It was said that when qi refiners strike, their momentum was terrifying, but who could have thought that this pure martial artist sitting by the lake, just by casually making a move, would let everyone see a scene even more terrifying than a qi refiner’s strike.

The gathered qi refiners fell silent. No one expected that the martial artists, usually regarded as mere mud-legged peasants, would produce such a scene that seemed both like Buddha and immortals at the same time.

Liang Jinjing’s expression was strange. Probably even she had not expected that Chen Chao’s techniques had changed so much.

But in the next moment, all the qi refiners had no chance to think about what kind of technique the young martial artist was using, because the entire Three Streams Manor was practically built on the lake surface. Now that the young Lord Warden Commander wanted to fish up the whole lake, it meant they all would be overturned by this lake water in an instant.

The ground beneath them already began shaking violently. Some qi refiners who were not calm enough prepared to leave the lake surface.

But luckily, the churning of the lake water lasted only a moment, before a ripple suddenly appeared in the sky dome above. Then, countless golden threads appeared out of thin air, falling rapidly like a golden rain.

After a moment, the countless threads wrapped around the edges of the lake, linking it together. The once turbulent lake water then began to steadily fall.

“Everyone, do not panic. Our Three Streams Manor has a grand array protecting us. It is impossible for it to overturn just like this!”

Tu Beihai came back to his senses and spoke loudly.

Three Streams Manor could become the leader of the southern qi refiner faction naturally had some foundation. It would not be so easily overthrown by anyone.

Otherwise, this would truly become the biggest joke in the history of the qi refiners lineage.

Seeing those dense golden threads, the qi refiners attending the Sixty-Year Gathering relaxed quite a bit. But then they thought again: no matter how extraordinary this young martial artist was, he had only just stepped into Nepenthe not long ago.

A cultivator at the Nepenthe Realm could naturally be considered one of the top powerhouses in the world, but to think he could overturn Three Streams Manor all by himself was still a fool’s talk.

Everyone’s minds settled, but soon a new worry grew, because at that moment, someone noticed that the young martial artist sitting on the bluestone slowly stood up. He still held that green fishing rod, not abandoning the plan to fish up the whole lake just because so many golden threads had appeared outside.

He exerted force with his arm, and the almost invisible fishing line instantly tightened. Then the lake surface churned again, rising higher and higher.

It seemed that even knowing fishing up a whole lake would be difficult, this young Lord Warden Commander was persistent and continued to try.

The golden threads surrounding the lake glowed continuously, becoming incomparably dazzling.

This was the beginning of the contest between both sides.

The lake surface rose several inches, then was pressed down several inches. The green fishing rod in the young martial artist’s hand was now bent like a full moon.

Like a bow drawn to its limit.

But this arrow was already on the string. When it would be released, who could tell what would happen then?

Chen Chao’s expression was calm. After tightening the muscles in his arm, his qi began to surge outward continuously along his meridians. Though the fishing rod was bent worryingly, the fishing line had not yet broken.

Then Chen Chao continued to apply force, and the lake surface began to rise again toward the sky. This time it was slow, but watching the lake surface rise bit by bit, the qi refiners all looked grim.

Though the golden light around the lake remained dazzling, a very bad feeling quickly grew in their hearts.

Sure enough, as the lake surface kept rising, the golden threads around it suddenly began to shatter.

After breaking apart, the golden light scattered all over the ground, dyeing the lakeshore in golden brilliance. Though this scene looked somewhat beautiful, all the qi refiners frowned without exception.

Tu Beihai’s face was the ugliest.

“How could this be?”

At this moment, Tu Beihai could no longer help but mutter to himself. Those golden threads were not conjured out of thin air; they were produced by the grand array in the mountain maintaining its operation. In theory, as long as the grand array was not broken, these golden threads would not shatter.

And to break the grand array protecting Three Streams Manor, how could a measly little Nepenthe Realm accomplish that?

But the reality was right before them. That young martial artist stood quietly by the lake, slowly fishing up an entire large lake.

The ground beneath everyone shook again. The qi refiners were getting anxious. Countless people looked toward Tu Beihai, hoping Three Streams Manor still had some means to stop the young martial artist.

Tu Beihai remained silent, seemingly unmoved as he watched the lake water being fished up.

The next moment, with a series of crackling sounds, the buildings on the lake surface, including one in particular, began to sway and teeter.

Soon after, the sounds continued without stopping, and the lake surface rose more than ten feet.

Countless golden threads at this moment were barely holding on, each starting to shatter, scattering golden light everywhere.

It seemed fishing up the entire lake had become an unstoppable momentum.

The qi refiners in the lake quickly fled; no one was willing to wait there any longer.

Sage Bamboo Moon swept up several disciples and left quickly as well.

In the blink of an eye, the qi refiners all employed their techniques to leave the lake surface. Most of their techniques looked ethereal, as if they were immortals flying away.

Chen Chao glanced at them and instinctively spat.

