The man stood like a mountain in the snow,
the Profound Iron Scale Armor glinting coldly, as frost mist seeped through the scales.
This armor was an excellent Protective Magical Artifact!
He casually clenched his five fingers, and three golden lights burst into dazzling sparks between the Profound Iron Finger Guards, squashing the Geng Metal Qi like extinguishing a candle wick.
"A Low Tier Five Elements Technique, and you’re already scared?"
His gaze fell upon the disheveled Gao Ming, extremely disappointed.
"It’s my incompetence!"
Gao Ming looked ashamed, the Geng Metal Technique was just an introductory Five Elements Technique, but he didn’t expect Chen Ye to wield it so flexibly, leaving him defenseless.
The armored man was none other than Kong Hongxuan, the Hall Master of Nifeng Hall!
He then looked towards Chen Ye.
"This must be Taoist Friend Chen? It’s truly commendable that Taoist Friend Chen developed such an outstanding Spirit Plant Technique in the slums. Why not join the Jade Lizard Association and seek immortality with us?"
Kong Hongxuan’s tone was stiff, an invitation in words, but not allowing Chen Ye any refusal in reality.
The legless Taoist Zhang was no longer terrified as before.
Dragging a trail of blood on the snow,
he crawled desperately to Kong Hongxuan’s feet, like a mangy dog finding its master:
"Hall Master! Although Zhang Hong just joined the Jade Lizard Association, he has a loyal heart! He considers his comrades as family! Since Brother Chen has joined the Jade Lizard Association, let me look after his disciple in East Valley, to spare Brother Chen any worries of future troubles!"
Kong Hongxuan glanced dismissively at Zhang Hong, seeing through his intentions, but praised him nonetheless:
"Not bad, though old, your blood has not cooled! You still know how to share the burdens of your comrades!"
In their exchange, they didn’t listen to Chen Ye’s opinion at all, already planning the affiliation for him and his disciple.
The smile on Taoist Zhang’s face grew brighter, spreading across his wrinkled face.
The cold wind rustled, slipping into his collar.
Drying the cold sweat on Chen Ye’s back.
Chen Ye’s face was cold and expressionless: "What if I refuse?"
He did have a trump card.
He had earlier asked Hee Qi to support him.
Yet, the appearance of Kong Hongxuan was beyond his expectations.
He didn’t understand,
why would such a dignified late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator come to capture him with Taoist Zhang?
Now, as Hee Qi was still nowhere to be seen, Chen Ye felt a chill in his heart.
But to send the two little ones to Taoist Zhang’s hands?
Absolutely impossible!
Even though ten strands of Geng Metal Qi had drained his spiritual power entirely!
"Noisy."
Kong Hongxuan’s expression showed impatience, he flicked his fingers lightly, forming an ice crystal cone at his fingertips.
Even before the sound of it breaking through the air arrived, Chen Ye had already felt a stabbing pain in his forehead—an omen of death approaching!
At the most critical moment,
Chen Ye tightened his grip on the Bone-Scraping Whip, this Magical Artifact often wielded by his former self leapt like a snake, colliding with the ice cone in mid-air.
"Bang!"
Shattered ice crystals fell like snow on Chen Ye’s pale face.
He belatedly clutched his abdomen, where there was a gaping, bloody wound.
Kong Hongxuan had openly aimed to take his life, yet secretly attacked his abdomen!
If it weren’t for Chen Ye recently practicing the Heavy Body Technique, enhancing his physical reflexes.
It wouldn’t have been shattered ice crystals piercing his abdomen, but that ice cone!
"I underestimated you."
Kong Hongxuan looked displeased, as a dignified Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivator, though he intended to keep him alive for other uses and hadn’t gone all out,
it was still humiliating to have his Technique blocked by Chen Ye!
As he was about to launch another attack, a loud shout burst from the snowstorm:
"Hold on! Stop fighting!"
Hee Qi, leaning against his bamboo hat, arrived late through the snow, offering an apologetic smile,
"Brother Chen, the snow was too heavy, and I couldn’t catch up for a while."
Chen Ye managed a faint smile: "Brother Hee, just stepping forward is already greatly appreciated."
