“Protection fee.”

Lin Changsheng spoke with a heavy voice.

“What do you mean by that?”

Deep within the Shangling Observatory, Luo Shurong furrowed his brows and questioned.

“For thirty thousand years, Qing Sect has guarded the demon abyss, suffering countless deaths and injuries. Shangling Observatory has been untouched by the demon abyss; shouldn’t you pay a protection fee?”

In the past, the predecessors of Qing Sect would merely cause a stir, never demanding anything. But this time, Lin Changsheng was not going to indulge these ungrateful curs; he was determined to seek justice for Qing Sect.

“Ha, Dao Friend, your words are misguided.” A transparent figure appeared at the gate, Luo Shurong’s avatar, who sneered: “Shangling Observatory never asked Qing Sect to suppress the demon abyss; there’s no basis for a protection fee. Moreover, as a first-rate Sacred Ground, Shangling Observatory isn’t in need of anyone’s protection.”

Clearly, Luo Shurong had no intention of acknowledging the debt and even took the opportunity to disparage Qing Sect.

“Years ago, Qing Sect and nearly a hundred forces of Imperial Province reached an agreement that should the seal of the demon abyss weaken, all parties must dispatch powerful figures to suppress it together. I never expected that in just over ten thousand years, you would tear up the agreement.”

Once, the head of Qing Sect also contemplated not suppressing the demon abyss, leaving the responsibility to the various forces.

However, there was an incident when the demon abyss weakened, and a strand of demonic power entered the world.

It led to the demonization of an entire star, affecting billions of lives. That tragic sight deeply moved the hearts of Qing Sect’s predecessors; they could ignore the other Sects, but they couldn’t stand by and watch innocent people die.

In the end, the predecessors of Qing Sect embarked on a path of no regrets.

As for the opinions of the common people, it no longer mattered.

They protected not those so-called Sacred Grounds and immortal gates, but the land that held countless memories and the ordinary beings striving to live.

“If it were just that, it would be one thing, but you dared to covertly occupy Qing Sect’s resources and spirit veins, forcing Qing Sect into seclusion. Heartless and unforgivable.”

Lin Changsheng’s voice was fierce: “If Shangling Observatory does not provide a satisfactory protection fee today, from this day forward, do not expect a single day of peace.”

“Are you threatening Shangling Observatory?” Luo Shurong rebuked: “To think you alone could be so laughable.”

“I am not here to joke with you.”

As his words fell, Lin Changsheng pointed a finger towards the avatar of Luo Shurong in the void.

Puchi!

Luo Shurong’s avatar shattered instantly, without any resistance.

Immediately after, Lin Changsheng slapped towards the Protecting Sect formation of Shangling Observatory.

“Boom—”

The Protecting Sect formation trembled violently, shaking the earth and sky, sending a terrifying pressure rippling through the heavens, causing countless palaces to sway as if they would collapse.

“How dare you!”

Everyone in Shangling Observatory was affected and furious to the extreme.

In the blink of an eye, the gate was surrounded by over a thousand cultivators, not weak in strength, led by a middle-aged man in purple robes, Luo Shurong himself, the Sect Master.

Standing on either side of Luo Shurong were more than fifty elders, all core Elders, the weakest among them being powerful figures in the early stage of the Great Vehicle.

“You still have time to leave.”

Luo Shurong looked down on Lin Changsheng from his high position, his oppressive aura vast and overwhelming.

The reason Shangling Observatory hadn’t taken action was that they wanted to spare Lin Changsheng’s life, so he could go to the demon abyss like Qing Sect’s predecessors.

With the demon abyss under control, the greatest beneficiaries were the top forces of Imperial Province.

Hence, there was an unwritten rule among these forces: as long as each successor of Qing Sect didn’t do anything excessive, they would let him be, since he was a man marked for death anyway, not worth fussing over.

In the eyes of these forces, the people of Qing Sect were fools, sacrificing the future of their Sect for so-called righteous actions.

As for gratitude, perhaps there was some many years ago! Now, they had no such sentiment, only endless mockery and exploitation.

Watching such a large assembly, Lin Changsheng slightly narrowed his eyes and turned to leave.

“Ha ha ha…”

Luo Shurong and the others laughed loudly.

“The stance that man took just now seemed so grand, I thought he had some real ability, but he’s just a coward.”

One of the Elders mocked.

“Just fulfill Qing Sect’s duty obediently. Coming to Shangling Observatory to cause trouble, he’s courting death.”

Over the years, countless forces in Imperial Province believed it was only right for Qing Sect to suppress the demon abyss.

Such is the fickleness of human hearts.

Everyone in Shangling Observatory thought the matter was settled, occasionally using it as a joke, as if to showcase the strength of their Sect, quite proud of themselves.

Days later, when an inner gate Elder led a group of disciples to a resource site to collect spirit ores, they suddenly encountered Lin Changsheng blocking their way.

Without a word, Lin Changsheng struck with his palm, severely injuring the Great Vehicle stage Elder, while the hundreds of disciples accompanying him scattered in panic, unharmed.

“Search!”

When news of this incident reached Shangling Observatory, it enraged the higher-ups.

However, they could not find any trace of Lin Changsheng.

The day Lin Changsheng left was not out of fear of death, but because it was unwise to oppose an entire Sect alone. Since he had decided to demand a protection fee, he couldn’t possibly leave empty-handed.

He would break them one by one, disrupting the daily order of Shangling Observatory.

If Shangling Observatory still failed to understand, then Lin Changsheng wouldn’t just injure an Elder outside; he would kill outright.

None of the higher-ups of Shangling Observatory were innocent; they enjoyed the resources of the Sacred Ground and trampled on the dignity of Qing Sect. Moreover, in the world of cultivation, there is no such thing as mercy; those of the Holy Mother had long since perished.

After some time, a resource mine of Shangling Observatory was attacked, suffering heavy losses.

Days later, an enforcement team sent to capture the culprit was annihilated, tied up with a rope around a large tree, left with nothing but their undergarments.

A core Elder in the late stage of the Great Vehicle encountered Lin Changsheng blocking the way, confident in his own strength, he engaged in furious battle.

After over a hundred exchanges, the Elder met his demise.

Originally, Lin Changsheng had no intention of killing, but the man was full of murderous intent, his words filled with insults towards Qing Sect.

If he didn’t kill this man, they would think Lin Changsheng was soft-hearted.

Carrying the Elder’s head, Lin Changsheng boldly appeared at the gate of Shangling Observatory, tossing it out: “Pay the protection fee, and you may have temporary peace. Refuse, and Shangling Observatory will never know peace again.”

“Form the array, kill him!”

Shangling Observatory didn’t care about the demon abyss; they only thought of killing Lin Changsheng.

Countless powerful figures emerged from all directions, surrounding Lin Changsheng.

Unfazed, Lin Changsheng had already anticipated this and had a plan to break through the encirclement.

Qing Sect had many top supernatural powers, and Lin Changsheng had the ability to break through the siege. But before breaking through, he wanted to take a few lives, to show Shangling Observatory and the watching forces his resolve.

“My Sect’s predecessors were too kind to you beasts. Had I been born a hundred thousand years earlier, I would have flattened Imperial Province and dragged you all to death with me.”

Lin Changsheng said coldly, a three-foot sword appearing in his hand, sweeping out and breaking the fierce array.

With several more strikes, he beheaded a Great Vehicle stage Elder, blood spurting, a shocking sight.