77: Chapter 77 Targeted Before the Palace? An Old Woman Steps In to Resolve the Crisis

Xu Ruyu stood isolated in the center of the crowd, enduring malice from all directions and the invisible Spiritual Pressure.

He could feel his cheeks burning, his heart pounding, and a strong sense of humiliation and anger burning in his chest, almost breaking through his reason.

He knew that Zhao Kun and the others deliberately wanted to humiliate him, to suppress him, this "air-dropped" Personal Disciple who enjoyed special treatment, to vent their jealousy and resentment, and at the same time, to "prove" to the Senior Sisters surrounding him—look, the one you favor is just a good-for-nothing who can't even control basic spiritual energy!

The Sect Master misjudged!

Force his way through? His cultivation was low; he was no match for Zhao Kun.

Bring up his Revered Master? That would only solidify his reputation as "relying on women" and a "pretty boy," making people even more disdainful.

Reason with them? These people had been blinded by jealousy and wouldn't listen at all.

It seemed... there was only submission or making a fool of himself? Neither was acceptable to him, and both would completely destroy his Foundation for establishing himself in the Sect in the future.

Just as Xu Ruyu's thoughts raced, contemplating a way out, Zhao Kun impatiently snorted coldly:

"What? Junior Brother Xu, do you think we are unworthy of watching your display? Or... are you merely famous in name and dare not demonstrate?"

He scanned his surroundings and said loudly, his voice carrying incitement:

"All of you Senior and Junior Brothers have seen it!

This is our Sect Master's 'esteemed Personal Disciple,' who hesitates and makes excuses even for the most basic sparring and guidance from fellow Disciples!

With such Heart-Nature and such strength, how can he command respect? How can he be worthy of that Personal Disciple attire? How can he live up to the Sect Master's... special regard?!"

These words were highly inflammatory, instantly igniting the emotions of more male Disciples in the crowd, and louder clamor and questioning arose.

"Senior Brother Zhao is right! He's not worthy!"

"Get out of the Hall of Power Transmission! Those who seek fame by dishonest means are not welcome here!"

"Take off that Personal Disciple attire! You're not worthy of wearing it!"

Emotions surged, and malicious words flowed like a tide.

A ruthless glint flashed in Zhao Kun's eyes; he no longer concealed it. His Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure suddenly intensified, like a tangible mountain, pressing heavily down on Xu Ruyu!

He wanted to force Xu Ruyu to kneel on the spot, completely tearing apart his dignity!

Xu Ruyu felt a terrifying immense force pressing down on him, his bones creaked, his legs went soft, his vision blurred, and his throat tasted sweet, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood!

The gap between Qi Refining Great Perfection and Mid-stage Foundation Establishment was simply too vast!

Could it be... that he really had to suffer humiliation here? Even injury?

Just as he was almost crushed, his consciousness beginning to blur, and some of the Senior Sisters around him also seemed to show a slight change in expression, preparing to make a move (either to stop it, or to...)—at this critical moment—

"Enough."

An ancient, old woman's voice, like a bell cutting through thick fog, clearly echoed throughout the entire plaza.

The voice wasn't loud, yet it instantly drowned out all the clamor, carrying a strange power that pierced directly into the Divine Soul, making everyone, including the aggressive Zhao Kun, feel a shock to their minds, and their movements involuntarily stopped.

Everyone looked over in astonishment.

The two heavy vermillion gates of the Hall of Power Transmission had quietly opened at some point.

From the shadows within the gate, an old woman wearing a faded grey cloth robe, leaning on an ordinary wooden staff, slowly walked out.

She looked extremely old and didn't exude a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation, but when her cloudy yet seemingly all-seeing eyes swept across the plaza, everyone felt an inexplicable palpitation, and all their hidden schemes were seen through.

"Elder... Elder Liu!"

Zhao Kun was the first to react, quickly retracting all his Spiritual Pressure and Aura, bowing in salute, his voice carrying a hint of imperceptible panic.

This was Granny Liu, the oldest, most eccentric, and even many influential Elders were unwilling to easily offend "Keeper of Books" of the Hall of Power Transmission!

Other Disciples also bowed, silent as cicadas in winter.

Granny Liu ignored them, her gaze falling on Xu Ruyu, whose face was pale and whose lips even showed a trace of blood. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the white token at his waist, engraved with the words "Ningyin," and on his moon-white Personal Disciple attire, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.

