Isn't Following Your Heart the Normal Operation

The second elder on the second floor quickly turned his gaze toward Chu Xingchen, who had spoken. Unable to sense the cultivation level of this handsome young man, the elder's expression finally shifted:

"Who might this fellow Daoist be?"

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

A mysterious and profound sword aura suddenly surged from the chopsticks, accompanied by spiritual energy that transformed into a small white dragon coiling and swimming around the chopsticks.

Is this a divine ability?

Suppressing his astonishment, the second elder took a deep breath and quickly adopted a more respectful tone, clasping his hands and saying, "This person is a traitor of our Qingfeng Sect and has harmed our disciples. Fellow Daoist, by both reason and sentiment, you should not stand in my way."

Chu Xingchen sighed and replied, "Fellow Daoist, I have no desire to use force to intimidate others. However, this person has some connection to me. Could you spare his life? I am willing to offer compensation."

The second elder pondered for a moment but then shook his head. "If we simply let him go, our Qingfeng Sect will lose all credibility in the outside world."

"Spare me?" Li Xingtian, who was slumped on the ground, laughed bitterly. "From the moment I joined the Qingfeng Sect as an outer disciple, have you ever treated me as one of your own?"

"For three years, I dug spiritual ore. Out of the seventeen disciples recruited from my village, only I am still alive!"

"Your idea of sparing me was not letting me dig ore anymore but sending me to gather spiritual herbs in that wild forest where even inner disciples dare not go!"

The second elder's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly interrupted, shouting angrily, "Traitor! How dare you spread lies about our Qingfeng Sect!"

Chu Xingchen was momentarily stunned, then let out a cold laugh.

So, I was the one in the right all along. No wonder Li Xingtian, who has the trait of loyalty and righteousness, would defect from the sect.

Using the system's trait panel, Chu Xingchen looked at the old man on the second floor.

[Shangguan Hong]

[Cultivation: Mid-stage Golden Core]

[Blue Trait: Scheming]

[White Trait: Moderate Talent]

[Black Trait: Frail and Aging]

[Black Trait: Haunted by Inner Demons]

The moment Chu Xingchen saw these traits, his confidence soared. So, he was dealing with a sickly old man!

With both strength and moral high ground on his side, how could he not be invincible?

Chu Xingchen sneered and loudly rebuked, "I thought the Qingfeng Sect was some righteous and reputable cultivation sect. But now it seems you're nothing more than blood-sucking parasites."

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

"Now, you old dog, either slink back with your tail between your legs, or I'll rip your head off and kick it like a ball today!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword aura dragon coiled around the chopsticks roared and rapidly expanded, glaring menacingly at the second elder.

It was clear that at the slightest provocation, it would attack.

By now, everyone else in the tavern had already fled.

Only the disciples of the Qingfeng Sect remained, hiding in the corners, watching the two confront each other.

The second elder dared not truly fight. He couldn't sense the true cultivation level of the seemingly young man before him, which meant this person was at least at the mid-stage Golden Core realm.

Even if the young man's true cultivation level was unknown, just the display of this divine ability was enough to make him hesitate. Even if the other party was just a brat at the early-stage Golden Core realm, it would be difficult for him to win.

Moreover, the mention of the Central Continent was like a thunderclap in the Southern Continent.

Any sect that could establish itself in the Central Continent was not one the Qingfeng Sect could afford to provoke.

Though he suspected the young man might be bluffing, who would dare take that risk?

The second elder's expression remained unchanged, but he was already carefully considering how to save face.

Just then, a voice full of flattery came from outside.

"Fellow Daoists... please, don't fight."

Chu Xingchen's spiritual sense scanned the area and found a middle-aged man wearing the uniform of the Demon Suppression Bureau of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

His cultivation was at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

The middle-aged man said, "Esteemed seniors, is there really a need to resort to violence? Moreover, this is a town of mortals. If you two were to fight..."

"Not to mention the number of mortals who would die, but the karmic consequences alone would be unwise. Don't you agree, seniors?"

The second elder felt a wave of relief and gently stroked his beard, saying,

"Since the bureau chief has spoken, fellow Daoist, our Qingfeng Sect will give you this face."

Chu Xingchen slowly retracted the chopsticks.

Though killing the elder would be easy, it would undoubtedly bring future troubles, especially since this was the territory of the Xuanwu Kingdom.

It wouldn't be wise to offend the authorities over this old man.

Besides, the elder was frail and plagued by inner demons. He might not last more than a few days after returning.

Chu Xingchen still had to stay in the Xuanwu Kingdom for a while.

Without saying more, Chu Xingchen grabbed the limp Li Xingtian and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the distance.

The second elder also breathed a sigh of relief. After thanking the bureau chief with a cupped fist, he flew down from the building.

His sharp gaze fell on the Qi Refinement fifth-level senior disciple, whose hand was still impaled by the chopsticks. The second elder silently reached out and pulled the chopsticks out.

The senior disciple let out a muffled groan of pain but dared not react too strongly.

The second elder glanced at the disappointing outer disciple from the corner of his eye and said, "You useless lot, return to the sect at once."

The five outer disciples quickly responded in unison:

"Yes!"

The second elder's gaze lingered in the direction where Chu Xingchen had disappeared, lost in thought for a long time.

Chu Xingchen, as always, took measures to confuse his enemies.

After darting through several locations, he leisurely brought Li Xingtian to a dilapidated temple.

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

Chu Xingchen replied, "For this, you should first thank my eldest disciple."

"Huh?" Li Xingtian looked utterly confused.

However, Chu Xingchen did not explain further.

The reason Chu Xingchen could display such a divine ability at the critical moment was largely thanks to his eldest disciple. Truly, a prodigy with a golden talent trait!

In just a few short days, she had managed to grasp the basics of the divine ability, and at the most crucial moment, no less. Chu Xingchen had received the system's synchronized reward, allowing him to master this divine ability as well.

Otherwise, Chu Xingchen doubted he could have so easily intimidated the elder of the Qingfeng Sect.

He would reward her properly when he returned!

Today, all the chicken legs would be hers!

As a Golden Core cultivator, it didn't take long for Chu Xingchen to bring Li Xingtian back to the temple.

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

She seemed to be having quite a bit of fun.

However, Li Yingling soon noticed the two approaching figures and quickly retracted the wooden sword, running out to greet her master.

Watching the two land,

before Chu Xingchen could speak,

Li Yingling glanced at the severely injured Li Xingtian and said with a conflicted expression,

"Master... even if he refused, did you have to beat him half to death before bringing him back?"

Chu Xingchen retorted, "You really understand your master's style, don't you? Maybe I should leave such tasks to you in the future."

Li Yingling's expression grew even more conflicted, and she timidly said,

"Master... I have no experience with such things. If I mess up, you can't blame me."

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

Chu Xingchen helped Li Xingtian into the temple and glanced at Li Yingling, saying with exasperation,

"This girl is mischievous and loves to tease. She's just playing with you."

Li Yingling chuckled and followed Chu Xingchen into the temple.