Pei Tianzhuo reached out as if grasping the endless starlight itself, forging a sword of pure astral radiance in his hand. The blade shimmered with fractured constellations, and when he swung it, it was as though an entire star came crashing down upon Lin Ye.
With Pei Tianzhuo alone, the pressure he released far surpassed the combined power of Geng Shiqiu and the sect's grand sword formation. A ruthless beam of cold light shot forward.
Lin Ye raised the Frost-Iron Sword and shattered the incoming force again and again. One slash from Pei Tianzhuo blanketed a hundred-meter radius, violent and overwhelming—yet Lin Ye tore it apart piece by piece.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The collision of two Star River Realm auras warped the heavens above the Wind-Thunder Profound Sect. Sword howls echoed like thunder, shaking the four directions. Under such crushing pressure, Xuanlei Peak began to fracture. Boulders flew, sand and debris surged into the air. The crowd retreated in panic—some even abandoned the peak entirely—watching the battle with wide, unblinking eyes.
"Phantom Thunder Sword Art!"
Pei Tianzhuo roared. His aura seemed to draw in heavenly lightning. Arcs of electricity flashed and formed chains around Lin Ye, trapping him. Sword energy flickered and exploded from shifting thunder nodes, striking from unpredictable angles.
"This is our sect's Phantom Thunder Sword Art—unfathomable, impossible to defend against!"
Many elders cried out in awe, thrilled to witness the Sect Master display such a signature technique.
Wen Lang's heart sank with worry.
But Lin Ye's footwork was even more exquisite. His body blurred and flickered so quickly that even the jumping lightning could not catch his movements. In a single burst, Lin Ye broke out of the thunder cage and slashed straight at Pei Tianzhuo.
"Crashing Thunder Sword Palm!"
Pei Tianzhuo struck with both hands. His Star-Calling Bridge flared like a sun, the technique pushed to its limit—this was the blow he had been waiting for.
"Shura Blood Armor."
Lin Ye's blood armor unfolded instantly, and he took the full force head-on.
Pei Tianzhuo's eyes widened at that terrifying defense.
Then Lin Ye's sword rose.
"Blood Slaughter: Nine Carnages!"
Lin Ye's own Star-Calling Bridge released light as well—but unlike Pei Tianzhuo's grand brilliance, Lin Ye's glow was faint and restrained, yet terrifyingly solid and refined.
Pei Tianzhuo had just broken through. He could not fully control the Star River Realm's power. Lin Ye, however, moved as though he had walked this path countless times.
And because his control was absolute, his power was lethal.
The moment Lin Ye's sword energy erupted, Pei Tianzhuo felt danger.
"Xuan Thunder Armor!"
Pei Tianzhuo's qi armor—hardened by secret techniques—crackled with faint lightning.
But Lin Ye's strike was Star River Realm power combined with a Peak-Star sword art.
In just two sword waves, Pei Tianzhuo's Xuan Thunder Armor shattered.
The remaining seven sword energies slammed into him, blasting him backward like a meteor—straight into the grand hall.
"Eight Desolations Blood-Slaying Force!"
Lin Ye triggered the hidden force.
Nine thunderous detonations erupted inside the hall.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The entire grand hall collapsed.
Everyone froze, staring in disbelief as the sacred hall crumbled into ruins, dust swallowing the world. Pei Tianzhuo's Star-Calling Bridge vanished. Lin Ye's realm also dropped back to Heavenly Phenomenon Eighth Realm as the burst of power ended.
In these past few days, with the Xia Family's Hundred-Beast Blood Crystal and the fourth-tier blood artifact recovered from the ancient tomb, Lin Ye's strength had skyrocketed. He had refined countless pills as well—pure momentum fueled by resources. As long as supplies continued, his cultivation would surge without restraint.
Pei Tianzhuo had been stronger than Lin Ye expected. At least he wasn't just a Heavenly Phenomenon cultivator—otherwise there would have been no challenge at all. But stepping into Star River Realm meant nothing if you could not stand there.
One slash, and Lin Ye blew apart the collapsed debris, carving out a clear path.
