[Two hours later.]

    Bu Haoyan was thrown out of the gates of Zhaomo Pass, battered and barely clinging to life.

    When Ye Yu saw him, his expression was complicated.

    Bu Haoyan’s once angular, chiseled face had been pummeled into the shape of a pig’s head. Half of one of his demon horns had been snapped off, and his once-pristine robes were torn to shreds—worse than a beggar’s rags.

    Ye Yu grasped Bu Haoyan’s hand firmly, saying with utmost sincerity, “Sect Master, you’ve suffered greatly. The sect will never forget your contribution!”

    Bu Haoyan grinned weakly.

    This time, he had truly outdone himself!@@@@

    Honestly, even he hadn’t expected to draw so much hatred and take such a severe beating.

    Initially, Bu Haoyan had only planned to provoke a small scuffle at the gates of Zhaomo Pass.

    It began with a verbal barrage aimed at the day’s guardian elder, Zhen Qiubei.

    Had it been just one or two insults, Zhen Qiubei, known for his mild temperament within Zhaomo Pass, might not have reacted so strongly.

    But Bu Haoyan had unleashed a relentless onslaught.

    The insults were vile, unrestrained.

    To put it mildly: If he could endure this, history could eat itself.

    Finally, Zhen Qiubei snapped and attacked in fury!

    The commotion grew so loud that it caught the attention of Zhaomo Pass’s vice sect master, Yu Fengpei.

    Hurrying to intervene, Yu Fengpei tried to de-escalate the situation, claiming, “Sect Master Bu is a leader of Heavenly Dragon Cliff. If you keep attacking him like this, what will become of our reputation? Are you trying to provoke a war between our sects?”

    Zhen Qiubei, looking deeply aggrieved, exclaimed, “Vice Sect Master, he insulted my ancestors...”

    His voice caught in his throat, unable to articulate the sheer filth of Bu Haoyan’s words.

    Yu Fengpei frowned, skeptical of the claim.

    It didn’t make sense—why would the dignified sect master of Heavenly Dragon Cliff, a Sky Demon-level powerhouse, randomly insult someone’s ancestors?

    But Zhen Qiubei’s tearful, indignant expression made it hard to dismiss.

    Perplexed, Yu Fengpei turned to Bu Haoyan and asked in a low voice, “Sect Master Bu, what’s really going on here?”

    Bu Haoyan stretched, feeling he hadn’t been beaten enough yet, and smiled warmly.

    Without hesitation, he began verbally assaulting Yu Fengpei via voice transmission.

    They knew Bu Haoyan was hot-headed but not an idiot.

    Why would he provoke a fight on enemy turf? That was pure suicide.

    Before anyone could voice their doubts, Ye Yu stepped forward with righteous fury.

    “The humiliation of the sect master is the humiliation of the sect!” he declared.

    “They dared to attack our leader. Do they think Heavenly Dragon Cliff is spineless?

    Yes, Zhaomo Pass is strong, but we can’t let them bully us like this.

    If word of this spreads, what will the demonic world think?

    That we’re cowards? That we let our sect master be beaten without retaliation?

    And most importantly, Sect Master Bu was wrongfully accused!

    This injustice is unbearable! I, for one, cannot stand it!”

    With that, Ye Yu slammed his fist into the ground, his outrage palpable.

    The elders exchanged glances, quietly reaching a consensus.

    Well, Ye Yu’s said it all. What’s left for us to add?

    Regardless of the truth, seeing their sect master beaten to this extent was a bitter pill to swallow.

    Zhaomo Pass had gone too far.

    Grand Elder Zu Xuzhong, the most respected figure in the sect, stepped forward.

    His opinion carried the weight to sway the entire sect.

    He cleared his throat and said gravely, “I have a good relationship with Elder Zhen Qiubei and even possess a communication stone linked to him. Allow me to ask what really happened.”

    Ye Yu and Bu Haoyan exchanged panicked glances.

    Before they could intervene, Zu Xuzhong had already activated the communication stone.

    Soon, Zhen Qiubei’s voice came through.

    “What misunderstanding? Misunderstanding your mother! What’s there to ask? Get lost!”

    The stream of profanities was loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.

    Zu Xuzhong’s face darkened visibly as he crushed the communication stone in his hand.

    With a roar that shook the hall, he bellowed, “Prepare for war! WAR!”