I do not know the title of Chapter 44, as you have not provided the name of the book or the text of the story. Please let me know which novel you are reading, and I will be happy to help you find it.

"Esteemed Peak Masters, the Holy Lord and the Peak Master of the Divine Sword Peak are currently locked in a fierce battle. This concerns the very survival of our Holy Land! I implore you all to swiftly go to the aid of the Holy Lord and strike down the traitor together!"

However, the Peak Masters merely exchanged glances, their faces betraying undisguised hesitation.

Some simply pretended not to hear, tilting their heads upward to gaze at the combat in the sky as if completely engrossed in studying the tactical situation, when in truth they were merely evading the duty of stepping into the fray.

One of the Peak Masters cleared his throat and spoke up, "Master of the Spirit Ore Peak, this is a clash between supreme powerhouses. With our meager strength, if we were to rashly intervene, not only would we be of no help, but we would also likely be caught in the fallout of their immense spiritual energy and end up smashed to pieces."

"In my opinion, it is better to let the Holy Lord and the Peak Master of the Divine Sword Peak decide the outcome themselves, while we remain on the sidelines to guard against any other unforeseen developments."

Another Peak Master hurriedly chimed in, "Indeed, indeed. Recently, while cultivating a certain technique, I unfortunately suffered a deviation in my vital energy. Though I have managed to suppress it, my spiritual meridians are currently in disarray. To enter the battle in this state would surely ruin matters of great importance."

As he spoke, he even put on an elaborate show of coughing a few times to demonstrate his alleged illness.

Yet another Peak Master furrowed his brows and said with a troubled expression, "The disciples of my peak were recently attacked by rogue cultivators, resulting in heavy casualties. At this moment, my mind is entirely consumed by the affairs of my own peak, making it truly difficult for me to fully commit to this battle. I hope the Spirit Ore Peak Master will understand."

Watching these Peak Masters dodge and weave with one excuse after another, the Spirit Ore Peak Master grew both angry and anxious. He rebuked them fiercely, "As Peak Masters of the Holy Land, you enjoy its supreme prestige and resources. Yet now that the Holy Land is in peril, you are so cowardly and eager to shirk responsibility! Are you not afraid of the Holy Lord's wrath? Are you not afraid that once the Holy Land falls, you too will lose everything?"

A Peak Master let out a cold snort and mocked the Spirit Ore Peak Master, "You make a lot of noise shouting here—if you are truly so capable, why don't you go up yourself? There is no need to stand here and beg us pathetically."

Hearing this, the Spirit Ore Peak Master flushed crimson and hurriedly defended himself, "I was severely injured during the earlier exchanges, and my spiritual energy has yet to recover. If I were in peak condition, I would have charged up there long ago; I certainly wouldn't be wasting breath here."

Seeing the Spirit Ore Peak Master wriggle out of it thus, the crowd shifted their gazes toward Ye Xinghe.

A plump Peak Master stepped forward and spoke in a booming voice, "Ye Xinghe! You have always held yourself in high regard. Now the Holy Lord is in mortal peril, why do you still stand here with your arms folded? Do you intend to sit idly by and watch the Divine Sword Peak Master seize control of the Holy Land? This is your responsibility as a member of the Holy Land!"

The other Peak Masters chimed in one after another: "Quite right, Ye Xinghe! You cannot simply remain a bystander. If you do not make a move, you are being disloyal to the Holy Land and unrighteous toward the Holy Lord!"

Ye Xinghe, who had been leisurely cracking melon seeds, paused his movements. He slowly raised his head, his gaze carrying a trace of chilling indifference.

He rose to his feet, gently laid down the melon seeds in his hand, and brushed off some non-existent dust from his robes. Unhurriedly, he said, "Esteemed Peak Masters, spare me this ridiculous moral blackmail."

"When Ye Xinghe acts, I distinguish solely between right and wrong, and I have my own judgment. Yet you lot stand here making excuses to avoid fighting, while attempting to compel me with your words—it is utterly shameless to the extreme."

"Do you not know the strength of the Holy Lord? Is he someone who could be easily defeated by the Peak Master of the Divine Sword Peak?"

