah!" After a brief passage of time, a feeble, dry cough emerged from the debris of Spring Mountain where the Patriarch lay buried under the rocks.

Soon after, the debris shifted, revealing the wounded figure of a middle-aged man emerging from beneath.

With disheveled hair and tattered clothing barely concealing his lower body, the once mighty and courageous Patriarch knelt on the ground, coughing up blood.

His Qi, once vibrant and vigorous, now fluctuated with instability, unable to circulate through his meridians.

Amidst the stunned crowd, a young man stepped forward, each of his deliberate strides resounding throughout the previously serene sect.

"Intercept him! Do not allow him to approach any closer!" the elders bellowed at the outer disciples, who were still dazed by the unfolding events.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the disciples swiftly comprehended their duty and rushed to protect their Patriarch.

"Remain calm and refrain from any rash actions, or you will suffer the same fate," a figure suddenly materialized behind Xia Wei, addressing the bewildered outer disciples.

An elderly man, appearing frail yet possessing a towering height of over 180cm, donned an imposing dark robe adorned with a white dragon emblem on the front of his Hanfu.

He stood behind Xia Wei, casting a menacing glare upon the remaining individuals.

"Who is that?" One of the disciples murmured to his companions. The disciples, including those still pinned down and heavily wounded, found themselves perplexed by the sudden appearance of this mysterious old man.

Their lack of understanding was to be expected, as their cultivation had not yet reached the Core Formation realm.

Only the elders, who had attained Nascent Soul cultivation, comprehended the true power emanating from the old man. They involuntarily sucked in a sharp breath, their gazes filled with fear and wariness as they beheld this formidable figure.

"An... An expert! A mighty expert!" one of the elders exclaimed, overwhelmed by fear and caution. He coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood before succumbing to unconsciousness, his expression tainted with regret.

"Ah, so he truly hails from the Upper World! We've offended the wrong person, hahaha!" Another elder, still pinned to the ground, burst into a manic laughter before fainting on the spot.

This peculiar turn of events further puzzled the disciples, their curiosity mixed with a tinge of fear as their focus shifted between the remaining elders and the seemingly feeble old man.

"Sigh, I've lived for a considerable time, yet this is the first instance I've laid eyes upon a Void Amalgamation realm expert," one of the elders sighed, blood trickling from his ears.

His eyes resembled those of a lifeless fish as he gazed upon the kneeling Patriarch, his emotions a complex blend.

As they conversed, the elders and disciples began ingesting pills one by one, gradually restoring their Qi and healing their bodies.

However, the disciples' minds remained restless, unable to find calm in the face of their elder's words. Those who harbored deep-seated hatred for Xia Wei and sought revenge now trembled in fear.

The world's mightiest existence in this lower realm was a cultivator of the Void Amalgamation realm!

For thousands of years, there had been no trace or record of their presence in the lower realm. This meant that if one were to appear, they would possess the power to dominate the entire lower realm.

...

Among the outer disciples, Qian Ya stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the unfolding situation. The young master whom she believed had been poisoned by their wine, presumed dead, was now leisurely strolling forward.

Furthermore, given the circumstances, it became evident that this young master truly hailed from the Upper World.

Qian Ya did not know what had transpired with her own young lady, but she was certain that she and her young lady were the catalysts for this sect's destruction.

Her small and delicate hands trembled, her lips paled, and her heart raced with intensity.

Nodding along with the other outer disciples, she attempted to discreetly make her way out of the sect. However, she was startled to find Xia Wei's gaze fixed upon her.

"Should I kill her, young master?" Xia Ping, also known as Old Ping, inquired, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he locked onto Qian Ya.

Had it not been for his young master's breakthrough and the sudden command to stay by his side, the unimaginable worst-case scenario would have unfolded.

Thus, aware that Qian Ya and Miss Bai were at the root of the problem, he had not hesitated to bring this sect to ruins.

A mere mortal had dared to plot and even harbor the intention to kill his young master!

"No. Keep her alive and extract her memories as evidence. I wish to clear my name and find a suitable place for my breakthrough," Xia Wei halted his steps, casting a faint smile in the direction of his guardian, Old Ping.

His words momentarily froze Old Ping, who regarded him with a mix of disbelief and anticipation.

"A breakthrough?!" Old Ping nearly exclaimed, his emotions oscillating between joy and concern. He glanced at his young master, poised to say something but hesitated, fearing that his words might inadvertently offend him.

Meanwhile, instead of delving into Xia Wei's breakthrough matters, the disciples and elders followed the line of sight of Xia Wei's guardian, ultimately fixing their attention on Qian Ya, who stood trembling in place with her head lowered.