Bang—
The two exchanged a palm strike in the void, neither gaining an advantage.
Just this delay caused Feng Qingyang to miss his chance to retreat, and he coldly snorted, "I, Feng, don't want to cause trouble; I just want to take these two juniors. If you don't agree, I, Feng, don't mind making a big scene!"
"Hmph, what big talk! With your Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, Feng Qingyang, you dare to act wildly in my Hehuan Sect? Do you think my Hehuan Sect has no one left?!"
The old woman stomped her foot, and ripples immediately spread in the void, an invisible pressure instantly enveloping Feng Qingyang.
Among the sixteen Elders, four were Nascent Soul Stage Elders, and the rest, including the direct disciples, were all at the mid to late Golden Core Stage.
Facing such an impressive lineup, Feng Qingyang remained unfazed, raising his right foot high and stomping it forward fiercely.
A formation generated from beneath his feet, and densely packed flying swords flew out from within the formation.
Sword light crisscrossed, striking everyone within the formation.
"It's rumored that you, Feng Qingyang, are a formation master. Such profound mastery is probably at its pinnacle, but unfortunately, its power is too weak."
The old woman's eyes showed disdain, and a banana fan inexplicably appeared in her hand, which she slammed down hard onto the center of the formation.
The other three Nascent Soul Stage Elders were not to be outdone, attacking Feng Qingyang simultaneously.
With such powerful figures fighting, Fang Yuan and Qin Hao dared not linger, immediately flashing to hide beneath the platform, sitting cross-legged and observing.
Such a leisurely scene almost infuriated Feng Qingyang to death. While fending off the crowd's encirclement, he shouted at the two, "You two, are you really going to join the Demonic Cult?"
"Bah, old Feng, what nonsense are you spouting? We're joining the Holy Cult! If you dare to speak disrespectfully again, the Hehuan Sect will make you pay!" Fang Yuan reprimanded loudly.
"Very good. Since you two have made up your minds, then I shall destroy you, lest you become a tiger's accomplice and harm other sects!"
Feng Qingyang suddenly roared, and three golden lotus flowers flew out from behind his head, growing larger and larger until they enveloped the entire platform.
Lotus flowers bloomed, the void shattered, and golden chains emerged from the void, heading straight for the bottom of the platform.
"Holy crap, old Feng, you're serious?!" Fang Yuan and Qin Hao cried out, decisively retreating.
Boom—
The platform exploded, and the two were sent flying by the powerful aftershock, landing heavily on the ground.
If Min Hong hadn't appeared at the critical moment and blocked most of the attack, everyone on the platform would probably have died from that blow.
Even so, a small number of people still died in the aftershock.
"Pfft…" Min Hong clutched her chest and spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, then sternly said to Feng Qingyang, "Feng Qingyang, are you crazy?! How dare you use the power of laws! Aren't you afraid the Hehuan Sect will flatten your Star Sect?!"
Seeing that he failed to kill Fang Yuan and Qin Hao, Feng Qingyang's eyes showed a hint of disappointment. Just as he was considering whether to continue, several powerful auras suddenly appeared within the Hehuan Sect.
Feng Qingyang knew that if he didn't leave now, he might really perish here. He hastily left a harsh warning: "You two little brats, you'd better not leave the Hehuan Sect."
With that, his figure vanished from where he stood, reappearing a hundred miles away.
The old woman and her group were about to give chase when a faint voice sounded in their ears: "Let him go."
"Understood." Everyone bowed deeply towards the Hehuan Sect.
Fang Yuan scampered to Min Hong's side, supporting her body, and asked with concern, "Min Jiejie, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Min Hong's face was a little pale, and she waved her hand while clutching her chest.
"This hateful Feng Qingyang, how dare he injure my Min Jiejie! When I advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, I will definitely tear him to shreds!"
Fang Yuan said through gritted teeth, then feigned a pained expression and softly said, "Does your chest hurt a lot? I'll help you rub it."
Min Hong reached out and grabbed his hand, her eyes like water, and whispered, "There are too many people here. Let's go to my room later for a thorough examination."
Min Hong drew out the last two words, 'thorough examination,' which made Fang Yuan excited.
This favorable situation is stable!
With Feng Qingyang's disruption of the sect entry ceremony, the Hehuan Sect no longer had the heart to select further. They gathered those without cultivation aptitude, totaling over three thousand people.
Fang Yuan was a little curious and asked Min Hong beside him, "What are they going to do?"
"Selection," Min Hong replied indifferently.
"What do you mean?" Fang Yuan asked, puzzled again.
Min Hong shook her head slightly, signaling him to just watch.
The previous old woman landed in front of the crowd and said expressionlessly, "We still lack one hundred slots for servant disciples. If you want a slot, you'll have to fight for it yourself."
"How do we do that?" Someone loudly asked.
"Kill the person next to you. The last hundred people remaining will become servant disciples of the Hehuan Sect." The old woman coldly looked at the crowd.
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone gasped, and even Fang Yuan and Qin Hao were startled.
This was over three thousand people, not three thousand cats and dogs!
Such a cruel elimination mechanism, no normal person would agree to it.
Sure enough, in the next second, over a hundred people declared their withdrawal. However, as soon as they finished speaking, a silver needle pierced through their foreheads, and they died with their eyes wide open.
"From the moment you stepped into the Hehuan Sect, there is no such thing as retreat. If you want to live, obediently abide by the rules of the Hehuan Sect. Those who disobey will be killed!"
Silence. The entire scene was terrifyingly quiet, with only the sound of the wind blowing and leaves rustling.
Everyone swallowed hard.
Suddenly, a 'thwack' sound echoed.
Someone was the first to attack the person beside them, stabbing a knife into their heart.
This action immediately startled the group of frightened birds.
More and more people began to turn on each other with weapons, and blood, accompanied by screams, echoed through the sky.
Within the chaotic crowd, Fan Xiaomei, clutching two cleavers, hid alone behind the masses, her face filled with terror.
Bang—
A headless corpse fell in front of her; it was a seven-year-old boy.
Blood sprayed from the severed neck, splattering onto Fan Xiaomei.
The pungent smell of blood assailed her, making Fan Xiaomei's face turn pale, her body tremble uncontrollably, and tears well up in her eyes.
She instinctively looked up, trying to find Fang Yuan and Qin Hao's shadows.
"Brother Fang Yuan… Brother Qin Hao…" She called out in a trembling voice.
Just then, a thirteen-year-old boy set his sights on her, clutching a rock in his hand, and rushed towards her.
"You, don't come over!"
Despite her fear, Fan Xiaomei immediately raised her cleaver, pointing the blade at the boy.
The boy was clearly skilled in fighting, throwing the rock in his hand while running.
Bang, the rock hit Fan Xiaomei on the forehead, making her fall to the ground in pain, her weapon dropping.
The boy's speed did not decrease. He picked up a cleaver and brutally stabbed it towards Fan Xiaomei's neck.
"Fang Yuan!"
Suddenly, Qin Hao shouted.
Fang Yuan's gaze was deep, showing no discernible joy or sorrow.
"Don't go!" He reached out and stopped Qin Hao, "This is her fate. Dying is also a form of liberation."
"To hell with your fate! I misjudged you!" Qin Hao's eyes widened in fury, and he swung his fist at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan did not dodge, taking the punch squarely, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.