The Iron Mountain

At this moment, when Li Mingru appeared with his disciples, for a time no one spoke anymore. Except for Qi Guan Elder from the Demon Peak and Reverend Mother Zhang from the Sun Deity Branch who greeted him, the others simply ignored them as if they couldn't see them.

Just as the atmosphere was becoming somewhat awkward, a tender shout suddenly rang out:

"Dongfang Dan pays respects to the Gang Leader!"

This sudden shout startled many people. Zhao Older from the Nine Infants Sect had a particularly bewildered look on his face as he stared at Dongfang Dan, not knowing what was up with his young disciple.

Then, one after another, shouts rang out:

"Tang Hanqing pays respects to the Gang Leader!"

"Sun Jinming pays respects to the Gang Leader!"

"Liu Shuai pays respects to the Gang Leader!"

The children called out one by one. Almost every new disciple from each branch respectfully greeted Lin Xiaolu, stunning all the elders and leaving them exchanging confused glances with each other.

What the hell is going on here?

At this moment, Li Miaoxin and Li Yaoxi also looked towards Lin Xiaolu. Even Li Mingru curiously glanced at him.

With so many powerful immortals watching him, the eight-year-old boy was not timid at all. He put his hands behind his back, full of spirit, and nodded gently at the children with a smile, looking every bit the image of an immortal. Those who didn't know better would have thought he was an elder of one of the branches.

The startled elders quickly asked their young disciples what was going on. The children then told their masters about how Lin Xiaolu had established a Gang of Benevolence in the academy and they were brothers in the gang.

When Li Yaoxi, the senior brother, heard the children's accounts around him and saw little Lin Xiaolu, he coldly snorted, "Crooked path, truly disgraceful."

As soon as Lin Xiaolu heard this, his temper flared up. He was about to curse out his ancestors when an elder came rushing over furiously to investigate:

"Li Mingru, your disciple tricked my disciple into joining some Gang of Benevolence. Can you explain this to me?"

The speaker was an elder from the Talismans and Seals Branch. But as soon as he finished speaking, several children behind him quickly explained, "Master, we joined willingly."

At this time, the Talismans and Seals Sect Older's expression turned ugly. He glared at his own disciples.

"Worthless disciples! Silence!"

The other elders also stepped forward one after another to demand an explanation, with the Nine Infants, Crescent Moon, and Medicine Origin sects clamoring the loudest. They loudly interrogated and denounced Li Mingru, criticizing the mulberry bush to scold the locust tree, just short of directly saying Li Mingru wanted to become the head of Emei.

"I feel this idea of a Gang of Benevolence is quite good," an old woman in a Daoist robe gently advised. "Why must you elders make things difficult for a child?"

"Elder Zhang, you can't say it like that," another elder snorted. "This young disciple of Li Mingru's looks several years younger than my disciple. What virtues and abilities does he possess to be the head of a gang, and take charge of teaching my disciples?"

"Elder Zhao is absolutely right. Li Mingru's young disciple is very young, yet he dares to teach disciples from other branches. What is his intention? Could it be he thinks Emei belongs to his Stargazing Peak alone?"

For a time, the elders of the various branches accused the Stargazing Peak of meddling, having ulterior motives, and aggressively attacking Li Mingru. Other than directly saying Li Mingru wanted to become the head of Emei, they spared no criticism.

Faced with so many elders' accusations, Li Mingru's brows furrowed slightly. He put down his wineskin, preparing to speak. But Lin Xiaolu suddenly jumped out. With hands on his waist, he yelled at the elders, "Screw your moms!"

His tender voice was very loud, and for a moment it actually drowned out all the elders' criticisms.

Even Li Mingru was shocked. He looked at his young disciple in surprise.

Xiao Yuer quietly stood behind her brother, blinking her big eyes as she watched.

Dongfang Dan, Tang Hanqing, and the other children were also surprised as they looked at Lin Xiaolu, their eyes filled with admiration. He was truly worthy of being the Gang Leader! So awesome!