Buried among broken stones lay a heavily injured Pei Tianzhuo.
Lin Ye raised a hand, and with invisible force, dragged Pei Tianzhuo up into the air.
The crowd trembled.
The mighty Sect Master of the Wind-Thunder Profound Sect—now hanging like a dead dog in Lin Ye's grip.
A moment ago, he was a glorious Star River Realm powerhouse. Now he was a broken man, helpless in the air.
"Release my father! Lin Ye, I order you to release my father!"
Pei Shaoyi—missing an arm—had awakened from unconsciousness. Seeing his father's life in Lin Ye's hands, he panicked… but chose the worst possible way to respond.
Lin Ye backhanded a palm.
A burst of qi obliterated Pei Shaoyi's body into fragments.
Not even Jin Shengbai and Song Wuqe dared to intervene.
How could they?
The situation was crystal clear. Even if they attacked, they would only become two more corpses beneath Lin Ye's sword. Wisdom meant survival.
Pei Shaoyi's flesh rained down like scattered meat. Lin Ye did not even glance at it.
Pei Tianzhuo struggled to move.
Lin Ye sliced once more.
Thud.
Pei Tianzhuo was cleaved in half.
As the Nine-Turn Shura Art circulated, Lin Ye's killing aura intensified further, devouring the blood-fiend essence from Pei Tianzhuo and feeding it into the Shura Blood Sea.
Lin Ye's gaze swept across the trembling crowd.
"Is there anyone left who still wants to judge me?"
He had slaughtered Pei Tianzhuo and Pei Shaoyi. His goal was clear—purge his enemies. Those unrelated, those who never truly acted against him, even hidden traitors he hadn't caught—he let them live. After all, no one would dare make another move now.
A Star River Realm sect master had been killed.
Who would dare seek vengeance?
Silence.
Awkward, suffocating silence.
A group of sect elites—utterly crushed by a former Core Disciple.
Then Lin Ye spoke calmly.
"Since no one objects, I now declare that I will take control of the Wind-Thunder Profound Sect. All structures remain unchanged. Wen Lang will serve as Vice Sect Master. Does anyone disagree?"
Taking control of the sect.
Wen Lang as Vice Sect Master.
The implication was obvious—Lin Ye would rule, but Wen Lang would handle operations.
Wen Lang's eyes widened in shock. He had always been free-spirited, though undeniably capable. He never wanted the burden—yet Lin Ye's words left him no escape.
The elders were stunned.
Lin Ye as Sect Master?
A moment ago he was about to be placed on the Blacklist. Now he was the new ruler.
A takeover this fast was unheard of.
But no one dared say no.
A young Star River Realm expert becoming their Sect Master… perhaps it wasn't even bad.
The only thing was how violently the world had flipped in an instant.
Then Lin Ye flicked his finger.
"Three-tier Earth-Spirit Pills. From today onward, anyone of Peak Master rank or above will receive one pill per month."
More than twenty Earth-Spirit Pills flew outward, landing perfectly before each high-ranking member present.
The pill aura was rich—unmistakably superior quality.
Wind-Thunder Profound Sect had seven peak masters and eighteen elders. Two peak masters and two elders were dead. That left twenty-one people above peak master rank.
Lin Ye had refined extra to ensure everyone received one.
To win loyalty, he made it effortless.
"If anyone does not wish to remain, take the pill and leave within three breaths."
His methods were clean and ruthless. Enemies were eliminated. Everyone else could stay or go—freely.
Instantly, the lower-ranking elders who knew survival and opportunity when they saw it dropped to one knee.
"We pay respects to Sect Master!"
A Star River Realm protector.
A monthly Earth-Spirit Pill.
Even the most stubborn would accept.
In the end, even the First Elder and Second Elder bowed their heads.
They had seen what a Star River Realm expert could do.
Then Lin Ye casually waved his hand.
"You two are already Heavenly Phenomenon Realm. These Bone-Yao Golden Pills will be your reward."
Two four-tier pills flew to the elders' hands.
Fourth-tier pills.
Bone-Yao Golden Pills.
Their pupils shrank.
"So dense… such overwhelming medicinal power…"