"As for you all, claiming the title of Peak Masters yet thinking only of self-preservation, you now dare to point fingers and give orders to me? By what qualification do you do so?"

Those Peak Masters were momentarily left speechless by Ye Xinghe's sharp retort, yet discontent still lingered in their hearts. A few of them opened their mouths, seemingly wishing to continue nagging and pressuring Ye Xinghe into entering the battle.

Right at that moment, a flash of impatience crossed Ye Xinghe's eyes. Without warning, he raised his palm and struck out into empty space toward the thick, intricately carved dragon pillar in the grand hall.

In an instant, a majestic wave of spiritual energy surged forth from his palm, carrying a momentum capable of splitting mountains and overturning seas as it slammed fiercely into the dragon pillar.

With a deafening "Boom!", even though the dragon pillar was crafted from the finest spiritual materials and possessed extraordinary durability, under this forcefully charged blow from Ye Xinghe, it instantly fractured with countless fissures.

The cracks spread like a spiderweb, and in the blink of an eye, the entire pillar could no longer bear the strain and exploded violently.

Shreds of stone scattered in all directions as a powerful shockwave ravaged the surroundings, raising a cloud of dust that instantly filled the grand hall.

Those Peak Masters who had still intended to speak out underwent drastic changes in expression. Their eyes widening in terror, they hastily conjured spiritual shields to protect themselves, dreading being caught in the trajectory of the flying debris.

A few who reacted more slowly were knocked backward repeatedly by the impact, landing in thoroughly disheveled states.

Ye Xinghe swept a cold glance over them and spoke in an icy tone, "Whoever dares to utter another piece of nonsense—next time, that dragon pillar will be your fate. When Ye Xinghe does things, it is not your place to point fingers. Shut your mouths and stay put!"

Struck dumb with terror, the crowd was thoroughly cowed by Ye Xinghe's tyrannical and forceful display. Not a single person dared to utter another word.

They stood silently in place, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Meanwhile, the members of the Sima family had been lingering nearby, observing the cowardice and chaos of the Holy Land's Peak Masters. Unable to contain themselves, they burst into mocking laughter.

The leading powerhouse of the Sima family laughed aloud, "Ha! And these are the Peak Masters of the Holy Land? Usually so high and mighty, yet the moment they encounter a real crisis, they are this cowardly and inept, passing the buck to one another—truly laughable to the extreme!"

Hearing this grating mockery, Ye Xinghe slightly furrowed his brows, a trace of disgust flashing in his eyes.

He turned his gaze toward the Sima family and said coldly, "Your Sima family are nothing more than a bunch of clowns, leaping about in the shadows like fleas and chattering endlessly. This is still not your stage to strut upon—by what right do you presume to spout such nonsense here?"

Struck by this sudden, fierce verbal assault, the expressions of the Sima family members instantly turned extremely unsightly.

No one had ever dared to speak to their Sima family in such a manner!

Losing his temper out of sheer embarrassment, the leader pointed at Ye Xinghe and roared, "Ye Xinghe, do not be so arrogant! Today's chaos in the Holy Land will be your doom! In the future, my Sima family will ensure you beg for death without being able to die!"

Ye Xinghe dismissed them with disdain. "On the strength of your mere Sima family? You dare to dream of controlling the Holy Land? That is sheer delusion. It seems you have greatly overestimated your own capabilities while severely underestimating the heritage of the Holy Land. Today, I shall first teach you what it means to overestimate yourselves."

With that, a formidable aura erupted from Ye Xinghe, pressing down oppressively upon the Sima family members.

A heavy pressure instantly enveloped the Sima men, making even breathing somewhat difficult. In their hearts, they could not help but feel a lingering trepidation toward Ye Xinghe's strength.

A cold glint flashed in Ye Xinghe's eyes. Before the Sima powerhouse who had just spoken could react, Ye Xinghe gave a sharp wave of his single hand, and an invisible, mighty force instantly bound him tightly.

The Sima powerhouse felt his entire body restricted by an irresistible, colossal strength, and the next moment, his body lifted into the air completely out of his control.