"Young master, Lord Su, are you all right!"
The tavern keeper wailed and rushed over as if facing a catastrophe. If Su Yue came to any harm in his establishment, he would never be able to clear his name, even if he died ten thousand times. "Don't move, it hurts... ouch, ouch..." The tavern keeper and the youths who had accompanied Su Yue scrambled to help him up, but the moment they touched him, Su Yue winced in agony.
Xu Chen shook his head. This was the result of him holding back. Otherwise, this Su Yue wouldn't have survived even ten percent of a chance. For now, simply injuring him and giving him a small lesson was enough. It was always better to keep a low profile in life and not be too arrogant; otherwise, people wouldn't even know how they died.
Under the fearful gaze of the tavern keeper, Xu Chen left behind the Spiritual Stones for his meal and strode outside.
"M-no, Patron! You smashed so many things when you struck, you can't just walk away like this!" The tavern keeper called out to Xu Chen pitifully.
Xu Chen pointed at Su Yue. "Go collect it from him."
With that, he left without looking back. The conflict with Su Yue was nothing more than a minor episode to Xu Chen; the moment he stepped out of the tavern, he put it completely out of his mind.
"Time to take care of business."
Retrieving the letter of recommendation and the token Su Yun had left him, Xu Chen ascended Qingling Mountain.
***
### Chapter 21: Inner Sect Disciple
"Outsiders are not permitted near the Qingling Sect."
The moment Xu Chen approached the mountain gate, he was intercepted by the martial artist on guard.
"I am Xu Chen. This is my letter of recommendation to enter the sect, along with my token!"
Meeting this obstruction, Xu Chen did not show the slightest annoyance. He produced the letter of recommendation and the token, speaking respectfully.
Upon hearing Xu Chen's words, the gate guard did not dare to be negligent. Only Inner Sect Elders and the Sect Master were qualified to recommend disciples to the sect. This meant that the young man before him, who did not look very old, had a prominent figure standing behind him who was at least an Inner Sect Elder. Such a person was not someone he, an Outer Sect disciple, could afford to offend.
Taking the letter of recommendation and token handed over by Xu Chen, the guard glanced at them. Engraved in the center of the token was the single character: "Yun."
Elder Su Yun! This person had actually been recommended by Elder Su Yun.
Hard-to-conceal astonishment flashed in the gate guard's eyes. Su Yun was the youngest Inner Sect Elder in the Qingling Sect, and her future achievements were bound to be limitless.
"Senior Brother, please enter."
The gate guard returned the letter of recommendation and token to Xu Chen, saying respectfully.
The guard's dramatic shift in attitude took Xu Chen quite by surprise. It seemed Su Yun's status within the Qingling Sect was not low at all, he mused to himself.
Personally guided by the gate guard, Xu Chen entered a grand hall. Greeting him was an elderly man whose aura was restrained within him, making him look entirely like an ordinary person. Yet Xu Chen did not dare to take him lightly in the slightest, for he sensed a intense threat emanating from the old man.
Xu Chen handed the letter of recommendation and token to the old man, who glanced at them and asked indifferently, "Name, age, cultivation level!"
Truthfully and in order, Xu Chen replied, "Xu Chen, seventeen, Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm."
"Not bad."
The old man gave a fair assessment. Then, he produced a ledger and jotted down a few strokes.
"You are now an Inner Sect disciple of the Qingling Sect. Here are your Inner Sect disciple attire, token, and quarters key."
Putting away the ledger, the old man retrieved a bundle from beneath the counter and handed it to Xu Chen.
Taking the bundle and stepping out of the hall, Xu Chen wore a smile. Starting today, he was a disciple of the Qingling Sect.
Meanwhile...
Supported by two people, Su Yue was making his way up the mountain.
Every disciple who caught sight of Su Yue's battered appearance wore a look of astonishment. Relying on his extraordinary background and an aunt who was an Inner Sect Elder, Su Yue usually acted tyrannically within the Qingling Sect, bullying many people; it was rare indeed to see him in such a wretched state.
Feeling the gloating gazes cast his way by the surrounding disciples, Su Yue felt an itch of hatred deep in his teeth.
"Senior Brother, why don't we go find Elder Su? She dotes on you the most. Once she learns you've been bullied, she'll definitely stand up for you," suggested the youth supporting Su Yue.
Su Yue snapped angrily, "Only a brainless idea like that could come from you! If Little Aunt finds out that I got beaten up by someone even younger than me, I'll definitely be the first one to get thrashed."