"You little brat, you dare insult me!"

An elder over fifty was the first to react. His voice shook with anger. He was just short of taking action. The other elders also looked at the audacious boy grimly.

"Why can't I curse you? Didn't you hear Liu Shuai say he joined my Gang of Benevolence willingly? Are you deaf? If you're deaf then go see a doctor, don't infect others here!" Lin Xiaolu was aggressive and fearless. After cursing, he pointed at another elder and yelled, "If you want to falsely accuse my master then just say it directly, don't make snide remarks! Speaking so ambiguously, why don't you go be a eunuch!"

Next he pointed at another elder and cursed, "What do you mean I tricked your disciple? Who the f*ck do you think you're kidding? You ask what virtues and abilities I have? Can you run two miles after taking a sh*t without wiping your ass?"

"Insolent!"

An elder could no longer restrain the anger in his heart. His eyes glared as he sent out a wave of colorful, shimmering light that shot straight at Lin Xiaolu's face.

Lin Xiaolu was frightened. Seeing the blazing light before him, his small body trembled. But just as the light was about to hit him, Li Mingru casually said beside him, "Disperse!"

Like a primal roar, the sound wave quickly spread out. The raging and intense light was instantly suppressed. Then after a violent shudder, it directly shattered, turning into streams of light scattering in all directions before dissipating into the air.

At this scene, all the elders looked at Li Mingru in disbelief. The elder who had just unleashed magic was so frightened his face turned pale.

Li Mingru has become stronger again!

For a time, all shouting and scolding stopped. The elders looked at Li Mingru apprehensively.

After a long while, Fang Wuxiu from the Spirit Sword Branch slowly opened his eyes and coldly said to Li Mingru, "I didn't expect Brother Li's cultivation to be so profound. Now I somewhat believe the rumor that Brother Li once used the Stargazing Spell to pluck a star from the sky."

Li Mingru smiled and took a drink from his wineskin. "Elder Fang flatters me."

Having said that, he looked at the elders before him. And these elders looked back at him with mingled shock and anger.

Just as the atmosphere between the two sides was becoming increasingly discordant, as if they would start drawing swords at any moment, a loud and majestic bell sounded from Mount Emei:

"Dong!"

Hearing the bell, Spirit Sword Elder Fang Wuxiu laughed and said, "Everyone, the headmaster is calling us. Let's put this matter aside for now and head up the mountain first."

Upon hearing this, the other elders didn't say anything more. With scowls on their faces, some coldly snorted, some flicked their sleeves, and headed up the mountain.

Li Mingru also expressionlessly glanced at Lin Xiaolu before leading the two siblings up the mountain.

Behind them, Li Yaoxi coldly snorted as he walked, "A useless vagrant who can't cultivate and only causes trouble, disrespectful to elders, insulting Emei's seniors, causing trouble for our Stargazing Peak, and thinking himself impressive. Truly laughable."

Lin Xiaolu stopped in his tracks and looked back at Li Yaoxi.

Li Yaoxi casually glanced at him disdainfully, as if even looking at him was a waste of time. He walked right past Lin Xiaolu.

Feeling insulted, Lin Xiaolu immediately clenched his fists as his little chest heaved violently a few times.

Seeing this, Li Miaoxin squatted down and stroked his head, gently advising, "Little Deer, don't take your senior brother's words to heart. Just be your best self. Senior sister will always support you."

Xiao Yuer also sensed Lin Xiaolu's unhappiness. She timidly pulled his sleeve to comfort him.

After a while, Lin Xiaolu humphed and said to Li Miaoxin, "Senior sister, Mr. Yang said, gentlemen take revenge, ten years not late. I'm no gentleman so I'll take revenge the same day if I have a grievance!"

Having said that, he shook off Li Miaoxin's hand and rushed towards Li Yaoxi.

Seeing this, Li Miaoxin's face paled in fright. She cried out loudly, "Xiaolu!"