"You," Granny Liu's voice was dry and hoarse, yet carried a strange penetrative power, "are that... short-haired boy that Xiao Yatou recently took in?"

Xiao Yatou? Xu Ruyu was stunned for a moment before realizing she meant Xiao Nianyin.

He quickly suppressed his turbulent Qi and blood, bowed, and said, "Disciple Xu Ruyu greets Elder Liu."

"Mm."

Granny Liu gently tapped the ground with her wooden staff, then turned her gaze to Zhao Kun and the others, her voice suddenly turning cold:

"Before the Hall of Power Transmission, gathering to make a ruckus, bullying the weak with strength, bullying the new with seniority, and even using Spiritual Pressure to coerce people... you truly have quite the imposing presence."

With each sentence she spoke, Zhao Kun and the others bowed their heads lower, cold sweat pouring down.

"What? Unhappy that someone became a Personal Disciple? Eyes burning with jealousy because someone has Senior Sisters accompanying them?"

Granny Liu's words were sharp and direct, showing no mercy.

"Did your Cultivation go to the dogs? If you have this much free time for jealousy, you might as well go back to your respective mountain peaks and practice your Cultivation Technique a few more times!

The Hall of Power Transmission is a place for studying, cultivating Heart-Nature, and acquiring knowledge, not a stage for you to throw tantrums, fight, and vent your private desires!"

"Elder Liu, please calm your anger! This Disciple knows his mistake!"

Zhao Kun and the others quickly confessed their sins, their heads almost touching the ground.

"Know your mistake?" Granny Liu snorted coldly, "If you know your mistake, then get lost! Go do whatever you're supposed to do! If this old woman sees you causing trouble in front of the Hall again, no matter whose Disciple you are, or who supports you, I will strip you of your robes and send you to face the cliff at Reflection Peak for ten years!"

These words were extremely severe. Zhao Kun and the others trembled, daring not to say another word, not even a threat. They quickly dispersed in shame, leaving only a few unwilling and venomous glances that fiercely gouged Xu Ruyu.

Granny Liu then looked back at Xu Ruyu, her tone still cold, but with less of the previous severity: "You, come in with me."

With that, she didn't wait for Xu Ruyu's reply, turned, and slowly walked back into the Hall of Power Transmission, leaning on her wooden staff.

Xu Ruyu felt as if he had received a great pardon. He suppressed his physical weakness and discomfort, hastily bowed to the Senior Sisters with complex expressions (their eyes now held more solemnity and thoughtfulness), and then quickly followed Granny Liu's retreating figure, disappearing into the shadows within the Hall.

The Hall doors slowly closed behind him, isolating him from the noisy, hostile world outside.

Leaning against the cool door, Xu Ruyu let out a long, silent sigh of relief, only then realizing his chest was tight and his throat tasted faintly of blood.

Zhao Kun's Spiritual Pressure earlier had indeed caused him some internal injuries.

But what he cared more about now was Granny Liu's mention of "Xiao Yatou," and her seemingly strict yet actually helpful attitude.

He had finally entered the Hall of Power Transmission.

But the hostility outside had not disappeared; it would only become more hidden and dangerous.

And the Senior Sisters' observation had turned into deeper scrutiny. As for him, within this limited hour, under the watchful eye of the mysterious and strict Granny Liu, amidst the treasured ancient texts of the Hehuan Sect, he had to find what he truly needed—the "keys" that would allow him to combine his scientific mindset from his previous life with the Cultivation Techniques of this world, creating his own unique power system.

And he, within this limited hour, under the watchful eye of the mysterious and strict Granny Liu, amidst the treasured ancient texts of the Hehuan Sect, had to find what he truly needed—the "keys" that would allow him to combine his scientific mindset from his previous life with the Cultivation Techniques of this world, creating his own unique power system.

Time was pressing, dangers lurked everywhere, and the road ahead was long.

Xu Ruyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes once again sharp.

He looked up, gazing at the deep corridor and endless bookshelves within the Hall, took a deep breath, and followed the hunched, aged figure ahead.

As for Su Mei, Qingyan, and the others' attitude of standing by earlier, Xu Ruyu didn't take it to heart at all.

How could he not know that these so-called Senior Sisters approached him simply because they wanted to devour him whole?

Their earlier enthusiasm and later inaction were merely tests.

Xu Ruyu, long immersed in Xuanhuan novels, understood that in the world of cultivation, besides strength, everything else was false.

His own scientific Formations? Electromagnetic Artifact Refining? Chemical Alchemy?

Let him take the first step from here.