Scolded by Su Yue, the youth cowered and dared not make another sound. Supporting Su Yue for a short distance, his pupils suddenly constricted. Pointing at a youth ahead, he urged hurriedly, "Senior Brother, look quickly! Is that the brat who injured you?"
Following the direction the youth pointed, Su Yue saw Xu Chen just stepping out of the grand hall.
"It's him!"
Su Yue gnashed his teeth.
Xu Chen also spotted the trio. Being in a good mood right then, he offered them a slight smile before turning away.
"W-what is the meaning of this? Is he provoking me? Simply too arrogant!"
Su Yue's face turned livid with rage. If not for the injuries on his body and his impaired mobility, he would have loved to rush over and teach the fellow a lesson.
"Li Ji, go tell Xiao Geng that isn't he always wanting the Thousand-Tailed Spiritual Flower in my possession? Tell him that as long as he helps me teach that arrogant little brat a lesson, I'll hand the Thousand-Tailed Spiritual Flower straight over to him."
Su Yue could not swallow this insult; he was determined to find someone to teach Xu Chen some manners.
Li Ji, the youth beside Su Yue, wore a worried expression. "Senior Brother, Xiao Geng is a madman; he never knows how to pull his punches."
"Hmph—" Su Yue let out a cold snort. "As long as he doesn't kill him, it'll be fine."
"Go quickly and return swiftly!" Su Yue urged.
"Understood, I'm going right now."
Li Ji acknowledged the order and bolted off at a run.
***
"What? You're not tricking me? Su Yue is really willing to give me the Thousand-Tailed Spiritual Flower?"
A burly youth spun around, staring at Li Ji in both surprise and delight. This person was none other than Xiao Geng.
Li Ji emphasized, "Senior Brother said the Thousand-Tailed Spiritual Flower is yours, on the condition that you help him sort someone out."
"Who is it?" Xiao Geng frowned slightly.
Li Ji said, "Don't worry. Based on my observations, that fellow's cultivation is at most the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm—definitely no match for you. Otherwise, Senior Brother Su wouldn't spend a heavy price to hire you."
Xiao Geng's eyes lit up, and without further hesitation, he said, "It's a deal!"
"Broken legs or broken arms?"
"What?" Li Ji was bewildered.
Xiao Geng's tone turned chillingly ruthless. "I'm asking whether I should break one of that fellow's legs, one of his arms, or break both his hands and feet?"
Li Ji fell into hesitation before finally saying, "Senior Brother Su said as long as it doesn't cost a life, anything goes."
Xiao Geng said, "Since that's the case, I'll just make sure he spends a year or eight months bedridden."
***
Following the number on his key and after quite a bit of effort, Xu Chen finally located his quarters: a courtyard occupying two hundred square meters.
The courtyard was built halfway up the mountain. The surrounding yards were temporarily uninhabited, giving it a peaceful and quiet atmosphere. Inside the courtyard were a water well and a medicinal herb field.
Though the sparrow was small, it possessed all its vital organs. Reasoning that he would be spending a considerable amount of time in this courtyard ahead, Xu Chen calmed his mind and swept the place from inside out.
Looking at the spotless courtyard, Xu Chen nodded with satisfaction. Only a few daily necessities were still lacking.
He locked up and went out.
After purchasing his supplies, Xu Chen did not linger outside, heading straight back to his quarters.
From afar, he saw that the gate to his courtyard was shattered. Wood splinters littered the ground.
At the sight, Xu Chen's brow furrowed.
Stepping into the courtyard, he saw a burly youth sitting brazenly upon a stone bench.
This scene made Xu Chen's pupils contract. A room was every disciple's private property; he hadn't expected someone to break in while he was away, and moreover sit arrogantly in the courtyard waiting for his return.
The visitor meant no good.
Xu Chen's tone was icy. "If I remember correctly, the sect has a rule prohibiting unauthorized entry into another person's courtyard. Since you broke in without my knowledge, I have every right to treat you as an enemy and execute you right here!"
He did not recognize the person before him, so naturally there was no question of having offended him. But since the visitor came with ill intent, he must have been sent by someone.
"I'm naturally aware of that. Causing no harm to the master of the courtyard amounts to nothing more than compensating a few Spiritual Stones," Xiao Geng pointed at the shattered door and said, "Just a door. Is one Spiritual Stone enough to pay for it?"
As he spoke, he tossed a Spiritual Stone toward Xu Chen.
Xu Chen sidestepped to avoid the tossed stone.
"You are not welcome here. Please leave."
