Chapter 162: The Despicable 6 Sects and 8 Gates

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: The Despicable 6 Sects and 8 Gates

When Yun Xi drew her sword, many people took notice of her ring, especially some of the Elders from the Six Sects and Eight Gates.

"Why do those Sword Techniques look so familiar? I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before," someone said, puzzled.

In the seating area for the Lingyun Sect, Yun Xi’s mother, Mrs. Chen, also saw the ring. Yun Xi had changed her face, but she hadn’t deliberately altered the temperament she exuded with every move.

Because of this, Mrs. Chen had the strangest feeling that this young woman was just like her own daughter. But after getting a clear look at her face, she just gave a self-deprecating laugh.

’That wretched girl is already dead. How could she possibly be here?’

"What’s wrong?" Yun Keji asked, noticing the strange expression on his wife’s face.

"Look, doesn’t that girl remind you of Yun Xi? Their faces are completely different, but their temperament is exactly the same. Do you think she could be..."

"What nonsense are you thinking?" Yun Keji said. "I had my men kill that beggar years ago. Didn’t he tell us? When the old beggar found her, her family had been ambushed on the road and slaughtered. It’s impossible for her to have any relatives left in this world."

"She may not have been my biological daughter, but after all those years, I still had some affection for her. Who would have thought it would come to this?" Mrs. Chen sighed.

Yun Keji also sighed, then said viciously, "And whose fault is that? It’s all because of that little bastard Chu Fan! If he had just told us his cultivation had recovered back then, why would the Sect Leader and we have abandoned him? And that damned girl Yun Xi... she knew what she was doing would implicate us, but she still ran off with that little bastard without a second thought. It’s a good thing they died on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. If they hadn’t, I would’ve personally sent them to their graves."

"It’s a good thing the world has been in turmoil these past few years, so Red Blood Mansion hasn’t had the spare manpower to wipe out our Lingyun Sect. Otherwise, those two scoundrels would have gotten us all killed," Mrs. Chen said. "The Sect Leader has clearly been giving us the cold shoulder these years. And look at that opportunist, Li Mosheng. He might just climb right over you one of these days. I heard the Sect Leader plans to appoint a Vice Sect Leader to manage the Sect while he enters seclusion."

"Enough. Let’s not talk about this anymore."

But what they didn’t know was that as they spoke in low voices, a cold glint flashed in Chu Fan’s eyes as he watched them.

Aside from the Lingyun Sect, many others were discussing the match.

Some were talking about how Yun Xi’s Sword Techniques seemed familiar, while others were astonished that she had defeated the Saint Heir of the Fiery Fire Sect with a single strike.

Without a doubt, Yun Xi’s sword strike was a resounding slap in the face to all those who had been mocking Celestial Heart Hall.

Of course, there were still many who stubbornly insisted that Celestial Heart Hall was a place where the women outshone the men, and that the male disciples were inferior to the female disciples.

Yun Xi won the match. After the referee announced her victory, she left the ring with a cool indifference.

"Was there a flaw in my sword strike just now?"

After returning to her seat and accepting congratulations from the other Celestial Heart Hall disciples, Yun Xi quietly asked Chu Fan.

Chu Fan smiled. "For someone at your Realm to execute that technique with such power is already incredible. On the path of the Sword Dao, the deeper your understanding becomes, the more refined your old Sword Techniques will grow. So, whether a technique has flaws depends on who is judging it, and who is using it." Chu Fan explained, once again drawing on his own understanding of the Sword Dao.

Hearing Chu Fan’s words, Yun Xi smiled in satisfaction, then shot a vicious glare toward the Fiery Fire Sect’s seating area. At that moment, the Saint Heir happened to look over as well.

Killing intent flashed through Yun Xi’s eyes. She said coldly, "It’s a pity we can’t kill people here. Otherwise, for harassing me like that, I would have finished him with a single strike."

"He’s just a frog in a well. Why bother with him?" Chu Fan reached out and gently tapped her on the nose.

Then he stood up and said, "My turn."

However, Chu Fan had only made it halfway there when he saw his opponent fly onto the ring. To his surprise, it was an acquaintance—and one of the people on his must-kill list.

