66: Chapter 66 Yuan Kun

"Congratulations, you've secured the qualification."

Lin Qing's indifferent words drifted down lightly, yet they caused ripples in the surrounding air.

Yuan Heng, who had collapsed on the ground, his pupils suddenly constricted, and extreme fear and disbelief surged in his murky eyes. The dozen or so Disciples of Luoxia Valley surrounding them also changed their expressions drastically.

After a brief moment of deadly silence, a Disciple finally reacted and quickly pleaded for Yuan Heng.

"Senior Brother Lin Qing, please be merciful!"

"That's right, Senior Brother. Senior Brother Yuan Heng was confused for a moment. You are magnanimous, please spare him this once!"

"Senior Brother Yuan Heng is, after all, a key player in the Valley's Heavenly Pride Competition. Killing him would be a loss to the Sect!"

On the path of cultivation, the capable come first. They had clearly seen Lin Qing injure Yuan Heng with a single move. Although he had only joined the Sect a few days ago, there was no problem with them calling Lin Qing Senior Brother.

Lin Qing ignored the pleas of the surrounding Disciples. He lowered his gaze and swept it over the trembling Yuan Heng on the ground. He raised his right foot and stomped fiercely towards Yuan Heng's crown!

"Lin Qing, wait!"

A clear, urgent female voice came, and a plain white figure sped along the bluestone path towards them. It was Yun Nian.

The True Disciple area was quite large, and Yun Nian's courtyard was still some distance from here. When the commotion of the fight and the fluctuations of Qi and blood spread, as the Senior Sister of Luoxia Valley, she naturally had to come and see what had happened.

But before she could sort out the cause and effect, what met her eyes was the scene of Lin Qing raising his foot to kill Yuan Heng. Her heart tightened abruptly, and she quickly cried out to stop him.

But Lin Qing's movement did not stop. The heavy sole of his shoe, carrying immense power, stomped fiercely on Yuan Heng's crown!

"Pfft!"

A dull explosion sounded, like a ripe watermelon being forcefully crushed.

Hot blood, viscous brain matter mixed with shattered bone fragments, splattered in all directions, landing on the surrounding bluestone ground and on the clothes of several nearby Disciples, leaving dazzling crimson and milky white marks.

Yuan Heng, who had just been shouting, couldn't even let out a final scream before he completely lost his breath, his body limply collapsing to the ground, his head gone, a truly gruesome death.

The air instantly fell silent.

Even the wind in Luoxia Valley seemed to halt at this moment. The dozen or so Disciples around stood frozen in place, their eyes wide, mouths agape, the color drained from their faces, even their breathing unconsciously held.

Defeating an enemy with one move, killing with one kick, clean and decisive, ruthless and resolute.

Yun Nian had also just rushed closer, happening to see this bloody scene. Her steps suddenly halted, her pretty face instantly turned pale, her beautiful eyes wide and round, she stood frozen in place, completely stunned.

After several breaths of stunned, Yun Nian suddenly came back to her senses.

She quickly stepped forward, grabbed Lin Qing's arm, and turned to walk towards Luoxia Hall, her voice filled with unconcealed urgency and a slight tremor:

"Lin Qing, you've caused big trouble! You shouldn't have killed him, you were too impulsive!"

Lin Qing was pulled forward by her, his expression still calm, he merely said indifferently:

"If I don't kill him, should I let him bother me every day in the future, waiting for an opportunity to retaliate?"

"You!" Yun Nian was speechless, blocked by his words. She turned and glared at him, her pretty face full of helplessness. "Yuan Heng was indeed stubborn and arrogant, but he was, after all, the main contestant for the Heavenly Pride Competition decided by the Sect! Moreover, he has a clan uncle who holds a high position in Luoxia Valley."

She paused, pulling Lin Qing faster, her tone urgent:

"Don't say anything more. Come with me to Luoxia Hall immediately to meet Revered Master, explain the situation, and let Revered Master hold back Elder Yuan Kun first."

Lin Qing understood in his heart, but he was not afraid of any Elder Yuan Kun. With his current strength, no one in Luoxia Valley could do anything to him.

