As the saying goes, “Slow to speak, quick to fight.”

The scuffle among the disciples of the immortal sects was brief, yet its destructive force was immense, swiftly reducing a grand hall to rubble and spreading chaos across half the square.

The disciples of Shu Mountain, lacking in cultivation, dared not step forward to mediate the fight—besides, most onlookers were enjoying the spectacle.

“Alas… hiss… that was a bit too heavy-handed,” Pǔ Shàn the monk commented, shaking his head beside Chu Liang.

Chu Liang turned to him and asked, “Aren’t you going to join in?”

“Monks should harbor compassion and not engage in violent bravado,” replied Pǔ Shàn.

Before he could finish, a figure was sent flying across the arena, crashing to the ground and skidding for more than ten yards before coming to a halt. It was a disciple from the Heavy Tower Temple, his bald head conspicuous.

“He’s a martial monk,” Pǔ Shàn quickly added.

Chu Liang noted that indeed, the monks who practiced martial arts seemed quite different from those who practiced silent meditation.

The commotion didn’t last long. Soon, a terrifying pressure descended, immobilizing all the disciples, whether they were geniuses or commoners, forcing them to look up to the sky.

A black-robed old crone descended like frost, her cold gaze sweeping over the disheveled disciples. She spoke, “You may be used to acting recklessly within your own sects, but here on Shu Mountain, please abide by our rules and refrain from causing trouble. Should there be a next time, you will be expelled from Shu Mountain.”

Elder Sīlǜ!

With a light statement, she effortlessly subdued the crowd. As for the cause of the brawl, she didn’t inquire further, seemingly not interested in holding the disciples accountable.

In reality, the elders of Shu Mountain must have been aware of the fight from the start, but likely chose not to intervene initially, thinking it a minor issue, only stepping in when things escalated.

This was in line with their usual attitude towards their disciples.

Feng Cháoyáng, his divine aura retracted, appeared spotless as if he hadn’t engaged in combat.

He looked at Dèng Yīxiào and snorted, “If you wish to continue, let’s set a time below Shu Mountain. I’m always ready.”

Dèng Yīxiào had blood on his eyebrows, seemingly having sustained minor injuries, but it didn’t affect him; instead, it added a fierce air to his demeanor.

Facing Feng Cháoyáng’s gaze, he was surprisingly calm, saying, “After the Shu Mountain summit concludes, I will settle our score.”

It seemed that the grudge between Feng Cháoyáng and the three brothers of Thunder Fortress was now deeply rooted.

Both parties left in their respective groups. Watching Dèng Yīxiào’s retreating figure, Chu Liang felt something odd.

He seemed reserved and profound, not the type to start fights in other sects.

Was it simply because of the recent grudge between Second Brother and Feng Cháoyáng?

However, since he wasn’t familiar with either party, he didn’t dwell on the matter, having many other things to attend to.

…

The next day.

After yesterday’s events, Shu Mountain had prepared separate viewing areas below the arena for the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, so there was no need for the parties to encounter each other.

The disciples from various sects also behaved much better, likely having been warned by their elders after the incident, not daring to cause further trouble.

Chu Liang spent the whole day watching the battles.

It was the round of thirty-two advancing to sixteen, and the victors of today’s contests would be among the top sixteen, each with exceptional strength. At this point, it was crucial to understand more about the opponents.

Currently, the one competing on the stage was that disciple named Ling Ao from the Solitary Peak.

His black hair still covered one eye, his figure swift as the wind. With a few afterimages, he dodged his opponent’s attacks, then used his formidable strength to shatter the opponent’s defense with a single punch.

His method was identical to how he had defeated Shang Ziliang last time.

Aside from his physical prowess, he hadn’t revealed much else. Chu Liang felt more certain that Ling Ao had yet to use his full strength.

Rumors about Ling Ao had been spreading wildly across Shu Mountain these past two days. Previously unknown, the few disciples from Solitary Peak meant that hardly anyone was familiar with him. Now that he had suddenly risen to prominence, he naturally attracted attention.

This situation wasn’t new; every year at the Shu Mountain summit, one or two dark horses with strength greater than their fame would emerge.

Insiders revealed that he wasn’t this strong half a year ago, so his sudden surge in power must be due to some fortuitous encounter. Given his background from Solitary Peak and his formidable physical strength, the most accepted speculation was that he had received a gift from a true dragon.

Some even believed he might have obtained the complete inheritance of a true dragon.

But Chu Liang knew these guesses were entirely wrong—he was the one who had received the true dragon’s inheritance.

And from Ling Ao, he could not sense any dragon’s breath.

“The next battle, Chu Liang of Silver Sword Peak versus Fang Ting of Jade Sword Peak!”

“Wow—”

The crowd murmured in excitement.At the Shu Mountain summit meeting, this was the first collision of Golden Elixir realm cultivators to date. Normally, possessing the strength of the Golden Elixir realm would guarantee a spot in the top sixteen, but now, one must be eliminated early—it was simply a stroke of bad luck for one of them.

Fang Ting ascended the stage with a confident smile.

He believed that he wouldn’t be the unfortunate one.

“Brother Fang.” Chu Liang also smiled at him, greeting him with a gentle bow.

The two were old acquaintances. Chu Liang’s first mission to the Southern Territory Mountains was led by Fang Ting. At that time, Fang Ting’s early Golden Elixir realm cultivation seemed incredibly powerful in his eyes.

But now, merely half a year later, he could stand tall and face him.

“Brother Chu.” Fang Ting returned the bow, then said, “I know you’ve had many fortuitous encounters this past half year and your cultivation has advanced rapidly, even forming a top-quality Golden Elixir. You’ve been quite the sensation recently, taking first place in both the Mountain God Festival and the Heavenly Ladder Path.”

“But we have not been idle either. Today, I will show you what pure strength is!”

Boom.

As he issued his bold declaration, a powerful and surging true qi burst forth from his body, as if his aura was steaming upwards.

Mid-stage Golden Elixir!

It seemed he had indeed made progress these days.

Many were aware of the wager between Silver Sword Peak and Jade Sword Peak, and they often compared the two peaks’ senior brothers, using Chu Liang as a benchmark against Xu Ziyang.

However, Fang Ting believed that the wager could end today.

He remembered how frail Chu Liang looked when he first descended the mountain, so he always felt that in such a short time, even with fortuitous encounters, Chu Liang couldn’t have become that strong.

So what if you’ve formed a top-quality Golden Elixir?

Can your physical body keep up? Can your divine abilities keep up? Is your spirit strong enough?

And no matter how top-quality, your starting point was too low, and you haven’t been in the Golden Elixir realm for long. Whereas I am already a seasoned Golden Elixir cultivator, having stepped into the mid-stage of the Golden Elixir realm.

Today, I will let you witness the ultimate power of the Shenxiao Five Thunder Golden Elixir!

He drew his Thunderclap Sword with his right hand, with a golden dragon winding around it, suppressing a formidable aura! It seemed Fang Ting was eager to demonstrate his strength in this battle, unable to wait any longer!

Indeed, that was the case. Since stepping into the mid-stage of the Golden Elixir realm, he had been longing for a battle to fully exert his strength. His opponent in the previous round was too weak to be a challenge, but Chu Liang was undoubtedly the best candidate for this round.

Come!

Fight to your heart’s content!

His heart seemed to roar with thunderous cries.

“Ha ha! I too have been looking forward to battling you!” Chu Liang showed an equally strong will to fight, and he shouted, “Then let’s begin, and let Peak Master Wang Xuanling below see whose disciple is stronger!”

As he spoke, his gaze shifted behind Fang Ting.

Hearing the name Wang Xuanling, Fang Ting shuddered. His master was here?

He hadn’t heard that his master would come to watch the battle.

He instinctively looked back, but there was nothing there.

Swoosh.

The dull sound of a blade piercing flesh.

Chu Liang’s hand maintained the posture of releasing a hidden weapon, while a flashing green light curved blade was embedded in Fang Ting’s chest.

“…” The audience fell silent.

Fang Ting turned his head, his lips moved in disbelief, but no words came out, and his body fell backward with a thud. The disciples of the Dan Ding Hall hurriedly went forward to rescue him. Although the injury seemed severe, Chu Liang had avoided all vital points, and such pure flesh wounds were not difficult to heal for cultivators.

Relatively speaking, the wound in Fang Ting’s heart might be harder to mend.

After a long while, a faint yet clear voice timidly expressed everyone’s thoughts: “Shameless!”

Good morning!

And for those who think this or that is unreasonable, I can’t tell you about the plot that hasn’t happened yet, so what’s the rush?

Just yesterday, someone said that the protagonist’s behavior of hiding himself was unreasonable, and then they ranted about it. I deleted their comment twice, and they continued to rant in the comments. If it’s about the plot that has already happened, I can explain, but how can I explain something that hasn’t happened yet? If that’s the case, then there can’t be any foreshadowing at all.

There was also someone who asked if the skeleton planted in the ground was the father-in-law, and if it was too cruel. I deleted their comment, and they jumped out again saying that since the comment was deleted, it must be true, and they dropped the story…

At that time, the plot hadn’t even reached that point, so how could I tell them?

Some small details are there to make readers wonder why something is unreasonable, and then it will be revealed later. If you’re going to complain about that, then it means there can’t be any secrets at all.