In the small courtyard, the atmosphere was extrely oppressive. The leaves that fell from the trees seed to be suspended, turning yellow mid-air.
At a small table, Qu Qingfeng and the old man were in a standoff.
With a serene face, Qu Qingfeng asked, "Your rules are quite grand?"
"No smaller than Bai Lu Academy’s," the old man replied.
"If that’s the case, why were you slaughtered to ruin and beca a prisoner back then?" Qu Qingfeng continued.
"Bang..." An invisible storm swept out, striking everyone in the courtyard. Li Fan and Lu Yuan were blown away by the gust, and a breeze caught their bodies, gently placing them on the ground as they continued to slide backward.
The old man’s deep eyes suddenly widened, his abyss-like pupils seed to want to engulf Qu Qingfeng.
"Just bullying juniors like this is rather aningless. I didn’t harm your disciple," Qu Qingfeng spoke calmly, releasing a pressure that opposed the old man’s might.
An air wall seed to form between them, crushing the table and chairs into powder and even causing cracks in the courtyard floor, the tension at its peak.
The old man suddenly laughed, his disheveled long hair wildly flailing. His abyss-like eyes locked onto Qu Qingfeng as he said, "I didn’t expect you to recognize this old man."
"I’m just curious about how you survived, and at what cost?" Qu Qingfeng’s voice remained calm and unagitated.
He couldn’t believe that after rumors were spread about Li Fan by the Imperial Extre Sect, a top-tier Seven Realms cultivator would co just to teach a junior a lesson.
Unless the target was Li Fan himself.
Anything else would just be an excuse.
Rules?
What are rules, if not fists?
Decades ago, the Da Li Dynasty was sowhat different from today. At that ti, there were many major sects within the dynasty that operated independently and did not obey the court’s commands, acting solely based on their whims, unhindered by court edicts.
Though this is commonplace today, it was even more prevalent back then.
During that era, many conflicts erupted between the court and the sects.
The nurous sects across the land were beyond the court’s suppression, so it allied with so and supported those sects willing to follow its commands.
But for the infamous and vile sects, the court was rciless.
"The Fusang Sect was notorious back then, and Sect Master Xue was quite formidable. Later, when the court exterminated the sect, Sect Master Xue beca a prisoner, and the outside world likely forgot about him," Qu Qingfeng observed, addressing the old man. "But now, who does Sect Master Xue serve?"
The old man’s eyes squinted, staring at Qu Qingfeng.
The middle-aged man before him, who looked significantly younger, hid in this small academy yet was knowledgeable about past events, recognizing him. It was truly remarkable.
"New talents continuously erge, surpassing the last," the old man’s expression beca solemn, more serious than before, as he asked, "How did you recognize ?"
Years ago, it was already a different generation’s world.
So of the old ones died in turmoil, others remained hidden away.
But who is this Qu Qingfeng?
How could he recognize him?
"Though this academy is rely a small realm, it possesses its own universe, just like the scrolls that contain the world. Sir, you are not a recluse. With your level of cultivation, it is inevitable soone would know of you," Qu Qingfeng said.
Li Fan stood behind Qu Qingfeng, listening to his words, and suddenly understood.
There’s no such thing as coincidences in this world; behind coincidences lie the inevitable.
This old monster, once a prisoner of the court, now appearing in the outside world, must have struck so sort of deal.
So, did he guess his identity?
Was he rely finding an excuse to take him away?
"Since you know, if I ask for the person, will you give him to ?" Xue Laoguai looked at Qu Qingfeng, his squinted eyes revealing a hint of a smile, a smile that sent chills down one’s spine.
"Since I know, I certainly won’t give him up," Qu Qingfeng replied, "Yang Qingshan is now a student of the academy."
"The academy has many students," Xue Laoguai laughed.
Qu Qingfeng paused, seeing the opponent, realizing he had overestimated human nature.
"It seems you still haven’t learned from your past lesson," Qu Qingfeng retorted.
"Interesting,"
Xue Laoguai smirked at Qu Qingfeng, unsure who Qu Qingfeng was, but given his age, he was evidently a junior, yet daring to threaten him.
Xue Laoguai stood up, casting a glance at Li Fan, his deep pupils seemingly ready to devour Li Fan.
"Young fellow, though you have so talent, being too arrogant is not good," Xue Laoguai mused with a sinister smile before turning to leave, accompanied by Sect Master Xiao Yu and Xiao Qiang.
Before leaving, Xiao Qiang gave Li Fan a glance as well.
Xue Laoguai walked out of the courtyard, stepping across the academy. With each step, the academy quaked, and all its students felt a vast pressure weighing on them, like the pressure of a grand path, leaving them tense and afraid to move.
