Chapter 582 - 385: My Knees Are Hard, I Don’t Want to Be a Dog

Chapter 582: Chapter 385: My Knees Are Hard, I Don’t Want to Be a Dog

BOOM!

A deafening explosion ripped through the air. The terrifying aftershock of energy spread wildly in all directions, completely clearing the sky of clouds.

Master Qingxuan felt an irresistible, immense force travel up from his palm, numbing his entire arm. His body swayed in midair from the impact. Then, under the force of the blow, the sleeve of his Daoist robe—woven from the finest Spiritual Silk—shattered inch by inch, disintegrating into a flurry of airborne threads.

Only then did the crowd see clearly what the streak of white light was: a solid steel rod that shimmered from end to end. But at the moment of impact with Master Qingxuan’s palm, the front end of the steel rod had been brutally compressed, folding in on itself to form a thick, metal disc.

The power of a single strike was just that terrifying.

Master Qingxuan’s face was ashen. He steadied himself, his gaze shooting like lightning toward the source of the white light.

Then, under the watch of countless eyes, a figure appeared at the far edge of the horizon and began to stroll slowly forward.

The figure seemed to walk slowly, each step unhurried, as if on a leisurely stroll.

But strangely, with every step, his body would instantly cross thousands of feet. Within a few breaths, he had gone from the unreachable horizon to the sky above Zhongjing.

His strange pace, which was both slow and fast, had an indescribable rhythm to it, as if he were in harmony with the Great Dao of heaven and earth. The sight was enough to inspire awe and fear.

The newcomer wore a black martial arts uniform. He stood as straight as a pine tree, his expression as calm as still water. His deep eyes were as tranquil as an ancient well, seeming to contain entire oceans and galaxies.

"Wu Liangchen!" The moment Tang Yuchu saw the man’s face, her pupils contracted to the size of pinpricks. "Master, he... he is Wu Liangchen!"

In truth, Tang Yuchu didn’t need to say anything. The instant the figure appeared, Master Qingxuan’s gaze was already locked onto Wu Liangchen.

That profound and immeasurable aura, as imposing as a mountain and deep as an abyss, and that Daoist rhyme that seemed to faintly merge with the world—all of it proclaimed the newcomer’s extraordinary nature.

But when Master Qingxuan carefully sensed the fluctuations of Wu Liangchen’s aura, his placid, well-like face showed true astonishment for the first time.

Late-stage Foundation Establishment!

Wu Liangchen’s aura was, without a doubt, that of the Late-stage Foundation Establishment!

How is this possible?

According to the sect’s intelligence and Tang Yuchu’s previous report, this Wu Liangchen was clearly only at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

How much time has passed? A month at most, and he... he actually broke through to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment?!

This rate of Cultivation was simply unbelievable.

Even in the Kunxu Realm, which was rich in Spiritual Qi and resources, no one had ever heard of a genius who could leap from Mid-stage to Late-stage Foundation Establishment in such a short time.

Tang Yuchu trembled, her face deathly pale. She looked at Wu Liangchen as if she had seen a ghost.

She considered herself a favored daughter of heaven, meticulously nurtured by her sect, but compared to Wu Liangchen’s monstrous progress, she was like a firefly next to the bright moon.

’Is this guy even human?!’

Master Qingxuan took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the stormy waves crashing in his heart.

A prodigy who could cultivate an abandoned Cultivation Technique to the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment in the Lower Realm and defeat Tang Yuchu was already worthy of attention. But a prodigy who could break through from Mid-stage to Late-stage in just over a month? His value and threat level had just increased exponentially.

Therefore, he immediately changed his strategy.

The icy expression on Master Qingxuan’s face quickly faded, replaced by a warm smile.

"You must be Wu Liangchen?" Master Qingxuan began slowly, his voice carrying a deliberately crafted tone of admiration and appreciation.

"Truly, a hero emerges from the younger generation. To be able to cultivate to the Late-stage Foundation Establishment in a barren place like the Lower Realm is a testament to your outstanding talent and resolute spirit."

