51: The disciple has no objection.

Inside Yingxian Hall, time seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand, freezing in place.

That earth-shattering phrase, "Tianxuan Sect Saint," struck the great hall like a bolt of thunder from the Nine Heavens, blasting everyone's minds into a charred blankness.

One could hear a pin drop.

No, it was as if even the sound of a falling pin had been swallowed by this deathly silence.

Countless gazes converged into a tangible torrent, washing over Qin Feng all at once.

Within those gazes were shock, astonishment, jealousy, scrutiny, and even undisguised greed and murderous intent.

Saint!

This was not merely a title or an identity.

This was the heir apparent of the Tianxuan Sect! The sole candidate for the next Sect Master!

It was supreme authority capable of driving anyone, any faction, to madness!

Qin Feng stood where he was, feeling as if he had been stripped naked and thrown into a frozen wasteland, stared at intensely by the eyes of countless hungry wolves.

He could even feel the auras of several esteemed Peak Revered Masters, usually so dignified, hidden beneath their wide sleeves, now carrying a hint of elusive lock-on intent.

He did not doubt for a moment that if he were to nod now and accept this "pie" that had fallen from the sky...

…then from the moment he walked out of this great hall, the open attacks and hidden arrows, the conspiracies and schemes directed at him, would flow like a tide, endless and unceasing, until they completely submerged him.

What a brilliant move of "killing with praise"!

Qin Feng's heart sank to the bottom of the valley.

He instantly understood the intention of the Sect Master, Bai Luoli.

How was this a reward? This was clearly a death warrant!

She used the empty title of Saint to push him to the forefront, pushing him to the opposite side of everyone!

More importantly, with this status that put him on equal footing with the Peak Revered Masters, she had forcibly severed the "Revered Master-Disciple" relationship between him and his Revered Master—the closest connection he had, and the one that served as his best protective charm!

From now on, Zhao Muxue would no longer be able to protect him in the name of "disciplining a Disciple."

And he, Qin Feng, would face the storms of the entire Sect all alone.

This move—an open scheme—was unsolvable!

He felt his Revered Master's body beside him instantly turn cold and rigid, and her aura nearly spiraling out of control.

He knew his Revered Master had realized it too.

He could not accept it!

This position of Saint was, to him right now, a poison, a sharp sword that would pierce his gut!

Qin Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the raging waves surging in his heart.

He slowly raised his head, meeting the phoenix eyes of Bai Luoli on the main seat, which carried a hint of mockery and playfulness.

Then, he performed an action that once again caused everyone's jaws to drop.

He bowed, making a long obeisance to the ground.

His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"This Disciple dare not accept this heavy responsibility."

As his voice fell.

The entire great hall was like a deep-sea bomb had been dropped into it, instantly exploding into chaos!

"What?!"

"He… he refused again?!"

"He's crazy! This kid must be crazy! First he refused the Sect Master's offer of apprenticeship, and now he's refusing the position of Saint! What exactly does he want to do?"

Countless Elders and Peak Revered Masters looked at Qin Feng as if they were looking at a madman.

They could not understand how, in this world, there could be someone who would, time and again, turn away such heaven-sent wealth and Opportunity?

Zhao Muxue's heart, which had already sunk to the bottom of the valley, trembled violently the moment she heard Qin Feng's words.

She looked at Qin Feng's straight back, blocking the way in front of her, and a complex light flashed in her cold phoenix eyes.

There was gratification, pride, but even more so, an unshakeable ache and worry.

This silly Disciple…

Does he not know what the consequences will be for defying the Sect Master in public again?

On the main seat, the smile on Bai Luoli's face finally faded slowly.

Her fingertips tapped lightly on the armrest, emitting a "tap, tap" sound.

Each tap felt like it was striking everyone's heart.

"Oh?"

Her voice still showed no emotion, yet it carried a trace of genuine, icy chill.

"Dare not accept?"

"Then tell this Seat, why do you dare not accept?"

