Chapter 25: A Shift in Attitude

Han Yang flicked his hand, instantly neutralizing the incoming attacks. With a beat of his wings, they transformed into countless black blades, launching a counterattack against the crowd.

The battle was fierce; the heavens shifted, and the sun and moon lost their luster. Facing the multitude alone, Han Yang relied on his formidable physique and the power of devouring to withstand the siege of many experts. He was even able to absorb his opponents' attacks with ease, converting a portion of that energy into his own cultivation, which continued to rise steadily.

"This devil's physical body is shockingly strong! Our attacks are completely ineffective against him!" the Sect Leader of the Profound Heaven Sect shouted in terror.

"His devouring power is equally bizarre; he can actually absorb our attacks and turn them into his own strength!" The Palace Master of the Purple Firmament Palace also wore an ugly expression.

Despite the large number of righteous experts and their immense power, they were unable to do anything to Han Yang. The Profound Heaven Sect Leader’s face turned deathly pale, and a trickle of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. He had initially thought that by joining forces with the Purple Firmament Palace and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, they would surely take down this devil, but he had never expected the wretch to be so troublesome. He stole a glance at his two companions: the Purple Firmament Palace Master’s robes were tattered and his aura chaotic, and the Abbot of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple was in no better state, his cassock torn and his prayer beads scattered across the ground.

If they continued to fight, they would likely be wiped out!

In a flash of inspiration, the Profound Heaven Sect Leader plastered a fake smile on his face and shouted, "Sect Leader Han is truly a peerless talent, a prodigy seen once in a millennium! This old man has certainly had his eyes opened today! Everything that happened before was truly a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding!"

This sudden turn of events left the Purple Firmament Palace Master and the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple Abbot stunned, but they quickly reacted. The Purple Firmament Palace Master hurriedly chimed in, "Indeed, indeed! Sect Leader Han’s divine techniques are peerless; we admire you greatly! We have offended you previously, and we hope for your magnanimity!"

As he spoke, he took a shimmering celestial sword from his storage ring and offered it with both hands. "A small token of our sincerity!"

The Abbot of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple also pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist title. "Amitabha. Sect Leader Han, a return to the shore is always possible! This humble monk has a relic here that may help Sect Leader Han’s cultivation reach an even higher level." He pulled out a glowing golden relic.

Watching the three of them change their expressions faster than turning a page, Han Yang sneered inwardly, though he remained impassive on the surface. He slowly ceased his attacks and said, "I am not a bloodthirsty man. As long as you show sufficient sincerity, I will let bygones be bygones."

The five were overjoyed and rushed to offer up their treasured artifacts, medicinal pills, and cultivation manuals to Han Yang. Han Yang did not stand on ceremony; he tucked all these treasures away before speaking with a cryptic smile, "Since you are willing to turn hostility into friendship, why not show a little more sincerity?"

The five felt a jolt in their hearts, thinking, *This is bad. Is this devil still not satisfied?*

"What other instructions does Sect Leader Han have?" the Profound Heaven Sect Leader asked cautiously.

"You think you can dismiss me with just this? Do you take me for a beggar?"

The five sect leaders’ expressions shifted. The Profound Heaven Sect Leader bit the bullet and said, "Sect Leader Han, we have already given everything..."

"Given everything?" Han Yang interrupted, his gaze sweeping over the five like a blade. "I think not. How about this: open your sect treasuries and let me go inside to pick out some appropriate compensation. How does that sound?"

Once these words were spoken, the faces of the five sect leaders became even uglier than if they had eaten excrement. The sect treasuries were the culmination of thousands of years of accumulation; if they let Han Yang go in and pick whatever he wanted, the losses would be unimaginable!

"Sect Leader Han, this... this is surely inappropriate, is it not?" the Purple Firmament Palace Master stammered.

"What is inappropriate about it?" Han Yang looked at him with a mocking smile. "Or are you thinking of going back on your word?" His aura shifted abruptly, and a terrifying pressure descended upon the five like a mountain, leaving them gasping for air.

"We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare!" The five sect leaders shook their heads frantically. Faced with absolute strength, they had no choice but to submit.

Thus, "accompanied" by the five sect leaders, Han Yang began his "treasure hunting tour."

First was the Profound Heaven Sect. Its mountain gate was majestic, with carved beams and painted rafters, shimmering in gold and jade. The patterns of dragons and phoenixes looked lifelike, gleaming under the sunlight. Han Yang stood with his hands behind his back, pacing around the gate, and exclaimed in wonder, "Tsk tsk, this thing is not bad! Exquisite craftsmanship, fine materials—one look and you can tell it cost a fortune."

The Profound Heaven Sect Leader’s face was more bitter than a gourd, and he replied with a forced smile, "Sect Leader Han has a keen eye. This gate is the symbol of our Profound Heaven Sect and has a thousand-year history..."

"A thousand-year history?" Han Yang interrupted, stroking his chin. "In that case, it’s worth even more, isn't it?"

He turned to look at the disciples of his Blissful Immortal Sect behind him and waved his hand. "Since I like it, tear it down and move it back to the Blissful Immortal Sect!"

"What?!" The Profound Heaven Sect Leader and all his disciples were struck dumb, as if hit by lightning. This gate was the face of their sect—how could he just tear it down?

"Sect Leader Han, this... this must not happen!" The Profound Heaven Sect Leader was sweating profusely. "This gate is the foundation of our sect..."

"Foundation? I think it's your lifeblood, isn't it?" Han Yang sneered. "Stop the nonsense and tear it down! If you drag your feet, believe it or not, I'll tear you down along with it!"

The Blissful Immortal Sect disciples had long despised these so-called righteous sects. They rolled up their sleeves, swung their massive axes, and the clanging sounds of demolition instantly echoed throughout the Profound Heaven Sect. In an instant, the thousand-year-old mountain gate was dismantled as quickly as a child's building blocks under Han Yang's orders.

Han Yang stood to the side, arms crossed, occasionally offering instructions: "That piece over there, be careful! Don't damage it! If it doesn't fit back together later, I'm holding you responsible!"

The Profound Heaven Sect disciples dared not speak their anger; they could only watch helplessly as the symbol of their sect was torn to pieces, their hearts feeling as if they were being sliced by knives. The Profound Heaven Sect Leader was ashen-faced, his heart bleeding, yet he didn't dare let out even a whimper.

Before long, the majestic mountain gate had been completely dismantled, piled into a heap of fragments of all sizes. Han Yang waved his hand, stored all the parts into his storage ring, and then clapped his hands with satisfaction. "Mm, not bad, not bad. I am very satisfied with this 'compensation'."

He then turned to the pale-faced Profound Heaven Sect Leader and said with a mocking grin, "Let's go. Take me to your treasury and see what other good things can soothe my wounded heart."

The Profound Heaven Sect Leader wanted to cry but had no tears; unable to resist, he could only force a smile and lead the way. Han Yang and his entourage marched grandly to the entrance of the Profound Heaven Sect's treasury. The massive doors were tightly shut, inscribed with complex runes that radiated a faint spiritual aura.

"Open it," Han Yang ordered indifferently.

The Profound Heaven Sect Leader took a deep breath and, with trembling hands, opened the treasury doors.