On the second floor, the Second Elder's gaze swiftly turned towards Chu Xingchen, who had just spoken. Unable to sense the cultivation level of this handsome young man, his expression finally changed.

"And who might this Daoist friend be?"

Chu Xingchen shook his head slightly and picked up a pair of chopsticks beside him, extending them gently forward.

A profound and mysterious sword aura suddenly surged from the chopsticks, transforming into a small white dragon that coiled and danced around them.

Was this a divine ability?

Suppressing his surprise, the Second Elder took a deep breath, his attitude quickly becoming more conciliatory as he clasped his hands together. "This person is a traitor to our Qingfeng Sect and has harmed our disciples. Daoist friend, by reason and emotion, you should not stop me."

Chu Xingchen sighed and said, "Daoist friend, I have no intention of using force to oppress others, but this person has some fate with me. Could you spare his life? I can offer compensation."

The Second Elder pondered briefly, then shook his head. "If we let him go just like that, our Qingfeng Sect would lose all its authority."

"Spare me?" Li Xingtian, who was slumped on the ground, laughed loudly. "Since I joined your Qingfeng Sect as an outer disciple, have you ever treated me as a disciple?

For three years, I mined spirit ore, and of the seventeen disciples recruited from my village, I'm the only one still alive!

Your idea of sparing me is to stop me from mining, only to send me to the Wild Forest, where even inner disciples dare not go, to dig for spirit herbs?"

The Second Elder's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly interrupted, shouting angrily, "Traitor! How dare you slander our Qingfeng Sect!"

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen paused, then sneered.

So, I am in the right. How could someone with such loyalty and righteousness like Li Xingtian betray the sect?

Using the system's entry panel, he looked at the elder on the second floor.

[Shangguan Hong]

[Cultivation Level: Mid Core Formation Stage]

[Blue Entry: Deep Schemer]

[White Entry: Adequate Aptitude]

[Black Entry: Frail and Aged]

[Black Entry: Plagued by Inner Demons]

Seeing the entries, Chu Xingchen's confidence soared. So, I'm dealing with a sickly old man!

With the advantage in strength and position, isn't this invincible?

Chu Xingchen sneered and shouted loudly, "I thought Qingfeng Sect was a prestigious sect, but it seems you're nothing more than blood-sucking bugs.

Our Heavenly Dao Alliance of the Central Continent would never associate with the likes of you!

Now, you old dog, either tuck your tail and leave, or I'll take your head and use it as a ball!"

With that, the sword qi spirit dragon coiled around the chopsticks roared, expanding rapidly and glaring menacingly at the Second Elder, ready to attack at the slightest provocation.

By now, the remaining patrons in the tavern had long fled, leaving only the disciples of Qingfeng Sect hiding on the side, watching the two in confrontation.

The Second Elder dared not truly fight. Unable to sense the true cultivation level of the seemingly young man before him, it meant that this person was at least at the Mid Core Formation Stage.

Even if the young man's actual cultivation level was not considered, just this display of divine ability would be difficult to contend with, even if he were just a novice at the early Core Formation Stage.

Moreover, the term "Central Continent" was like thunder in the southern Zhan Continent.

A sect that could establish itself in the Central Continent was not something Qingfeng Sect could provoke.

Though he suspected the young man might be bluffing, who would dare to gamble on that?

The Second Elder's expression remained unchanged, but he was already carefully considering how to speak without losing face.

However, a placating voice came from outside.

"Daoist friends... please, no fighting."

Chu Xingchen's spiritual sense swept over, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in the attire of the Director of the Demon Suppression Bureau of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

His cultivation was at the Mid Foundation Establishment Stage.

The middle-aged man said, "Honored seniors, can't we resolve this without resorting to violence? Moreover, this is a mortal town. If you start fighting...

Not to mention how many mortals might die, but bearing this karma for no reason is not worthwhile, don't you think?"

The Second Elder instantly relaxed, gently stroking his beard as he said, "Since the Director has spoken, our Qingfeng Sect will give you this face, Daoist friend."

Chu Xingchen slowly retracted the chopsticks.

Though it would be easy to kill him, it would inevitably lead to trouble later, especially since this was the territory of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

Offending the authorities for this old man wasn't wise.

Besides, the old man was frail and plagued by inner demons; he might not last long after returning.

Chu Xingchen said no more, merely lifting the slumped Li Xingtian and transforming into a rainbow radiance to leave.

The Second Elder also breathed a sigh of relief, thanking the Director of the Demon Suppression Bureau before flying downstairs.

His sharp gaze fell on the Qi Refining Stage Five senior brother with a chopstick still in his hand. The Second Elder silently reached out and pulled the chopstick from his hand.

The senior brother groaned in pain but dared not react too much.

The Second Elder glanced at the useless outer disciples and said, "You worthless bunch, return to the sect."

The five outer disciples quickly responded in unison:"Yes!"

The Second Elder watched the direction Chu Xingchen had left, remaining silent for a long time.

***

Chu Xingchen continued to take measures to confuse the enemy.

After moving through several locations, he leisurely led Li Xingtian to the abandoned temple.

Li Xingtian, enduring the pain, said, "Thank you, senior, for saving me."

Chu Xingchen replied, "You should thank my first disciple first."

"Huh?" Li Xingtian looked puzzled.

However, Chu Xingchen did not answer.

Because Chu Xingchen's ability to display divine abilities at a critical moment was largely thanks to his first disciple, who truly lived up to the golden genius entry!

She had managed to grasp the divine ability in just a few days!

And at the most crucial moment, mastering the divine ability allowed Chu Xingchen to receive a synchronized reward from the system, enabling him to master this divine ability as well.

Otherwise, Chu Xingchen felt he might not have scared off the Qingfeng Sect elder so easily.

He would reward her well when he returned!

Today's chicken drumsticks were all hers!

Being a Golden Core cultivator, Chu Xingchen soon brought Li Xingtian back to the abandoned temple.

At that moment, Li Yingling was manipulating a wooden sword, with several streams of water forming dragons coiling around it.

She seemed to be enjoying herself.

However, Li Yingling noticed the two flying over and quickly retracted the wooden sword, running out to greet her master's return.

As the two landed slowly, before Chu Xingchen could speak, Li Yingling glanced at the severely injured Li Xingtian, looking conflicted, and said:"Master... even if they didn't agree, you didn't have to bring him back so badly injured, did you?"

Chu Xingchen replied irritably, "You really understand your master's style. Next time, you handle such matters."

Li Yingling looked even more conflicted, then timidly said:"Master... I have no experience with such things. If I don't do it well, you can't blame me."

Li Xingtian quickly explained, "I wasn't injured by the senior... Please don't misunderstand, fairy."

Chu Xingchen directly supported Li Xingtian into the temple, glanced at Li Yingling, and said irritably:"This girl is mischievous and likes to deceive people. She's just teasing you."

Li Yingling chuckled and followed Chu Xingchen into the temple.

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Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan