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“You lot…” The Sect Master sprang to his feet, his brows furrowed. Who were these people?

His gaze swept past everyone, landing on the Lord of the Red Cloud Sea at the rear, as he tried to ask him something.

But after being stared at for a moment, Shen Yun caught his gaze and could only say awkwardly, “Sect Master Qi, inflicting punishment is going too far, isn’t it?” 

The Sect Master nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

“Shen Yun, Zhanyu is a disciple of our sect—how could I possibly subject him to torture!” With these words, he sought to refute the accusation of “torture.”

The Sect Master still had no idea who this group was. With his keen eyesight, he could tell that Qin Zhou was a Nascent Soul cultivator. But as for the man in white who had arrived first, he couldn’t fathom him at all.

The overwhelming pressure he’d felt moments ago had left him completely immobilized.

The accusation of torture was a misunderstanding, but Zhanyu’s background seemed truly extraordinary.

“You didn’t torture him, so who crushed Zhanyu’s hand like this?” Wen Jue was clearly displeased. “Zhanyu, you tell us.”

The last thing Zhanyu wanted was for his uncles to worry about him, so he smiled and said, “Uncle Wen, I’m fine. This isn’t torture; I just accidentally hurt myself.”

Xu Chengli dared not speak, doing his utmost to minimize his presence.

These latecomers all appeared to be Lu Zhanyu’s family members. The oppressive aura from earlier had already been terrifying enough. Administrator Li was also deathly pale.

Who was Wen Jue? A great demon lord who had roamed the Nine Heavens for nine thousand years. With just a single glance, he had seen through the two men’s deception. Especially Xu Chengli, who was standing not far from Zhanyu.

Everyone watched as he raised his hand. The next second, a massive surge of spiritual energy sucked Xu Chengli—who had been about to retreat—toward him.

When they looked back at Wen Jue, he was already gripping Xu Chengli by the throat, suspending him in midair, while the taut lines of his muscles were faintly visible on his arm. With his throat constricted, Xu Chengli’s face quickly turned crimson. He kicked his legs frantically, but with nothing to hold onto, he merely flailed about in the air.

In Wen Jue’s grasp, he was like a chick caught in a trap, utterly powerless to resist.

“This man has also bullied Yan Qi.” The fist-sized wooden puppet, which no one had really noticed, suddenly spoke up. Isn’t that Yan Qi’s puppet? Some recognized it, but dared not speak up at that moment.

“Third Uncle?” Zhanyu called out in surprise. Lu San nodded at him.

Only then did Zhanyu crouch down and pick up the puppet. “Third Uncle, how did you turn into a puppet?”

Seeing this, Yan Qi ran over eagerly, standing next to Zhanyu, his eyes fixed on the puppet in his hand. Zhanyu seemed to sense something and tentatively handed it to Lu San.

Yan Qi quickly took it. “Thank you.” The nephew of the little puppet—that’s nice. Zhanyu looked pensive.

Meanwhile, Xu Chengli’s eyes had rolled back in his head. After struggling for a long moment, he managed to choke out a breathless plea: “Master, save… me!”

Seeing this, the Sect Master took a few quick steps forward. “Esteemed Senior…” Just as he was about to plead on Xu Chengli’s behalf, Shen Yun pulled him back.

He shook his head slightly; the meaning in his eyes was clear.

It wasn’t worth sacrificing the entire Shanning Realm for the sake of one Xu Chengli.

The Sect Master understood his meaning, swallowed hard, and stopped the words on the tip of his tongue. Wen Jue tightened his grip even further.

Seeing this, Chief Administrator Li, hurriedly spoke up, “Senior, there must be some misunderstanding here! Lu Zhanyu, say something! The injury on your hand—you must have bumped into something by accident, right?”

Zhanyu paused, remaining silent for a long while.

He had long since realized that the Spirit Mountain Realm, whether in terms of its age or the strength of its cultivators, was far inferior to the Zhutian Realm. Even he, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with nine thousand years of cultivation, was considered to have “poor natural talent” here.

With his strength, he could handle Xu Chengli. He possessed so many life-saving items that even if every disciple in the entire Shanning Realm were to hunt him down, he could still escape unscathed.

He simply didn’t like to trouble his uncles and aunts.

From a young age, he knew his body was a burden. Whether it was the village chief, his two fathers, or even his many uncles and aunts, they had all worried themselves sick over him. They couldn’t bear to see him injured or bleeding, and they feared he might go hungry or suffer from the cold.

Simply because he was different from everyone else in the village.

He has struggled desperately to prove he is not a good-for-nothing. Right up until now.

Just as Zhanyu was about to speak, Qin Zhou had already walked up to him.

“Zhanyu.”

“Grandfather Village Chief.”

“You know, if you get hurt, your eldest uncle will surely rally all your uncles, aunts, and cousins to seek justice for you,” Qin Zhou said, “As long as you’re still a child in our eyes, don’t overthink things.”

“There’s no need for all that hesitation,” Wen Jue added. “If you cry out just once, I’ll tear this Shanning Realm to pieces! I don’t care who’s right or wrong!”

The head of Shanning Realm’s heart skipped a beat.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Zhanyu.

Zhanyu couldn’t bring himself to cry; in fact, he was so happy he wanted to laugh out loud. But as he opened his mouth, he coughed violently. With that cough, a trickle of blood seeped from his lips.

Zhanyu raised his hand to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. That’s right—he hadn’t taken the medicine his Fifth Uncle had given him on time. This time, not only did Wen Jue’s expression change, but even Qin Zhou was taken aback.

“Zhanyu!”

It’s over—the Shanning Realm is doomed! A chill ran down the Sect Master’s spine. “Elder Fang, Zhanyu’s medicine! Quickly!” Elder Fang, who had been watching nearby, jolted to attention and hurriedly handed it over.

“You actually have Zhanyu’s medicine?!” Rage flared in Wen Jue’s eyes, and he no longer even spared a thought for Xu Chengli.

Suddenly cast aside, Xu Chengli thought he’d survived and gasped for air. But when he looked up and met Qin Zhou’s gaze, his vision went dark.

This man… wasn’t he the one who broke the contract between him and the Thunder Lion Beast?!

He’s here too—they’re all in this together! Yan Qi and Lu Zhanyu are as well!

Sect Master: “…Senior, let me explain. No, let’s have Zhanyu take the medicine first!” Just as Elder Fang was about to hand it over, Qin Zhou blocked his hand.

He then quickly produced a pill radiating an even more potent spiritual energy and shoved it into Zhanyu’s mouth. 

Elder Fang: !!

That pill seems better than the one he has in his hand!

As soon as he swallowed it, Zhanyu’s complexion improved significantly.

“Thank you, Village Chief,” Zhanyu said with a light cough. “This has nothing to do with Shanning Realm; it’s just that Xu Chengli and his master were bullying me.”

Wen Jue furrowed his brow. “Who is Xu Chengli?”

The disciples of the Shanning Realm all raised their hands and pointed in unison, “It’s him!” 

Xu Chengli on the ground: ??

Wen Jue strode forward, grabbed the terrified Xu Chengli, and with a single palm strike, sent something into his dantian qi sea.

No one knew what Xu Chengli had experienced, but his entire body suddenly curled up like a shrimp. The excruciating pain caused him to convulse violently, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Xu Chengli’s Qi Sea was shattering into pieces.

After this ordeal, he would likely never be able to cultivate again, and his soul would remember this pain forever. He was spared only because Qin Zhou didn’t like seeing dead bodies.

Upon witnessing this scene, Administrator Li’s eyes nearly popped out of his head. But once he came to his senses, he was overcome with dread. He ducked into the crowd, hoping to take the opportunity to flee.

But could he really escape?

Before he could even move, a bolt of lightning struck from the heavens.

The thunderbolt pierced through the roof of the Shanning Realm’s main hall, striking directly at Li’s feet. He abruptly looked up and met Qin Zhou’s gaze.

They were eyes devoid of any emotion, as if he had anticipated the thunderbolt’s arrival all along.

“You…” 

“Boom—”

Another bolt of lightning struck down. Administrator Li dodged it at the last moment, raising his hand to draw his Beastmaster’s Staff. “Don’t push your luck!”

Qin Zhou said nothing, but another bolt of lightning struck.

Mr. Li’s eyes turned bloodshot as he roared, “Red Demon, come out!”

Instantly, a colossal creature emerged from his Beastmaster’s Staff.

But it wasn’t a spirit beast.

It was a terrifying, gigantic demon beast—green-faced and fanged, its entire body glowing red, standing about three meters tall. With a single lift of its massive arm, it seemed capable of tearing the roof off the Shanning Realm’s grand hall with its razor-sharp claws.

Everyone was stunned by the sight. A… a demon beast…

“Master Li, he’s actually a Demon Beast Tamer!”

The Sect Master’s expression changed drastically. “All disciples, evacuate the hall immediately!” This Red Demon was at least at the late Nascent Soul cultivation level.

“You’ve forced me to this! Red Demon, destroy this hall! Kill the man before you!” Chief Administrator Li had already lost his mind; with no way out, he intended to drag the many Shanning Realm disciples down with him!

Upon receiving the order, the Red Demon let out a frenzied roar and fixed its sights on Qin Zhou. It stared at Qin Zhou, then remained motionless for a long time.