Master Ni of the Xuanming Sect.

During the last Tengxing Grand Assembly, Master Ni had been training on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain. Besides, he was already over thirty, so he couldn’t have participated anyway.

This one was six years later, meaning he had to be thirty-nine or forty. How could he possibly be allowed on the ring?

’Isn’t this a blatant disregard for the rules?’

’Do the Six Sects and Eight Gates have any shame at all?’

As Chu Fan stepped onto the ring, the voices mocking Celestial Heart Hall grew loud once more. Some people even started shouting for him to get off the stage.

They were spouting nonsense about how the men of Celestial Heart Hall were inferior to the women and should just hide under their skirts.

Once Chu Fan was on the ring, Master Ni took the initiative to explain.

"Yesterday, you violated the rules and injured your opponent. His injuries are not light; it will likely take him at least two months to return to his peak condition. After discussing the matter, the Elders of the Six Sects and Eight Gates decided you must be disciplined. That is why they sent me."

"My name is Master Ni. Most Cultivators in the Eastern Domain have heard of me. The creed I have lived by my entire life is justice. It is for this reason that I was chosen to be your opponent."

"They are confident that I will not harm you, and indeed, I have no intention of doing so. However, my cultivation is what it is. This is a punishment, yes, but also a test. More importantly, it is to prevent you from breaking the rules and injuring others again."

Master Ni’s speech immediately won him the favor of countless people in the crowd.

"It seems the rumors are true. Master Ni is worthy of being called a hero. He’s so righteous! He should be a role model for our generation."

"You’re just figuring that out? Ten years ago, he was already widely recognized as the most upright and talented disciple of the younger generation among the Six Sects and Eight Gates of the Eastern Domain. I heard he’s now being groomed by the Xuanming Sect to be the next Sect Leader."

Chu Fan sneered inwardly. Master Ni’s words had frankly been nauseating to listen to, but hearing the crowd’s discussions actually made him laugh coldly.

"They sent *you* to discipline me? You’re the ones who make the rules. You said no one over thirty could compete in the Tengxing Grand Assembly, and now you’re sending a forty-year-old up to fight. So tell me, what happens if I win? Don’t tell me that losing to you is my ’punishment,’ and that I have to face a much stronger opponent than anyone else, but I get no reward for winning? There’s no such logic in this world."

"Win against me? You have no chance of winning against me."

"Don’t be so absolute. If by some chance you lose, you’ll lose face in front of every Cultivation Sect in the entire Eastern Domain," Chu Fan said with a smile.

A murderous glint flashed in Master Ni’s eyes, but he quickly concealed it. Likely no one else in the audience noticed that fleeting killing intent.

But how could it possibly escape Chu Fan’s Spiritual Power?

"Fine. If you’re lucky enough to win even a single exchange against me, I will guarantee you a spot in the top three to compete for the final ranking," Master Ni said.

"You? Your word means nothing!" Chu Fan said dismissively, then turned his gaze to the four referees at the side of the ring.

He asked, "Does what he just said count? If I win, I go straight to the top three?"

"Correct!" one of the referees said as all four nodded in unison.

"In that case, this will be simple!" Chu Fan nodded. He assumed the same posture as the day before, with his left hand behind his back and his right hand extended in an inviting gesture. "Then make your move."

"Where is your weapon?" Master Ni asked.

"I won’t need a weapon to deal with you."

Chu Fan’s words were like a spark dropped into a powder keg. The entire arena erupted in an instant. Even the fights on the other nine rings came to a tacit halt as everyone turned to look their way.

"Arrogant! The man is far too arrogant!"

"Damn it, if it were me up there, I wouldn’t be able to hold back. I’d tear him to shreds."

"Just let him be arrogant. I guarantee he’ll be slinking away like a beaten dog soon enough."

"Exactly! Does he think Master Ni is like that Wan Jiaxing from yesterday? One is Golden Core Realm Tier Seven, the other is Soul Emergence Realm Tier One. That’s a gap of two whole Great Realms!"

"The ignorant know no fear! It’ll do him good to be taught a lesson."

"..."