Seeing Zheng Xiaofeng, whose imposing aura was no less than that of the sect leader, Yaoqin looked at Chu Xingchen with astonishment in her eyes.
What had he said to him? Why did this man suddenly seem as if he had taken some kind of elixir?
But Yaoqin saw Chu Xingchen gently shake his head at her.
Yaoqin found it hard to believe—had he said it himself?!
Zheng Xiaofeng stepped forward, confronting the sect leader:
“What are you looking at?! Even if I’m just a sweeper, I’m still from the Tianyan Sect. Do you dare to touch me?”
The Qingfeng Sect leader suppressed his anger and turned his gaze to Chu Xingchen, asking, “May I ask if this matter is true or not?”
Chu Xingchen replied leisurely, “Of course, it’s true.”
“Even if it’s the Tianyan Sect, isn’t this way of doing things a bit too underhanded?!” the Qingfeng Sect leader questioned. “We’ve shown your sect respect, and yet you act like this? Is this really appropriate?!”
Chu Xingchen lightly brushed off the responsibility, saying, “Elder Zheng Xiaofeng wanted to come; it wasn’t my invitation.”
The sect leader finally couldn’t hold back and scolded, “This is against the rules! I’ll have to ask your Tianyan Sect elders about this!”
To have a sect elder taken away to sweep floors in their own sect?
Do we, the Qingfeng Sect, have no face to save?!
Moreover! A mere newly promoted Golden Core elder dares to scold me like this!
In the past, he wouldn’t even dare to speak to me without lowering his voice!
Chu Xingchen sneered, “And yet, someone in your sect colluding with demonic cultivators is within the rules?!”
The sect leader shot back, “Evidence?! You can’t just slander our Qingfeng Sect without proof!”
Without hesitation, Chu Xingchen tossed out a blood-qi spirit stone from a spatial ring.
“Oh, great sect leader, have you carefully checked the accounts of your Qingfeng Sect’s mines?” Chu Xingchen stepped forward, smirking disdainfully. “You’ve been raising parasites in your own house, and you don’t even know it. If you wait until the house collapses, it’ll be too late to find them.”
The sect leader was momentarily stunned, looking at Chu Xingchen’s confident gaze and the blood-qi-filled spirit stone lying on the ground.
“Did you really think the Tianyan Sect would send someone to play games with you?” Chu Xingchen chuckled lightly. “Did you think I was here to pick a fight? Go investigate Elder Shangguan, who’s locked up in the confinement room!”
“Don’t say we didn’t give you a chance. I’m giving you this opportunity because I believe you’re unaware,” Chu Xingchen continued.
“We’ve already vetted Elder Zheng Xiaofeng. From now on, he’ll represent the Tianyan Sect to supervise your Qingfeng Sect’s self-investigation.”
“My senior sister and I have received intelligence about demonic cultivators and need to verify it. It should take about three days.”
Hearing this, Zheng Xiaofeng quickly looked at Chu Xingchen—Brother! What’s going on?! I didn’t know about this!
Are you telling the truth or not?! If you’re not here, where will I get the confidence to handle this?!
But Chu Xingchen ignored him and continued,
“For these three days, don’t you dare let your divine sense stray even a little from Elder Zheng. If I return and Elder Zheng is gone…”
“I’ll have no choice but to assume that your entire Qingfeng Sect has fallen to demonic cultivation and make it the first target of the Central Continent’s purge.”
Hearing this, the sect leader’s tone was clearly skeptical. “Do you think you can scare me? Can a Tianyan Sect true disciple really turn black into white?!”
In response, Chu Xingchen shrugged nonchalantly,
“Of course, I can. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and twist off Elder Zheng’s head right now to test my words.”
Zheng Xiaofeng’s heart raced upon hearing this! The sect leader might not know, but he certainly did.
Even if the sect leader really twisted his head off right now, Chu Xingchen would likely remain unharmed.
But Chu Xingchen’s voice transmission followed immediately:
“You were doing great just now. Keep it up. You’re not stupid. The more confident you are, the more he’ll hesitate!”
Zheng Xiaofeng almost couldn’t hold back his voice transmission, asking, “Are you really leaving, or is this a bluff?”
The only response he got was Chu Xingchen’s radiant smile.
Chu Xingchen turned to Yaoqin and said, “Senior sister, the sect has been urging us. Let’s set off now.”
Hearing this, Yaoqin stood up, ready to leave with Chu Xingchen. As she passed by the sect leader, she gave him a cold, icy glare.
Then, Zheng Xiaofeng and the Qingfeng Sect leader watched as the two flew off into the distance at incredible speed.
Once the two were out of the range of their divine senses, the sect leader’s gaze turned back to Zheng Xiaofeng.
Zheng Xiaofeng took a deep breath. Damn it, I’m all in now.
He glared fiercely at the Qingfeng Sect leader and shouted, “Old thief! What are you looking at?! Hurry up and start the investigation!”
The sect leader’s hands clenched tightly, his eyes fierce as he stared at Zheng Xiaofeng, as if he might rip off his arrogant head at any moment!
Zheng Xiaofeng knew he couldn’t back down now. He stepped forward, walking right up to the sect leader, a wild smile on his face as he said,
“You’ve been suppressing me for years now. Calling you an old thief isn’t too much, is it? If you have a problem with it, go ahead and twist my head off right now!”
The sect leader took two deep breaths. As the leader, even if there was only the slightest possibility, he wouldn’t risk the entire sect.
He could only suppress his anger and say, “Elder Zheng, let’s go to the confinement room together!”
Seeing the sect leader’s frustrated expression, Zheng Xiaofeng didn’t know why, but he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
The fear in his heart was swept away by this euphoria.
He sneered, “Lead the way!”
“Can’t you walk by yourself?!”
“I said, lead the way!”
The sect leader clenched his fists, took another deep breath, and then turned away, his long sleeves fluttering.
Zheng Xiaofeng finally couldn’t hold back his triumphant laughter.
His laughter echoed through the small hall.
Damn, this feels amazing! Even if I die now, it’s worth it!
At the outskirts of the Qingfeng Sect.
Chu Xingchen and Yaoqin both came to a stop.
“Senior sister…” Chu Xingchen called out habitually, then paused and chuckled, “Yaoqin, you go and block the eastern path to the mines. I’ll take care of the other one.”
Yaoqin nodded lightly in agreement, then said in a calm tone, “Senior sister is fine too. I don’t mind hearing it.”
Chu Xingchen replied seriously, “That’ll cost extra!”
Yaoqin gave him a cold glance and flew off toward the east without another word.
“Really… no sense of humor at all,” Chu Xingchen muttered, then flew off to the south.
Chu Xingchen had studied the paths beforehand. Only the east and south were densely forested, rugged, and difficult to traverse, making it easy to conceal one’s movements.
This time, their provocation was sure to flush out a few small fry. Compared to the open areas in other directions, the chances of catching someone were higher here.
As for why Chu Xingchen was so confident that the Qingfeng Sect leader wouldn’t act rashly, it was because the sect leader had a blue trait: 【Cautious and Meticulous】.
In uncertain situations, he wouldn’t act recklessly.
At the very least, he would wait three days to investigate the situation thoroughly.
That was why Chu Xingchen had set the timeline at three days.
Next, they would intercept any small fry trying to send messages to the mines and figure out just how rotten the Qingfeng Sect had become.
As for the Qingfeng Sect’s self-investigation…
Chu Xingchen would rather count on Li Yingling not causing any trouble by the time he returned.