You dare to compare your connections with mine?

"Revered Master! Save me!!"

As those words left his mouth, Chu Fan felt nothing but humiliation.

But he knew all too well that if he didn't speak up, his end would only be more miserable.

Su Ming, who was approaching Chu Fan, also stopped in his tracks upon hearing this.

He really hadn't expected Chu Fan to be so scared by him that he would resort to calling for his elders.

"Chu Fan, haven't you been weaned yet?" Su Ming mocked directly.

"Su Ming, don't get cocky! Once my Revered Master arrives, let's see how you'll continue to be so insolent!" Chu Fan shot back.

It was just that these words sounded so ridiculous.

What kind of competition between peers ends up involving the older generation?

And are you sure you want to compare backings with me, Su Ming?

"Who dares to harm my Disciple?!"

A roar erupted from Qingyang Peak, and then the voice, wrapped in a wild gale, appeared before Su Ming.

The man before him, who appeared to be in his prime, was Chu Fan's Revered Master, Ye Nantian.

In the original novel, this guy was extremely protective of his own, even sacrificing his fourth-level Star Realm cultivation for Chu Fan's sake.

"Xiao Fan?! What a vicious little brat! You're both from the same Sect, yet you'd strike such a blow!" After confirming Chu Fan's injuries, Ye Nantian immediately took out Spirit Medicine to stabilize him, then glared at Su Ming. "Rest assured, your Revered Master will definitely vent this grievance for you!"

Watching the man stare at him with wide, angry eyes, Su Ming admitted he felt a bit of envy.

In his previous life on Earth, he was just an orphan who drifted from place to place, never experiencing what a home was.

In this life, although he had parents, it was still unknown if he would ever meet them.

"Don't think you can be arrogant and overbearing just because of your noble status! If not for the Three Saints Sect taking you in, you'd be nothing more than an abandoned orphan!"

"What did you say?" Su Ming frowned displeasurably.

"What? Did I touch a sore spot? If you weren't abandoned by your parents, why haven't they visited you once in the dozen or so years you've been in the Three Saints Sect?"

"It's fine. The manners your parents failed to teach you, I'll teach you today!"

As Ye Nantian spoke, he raised his large hand, intending to seize Su Ming.

"If your filthy hand dares to touch even a hair on the Young Lord, I will slice off your fingers one by one!"

Uncle Meng appeared in front of Su Ming, releasing his full pressure.

Sensing Uncle Meng's Realm, Ye Nantian withdrew his hand with a grim expression, a bead of cold sweat sliding down his forehead.

The person before him was at the Peak Star Realm! The same Realm as the strongest expert in the Three Saints Sect!

After forcing Ye Nantian back, Uncle Meng quickly turned to look at Su Ming. "Young Lord, this old servant has arrived late."

"So you have a backer behind you; no wonder you dare to be so arrogant." Ye Nantian's tongue remained sharp, yet he silently stood in front of Chu Fan and Chu Yiyi.

"A fellow like you with a mouth full of filth is fit to teach Disciples? Today, I must pull out your tongue!" Uncle Meng looked at Ye Nantian, seemingly ready to strike at any moment.

Just as the two sides were at daggers drawn, Li Jianping suddenly appeared. "Private fighting is not allowed within the Three Saints Sect! What do you take the Sect rules for?!"

"The Three Saints Sect has stood for many years because the entire Sect is united as one! You simply have no respect for me or the Sect. Stop this instant!"

Looking at Li Jianping, Su Ming sneered inwardly. The man had clearly been watching from the sidelines for a long time; otherwise, how could he have appeared at such a perfect moment?

Upholding Sect rules? No, he just wanted to protect Ye Nantian and the others.

It was only because Su Ming's side held the advantage; if they were at a disadvantage, the man would have definitely sat by and watched.

He didn't show up before, but now he appears under the banner of upholding Sect rules? Too late!

Thus, Su Ming spoke up: "Since the Sect Master wants to uphold the Sect rules, I would like to ask, what is the punishment for attempting to embezzle the three saints golden lotus?"