With a cold face, Xu Chen began showing him the door.
Xiao Geng said, "I can leave, but you need to come with me on a trip."
"No time!" Xu Chen flatly refused.
"Oh?!" Seeing that Xu Chen actually dared to refuse him, Xiao Geng raised an eyebrow, a flash of cold light sweeping across his eyes.
He brought his palm down in a slap.
"Boom!"
The stone table shattered into pieces.
"You don't have to go, but don't regret it." There was a threat in Xiao Geng's voice.
Two cold gleams suddenly shot from Xu Chen's eyes.
Newly arrived at the Qingling Sect, he didn't want to stir up trouble, but there were always idiots who thought too highly of themselves and wanted to step up and tread on him.
He gave Xiao Geng an indifferent look, then turned and walked away.
"Where are you going?" Xiao Geng asked.
Without looking back, Xu Chen replied, "Didn't you want me to go with you? Lead the way!"
Within the Qingling Sect, fellow disciples were forbidden from killing one another. If there were truly irreconcilable grudges, they could step onto the arena platforms to spar.
These arenas were divided into Life-and-Death Arenas and ordinary combat arenas.
The Life-and-Death Arena, as the name implied, was a stage where one fought to the death; killing a fellow disciple upon the Life-and-Death Arena would not be pursued by the sect. Ordinary combat arenas, on the other hand, were mostly for friendly sparring, ending at the point of realization without endangering lives.
"You've got guts!" Xiao Geng wore the smile of someone whose scheme had succeeded.
***
### Chapter 22: Arena Battle
The two of them arrived one after the other outside a canyon.
The canyon was named Fengyun Gorge!
The arenas of the Qingling Sect were set up right within this canyon. Standing outside, Xu Chen could already hear the bustling noise echoing from within.
The number of people inside the valley was by no means small. Along the way, they hadn't seen many people, but it turned out they were all gathered in Fengyun Gorge.
"What? Scared?"
Seeing Xu Chen standing outside the valley, hesitating to enter, Xiao Geng assumed the other was losing his nerve now that the moment had arrived, and so he tried to provoke him with taunts.
"Put away your petty tricks. Since I've come, I won't back down."
Xu Chen scoffed at Xiao Geng's provocation.
With that, he took the lead and stepped into Fengyun Gorge.
The moment he entered the canyon, the overwhelming wave of sound surged over him like a tide. Xu Chen uncomfortably dug at his ear.
It was far too noisy.
There were also a tremendous number of people. Countless figures swarmed around the arenas, cheering and rooting for the combatants battling upon them.
There were many arenas in Fengyun Gorge. However, there were even more people sparring. Apart from the Life-and-Death Arena, which remained empty, all the ordinary arenas were occupied by people sparring at this very moment.
"Two Junior Brothers, pardon the interruption. May I borrow this arena for a moment? You don't mind, do you?"
Xiao Geng leaped onto the stage and spoke to the two individuals currently sparring.
Abruptly interrupted in their match, both combatants wore expressions of anger, but the moment they saw who Xiao Geng was, their tempers vanished instantly. Xiao Geng was not someone they could afford to offend.
The two exchanged glances, then sensibly leaped down from the platform.
Xiao Geng enjoyed quite a reputation among the Inner Sect disciples; the moment he took the stage, he instantly drew the gaze of many onlookers.
"Look, it's Xiao Geng! He's actually gone up on the stage too."
"Coming here today was really the right choice."
"I wonder who is sparring with Xiao Geng."
"Among the Inner Sect, there aren't many people qualified to spar with Xiao Geng. I'm guessing it's one of those three: Zhao Li, Feng Che, or Ye Wen."
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
"Senior Brother, Xiao Geng has taken the stage."
Li Ji pointed at Xiao Geng on the arena and said to Su Yue.
Su Yue's spirits perked up. Following the direction of Li Ji's finger, sure enough, he saw Xiao Geng.
Yet at that moment, only Xiao Geng was on the platform. Xu Chen's figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is that brat? Could it be he doesn't dare accept Xiao Geng's challenge?" Su Yue said anxiously.
The moment his words fell, a figure leaped onto the arena.
Who could that person be if not Xu Chen?
"Haha, the arrogant little brat actually accepted Xiao Geng's challenge. Haha!" Su Yue burst out laughing.
At the same time, everyone in Fengyun Gorge watching Xiao Geng was filled with doubt.
"Who is that guy?"
"Looks unfamiliar, never seen him before."
