Chapter 281: Chapter 278: Arrogant First, Respectful Later

Inside the small private room.

The pressure of a Core Formation Cultivator filled the air. Although it wasn’t directed at them, Zhang Tie, Gumu Sheng, Cheng Yao, Wang Xingwei, Bai Qing, and Li Qingshan couldn’t help but tremble.

This had nothing to do with being friend or foe. It was the natural awe a lower-level life form felt when facing a higher-level one.

Except for a bewildered Li Qingshan, the other five all stared at Li Ping, their eyes filled with utter disbelief.

They couldn’t help but scream internally: ’This is Big Brother? This is Big Brother’s aura? This is definitely not the power a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator could possess. This is the pressure of a Core Formation Master!’

All five of them had seen a Core Formation Master before. They knew very well what the pressure radiating from Li Ping signified.

However, the Core Formation Masters they had previously encountered were all in a calm state—either ignoring them as if they were ants or adopting the posture of an amiable elder.

This was the first time they had ever seen a Core Formation Master get angry!

’Big Brother actually reached Core Formation!’ The five of them were both shocked and overjoyed.

...

On the other side.

If Zhang Tie and the others were pleasantly surprised to learn Li Ping was a Core Formation Cultivator, then Ye Chen was utterly terrified.

’Core Formation... Li Ping is a Core Formation Master!’

He stood frozen, his face ashen. He trembled uncontrollably, not even daring to lift his head.

Previously, he had been arrogant, acting as if he could summon a Core Formation Cultivator from Purple Cloud Valley to his aid with a single word.

But in reality, that was completely impossible.

How high was the status of a Core Formation Cultivator?

Such a minor incident in the Immortal City was far beneath their notice.

Ye Chen was certain that even if Li Ping killed him on the spot, there would be no consequences.

Whether it was the three Sects or the Immortal City, they would simply record his cause of death as ’suicide.’

Core Formation Cultivators would not easily offend a peer of the same tier.

Especially since, as far as he knew, Li Ping was a Loose Cultivator, which made him someone nobody dared to provoke.

Low-tier Loose Cultivators lacked the backing of a Sect or family, leaving them weak and often bullied.

But for Core Formation Loose Cultivators, it was the opposite. Unburdened by a Sect or family, they acted without scruples.

Not even Purple Cloud Valley would dare to easily offend a Loose Cultivator who was a Core Formation Master.

Because if you offended a Loose Cultivator at the Core Formation level and failed to kill them in one blow, you would face endless retaliation.

If they couldn’t deal with the Core Formation Cultivator, couldn’t they still deal with Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Cultivators?

"If you dare provoke this old man, your Low-tier Cultivators had best not leave their homes ever again!" This was a famous quote oft-repeated by the renowned Loose Cultivator Core Formation Master of the Western Wilderness, the ’Red Thunder Old Monster’.

Although the Red Thunder Old Monster’s Cultivation was only at the Mid-stage Core Formation and not considered top-tier in the Western Wilderness Cultivation Realm, he was a Loose Cultivator who acted with impunity.

The Inner Sects of the Daoist Guardian Alliance, including the Academy Palace, all treated him with the utmost courtesy.

Even the four Sects of the Demon Dao kept a respectful distance from him.

The thought that he was now facing an old monster of a Loose Cultivator Core Formation Master, much like the Red Thunder Old Monster, sent a chill down Ye Chen’s spine. He could feel his legs trembling uncontrollably.

If he didn’t know he couldn’t escape, he probably would have turned and fled immediately.

And when he heard the mocking inquiry in his ear, he instantly broke out in a cold sweat.

The next moment, his knees gave way, and he dropped to the ground without hesitation, kowtowing as if his head were a garlic pestle. "This lowly one was blinded by greed! I have offended you, Senior! This junior deserves to die, this junior deserves to die!"

In the quiet private room, the sound of Ye Chen’s forehead striking the floor was exceptionally loud.

Zhang Tie and the other five exchanged glances, but Li Ping just smiled without a word, watching Ye Chen kowtow on the ground.

Ye Chen kowtowed for a full half-hour, until his forehead was a gruesome mess of torn skin and raw flesh, and a small pool of blood had formed on the floor.

Only then did Li Ping shake his head, his interest waning. "Alright, alright. Stop talking about dying. Do you think I’m some kind of natural-born killer? Get out. Don’t disturb our gathering."

Ye Chen had offended him, but it wasn’t a major issue, certainly not a crime punishable by death. A small punishment was sufficient, and kowtowing for half an hour was enough.

As for his actions against Gumu Sheng tonight... Li Ping believed he would go back and reflect on his mistakes.

That was enough.

Li Ping had no intention of interfering in the Immortal City’s power struggles, much less confronting the three Sects of Purple Cloud Valley for the sake of the Meng family.

His purpose in revealing his Cultivation today was simple: he hoped the three Sects would, for his sake, not be too ruthless toward Gumu Sheng, Zhang Tie, and the others.

He would not do anything more.

This was the last act of kindness he would show his sworn brothers and sister.

...

In order to appear more pitiful, Ye Chen hadn’t dared to use his Magical Power to protect his forehead or other parts of his body, so his injuries were genuine.

Of course, a Cultivator’s constitution was far superior to a mortal’s.

Although his kowtowing had left his head bloodied and mangled, he didn’t feel any dizziness or see any stars.

Fully focused, he had heard every single word Li Ping said with perfect clarity.

Hearing Li Ping tell him to get out, Ye Chen knew he was safe and couldn’t help but heave a huge sigh of relief.

But he soon hesitated again. Li Ping had only told him to get out, not to get up.