Head Administrator Li:?

“Red Demon, what are you doing!”

The Red Demon was actually hesitating. How could that be!

It suddenly occurred to Administrator Li that Qin Zhou had severed his disciple Chengli’s contract with the Thunder Lion Beast right in the middle of their conversation. This man was truly unnerving, and an inexplicable sense of unease welled up in Administrator Li’s heart. But then he quickly regained his composure.

He and Red Demon had been master and servant for over a thousand years; Red Demon wouldn’t act like that Thunder Lion Beast! The bond between them wasn’t that fragile!

“Red Demon!”

Chief Li was still shouting, but Red Demon stood before Qin Zhou like a child whose feet had been tied, utterly at a loss.

“Roar—” Red Demon turned back angrily and let out a loud bellow at Mr. Li. If Shisi were here, he would surely understand what it was saying.

Unfortunately, Mr. Li couldn’t understand. He could only hear immense reluctance and refusal in the sound Red Demon made.

“I am your master!” Mr. Li acted decisively, forming a hand seal and employing his own methods. “Red Demon, serve me!”

A red light surged into Red Demon’s body. A furious roar shook the entire hall.

“Trouble! The Red Demon has lost its mind!” Seeing this, the Sect Master shouted, “Sect Master Shen Yun, let’s go!”

Upon hearing this, Shen Yun grabbed the corner of his robe. “Senior Qin Zhou is still here.” The Sect Master’s eye twitched. But wasn’t this senior at the Nascent Soul stage?

Shen Yun said nothing, but simply pulled out his book and brush, preparing to record the scene. He’d always said that bringing a brush and book would let him capture something worthwhile!

Then, Qin Zhou spoke—“Red Demon, sit down.”

The Red Demon, who had been roaring wildly, immediately sat down right where it stood, its massive body causing the floor tiles of the hall to sink under its weight. Its eyes were wide and red-rimmed, looking helpless as if asking, “Who am I? Where am I?”

Then, Qin Zhou raised his hand.

Something swiftly pierced through his Qi Sea and Dantian. Administrator Li spat out a mouthful of blood with a gasp.

He sensed it—the connection between himself and the Red Demon had actually been severed?!

“You… what… are you…”

His connection with the Red Demon spans thousands of years…

Qin Zhou couldn’t be bothered to answer; just then, another bolt of lightning struck from the sky. This time, it struck precisely on the top of Administrator Li’s head.

That single strike cost him half a lifetime of cultivation and half his life.

Seeing this, the disciples of the Shanning Realm immediately rushed forward and bound Chief Li.

The farce had come as quickly as it had gone. The main hall was left in shambles.

The Sect Master was left trembling with fear.

Chief Li was actually a Demon Beast Tamer.

A Demon Beast Tamer had actually infiltrated the management ranks of Shanning Realm. The Sect Master closed his eyes. After this incident, every single member of the Shanning Realm would have to be investigated.

“That’s all.”

Sect Master:?

Qin Zhou said, “There is only this one Demon Beast Tamer in the Shanning Realm.”

Chief Li actually plays a significant role in the later plot.

He held some standing within the Demon Beast Tamer faction; he was a trusted subordinate of the Dark Hall’s Master and the only undercover agent the Dark Hall had sent to the Shanning Realm.

Later, when the major sects of the Spirit Mountain Realm clashed with the Dark Hall, Li, the Administrator, dealt a severe blow to the Shanning Realm.

“Thank you, Senior,” the Sect Leader sighed. This time, had Qin Zhou not intervened, the Red Demon would likely have thrown the Shanning Realm into chaos.

“You’re welcome.” Qin Zhou remained impassive; he had no intention of helping the Shanning Realm capture the traitor. He intervened simply because Zhanyu had been wronged. 

“That was impressive,” Wen Jue ran over and whispered in his ear.

Qin Zhou: “……” He enjoyed the compliment.

Qin Zhou cleared his throat uncomfortably and squeezed Wen Jue’s hand. Was it fun to tease him? Wen Jue just smiled, his eyes narrowed.

“Esteemed elders, why not rest for a while in Shanning Realm? Once I’ve dealt with the traitor, I’ll host you all properly,” the Sect Master said respectfully. “I’ll also give you all an explanation regarding Zhanyu—and Yan Qi as well.”

Yan Qi said nothing.

But the puppet in his arms said, “Agreed.”

Qin Zhou and Wen Jue had no objections either.

Having retrieved Zhanyu, they hadn’t yet decided on their next destination. Staying in the Shanning Realm was fine; it would give them a chance to investigate the strange phenomenon of the spirit beasts’ migration.