"I haven't seen him either, but to be able to spar with Xiao Geng on the stage, this person must not be simple."
The crowd whispered amongst themselves. Some believed Xu Chen kept a low profile, but his strength should be decent; otherwise, he wouldn't dare step onto the arena to fight Xiao Geng.
Seeing Xu Chen ascend the stage, Xiao Geng's lips curved into a smile. The spiritual herb was in the bag. Even if the brat opposite him regretted it now, it was already too late.
"Brat, the difference in our strengths is vast. Break one of your own arms, or else if I actually have to make a move, it won't just be one arm you lose," Xiao Geng said arrogantly.
Watching Xiao Geng demand that he break his own arm, Xu Chen's expression grew progressively cold.
"Make your move!" he said indifferently.
Xu Chen's detached tone enraged Xiao Geng. "It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin! Although ordinary arenas don't allow killing, crippling your four limbs won't make even an elder standing nearby say a word!"
"Stop chattering and make your move!" Xu Chen coldly cut off Xiao Geng's rambling.
Xiao Geng's face stiffened. Then, gritting his teeth, he said, "Fine, very good."
"Phantom Shadow Technique!"
With a low shout, Xiao Geng's figure instantly vanished from where he stood.
The Phantom Shadow Technique was a Yellow Grade Advanced martial art. Brought to its peak, one's body moved like a phantom—fast to the extreme, hard for the naked eye to capture, and leaving opponents defenseless.
"Senior Brother Xiao Geng has the cultivation of the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm. In terms of strength, he's easily ranked in the top hundred of the Inner Sect. His blade technique is his most formidable asset, but I didn't expect his movement technique to be this formidable too."
"That fellow is wearing such a calm expression—is he genuinely capable, or just putting on an act?"
"Do you even have to ask? He's definitely putting on an act and playing a bluff. The calmer he acts now, the more wretched he'll look later!"
Seeing Xiao Geng unleash the Phantom Shadow Steps, the crowd erupted into waves of exclamation, filled with voices heavily disparaging Xu Chen.
Watching Xiao Geng's erratic and ghostly movement technique, Su Yue broke into a smile. It seemed he hadn't picked the wrong person. He had never imagined for a moment that Xiao Geng wouldn't be a match for Xu Chen. A mere Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm cultivator would probably not even last a single move in Xiao Geng's hands.
Nobody in the gathered crowd favored Xu Chen. Perhaps he was the only one who had confidence in himself.
He stood calmly in the center of the arena, his body straight as a javelin, piercing the vault of heaven.
*Whoosh—*
A gentle breeze brushed his face. A residual shadow flashed past the corner of his eye.
The next instant, a fierce gale struck from behind. A fist surging with dense spiritual power suddenly materialized, aiming straight for the fatal spot at Xu Chen's back.
"Got him!" A smile appeared on Xiao Geng's face.
*Clack!*
Yet the moment his words fell, his unstoppable punch was suddenly obstructed.
He raised his head in astonishment.
Xu Chen had turned around at some point, his right arm held out flat, his five fingers locked in a death grip around Xiao Geng's fist.
A flicker of shock swept across Xiao Geng's face. The opponent had actually blocked it.
Xu Chen suddenly pressed forward, his right shoulder slamming fiercely into Xiao Geng's chest.
Xiao Geng's expression shifted, and he raised his hands to protect his chest in defense.
"Bang!"
Spiritual power exploded at the point of impact between Xu Chen's right shoulder and Xiao Geng's chest. Qi forces erupted in an instant.
Xiao Geng let out a muffled grunt and was sent flying backward.
"Whoa!"
The entire audience erupted in an uproar. Countless people stared with wide eyes, unable to believe the scene on the platform.
"How can this be?"
"Senior Brother Xiao Geng actually fell into a disadvantage."
"This guy looks completely unfamiliar; just who on earth is he?"
"I know him! His name is Xu Chen. He only joined the sect yesterday."
"Xu Chen?!"
"He only joined the sect yesterday? Doesn't that mean he's a newcomer?"
The disciples within Fengyun Gorge all cried out in astonishment. Hearing that Xu Chen had joined the sect only recently made everyone even more unsettled.
Stabilizing his footing, Xiao Geng listened to the waves of exclamation rising from around the arena, his expression growing gradually gloomy.
"Brat, so your name is Xu Chen. Don't get ahead of yourself, though—it's only just beginning."
With a grip of his large hand, a battle blade materialized in his grasp.
*Whoosh!*
Xu Chen took the initiative. A piercing whistle rang out as his fist, wrapped in spiritual power, smashed toward Xiao Geng.