He paused, then extended an olive branch that would drive any Cultivator mad with desire. "Wu Liangchen, I am Master Qingxuan, an elder of the Celestial Profound Sect from the Kunxu Realm. If you are willing to join my Celestial Profound Sect, I can arrange for you to be accepted as the Sect Leader’s personal disciple, with the rank of Chief Disciple."

"From now on, the Celestial Profound Sect’s vast resources will be yours to use. All manner of profound Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques will be available for your study. I can even propose to the Sect Leader that this minor world be placed under your management! What do you say?"

His words struck like a clap of thunder on a clear day!

The Celestial Profound Sect Leader’s personal disciple! The position of Chief Disciple! Management of an entire minor world!

Any one of these conditions was enough to make countless prodigies in the Kunxu Realm fight to the death for it!

At his side, Tang Yuchu clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug deep into her palms, her face a mask of jealousy and indignation.

These were all the things she had dreamed of obtaining. But now, Master Qingxuan had so easily promised them to Wu Liangchen, the man she hated to the bone.

With just a nod, he could ascend to the heavens in a single step and possess everything she had ever longed for!

Why?!

Below, Jian Yi, Alina, and Master Jie Nian, who had already resigned themselves to death, now looked on in astonishment. Although they didn’t understand what being the Chief Disciple of the Celestial Profound Sect or managing a minor world meant, they could guess the weight of the promise from Master Qingxuan’s solemn tone and Tang Yuchu’s jealousy-twisted expression.

For a moment, all eyes focused on Wu Liangchen, waiting for his answer.

Wu Liangchen stood suspended in the air, his expression perfectly calm, as if Master Qingxuan hadn’t just offered him a chance to ascend to the heavens but had merely asked him about the weather.

His deep eyes rested quietly on Master Qingxuan for a moment before he finally spoke.

"That does sound quite good."

Master Qingxuan smiled, but before he could speak, Wu Liangchen spoke again. "But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. What do you want me to do in exchange for these conditions?"

The smile on Master Qingxuan’s face froze for a second, and a flicker of awkwardness, almost imperceptible, passed through his eyes.

He hadn’t expected someone so young like Wu Liangchen to have such a steady and cunning mind, completely unfazed by this pie that had fallen from the sky.

But he quickly recovered and chuckled. "Heh, you don’t really need to do anything. We just hope you will serve the sect and share its burdens."

"Of course, the most important thing is that the sect hopes you will hand over the complete Cultivation Technique for the *Devouring Spirit True Understanding*, as well as any other secrets you might possess. Don’t misunderstand. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement for both you and the sect."

Hearing this, the smile on Wu Liangchen’s face widened, but it was now laced with an undisguised coldness and mockery.

He slowly shook his head. His voice wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present with perfect clarity:

"Sorry. I was born with stiff knees. I never learned how to kneel."

"So..." He paused, his gaze suddenly becoming as sharp as a blade as he spoke, enunciating each word.

"I have no interest in being a dog!"

Below, although Jian Yi, Alina, Master Jie Nian, and the others were all heavily injured and their auras weak, a startling light erupted in their eyes when they heard Wu Liangchen’s firm and decisive reply.

Only Master Qingxuan’s expression changed drastically.

What was his status?

He was an elder of the Celestial Profound Sect in the Kunxu Realm, a great Cultivator at the Core Formation Stage!

He had condescended to personally recruit an ant from the Lower Realm, offering the supreme glory of becoming the Sect Leader’s personal disciple, the Chief Disciple, and the manager of a minor world—an offer that any prodigy in the Kunxu Realm would fight to the death for.

And the result?

This Wu Liangchen, far from being grateful, had used the phrase "no interest in being a dog" to humiliate him and the Celestial Profound Sect!

This was no longer a simple refusal. It was a blatant provocation, a deliberate act of trampling his face—and the face of the entire Celestial Profound Sect—into the dirt!

"Good, good, good!" Master Qingxuan repeated the word three times, then laughed in extreme anger. "Since you refuse the easy way and choose the hard way, then don’t blame me for what comes next!"

He slowly raised his right hand, fingers spread, and made a grasping motion in Wu Liangchen’s direction.

"I’m eager to see just how tough your bones really are."