What the hell are they pretending to be immortals for?

Now on the lake surface, only that Manor Lord of Three Streams Manor remained.

As the lake surface continued to rise, the buildings on the lake surface shattered one after another, collapsing without end, just like the fate awaiting Three Streams Manor.

But at this moment, Tu Beihai still showed no expression. This qi refiner grandmaster seemed stunned as if scared dumb.

Some people looked at Tu Beihai with sympathy.

Then a mass of lake water finally lifted off the lake bottom and hovered in midair, while all the buildings on the lake surface completely collapsed.

The golden threads shattered and dissipated.

It seemed only now did Tu Beihai belatedly react. He stepped out of the lake water, approached the lakeshore, and looked toward Chen Chao. His voice was low and firm: “Three Streams Manor disciples, obey orders. This person came uninvited to provoke us, destroyed our sect, and has become a mortal enemy of Three Streams Manor. At this moment, executing him is just and reasonable!”

Listening to Tu Beihai’s words, the qi refiners on the lakeshore finally understood the Manor Lord’s plan. He intended to let this young Lord Warden Commander make the first move, then create a scenario where Three Streams Manor had no choice but to retaliate. By then, whether it was Great Liang or anyone else, no one would be able to say anything.

After all, Three Streams Manor was never the provocateur from the start. And as for those earlier words about skinning and flaying Chen Chao, they were just talk. Compared to what Chen Chao had actually done, that was like a fledgling witch facing a great wizard.

Liang Jinjing heard this and grew worried. She looked toward a not-far place, already seeing several figures rushing over. These were Three Streams Manor’s qi refiners. Now acting together, they clearly intended to kill Chen Chao right here.

At this moment, the lake surface had risen over twenty feet. Noticing the Three Streams cultivators rushing over, Chen Chao remained unmoved. He just loosened his grip on the green fishing rod.

The lake water fell. This was a heavy rain in the true sense.

At the same time, the first Three Streams Manor cultivator arrived not far beside Chen Chao. Chen Chao remained unmoved, only gripping the green fishing rod and flicking it backward, knocking the nearest cultivator into the lake.

The following few qi refiners who approached met the same fate.

The qi refiners who realized belatedly now understood that the worst thing in the world was to get close to a martial artist. Realizing this, the remaining qi refiners began a frantic retreat, trying to open distance, just hoping not to get close to the martial artist before them.

But how could it be that easy?

Chen Chao continuously swung the fishing rod. After the fishing line wrapped around a qi refiner, he directly swung them into the lake. The next few times were the same. The cultivators looked like fish caught by Chen Chao’s fishing rod. The only difference was, Chen Chao did not intend to keep them, he just threw them back into the lake one by one.

The sounds on the lake surface never stopped. Soon, all the qi refiners rushing from all directions fell into the lake.

Chen Chao finally released the fishing rod, tossed it onto the lake surface, and then landed on the fishing rod, gliding over the lake surface.

From afar, Tu Beihai also leaped up, stirring the lake water to block Chen Chao’s path.

After all, he was an existence who had already stepped into Nepenthe. When this qi refiner grandmaster struck, he no longer held back. His momentum was magnificent, carrying a unique atmosphere.

A profound aura lingered between heaven and earth, slowly spreading across the lake surface. Chen Chao felt the surrounding flow of qi and tugged at the corners of his mouth. This kind of aura required no consideration.

Then he dashed past, closing in on that Manor Lord of Three Streams Manor and casually tore apart the aura surrounding him. Tu Beihai’s expression changed slightly. Even he did not expect that a young martial artist at the same real as him could be so terrifying.

In an instant, Tu Beihai felt a desire to retreat. But just as he turned, a fierce wind swept by. Tu Beihai’s expression greatly changed. He hurriedly dodged but was still hit by the wind. His figure swayed like he was drunk.

Chen Chao had already reached his side, looking at Tu Beihai with a half-smile and lamented emotionally, “You’re pretty scheming. You want this official to make the first move, then you all strike and kill this official so that no one can find fault with you.”

“But have you thought about the most important thing?”

Chen Chao smashed a punch at Tu Beihai, speaking calmly, "Which is, why do you all think that this official will die here?"

Tu Beihai remained silent.

“After this official killed that annoying old hag, this official has never come to bother you. You think this official forgot about that?”

As he finished speaking, Tu Beihai was punched into the lake water.

Monstrous waves roared.

Chen Chao did not look back and soon reached the lakeshore.

The spectators among the qi refiners watched Chen Chao not far off. For this young Lord Warden Commander who had come and immediately launched a big attack, they felt shocked.

Some even felt a pang of sympathy.

After all, Three Streams Manor was also part of the qi refiner lineage.

At this moment, Chen Chao tilted his head back and looked toward the Ancestral Hall, slightly narrowing his eyes.

He said he would tear down the Ancestral Hall, which meant he really was here to tear down the Ancestral Hall.