3: Chapter 3 What Does This Have to Do with the Sect Master of My Moon Shadow Sect?

The Huoyan Sect was a Third-Grade Sect belonging to the Fourth-Grade cultivation nation, the Qing State. Aside from the three Fourth-Grade Sects above it, it was the most powerful.

Even the Sect Master of the Second-Grade Green Leaf Sect dared not put on airs in front of an Elder of the Huoyan Sect.

This was not only because of their strength but also because the Green Leaf Sect was considered a subsidiary Sect of the Huoyan Sect.

Now that two people, both at the level of Outer Sect Disciple, had collided, the Disciple from the Green Leaf Sect was naturally on the weaker side.

"Senior Brother Wang, what do you think?"

Gao Dasha's face was hesitant, and he felt uneasy. He looked down at Wang Duoyin, his slightly flustered eyes conveying a sense of inquiry.

"Fellow Daoist, may I take a look at this token?"

Wang Duoyin's expression became reserved, but his eyes were fixed intently on Ling Hao, as if trying to detect some panic in Ling Hao's gaze.

How could Ling Hao not know what he was thinking? He smiled slightly, noncommittal.

Ling Hao was not afraid of him seeing through anything at all; although he himself was a fake, but...

The token was real!

As for how this Huoyan Sect token came to be? That would require talking about a day of heavy rain a few months ago, that day...

Ahem, never mind that. Actually, it was something Ling Hao had looted from a corpse on the outskirts of Tianyuan Mountain shortly after his Transmigration.

He had originally intended to wait for a life-or-death moment to use it for intimidation.

Wang Duoyin looked disappointed; he hadn't been able to see what he wanted from Ling Hao.

As soon as the flame-shaped token was in his hand, Wang Duoyin felt a warmth. This was consistent with the rumors that the Huoyan Sect's token felt warm to the touch.

The front of the token featured an embossed simplified flame pattern and the two characters "Huoyan," while the back bore the number 114514, representing the Outer Sect Disciple's ID.

The token's material, Red Flame Clay, was unique to the Huoyan Sect and strictly controlled, making forgery almost impossible.

Wang Duoyin looked up and happened to meet Ling Hao's condescending gaze, which carried a clear sense of amusement.

A sense of irritation rose in Wang Duoyin's heart.

Since becoming an Outer Sect Disciple and attaching himself to the Young Sect Master, even Inner Sect Disciples would not ignore him.

It had been a long time since he had felt this sensation of being "looked down upon" by someone.

But he couldn't lash out now. He had no way to prove this token was real, but he also had no way to prove it was fake.

"What, do you not believe it?"

Like a devil's whisper, accompanying these words, Wang Duoyin instantly felt a faint Aura pressing down on him.

"Qi Refinement Stage!"

Wang Duoyin's heart skipped a beat.

Although he was also in the Qi Refinement Stage, he was already nearly thirty.

Wang Duoyin tried hard to look up; he couldn't help it, he was just too short.

He looked at Ling Hao's young face—no more than twenty years old. To be able to enter the Qi Refinement Stage at such an age, he was definitely an Outer Sect Disciple of the Huoyan Sect.

Wang Duoyin's expression shifted a few times before he finally lowered his head deeply, a flash of resentment hidden in his eyes:

"May I dare ask for your honorable surname, Fellow Daoist?"

Watching the previously arrogant and domineering Green Leaf Sect Outer Sect Disciple lower his head, the crowd of Loose Cultivators instantly understood—this newcomer was actually a real Disciple of the Huoyan Sect!

Shock, admiration, awe, longing, oh, and disgust, all kinds of gazes instantly fell upon Ling Hao.

"This Chi Wanhe is too lucky. First the Green Leaf Sect, and now a Huoyan Sect Disciple has taken a fancy to her."

"Could it be they've taken a fancy to her beauty?"

Someone in the crowd said uncertainly.

"Then why hasn't anyone taken a fancy to me? I'm also a delicate little woman~"

"Σ _ ( ꒪ ཀ ꒪ ] ∠ ) Ugh, get lost!"

"My Lord, my Lord, I have ten Heart-Clearing Talismans in my hand. Give me a spot to enter the Huoyan Sect!"

"Keep dreaming. A mere Qi Induction realm cultivator wants to enter the Huoyan Sect."

...

The three people in front of the stall did not care about the noise in the crowd.

Ling Hao turned his head away haughtily,

"You do not deserve to know my name."

In truth, Ling Hao was still feeling a bit nervous. The two opposite him were in the Qi Refinement Stage, although he was one too.

But this Qi Refinement Stage of his had just been upgraded last night, and he only knew simple Five Elements Spells.

It was full of fluff; if a real fight broke out, he would likely be exposed.

Ling Hao did not know that for an Outer Sect Disciple at the first layer of Qi Refinement, being able to learn one Spell was already the limit.

Hearing this, the irritation Wang Duoyin had just suppressed was instantly ignited, but... he gritted his teeth and forced the ignited anger back down.

