101: Chapter 101

As the words fell, the seven accompanying Golden Core Cultivators slowly spread out, moving in a fan-shaped formation to gradually block the escape route of the Man in White Robes.

Yellow sand filled the air as killing intent spread.

"If not, then don't blame this old man for treating you Juniors to—" Before the Fifth Elder could finish his threat, his expression froze on his face.

Chen Xuan did not move, his gaze calmly scanning the surroundings. The Qi around him suddenly surged, and a deathly majesty instantly unfolded.

“Bang!”

A dull thud erupted; it wasn't like a clap of thunder, yet it was more soul-shaking than any thunder could be!

The seven Golden Core Cultivators surrounding Chen Xuan didn't even have time to let out a scream before their bodies exploded simultaneously! A crimson blood mist rose into the sky, mixing with the yellow sand as it scattered.

A thick scent of blood permeated the air.

With a “thud,” a Cultivator watching from afar felt his legs go weak, so terrified by the scene that he collapsed onto the ground.

Others stared with wide eyes, completely speechless.

“Just who is this Man in White Robes? To dare take the initiative against the Medicine Pavilion... and not only that, but to be so decisive and ruthless, leaving no room for negotiation.”

“Tsk, tsk... unless this kid is the Pavilion Master of Tianji Pavilion's illegitimate son, I really can't imagine how he's going to survive.”

“Good heavens... let them fight. It's best if they both end up wounded so I can fish in troubled waters. I hope this Junior has some skill; those Medicine Pavilion Cultivators are all filthy rich.”

“Good, such audacity! To dare kill someone right in front of me—boy, how do you want to die?”

Even though seven Golden Core Cultivators had been instantly suppressed and killed, the Fifth Elder didn't care much; he could have done the same with a wave of his hand.

Before he finished speaking, the Spiritual Qi around him suddenly became violent!

His hands formed seals as fast as lightning, and a fiery tiger several zhang tall condensed behind him. Its claws stepped forward, sending red ripples through the air, before it pounced toward the man with a momentum that could burn mountains and boil seas.

Chen Xuan slowly raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together into a sword gesture, and lightly slashed at the fiery tiger.

A faint, almost invisible white Sword Qi lit up. There were no world-shaking phenomena, no deafening roars—only a casual sword mark etched between heaven and earth, slicing through the pouncing giant tiger like a knife through tofu.

“Pfft—”

Where the Sword Qi passed, the giant fire tiger shattered, turning into a shower of sparks that fell like rain.

The man with the goatee had his neck severed by a single sword strike. With a “thud,” the Fifth Elder, renowned in the Central Region, fell from his chariot.

His head rolled off to the side!

Hiss...!

The Cultivators nearby gasped, and the area instantly fell into a deathly silence.

Chen Xuan glanced at the remaining Grand Elder, whose face was as pale as paper, and the other Golden Core Cultivators guarding the chariot. He finally spoke his first words since arriving.

“Your turn.”

The Grand Elder trembled violently, a chill rushing from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

Since he began his path of cultivation, he had encountered such a dangerous situation no more than three times. The last time was back when he was in the Foundation Establishment stage, facing a Golden Core Realm powerhouse.

In the end, he had only survived by resorting to the tactic of acknowledging a foster father.

Although his Realm was one layer higher than the Fifth Elder's, what did that matter? He hadn't even understood that man's sword strike before the Fifth Elder was decapitated.

Several Golden Core Cultivators were about to flee, but when they saw the Grand Elder remaining composed, they immediately abandoned the idea.

If even the Grand Elder wasn't in a hurry, what were they panicking for?

The Grand Elder's mind raced faster than when he refined Grade Seven Medicinal Pills, frantically thinking of a way to respond.

“Senior, please appease your anger! This Junior is the Grand Elder of the Medicine Pavilion. If Senior kills me, the Medicine Pavilion will never let it go. Even with Senior's profound cultivation, you will find it difficult to move an inch in this Central Region.”

