Starting with Naruto, I'll become stronger through my own efforts.

No one expected that Cheng Buyou would become completely enraged after being slapped in the face by chicken droppings stuck to a broom.

Disregarding face and chivalry, he channeled the inner energy he had cultivated over decades and struck Linghu Chong in the chest with a palm.

The incident happened so suddenly that no one present had time to react and could only watch helplessly as Linghu Chong fell into danger.

Except for Xia Zuo, who was mentally prepared.

He stepped in front of Linghu Chong, taking the full force of Cheng Buyou's palm strike with his chest.

Although Xia Zuo only practiced basic internal skills, he still managed to master them on his own.

The mastery of true energy was enough to send the shameless dwarf flying backward, spitting out mouthfuls of blood.

Then, the Six Immortals of Peach Valley rushed into the Righteousness Hall like ghosts. Four of them grabbed Cheng Buyou, who was flying backward, while two of them grabbed Linghu Chong, who was behind Xia Zuo.

Xia Zuo remained expressionless, drew his long sword from his waist, and unleashed four sword strikes in a flash.

With a single sword stroke, he cut down Tao Genxian, who was rushing towards Linghu Chong.

A sword pierced the throat of Tao Shixian, who was gripping Linghu Chong's shoulder.

With a single sword stroke, he severed the tendon in Tao Ganxian's hand that was gripping Cheng Buyou's left hand.

With a single sword stroke, Tao Zhixian severed the wrist of the woman who was gripping Cheng Buyou's right leg.

A flash of blood appeared as Tao Ye Xian ripped Cheng Buyou's right hand from his body, while Tao Hua Xian grabbed Cheng Buyou's left leg, her face full of bewilderment.

Seeing Peach Root Fairy and Peach Fruit Fairy fall, Peach Trunk Fairy, Peach Branch Fairy, Peach Blossom Fairy, and Peach Leaf Fairy screamed, "You killed my brothers!"

Peach Blossom Fairy and Peach Branch Fairy cried out in pain, while Peach Blossom Fairy and Peach Leaf Fairy dropped the severed arm and Cheng Buyou in their hands, drew the short stick from their waists, and rushed towards Xia Zuo with red eyes.

Xia Zuo gave a pretentious snort: "Stubborn to the end!"

"You're courting death!"

The gleaming sword light was like a white rainbow piercing the sun, causing everyone to instinctively squint.

The fastest flying fairy, Peach Blossom Fairy, and Peach Leaf Fairy had their heads flying high into the air before their bodies crashed to the ground.

The sword light of "[White Rainbow Piercing the Sun]" still lingered, but it suddenly changed into "[Phoenix Arrives]", and the gleaming longsword plunged into Tao Ganxian's throat, severing his cervical vertebrae and ending his life.

After killing several people and severing several bones, Xia Zuo's ordinary longsword, now dulled, was stuck against Tao Ganxian's neck.

Peach Blossom Fairy, tears streaming down her face, cried out, "Pay back my brothers' lives!" She smashed Xia Zuo's longsword with an iron bar and then lunged at Xia Zuo, fighting desperately.

He opened his mouth wide, as if he wanted to bite Xia Zuo's neck off with his gleaming white teeth.

But Xia Zuo calmly drew out the spare longsword belonging to Tao Jun, and with the technique of "Welcoming Guests with Pine Trees," he shoved the longsword into Tao Zhixian's mouth, piercing it three inches from the back of her head.

Thus, the Six Immortals of Peach Valley, fresh out of the gate, perished in the Righteousness Hall of the Huashan Sect before they could even make a name for themselves.

Xia Zuo let go, allowing Tao Zhixian to swallow the long sword and fall to the ground.

He looked at Feng Buping, Cheng Buyou, and the other two, and said with a smile, "Three seniors of the Sword Sect, my senior brother and I are quite skilled, aren't we? And isn't my master's ability to teach his disciples worthy of the Huashan Sect?"

Xia Zuo's killing intent was so pure and fierce, as unstoppable as the midday sun.

Feng Buping was filled with fear at this moment, and he had no courage to answer the question. He was afraid that if he opened his mouth, his teeth would chatter.

