Chapter 47: Scorn Fang Qingxue, Murder Openly, and If You Keep Talking I

After leaving the Inner Immortal Courtyard, Chen Zheng went straight back to his small courtyard in the Reclining Immortal Courtyard.

Time flew by, and three days passed in the blink of an eye.

During those three days he went nowhere, staying inside his room to read about the myriad worlds and broaden his knowledge.

He also cultivated by taking pills.

The more than five thousand Nascent Soul Pills and over ten thousand White Yang Pills he looted from a Taiyi Gate disciple were all consumed by him.

His strength increased considerably; relying on his mortal body alone, he could now contend with divine-power cultivators.

At dawn, the morning sun rose.

Chen Zheng used the Pure Garment Talisman and the True Water Talisman to wash up, then headed out of his room.

The time for the inner gate assessment was approaching, and he needed to go to the Sky Courtyard.

As the name suggests, the Sky Courtyard is an institution of the Feather Ascension Gate that oversees outer-space realms.

The Feather Ascension Gate's sphere of influence extends far beyond the Great Li Dynasty, the Great Virtue Dynasty and other nations on the Xuanhuang Great World.

It reaches into outer space, covering countless stars.

Likewise, other major forces such as the nine Immortal Paths, the seven Demonic Path veins, and the five Beast Path sects also control various outer-space stars or strange worlds for disciple trials.

Among them, the Taiyi Gate is the greatest; its reach is even broader, far surpassing all major forces, commanding innumerable outer-space stars and strange worlds, and possessing vast precious resources that other sects lack.

For this reason, Taiyi Gate disciples are ten to a hundred times richer than disciples of other sects.

…

At the same time.

Just as Chen Zheng was preparing to head to the Sky Courtyard, a group of uninvited guests entered the Reclining Immortal Courtyard and marched straight toward the direction of his courtyard.

They were several young men and women, exuding great aura as they walked; every outer-door disciple on the street either fled in terror or stood by the roadside to bow respectfully, calling out "Senior Brother Yuan."

If Chen Zheng were there, he could at a glance spot a familiar face among the youths.

It was none other than Xiao Shi, the one he had beaten on the back of the Gale Divine Eagle long ago and had not seen since.

But now Xiao Shi no longer bears the fear and embarrassment of that day when Chen Zheng slapped him; instead he is full of vigor, regaining his former proud demeanor.

Xiao Shi stayed close behind a cold, stern man dressed in a teal Daoist robe, tall as a spear, his eyes sharp as swords.

The other youths did the same, flanking the cold man on both sides.

It was like ministers surrounding an emperor.

The cold man's status was evidently very high.

"Senior Brother Yuan, I have investigated and found that Chen Zheng lives in the courtyard ahead. But he must not be underestimated; back then I was Rou Shen Di Shi Chong, yet I had no resistance against him."

"Moreover, I learned that he was recommended into the sect by Senior Sister Fang Qingxue of Purple Lightning Peak; Senior Brother Yuan, do not take him lightly later."

The group halted at a crossroads.

Xiao Shi bowed and pointed the way for the leading cold man, while also highlighting Chen Zheng's unusual nature.

The humiliation of being harshly slapped by Chen Zheng last time remains fresh in his memory, almost becoming a psychological scar.

It also caused him to harbor an instinctive fear of Chen Zheng.

"Hmm."

The cold man, known as Senior Brother Yuan, gave a slight nod and calmly said, "Junior Brother Xiao, now that you have joined my 'Heaven Capital Society' and are under Brother Hua's command, anyone who bullies you I will help you settle the score. Even Fang Qingxue is no exception. When necessary, I will personally ascend Purple Lightning Peak to have her properly discipline her subordinates, lest some people misuse her name to wield power within the sect."

"Indeed, Senior Brother Yuan is ranked tenth on the Mountains and Rivers List, his cultivation shakes the heavens, his status comparable to a true disciple, and he is about to be promoted to true disciple; being Brother Hua's man, why fear Fang Qingxue?"

