Chapter 382: Bizarre Fate

“Yip.”Just ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍after returning to Water Evolution Residence, the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox let out a soft whimper.

Chen ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Beiwu lowered his head and discovered that the little fellow smacked its lips as though it was hungry, so he hurriedly took the little milk bottle out of his storage ring.

Among ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the four companions, the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox was by far the pickiest eater.

Golden ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Egg possessed the Three-Phase Furnace Profound Ability and had no dietary taboos, eating anything. Forget spirit herbs and spirit plants, even spirit ores and Spirit Stones could be swallowed and digested. It was the very definition of easy to raise.

Chen ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Beiwu even suspected that even if he did not feed Golden Egg Treasure Beast flesh or Spirit Pills and Treasure Pills, Golden Egg could develop steadily just by eating dirt.

Iron Egg came next. Normally, he did not eat vegetarian food, only meat, occasionally devouring the origins of exotic flames of heaven and earth to stimulate the bloodline within his body. As for Third-Realm Beast General flesh and various miraculous Spirit Pills, he accepted anything offered.

The Five Qi Vine was somewhat picky, yet it gave Chen Beiwu the least trouble.

There was no other reason. Although the Five Qi Vine liked spirit-plant meals with both meat and vegetables, it prepared everything itself.

Whenever it had nothing to do, it dug up branches and stems from Spiritual Herbs and Treasure Herbs and mixed them with Beast General bones, or went to Iron Egg to ask for some discarded pills and waste residue to recycle, producing soil abundant with Spiritual Mechanism on its own.

This soil could be used to fertilize the Five Qi Origin Grove while simultaneously feeding back into and stimulating the Five Qi Vine’s Cultivation Years, cultivation base, and bloodline.

Thus, Chen Beiwu had never felt that nurturing Companion Beasts was particularly troublesome until the nobly born Seven-Tailed Purple Fox broadened his horizons.

The little fellow’s tastes were extraordinarily finicky. It would not eat raw meat or drink spirit water. Aside from certain Treasure Pills and Mystic Pills, it would only consume Fourth-Tier Mystic Milk and Mystic Liquid that could hardly be bought even with Spirit Stones.

If the little fellow had not arrived at his door carrying its own milk bottle, Chen Beiwu truly might not have been able to afford raising this Little Princess.

“Gulp gulp.”

After happily finishing its milk, the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox raised its head and saw Golden Egg’s three curious faces.

“Is it tasty?”

Golden Egg’s three heads crowded in front of the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox, greed showing in his eyes.

He was not hungry. He was simply curious about the taste.

“Yip.”

The Seven-Tailed Purple Fox hesitated for a moment, then swept out a forepaw and withdrew a palm-sized little water bottle from its personal space.

Its mother’s Mystic Milk was far too precious. Sharing it with Chen Beiwu was fine, but it was somewhat reluctant to share it with its other little companions.

However, giving away some Fourth-Tier Mystic Liquid was no problem whatsoever. It had plenty on hand.

“Thank you.”

Golden Egg did not stand on ceremony either. He raised his head and gulped down the entire bottle of Fourth-Tier Mystic Liquid in one go.

Seeing this, the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox immediately widened its heterochromatic eyes and stared at Golden Egg in disbelief.

Good heavens. It only dared drink one or two drops of Fourth-Tier Mystic Liquid at a time. Any more would leave its heart racing and thoughts in disorder. Yet this fellow had simply downed the entire bottle in one gulp, without even worrying that something might happen.

“Hehe.”

Seeing the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox’s reaction, Golden Egg finally realized that he had accidentally finished all of the child’s rations and sheepishly handed the bottle back.

“Yip.”

The Seven-Tailed Purple Fox looked at the saliva around the bottle opening, shook its head, and decided to give Golden Egg the specially made water bottle as well.

“You’re this generous?”

Golden Egg’s eyes lit up. The more he looked at the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox, the more pleasing he found it.

Then he tossed the water bottle into his mouth and finished chewing it with a series of “crunch crunch” sounds.

“Nah.”

The Five Qi Vine at the side nodded slightly, feeling that having another companion was rather nice.

“Woof.”

Iron Egg, meanwhile, raised his head and glanced at Chen Beiwu.

He knew what Chen Beiwu was concerned about, but sometimes, having too many concerns would instead mean choking for fear of swallowing.

Leaving everything else aside, if Master directly contracted the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox and obtained the enhancement from its three meridians, his progress in comprehending the Bi’an Qiongqi Striving to Cross Stele should increase tremendously.

But it was still the same as always. No matter what choice Master made, he would support him unconditionally.

“A’Zhi, if I told you a secret, would you keep it for me?”

Chen Beiwu reached out and gently stroked the fur around the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox’s neck. It felt smooth and soft, even more silky than a young woman’s skin.

“Yip?”（Not even Father King and Mother Queen?）

The Seven-Tailed Purple Fox raised its head and blinked its round eyes.

“Right. It’s a secret that you can’t tell anyone.” Chen Beiwu nodded solemnly.

“Yip?”（Then would it harm Father King or Mother Queen?）

Chen Beiwu shook his head.

The little fellow tilted its head, its seven fluffy tails gently brushing across Chen Beiwu’s arm.

“Yip.”（Then I won’t tell anyone）

The little fellow’s voice was innocent and endearing, yet carried an unquestionable firmness.

Hearing this answer, Chen Beiwu also developed a rather peculiar sense of certainty.

The Seven-Tailed Purple Fox race possessed a noble bloodline and naturally proud temperaments. They had always disdained lying or betraying others. Once they encountered a suitable Contract Cultivator and gave their word, they would always fulfill it.

Conversely, toward someone they did not acknowledge, even if that person possessed overwhelming cultivation, a Seven-Tailed Purple Fox would rather die than submit.

To a certain extent, in terms of trustworthiness alone, the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox was even more reliable than Golden Egg had been back when he feared death and had yet to evolve.

But from beginning to end, what Chen Beiwu had feared was not that the little fellow would fail to keep the secret. Rather, he feared that although the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox sincerely intended to keep it, its young age and immature mind would allow the Purple Yao Beast King to see through it.

Thinking of this, thoughts turned within Chen Beiwu’s mind, and he decided to observe the little fellow for a while longer.

The Seven-Tailed Purple Fox, meanwhile, slightly raised its eyes and curiously looked at Chen Beiwu’s profile.

It was not stupid.

Whether it was Chen Beiwu’s earlier exchange with its mother or the question he had just asked, everything indicated that Chen Beiwu had some secrets. But that was perfectly normal.

After all, someone capable of cultivating a Yuanshi Golden Core and dominating the younger generation of Yuqing Immortal Sect could not possibly have no secrets. It was merely a question of how significant those secrets were.

Yet the Seven-Tailed Purple Fox did not care at all about Chen Beiwu’s probing.

The reason was simple. Through its Mind’s Eye talent, it could see Chen Beiwu’s purity.

Besides, time would reveal the fox’s heart. It believed that sooner or later, it would earn Chen Beiwu’s complete trust.

“Buzz buzz buzz!”

Just then, his phone vibrated.

Chen Beiwu activated his Divine Sense and connected the call, and Eldest Senior Brother’s voice immediately sounded.

“Little Junior Brother, the Sect Master has personally intervened. This matter is more or less over.”

“True Monarch Breaking Law Xiao Yu failed to properly discipline his subordinates and violated sect rules, so his name has already been removed from the Yuqing Golden Register.”

Yue Chenfeng chuckled: “It seems the Sect Master was truly furious this time. To uphold the authority of sect law, he did not hesitate to personally step forward and severely punish his direct disciple.”

One had to know that the symbolic significance of the Yuqing Golden Register was extremely high. It represented both the sect’s upper echelons acknowledging a prodigious cultivator and granting them preferential resources, as well as serving as the credential and guarantee for that prodigy’s path toward Divine Transformation True Venerable.

Xiao Yu’s name being removed meant that the sect would no longer provide him with cultivation resources for attempting to break through to Divine Transformation True Venerable in the future.

For a self-important prodigy like Xiao Yu, this punishment could hardly be called light!

Even Yue Chenfeng, who had pent-up resentment and believed second-generation sect cultivators were far too rampant, felt after hearing this news that the sect had handled matters fairly.

However, Yue Chenfeng looked at the phone screen and discovered that Little Junior Brother’s expression remained calm, without the slightest joy on his face.

“Junior Brother, are you dissatisfied with the sect’s punishment?” Yue Chenfeng raised an eyebrow, greatly surprised.

In his view, Xiao Yu had already suffered a major loss, and the Changqing lineage had no need to continue refusing to let go.

“It’s not that I’m dissatisfied. I simply think the sect’s punishment is too light.” Chen Beiwu shook his head slightly.

He had been punched for no reason, and merely returning a slap to the other party was supposed to count as fairness?

No, that was not fairness.

Because the Sect Master had intervened, Xiao Yu’s follow-up moves had yet to be launched. Thus, as things stood, Chen Beiwu had not suffered much on the surface, but that did not mean Xiao Yu would not have taken advantage of the situation to deliver a fatal blow after his scheme succeeded.

To put it unpleasantly, in Chen Beiwu’s view, Xiao Yu had merely lost something that had already been difficult for him to obtain, while Chen Beiwu genuinely had a chance of being listed in the Golden Register and, with the aid of the Changqing lineage, ascending to the position of Sect Master.

Let it end here?

What kind of joke was that? If things simply passed like this, another second-generation sect cultivator might try the same trick in the future.

“The punishment is too light?”

Yue Chenfeng froze slightly and asked: “Then what does Junior Brother think would be appropriate?”

“Eldest Senior Brother, since Xiao Yu was the one who set this scheme in motion first, when this scheme ends isn’t up to him. Your junior brother decides that.”

Chen Beiwu calmly said: “Unless Xiao Yu is willing to kneel publicly and apologize, only then would it be reasonable.”

Yue Chenfeng：“……”

Good heavens, Little Junior Brother was truly petty.

Making a second-generation sect cultivator like Xiao Yu, who was arrogant by nature and valued face above all else, kneel publicly would be less straightforward than simply killing him.

That was fundamentally impossible. Forget the Sect Master stepping in—even if Xiao Yu’s biological father personally intervened, there was no possibility of imposing such a punishment.

“Little Junior Brother, you should understand that your demand is completely impossible.”

Yue Chenfeng exhaled a turbid breath, feeling somewhat troubled.

If Master had not been in seclusion and unable to divide his attention, he truly wanted to throw this entire mess over to Master to handle.

“Thank you for the reminder, Eldest Senior Brother.”

Chen Beiwu spoke lightly, then changed the subject: “When can we meet Xiao Yu?”

Hearing this, Yue Chenfeng fell silent and looked at Chen Beiwu strangely.

It seemed Little Junior Brother’s earlier words had not been false. He genuinely intended to publicly kill Xiao Yu.

With such confidence, no wonder Little Junior Brother had been able to forge a Yuanshi Golden Core and cultivate the 《Secret Record of Opening Heaven in the Purple Mansion and Transforming into Nascent Soul》 that even Yue Chenfeng himself did not dare touch.

“Fine. You have your own ideas. I’ll speak with the Sect Master.”

Yue Chenfeng sighed softly and ended the call.

Looking at the gradually darkening phone screen, Chen Beiwu smiled with satisfaction.

Choosing to become Master’s disciple back then had truly been the correct decision.

If he had joined one of those utterly irresponsible, profit-driven master lineages, forget standing up for him—it would already have been difficult enough for them not to stab him in the back.

……

Elsewhere, Yuqing Peak.

Yuqing Hall.

“He really said that?”

The Yuqing Sect Master’s fingertips gently tapped the armrest of his cloud seat.

“Junior Brother Beiwu is indeed somewhat young and hot-blooded. I hope the Sect Master will forgive him.” Yue Chenfeng lowered his head slightly.

Even he felt that, with Xiao Yu already having received punishment from the sect, Little Junior Brother still stubbornly refusing to let the matter go was genuinely somewhat forceful.

It could even be called not knowing when to advance or retreat, and might cause the Sect Master to become displeased.

“If the young weren’t hot-blooded, could they still be called young?” the Yuqing Sect Master said pointedly.

“Since that’s the case, then let him do as he wishes. This Venerable would like to see just how far he can go.”

After speaking, the Yuqing Sect Master said nothing more and waved his hand.

Yue Chenfeng understood, respectfully saluted, and withdrew.

Only the Yuqing Sect Master remained within the vast and luxurious hall.

“He wants to use Xiao Yu as a whetstone. Young people these days truly are hot-blooded. He isn’t even afraid the stone might chip his blade instead.”

The Yuqing Sect Master murmured to himself, a smile appearing on his face.