Wang Duoyin squeezed out a mirthless smile,

"Fellow Daoist from the Huoyan Sect, do you want these Heart-Clearing Talismans?"

He seemed to want to confirm something and asked Ling Hao.

Ling Hao pursed his lips toward the pale Chi Wanhe behind the stall,

"Was I not clear enough just now? Her, I want her!"

"Then these Heart-Clearing Talismans on the stall..."

Ling Hao's gaze shifted back and forth between Chi Wanhe and the Heart-Clearing Talismans on the stall.

Combining this with the previous scene and thinking for a moment, he understood what Wang Duoyin wanted.

So he was a freeloader! It seemed he didn't just want to freeload the Talismans, but also the person.

"Get lost!"

The corners of Wang Duoyin's mouth twitched violently, but he glanced at the Huoyan Sect token, dared not make any threats, and dragged Gao Dasha away in a dejected manner.

After the two from the Green Leaf Sect left, Ling Hao scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze, his brows furrowed tightly,

"What are you looking at? Get back to what you were doing!"

The surrounding crowd immediately scattered. The deterrent power of a Third-Grade Huoyan Sect Outer Sect Disciple was terrifying!

Turning his head to look at Chi Wanhe, Ling Hao flashed her a smile he thought was warm.

"You are Chi Wanhe, right?"

Chi Wanhe's heart pounded, and her face turned even paler. She felt a wave of despair; just out of the wolf's den, and now into the tiger's lair.

"That's right. I don't know what you meant by your words just now, My Lord?"

"It means exactly what it sounds like. Do you want to join my Sect?"

Chi Wanhe forced a stiff smile onto her face,

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, My Lord. This mortal woman truly has no Spiritual Root."

"How is that possible? You..."

Ling Hao suddenly stopped. This was a market, after all; exposing her Heavenly Aptitude rashly would not be good.

"It doesn't matter. Come back with me. I guarantee you'll have plenty to eat and drink! You'll be in seventh heaven every day!"

Ling Hao stepped over the stall and walked straight toward Chi Wanhe.

Seeing Ling Hao getting closer and closer, Chi Wanhe's forced smile instantly collapsed,

"My Lord! My Lord, listen to me! I really am just a piece of trash with no Spiritual Root! Entering would just be a waste of your esteemed Sect's resources!"

"You... a figure as powerful as you, taking me along would only be a burden!"

"How about... how about I tell you where you can get better Talismans? Or... or better girls?"

Ling Hao glanced at the System panel; the countdown was 11:45.

This Qi Refinement Stage experience card had less than twelve hours left. No need to wait for tomorrow; once the experience card was gone tonight, trying to bluff again would be fraught with difficulties, and he would have no safety guarantee while out here.

If he didn't take her away today, with those two Green Leaf Sect Disciples around, it was questionable whether she could survive the night.

Ling Hao looked at the sky; it was nearing dusk.

Take her away first, and explain to her on the way...

Besides, if he didn't bring a Disciple back today, when he returned to the Sect and looked...

Oh no! The Deputy Sect Master had also run away; this massive Sect would really just be him as a one-man commander.

Forget it, I don't care about this or that.

"Today, whether you want to or not, you're coming."

Ling Hao swept his left hand across the stall, taking all the Talismans. Extending his right hand, he prepared to carry Chi Wanhe away directly.

Chi Wanhe's pupils shrank, her heart in a panic, and her right hand hidden under her sleeve kept rubbing a jade pendant.

But no matter how she rubbed it, the jade pendant had no reaction.

Chi Wanhe was just like that, slung directly over Ling Hao's shoulder. She kicked her legs, pushed, and struggled violently.

"Ahh—! Let me go! Please, put me down!"

"I'm not going! I don't want to go to any Sect!"

Her voice trembled, filled with a crying tone, mixed with fear, anger, and despair. It was truly something that made one...

"Damn it, this Huoyan Sect Disciple really did take a fancy to her beauty!"

"The Talismans on the stall were also taken away."

"These Huoyan Sect Disciples are getting more and more arrogant."

"When I saw him come over and slap down that Huoyan Sect Disciple token, I knew the girl's fate."

Someone said in hindsight.

"Sigh, poor little girl."

The Loose Cultivators in the crowd sighed, but fearing the name of the Huoyan Sect, they dared not step forward at all.

Wang Duoyin, who hadn't gone far, saw this scene and was so angry that his eyes nearly split open and he almost bit his teeth to pieces.

Mine! Mine! They were all supposed to be mine!

This Huoyan Sect Disciple is just too f*cking detestable!

Ling Hao didn't care about these people's opinions at all. What a joke! For a wicked Huoyan Sect Disciple, isn't snatching someone a perfectly normal thing?

No, wait, it's the Huoyan Sect Disciples who do evil; what does that have to do with me, the Sect Master of Moon Shadow Sect?