Li Jianping frowned, sensing something was amiss, but still responded: "Those who attempt to embezzle the three saints golden lotus shall have their Qi Sea destroyed and be expelled from the Sect."

"Good. I am now reporting the Qingyang Peak Disciples Chu Fan and Chu Yiyi for attempting to embezzle my three saints golden lotus. I ask the Sect Master to act impartially according to the Sect rules."

"You fatherless, motherless cast-off! How dare you slander my Disciples?!"

Seeing that Ye Nantian was about to lose his temper upon hearing this, Li Jianping shot him a glare and then looked at Su Ming.

"Su Ming, everything requires evidence. Otherwise, even with your special status, my Three Saints Sect will not allow you to distort the truth!"

"The evidence is right here." As Su Ming spoke, a small crystal appeared in his hand.

Everyone present recognized what it was—a recording stone.

As Spiritual Power was infused into it, the recording stone began to play its contents.

It recorded exactly the scene from earlier where Chu Fan provoked Su Ming and took the initiative to attack.

"Sect Master, I have given you the evidence you wanted. Chu Fan took the initiative to provoke and attack first. Hurry up and take action. If you can't bear to do it, I can do it for you."

"Uncle Meng, if you please."

Su Ming knew he couldn't give the other party time to think; otherwise, there would be room for them to stall and maneuver.

"Your Disciple proactively provoked and attacked my Young Lord. I think he's tired of living!"

Uncle Meng directly struck out with a palm toward Chu Fan's direction. Seeing this, Li Jianping hurriedly moved to neutralize the strike.

After the exchange, the two separated. Li Jianping looked at Uncle Meng with a solemn expression.

Both were at the Peak Star Realm, but the opponent's strength was a notch higher than his own.

He only knew that Su Ming had a Guardian by his side, but he hadn't expected the man to possess such strength.

Su Ming narrowed his eyes at Li Jianping. "Sect Master, do you not intend to give me an explanation?"

"I believe this was merely a dispute between fellow disciples; it hasn't reached the level of attempting to embezzle a Sect treasure." Clearly, Li Jianping intended to shield them to the end.

"Is that so? Then we shall treat it as a dispute between fellow Disciples. According to the Sect precepts, he should be sent to Yan Yu Cliff for three months, right?"

"The Sect Master cares so much about the Sect rules, surely he wouldn't practice favoritism?"

Yan Yu Cliff was a place in the Three Saints Sect specifically for punishing Disciples.

Not only was the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi thin there, but Poisonous Fires constantly erupted. Let alone a Transcendent Realm Cultivator, even a Longevity Realm Cultivator would lose half their life after being confined there for three months!

This was originally the place Li Jianping had used to threaten Su Ming, saying he would lock him up there. Now, the person being locked up had become Chu Fan.

Behind them, Chu Fan's face instantly turned pale upon hearing this.

With his current Realm, what was the difference between being locked in Yan Yu Cliff for three months and being dead?

Not to mention, this would cause him to miss the Sect Grand Competition.

Ye Nantian was about to explode, but he was suppressed by Li Jianping.

"I understand. This matter will be handled as you say."

He could see that Su Ming had come prepared. If he continued to argue, the discussion would shift back to the embezzlement of the three saints golden lotus.

It was better to retreat to advance and go along with his wish. He could still manipulate things from behind the scenes to ensure Chu Fan remained safe.

Little did he know that Li Jianping's move of retreating to advance played right into Su Ming's hands.

He never expected to actually pin the crime of embezzling the three saints golden lotus on Chu Fan's head.

Today, he was going to personally send this protagonist of destiny into Yan Yu Cliff to taste the flavor of Poisonous Fire!

"Uncle Meng, sorry to trouble you. Please take these two to Yan Yu Cliff."

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of Li Jianping and Ye Nantian changed.

If Uncle Meng was the one to take them, they would have no room to manipulate the situation.

But the words had already been spoken; they had no grounds to stop him.

"Young Lord, I am worried that after I leave, these two might have ill intentions toward you..."

"No matter. I have the Treasure Artifacts gifted by my parents. If they dare to make a move, then this Three Saints Sect and this Qianyuan Continent might as well become history!"

Come, let's see whose backing is harder!