Xuan Tian Sect, Ancestor Hall.

At the top of the Ancestor Hall, the divine image of the Celestial Emperor sat in the center, looking lifelike with a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. His eyes were profound and wise, as if he could see through the heavens, emanating an invincible aura that transcended all ages.

Beside the divine image of the Celestial Emperor, there was a slightly smaller statue of a young man, holding a sword while standing, his gaze fixed in the distance. His whole body exuded an unparalleled sharpness, like an unsheathed divine sword, with a sword intent that soared to the heavens.

The disciple of the Celestial Emperor, the Great Emperor Xuan Tian, was also the founding ancestor of the Xuan Tian Sect!

In addition to the divine images of the Celestial Emperor and the Great Emperor Xuan Tian, there were also thousands of memorial tablets, all of which were the spiritual tablets of the successive Sect Masters of the Xuan Tian Sect.

Inside the Ancestor Hall, the atmosphere was solemn.

The headless bodies of three Xuan Tian Sect disciples were laid out in the hall, accompanied by the intermittent screams of Shang Xi.

Sect Master Duan Changsheng sat at the top, with rows of seats below occupied by the various elders of the Xuan Tian Sect, as well as some talented disciples.

Qin Hao stood in the hall, his gaze serene and bright, staring blankly at the divine image of the Celestial Emperor at the top, his expression complex and nostalgic.

Everyone around seemed to be ignored by him.

The several disciples of the Xuan Tian Sect were recounting the events of Qin Hao's killing of his fellow disciples and crippling of Shang Xi's Dantian and Sea of Consciousness, not without exaggeration.

"I never thought that even a small sect like the Beast Taming Sect would dare to speak of destroying the Xuan Tian Sect. Is the Xuan Tian Sect really in such a decline now?" Qin Hao sighed softly, speaking to himself.

Although his voice was not loud, it was clearly audible in the Ancestor Hall.

"Qin Hao, what did you say? This is the sacred place of the Ancestor Hall. Mind your words!" The brow of the Grand Elder furrowed, and he coldly rebuked Qin Hao.

"I said anything wrong? How glorious was the Xuan Tian Sect hundreds of thousands of years ago? Dominating a realm, ruling as the master of a region! And now, even a small sect like the Beast Taming Sect dares to come knocking on our door! Don't you feel ashamed before the Celestial Emperor and the Great Emperor Xuan Tian?" Qin Hao said calmly, his gaze falling on the Grand Elder and Duan Changsheng, his expression calm and composed.

"Qin Hao, you're being bold!" The Grand Elder's face was somewhat unsightly, and he scolded him again.

"Qin Hao, are you seeking death? Killing fellow disciples, colluding with external enemies, do you think you can escape responsibility by talking nonsense?" A robed elder with a grim face said coldly.

He was Shang Xi's master, the Seventh Elder of the Xuan Tian Sect!

Seeing his own disciple, who he treated like his own child, being crippled by someone, he was furious and wished to tear Qin Hao to pieces right away.

"This waste Ninth Prince, did he really kill three Sea of Consciousness realm disciples and cripple Shang Xi's Sea of Consciousness? How is that possible?" "I can't believe it either, but those disciples spoke convincingly, not like they were lying!" "This waste Ninth Prince, I heard that he started cultivating at the age of eight, and now it's been exactly ten years. He has consumed countless treasures of heaven and earth, but still couldn't break through to the Refining Qi realm. If he suddenly became a genius, there's only one possibility, he's a spy of the Beast Taming Sect!" "That's right! This waste dares to talk nonsense even at the brink of death? I think the Sect Master should kill this rebellious scum. Maybe then our Xuan Tian Sect can survive this crisis!" "…"

Many elders and disciples looked at Qin Hao with eyes full of anger and disdain, discussing one after another.

"Silence!" Duan Changsheng heard the commotion and coldly rebuked.

He turned around, his eyes like lightning, sweeping over everyone, and instantly everyone closed their mouths, bowing their heads one by one.

Only Qin Hao, with a calm expression, looked directly at Duan Changsheng, his gaze clear.

"Qin Hao, you're also a disciple of the Xuan Tian Sect. The Xuan Tian Sect may be declining, but you cannot act recklessly here!" Duan Changsheng frowned and said coldly.

Qin Hao's identity was very special.

He was a disciple of the Xuan Tian Sect, but also the Ninth Prince of the Great Qin Empire.

Qin Hao

 enjoyed the treatment of a true disciple within the Xuan Tian Sect, which made many elders and disciples very dissatisfied. Duan Changsheng did not expect such a thing to happen at the critical moment of the Xuan Tian Sect's life and death.

He didn't believe Qin Hao was a spy of the Beast Taming Sect.

But this matter made him very troubled.

"Qin Hao, what you said is easy, but how can we save the Xuan Tian Sect when the Beast Taming Sect is so powerful? Are you going to rely on yourself? A waste like you who couldn't break through to the Refining Qi realm even after ten years of cultivation dares to speak arrogantly here!" The Seventh Elder sneered.

Many disciples also sneered.

They had long been dissatisfied with Qin Hao. This prince, who had such a noble status but was nothing but a waste, openly enjoyed all kinds of privileges and lacked self-awareness. In their eyes, he was a fool.

This fool might even have become a spy of the Beast Taming Sect at this critical moment for the Xuan Tian Sect.

At the critical moment when the Xuan Tian Sect faced disaster, this fool dared to speak arrogantly in the Ancestor Hall.

Who did he think he was?

Was he the Celestial Emperor or the Great Emperor Xuan Tian?

"Yes, the only one who can save the Xuan Tian Sect is me!" Qin Hao's expression was calm, but his words were shocking and relentless.

"Qin Hao, you're simply seeking death. Even at the brink of death, you refuse to confess. How did you collude with the Beast Taming Sect!" The Seventh Elder's face was fierce, full of killing intent.

"It's not true! But because I stumbled upon Shang Xi colluding with the Beast Taming Sect, they wanted to kill me to silence me. Unfortunately, their cultivation was not up to par, and they died at my hands!" Qin Hao smiled lightly and said calmly.

"Nonsense! How could Shang Xi possibly collude with the Beast Taming Sect? I think you just want to shift the blame. Sect Master, what else needs to be investigated? Let me take care of this traitor and kill him!" The Seventh Elder was almost exploding with anger. After reacting, he was even more angry and couldn't wait to tear Qin Hao to pieces right now.

"This worthless Ninth Prince actually killed three Sea of Consciousness realm disciples and crippled Shang Xi's Sea of Consciousness? How is that possible?" Duan Changsheng's eyes widened in disbelief.

He momentarily forgot to stop the Seventh Elder, his whole body trembling.

Boom!

In the eyes of the Seventh Elder, killing intent burst forth, and he struck out with a palm towards Qin Hao!

A dragon roar sounded, and flames surrounded the Seventh Elder's arm as a fiery dragon flew out, rushing towards Qin Hao.

Dragon Palm!

But the Dragon Palm displayed by the Seventh Elder was a hundred times more powerful than Shang Xi's!

"Stop!"

Duan Changsheng, the Grand Elder, and others all changed their expressions and shouted, even the Grand Elder leaping up to intercept the Seventh Elder.

Boom!

The void trembled, and the Ancestor Hall shook!

"How can this flesh body be so weak!"

Qin Hao sighed softly in his heart.

With only the cultivation of the Refining Qi realm, and even without opening his Dantian and Sea of Consciousness, Qin Hao was no match for a true person in the Yuan Shen realm.

The difference in cultivation levels was too great.

In his prime, one finger could shatter the heavens and earth, and billions of gods and demons would bleed. That was the power to destroy the world.

"Cease!"

Duan Changsheng stood up, his vast and unmatched sword intent soaring, causing the surrounding void to tremble, and instantly locking onto the Seventh Elder.

The Seventh Elder's face turned pale, and a deep sense of fear appeared in his eyes.

Although the Sect Master was injured, he was still not someone he could resist!

"So pure Xuan Tian Sword Intent? Not bad, not bad! It's just that it seems to be injured, leading to a drop in cultivation!" Qin Hao's eyes lit up, looking at Duan Changsheng as if he was seeing him anew.

"Sect Master, I was just too angry. Please forgive me!" Feeling the terrifying aura emanating from Duan Changsheng, the Seventh Elder bowed and concealed the resentment in his eyes.

"Retreat! Leave this matter to Elder Xiao to investigate. No one else is allowed to interfere! Qin Hao, come with me. I have something to ask you personally!" Duan Changsheng looked deeply at the Seventh Elder and said calmly.

"Yes!"

Seeing the Sect Master's anger, everyone closed their mouths and stood up at the same time, bowing to Duan Changsheng. Then they turned and left the Ancestor Hall, each with their own thoughts.