594: Chapter 594 She is a traitor to my Taixu Sect, I must take her back and hold her accountable.

Chen Ping flipped the stone over, examined the patterns against the sunlight, scratched the surface with his fingernail, and shook his head.

"This isn't Obsidian Iron Essence. Obsidian Iron Essence has radial patterns, while this one is layered. This should be Black-Veined Profound Iron; the quality is average, and it has many Impurities."

"At most, it's worth fifty Spirit Stones."

The stall owner was stunned for a moment, sized up Chen Ping again, and chuckled.

"Little brother, you have a good eye. Fine, fifty Spirit Stones, and it's yours."

Lu Yao watched from the side, unable to help her lips curling into a smile.

Chen Ping usually didn't say much, but his skill in identifying Materials was truly impressive; it made sense that the Sect Master had brought him along for procurement.

Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly felt a gaze fall upon her, as if she had been pricked by something.

She subconsciously turned her head, and then her entire body froze.

Across the crowd, three people dressed in Taixu Sect attire were staring at her.

Leading them was the Elder who had pointed at her nose in front of the Taixu Sect main hall and cursed her for 'the Saintess's self-debasement.' His surname was Liu, he was at the Body Integration Middle Stage, and he was a confidant of Sect Leader Qing Fengzi.

Beside him were two Taixu Sect Disciples, one of whom was exactly Zhao Hu—the Junior Brother she had once carried on her back for thirty miles of mountain roads to seek medical help, and the same one who had cursed her in front of the main hall, saying she 'had long since hooked up with Xu Ruyu.'

Elder Liu's gaze was like two knives, pinning straight onto Lu Yao's face.

The corners of his mouth slowly pulled back, revealing a cold, sinister smile.

"Lu Yao? It really is you." His voice wasn't loud, but people at the surrounding stalls could hear him. "I thought you were living quite happily in the Hehuan Sect; I didn't expect you to dare show your face in public."

Lu Yao's face turned pale.

She instinctively took a step back but quickly stood her ground.

She didn't hide, nor did she lower her head. During her month in the Hehuan Sect, she had learned one thing—she had done nothing wrong and didn't need to bow her head to anyone.

"Elder Liu." Her voice was soft but steady. "I am no longer a member of the Taixu Sect. You have no right to control where I go."

"No right?" Elder Liu chuckled, his laughter filled with mockery and a sense of condescending disdain. "You are a traitor of the Taixu Sect. No matter where you go, the people of the Taixu Sect have the right to deal with you."

"You sold yourself to Xu Ruyu, utterly disgracing the Taixu Sect, and now you dare to parade around Luoxing Ferry wearing Hehuan Sect clothes? Do you think the Taixu Sect hasn't lost enough face because of you?"

The Grand Elder turned around, Chen Ping stood up, and Zhou Daniu and Li Ergou, each carrying a box, stopped in their tracks upon hearing the noise.

The Grand Elder stepped forward, shielding Lu Yao behind him. His voice was kept low, but every word carried weight.

"Fellow Daoist, Miss Lu Yao is no longer a Disciple of the Taixu Sect."

"She is now a member of the Hehuan Sect and has nothing to do with you."

"Please speak with more courtesy and refrain from slandering people in public."

Elder Liu sized up the Grand Elder, and upon seeing the Hehuan Sect token hanging from his waist, the disdain on his face deepened.

"You're from the Hehuan Sect? An unorthodox, demonic Sect like yours dares to talk to me about 'courtesy'? Old man, if you know what's good for you today, hand over Lu Yao."

"She is a traitor of my Taixu Sect, and I will take her back to face judgment."

"If you don't cooperate, I'll deal with you as well."

Zhou Daniu set his box on the ground with a heavy thud.

He rolled up his sleeves, walked to the Grand Elder's side, and glared at Elder Liu.

"What did you say? Say that again!"

Li Ergou also set down his box, quietly resting his hand on the short sword at his waist.

Chen Ping put away the Ore in his hand and stood on Lu Yao's other side. Though he didn't speak, his gaze had turned cold.

Lu Yao pulled on the Grand Elder's sleeve, her voice hushed and tinged with anxiety.

"Grand Elder, let's go. Let's not get into a conflict with them. This is a Loose Cultivator Market; it won't be good for us if things escalate."

But Elder Liu clearly had no intention of letting the matter rest.

He took two steps forward, and Zhao Hu and the other Disciple followed behind him.

Zhao Hu's gaze swept over Lu Yao, an extremely uncomfortable smile on his face—a smile mixed with something indefinable, like disdain, yet also some sort of dark desire.

"Senior Sister Lu Yao," Zhao Hu said in a sarcastic tone, "you're living quite comfortably in the Hehuan Sect, aren't you? Xu Ruyu must be treating you well."

Lu Yao's lips thinned.

Looking at Zhao Hu's face, she remembered that rainy night when she carried him on her back for thirty miles to find a doctor, and she remembered the self-righteous expression on his face when he pointed at her in front of the main hall and cursed her for 'hooking up with Xu Ruyu.'

She didn't speak, but her hands were trembling.

"Shut your mouth." Zhou Daniu pointed at Zhao Hu's nose, his voice loud enough to be heard down the entire street. "What kind of thing are you? You think you're worthy of speaking to Sister Lu Yao?"

Zhao Hu's expression shifted.

He glanced at Elder Liu, and seeing that Elder Liu had no intention of stopping him, his courage grew.

"So what if I curse her? She's a temptress of the Hehuan Sect and a traitor of my Taixu Sect; cursing her is getting off easy."

"According to Sect rules, traitors have their Cultivation crippled and are expelled from the mountain gate. A self-debased woman like her—"

He didn't get to finish his sentence.

Zhou Daniu smashed a fist into his face.

The punch landed squarely on Zhao Hu's nose. With a sharp crack, Zhao Hu was sent flying backward, knocking over a stall selling Medicinal Pills. Porcelain bottles shattered everywhere, and pills rolled across the ground.

Zhao Hu rolled on the ground, clutching his nose as blood seeped through his fingers, letting out a scream like a slaughtered pig.

"They're hitting people! The Hehuan Sect people are hitting people!" Liu

The other Disciple beside the Elder shrieked.

The scene instantly devolved into chaos.

The surrounding Loose Cultivators scrambled back, clearing a large space. Some watched excitedly, some turned and ran, while others stood at a distance, on their tiptoes to see the commotion.

Elder Liu's face turned ashen with rage. With a flick of his hand, a cold, shimmering longsword appeared in his palm.

"Demons of the Hehuan Sect, committing violence in broad daylight! Today, this old man shall carry out justice on behalf of heaven!"

His figure blurred, and the sword light transformed into a white rainbow, piercing straight toward Zhou Daniu's chest.

The Grand Elder was already prepared. He struck his cane against the ground, and a golden Protective Spiritual Light enveloped Zhou Daniu.

The sword light struck the spiritual light, producing a sharp metallic clang. The light vibrated violently but did not shatter.

The Grand Elder let out a muffled groan and took a half-step back—though his Cultivation was not low, he was old after all, and his spiritual energy reactions were not as fast as a young person's.

Chen Ping charged from the side, a short blade appearing in his hand. The Array Pattern on the blade lit up as he slashed toward Elder Liu's shoulder.

Elder Liu sidestepped the attack and swung his sword back toward Chen Ping's neck.

Chen Ping retreated hastily but was still a beat too slow. The sword's edge grazed his shoulder, carving a bloody gash that instantly soaked his robes.

Chen Ping gritted his teeth, not letting out a cry of pain, and slashed out with his short blade once more...