However, Yun Nian's kindness meant he didn't need to openly defy her. Moreover, he also wanted to see how Sect Master Sect Master Shen Yurong of Luoxia Valley, and this Elder Yuan Kun, would react.

If the other party insisted on pursuing the matter, he wouldn't mind letting Luoxia Hall be stained with another layer of blood.

...

Inside Luoxia Hall, incense smoke curled, and the atmosphere was solemn. Sect Master Shen Yurong, dressed in the magnificent robes of the Sect Master, sat high on the main seat, her eyebrows cool and her demeanor graceful. On both sides of the main hall, several Elders of Luoxia Valley were lined up, each with deep Qi and sharp eyes.

Besides Lin Qing and Yun Nian, all the True Disciples who had witnessed the scene were also summoned to the hall. The entire hall was filled with a suppressive atmosphere, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Sect Master Shen Yurong's cool gaze swept over the crowd below, finally settling on a composed True Disciple, and she spoke indifferently:

"Jing Rong, you were at the scene. Please recount the entire incident, from beginning to end, in full detail."

The Disciple named Jing Rong quickly stepped forward, bowed, cupped his hands, and spoke clearly:

"Reporting to Sect Master, the incident unfolded as follows. Today, Senior Brother Yuan Heng went to Senior Brother Lin Qing's courtyard and forcibly knocked on his door. After Senior Brother Lin Qing opened the door, Senior Brother Yuan Heng warned him, ordering Senior Brother Lin Qing to stay away from Senior Sister Yun Nian, with many provocative and disrespectful remarks."

As these words came out, Yun Nian's pretty face instantly flushed. She had only known that the two had a conflict, but she had no idea that the cause was this.

Jing Rong did not pause and continued:

"Senior Brother Lin Qing did not wish to get entangled with him, and reprimanded him for being unreasonable, intending to close the door and return to his courtyard. Unexpectedly, Senior Brother Yuan Heng became enraged and immediately disregarded their fellow Disciple relationship, striking at Senior Brother Lin Qing first. However, Senior Brother Lin Qing's strength was formidable, and with just one move, he struck Senior Brother Yuan Heng to the ground."

The more Jing Rong spoke, the more excited he became, his face unable to hide his admiration, his voice even rising a few octaves.

Sect Master Shen Yurong's brows furrowed slightly, and her cool voice sounded:

"Just state the facts, do not inject personal emotions. Continue."

Jing Rong quickly composed himself and continued:

"After Senior Brother Lin Qing struck down Senior Brother Yuan Heng, he originally had no intention of taking his life. However, Senior Brother Yuan Heng, lying on the ground, not only showed no remorse but instead spoke wildly, threatening Senior Brother Lin Qing and vowing to seek revenge later."

"Senior Brother Lin Qing, left with no choice, could only strike him down. That is the entire incident, and this Disciple has not uttered a single false word."

After finishing his account, Jing Rong bowed and retreated to the side.

Sect Master Shen Yurong slowly turned her head, her gaze sweeping over the rest of the True Disciples, her voice calm:

"Do any of you have anything to add?"

The other Disciples all shook their heads:

"Reporting to Sect Master, everything Senior Brother (Junior Brother) Jing Rong said is true and without deviation."

Everyone had witnessed it firsthand: Yuan Heng provoked first, attacked first, and threatened first. As for Lin Qing not listening to dissuasion, they dared not say. Now that Yuan Heng was dead and Lin Qing was so strong, for the sake of the Heavenly Pride Competition, the Sect might not actually do anything to Lin Qing.

Sect Master Shen Yurong nodded slightly, then turned her gaze to the right side of the main hall, to a middle-aged man in a plain robe with a gentle face, and asked indifferently:

"Elder Yuan Kun, what do you think of this matter?"

As her voice fell, all eyes in the main hall focused on Elder Yuan Kun.

Lin Qing also looked up at Yuan Kun. It seemed this was Yuan Heng's clan Elder. He also wanted to see what this Elder would do.

Seeing everyone in the hall looking at him, the plain-robed Elder quickly waved his hand:

"Why are you all looking at me? Sect Master, you know me; I never interfere in public decisions within the Sect. Everything is up to the Sect Master to decide."

