Chapter 8: Isn't Following One's Heart the Normal Thing to Do?
On the second floor, the Second Elder turned his gaze toward Chu Xingchen, who had just spoken. Unable to sense this handsome young man's cultivation, his expression finally changed.
"This Daoist friend is…?"
Chu Xingchen merely shook his head lightly, picked up a pair of chopsticks beside him, and extended them forward.
In an instant, an incomprehensible sword aura burst forth from the chopsticks. Spiritual power intertwined with the aura, forming a white dragon that coiled and danced along their length.
A divine ability?
Suppressing his astonishment, the Second Elder took a deep breath and quickly adjusted his attitude, clasping his hands politely. "This man is a traitor to my Qingfeng Sect and has injured my disciples. Daoist friend, both in reason and principle, you should not stop me."
Chu Xingchen sighed softly. "Fellow Daoist, I have no wish to rely on power to oppress, but this person shares a karmic connection with me. Could you spare his life? I can offer compensation."
The Second Elder pondered briefly before shaking his head. "If I let him go so easily, Qingfeng Sect would lose all its authority."
"Let me go?" Li Xingtian, lying weakly on the ground, suddenly laughed. "Since the day I joined Qingfeng Sect as an outer disciple, have you ever truly treated me as one?"
"For three years, I mined spirit ore! Of the seventeen recruits taken from my village that year, I am the only one left alive!"
"Your so-called mercy—was that sending me to dig spirit herbs in the wild forest where even inner disciples dared not go?"
The Second Elder's expression shifted, and he barked sharply, "Traitor! How dare you slander Qingfeng Sect!"
Chu Xingchen froze for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.
So he was the one in the right. It made sense—someone with the "Loyal and Righteous" trait wouldn't betray his sect for no reason.
He opened the system panel, focusing on the old man on the second floor.
[Name: Shangguan Hong]
[Cultivation: Mid-Stage Golden Core]
[Blue Trait: Deep Schemer]
[White Trait: Average Aptitude]
[Black Trait: Advanced Age]
[Black Trait: Tormented by Heart Demons]
The moment he saw those traits, Chu Xingchen's confidence surged.
So he was just a sick old man!
Now, with both strength and righteousness on his side, he was invincible.
Chu Xingchen sneered, raising his voice. "I thought Qingfeng Sect was a respectable righteous sect, but it seems you're nothing more than parasites feeding on others' blood."
"I, of the Heavenly Dao Alliance of Central State, will not stoop to your level."
"Now, old dog, either tuck your tail and crawl back, or I'll twist off your mangy head and use it as a ball!"
At those words, the sword-dragon coiled around the chopsticks roared, expanding instantly and glaring fiercely at the Second Elder—ready to strike at any moment.
By now, everyone else in the tavern had fled in terror.
Only the Qingfeng Sect disciples remained, cowering in a corner as they watched the standoff.
The Second Elder didn't dare act rashly. He couldn't sense the young man's true cultivation, which meant the latter was at least mid-stage Golden Core.
Even if not—just that display of divine ability was enough. If this youth were even early Golden Core, he himself might still lose.
Not to mention—the word "Central State" was thunderous across the Southern Continent.
Any sect capable of standing firm in Central State was far beyond Qingfeng Sect's reach.
Even knowing the youth might be bluffing, who would dare to gamble on it?
The Second Elder kept his face composed but was already considering how to speak without losing too much face.
Before he could, a placating voice called from outside.
"Fellow Daoists, please—don't fight, don't fight."
Chu Xingchen swept his spiritual sense outward and saw a middle-aged man in the uniform of the Zhenyao Division of Xuanwu Nation.
His cultivation was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
The middle-aged man said, "Honored seniors, surely this can be resolved peacefully without fighting? Moreover, this is a mortal town—if you two clash here, countless innocents will die. Even leaving aside the deaths, wouldn't it be unwise to bear such needless karmic cause and effect?"
The Second Elder felt immediate relief, stroked his beard lightly, and said, "Since the Director himself has spoken, then for your sake, our Qingfeng Sect will give this Daoist friend some face."
Chu Xingchen slowly withdrew his chopsticks.
Killing the old man would be easy, but it would bring unnecessary trouble—especially since this was still Xuanwu Nation's territory.
It wasn't worth offending the authorities over some half-dead elder plagued by heart demons. Who knew? The man might keel over in a few days anyway.
Chu Xingchen would still need to remain in Xuanwu Nation for some time, so he refrained from further conflict.
Without another word, he reached down, grabbed the heavily injured Li Xingtian, and turned into a streak of rainbow light, vanishing into the distance.
The Second Elder exhaled deeply, clasped his hands in thanks toward the Director of the Zhenyao Division, then descended the stairs.
His sharp gaze fell upon the Fifth Layer Qi Refining disciple whose palm was still pierced by the chopsticks. Without a word, he reached out and yanked them free.
The disciple groaned in pain but dared not make a sound.
The Second Elder cast him a sidelong glance. "You useless lot—return to the sect immediately."
The five outer disciples hurriedly answered in unison, "Yes!"
The Second Elder then turned his gaze in the direction Chu Xingchen had departed, silent for a long time.
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Chu Xingchen, ever cautious, made sure to mislead any potential pursuers, circling through several different locations before finally heading back toward the ruined temple with Li Xingtian.
Enduring his pain, Li Xingtian managed to speak. "Many thanks for saving me, senior."
Chu Xingchen replied calmly, "You should thank my eldest disciple first."
"Ah?" Li Xingtian looked utterly confused.
But Chu Xingchen didn't elaborate.
After all, the reason he could display that divine ability at such a critical moment was thanks to his talented disciple. Truly worthy of her golden genius trait!
She had managed to grasp a divine technique in just a few short days—and at precisely the right moment too.
The system had rewarded him through their shared connection, allowing him to learn the same divine ability.
Without it, he doubted he could have scared off that Qingfeng Sect elder so easily.
She deserved a proper reward—today's chicken drumsticks would all be hers.
Being a Golden Core True Person, Chu Xingchen carried Li Xingtian back to the ruined temple within moments.
Inside, Li Yingling was practicing with her wooden sword. Streams of water had taken the form of small dragons, coiling gracefully along the blade—she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Sensing the approach of two figures, she quickly withdrew her sword and hurried outside to greet her master.
As the two landed, before Chu Xingchen could even speak, Li Yingling glanced at the severely injured Li Xingtian and frowned.
"Master… even if he refused, you didn't have to beat him half to death before bringing him back, did you?"
Chu Xingchen scowled. "You really understand your master's temperament, huh? Next time, I'll have you handle this sort of thing."
Li Yingling looked even more troubled. "Master… I don't have experience with that kind of thing. If I mess up, you can't blame me."
Li Xingtian hurriedly interjected, "Senior, please don't misunderstand—I wasn't injured by this senior. Fairy, you have it wrong."
Chu Xingchen supported Li Xingtian into the temple, shooting a glare at Li Yingling. "This mischievous girl loves to tease people. Don't take her seriously."
Li Yingling chuckled sheepishly and followed them inside the temple.