Xiao Geng sneered, his right hand shaking as the battle blade in his grip slashed toward Xu Chen's fist with terrifying momentum.
"Clang!"
The instant fist and blade collided, a ferocious shockwave whistled outward, causing the battle blade to ring with a metallic clatter and vibrate incessantly.
The right hand Xiao Geng used to grip the blade grew slightly numb, and the sneer on his face gradually vanished, replaced by solemnity. He hadn't expected Xu Chen's physical strength to be this terrifying; the impact almost knocked the blade from his grasp.
"Wind-Thunder Slash!"
Xiao Geng roared.
With his Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm cultivation, he had failed to gain the slightest advantage in his first two clashes with Xu Chen.
Blade qi surged wildly.
A thick strand of blade qi, roughly a zhang in length, formed in an instant, sweeping forth with the momentum of wind and thunder as it slashed violently down toward Xu Chen.
"Wind-Thunder Slash! A Mystic Grade Low-tier martial art—one of Xiao Geng's trump cards. He's used this exact move to kill multiple cultivators of the same realm."
"If I'm seeing this right, that Xu Chen should only be at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm, right? What a monster, to actually force Xiao Geng into using the Wind-Thunder Slash!"
"Win or lose, this battle today will make Xu Chen famous."
Xu Chen had no spare attention to pay to the crowd's discussion.
He formed his hand into a fist, black spiritual power surging violently over his knuckles.
Without dodging or evading, he threw a punch straight into the descending, massive blade qi.
"Courting death!" Xiao Geng sneered.
Under the nervous gazes of the onlookers, Xu Chen's fist smashed into the blade qi. With a loud *bang*, the massive blade qi shattered on impact.
Crushing Xiao Geng's trump card with a single punch, Xu Chen's momentum was like a rainbow. He stepped forward, his right fist thrusting straight out like a javelin.
"Bang!"
Xiao Geng's body shook, and he took a step back.
Xiao Geng's face grew even uglier, dark as water. Meanwhile, the countless spectators surrounding the arena sat in stunned, speechless silence, staring with dropped jaws as Xu Chen actually drove Xiao Geng back and beat him.
"How can this be? Xu Chen is actually holding the upper hand? Senior Brother Xiao Geng is at the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation Realm—he's a full three minor realms higher than Xu Chen!"
Xu Chen's strength exceeded everyone's expectations.
Invincible in the same realm made one a genius.
Fighting across realms made one a genius among geniuses.
Fighting across three minor realms and suppressing one's opponent could only mean one was a monster.
A monster? Xu Chen?
Su Yue was even more shocked. He stared fixedly at the two combatants on the stage, a tumultuous sea raging within his heart.
Xiao Geng wasn't a match for Xu Chen?
No way! How could this be?
Try as he might, breaking his brain could not yield an answer as to why Xiao Geng—who was three minor realms higher than Xu Chen—was being beaten back by him.
"Xu Chen, you forced my hand! Go to hell!"
Xiao Geng roared.
***
### Chapter 23: Broken Sword
*Screeech—*
Silvery-white lightning actually flickered across the surface of the battle blade.
"Lightning Punishment Blade!"
The Lightning Punishment Blade was Xiao Geng's ultimate trump card. He hadn't wanted to expose it this early, but to defeat Xu Chen, he had no other choice.
Seeing Xiao Geng unleash the Lightning Punishment Blade, Xu Chen caught a trace of danger from it and retreated in a rapid, unhesitating flash.
"Haha, Xu Chen, let's see what you use to block my Lightning Punishment Blade!" Seeing Xu Chen fall back, Xiao Geng assumed the other was cowed and dared not take the blow head-on, laughing triumphantly.
Lightning surged wildly, and the battle blade descended like lightning.
Xu Chen's speed was ultimately a fraction too slow, and he was swallowed by the sea of lightning.
"Bang!"
A thunderous crash echoed.
The brick-paved arena fractured into spiderweb-like cracks.
Dust billowed upward, enveloping the entire arena in a haze of dirt and debris.
"How is it?"
"Is Xu Chen dead or alive?"
"Senior Brother Xiao's strike was far too powerful; even the arena was destroyed beyond recognition. That Xu Chen is probably in grave danger."
"What a pity."
"Yeah. Come to think of it, that Xu Chen was a genius too, but he was simply too arrogant, daring to step onto the stage to fight Senior Brother Xiao. Now that he's dead, he has no one else to blame."