As these words came out, everyone in the hall instantly had strange expressions, and even Sect Master Shen Yurong, sitting high on the main seat, raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lin Qing couldn't help but be slightly stunned, a trace of surprise flashing in his eyes. He had anticipated the other party's anger, coercion, or making things difficult, but he had never expected such a reaction.

Yuan Kun felt a bit uncomfortable being stared at by everyone, so he simply moved his chair back a bit, spreading his hands with an innocent look:

"What's with your reactions? I'm telling the truth."

A female Elder in a plain dress next to him, seeing Yuan Kun still out of the loop, couldn't help but remind him:

"Cough, cough... Yuan Kun, that Yuan Heng, isn't he your clan Junior?"

"Oh! You mean that!" Yuan Kun then slapped his head, looking enlightened. "To be honest, my Yuan family is thriving. I have at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, Juniors like Yuan Heng."

Saying that, he raised his finger and scanned left and right among the True Disciples below, finally settling on a tall male Disciple, and called out with a smile:

"Hey, that kid, come here."

That True Disciple quickly stepped forward, bowed, and cupped his hands:

"Disciple Yuan Chong greets Elder Yuan Kun."

"Look," Yuan Kun pointed at Yuan Chong and turned to Sect Master Shen Yurong on the main seat, smiling, "Sect Master, look, this is also a Junior from my Yuan family. So, regarding this matter, you should handle it as you see fit, completely without considering my feelings. I have absolutely no objection."

As his voice fell, he even specifically turned to look at Lin Qing, a kind smile on his face, and nodded slightly.

This series of actions completely stunned everyone in the main hall. The hall was silent, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

No one expected this Elder of the Yuan family to be so "enlightened."

Lin Qing was also dumbfounded. He had expected the classic scenario of 'hitting the young one brings out the old one,' but he never thought it would take such an unexpected turn.

As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling person. Since the other party had shown enough respect, he was not an unreasonable person. He immediately cupped his hands to Yuan Kun in response.

Sect Master Shen Yurong, high on the main seat, finally showed a faint smile on her cool face. She immediately spoke clearly, her voice resounding throughout the hall:

"Since there are no objections, this Sect Master will announce the disciplinary decision. Yuan Heng disregarded Sect rules, provoked first, attacked first, and showed no remorse afterward. His actions were entirely self-inflicted, and no one else is to blame."

"Lin Qing acted in self-defense, counter-attacking and killing an enemy, and is blameless. This matter is hereby concluded."

The phrase "hereby concluded" completely settled the dispute. Since Yuan Kun didn't care, others naturally wouldn't meddle.

Not long after, the Disciples exited Luoxia Hall, and the hall doors slowly closed, leaving only Sect Master Shen Yurong and several Elders inside.

An Elder spoke up:

"Sect Master, even if Yuan Heng brought it upon himself, he was still a Middle Stage Rank 4 Cultivator, a key player for our Valley in the Heavenly Pride Competition!"

Yuan Kun immediately turned his head, looking at him with an expression of disappointment, and couldn't help but curse:

"I say, has your brain been kicked by a donkey?"

"Yuan Kun, what nonsense are you spouting!" The Elder's face darkened.

"Nonsense?" Yuan Kun pointed towards the hall door, speaking excitedly, "We lost a Yuan Heng, but look at Lin Qing. He looks to be less than twenty years old, right? He instantly killed a Middle Stage Rank 4 Yuan Heng, clean and decisive. Our Luoxia Valley has truly found a treasure this time!"

The more he spoke, the more excited he became, his face full of pride: "This Lin Qing might even have the qualification to break into the top five! Besides, that Yuan Heng, twenty-eight years old, Middle Stage Rank 4, is his talent really that high? Just look at Yuan Chong, he's only twenty-three years old, Early Stage Rank 4, with stable cultivation. In a few years, won't he be stronger than Yuan Heng?"

Some Elders who hadn't fully grasped the situation now also realized that Sect Master Shen Yurong's light-handed treatment likely stemmed from this very thought.

Everyone looked towards the direction of the hall door, their eyes burning with fervent light.