62: Chapter 62

Just at this moment!

A Disciple ran over quickly to report, "Reporting to the Sect Master, an Elder from Leaving Fire Pavilion requests an audience."

Bai Tang frowned slightly. "Leaving Fire Pavilion? How many of them have come?"

Li Pingan and Xiao Lingxian exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of worry in the other's eyes.

"Replying to the Second Elder, ten people have come in total. The leading Elder is burly and tall, wearing a Lotus Daoist Crown on his head."

"It is the Leaving Fire Pavilion's Grand Elder, Immortal Master Jinmie." As Lin Yifan spoke, he glanced at Li Pingan and the other, roughly understanding why the party had come.

"Bai Tang, take the two guests down. I will go deal with them."

Bai Tang cupped his hands and replied, "Yes, Sect Master."

Li Pingan took a step forward and said with a serious expression, "Senior, they are coming for me and my Junior Sister. It's better if we go out."

"Senior Bai has already looked after us many times along the way. If we were to bring trouble to your noble Sect, this Junior would feel uneasy."

Lin Yifan said in a deep voice, "Trouble? What trouble could a mere Leaving Fire Pavilion be? Furthermore, if it weren't for those two Nourishing Origin Pills of yours, this old man would still be lying on his bed right now."

Bai Tang smiled and comforted him, "Pingan, don't worry. Although Leaving Fire Pavilion acts overbearingly, the swords of our Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect are not just for show."

"Take your Junior Sister down first. Since you've come to our Sect as guests, how could there be a reason to drive guests away?"

Just as Li Pingan was about to speak, he saw dozens of figures flying rapidly through the distant sky.

The leader was burly and tall with a stern face, and beside him followed a familiar woman. It was none other than the Leaving Fire Pavilion Prodigy Chu Linger, Heavenly Pride of Li Huo Pavilion, who had fought him once before.

At this moment, there was still a faint redness and swelling on the elegant face of Chu Linger, Heavenly Pride of Li Huo Pavilion, that had not yet dissipated; this was from when Li Pingan had stepped on her. Every time she thought of that scene, Chu Linger, Heavenly Pride of Li Huo Pavilion, wished she could skin him alive and tear his bones apart, shredding him into ten thousand pieces.

Immortal Master Jinmie's gaze swept over everyone, lingering on Li Pingan and the other for several seconds before finally looking toward Lin Yifan.

He slightly cupped his hands and said, "Sect Master Lin, I hope you have been well!"

Lin Yifan frowned slightly, revealing a look of surprise. "This aura... you have actually broken through to the Golden Core Fourth Layer?"

The corner of Immortal Master Jinmie's mouth curled into a smug smile. "It was just a bit of good luck, nothing compared to Sect Master Lin's profound sword techniques."

"This humble Daoist has come to visit, and Sect Master Lin surely knows for what matter." He slowly raised his finger and pointed at Li Pingan and the other. "Hand over these two, and this humble Daoist will leave immediately with my people."

Lin Yifan said in a deep voice, "These two are honored guests of my Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect. You should please head back."

Bai Tang smiled and said, "Immortal Master Jinmie, it was just a bit of sparring and exchange between two Juniors. Is there a need for you to make such a big fuss and come to demand accountability?"

Immortal Master Jinmie glanced at Bai Tang without speaking. Beside him, a sallow-faced Third Elder roared, "You named Bai, stop feigning ignorance! These two killed an Elder of our Leaving Fire Pavilion and insulted our Disciples. If we don't tear these two into ten thousand pieces, where will the face of our Leaving Fire Pavilion be?"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

Crisp clapping sounded as Bai Tang clapped while saying, "What a fine way to distort the truth."

His gaze turned toward the grim-faced Chu Linger, Heavenly Pride of Li Huo Pavilion, and he said in a deep voice, "Your Leaving Fire Pavilion Disciples were the ones to provoke trouble first. Because their skills were inferior and they couldn't beat the others, it becomes 'insulting your Leaving Fire Pavilion Disciples'?"

"If your ability is low, then don't come out to make a fool of yourself. Go back and hide in your Sect to practice more. Don't just call your Sect Elders to back you up after getting beaten."

"You..." Chu Linger, Heavenly Pride of Li Huo Pavilion, was so angry her face flushed red, and her modest chest heaved up and down.

Immortal Master Jinmie reached out a hand to stop her. "There's no need to indulge in such verbal sparring."

He glanced at Bai Tang and said in a calm tone, "The Second Elder's words are absolutely correct! Since it's a struggle between Juniors, there's no need to make such a big fuss and be so petty."

