Chapter 677: Controlling Hengyue

Heng Yue.

This was a vast and deep underground palace.

Deep within the palace, a white-haired elder sat cross-legged on a meditation mat, sealed by three ling fu. He couldn't even muster his ling li, let alone move a muscle—it was incredibly difficult.

This person was one of the Heng Yue ancestors, known in Nan Chu as Heng Tian Shang Ren.

Standing beside him were two figures: none other than Tian Zong Lao Zu and Zhong Jiang.

"What is the meaning of this, my fellow daoists?" Heng Tian Shang Ren's voice carried a chill.

"No particular meaning." The two of them smiled in unison.

"Who exactly are you people?" Heng Tian Shang Ren asked coldly.

"Uncle Heng Tian, we've offended you." The words echoed in from outside the underground palace.

Before the sentence ended, a middle-aged man in armor strode in. His figure was upright, his steps steady, and he moved with the grace of a dragon and the power of a tiger, exuding the authority of a leader.

"Yang Ding Tian." Seeing the newcomer, Heng Tian Shang Ren's eyes narrowed sharply.

"Yang Ding Tian pays his respects to Uncle Heng Tian."

"How could you be in the Heng Yue Sect?" Heng Tian Shang Ren frowned deeply at Yang Ding Tian.

"Why couldn't I be in the Heng Yue Sect?" Yang Ding Tian replied calmly. "Blood debts must be repaid in blood. We've survived in hiding for so long, all for this very day."

"You..." Heng Tian Shang Ren opened his mouth but didn't know what to say. Although he had lived in this underground palace for years, he was aware of everything that had happened.

Yet, in the game of power struggles, the saying held true: a new emperor brings new officials. Yang Ding Tian and his allies had been the losers, defeated utterly. Even after leaving Heng Yue, how could the new leader, Yin Zhi Ping, allow them to live?

The cruelty of victory and defeat was absolute. Even if they had tried to stop it, could they have? Even if they stopped it once, could they stop it forever?

Seeing Yang Ding Tian now, Heng Tian Shang Ren felt full of guilt. For the future of Heng Yue, they had no choice but to support Yin Zhi Ping—or rather, they had no reason to oppose anyone who threatened the sect leader's safety.

"Ding Tian, you must resent us deeply!" After a moment, Heng Tian Shang Ren said with regret.

"The guilty have their heads, and the indebted have their masters—we know the difference." Yang Ding Tian's tone remained even.

"If I could go back, I would choose to support Ye Chen. Facts have proven you were right—Yin Zhi Ping isn't suited to be the commander of the three armies." Heng Tian Shang Ren took a deep breath. "You should leave. While my seniors haven't returned, go and never come back."

"Though we lost back then, today we still have a chance to turn the tables."

"You're being foolish." Heng Tian Shang Ren couldn't help but rebuke him lightly. "Do you really think controlling me means controlling all of Heng Yue? He is the ninety percent host, the sect leader of Heng Yue, commanding the forces of nine halls. What do you have to fight him with—just passion?"

"Uncle, are you underestimating us?" Yang Ding Tian smiled for the first time. "You know me well. We wouldn't have charged in without full confidence."

"Where does your confidence come from?"

"What if I told you Ye Chen is still alive—that he is the killing god Qin Yu, that he is the Sheng Zhu of Yan Huang, and that he commands forces capable of obliterating all of Heng Yue? Would you still think we're overreaching?"

Upon hearing this, Heng Tian Shang Ren suddenly looked up, his face full of disbelief.

Boom!

Before Yang Ding Tian could say more, a thunderous roar echoed from the underground palace of Heng Yue Sect.

Then, like a tide, figures surged out—some riding flying swords, others on spirit beasts, and still others soaring through the clouds. Their numbers were immense, a dark mass that blanketed the sky.

This was no mere group—it was an army of cultivators, the Yan Huang forces.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the Yan Huang army pressed deeper into Heng Yue, the void trembled, the entire sky over Heng Yue changed color, completely overshadowed by the vast Yan Huang forces. The bright daylight seemed draped in a black curtain, plunging the world into darkness.

"This... this..." Looking up at the sky, the disciples, elders, and supreme elders of Heng Yue Sect all paled simultaneously. "Where did this cultivator army come from?"

"Surround every pavilion, every palace, every mountain peak! Kill anyone who makes a rash move!" Amid the cries of alarm, a resolute voice rang out across the entire Heng Yue Sect.

Gazing into the void, there stood a middle-aged man in armor, gripping a great halberd, like a god-king.

He was none other than Xiao Feng, the former hall master of the ninth division of Heng Yue.

"Xiao Feng..." Seeing him, the many elders and supreme elders of Heng Yue froze on the spot. Even a fool could see whose army this massive force belonged to.

"What's going on here?"

"Where are the major commanders? The sect leader? The ancestors?"

In the midst of the panic, the Yan Huang army was already on the move.

At that moment, the Yan Huang forces flowed like an ocean, splitting off to encircle every pavilion, every palace, every mountain peak, sealing them off layer upon layer.