An invisible pressure, more terrifying than any before, washed over Qin Feng like the overturning of the Heavenly River, instantly enveloping him!

Qin Feng felt his very bones groaning under the unbearable weight of this pressure.

Yet he still held his spine straight, not bending even an inch.

"Reporting to the Sect Master."

His voice, due to the immense pressure he was enduring, sounded somewhat low, but it remained clear and firm.

"This Disciple has only just formed a Golden Core, to become the Saint now would make it difficult to convince the masses."

He made no excuses, simply stating the simplest and most irrefutable fact.

Indeed.

A Golden Core Stage cultivator becoming a Saint?

If this got out, wouldn't it make the Sects of the entire Eastern Wasteland laugh their teeth off?

Is there no one left in the Tianxuan Sect?

Once these words were spoken, many Elders who had been gloating subconsciously nodded, and their gazes toward Qin Feng gained a hint of approval.

This kid, though arrogant, has a clear head.

He knows his own worth.

Bai Luoli watched him without speaking.

Those phoenix eyes became increasingly profound, as if they wanted to see through his Soul completely.

She wanted to see what kind of "surprise" this man could bring her next.

Braving the pressure that could crush a Divine Soul, Qin Feng spoke again, slowly.

His voice, enunciated word by word, clearly resonated throughout the entire Yingxian Hall.

"This Disciple's cultivation is still shallow; without cultivation above the Nascent Soul stage, how can I take on such a heavy responsibility?"

Boom!

This sentence had more impact than all his previous remarks!

What did he say?

Only with Nascent Soul cultivation can one take on a heavy responsibility?

Is he… setting conditions for himself?!

Not only did he refuse the position of Saint, he was now, in turn, bargaining with the Sect Master?!

In the entire great hall, everyone's eyeballs were about to pop out of their sockets!

They looked at Qin Feng as if they were looking at a reckless demon that had crawled out of Hell!

Mad!

Too mad!

This was no longer just arrogance! This was courting death! This was a naked challenge to the Sect Master's bottom line!

Zhao Muxue's pretty face was devoid of all color.

Her body was trembling uncontrollably.

She wanted to speak, to plead for Qin Feng.

But under the Sect Master's terrifying pressure, she couldn't even utter a single word!

It's over.

This time, it's truly over.

This Rebellious Disciple has forced himself into a complete dead end!

The entire Yingxian Hall fell into a suffocating silence.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for the impending thunderous rage of the Sect Master!

However…

The anticipated rage did not descend.

The terrifying pressure that had been shrouding Qin Feng also quietly receded like a tide.

"Hoo…"

On the main seat, Bai Luoli slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air.

She looked at the man below, who, under her pressure, still held his spine straight, his eyes showing not a shred of fear.

In those cold phoenix eyes, the trace of profound chill was gradually replaced by a richer, playful smile filled with appreciation.

"You don't want this, you don't want that."

Her voice carried a hint of helplessness, a hint of indulgence, and a hint of… pampering.

"Qin Feng!"

"What exactly do you want?"

"Am I too indulgent with you!"

These words sounded like a reprimand.

But the tone, no matter how one listened, sounded like… flirting?

Inside the great hall, all the Elders and Peak Revered Masters felt their worldviews completely shattered.

And Qin Feng, the moment he heard these words, the boulder hanging in his heart finally landed.

"This Disciple's cultivation is still shallow; without cultivation above the Nascent Soul stage, how can I take on such a heavy responsibility?"

He repeated his condition once more.

This time, his voice was full of confidence.

"Hoo…"

Bai Luoli looked at him, her phoenix eyes shimmering with brilliant light.

After a long while, she slowly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of a smile as if she had been completely won over.

"Very well, Qin Feng."

"When you reach the Nascent Soul stage, you may take on the role of Saint."

She looked at him and asked, word by word:

"Do you have any objections?"

Qin Feng bowed again, making a long obeisance to the ground.

"This Disciple has no objections."

"Good!"

On Bai Luoli's face, a brilliant smile bloomed, one capable of making the heavens and earth lose their color.