"Then how about this? You and I can be considered of the same generation; let's have a fight. If I win, you hand over those two. Let me see if your skills have lost the reputation of your Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect."

As his words fell, the Third Elder beside him laughed loudly, "You named Bai, how about it? If you don't dare to accept, then obediently hide back in your Sect and practice more."

He had been chasing Li Pingan and the other all this way and had been obstructed by Bai Tang quite a bit, harboring a stomach full of anger.

"Hahaha!"

The accompanying Leaving Fire Pavilion Cultivators all laughed continuously, their faces full of mockery.

Hearing this, the Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect Disciples one after another gripped their swords tightly, their faces grim.

The Second Elder is only at the Second Layer of Golden Core Stage, while this old Daoist is already at the Golden Core Fourth Layer Realm. Isn't this clearly bullying?

With a "clang" sound!

A cold light flashed in Bai Tang's eyes, and his long sword unsheathed by an inch.

A chilling Sword Qi burst forth from the blade, making a "hissing" sharp sound. The crushed stones on the ground were kicked up by the Sword Qi, rustling.

"Fine, I will fight you! However, regardless of the outcome, it is impossible for my Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect to hand them over."

"Senior, you mustn't!" Li Pingan and the other immediately spoke out to stop him.

If Senior Bai really got injured because of them, Li Pingan would likely be filled with guilt for the rest of his life.

Lin Yifan frowned and scolded, though a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes, "Nonsense. Bai Tang, step back. As long as I am here, it's not yet time for outsiders to run wild."

He swept his gaze over the familiar face in front of him and said seriously, "My Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect will never hand over the people. If you want to fight, I will accompany you for a few moves."

"It's a good chance to see if your Golden Core Fourth Layer is actually genuine."

"Sect Master Lin, is your Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect really going to make an enemy of my Leaving Fire Pavilion for the sake of two ants? Previously outside the Secret Realm, you had a dispute with the Crimson Firmament Sect, and now you want to provoke my Leaving Fire Pavilion."

"This humble Daoist will give Sect Master Lin a word of warning: don't become the target of everyone." Although Immortal Master Jinmie's tone was calm, the threat within his words was chilling.

Lin Yifan said without hesitation, "As long as my Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect acts with a clear conscience, why should we care about those things?"

"Good, good, good!" Immortal Master Jinmie said the word "good" three times in a row. His face, which usually showed great composure, finally showed some anger. "What a fine Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect. This humble Daoist wants to see if you can protect those two ants today."

As his voice fell, he thrust both palms forward, and his crimson dharma robes fluttered without any wind.

In an instant!

Dozens of head-sized crimson fireballs condensed out of thin air. Intense flames flowed on the surface of the fireballs, and a wave of scorching heat rushed toward them.

Lin Yifan's pupils constricted, his heart filled with shock.

He had thought that this Immortal Master Jinmie had only just broken through to the Golden Core Fourth Layer and hadn't yet stabilized his footing. But looking at it now, this fellow was actually quite deep and calculating. If Bai Tang really had to fight him, he would be heavily injured at the very least.

With a thought, he took out a completely emerald green bamboo sword from his storage ring, and it floated in front of him.

For a Sword Cultivator, no matter how flashy or magnificent your techniques and Divine Abilities are, I shall break them with a single sword strike.

Lin Yifan gripped the hilt of the bamboo sword, and spiritual power poured into the blade like a tide. Layers of green Sword Qi instantly surged on the emerald blade. Just as he planned to slash the sky full of fireballs into ashes—

A sudden change occurred!

The fireballs whistling in the sky were like candle flames snuffed out by an invisible giant force, suddenly vanishing all at once with a "poof," leaving only faint wisps of blue smoke drifting in the wind.

"Hmm?"

Immortal Master Jinmie's face changed abruptly, looking completely bewildered.

The people of Leaving Fire Pavilion all had dull expressions, not understanding what their Grand Elder was playing at.

Could it be that he's not fighting anymore?

Immortal Master Jinmie was just about to urge his spiritual power again when he saw a white light flash across the horizon, its speed so fast that its trajectory was almost invisible.

In the next instant, a woman dressed in a white skirt had appeared out of thin air in mid-air.

Her clothes fluttered, and her jet-black long hair fell like a waterfall. Her cold gaze swept indifferently over the crowd below, looking like a goddess from the heavens descending to the mortal Realm.

A look of joy appeared on the cold face of Xiao Lingxian, and her hanging heart finally found peace: "Revered Master!"