Xia Zuo clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Master, please let the martial uncles of the Five Mountains Sword Sect leave. After all, this is an internal matter of my Huashan Sect, and it is really inappropriate for them to be present and watch."

Yue Buqun felt extremely pleased and smiled as he cooperated, saying, "I've already spoken to them, but your uncles won't agree. Why don't you talk to them again?"

"Yes, Master!"

Xia Zuo glanced at the elders from Songshan, Hengshan, and Taishan, his eyes narrowing slightly, and said coldly, "My fellow martial uncles, do you really intend to continue watching?"

Under Xia Zuo's watchful gaze, everyone felt their hearts pounding with fear.

Even if the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance were to personally appear, there would be no such terrifying and awe-inspiring killing intent.

The men, disheartened, gave up and left Zhengqi Hall in disgrace.

Xia Zuo snorted coldly: "You're quick on your way."

Next comes the internal affairs of the Huashan Sect.

First, bandage Cheng Buyou's severed arm. This kind of laceration is extremely horrific, and it's important to prevent him from bleeding to death. Next, discuss the conditions for Feng Buping and the other Sword Sect disciples to return to the Huashan Sect.

Seeing Xia Zuo's displayed strength, Yue Buqun was completely stunned, but he also became exceptionally magnanimous. He not only no longer rejected Feng Buping and the other two, but instead tried to win them over.

With Xia Zuo as his disciple, the Qi Sect now holds an absolute advantage in strength and no longer needs to cautiously reject the Sword Sect as before.

On the contrary, Yue Buqun felt that he should be more magnanimous and bring the Sword Sect back to strengthen the power of the Huashan Sect.

It's important to understand that many of the traditional interests of the Huashan Sect have yet to be reclaimed.

This is not a problem that Xia Zuo can solve simply by being strong enough. No matter how strong he is, he is still just one person and cannot take care of so many places.

Just like Zuo Lengchan, the leader of the Songshan Sect, he showed his terrifying strength very early on, but the Songshan Sect grew stronger after he taught his disciples on behalf of his master and trained the Thirteen Protectors.

The same goes for Xia Zuo. No matter how strong he is, he can only ensure the safety of the sect and raise its upper limit, but he cannot directly expand the power of the Huashan Sect.

With the addition of three, well, two, Sword Sect masters of the "Bu" generation, the Huashan Sect's power base can at least double.

Then they could receive more money, recruit more disciples, and the Huashan Sect would begin its complete revival.

After 30 years of hard work, Yue Buqun finally saw the light of success and was determined not to let the Sword Sect leave Mount Hua.

But his thoughts were beyond the comprehension of his disciples.

Senior Brother Linghu Chong is alright; he is open-minded by nature and rarely has anything to worry about.

Moreover, he had just received meticulous instruction from Feng Qingyang of the Sword Sect, and he had not suffered a great loss in the martial arts competition, so he could naturally put on a smiling face and keep calling Cheng Buyou, Feng Buping, and Cong Buqi "Uncle-Master" repeatedly.

But the other disciples were all indignant, and they all had long faces as they helped Cheng Buyou bandage his wounds.

Xia Zuo naturally saw through Yue Buqun's intention, so he pulled Yue Buqun aside and told him everything that had happened on the Cliff of Contemplation.

Xia Zuo focused on describing Feng Qingyang's physical appearance, including the Dugu Nine Swords, the Five Mountains Sword Technique carvings inside the cave on the Cliff of Contemplation, and the story of the ten elders of the Demonic Sect breaking the Five Mountains Sword Technique. He explained everything clearly, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

Yue Buqun's mind raced, and he quickly understood why Feng Qingyang was living in seclusion atop Mount Hua, as well as the decisive role this intelligence played in subduing the Sword Sect.

But Lao Yue also realized that Linghu Chong had discovered the important matter of the cave within the cave on the Cliff of Contemplation, and it was Linghu Chong who should have told him. However, this wicked disciple had secretly kept it a secret.

Yue Buqun felt a sudden pang of pain in his heart. Had he raised such an ungrateful wretch over the past ten years?

Or is it that Linghu Chong is just inherently unreliable?