Facing the furious Ji Yue, Ye Yunfei felt no anger.
In his previous life, after being brought back to the Ziwei Sect by Zisheng Zhenjun, Ye Yunfei had been directly appointed as the Master Brother. Since it was an order personally given by Zisheng Zhenjun, most of the sect's disciples had been too intimidated to voice their discontent. Zisheng Zhenjun's seniority and prestige within the Ziwei Sect far exceeded even those of Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders. Even Sect Leader Liu and the Elders could only obey him meekly, never daring to utter a word of defiance. After all, when Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders had first joined the Ziwei Sect as ordinary disciples, Zisheng Zhenjun had already been its most authoritative figure.
Both Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders had been personally promoted by Zisheng Zhenjun. However, Ji Yue was no ordinary disciple. She was one of the Core Disciples most highly regarded by Zisheng Zhenjun, who had personally instructed her in cultivation, establishing a de facto master-disciple relationship between them.
Ji Yue knew that Zisheng Zhenjun had long wished to select a Master Brother to lead the Ziwei Sect back to its former glory. She had secretly pushed herself, training diligently and vowing to become that very Master Brother, fulfilling Zisheng Zhenjun's wish in the future.
Yet now, out of nowhere, this Su Fei had swooped in and taken the Master Brother position.
In that previous life, even after Ye Yunfei became the Master Brother, Ji Yue had remained unconvinced, constantly making things difficult for him and opposing him at every turn! Out of respect for Zisheng Zhenjun, Ye Yunfei hadn't retaliated. Moreover, deep down, Ji Yue cared for the interests of the Ziwei Sect and genuinely wished for its prosperity.
It wasn't until Ye Yunfei displayed astonishing talent, rising step by step and leading the Ziwei Sect down a glorious path of revival, that Ji Yue's attitude toward him began to change.
"My appointment as Master Brother is an order personally issued by Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders. Since when does your opinion on the matter hold any weight?" Ye Yunfei looked at Ji Yue and the other disciples, his tone utterly calm. "Or are you planning to disobey the commands of the sect's leadership? That would be a grave offense."
"That..." Dozens of disciples who had come with Ji Yue froze, dumbfounded.
Because it was true—the order had indeed come from Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders themselves. Furthermore, defying the orders of the sect's leadership was indeed a severe offense within the Ziwei Sect.
"Moreover, Ziwei Sect rules stipulate that the Master Brother stands as the head of all disciples, and must be respected by all. When seeing the Master Brother, one must proactively offer salutations and greetings," Ye Yunfei's voice turned stern. "Yet, standing before me, you shout and holler without the slightest courtesy. Do you even hold the rules of the Ziwei Sect in your eyes anymore?"
"I'll give you one chance now. Greet me immediately. Otherwise, I will report this incident to Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders, and you will be punished!" Ye Yunfei added.
"This..." The disciples behind Ji Yue were startled and involuntarily retreated several steps.
Because it was true—the Ziwei Sect indeed had a rule requiring disciples to actively offer greetings when seeing the Master Brother.
Although the Ziwei Sect had declined, as an ancient sect with a long inheritance, it had numerous such rules. Disciples were required to memorize them upon joining.
"Su Fei, I hope you stop this farce and know your place!" Ji Yue reprimanded sharply. "The position of Master Brother holds immense significance for our Ziwei Sect. As Master Brother, one must shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading our sect toward revitalization and resurgence. Do you think, with your strength, you can bear such a responsibility?!"
"Ji Yue, how do you know I cannot shoulder this responsibility?" Ye Yunfei said flatly. "You are far too conceited. I advise you to change this attitude. Out of respect for Zisheng Zhenjun, I will not hold this against you. You may leave."
Disciples of the Ziwei Sect referred to Zisheng Zhenjun as 'Ancestor Zisheng'.
"You...! If you truly hold Ancestor Zisheng in any regard, you will immediately resign from the Master Brother position. If Ancestor Zisheng learns you are the Master Brother, he will certainly oppose it!" Ji Yue raged.
"You are mistaken," Ye Yunfei chuckled. "Ancestor Zisheng will certainly support me as Master Brother. Besides me, he would not choose anyone else."
"Su Fei! Enough nonsense!" Ji Yue was utterly exasperated. "Tell me, what will it take for you to NOT be Master Brother?"
"I'm afraid this Master Brother is a role I'm keeping," Ye Yunfei replied calmly.
"You...!" Ji Yue's gaze bore into Ye Yunfei, her chest heaving with fury.
"Kid," a disciple suddenly stepped forward, speaking loudly. "Since you keep bringing up sect rules, well, the Ziwei Sect has a rule: the Master Brother must guide all disciples in their cultivation. When disciples encounter doubts in their cultivation, they can seek help from the Master Brother, who must patiently guide and provide assistance."
The disciple continued, "I've encountered a difficulty in my cultivation lately. Since you're the Master Brother, I'm seeking your help now. Please resolve my problem!"
"Meng Chao is right!" other disciples chimed in, egging each other on. "Sect rules state the Master Brother must guide our cultivation. Let's all seek his advice. If he cannot help us with cultivation, we'll go together to the Sect Leader and the Six Elders to firmly oppose him becoming Master Brother!"
Seeing this, Ji Yue revealed a cold smile, prepared to watch Ye Yunfei make a fool of himself.
