148: You've brought trouble upon yourself, and now you want to drag us down with you?

"Disciple, being gone for two or three years, you certainly made your Revered Master look hard for you!"

A cold voice came, causing Chu Yuan's heart to tremble slightly.

He was very familiar with this voice!

Wasn't this Shangguan Xinglan, the powerful figure he had wanted to cling to back then?

But, who was she talking to?

Chu Yuan was about to turn around to look, when he saw a fair, jade-like hand rest on his shoulder.

"Disciple, why aren't you speaking?"

The voice rang out right beside his ear, causing Chu Yuan to be slightly stunned.

Was she talking to him?

But when did he become Shangguan Xinglan's disciple? Hadn't he failed to formally acknowledge her as Revered Master yet?

Chu Yuan turned his head to look, his eyes carrying a hint of confusion.

Ye Qingyi and Bai Zhi also turned their heads to look, their delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed, sensing something unusual.

Shangguan Xinglan's expression was calm. Her thin lips slightly parted as she said: "What? You've been out for a few years and now you don't want to acknowledge me as your Revered Master?"

"You didn't happen to lose the Xuantian Sect Ziyan Peak personal disciple token, did you?"

Hearing this, Chu Yuan thought of that token, and his eyes couldn't help but brighten slightly.

So Shangguan Xinglan had wanted to take him as a disciple back then?

However... in the current situation, he was mixed up with a Ghost God and a Yao God. Could he really enter the Xuantian Sect?

If he went in, was he sure he wouldn't be detained and subjected to all kinds of interrogation?

Chu Yuan's mind raced.

He still took out the token, bowed slightly, and smiled, saying: "Revered Master, please don't be angry. I didn't lose it. It's just that after not seeing Revered Master for many years, suddenly seeing you made me a little stunned for a moment."

He decided to acknowledge her; having an extra backer on the Human Race side was a good thing.

As for whether he should go to the Xuantian Sect, that could be decided later.

Shangguan Xinglan nodded slightly, took the token, and casually swiped it. The words 'Chu Yuan' appeared on the back, completely solidifying Chu Yuan's identity.

However, the others did not notice this scene; they only assumed that Shangguan Xinglan had taken the token to check its authenticity.

Shangguan Xinglan handed the token back. "Next, you will follow your Revered Master. When this Secret Realm ends, return to the Sect with your Revered Master!"

Hearing this, Chu Yuan did not immediately agree, but instead looked toward Bai Zhi.

Seeing this, Shangguan Xinglan frowned. "Why are you looking at this Yao God? Didn't you just say that you have an equal contract?"

"Could it be that you are under her control?"

Bai Zhi was about to speak, when she saw a white-haired elder walking over from not far away.

"Peak Master Shangguan, haven't you understood yet? Your disciple is associating with evil Yao, and he is worried about being purged by you!"

The white-haired elder's voice was sharp. "Are you really going to take a person like this back? My Xuantian Sect is not a place for filth and evil."

Bai Zhi and Ye Qingyi both had cold expressions, their lips slightly parted, about to speak.

But Shangguan Xinglan spoke first.

"Peak Master Qin, since when did the matters of my Ziyan Peak become yours to dictate?"

She said coldly, "I am naturally clear whether or not my disciple has any issues. It is not your turn to slander him."

"You..."

Qin Feng glared, about to speak further, when he suddenly felt two cold gazes directed toward him.

He turned his head to look, only to see Bai Zhi and Ye Qingyi both staring coldly at him, the killing intent in their eyes completely undisguised.

His heart chilled. He hurriedly retreated a few steps and said coldly: "What are you trying to do?"

"Trying to do what?" Ye Qingyi's eyes turned cold, and she said in a chilling voice: "This Seat feels frustrated and was just looking for someone to fight. Since you came knocking, then let's have a fight!"

Before her voice fell, she had already launched a fierce attack.

A terrifying fist print appeared, dark Law swirling around it, heading directly toward Qin Feng.

Wherever the fist print passed, the space trembled incessantly.

Qin Feng's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly responded but was still forced back hundreds of meters.

