Wang He, with his mere Golden Core Early Stage cultivation, held Universal Justice and pointed it at the number one person beneath the Nascent Soul stage in the Qingtian Domain: the Wind-Thunder Daoist, Gu Yunxiao!
A single "What do I not dare?" left the Golden Core Perfection Gu Yunxiao speechless!
The Wind-Thunder Daoist practiced the power of wind and thunder. As a Golden Core Perfection cultivator, his speed and attack were of the highest order, his strength unrivaled among his peers!
He also controlled a sect treasure: the Thunder-Strike Spear!
It was rumored that Gu Yunxiao had once used the spear to battle a Nascent Soul cultivator. He was a man of startling strength, a titan of the Qingtian Domain!
Yet, such an existence was forced to halt his footsteps before Wang He!
All because Universal Justice was too powerful, and it was showing signs of automatic protection on Wang He's body!
As one of the strongest treasures of the Qingyuan Sect, its power was such that even he could not guarantee his own safety if it erupted.
Unless the six of them attacked simultaneously using their own sect treasures, only then could they guarantee their safety against the eruption of Universal Justice.
"Elder Wang He, do you realize your current actions? If they lead to the destruction of Universal Justice and the Thunder-Strike Spear, or the death of the sect's Golden Core elders, and an external sect invades, the Qingyuan Sect will be destroyed by your hand. For someone who purged a city and murdered a sect elder, is it worth it?"
"Indeed, Elder Wang He, if an external sect invades, the sect will truly be in danger!"
Gu Yunxiao and his group, who hadn't been willing to say a single word to Qi Ping earlier, now suppressed their emotions and began to speak to Wang He with persuasive tones.
This scene left Qi Ping speechless. Truly, only when you have a weapon in hand will people sit down and talk to you properly.
Facing these words, even Wang He's master, Shen Qianxun, looked worried. In his eyes, Gu Yunxiao's faction consisted of people who would do anything to achieve their goals; it was truly possible for such a crisis to occur!
He knew Wang He was right, but at least this way, the sect would remain strong for a long time. If the sect truly met its end due to today's events, they would be sinners for all eternity!
In contrast, the Neutral Faction led by the Sect Master remained expressionless, their thoughts unknown.
"Pah! Save your moral kidnapping for someone else!"
"If such a day truly comes, it will be because of you. Regardless, the sect and the Qingtian Domain will eventually be destroyed in your hands!"
Facing the questioning and moral kidnapping, Wang He nearly spat like a commoner. Then, his expression turned even more crazed:
"If you insist on moving against Junior Brother Lin Ya today, go ahead and try! But you'll have to pass me first!!"
With that, Wang He held the ink-black and white jade Universal Justice across his chest. An even stronger power erupted from the blade!
He adopted the same strategy as Qi Ping: as long as the opponent made a move, combined with the sword's protective effect, he would have enough reaction time to deliver a fatal strike.
Seeing that their moral pressure failed and Wang He's attitude grew even firmer, the faces of the six Radical elders turned dark.
The atmosphere became tense once again.
Reaching this point was entirely unexpected for them!
If they insisted on attacking, the loss would be too great!
Wang He, holding Universal Justice, would surely kill one or two of them, and at least one of their treasures would be ruined!
And that wasn't even counting Qi Ping and the others joining in.
Furthermore, if Wang He was right and Elder Zong—who was Golden Core Late Stage and controlled the Sect Array—waged a total war against them, their foundations built over centuries in the sect would be destroyed. Such a consequence was absolutely unbearable.
However, if they retreated now, once this precedent was set, they wouldn't care about face, but it would no longer be easy to manipulate the Neutrals and Conservatives.
In the future, they would be forced to surrender a portion of the core industries they occupied, and it would hinder their plan to slowly take over the Qingyuan Sect entirely.
At this thought, the six elders led by Gu Yunxiao looked uncertain, and the situation fell into a deadlock.
At this moment, Qi Ping moved.
"Senior Brother Wang He, thank you for your help. I will remember this favor! However, today's karma began with me; I should be the one standing in front!"
"If you all want to move, come at me!"
As Qi Ping's voice rang out, he stepped forward, instantly appearing to the front and side of Wang He. Utilizing the Sky-Flame Seal and the protection of his territory field, he blocked the path between Wang He and the six Radical elders.
Qi Ping's move made the faces of the six Radicals even uglier. The power of the Sky-Flame Seal was already extraordinary; with its protection and coordination, the power Wang He could unleash with Universal Justice would surely increase by a level. The consequences would be much more severe!
At the same time, Qi Ping—as a Foundation Establishment cultivator standing among twelve Golden Cores without flinching—had the courage to point his blade at the strongest group of elders in the Qingtian Domain. This boldness instantly won over many people.
Wang He, in particular, looked at Qi Ping with even more respect. As expected of someone evaluated as a 'Mainstay of the Sect'!
With Qi Ping's courage and sense of responsibility, he had not bet wrong this time!
Looking at Qi Ping's back, Wang He's heart was filled with emotion. Recalling his cowardice over the last two centuries, a sense of indescribable guilt rose in him...
However, what they didn't know was that Qi Ping was thinking of much more. He now held the Sky-Flame Seal. If the six opponents had to split their focus to deal with Wang He, they would likely use their remaining two sect treasures.
Those treasures would likely have the same "cannot attack a Mainstay" effect. When the time came, he would use his status to snatch another treasure, and the scales of victory would tilt toward them.
As Qi Ping moved, Wang He also stepped forward to stand beside him.
However, Wang He's state and aura seemed to change completely. A unique presence began to rise from him.
"Junior Brother Lin Ya upheld his duty as Warden and followed sect rules to purge the treacherous! He uprooted the black industry cancer that had plagued Starfall City for centuries, lured out and slew the supreme mastermind behind it, protected the domain, and guarded the ten-thousand-year foundation of the Qingyuan Sect! His merits are outstanding!"
"And yet today, you intend to harm such a meritorious person!"
"In the past, though I held Universal Justice, I failed to keep my original heart. I failed to fulfill the duties of a wielder of this sword, allowing evil to persist, spirit veins to wither, and geniuses to fade for a century in the Qingtian Domain... I am ashamed! I have failed my duty as the wielder of Universal Justice!"
"Fortunately, influenced by Junior Brother Lin Ya today, I can finally reclaim my original heart..."
By this point, the aura surrounding Wang He suddenly skyrocketed. His Heavenly Heart Sword Intent shot into the clouds, and his Dao-Heart realm jumped directly into the Third Stage!
Even his sword intent comprehension reached the Third Stage at this very moment!
As the two combined, a Heavenly Heart Sword Intent capable of reaching the Nascent Soul level suddenly slashed through the firmament. Endless heaven and earth spiritual energy poured frantically into Wang He.
The sword Universal Justice erupted with a brilliant light, thoroughly fusing with Wang He and helping him rapidly absorb and refine the massive amount of spiritual energy!
Man and sword became one; the man was the sword, and the sword was the man!
Wang He's aura skyrocketed once again!
Infinite sword intent and spiritual energy gathered into a single, world-startling strike.
Then, Wang He's movements continued without pause as he swung the sword!
"Since you do not dare to move, then let me strike this blow!"