Chapter 30: A World of Difference in Treatment

Although Su Yao had departed, the various peak masters and elders of the Yaoguang Sacred Land she had brought with her remained. They stood behind Xiao Chenxin, positioning themselves at a slightly lower altitude as a mark of respect. This was their stance: the Yaoguang Sacred Land stood in total support of Xiao Chenxin’s decisions.

With the stage set, Xiao Chenxin was in no rush to deal with Ye Chen. As a member of a righteous sect, he had to maintain a degree of decorum. Besides, since Su Yao had already presented enough evidence to secure a victory, there was no need for haste. Xiao Chenxin turned his gaze toward the disciples of the various sects gathered in the distance.

"I heard a moment ago that you all wished to take Ye Chen as your disciple?"

An elder from the Sword Imperial Immortal Sect quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands. "It was my own lack of judgment that blinded me to his true nature. With such character, he is indeed unworthy of entering our Sword Imperial Immortal Sect. I beg Peak Master Xiao not to hold this against me; I am merely an old fool. I give you my word that I shall report today’s events to our Sect Master as a stern warning."

Seeing the elder from the Sword Imperial Immortal Sect act so sensibly, Xiao Chenxin chuckled softly and turned his attention to another man beside him—a hall master from the Myriad Sword Sect, the very person who had previously been the loudest in demanding that Ye Chen join their ranks. Sensing Xiao Chenxin’s gaze, the man spoke immediately. "Peak Master Xiao, I was mistaken. I would never allow such scum into my sect."

Xiao Chenxin swept his gaze across the others, and one by one, the sect disciples began to declare their positions.

"I will never let a degenerate like Ye Chen enter our sect, please be assured, Peak Master Xiao!"

"To think Ye Chen was so cold-blooded, even trying to exploit Lin Ruyan after her death! He is insatiably greedy. I shall inform my Sect Master immediately to strictly forbid Ye Chen from entering our territory!"

"I thought he was a peerless hero, but he is nothing more than human trash!"

"He must be severely punished!"

"Everyone, we have all witnessed Ye Chen’s behavior today. I propose we expel him from the ranks of the wandering cultivators and brand him a disciple of the Demonic Sect!"

With the truth now laid bare and the weight of the Yaoguang Sacred Land’s elders behind him, the sect members had no desire to speak for Ye Chen. They only wanted to distance themselves from this burning pit to avoid becoming targets of the Yaoguang Sacred Land's reckoning. Seeing that the sect disciples had abandoned Ye Chen, Xiao Chenxin said calmly, "Since you are all of one mind, why are you still lingering here? Take any issues to the Sacred Master; the rest of you, withdraw." The disciples retreated in haste, terrified of provoking him further.

Having cowed the sect disciples, Xiao Chenxin turned his cold, indifferent gaze toward the wandering cultivators below. "Any of you wish to side with Ye Chen? Step forward and let me see you."

The wandering cultivators, not daring to remain, hurriedly scrambled away, leaving Ye Chen alone to face Xiao Chenxin. Finally, Xiao Chenxin looked down at the commoners. "No one is permitted to set foot within a thousand miles of our sect. You have already received your compensation; you know what to do." The gathered commoners, as if struck by a nightmare, fled in a panic, some even being trampled in the chaos.

The difference in their reactions highlighted the vast gap in power between them and the Yaoguang Sacred Land. The Sword Imperial Immortal Sect offered apologies and admitted fault but made no further promises, while the lesser sects fell over themselves to pledge their loyalty and act against Ye Chen to demonstrate their stance. The wandering cultivators scattered like frightened birds, and the commoners—mere ants in the eyes of cultivators—fled in terror at a single word from Xiao Chenxin.

Once these matters were settled, Xiao Chenxin turned his attention to Ye Chen. "Now, it is your turn to speak."

Ye Chen gritted his teeth, the taste of blood thick in his mouth. After being struck by Xiao Chenxin, his body was frail and his aura flickering. "Heh... kill me if you have the guts." He spat the words through clenched teeth and opened his palm, revealing a flickering, eerie ghostly flame. He was prepared for a desperate final struggle—though, in truth, he had done this many times before. For some reason, he had always survived, while his opponents would be reduced to ash. It would be the same this time. If Xiao Chenxin dared to act, he would ensure the man met a wretched end.

Amidst Ye Chen’s ferocious glare, Xiao Chenxin furrowed his brow slightly.

[Ye Chen’s Dao heart has been fractured, and his fortune has been damaged. The lost fortune is typically transferred to the host.]
[Host’s current fortune: Black.]

The system’s notification caused him to pause. He had not intended to kill Ye Chen, as the boy was protected by the Heavenly Dao and was not easily slain. But now, the system’s hint gave him new ideas. If such methods could damage Ye Chen’s fortune, it meant he could slowly grind away at Ye Chen’s Heavenly Dao fortune by suppressing him. If he held Ye Chen’s weaknesses in his grip, he could either force the Heavenly Dao to abandon him or continuously "drain" the boy dry. Xiao Chenxin did not believe the Heavenly Dao’s fortune was infinite.

With a quick plan forming in his mind, Xiao Chenxin smiled indifferently. "I have no intention of killing you today."

Ye Chen froze. He looked at the strange flame in his hand, then at Xiao Chenxin, and scoffed, "You’re just afraid."

Xiao Chenxin couldn't be bothered to argue. He sent a telepathic message to Linghu, "Disciple, come here. I have something to ask you."

Linghu, having realized Ye Chen’s true nature, arrived quietly by Xiao Chenxin’s side and bowed respectfully. "Master, I am here."

Xiao Chenxin pointed at Ye Chen. "I am quite interested in the sword technique he used just now. Can you teach it to me?"

Having said this, Xiao Chenxin tilted his head slightly, looking at Ye Chen with nothing but mockery and disdain. Ye Chen’s eyes widened, blood vessels bursting as he glared at Linghu.

"Master!" Ye Chen roared in fury. "You promised! You said you would only teach this technique to me! You promised!"

Linghu did not even glance at him, speaking instead with absolute deference to Xiao Chenxin. "Reporting to Master, the 'Twelve Swords of Sky-Slaying' does possess some ingenuity, but it is incomplete. I wish to offer the superior 'Sky-Breaking Sword Scripture' to you, Master. I only ask that you provide me with some guidance after you have mastered it."

Xiao Chenxin waved his hand grandly. "Easy, easy!"

A sword technique even more powerful than the 'Twelve Swords of Sky-Slaying'—this was a windfall! Ye Chen had nearly caused him trouble earlier by relying on that technique; it was his primary trump card. And now, a superior version was in his hands. The divide between them was already set! No matter how hard Ye Chen struggled or how gifted he was, he could only ever reach the limit of the 'Twelve Swords of Sky-Slaying.' Xiao Chenxin, however, did not even need to master the 'Sky-Breaking Sword Scripture' to suppress him.

"Master!"