Wait, what?

The Golden Core Cultivators were stunned. The usually dignified and majestic Grand Elder was actually begging for mercy.

And his tone was so subservient... this... this was simply unimaginable.

Seeing that the Man in White Robes remained indifferent and the white Sword Qi at his fingertips was beginning to condense, the Grand Elder hurriedly took out three lustrous white jade bottles from his storage ring.

“If Senior spares this Junior's life, I will do my utmost to satisfy any of Senior's future needs for Medicinal Pills. I beg for Senior's mercy.”

For an Alchemist who had vaguely touched the Rank Seven Realm, the weight of such a promise in the Central Region went without saying. However, to Chen Xuan, it held no value.

Another flash of white sword light.

Forget the people—even the chariot was instantly reduced to dust by the soaring white Sword Qi.

The onlookers in the distance were pale, covering their mouths tightly for fear that their breathing might disturb the white-robed figure.

If he directed a sword strike at them, they'd be dead in an instant.

After collecting the dropped storage ring, Chen Xuan finally looked toward the two unconscious youths.

Fortunately, he arrived in time. Any later, and he would have likely missed this Child of Destiny.

[Name: Xie Xingchen]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer]

[Spiritual Root: Top Grade Gold Spiritual Root]

[Physique: Star River Sword Soul Physique (Unactivated)]

[Aptitude: Sword Dao is like an Eternal Night]

[Star River Sword Soul Physique: This Physique is neither a Nine Heavens Immortal Embryo nor a Netherworld Demon Seed. It is a peerless sword Physique formed from the fusion of a strand of Star River Origin and Innate Sword Qi during the dawn of Chaos. Every time it appears, it is accompanied by phenomena such as shifting star orbits and swords howling at the firmament. It is known as the “Stars within the Sword, Soul Shaking the Universe.”]

[Name: Xu Mo]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer]

[Spiritual Root: High Grade Earth Spiritual Root]

[Physique: None]

[Aptitude: Indomitable]

Although the other boy didn't meet the criteria for recruitment, Chen Xuan still planned to bring him back to the Sect. Even if his Aptitude was slightly lacking, with the evaluation of “Indomitable,” he believed the boy's future achievements would certainly not be poor.

In an instant, a streak of spiritual light arrived; it was Mu Wanqing and the others.

Because they had to accommodate Xie Xingyao's Realm, their journey had been considerably delayed.

As soon as the young girl arrived, she rushed to the boy's side, but her steps froze the moment she saw his condition.

“Brother... Brother!” Xie Xingyao's voice trembled instantly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She carefully reached out, wanting to support her brother, yet she was afraid to touch him for fear of causing him pain.

“It's all my fault, it's all because my Realm is too low...”

Mu Wanqing watched the scene with a heavy heart.

She couldn't help but remember the feeling of helplessness she had felt when facing the Yin Yang Sect. If she hadn't met her Revered Master, she would likely have been tortured to death by now.

“Don't worry, your brother's injuries have been stabilized. He will recover after a few days of rest,” Chen Xuan comforted her briefly.

Hearing this, Xie Xingyao's trembling shoulders finally relaxed slightly. She turned to look at Chen Xuan and collapsed to her knees with a “thud.”

“Thank you, My Lord! Thank you! From now on, this lowly one will serve you like a beast of burden without any complaints.”

Her forehead slammed heavily into the yellow sand on the ground—once, twice, thrice... every kowtow was done with all her strength.

This time, Mu Wanqing did not stop the young girl's display of gratitude.

Chen Xuan said in a deep voice, “In the future, there's no need to call me ‘My Lord.’ Just call me ‘Sect Master.’ From this day forward, you and your brother are Disciples of my Dao Seeking Sect.”

“From now on, in this world, no one will dare to bully you siblings again!”

Xie Xingyao looked up, staring blankly at the man before her, who seemed like an Immortal descended from the Immortal Realm.

At this moment, the young girl did not yet understand the true weight of those words.