Although they were both at the God Realm Middle Stage, he was actually not Ye Qingyi's opponent?

Seeing Ye Qingyi attack again, Qin Feng's expression changed dramatically, and he shouted toward the distance:

"Fellow Daoists, are you just going to watch as this Seat is bullied by the Ghost Race?"

Hearing this, many Human Race God Realm cultivators curled their lips, silently speechless:

You damn well brought this trouble upon yourself, and now you want to drag us into it?

What are you thinking?

But a few people shifted slightly, intending to step out and speak.

At this moment, Bai Zhi moved slightly, appearing in front of these people.

She smiled meaningfully, "This person has a rather loose mouth. We'll just teach him a lesson, but are you going to interfere as well?"

"If you make a move, I'm afraid the ghost and demon races won't be short of people coming to join the fun."

As soon as she said this, the crowd stopped, glancing at the members of the four races present.

Seeing the eagerness in those people's expressions, they quickly abandoned the idea of stepping forward.

Although they were highly unlikely to die in this Secret Realm, taking a beating was still not worth it.

If it delayed their comprehension of the Legacy stone tablets because of this, the loss would be significant.

Seeing that the crowd remained still, Qin Feng's face grew ugly, but he could only hurriedly and passively receive Ye Qingyi's next attack.

"Shangguan Xing..."

He took a moment to look at Shangguan Xinglan, about to speak, when the corner of his eye caught a figure rushing toward him, causing his expression to change drastically.

"You have a foul mouth, right?"

A cold snort rang out, and a palm print slapped him across the mouth.

"Pfft!"

Qin Feng spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, stunned as he was sent flying hundreds of meters away.

"This is going too far!"

He cursed angrily, only to see Bai Zhi and Ye Qingyi both press forward.

Giving him no chance to react, they grabbed him and proceeded to give him a good beating.

He wasn't even a match for Bai Zhi alone, let alone with Ye Qingyi added in?

Shangguan Xinglan slightly tilted her head and gently raised her hand to cover Chu Yuan's eyes, seemingly telling him not to watch.

"Disciple, what were your thoughts just now? You should at least tell your Revered Master."

Seeing her speak like this, Chu Yuan was slightly surprised. Was this temporary Revered Master so easy to talk to?

He scratched his head and said: "Revered Master, Little Bai was brought out by me from the Xuanhong Secret Realm. When she signed the equal contract with me..."

As he spoke, he recounted the terms of the contract, but added one extra clause:

"[Bai Zhi shall protect Chu Yuan's Dao for one hundred years, and Chu Yuan must provide thirty Grade Six spirit origin pills every month.]"

After speaking, Chu Yuan spread his hands: "Little Bai is currently my Dao Protector, but she is also from the Yao Race, so I am worried..."

He didn't continue, but Shangguan Xinglan understood his meaning.

Worried about what?

A Yao God entering a top Human Race Sect—who wouldn't be worried?

Shangguan Xinglan's lips curled slightly, and she said in a cold voice: "You certainly have good fortune, managing to snatch a Yao God as a Dao Protector just by entering a Secret Realm."

Chu Yuan gave an awkward laugh. This was a fact, and there was no way to refute it.

Shangguan Xinglan collected her emotions and said seriously: "However, you can rest assured about this. Since your Revered Master has taken you as a disciple, I will naturally protect you completely."

"As for this Yao God Bai Zhi, since she is your Dao Protector, your Revered Master will not ask further questions."

"Furthermore, as long as she does not do anything to harm my Xuantian Sect, your Revered Master will not attack, nor will I allow anyone else to harm her in the slightest."

Hearing this, Chu Yuan looked deeply at her, bowed slightly, and expressed his gratitude:

"Thank you, Revered Master!"

"There is no need for formality between us!"

Shangguan Xinglan waved her hand, saying this, and there seemed to be a strange light flickering in the depths of her eyes.

At this moment, a voice of doubt suddenly came from the side.

"Fellow Daoist Shangguan, your disciple is probably full of lies. Do you really believe this?"

Hearing this voice, Shangguan Xinglan frowned slightly and looked at the middle-aged man who had just spoken.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, what is the meaning of your words?"