With every step Xue Laoguai took outside, the entire Bai Lu Academy seed to tremble. Only when he stepped out of Bai Lu Academy did the oppressive feeling lift.
On White Deer Street, people scrambled aside, silent with fear.
Few expected that Xiao Yu, the sect master of the Imperial Extre Sect, would have a ntor, especially one of such monstrous level, who could rampage unchecked in Bai Lu Academy. It showcased his imnse power.
It’s no wonder the Imperial Extre Sect dared such actions.
They had nothing to fear.
"Bang..." Another loud crash echoed, and just as Bai Lu Academy mbers relaxed, it felt as if a foot stomped on their hearts, followed by a voice exploding in their eardrums, "Is this explanation satisfactory to Bai Lu Academy?"
Under the oppressive atmosphere, the academy was silent. Elder Lu’s gaze fixed outside, feeling a suffocating pressure as though the words were addressed directly to him.
"Not very satisfactory."
Qu Qingfeng’s gentle voice dispelled the oppressive feeling as he continued, "Imperial Extre Sect, you should not stand firm in Yun ng City anymore. Disband yourselves."
Xue Laoguai paused at his words, then laughed as he continued, each step causing White Deer Street to tremble violently. Cracks appeared on the street, resonating loudly.
Xue Laoguai stomped fiercely, collapsing the array, mana flowing wildly, but the entire White Deer Street was shattered.
White Deer crumbled.
"Since Bai Lu Academy dares to harm my disciple, if they refuse to hand the person over, don’t bla for returning the courtesy." Xue Laoguai announced loudly, audible to all living on White Deer Street.
This old monster wanted White Deer Street to hand over Yang Qingshan.
Finally, Xue Laoguai departed, removing the oppressive feeling above everyone’s heads. People on White Deer Street and the academy students breathed a sigh of relief, engaging in hushed discussions.
Who was this old monster?
In the courtyard, Qu Qingfeng appeared thoughtful, then turned his gaze to Li Fan, smiling.
"You can still smile," Li Fan ntioned.
"The fact that this old monster is alive and out here likely corroborates our suspicions. The court must be using him," Qu Qingfeng stated, "The court cannot openly intervene, so they send this infamous old monster, not expecting to recognize him."
It’s been decades, quite a long ti.
Li Fan nodded quietly. It seed the court was unwilling to spare him.
However, this ti, the court did not act directly.
Firstly, because of their reputation, and also due to what transpired in Chuzhou City back then, which probably made the court wary of retaliation from Li Mountain, although Li Mountain couldn’t shake the court, the Li Mountain Great Practitioners could attack various prefectures.
"So, you even recognize the old monsters from decades ago. You must know who I am," Li Fan stated. He wasn’t trying to hide anything, thinking Mr. Qu probably guessed it.
"Indeed." Qu Qingfeng nodded, "When you first arrived, I didn’t suspect, but with Xue Laoguai’s appearance, it beca quite clear."
The happenings in Chuzhou City weren’t any secret.
"Just not sure if Xue Laoguai knows," Qu Qingfeng chuckled, "If he does, he should realize even a Seven Realms Great Practitioner can still die."
Ji Xue didn’t understand much of their conversation. What were they discussing?
Who on earth was Li Fan?
Then, Li Fan respectfully bowed toward Qu Qingfeng, saying, "Student Li Fan pays respect to Sir."
Although Qu Qingfeng already knew, Li Fan used his real identity to show respect toward Qu Qingfeng.
"Li Fan?"
Ji Xue hadn’t heard this na before.
It turns out Yang Qingshan was just an alias he used.
But why use a pseudonym?
Was the court after him?
How could soone as young as Li Fan draw the court’s ire?
"Speaking of, there’s sothing I’m quite curious about," Qu Qingfeng smiled at Li Fan and asked, "Li Fan, can you enlighten ? Of course, if it’s inconvenient, there’s no need."
"Please ask, Sir," Li Fan replied.
"That day when the court ascended Li Mountain, what transpired on the peak? Why is the court so fixated on you, a re young man?" Qu Qingfeng inquired.
"Li Mountain..."
Ji Xue was taken aback, glancing at Li Fan, then at Lu Yuan.
How did she not think of this?
Li Fan and Lu Yuan hadn’t sought a ntor because they already had one.
They were Li Mountain Sword Cultivators.
"It’s not exactly a secret," Li Fan began, "That day, Lingxiao Pavilion brought disciples to Li Mountain for a Sword Inquiry. I defeated one of their disciples."
Qu Qingfeng paused, then smiled knowingly.
So that’s how it was.
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