The onlookers who were no pushovers nearly leapt to their feet. In their eyes, Yang Kai's punch had directly shattered Tang Fushui's entire skull, blowing his head apart.
They could even clearly see the entire process of Tang Fushui's head being crushed—the sight seemed to play out in slow motion, seared into their hearts.
Everyone fell deathly silent, the way they looked at Yang Kai now tinged with something entirely different.
Those Return to Void Realm powerhouses who had once looked down on Yang Kai were now filled with nothing but dread.
They knew all too well what level of cultivation Tang Fushui possessed. Among the Return to Void Realm experts present, Tang Fushui could easily rank in the top three.
Yet such a powerful figure had his head blown apart by a single punch from Yang Kai, killed beyond any hope of revival. And throughout the entire exchange, Yang Kai hadn't shown the slightest sign of using Saint Yuan—he appeared to have accomplished this feat relying solely on his physical body and the force of one fist.
No one was foolish enough to think Tang Fushui had underestimated his opponent or that some other circumstance had led to this outcome. As the master of the Ethereal Palace with cultivation at the third stage of the Return to Void Realm, Tang Fushui had fought countless battles throughout his life—his experience was immense. How could he possibly have been careless?
From the stance he had taken when attacking, it was clear he had gone all out.
Yet he had still been killed in a single blow.
This meant that Yang Kai's strength had far surpassed Tang Fushui's—he hadn't even been able to withstand a single strike.
Tang Fushui was at the third stage of the Return to Void Realm. Could Yang Kai be at the Void King Realm?
At the thought of that, a chorus of sharp inhales filled the air. Everyone felt their lungs flood with cold.
"Kill every last one of the Ethereal Palace!" Yang Kai's fury had not subsided, and he roared the command.
Yang Xiuzhu, Chu Hanyi, and Lin Yurao had long been simmering with pent-up fury, but without Yang Kai's word, they could only hold back and wait. The moment they heard his command, all three let out a long cry, unleashing their Saint Yuan and domains as they charged toward a group of over a dozen people.
Those dozen-plus individuals had arrived with Tang Fushui and all wore the attire of the Ethereal Palace. They were easy to identify.
Yang Kai clearly intended to wipe them all out!
Like tigers descending the mountain, like wolves plunging into a flock of sheep, Yang Xiuzhu and the others charged into the Ethereal Palace's ranks. Amid a cacophony of desperate pleas and futile resistance, in fewer than ten breaths, all dozen or so Return to Void Realm experts from the Ethereal Palace had been completely wiped out, having offered no meaningful resistance whatsoever.
Strictly speaking, this contingent from the Ethereal Palace was no weak force. Besides the deceased Tang Fushui at the third stage of the Return to Void Realm, they had another third-stage expert holding the fort, three at the second stage, and seven or eight at the first stage.
But they had already been terrified out of their wits by Yang Kai's horrifying display, and Yang Xiuzhu and the other two were all elite powerhouses who had survived the Blood Prison trials. How could they possibly withstand the onslaught of these three?
Ten breaths later, the plaza was littered with corpses, and the stench of blood rose to the heavens!
Yang Xiuzhu and the others returned without a word to stand silently behind Yang Kai.
The entire plaza fell silent. Everyone could hear their own hearts pounding in their chests. The way they looked at Yang Kai and Yang Xiuzhu's group was like looking upon a band of demons who would stop at nothing—their eyes brimming with horror and terror.
"You… you actually dare to be so ruthless!" Feng Yan's delicate body trembled as she pointed at Yang Kai, her voice filled with disbelief. "These were the last of our Dark Star's human race's elite fighters. If you kill them, who will fight the Corpse Spirit Sect's army? Are you trying to annihilate our Dark Star's human race?"
Hearing such naïve words, Yang Kai sneered, "Is that so? If their fighting strength is so elite, why haven't I seen them out on the battlefield? Instead, they were hiding inside my Lingxiao Sect?"
Feng Yan was momentarily speechless. Just as she was about to say more, Granny Feng shot her a glare.
Feng Yan finally came to her senses. She had no idea which nerve in her brain had misfired just now, leading her to actually criticize Yang Kai's actions. Now, after Granny Feng's look snapped her back to reality, a layer of cold sweat broke out across her body, dampening her clothes.
"My patience has limits!" Yang Kai reiterated.
The expressions on everyone's faces shifted constantly as they stared at Yang Kai with fear, but no one dared speak.
Just moments ago, they had relied on their numbers and hadn't taken Yang Kai too seriously, believing that no matter how angry he was, he wouldn't turn on them outright—he would at least sit down and discuss matters with them. But after witnessing Yang Kai's brutal methods and terrifying strength, they realized they had been wrong.
This young Lingxiao Sect Master had no need to negotiate with any of them. He alone could slaughter everyone present.
Before absolute power, all schemes and plans were nothing but bubbles.
After a long moment, Granny Feng let out a heavy sigh and spoke, "Each generation produces its own talents. We admit defeat. Sect Master Yang, name your terms!"
Yang Kai let out a cold huff. "I just want to know what exactly happened to my Lingxiao Sect!"
Granny Feng turned to look around, but everyone who met her gaze quickly looked away—none of them wanted to be the one to face Yang Kai. Her expression grew desolate as she said miserably, "Sect Master Yang, this is a long story, but we were pushed into a corner with no other choice!"
"It seems you still want to test my patience!" Yang Kai smiled sinisterly, the Saint Yuan in his body showing signs of activating once more.
Granny Feng's face changed drastically. She hastily retreated, assuming a defensive stance.
"Allow me to explain what happened to the Lingxiao Sect."
Just then, a robust voice came from nearby. It sounded somewhat familiar to Yang Kai, and when he turned to look, he saw an old man with a face as dark as charcoal striding toward them.
At the old man's side was a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his forties, following close behind. When they reached the plaza and the middle-aged man caught sight of the corpses strewn across the ground, he involuntarily gasped.