Heh.

So they've finally arrived?

A faint, almost imperceptible smile sketched across Chen Fei's lips, yet his expression shifted with Oscar-worthy skill, showing a trace of panic. He quickly suppressed it, his face returning to one of cool indifference. "Oh, really? It seems the Holy Fire Sect truly believes they're something special, that not even the Heavenly King Laozi would dare to address you?"

"How insolent! Do you have any idea who you're talking to?" The blind old man detected the mockery in Chen Fei's words and bellowed in rage.

After all, what is my status? I am a venerable Elder of the Holy Fire Sect! A genuine First-Class Ancient Martial Artist! And now, some punk in his twenties dares to act so brazenly before me, mocking me with no respect for his elders? How utterly reckless and delusional!

"Heh, you ask what I am? Then what are you? Do you really think getting old gives you the right to be arrogant and bully others?" Chen Fei's dark eyes flashed with a cold light, though he maintained his act of feigned anger.

"Chen Fei, don't be disrespectful! Remember, you're speaking to an expert from the Holy Fire Sect!" Seeing this, Lei Long dramatically played along, putting on a panicked expression as he rebuked him.

However, as he feigned his scolding, the look he secretly shot the blind old man was filled with unmistakable pity.

Yes, pity.

Honestly, a mere First-Class Ancient Martial Artist daring to be so arrogant before a Half-Step Innate Peak expert? Are they not courting death? They're practically digging their own graves! They have no idea I'm just playing along with Chen Fei's act.

While it was a bit of a twisted sense of humor, it was undeniably the kind of confidence that came with immense power. They could play this game however they pleased. Might makes right!

"An expert from the Holy Fire Sect? I spit on that! Them?" Chen Fei was now fully in character as an arrogant young master accustomed to getting his way. He stared at his opponents with disdain.

And it's the truth. The strongest of these three old geezers has barely touched the threshold of the Half-Step Innate Realm. Experts? Calling them that would be an insult to the term itself!

"You're courting death!" At his words, the three old men's faces contorted with rage. The spirited Elder Zhong, in particular, couldn't stop his face from sinking, a frosty glint flashing in his murky eyes as he roared.

He was the Elder of Law Enforcement for the Holy Fire Sect—an incredibly prestigious position, second to almost none. Yet here was this young brat, Chen Fei, spewing such rebellious and mocking words to his face.

This is nothing short of utter humiliation! How can I endure this?

"Elder Zhong, don't be angry. I, Zhou Duanyi, will personally teach this ignorant pup that words have consequences!" The blind old man, initially stunned, was now overcome with fury. He stepped forward, his aura surging as killing intent and scorching heat radiated from him in waves.

A cruel, grim smile twisted his grotesque face. Casting aside all pretense of status or decorum, he let out a harsh cry. Spreading his fingers wide, he lunged, his hand clawing straight for Chen Fei's throat. It was a lethal, merciless strike.

"Show mercy!" Instructor Lei Long, ever the dedicated actor, continued to shout with feigned panic.

"Shut up!" the spirited Elder Zhong snapped back, his voice dripping with impatience and a sinister tone. "I know you're from Flying Leopard, but don't meddle in what doesn't concern you! Get out of the way, or I'll kill you, too!"

Instructor Lei Long's expression changed drastically, anger flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected them to be so domineering as to threaten even him.

"Heh, if it weren't for Senior Brother Ma holding a position in Flying Leopard, I'd have killed an eyesore like you long ago. Now get lost! I'm going to make this kid's blood splatter everywhere!" the blind old man attacking Chen Fei cackled with equal arrogance, his fingers closing in on their target.

Heh… you're all so reckless. Do you truly think you have everything under control? A cold smile played on Chen Fei's lips internally as a frosty glint shot through his dark eyes.

WHUM!

In the next instant, a wild aura, like that of a tiger descending a mountain, erupted from his body. He threw a casual punch forward, and a fierce, searing gust of wind blasted out like a storm. With a dull, sickening CRACK, his fist broke the old man's ribs and killed him in a single blow!

"What? Impossible!"

"You dare, boy!"

Almost simultaneously, both the spirited Elder Zhong and the old man with brown spots, Xue Hongxin, paled and cried out in alarm.