Among Yuqing Immortal Sect’s four Dao Venerable Immortal Families, if one were to speak of the magnificence of their cultivators’ prestige and the flamboyance of their conduct, the Tianyuan Xiao Clan unquestionably ranked first.

If Chen Beiwu could borrow Dao Venerable Guangcheng’s influence and give the Tianyuan Xiao Clan a proper beating, that would not be bad either.

“The Secret Record of Opening Heaven in the Purple Mansion and Transforming into Nascent Soul is one of Yuqing’s supreme methods. If Chen Beiwu truly succeeds in cultivating it, he might really be able to suppress Xiao Yu with an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivation base.”

The Yuqing Sect Master shook his head and slowly closed his eyes.

……

Yuqing Immortal Sect, Feather Immortal Pavilion.

“Get the hell out, all of you!”

As Xiao Yu’s voice fell, the two personal maids at his sides immediately turned deathly pale and hurriedly withdrew.

“Phew.”

Xiao Yu exhaled a turbid breath, forcefully suppressing the killing intent in his heart.

Although he did not know what had gone wrong, judging from his father’s reaction yesterday, it seemed that Chen Beiwu was backed not only by the True Venerable Changqing of Dongming lineage, but also by a powerhouse whom the Xiao Clan needed to fear.

Next, according to what his father had said, he had only two paths available.

Either lower his head and obtain Chen Beiwu’s forgiveness, or openly and honorably suppress Chen Beiwu within sect rules, proving his potential to Yuqing Immortal Sect and the clan behind him.

As for a third path—risking his life in one desperate attempt to completely eliminate Chen Beiwu—it was no longer realistic.

Even if Chen Beiwu were foolish enough to agree to his Life-and-Death Platform challenge, the sect’s upper echelons would never permit a Nascent Soul True Monarch to face a Golden Core True Person.

“Young Master, Yue Chenfeng has brought people to visit.”

A maid spoke timidly.

“Yue Chenfeng? Why has he come!”

Xiao Yu’s eyes turned slightly cold as he activated his Divine Sense and probed beyond Feather Immortal Pavilion.

Immediately afterward, he straightened his chest, revealed a handsome smile, and strode toward the main entrance.

‘Little Junior Brother, remember to maintain superficial cordiality. Don’t be too arrogant.’ Yue Chenfeng reminded him through Divine Sense.

According to sect rules, a Golden Core disciple had to take the initiative to salute when meeting a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Moreover, Xiao Yu was a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch who had once served as Chief Disciple of the Immortal Sect and possessed a prestigious status within the sect.

If Little Junior Brother spoke improperly, Xiao Yu could punish him simply under the charge of disrespecting a True Monarch.

‘Senior Brother is wise, but your junior brother has always treated others kindly and dislikes fighting and killing.’

Chen Beiwu transmitted calmly, believing Eldest Senior Brother’s misunderstanding of him was far too deep.

Hearing this, the corner of Yue Chenfeng’s eye twitched, and his gaze became thoroughly speechless.

Anyone who believed those words would be an idiot.

Chen Beiwu had no time to care about Senior Brother’s reaction. His gaze instinctively turned toward the handsome cultivator walking out through the entrance.

‘Good heavens, what level of fate is this?’

Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted slightly. What entered his sight was an extraordinarily peculiar radiance of fate.

A Crimson Fortune Dragon of fate swam around the newcomer’s body. One-third of its dragon body had transformed into hazy Purple Qi, but two-thirds of the dragon body was scarlet as blood, so red that it was almost black.

This red-to-black fate appeared surging and immense, yet it was not good fortune. Instead, it represented ominous calamity and misfortune, having already reached the degree of dark clouds covering the crown.

But compared with these things, what shook Chen Beiwu even more was that within those incomparably dense dark clouds, he could faintly hear the miserable wails and roars of countless wronged souls.

Without question, this phenomenon was entirely different from any radiance of fate Chen Beiwu had ever seen before.

‘To possess a curse of wronged souls on this scale, how many cultivators’ fates would have to be plundered? Ten thousand, or a hundred thousand?’

At this thought, Chen Beiwu quickly restrained his gaze and questioned Iron Egg.

‘Woof!’

Iron Egg raised his head and glanced at Xiao Yu, activating the Karmic Fire Listening to Sin Profound Ability, yet he failed to see even the slightest power of sin, as though the other party were a benevolent man untouched by bloodshed.