"Junior Brother Xiao, just keep your heart in your belly; with Senior Brother Yuan leading personally, even if Chen Zheng were ten thousand times stronger, he would have to kneel before you and confess, leaving himself at your disposal."

The other youths all wore relaxed smiles, showering Senior Brother Yuan with flattery, paying no heed to Fang Qingxue or Chen Zheng.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yuan, for standing up for me, and thanks to all the senior brothers and sisters."

Hearing Senior Brother Yuan and the others, Xiao Shi felt greatly reassured and repeatedly thanked Senior Brother Yuan.

"Chen Zheng, your good days are over!"

Immediately he recalled the scene of Chen Zheng humiliating him that day, and a lingering venom of resentment surfaced in his eyes.

In an instant, that resentment turned into exhilaration.

He seemed to picture Chen Zheng kneeling before him, pleading desperately, only to be beaten repeatedly into wailing—a wonderfully humiliating vision.

Moreover, he had confirmed that today was the day Chen Zheng would go to the Sky Courtyard for the inner gate assessment.

The reason he chose this moment to invite Senior Brother Yuan and others to act on his behalf was a carefully crafted plan.

His purpose was to sabotage Chen Zheng's assessment.

Imagine, if Chen Zheng were severely injured by him, he would be unable to attend the assessment at the Sky Courtyard.

Chen Zheng's promotion to inner-door disciple would naturally fall through.

Xiao Shi's scheming was undeniably vicious.

Soon, Senior Brother Yuan and the others followed the route Xiao Shi indicated, crossed a crossroads, and arrived before Chen Zheng's courtyard gate.

"Chen Zheng, get out, ah…"

A cold smile spread across Xiao Shi's face as he stepped forward and kicked at the courtyard gate.

Creak!

Suddenly, the gate was opened inward by someone, causing Xiao Shi's kick to hit empty air.

Due to the massive inertia, Xiao Shi slipped and landed in a wide split.

His crotch seam tore.

The person who opened the gate was, of course, Chen Zheng, who was heading to the Sky Courtyard.

"Hm?"

He glanced at Xiao Shi's split on the ground, then looked at Senior Brother Yuan and the others standing with arms crossed at the doorway, his brows furrowing.

The visitor is hostile!

He instantly understood what was happening.

It was nothing more than that Xiao Shi, the little scrawny brat, found a patron after entering the sect and came to take revenge on him.

He hadn't gone to look for that person yet, but the person, on the contrary, took the initiative and came to his door.

"You are the one who bullied Junior Brother Xiao, Chen Zheng?"

Senior Brother Yuan's gaze fell on Chen Zheng, and he spoke lightly, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Chen Zheng, however, gave no reply.

He also did not look back at Senior Brother Yuan.

He merely squinted at Xiao Shi, who had just scrambled up from the ground, his trousers in disarray.

He wondered whether he should violate the sect rule and kill that little scrawny brat Xiao Shi.

To prevent the guy from leaping about.

Yet Xiao Shi, seeing Chen Zheng remain silent, was instead stared at with a cold, eerie gaze, and the terrifying memories of the past instantly rose in his mind, causing him to step back in fright.

In an instant he steadied himself again, feeling ashamed of his subconscious retreat.

He had Senior Brother Yuan backing him; why should he be afraid?

The one who should be afraid is Chen Zheng!

Times have changed.

He is a cat, while Chen Zheng is a stinking rat in a ditch!

One thought to the extreme, Xiao Shi's heart surged with boundless courage; he raised his hand and pointed at Chen Zheng's nose, bellowing: "Senior Brother Yuan asks a question; do you dare ignore it? Kneel quickly and honestly confess how you oppressed me, or Senior Brother Yuan's thunderous fury will bring unimaginable consequences!"

As soon as those words were spoken, the gazes of several other young men and women toward Chen Zheng turned hostile, and they all prepared to echo Xiao Shi's words.

Chen Zheng's oppression of Xiao Shi was one thing, but now daring to ignore Senior Brother Yuan's question is truly arrogant.

*Swish! *

Yet at that moment, Chen Zheng's eyes suddenly turned cold; with a flick of his finger, his fingernails rang like clashing metal, and from his fingertip shot a straight, sword‑like sharp qi stream that pierced the void and surged straight toward Xiao Shi's face.

"Stop!"

"No!"

Senior Brother Yuan's roar, a mix of shock and anger, rang out together with Xiao Shi's terrified scream.

In the next instant, the qi stream entered through Xiao Shi's brow and flowed inward. "I…"

Xiao Shi's expression froze instantly, his pupils dilated, his eyes filled with disbelief, as if he never expected Chen Zheng to suddenly strike him down.

His father was a divine practitioner, his mother a True Disciple of the Luminous Fortune Land, and he had a bright future—how could Chen Zheng kill him like this?

How could this be…

As the final thought of his life flashed, Xiao Shi fell straight to the ground.

He died.

"Wh… what?"

The several young men and women, also stunned by Xiao Shi's collapse, found their minds blank.

They had followed Senior Brother Yuan here to stand up for Xiao Shi, merely to punish Chen Zheng, never intending to take his life.

Because, although the senior members of the sect do not forbid disciples from fighting each other, they strictly prohibit killing.

Otherwise it would be a contempt of the sect rule!

At the lightest, one would be stripped of martial arts by an Elder and thrown into a cell; at the gravest, executed publicly as a warning.

This novel…

Except for True Disciples who wield the power of life and death, no one has ever dared openly violate the killing prohibition of the sect rule.

But now, Chen Zheng killed Xiao Shi without a word.

How dare he?

Where does the sect rule stand?

"Chen Zheng, are you mad?!"

After a few stunned breaths, Senior Brother Yuan was the first to regain his senses, glaring at Chen Zheng with an angry roar, his tone still full of disbelief and dread.

Chen Zheng's earlier swift strike was so rapid that even he could not intervene, and could only watch helplessly as Xiao Shi was killed.

This person… is likely stronger than him.

"Noisy."

Chen Zheng cast a cold gaze at Senior Brother Yuan, speaking each word deliberately: "If you dare speak out again, the next one I cut down will be you!"

"..."

Senior Brother Yuan opened his mouth to argue, but when he met Chen Zheng's abyss‑like pupils, a chill rose through his whole body, and he was forced to shut his mouth.

"A bunch of scum not even worth a dog, yet you dare to stand up for someone? Get lost!"

Chen Zheng flicked his sleeve, generating a fierce gale that blasted Senior Brother Yuan and the others away.

The silver flying sword on Senior Brother Yuan's body, along with his emerald spirit‑cloaked garment, fell into Chen Zheng's hand with the swing.

After completing all this, Chen Zheng casually closed the courtyard gate, mounted the flying sword, and rode away.

"Hoo…"

Senior Brother Yuan and the others struggled to stand from the ground, their bodies drenched in cold sweat, gasping heavily.

That scene just now was too terrifying.

When they faced Chen Zheng, they actually felt as if they were confronting a True Disciple.

"Senior Brother Yuan… what do we do?"

The several young men and women, still trembling, glanced at each other for a moment, then all looked at the bare Senior Brother Yuan.

"This man stole my Silver Snake Sword and golden brocade robe, and openly murdered Junior Brother Xiao; the sect rule can no longer tolerate him, his death is inevitable! Come, let's go find True Disciple Cang Baizi Senior Brother to uphold justice!"

The Sky Courtyard lies deep within Feather Ascension City, shrouded by a thin mist; sunlight streams down from the firmament, refracting the mist into multicolored rainbows, exceedingly beautiful.

Chen Zheng did not admire the beautiful scenery, and landed directly at the entrance of the Sky Courtyard, walking inside.

Before long, he arrived inside a grand hall at the deepest part of the Sky Courtyard.

In the center of the hall stood a massive ancient stone gate, with several elders stationed at its entrance.

The ancient stone gate swung open, and a vast, star‑sky‑like aura surged out, filling the entire hall.

However, the interior of the stone gate was a void of nothingness, making it impossible to discern what lay within.

In front of the stone gate, many people queued, each holding a jade token; after several elders inspected them without issue, they entered the gate one by one and vanished.

It was clear that those in line were outer‑sect disciples qualified for the inner‑sect assessment.

