Qin Xuan followed the sound with his gaze.
A man wearing the standard green robe of the Qingshan Sect stood with his arms crossed, watching him with a mocking expression. According to what Qin Xuan knew, only inner disciples of Potian Peak were permitted to wear those robes. Clearly, this man was from Potian Peak. He was surrounded by others in the same uniform, all casting hostile glares at Qin Xuan.
Qin Xuan shot them a dismissive glance. Such trivial provocations were hardly enough to stir his emotions.
However, Shen Tianming, standing beside him, could not sit still. He jumped forward and retorted angrily, "Zhou Yuanbo, the choice of martial arts techniques for our Tianling Peak Dao Child is none of your business!"
"Oh? Who do I see... if it isn't the dog raised by the great genius Qin."
Zhou Yuanbo sneered, looking at Shen Tianming with contempt. "You dog, it hasn't been long since I nearly broke your leg that day, yet here you are barking at me again. It seems I was too merciful to you before."
As he spoke, his gaze turned icy. A surge of energy erupted from him, enveloping Shen Tianming.
"You..." Shen Tianming trembled, instinctively shielding his head—a habit that had clearly formed from being bullied by Zhou Yuanbo many times in the past.
*Whoosh.*
At that moment, Qin Xuan stepped forward, placing himself in front of Shen Tianming. The terrifying aura had barely reached them before it was swept away by an invisible force.
"Brother... Brother Qin..." Shen Tianming stared at Qin Xuan in a daze.
Qin Xuan’s build was not particularly burly, merely well-proportioned, yet at this moment, he felt as towering as a mountain in Shen Tianming’s eyes. Shen Tianming’s eyes grew moist. Since joining the Qingshan Sect a year ago, the only moment he had felt truly happy was when he first stepped through the sect gates. Since then, because of his humble background and lack of foundation, he had been met with cold shoulders and bullying, forced to swallow his suffering in silence. But now, ever since Qin Xuan appeared, someone was finally willing to step in and protect him.
Qin Xuan glanced back at Shen Tianming, patted his shoulder, and asked, "Has this dog bitten you before?"
"Qin Xuan! What the hell did you just say?" Zhou Yuanbo, hearing this, erupted into a rage. Among this generation of Qingshan Sect disciples, no one had ever dared to speak to him like that. His eyes blazed with fury, the veins on his forehead throbbing, and he looked as though he wanted to tear Qin Xuan apart.
"Let’s go."
Qin Xuan, however, ignored him entirely and started to walk away, taking Shen Tianming with him.
"You think you can just leave after insulting me?"
"I’ll dismember your arm and break your leg first to pay for your offense!"
As he spoke, his Storage Bag glowed, and a long spear appeared in his hand. *Whoosh!* The moment he gripped the spear, his aura shifted, becoming exceptionally sharp. He took a sudden step forward, swung the spear, and thrust it toward Qin Xuan.
"Brother Qin, watch out! Zhou Yuanbo is a Zhoutian 3rd Layer expert, he entered the sect with a Six-Star Alignment!" Shen Tianming cried out in alarm, his face full of worry.
Qin Xuan felt the cold killing intent from behind. Just as the spear was about to pierce his back, he turned abruptly, his arm moving as fast as lightning. In a flash, he caught the spear.
With his weapon held fast, Zhou Yuanbo was stunned for a second, then broke into a savage grin. "You’re courting death!"
Qin Xuan was only at the Zhoutian 1st Layer. His own cultivation was two entire stages higher. For Qin Xuan to try to fight him bare-handed was, in his view, an act of suicide.
*Hum—*
Zhou Yuanbo channeled his internal spirit energy into the spear and gave it a violent pull. Infused with spirit power, the spear erupted with light.
However, the next instant, Qin Xuan applied the slightest bit of pressure, and the light dissipated completely. No matter how hard Zhou Yuanbo pulled, the spear did not budge.
"Look, they're fighting!"
"It’s Zhou Yuanbo from Potian Peak... that guy is a menace, hot-tempered but very strong. The guy opposite him is going to be in trouble."
"That person looks familiar... wait, is that Qin Xuan, the Nine-Star Alignment genius from Tianling Peak?"
"A Nine-Star Alignment only means talent, not strength. I heard Qin Xuan is only at the Zhoutian 1st Layer. Facing Zhou Yuanbo at the Zhoutian 3rd Layer, he’s likely in for a rough time."
The commotion drew other disciples from the Scripture Pavilion. When they saw who was fighting, they looked at Qin Xuan with pity, watching coldly from the sidelines, eager to see what this "Nine-Star Alignment" prodigy was actually capable of.
"Today, I will make you lose all face so you can never hold your head up in the Qingshan Sect again!" Zhou Yuanbo let out a low roar, frantically channeling his spirit energy, unleashing the full power of his Zhoutian 3rd Layer cultivation. He wanted to beat Qin Xuan until he was broken in front of everyone, hoping to shatter his reputation and perhaps even damage his Dao heart.
"That's enough."
Seeing the crowd growing, Qin Xuan frowned. He did not want to attract too much attention. He suddenly released his grip on the spear.
"Scared now? It’s too late! Die!" Seeing this, Zhou Yuanbo assumed Qin Xuan had lost his nerve, so he seized the opportunity to lunge forward, aiming to pierce Qin Xuan’s chest.
But just then, Qin Xuan moved like lightning, teleporting to Zhou Yuanbo’s side in a blur. A flash of light erupted from his palm.
*Bang!*
Before Zhou Yuanbo could react, Qin Xuan had already struck him in the chest. With a dull thud, Zhou Yuanbo’s chest caved in, several ribs shattered instantly, and he went flying backward.
While still in mid-air, he vomited blood, flying over thirty feet before slamming heavily onto the ground.
"This... he truly is a Nine-Star Alignment genius! His power is terrifying!"
"Zhou Yuanbo is a Zhoutian 3rd Layer expert, and he was gravely injured by Qin Xuan, who is only at the 1st Layer, in a single blow!!"
"Qin Xuan deserves to be the first Nine-Star Alignment genius in history; he really is extraordinary."
The onlookers were in an uproar. No one had expected Zhou Yuanbo to be defeated so quickly and so miserably.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yuanbo struggled to his feet, covered in blood, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at Qin Xuan. "Qin Xuan!!! You wait!"
"Do you think you’re untouchable just because you’re the Tianling Peak Dao Child? If my big brother finds out about this today, he will surely cripple you!"
At these words, the disciples around them began to whisper.
"Is Zhou Yuanbo’s brother the head disciple of Potian Peak, Zhou Yuankun?"
"Who else would it be?"
"I heard that guy is incredibly protective. A Six-Star Alignment genius once offended Zhou Yuanbo, and Zhou Yuankun found an opportunity to beat him into a cripple."
"Damn... then isn't Qin Xuan in grave danger?"
Qin Xuan ignored the surrounding chatter and gave Zhou Yuanbo a cold, indifferent glance.
"As you wish. But if there is a next time, I may not hold back."
With that, he patted a stunned Shen Tianming on the shoulder and headed straight for the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion.