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When Zhanyu found Xu Chengli, he was sitting and resting. And on the table beside Xu Chengli lay a few pills. Caught red-handed.

Seeing Zhanyu arrive, Xu Chengli met his calm gaze and felt an inexplicable flutter of anxiety. “What are you doing here?” 

Zhanyu replied calmly, “I’m here to get my medicine.”

Only then did Xu Chengli realize he had been exposed.

But he had anticipated this moment. Xu Chengli picked up the pills from the table and said, “Give me half of what the Sect Leader gave you, and I’ll return these pills to you. I’ve heard you take these every day—without them, you must be suffering terribly.”

Zhanyu merely lowered his head and coughed. “With your behavior, aren’t you afraid I’ll report you to the Sect Master?”

Xu Chengli’s expression darkened. “It seems you haven’t suffered these past few days enough to understand my intentions. Are you sure you want to report this to the Sect Master? Who do you think will be punished? The Sect Master surely doesn’t know that his new disciple is actually a good-for-nothing who can only survive by taking life-prolonging pills, does he?”

A good-for-nothing?

He wasn’t exactly wrong. Zhanyu lowered his gaze. For over nine thousand years, he had relied on countless elixirs to survive. To have remained at the Foundation Establishment stage for nine thousand years—it would likely be laughable if anyone heard of it.

“Don’t try to hide it from me. I’ve already had someone look into it. Those pills of yours are indeed life-prolonging elixirs. And I’m sure they contain many precious ingredients as well. If you want to report this to the Sect Master, I’d actually love for you to go ahead and do it.”

A look of triumph flashed in Xu Chengli’s eyes. “Go ahead and ask the Sect Master yourself: how is it that you, Lu Zhanyu—a Foundation Establishment cultivator who hasn’t even passed the Spirit Awakening Ceremony—where did you get such high-grade elixirs? From your fallen family? Lu Zhanyu, who exactly are you? What are your true intentions for coming to my Shanning Realm?”

Xu Chengli had just returned from inquiring about the elixirs; his feet had barely touched the ground, his seat was still warm, and he hadn’t even figured out how to deal with this Lu Zhanyu—yet here he was, showing up so quickly.

But it didn’t matter. He wasn’t afraid to lay all the cards on the table.

After all, he now held the upper hand over Lu Zhanyu—why would he worry about him not obeying?

Zhanyu no longer wished to speak with him. This Xu Chengli was a man whose mind had been corrupted by the scheming and backstabbing within the sect.

“Are you scared?” Xu Chengli stood up and stepped forward, grabbing Zhanyu’s wrist. He was now more than eager to make a big scene and bring this to the Sect Master’s attention.

“The Shanning Realm has no place for people of unknown origin. If you don’t explain yourself clearly today, don’t even think about leaving!” His wrist ached from the tight grip, and Zhanyu lowered his gaze, his finger already resting on the Cosmos Bag. Just then.

A sharp rebuke rang out from outside—”Xu Chengli, what are you doing!” 

Zhanyu withdrew his hand and turned around.

It was the Sect Master.

And behind the Sect Master followed that senior disciple, still panting heavily.

The man’s eyes met Zhanyu’s; his expression was a mix of panic and guilt, and he quickly looked away. Seeing this, Xu Chengli smiled and released Zhanyu’s wrist.

“Master, you’ve arrived just in time. This is the perfect opportunity to investigate Lu Zhanyu’s background.”

The group was led together to the main hall of the Shanning Realm.

Not only was Xu Chengli’s master present, but several elders of the sect were there as well.

“I heard it from the disciples at the gate, Mr. Li. Is this what you promised me?” the Sect Leader roared angrily. “Is this the kind of disciple you’ve taught?”

Chief Administrator Li looked completely bewildered, but being scolded made it hard for him to feel anything but disheartened.

He stepped forward and asked, “Master, what… exactly has happened here?”

“Threatening and bullying fellow disciples—Xu Chengli, whose influence are you relying on?” the Sect Master said in a deep voice. “Effective immediately, Mr. Li is no longer the Sect’s Chief Administrator!”

Administrator Li: ??

Administrator Li turned around with a fierce glare, looking at his “fine disciple,” as if asking, “What have you done now?!” Xu Chengli couldn’t understand it—why was his master’s position being stripped away without any explanation? But seeing the Sect Master’s fury, Xu Chengli began to panic.

“Xu Chengli!” the Sect Master called out.

Xu Chengli took a step forward and stepped to the front. “…Yes.”

“I’ve heard the details from Chenglin. Do you admit to threatening and instigating fellow disciples to frame and bully Lu Zhanyu?”

Xu Chengli turned around, but before he could spot Chenglin in the crowd, he was snapped back by a sharp command: “Who are you looking at!”

Xu Chengli quickly lowered his head. “Master, regarding this matter… I… I admit it. But there was a reason for my actions. I sensed something was amiss with Lu Zhanyu, so I resorted to this desperate measure to force him to reveal his true nature…”

The Sect Master replied coldly, “Then I shall hear your explanation. What was amiss with him, and what true form did he reveal? If you cannot produce any conclusive evidence, I shall purge the sect today and expel you from Shanning Realm!”

The words “expelled from Shanning Realm” echoed throughout the hall. Xu Chengli clenched his fist and declared loudly, “Master, Lu Zhanyu’s background is unknown. The pills he took from his vial are high-grade elixirs. I’ve had them verified—these are not something an ordinary person could obtain.”

As he spoke, Xu Chengli presented the pills.

The pills were a dull, dark color, yet a faint flow of spiritual energy could be sensed within them. Seeing this, everyone present was taken aback. Xu Chengli was indeed correct; these elixirs were truly formidable.

“Elder Fang, please come forward,” said the Sect Master.

Elder Fang, a master of herbal medicine in the Shanning Realm, furrowed his brow but still accepted the pills. He examined them closely and sniffed them carefully, his expression growing increasingly grave.

“Sect Master, this pill…”

Xu Chengli’s face was already set in an expression of vindication, and the look he cast at Zhanyu, standing not far to his side, seemed to treat him as nothing less than a traitor.

“Speak plainly.” The Sect Master frowned, his expression already grim.

Yan Qi had inexplicably gone to the Red Cloud Sea, and now Xu Chengli was this sort of troublemaker—could it be that the newly recruited Zhanyu was also problematic? The future of the Shanning Realm was truly cause for grave concern!

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, the elder sighed and said, “Sect Master, the value of this elixir is likely worth half of the Shanning Realm.” As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

Xu Chengli wore an expression that said, “No way, I must have heard wrong.” 

“Elder Fang, what are you talking about?” the other elders couldn’t help but ask. “Half of Shanning Realm? You mustn’t be speaking nonsense!”

Elder Fang was so enraged at this remark that his beard seemed to bristle. “If you all don’t believe me, then don’t make me appraise this treasure!” 

“Wait, it’s just a tiny little pill—how could it possibly be worth half of the Shanning Realm!”

“Why wouldn’t it be worth it!” Elder Fang roared. “What do you know! Do you even know what a fifth-tier elixir is? In terms of a cultivator’s cultivation level, the fifth tier is equivalent to the Union Realm. Are any of you in the Union Realm? Yet here you are, questioning me!”

The crowd was stunned by his outburst.

“Elder Fang, you’re not at the Union Realm either…” the Sect Master cleared his throat and said.

“That’s right, I haven’t reached the Union Realm either. I, Fang Shiwen, am only at the Spirit Transformation Stage, so in all my years, I’ve only been able to refine fourth-tier elixirs. But just because I can’t refine it doesn’t mean I can’t recognize it! In my opinion, this elixir also has the power to prolong life and grant immortality! I needn’t tell you what such an elixir is worth!”

No one answered. Elder Fang turned his head and fixed his gaze on Zhanyu. “Zhanyu, tell them—is this a fifth-tier elixir? Is it the kind that can only be refined by someone at the Union Realm?”

Everyone’s gaze shifted back to Zhanyu.

Zhanyu coughed twice, his face pale. “Elder Fang has keen eyes. This pill is indeed a fifth-tier elixir, but its value is likely not even worth half of a Shanning Realm.”

“Even if it is a fifth-grade pill, where on earth did you get it!” Xu Chengli leapt to his feet. If Lu Zhanyu couldn’t account for its origin today, he would insist he was a spy!

“This elixir was simply given to me by my fifth uncle. I have a congenital weakness, so I must take this medicine to prolong my life,” Zhanyu confessed.

Upon hearing this, Elder Fang hurried over to his side.

A stream of spiritual energy surged from Zhanyu’s brow. After a thorough examination, Elder Fang’s eyes widened. Seeing this, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat.

What’s going on? What’s happening? Elder Fang, just tell us already!

“Elder Fang, what’s the verdict?” The Sect Master also cast an expectant glance his way. He had originally intended to have Elder Fang examine Zhanyu, but unfortunately, during the time Zhanyu had been cultivating in the Mountain of Tranquility, Elder Fang had been away on a journey.

“Zhanyu… you… How old… are you this year?” Elder Fang stammered. He had intended to use the term “long-lived,” after all, Zhanyu’s bone age seemed a bit off.

Zhanyu’s face was pale as he smiled faintly. “Elder Fang, I am twenty-one this year.” Nine thousand three hundred and twenty-one years old.

Elder Fang suddenly understood something. He composed himself and addressed the crowd, “Zhanyu’s body is indeed congenitally deficient. Were it not for this medicine, his life likely could not be sustained.”

“Zhanyu, could you… could you introduce me to your fifth uncle…?” Elder Fang turned to ask. Zhanyu shook his head. “I’m afraid that wouldn’t be appropriate.”

Elder Fang paused, clutching his chest. He wouldn’t be able to meet his senior after all!

“Sect Master, his words are evasive, and he refuses to reveal his fifth uncle’s background. Are we just going to let him brush off this matter of the elixir like this?” Xu Chengli still couldn’t accept it.

“Was that top-tier elixir truly given to him by an elder from his fallen clan? If he really had such a powerful relative, why would he bother coming to our Shanning Realm?

Realm? In my opinion, could Lu Zhanyu be one of the Demon Beast Tamer faction, deliberately concealing his identity to stir up trouble and disrupt the peace of our Shanning Realm?”

“Demon Beast Tamer”—at the mere mention of these three words, the expressions of all the leaders and elders of the Shanning Realm changed. These days, one must avoid any association with the Demon Beast Tamers at all costs.

Many began to regard Zhanyu with a hint of wariness. It really didn’t make sense—how could a Foundation Establishment disciple possibly have access to such a top-tier elixir, unless he was deliberately concealing his identity…

Just then, a disciple rushed in from outside to report—

“Sect Master!! Yan Qi is back! And not just him—the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea has arrived as well!”

Everyone froze, and Master Li and his disciple’s expressions changed drastically.

He never could have imagined that the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea would actually come knocking on their door over Yan Qi’s matter! Was it really necessary?!

Seeing this, someone suggested, “Sect Master, perhaps we should have Zhanyu and Chengli return first. With the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea here, we can’t let the sect become a laughingstock.”

The Sect Master shook his head, furrowing his brow. “Does the Shanning Realm fear being made a laughingstock? Invite them in. This is perfect—Yan Qi’s matter will also serve as a direct confrontation with Xu Chengli and his master! Who is right and who is wrong—the truth will be revealed today!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a gust of wind swept in, cutting off the words of Administrator Li, who had just been about to speak. Everyone watched as a white figure darted through the hall.

As luck would have it, it landed right in front of Zhanyu.

“Zhanyu, we’ve come to take you away.” The white-clad figure placed a hand on Zhanyu’s head and stroked it gently. Zhanyu was taken aback for a moment, then a radiant smile spread across his face. “Uncle.”

Wen Jue playfully tapped him on the head. “It’s Uncle.”

Zhanyu winced slightly, raising a hand to cover his forehead, yet he still smiled.

On that fair wrist, a bright, purplish bruise stood out starkly, etched into the skin and glaringly obvious. Wen Jue’s expression turned cold instantly.

“Who tortured you?”

In an instant, spiritual energy surged, and an overwhelming aura of authority pressed down from above.

Everyone’s expressions shifted dramatically, yet not a single person in the entire Shanning Realm hall could withstand the pressure and raise their head. Just as everyone was startled by this commotion, several figures walked in through the hall’s entrance.

Led by a handsome young man, the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea and Yan Qi followed close behind, keeping pace with him.

Seeing this, the young man in white turned and shouted—

“Qin Zhou! These damned scoundrels are torturing our Zhanyu!” Wen Jue shielded Zhanyu as he shouted his complaint. Torture!

They dared to torture him!

His own nephew, whom he had cherished and raised for thousands of years. Even as an adult, he had vowed to become the ruler of Immortal-Demon City—the very nephew who had secretly passed messages to him, the Demon Lord!

Not to mention, Wen Jue was about to explode—even Lu San, who had been in Yan Qi’s arms, couldn’t help but leap down.

The usually clumsy puppet shot forward to Zhanyu’s side, silent but radiating an overwhelming aura. Qin Zhou, who was a step behind, heard Wen Jue’s words and halted in his tracks.

He walked slowly into the Grand Hall of Shanning Realm, his tone calm yet tinged with a hint of coldness—

“Then let’s find out who carried out the torture.”