And that stone gate was the entrance to the Demon Battlefield.

Once inside, one could travel to outer space, much like a teleportation array.

Such teleportation gates exist in every sect and faction.

Like the Taiyi Sect and Wan Gui Immortal Island disciples Chen Zheng encountered in the underground world, the major sect disciples generally arrived via teleportation gates,

otherwise, given their foot speed and flight speed, they could not reach the underground of the Great Virtue Dynasty in such a short time.

"Hmm, Chen Zheng, you may go in. As long as you stay in the Demon Battlefield for ten days and ten nights, endure the demon onslaught without dying, you will emerge as an inner‑sect disciple."

It wasn't long before Chen Zheng's turn came.

He produced the token he had obtained three days earlier at the Inner Immortal Courtyard, which bore his basic information; after a elder examined it, he was cleared and stepped into the stone gate.

"Chen Zheng, you're bold!"

Shortly after Chen Zheng entered the teleportation gate, a resounding bell‑like voice boomed across the Sky Courtyard, shaking all directions.

Then, the eyes of those in the hall widened as a young man in his twenties, with a resolute face, clad in a blue robe and an outstanding aura, appeared on the spot.

Behind the youth stood several people, namely Senior Brother Yuan and others who had previously troubled Chen Zheng.

"We pay our respects, Senior Brother Cang Baizi!"

The crowd bowed to the youth one after another, including the elders at the stone gate, all showing reverent awe.

Cang Baizi ignored the crowd, looked around, and coldly asked, "Where is outer sect disciple Chen Zheng?"

"Chen Zheng? He has already entered the Demon Battlefield," the elder who had inspected Chen Zheng's token replied respectfully.

"Oh? This fellow is indeed fast."

Cang Baizi raised an eyebrow, then shook his head with a cold snort, "You think you can escape death that way?"

Speaking, he walked toward the teleportation gate.

The four elders at the gate tried to block him, but were repelled by his gaze.

The elders were merely Physical Body Realm Warriors tasked with guarding the teleportation gate; their status could not compare with that of true disciple Cang Baizi.

"Stop right there!"

Just as Cang Baizi was about to enter the teleportation gate, a strong, resonant voice suddenly rang out.

Then, from the direction of the hall's entrance, a stern‑looking elder in a gray robe swooped in, landing instantly before Cang Baizi and blocking his path.

The elder's expression was solemn as he fixed his gaze on Cang Baizi: "Except for outer sect disciples participating in the inner sect assessment, no one may enter the Demon Battlefield."

Cang Baizi's face changed slightly as he explained, "Zhou Thus we have Title: Elder, Chen Zheng has already become demonic, unjustly killed Xiao Shi, and forcibly seized the Original Sword Void Treasure. I entered the Demon Battlefield to capture this demon and, according to sect rules, execute him immediately."

"What? That Chen Zheng is utterly lawless, daring to murder openly?"

"Moreover, what strength does Chen Zheng possess, being able to snatch Senior Brother Yuan's treasure? Senior Brother Yuan ranks tenth on the Mountains and Rivers List…"

Many disciples who had not yet entered the teleportation gate were shocked and whispered among themselves.

"Such a thing exists?" the gray‑robed elder surnamed Zhou was also quite surprised.

He paused briefly, then still shook his head: "Chen Zheng's crimes will be dealt with by the law‑enforcing elders; it has nothing to do with you, Cang Baizi, trespassing the Demon Battlefield. Step back."

"You…"

Cang Baizi's complexion darkened.

This Elder Zhou lacked flexibility; he was literally a blockhead.

However, he was rather wary of Elder Zhou and dared not force his way in; he stepped back a pace and said, "Then I will wait here for Chen Zheng to emerge from the Demon Battlefield, and then eliminate him. By then, Zhou Thus we have Title: Elder, you will no longer object, right?"

Zhou Thus we have Title: Elder shook his head: "You are a true disciple, vested with the authority over life and death, appointed by the sect head; I will not interfere."

Thanks to user 20240729231820662 for the gift of five hundred starting‑point coins!

(End of chapter)