Kong Hongxuan’s pupils shrank slightly, his intimidating aura suddenly withdrew:
"Taoist Friend Hee, long time no see! The chairman knew that Taoist Friend Hee was visiting Yunxi District and specifically asked me to invite you to the Jade Lizard Association!"
It turned out, the two were old acquaintances!
Hee Qi smiled wryly: "You’re just worried I’ll join the Stone Mirror Association, right? I’ve already settled near Moon Rhinoceros Lake and merely came to the Three Thousand Great Mountains to hunt some Demon Beasts, with no intention of getting involved in Yunxi District affairs."
The two exchanged a fist bump.
Only then did Kong Hongxuan say calmly: "Taoist Friend Hee, what’s your connection with him? Why stick up for him?"
Indeed, there was no real connection, merely being neighbors.
But over these days, they had formed a good rapport.
Coincidentally, Hee Qi also had a child at home.
He empathized with Chen Ye and was disgusted by Taoist Zhang.
Moreover, when facing external threats, Chen Ye hadn’t disappointed him...
If he had been cowardly and chosen to abandon his children just to survive.
Hee Qi would never have stepped in, even if it meant breaking his promise.
Recalling all this, Hee Qi heartily laughed:
"Brother Chen and I hit it off right away, why not settle this amicably for my sake?"
Kong Hongxuan gave a mild smile, his lips curling into a grin:
"Taoist Friend Hee jests, the Jade Lizard Association merely wants to invite Taoist Friend Chen to East Valley for a visit."
He brushed off the matter effortlessly, not even mentioning his recent violent act.
Sidelining Chen Ye completely, he amicably wrapped an arm around Hee Qi, smiling warmly:
"I’ve already arranged a banquet at the Cloud Clothing Pavilion, Taoist Friend Hee, you mustn’t decline."
"Consider it done, Brother Chen..."
Hee Qi, feeling apologetic, suddenly turned to look at Chen Ye,
"Isn’t there an old dog yapping in the snow?"
Taoist Zhang was dragging his broken leg, trying to crawl into the snow, but the words made him stiffen completely.
Chen Ye instantly understood, Hee Qi was backing him up, suggesting he should kill Taoist Zhang!
But his spiritual power was already depleted.
He gathered a tiny point of golden light on his fingertips, like a dying candle flickering in the wind.
In the eyes of others, it seemed as if Chen Ye hesitated, fearful to act.
Hee Qi frowned slightly, and seeing this, Kong Hongxuan smiled: "Zhang Hong is, after all, one of Jade Lizard Association’s people..."
Taoist Zhang sighed in relief, "Alive, I am a man of Jade Lizard Association, and dead, I am its ghost!"
However, just as Taoist Zhang let out a sigh,
Caught off guard by the man they had overlooked before, who suddenly drew a rusty Iron Sword from behind.
Years ago, as a youthful spirit, his former self wielded this sword to wander the martial world, seeking justice with passion.
Now, after twenty years, the rusted Iron Sword saw action once more.
Snow crunched underfoot as he ran over.
Taoist Zhang scrambled in terror, Kong Hongxuan’s wrist twitched, but Hee Qi held his shoulder down.
"Bang!"
The skull burst open, the spray of blood painting the snow with a pattern of red plums.
Kong Hongxuan’s face darkened, but the one killed was not only Taoist Zhang, it was a blow to his face!
Chen Ye pressed against his abdominal wound, the hem of his cloak still dripping with blood.
He suddenly felt tasteless in his heart.
There was no sympathy, no cathartic sense of revenge.
Silently, he rummaged through Taoist Zhang’s body for valuables.
Then turned and stepped into the curtain of snow.
"You wouldn’t say that if you had kids to raise, Brother Chen..."
Their conversation grew faint in Chen Ye’s ears as he walked away.
Blood stained the palm pressed against his abdomen.
He suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh.
He was just a useless man from the slums, despised by the likes of Gao Hong and the others.
He had no sympathy for such a useless former self.
Believing it was nothing but an inevitable consequence.
But in truth, how different was he from before in front of Kong Hongxuan?
The previous thought was too laughable—he thought if he proved himself not to be weak, he wouldn’t be crushed.
Yet, in reality...
Being with his disciple peacefully, was nothing but an illusory fantasy.
External threats could appear at any time, tearing this fantasy apart, leaving it bloody!