’If I stand up rashly, will I annoy him?’ Ye Chen wondered nervously. ’But he already told me to leave. If I stay here and keep kowtowing, I’d be defying him.’

Caught in a dilemma, Ye Chen had a flash of insight and quickly came up with an idea.

"This lowly one thanks Senior for his magnanimity!" He shuffled backward on his knees, kowtowing as he retreated.

At the same time, he thoughtfully used his robes to wipe the bloodstains from the floor.

Li Ping watched, dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected such a maneuver.

Finally, with a CREAK...

The door closed. Ye Chen’s figure vanished, and tranquility returned to the private room.

...

The six of them looked at each other, their gazes finally settling on Li Ping.

For a long moment, they couldn’t quite process what had just happened.

Li Ping spoke with a warm smile, "The unpleasant guest is gone. Let’s continue the party."

Everyone remained silent. After a moment, Zhang Tie finally stammered, "B-Big Brother."

As he called him Big Brother, he carefully watched Li Ping’s expression. Only when he saw Li Ping’s face held its usual smile did he heave a great sigh of relief.

A Core Formation Master’s status was so noble.

Didn’t they see how Ye Chen, the moment he learned Li Ping’s identity, had not only dropped to his knees to kowtow but also immediately changed his form of address to "Senior"?

Zhang Tie had been faintly worried that continuing to call him "Big Brother" might displease him.

Fortunately, his worry was unnecessary. Big Brother hadn’t distanced himself from them because of the vast disparity in their status.

He was still his Big Brother!

"You rascal, what bad things are you saying about me in your head? Your punishment is three cups of wine!" Li Ping saw through his thoughts and couldn’t help but shake his head with a laugh.

Hearing Li Ping’s words, the others finally relaxed as well.

’See, I told you! How could a person of such noble character like Big Brother distance himself from us just because his Cultivation has increased?’

In an instant, the atmosphere in the private room grew lively once more, even more so than before.

After what had just happened, even the dimmest person would understand: they seemed to have gained a Core Formation Master as a backer.

Out of respect for Big Brother, even if the three Sects of Purple Cloud Valley wanted to deal with the Meng family, they would probably give them a way to save face.

Thinking of this, Gumu Sheng finally felt the great weight lift from his heart.

Shi Lang’s betrayal had given Ye Chen leverage over him.

Originally, he would have been skinned alive, metaphorically speaking, but Big Brother had stepped in and allowed him to escape unscathed.

’Betrayed me, hmph...’

Cheng Yao was the most active. She grinned and said, "Big Brother, when did you reach Core Formation?"

"Just a few years ago," Li Ping smiled.

Hearing his reply, she rubbed her hands together in anticipation and asked, "Big Brother, do you think I still have a chance to reach Core Formation?"

Hearing this, Li Ping was rendered speechless. "What have you been doing all this time? And now you want to reach Core Formation?"

Cheng Yao was 130 years old this year, more than halfway through her life, yet her Cultivation hadn’t even reached the peak of Early-stage Foundation Establishment. Who knew how long it would take her to even reach Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

As for Core Formation, without a great opportunity, it was impossible for her in this lifetime.

"Hehe..." Despite being shot down by Big Brother, Cheng Yao was still in high spirits, giggling foolishly.

Seeing this, Zhang Tie and the other two, who had also wanted to ask, silently swallowed their questions.

Li Ping turned to Wang Xingwei, who was sitting quietly beside Cheng Yao, and said with a smile, "You, on the other hand, my boy. You’re not far from reaching the peak of Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, are you? If you can reach Late-stage Foundation Establishment within twenty years, you might have a sliver of hope for Core Formation."

Hearing Li Ping’s assessment of him, Wang Xingwei grew slightly flustered. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your auspicious words, Big Brother."

None of those present had expected Li Ping to have such a high opinion of Wang Xingwei.

Normally, due to his personality, Wang Xingwei was like an invisible man in their group. The one who ran things for the Wang family had always been Cheng Yao.

They had no idea that Wang Xingwei had, without them noticing, come so far.

"Hehe..." Hearing Big Brother’s praise, Cheng Yao looked at her Daoist companion beside her and once again couldn’t help but giggle foolishly.

...

Li Qingshan sat cautiously in a corner, listening to the elders’ conversation.

He finally understood. The ’grandfather’ he had wanted to meet was not a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but a lofty Core Formation Master.

Once he understood, he also knew why his grandmother had never been able to forget him before she died.

So, his grandfather was such a major figure!

’Unfortunately, Grandfather doesn’t care about me,’ Li Qingshan couldn’t help but sigh internally.

During their interaction, he could clearly sense that when his grandfather looked at him, there was no love, hate, joy, or sorrow... no emotion at all.

It was as placid as looking at a tree, a blade of grass, or a stone.

...

The banquet continued until morning.

At some point, Li Ping also told them that he planned to make a trip to Jixia and then head to the Great Zhou.

Under everyone’s reluctant gazes.

He took out the Dharma Artifacts and puppets he no longer needed from his Storage Bag and bestowed them upon the group.

The families of Zhang Tie, Gumu Sheng, Cheng Yao, and Bai Qing each received a Tier Two Upper Grade puppet. In addition, all six people present, including Li Qingshan, were each given some Upper Grade Dharma Artifacts.

Everyone was overjoyed.

These trinkets that Li Ping had discarded were, to them, incredibly precious Treasures.

...

Stepping out of the private room, Li Ping saw three figures waiting respectfully in the restaurant’s main hall. He had no idea how long they had been there.

His gaze swept over them, and he smiled slightly. All three were his acquaintances.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.