By now, even more disciples had gathered to watch the spectacle.
Haha, this kid is about to be embarrassed. Meng Chao is a high-ranking Inner Disciple expert, with Dao Molding Realm late stage strength. This kid is only Dao Molding Realm early stage. How can he possibly guide Meng Chao's cultivation?"
"Meng Chao guiding him would be more like it!" Many disciples began to mock.
"Oh?" Ye Yunfei looked at Meng Chao. "You have a problem in your cultivation and wish to seek my advice?"
"That's right, Su Fei! Since you want to be Master Brother, can you guide my cultivation?!" Meng Chao stepped forward, demanding aggressively. "If you cannot, it proves you are completely unqualified to be our Ziwei Sect's Master Brother. Get lost now!"
"With your pitiful strength and talent, guiding your cultivation would be effortless," Ye Yunfei said dismissively. "However, is this the attitude with which one seeks advice? Have you forgotten the courtesy owed when encountering the Master Brother?"
"You...!" Meng Chao was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Meng Chao..." Ji Yue shot him a meaningful glance.
"Fine!" Meng Chao gritted his teeth.
He had long held a secret crush on Ji Yue and usually followed her words implicitly.
"Inner Disciple Meng Chao, greets Master Brother!" With a hardened heart, Meng Chao stepped forward and bowed to Ye Yunfei.
"Hmm, that's more like it," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Now can the Master Brother guide my cultivation...?" Meng Chao forced down his anger and spoke loudly.
Before Meng Chao could finish, Ye Yunfei spoke. "You have indeed encountered a problem in your recent cultivation. After reaching the sixth palm in your Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms technique, you've been unable to progress further. You have been consistently failing to condense the palm intent for the seventh palm."
"How... how do you know that?" Meng Chao couldn't help but change expression, a bit unwilling to believe it.
What Ye Yunfei said was true. It was a matter only he himself knew, yet Su Fei had pinpointed it perfectly.
"Of course I know. Do you wish to know how to condense the seventh palm's intent?" Ye Yunfei asked.
"What must I do?" Meng Chao hurriedly inquired. He had been arduously practicing the seventh palm of the Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms for half a year without success, finding it extremely frustrating.
Seeing this scene, Ji Yue felt a sense of foreboding rise in her heart.
"Meng Chao, don't believe him! He's just spouting nonsense!" Ji Yue hurriedly called out.
"The reason you cannot condense the seventh palm's intent is that you misunderstand the Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms technique itself," Ye Yunfei said. "I'd wager you believe this to be a purely Yang-oriented palm technique. Therefore, during your practice, you single-mindedly pursue extreme Yang vigor, with wide, expansive movements."
"In fact, while the name 'Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms' sounds Yang-oriented, it is actually a technique that harmonizes Yin and Yang," Ye Yunfei continued. "The first six palms are Yang Palms. The seventh through twelfth are Yin Palms. The final palm combines Yin and Yang, resulting in the greatest power."
"And in truth, it's not just you. Every person within the Ziwei Sect has misunderstood this technique. The Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms is a heritage passed down by the sect's ancestors. Its true power far exceeds your imagination."
Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms was a Yin-Yang harmonizing technique?
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, everyone present was stunned.
Deep within the Ziwei Sect headquarters, Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders were completely dumbfounded as well.
In truth, Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders had been closely observing Ye Yunfei, wanting to see how he would handle the disciples' challenges.
"Nonsense! The Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms has always been a Yang-oriented technique. When did it become a Yin-Yang harmonizing one?!" Meng Chao was the first to object loudly.
"If you don't believe it, do exactly as I say now. I guarantee you'll be able to condense the seventh palm's intent immediately. Execute a palm strike now. Once your spiritual energy leaves your Dantian, ensure it travels along your Conception Vessel. Draw upon the energy from all the Yin meridians in your body. Follow the incantation for the seventh palm to condense the palm intent and strike toward that grove," Ye Yunfei commanded loudly.
Meng Chao hesitated briefly, but ultimately followed the instruction. He saw him circulate his spiritual energy and strike out with a palm, his attack directed toward the grove Ye Yunfei had indicated.
BOOM!
A massive palm imprint manifested, carrying overwhelming energy pressure, shaking the very heavens and earth like a divine mountain crashing down upon the distant grove.
KA-BOOM!
With a deafening blast, all the trees, flowers, and plants within that grove were pulverized into dust, utterly annihilated. The entire grove was utterly devastated—even the ground itself had vanished, leaving only a massive, palm-shaped crater a hundred meters deep, resembling a black, gaping abyss.
"I... I've mastered the seventh palm?!" Meng Chao stood there dumbly, scarcely able to believe it.
He had spent half a year arduously practicing the seventh palm without success. Yet after just a few pointers from Su Fei, he had mastered it in an instant! It felt like a dream.
"How can this be?" Ji Yue was also stunned speechless.
"So this is the true power of the Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms?!" the other disciples exclaimed in shock.
Deep within the headquarters, Sect Leader Liu and the Six Elders could no longer maintain their composure. They practically leapt to their feet, one after another, completely dumbstruck. "How is this possible? Could it be... as Su Fei said, all members of the Ziwei Sect, including ourselves, have misunderstood the Heavenly Gang Thirteen Palms all along?"