Chapter 5: Death by Sect Leader? No, Thanks.

Yang Kai wasn't sure what exactly had just happened, but whatever it was, it involved a lot of flying, a lot of power, and quite a lot of pain.

Last thing he remembered was **Sect Leader Han Jing** launching his hand at him with enough force to obliterate entire cities, followed by the sudden sensation of something *breaking.* He wasn't sure what broke—his body, his soul, his sanity—but it felt like something important had been shattered.

Now, he was here. Still standing.

Still breathing.

Still very much **alive**.

"**Huh.**" Yang Kai blinked, rubbing his eyes and staring up at the very angry face of Sect Leader Han Jing, whose palm was still extended toward him.

"**What... the hell... just happened?**"

The sect went utterly silent. Not the dramatic kind of silence—no, this was the kind of silence where even the birds in the trees were like, *Nope, we're not dealing with this today.*

Han Jing's face was unreadable as he slowly pulled his hand back, eyes narrowing on Yang Kai like he was some sort of anomaly.

The kind of anomaly that doesn't die when he's supposed to.

"**Yang Kai,**" Han Jing's voice was thick with disbelief. "**You should be dead.**"

Yang Kai just stared at him for a second before speaking in his best sarcastic tone, "Well, I did try to die, but it seems my death didn't get the memo."

Elder Sun—who had been watching this whole fiasco with wide, incredulous eyes—finally found his voice. "Sect Leader, this... this can't be possible! The boy should've been turned into a fine paste! This doesn't make sense!"

Yang Kai was about to respond with something witty, when he felt the familiar warmth of a **notification** pop up in his mind.

**Ding!**

*"Indestructible Cockroach Physique Activated: Your body is impervious to lethal damage due to sheer stubbornness. Please expect an increase in confusion and questions regarding reality."*

"**...Indestructible Cockroach Physique?**" Yang Kai repeated out loud. "Really? That's the best you could come up with? A cockroach joke?"

He glanced at the elder, "You hear that, Elder Sun? I'm basically a cockroach. That means I can survive anything. A full-force attack? No problem. Deadly poison? Bring it on. A stampede of angry cultivators? I'd just sit there and make sarcastic comments about their life choices."

Elder Sun's face turned **redder than a beetroot** as he sputtered. "Y-You insolent brat!"

"*Ouch,*" Yang Kai quipped, holding a hand to his chest. "Careful, Elder Sun. If you get too angry, your blood pressure's going to shoot through the roof."

Some of the nearby disciples snickered, but the Sect Leader didn't seem amused.

"**Yang Kai,**" Han Jing said, his voice low, "*What did you do?*"

Yang Kai's expression shifted to a dramatic one, his hand placed dramatically on his chest. "Me? Oh, I was just standing here, minding my own business, and suddenly I get hit by your full-force palm, **and I don't die.** Can you imagine how disappointing that is for me? A guy like me should have a dramatic death, don't you think?"

The Sect Leader's gaze deepened. "Enough. This is no time for jokes. You should have died. And yet, you're standing here... unscathed. I must know how."

Yang Kai raised an eyebrow. "Is that what you think? That I should've died? What happened to your faith in your own power, Sect Leader? You've just embarrassed yourself in front of all these fine disciples here. I think your reputation's going to take a hit."

The silence that followed was deafening.

He could feel the weight of hundreds of eyes on him. All of them were looking at him like he was some **sort of circus freak**.

He smirked inwardly. *Let them stare. They'll all be groveling at my feet soon enough.*

Just as Han Jing opened his mouth to speak again, another voice interrupted the tension.

"**Enough!**"

Everyone turned to see **Elder Wu**, a somewhat eccentric but respected elder, striding forward. He had a look on his face like he had just tasted something particularly sour.

"**Sect Leader,**" Elder Wu began, "**It's obvious this brat is no ordinary disciple. There's something unnatural about him. His survival was... improbable, but it's clear that he's not just another weakling. We need to investigate further.**"

Yang Kai couldn't help but grin. "**Oh please.** Investigate? What's the point? You all just don't want to admit that you're all going to be *eclipsed* by my greatness."

The elders exchanged uneasy glances.

"**What do you mean by that?**" Han Jing asked.

Yang Kai's smile widened. "Well, I've been thinking about my next move, and... if you don't mind me saying so, it seems a little bit ridiculous that you all are still standing here, acting like I'm some sort of mistake."

He turned, addressing the crowd. "You see, I'm about to **leave** this sect, get stronger, and then come back to **slap all of you in the face.**"

Some of the disciples gasped, others chuckled nervously, but **Han Jing was not amused.**

"**What's your point?**"

"My point, Sect Leader, is that you've just made a monumental mistake." Yang Kai grinned. "You see, you're not just kicking me out of the sect. You're actually giving me the freedom to **rise to power**. You've set me free, and I'm going to take full advantage of that."

He crossed his arms. "You know what? Forget the 'slapping' part. I'm going to make all of you grovel when I return. When I'm stronger than all of you combined, and you're begging for my forgiveness, don't come crying to me."

"Enough!" Han Jing shouted, his patience wearing thin. "Leave, now! And never return!"

Ding!

"Main Mission Update: The host has been banished from the sect. Mission added: Gain power, return, and face-slap all those who wronged you."

"Mission Reward: Ancient Bloodline Awakening."

Yang Kai's eyes flickered. *Well, this just keeps getting better and better.

"I'm going," he said with a dramatic sigh, turning toward the sect gates. "But mark my words, Sect Leader. **I will be back.**"

As he strode out of the sect, a familiar sense of satisfaction settled over him. He hadn't just survived an attack that should've killed him—he'd also managed to **infuriate** his enemies in the process.

And that was just the **beginning**.

He glanced over his shoulder.

"I'll be back," he muttered under his breath.

The sect's gates closed behind him, and the world beyond awaited.

And when he returned?

He was going to make sure **every one of them got slapped.