What's going on?

Not only was Yao Yanliang completely dumbfounded, but even the cultivators present were completely dumbfounded.

Zhou Jingmo not only didn't attack Bai Ying, but he even slapped Yao Yanliang hard across the face.

Yao Yanliang's master rushed up to him and kicked him hard!

"Yao Yanliang, you bastard, who gave you the audacity to lay a hand on Bai Ying!"

Yao Yanliang was completely stunned, having no idea why his master would side with Bai Ying.

He struggled to his feet, sweating profusely, and said, "Master...Master, it was Bai Ying who attacked me first..."

Before he could finish speaking, another loud slap landed hard on his face.

Yao Yanliang's master glared at him and said fiercely, "I've really spoiled you. It's one thing for you to do domineering things all the time, but today you actually dared to attack our Lingyin Sect's distinguished guest. You've really gone mad!"

"Distinguished guest?"

Yao Yanliang looked at his master in disbelief.

Isn't Bai Ying a new disciple selected from the Lingxiao Sect?

In Yao Yanliang's mind, distinguished guests of a sect were either elders from other sects or ancient monsters who had lived for thousands of years. But how old was Bai Ying? How could she be called a distinguished guest?

“I said she’s a VIP, so she’s a VIP. What? You think I’m wrong?”

Upon hearing his master's words, Yao Yanliang instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

"No, that's not what I meant."

He never expected that a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl would be valued so highly by his master and the others.

It seems he's really messed up this time.

Thinking of this, he quickly apologized to Bai Ying: "I'm sorry, Bai Ying, I was blind to your greatness, it's all my fault."

Those present could hardly believe what they were seeing.

Bai Ying looks ordinary and is only seventeen or eighteen years old, so why do the elders in the sect value her so much? Even Yao Yanliang's master no longer sides with Yao Yanliang.

Although Yao Yanliang had apologized to Bai Ying, his master clearly felt it wasn't enough. He suddenly raised his palm and, before Bai Ying could react, slammed it hard onto Yao Yanliang's dantian with lightning speed.

With a muffled "plop," Yao Yanliang's body shuddered violently as if struck by lightning. Then, a mouthful of blood gushed out uncontrollably, blooming into a dazzling blood flower in the air. The blood splashed onto the ground, staining the dust crimson—a horrifying sight. Even more shocking was the terrifying power of this palm strike; it shattered the golden core that Yao Yanliang had painstakingly cultivated for many years! The instant the golden core shattered, the spiritual energy within Yao Yanliang's body surged uncontrollably like a burst dam, his face turning deathly pale, and large beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks.

Yao Yanliang's master then apologized to Bai Ying, saying, "It's all my fault for not disciplining this disciple properly. I have already punished him severely, destroying his golden core. He will no longer have the right to be arrogant. I hope you can forgive him, young friend Bai."

Seeing that Yao Yanliang's master had already gone to such lengths, Bai Ying did not pursue the matter further and simply nodded.

Upon seeing this, Yao Yanliang's master's tense expression eased slightly, and he gently wiped the fine beads of sweat from his forehead.

Meanwhile, the onlookers were still reeling from the series of jaw-dropping events that had just unfolded. As if silenced by a spell, they were all speechless, their eyes wide with astonishment. Their gazes darted back and forth across Bai Ying, their minds filled with questions. Just who was Bai Ying? How could she possess such power that she could make her master, Yao Yanliang, who was known for spoiling his disciple and fiercely protecting his own, do something so illogical?

Everyone found it hard to believe that, in order to win Bai Ying's forgiveness, he would so cruelly destroy Yao Yanliang's golden core, which he had painstakingly cultivated for many years and upon which it depended! This scene was too absurd and bizarre, completely overturning everyone's usual understanding of the master-disciple relationship and sect rules. Everyone looked at each other in astonishment, feeling as if they were in a bizarre dream, unable to recover for a long time.

Zhou Jingmo walked up to Bai Ying and said to her with unusual respect, "Young friend Bai, could you accompany us to the Lingyin Sect now?"

As he spoke, he summoned his flying artifact and invited Bai Ying to go with him to the Lingyin Sect.

Only after Zhou Jingmo and Bai Ying left did Yao Yanliang's master finally breathe a sigh of relief.

He quickly and tenderly helped Yao Yanliang up and tended to his injuries.

Yao Yanliang then asked his master, "Master, just who is Bai Ying? Why are you treating me like this?"

Yao Yanliang's master shook his head, unwilling to say more.

After all, he couldn't let the fact that Qi Haoyuan's lifespan was coming to an end spread.

He simply said to Yao Yanliang, "You just need to know that Bai Ying is not someone you can afford to offend. You should be glad that she was the one who hurt you just now. If you had dared to hurt her, or even kill her, not only would I not be able to protect you, but you would have died on the spot. I'm afraid even I would have been expelled from the Lingyin Sect."

Yao Yanliang felt a chill rush straight to his head.

Who exactly is Bai Ying, and why is she so highly regarded by the sect?

Yao Yanliang's master led Yao Yanliang away, while the group of people present looked at each other in bewilderment.

They both saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

Especially Ding Yan and Yang Anqi.

Ding Yan had just arrogantly rejected Bai Ying, and Yang Anqi had been constantly opposing Bai Ying, nitpicking at her relentlessly.

They stood there dumbfounded, and Yang Anqi felt like the sky was about to fall.