347: Chapter 347 Core Disciple of the Foundation Establishment Stage? Did You Claim That Title Yourself?

Xu Ruyu's eyes narrowed.

Yue Ling and Taihao Clan were also nearby.

Yue Ling's expression changed slightly, while Taihao Clan sneered, "They arrived quite quickly."

Xu Ruyu stood up and walked outside.

Arriving at the valley entrance, the scene before him made him knit his brows.

Outside the valley entrance, a dense crowd of people stood like a dark cloud.

At their head was a cold-faced old man dressed in a black robe, followed by dozens of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples in uniform, holding Magical Artifacts.

On either side were Mo Feng, Kumu, and Hu Yong, along with the Elders and Disciples they had brought.

Further out were countless Taihu Clan members who had come to watch the spectacle, packing the valley entrance so tightly that not even a drop of water could trickle through.

Within the crowd, there were many looks of schadenfreude.

"Xu Ruyu is out!"

Someone shouted.

Everyone's gaze fell upon Xu Ruyu in unison.

Li Fengxing stepped forward and said coldly, "Xu Ruyu, do you know your crime?"

Xu Ruyu looked at him, then at the predatory Law Enforcement Hall Disciples behind him and the cold smiles of Mo Feng and the others, understanding everything in his heart.

They were here to hold him accountable.

He said calmly, "May I ask who you are, Senior?"

"Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Li Fengxing," Li Fengxing replied coldly. "You need not ask more; just answer: on the mountain path today, did you strike and injure my clan's Core Disciple, Mo Ran?"

Xu Ruyu nodded, "That is indeed the case."

Li Fengxing's eyes sharpened. "Since you admit your guilt, come with me! The Law Enforcement Hall will give you a fair judgment!"

Xu Ruyu shook his head. "Wait a moment, Senior. It's true I injured Mo Ran, but do you know why he was injured?"

Li Fengxing frowned. "Why?"

"Because he wanted to compete with me," Xu Ruyu said calmly. "He provoked me, insisting on comparing the power of our respective refined Magical Artifacts, and even made a public bet."

"During the competition, he struck first. I was merely acting in self-defense."

"As for his injuries, he can only blame his lack of skill and the fact that his Magical Artifact was inferior to mine."

"Bullshit!"

Mo Feng suddenly jumped out, pointing at Xu Ruyu and roaring, "Xu Ruyu! Stop your slanderous accusations!"

"Ran'er only wanted to consult you on the Dao of Artifact Refining, yet you struck him without a word and are now twisting the facts!"

Xu Ruyu looked at him and said indifferently, "Consulting on the Dao of Artifact Refining? He swung a third-grade Magical Artifact at me; you call that consulting?"

Mo Feng choked for a moment, then shouted angrily, "That was a duel! Naturally, one must act in a duel!"

"Since you accepted the duel, you must bear the consequences!"

"Now Ran'er is critically injured and on the verge of death, yet you're here shirking responsibility. Are you even human?"

Xu Ruyu laughed, his smile full of mockery. "Consequences? I bear the consequences?"

"Elder Mo Feng, have you forgotten? Before the duel, I told him not to regret it."

"He was the one who didn't listen and insisted on swinging his sword. How..."

"...is it my fault that he lost?"

"You—!"

Mo Feng trembled with rage, unable to speak.

Li Fengxing watched coldly before speaking up, "Enough. Regardless of the cause, the fact remains that you injured Mo Ran."

"According to clan rules, an outsider who harms a Core Disciple of our clan without cause shall be severely punished."

"Xu Ruyu, surrender and come with me to the Law Enforcement Hall; perhaps you'll receive a lighter sentence. If you dare to resist—"

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "You will be killed on the spot!"

As he spoke, the dozens of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples behind him stepped forward in unison, their Magical Artifacts glowing with a menacing Aura.

The Hehuan Sect Disciples turned pale and instinctively backed away.

But after looking at Xu Ruyu, they forced themselves to stay put, refusing to retreat even a single step.

Behind Xu Ruyu, Yue Ling's face turned slightly pale.

Although she was an artifact spirit, she had only just awakened from her slumber and had not fully recovered her strength; she wasn't certain of victory against so many Law Enforcement Hall Disciples.

Still, she took a step forward and stood beside Xu Ruyu, silently making her stance clear.

Taihao Clan sneered, crossing her arms as if watching a play.

Having lived for ten thousand years, what scene had she not witnessed? She didn't think much of a mere Law Enforcement Hall.

But she had no intention of intervening—she wanted to see how this man, favored by her Master, would handle this crisis.

Xu Ruyu stood quietly, his gaze sweeping over Li Fengxing, Mo Feng, Kumu, Hu Yong, and those schadenfreude-filled Taihu Clan members.

He saw the hostility in their eyes, their greed, their jealousy, and also their fear.

They were afraid of him.

Afraid that he was too outstanding, that he would threaten their status, and that he would take everything from them.

Thus, they would do whatever it took to trample him, drive him out, or even... kill him.

Xu Ruyu suddenly laughed.

That smile sent an inexplicable chill through Mo Feng and the others.

"Hall Master Li," Xu Ruyu spoke slowly, "you keep saying I injured a Core Disciple of the Taihu Clan and want to hold me accountable."

"Then let me ask you: who determines this 'Core Disciple' status? What are the criteria?"

Li Fengxing was taken aback, then said, "It is naturally determined by clan rules. A Core Disciple must reach the Golden Core Stage or above, or have made outstanding contributions in a certain field of our clan, and be approved by the Council of Elders before the title is granted."

Xu Ruyu nodded and asked again, "Then what is Mo Ran's cultivation level? What outstanding contributions has he made?"

Li Fengxing frowned and looked at Mo Feng.

Mo Feng's expression shifted slightly as he braced himself and said, "Ran'er's cultivation is at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage, but he is highly talented in the Dao of Artifact Refining and has even refined a Second-grade magical artifact..."

"Peak Foundation Establishment?" Xu Ruyu interrupted him with a faint smile. "I once consulted Sister Qingli about your clan's rules. If I remember correctly, according to those rules, only those at the Golden Core Stage or above can be called Core Disciples."

"Mo Ran is only at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage. On what basis is he considered a Core Disciple?"

Mo Feng choked, then argued stubbornly, "Although his cultivation hasn't reached that level yet, he is exceptionally gifted in the Dao of Artifact Refining and is a key talent being nurtured by the Fire Cloud Cave!"

"According to clan rules, an exception can be made to grant the Core Disciple status in such cases!"

"An exception?" Xu Ruyu laughed. "Then may I ask, who made this exception? Is there a record of approval from the Council of Elders?"

Mo Feng's face changed completely.