The three of them had come together. They knew the blind old man was a genuine First-Class Ancient Martial Artist. But now, he… he had been killed by a single punch from Chen Fei! How was that possible? Was this some kind of joke? The color drained from both of their faces, their expressions a mix of shock and panic.

The old man with brown spots, Xue Hongxin, was the most astounded of all.

He, unlike the other two, was aware that Chen Fei possessed considerable strength. He had estimated him to be at least a First-Class Ancient Martial Artist, on par with himself and the man who had just died.

But the problem was that the man had been killed by a single punch, with no tricks or fancy moves. What did that mean?

It means his strength is likely far greater than that level. Could it be…? A look of horror flashed in his eyes.

"Interesting."

Just then, a gravelly, aged voice, filled with cold amusement, cut through the air. Elder Zhong looked down on Chen Fei with an air of superiority. "I never expected to encounter such a genius on a rare trip out from the mountains. It must be destiny. Boy, I will give you an opportunity. Take me as your master and join our Holy Fire Sect, and everything that has happened here will be forgiven."

He spoke as if he were bestowing a great favor, as if becoming his disciple was a supreme honor. Chen Fei, however, merely scoffed, his lips curled in a mocking sneer.

"Take you as my master? Are you worthy?" he retorted with a cold laugh.

"Boy, don't be ungrateful!"

Elder Zhong's face darkened with rage, but he managed to restrain it, speaking with forced patience. "Boy, I suggest you understand your situation. You have offended our Holy Fire Sect, so no matter how talented you are, it's useless! Let me tell you, your only way out is to become my disciple and join us. Only then can you avoid death!"

It was obvious he coveted Chen Fei's martial talent and was trying to coerce him into discipleship with threats and promises. After all, he knew perfectly well what a First-Class Ancient Martial Artist in his twenties signified, and the thought made his heart pound.

He then added with an arrogant flourish, "Furthermore, I, Zhong Can, hold the esteemed position of Elder of Law Enforcement within the Holy Fire Sect. My authority is second to almost none, far above the masses. Also, bear in mind that I have already reached the Peak of First-Class Ancient Martial Artist and am merely half a step from the Half-Step Innate Realm!"

"With an expert such as myself offering to take you in, what more could you possibly want?" he concluded.

Chen Fei's face twitched, his expression utterly blank. What the hell… I can't believe this kind of person actually exists—so conceited, so full of himself. 'What more could you possibly want?' I'm absolutely floored that I've run into this kind of nonsense!

"If you want me to be your disciple, fine," he said without hesitation. "Go back and kill that so-called ancestor of yours, Jun Duanshan, and I'll immediately kneel and accept. Otherwise, forget it!"

"Are you toying with me?" Elder Zhong's face turned grim, his tone becoming dangerously cold.

"Congratulations, you got it right!" Chen Fei nodded at once, speaking with deadpan seriousness. "I am toying with you. So what?"

So what? So what? So what? Chen Fei's mocking words echoed relentlessly in his mind, making his wrinkled old face even uglier. He finally dropped all pretense, his aura exploding with fury as he glared at Chen Fei. "Boy, I'm giving you one last chance! Either become my disciple, or die!"

"You want to kill me? I'm afraid you lack the ability," Chen Fei retorted dismissively, his tone still laced with mockery.

A mere Peak of First-Class Ancient Martial Artist thinks he can kill me? Keep dreaming.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Elder Zhong was seething, so enraged he could only repeat the word "good" as his face cycled through shades of red and pale white.

Who am I? I am Zhong Can of the Holy Fire Sect! What is my status? My power? I condescended to take you, a 'criminal,' as my disciple. It was an act of immense grace, yet this brat dares to defy my goodwill and refuse me? This is preposterous! Utterly preposterous!

"Good for what? If you're going to make a move, then get on with it. Stop acting like some lunatic buffoon," Chen Fei said coolly, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Under normal circumstances, Chen Fei's words and actions would have been the height of arrogance. Elder Zhong Can of the Holy Fire Sect was a First-Class Ancient Martial Artist at his peak. In the entire world of Ancient Martial Arts, even if he wasn't at the very apex, he was absolutely a top-tier figure. For a young man in his twenties to be so brazen and ungrateful, to act so insolently before a person of Elder Zhong's stature, was pure suicide.

But this was not a normal situation. The problem was Chen Fei—a monster in human form.

Peak of First-Class Ancient Martial Artist? Before me, that's nothing to be proud of.

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