Whoosh!

Only when the Yan Huang army had the situation fully under control did Gu San Tong and the others finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Originally, Heng Yue's main forces were incredibly strong, but with the leadership captured, no one was there to command them, turning them into scattered sands without a general.

Gu San Tong and his group were certain that if even one Heng Yue ancestor gave the order, a massive battle would erupt in an instant.

Coincidentally, Heng Yue's sect leader and many ancestors were in the Ancient Cang Yuan, while Heng Tian Shang Ren and the other high-ranking members holding key forces were all restrained.

This proved that the strategies of mortal warfare applied just as well in the world of cultivators: capture the king first, and the results could be astonishing.

Now, the entire Heng Yue Sect was filled with chaos, figures darting back and forth.

Many in Heng Yue had shifted from fear to astonishment, as among the cultivator army surrounding the mountains, pavilions, and palaces, there were many familiar faces—people they knew well.

This was normal, since the Yan Huang army included many from the nine divisions of Heng Yue. They were mostly Yang Ding Tian's loyal followers, once part of the sect, so of course they were recognized.

Still, familiarity didn't mean mercy. Whether friend or foe, they were surrounded first—better safe than sorry. If everyone started letting people go, the situation could spiral out of control.

"Coming back to Heng Yue is truly full of emotions!" On one side, Liu Yi and his armored companions passed by the mountains, gazing at the familiar places with a sense of nostalgia.

"Senior Brother Liu Yi, Senior Brother Nie Feng, Senior Sister Nangong Yue, Senior Brother Duan Yu—they're back?"

"Stay put!"

"Behave yourselves, and we'll all get along fine."

"I'm talking to you—stop staring and keep your head down."

Compared to Liu Yi and his group, Si Tu Nan, Xiong Er, Xie Yun, and Huo Teng were a rowdy bunch, causing a racket everywhere, yelling as if afraid no one knew they had returned. Their voices echoed all around.

Seeing them, people like Jiang Yang, Zi Shan, and Kong Cao turned deathly pale in an instant.

Perhaps now they realized: those they had once harmed were back for revenge, and their fate was sealed.

Not just them—the followers of Yin Zhi Ping, whether elders or disciples, were trembling uncontrollably. They were caught completely off guard, everything far beyond their expectations.

In the underground palace, Heng Tian Shang Ren stared in shock at the outside world, as if he could see through the walls to the overwhelming experts beyond.

"Uncle, is this force sufficient?" Beside him, Yang Ding Tian's voice rang out leisurely.

"Is Ye Chen really still alive?" Heng Tian Shang Ren asked, withdrawing his gaze to look at Yang Ding Tian.

"Of course he's alive." Yang Ding Tian smiled.

"Then the one fighting Yin Zhi Ping right now..."

"It's Ye Chen." Yang Ding Tian chuckled again. "If he hadn't lured away the major ancestors of Heng Yue, we wouldn't have succeeded so easily."

"He actually..." Heng Tian Shang Ren's expression was one of utter shock, his mind reeling even with his composure.

Ye Chen was still alive—he was the killing god Qin Yu, the Sheng Zhu of Yan Huang, and he commanded an army that could wipe out all of Heng Yue. Each piece of news was staggering.

For a moment, the underground palace fell silent.

Yang Ding Tian, Tian Zong Lao Zu, and Zhong Jiang all tactfully said nothing. Anyone would need time to process, especially with so many shocking revelations at once.

"As the commander of the three armies, to take such risks— what tremendous resolve!" After a while, Heng Tian Shang Ren exclaimed in admiration.

As Yang Ding Tian had said, without Ye Chen drawing Tong Xuan and the others away, they wouldn't have pulled this off. Yet, as the commander, Ye Chen had shown such boldness.

He faced immense danger, up against the experts of the three sects!

Heng Tian Shang Ren took a deep breath. He didn't think the arrogant Yin Zhi Ping would have such courage. This alone proved who was the right choice for Heng Yue's sect leader.

"Uncle, will you now support Ye Chen?" Yang Ding Tian asked.

"Of course." Heng Tian Shang Ren replied without hesitation, his voice more passionate than expected. "I've chosen wrong once—I won't make the same mistake again."

Whoosh!

With Heng Tian Shang Ren's agreement, not only Yang Ding Tian but also Tian Zong Lao Zu and Zhong Jiang breathed a sigh of relief.

The situation in Heng Yue desperately needed an ancestor like Heng Tian Shang Ren to stabilize things. If he hadn't cooperated, it would have been troublesome, but with his clear stance, the rest would be straightforward.

"Now, can you remove my seal?" Heng Tian Shang Ren looked at Tian Zong Lao Zu and Zhong Jiang.

"Naturally." The two smiled and acted quickly,解除 the seal on Heng Tian Shang Ren. Then, they couldn't help but add, "Daoist friend, remember your word. Don't go out there giving random orders, or even if it leads to an all-out war, the one destroyed will still be Heng Yue Sect."

"Am I that kind of person?" Heng Tian Shang Ren smirked.

"You never know."

"... "