54: Su Qingyue's suitors

Inner Sect, Merit Hall.

This is a place where all Inner Sect Disciples must visit once a month. Receiving monthly provisions, as well as posting and accepting Sect missions, all take place here.

When Lin Ye arrived unhurriedly, the magnificent hall was already bustling with people.

Hundreds of Inner Sect Disciples gathered in small groups, forming distinct cliques. Each person exuded an aura far stronger and more refined than that of Outer Sect Disciples.

Lin Ye's appearance did not attract much attention.

He was currently operating the Breath Concealment Art at Minor Achievement, perfectly concealing his formidable Qi and blood power, which was as vast as a mountain. From his appearance, he was still that inconspicuous Body Cultivator with a weak body and only at Qi Refining Stage One.

He silently queued at the end of the line for resources.

However, just then, a suppressed commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the hall.

Everyone's gaze subconsciously turned towards the entrance.

A figure in snow-white robes, escorted by several female Disciples, slowly walked in.

It was Su Qingyue.

Her appearance seemed to quiet the entire noisy hall. Her aloof and ethereal demeanor, and her beautiful face that could eclipse the heavens, caused all the male Disciples present to subconsciously show admiration and adoration in their eyes.

Su Qingyue seemed oblivious to the burning gazes around her. Her cold eyes simply swept around calmly, as if searching for something.

Finally, her gaze imperceptibly paused for half a breath on the slender figure at the end of the line.

Immediately, she withdrew her gaze and walked directly to another window, which required no queuing and was specially prepared for Core Disciples.

Just this half-breath of observation was enough to make those with discerning minds let their imaginations run wild.

"Hey, did you guys see that? Senior Sister Su just now... wasn't she looking at that new Body Cultivator?"

"It seems so... No way? How could someone like Senior Sister Su pay attention to that kind of person?"

However, these whispers clearly reached the ears of someone who shouldn't have heard them.

Not far in front of Lin Ye, a young man as burly as an iron tower, exuding an explosive aura, suddenly turned his head!

Around twenty-three or twenty-four years old, with sword-like eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, a straight nose and a square mouth, he had a rather heroic appearance, but a stubborn and overbearing arrogance lingered between his brows!

He was Han Meng!

His comprehensive strength ranked ninth among Inner Sect Disciples!

At the same time, he was also one of Su Qingyue's most fervent and high-profile suitors!

His sharp, hawk-like gaze instantly locked onto Lin Ye at the end of the line, and an undisguised hostility and scrutiny flashed in his eyes!

He strode out of the line and, under the awed gazes of the Disciples, walked directly to Lin Ye!

A powerful and oppressive aura, belonging to a strong individual, descended upon Lin Ye like a mountain!

"You, are you that... Lin Ye who climbed up from the Outer Sect?"

Han Meng looked down at Lin Ye from above, his voice deep like thunder, every word carrying an undeniable tone of questioning.

Lin Ye's heart tightened, but his face remained as calm as an ancient well. He looked up and replied neither subserviently nor arrogantly: "Disciple Lin Ye greets Senior Brother."

"Hmph! You do have some guts."

Han Meng sneered. He slowly walked around Lin Ye, his scrutinizing gaze like he was examining an item. "I heard that you were quite impressive in the Outer Sect. Not only did you make a name for yourself in the Minor Competition, but you also used your sharp tongue to bring down Liu Feng of the Inner Sect, stepping on others' corpses to ascend to prominence in one go?"

"In my life, what I despise most is someone like you, who only hides behind others and plays dirty tricks... a sniveling tattletale!"

His words were neither too loud nor too soft, but clear enough for the entire hall to hear!

In an instant, everyone's gaze focused on this small corner, their faces showing expressions of anticipating a good show.

"Disciple... wouldn't dare."

A hint of 'panic' appropriately appeared on Lin Ye's face. He lowered his head, avoiding Han Meng's aggressive gaze.

"Wouldn't dare?" A cruel arc formed at the corner of Han Meng's mouth. "I think you dare a lot!"

He suddenly took a step closer, his tall figure almost completely engulfing Lin Ye. He lowered his voice and, in a tone full of warning and killing intent, said word by word:

"Kid, I don't care what shady methods you used in the Outer Sect."

"But you remember this! This is the Inner Sect!"

"Senior Sister Su is not someone you, a rat from the gutter, can casually covet!"

"Next time, if I ever find out you dare to look at Senior Sister Su again with those filthy eyes..."

He extended his fist, as big as a sandbag, and gently shook it in front of Lin Ye's eyes.

"I will personally, inch by inch, crush this turtle shell you're so proud of, along with your bones... all of it!"

After speaking, he no longer looked at Lin Ye. Like a display of power, he turned and swaggered away under the awed gazes of the Disciples.

It wasn't until his burly, iron-tower-like figure completely disappeared from the hall's entrance that the suffocating oppressive feeling that had enveloped everyone's hearts slowly dissipated.

"Hoo..."

A series of uncontrollable sighs of relief echoed throughout the hall.

Immediately, everyone's gazes, as if by prior agreement, simultaneously focused on the slender figure still quietly standing at the end of the line.

But this time, there was no longer the previous curiosity and anticipation of a good show. Instead, there was an undisguised sympathy, full of pity and schadenfreude.

This 'Body Cultivator Genius' who climbed up from the Outer Sect hadn't even had time to establish himself in the Inner Sect, and on his first day, he had already offended one of the most unoffendable scourges of the Inner Sect!

"Alas, what a pitiful fellow, how did he end up being targeted by Senior Brother Han Meng?"

"Isn't that the truth? Who in the entire Inner Sect doesn't know about Senior Brother Han Meng's pursuit of Senior Sister Su? It's said that any male Disciple who dares to approach Senior Sister Su within three feet will not end well! This kid just had to walk into the firing line; isn't that seeking death?"

"I think, his Inner Sect Disciple status probably won't last for many days. Having offended Senior Brother Han Meng, he'll have plenty of trouble coming his way in the future!"

All sorts of whispers, like a tide, surged from all directions. Although these voices were deliberately lowered, they were just loud enough for Lin Ye, at the center of the vortex, to hear clearly.

However, facing all of this, Lin Ye's face remained as calm as an ancient well.

His dark eyes showed no fluctuation whatsoever. It was as if the conflict that had just occurred, which could determine his future destiny, was nothing more than an insignificant breeze passing by his ears.

Ignoring the strange gazes around him, he simply followed the queue silently, moving forward little by little.