257: He just walked in and immediately asked if he'd pay compensation for murder? This new Taoist priest is a living devil!

"I don't have to pay, do I?"

These five words landed softly on the White Jade Plaza.

There was no sound of wind, and no one spoke.

The True Disciples, who had just been rubbing their palms and looking fierce, ready to give the newcomer a lesson, had their expressions freeze instantly on their faces.

They had thought this new Dao Child would be arrogant, haughty, or even beg for mercy.

The only thing they hadn't expected was that this person would start inquiring about the after-sales service for murder before even putting down his luggage.

What did he take them for?

Pigs and sheep waiting for slaughter?

"You bastard!"

A youth carrying a heavy sword on his back slammed a foot forward, the veins on his neck bulging. "Do you really think being a Dao Child means you can be lawless? Elder Li! This brat has a malicious Heart-Nature and no respect for his Elders. I request to start the Dao-Usurping Battle immediately!"

"That's right! We ask the Elder to approve!"

Hundreds of powerful auras soared into the sky, the Spiritual Pressure surging. If not for the suppression of the Island Protection Array, this wave of Qi alone would have overturned the floor tiles of the square.

In the center of the storm, Lu Sheng had his hands in his pockets and didn't even lift his eyelids.

There was no trace of panic in those dark-gold vertical pupils; instead, they flickered with a heart-palpitating excitement.

He was waiting.

Waiting for an answer that would let him let loose.

"Hahahahaha!"

A burst of wild laughter exploded, making everyone's eardrums ache.

The usually stern Grand Elder, Li Xiaoyao, was currently laughing so hard he was doubled over. He stared at Lu Sheng with a gaze as if he were looking at a piece of peerless unpolished jade.

"Good! Well asked!"

Li Xiaoyao's laughter stopped abruptly as he turned around sharply.

His gaze was like a blade, sweeping across the indignant Disciples before finally settling back on Lu Sheng.

"If you didn't even have this much killing intent, I would have considered replacing you instead."

Li Xiaoyao stood with his hands behind his back. His voice wasn't loud, but it pierced clearly into everyone's ears with a bone-chilling coldness:

"I'm laying down the law here today."

"On the day the Dao-Usurping Battle begins, as long as it's within the rules and as long as the opponent dares to step onto the stage..."

"Kill... without... mercy!"

As soon as those three words came out, the temperature of the entire square plummeted.

Li Xiaoyao's old face was full of grimness. "No need to pay, no need to forfeit your life, and you don't even have to write a self-reflection! Kill one, and I'll reward you with a Spirit Stone; kill a pair, and I'll give you a bottle of Medicinal Pills!"

The faces of all the Disciples in the square instantly turned pale.

What kind of treatment was this?

This was an officially issued license to kill!

"However..."

Li Xiaoyao changed the subject and leaned in front of Lu Sheng, his cloudy old eyes flickering with calculating light.

"Your foundation is good, but you haven't fully converted your talent into combat power yet."

"Although these little brats are a bit useless, they have strength in numbers. A battle of attrition could still wear you down."

Li Xiaoyao held up a withered, thin finger. "One month."

"For this month, martial arts are forbidden on the entire island! No one is allowed to challenge you. Violators will be expelled from the sect!"

"But for this month, you are under my management."

The old man gave a dry chuckle, revealing a mouth of yellow teeth. "I will personally step in to squeeze out every drop of your potential, polishing you, this piece of jade, into the sharpest blade."

"One month later, the Dao-Usurping Battle begins."

"At that time, whether you are a Dragon or a worm, whether you kill or are killed... it will all depend on your own fate."

Lu Sheng raised an eyebrow.

Was he going to be locked in a small dark room to level up, only to come out and crush the weak at max level?

"Deal."

Lu Sheng grinned, revealing a row of white teeth that looked exceptionally bright in the sunlight, yet it made the surrounding Disciples feel a chill down their spines.

"Then let them live for one more month."

Li Xiaoyao nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Xing Tian, who had been unable to restrain himself for a long time, and pointed at Luo Tianfei nearby.

"This girl has the Undying Divine Phoenix Physique, the pinnacle of the fire element. I practice the Xiaoyao Sword Dao, so our paths don't align."

"Xing Tian, your Fire Gang is just the right fit. I'll leave her to you; don't break her during training."

Xing Tian had been waiting impatiently. He rubbed his large, fan-like hands and walked toward Luo Tianfei with a weird laugh.

"Don't worry, Grand Elder! I, Old Xing, am famous for being 'light-handed'!"

He walked up to Luo Tianfei, his tower-like body casting a large shadow that completely enveloped the petite Luo Tianfei.

"Little girl, now that you're in my hands, don't put on any of that cold goddess act."

Xing Tian grinned widely. "This month, I'll let you know what it means to have your body consumed by raging flames!"

Luo Tianfei narrowed her Phoenix eyes, instinctively trying to mobilize her spirit source, only to find it firmly locked by an invisible force field.

She grit her teeth and glanced at Lu Sheng, who was about to be taken away by Li Xiaoyao.

Since that bastard dared to take the challenge, she, Luo Tianfei, would never admit defeat!

"Who's afraid of who!" Luo Tianfei raised her chin slightly, looking arrogant.

"Good courage!"

Xing Tian laughed and waved his hand, directly whipping up a crimson cloud of fire that swept Luo Tianfei into the sky, disappearing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"We're leaving too."

Li Xiaoyao swept his large sleeve.

Lu Sheng felt his vision blur, and his whole body was lifted off the ground by a gentle but irresistible force, turning into a streak of light that shot straight toward the "Daozi Peak" floating at the highest point.

Only the tens of thousands of True Disciples remained on the square, their mouths agape, feeling as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed flies.

In the wind, the final words Lu Sheng left behind still lingered.

"Everyone, wash your necks and I'll see you in a month."

...As the several big shots departed, the suffocating pressure finally dissipated.

The atmosphere on the White Jade Plaza loosened slightly, but the sense of oppression actually grew heavier.

"Damn it! What exactly is that kid's background?!"

The True Disciple carrying the heavy sword punched a stone pillar, sending stone chips flying. "He just entered the sect and he's already shitting on our heads? Is there no law anymore!"

"Watch your words! That's someone the Grand Elder personally took away!" someone nearby whispered a warning, though the jealousy in their eyes couldn't be hidden.

Just then.

Buzz—!

The light of the teleportation array lit up once again.

A figure wearing a light-blue flowing cloud dress appeared in the center of the square, accompanied by Elder Lingyao.

And behind them were the nine hundred and thirty-eight newly recruited Outer Sect Disciples who had chosen to join Dengxian Island.

This group of people was covered in dirt and looked dejected, like defeated soldiers who had just crawled out of a pile of corpses. They stood at the edge of the square, shrinking back and not even daring to breathe loudly.

Elder Lingyao swept a cold gaze around.

"Xi Yao."

"Your Disciple is here."

The woman in the flowing cloud dress stepped forward gracefully.

She was extremely beautiful, not with the unattainable cold elegance of Luo Tianfei, but with a water-like gentleness. A sense of intelligence emanated from between her brows, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

But those who knew her were aware that this Senior Sister Xi Yao was a ruthless character ranked in the top ten among the current generation of True Disciples, and her "Thousand Silk Myriad Tribulation Hand" could kill without shedding a drop of blood.

"This batch of newcomers is handed over to you."

Elder Lingyao casually pointed to the group behind her. "Take them to Area C on the island, arrange their accommodation, and register them. If anyone is disobedient, handle them according to the island's rules."

After saying that, Elder Lingyao's figure flickered and she vanished instantly.

For an existence of her level, dealing with these mundane affairs was simply a waste of life.