Then the Talisman Master Could Go
Steward Hong's head was being ground into the sand, leaving him in a sorry state.
No matter how he struggled, he could not break free.
"You piece of trash, you've got some growing nerve. Do you think that just because someone has your back, you can disregard me, Master Wei, too?"
Master Wei ground his foot down hard on Steward Hong, his voice icy.
"I wouldn't dare... I wouldn't dare."
"Wouldn't dare? Looks to me like you would! Weren't you just threatening me with some seal?"
Master Wei snorted coldly and stomped down hard again.
Steward Hong's voice had grown faint, and his breath was as thin as a thread.
But Master Wei still paid it no mind. Given his status, even if he accidentally killed the steward, it would not cause him any trouble.
There was no other reason than that he was a noble talisman master.
Talisman masters already held esteemed positions, and he was a high-level talisman master who could reliably inscribe second-grade talismans. The Dragon-Seeking Sect had invited him here.
Even the nine lofty elders had to show him some respect.
That was why he had paid no attention to the young sect master's lousy seal.
By now, a crowd of disciples had gradually gathered outside the talisman room, all watching the scene with lingering fear.
But none dared intervene.
Master Wei held a special position in the sect as an Attendant talisman master.
He had always been unruly, and his unruly nature had made him increasingly brutal.
He would beat and curse his subordinates, and even certain disciples, at the slightest provocation.
Never mind ordinary disciples like them-even inner disciples and personal disciples did not dare act too arrogantly before Master Wei.
Still less did anyone dare meddle in his affairs. Master Wei's status afforded him many privileges in the sect.
"Stop."
At that moment, a figure stepped out of the crowd.
Once they saw who it was, everyone bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Sect Master."
The newcomer was Chen Ning.
He had just finished feeding the little black dragon and had been planning to return when he noticed the disciples gathered here.
He came over to take a look, and as soon as he arrived, he saw a middle-aged man in splendid robes trampling Steward Hong into the ground.
How could he ignore that?
Chen Ning's voice immediately drew Master Wei's attention as well. When he looked over, he could not help sneering. "Greetings, Sect Master."
He naturally recognized Chen Ning.
"Let him go."
Seeing Steward Hong's terrible condition, Chen Ning could not help drawing a sharp breath. This man had been far too ruthless.
"Sect Master, this man touched the superior-grade talisman I was going to present to the First Elder. I was teaching him a lesson."
Master Wei smiled and lifted his foot, allowing Steward Hong to breathe a little more easily.
He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood.
"I told him to bring me the talisman. This has nothing to do with him. Didn't you see my sect master's seal?"
When Chen Ning finished speaking, he noticed some torn scraps of paper on the ground and immediately understood what had happened.
"Sorry, Sect Master. I really didn't notice."
Master Wei gave an apologetic smile. "Sect Master, as you know, the First Elder asked for this talisman by name. If I can't hand it over, how am I supposed to answer to him?"
"I'll speak to the First Elder myself. Now, I order you to release Steward Hong!"
A chill crept into Chen Ning's voice.
In all the time he had been here, this was the first time he had grown angry.
"Then forgive me, Sect Master, but I cannot obey. This is a private matter for my talisman room. I, Master Wei, can handle it. Please go back."
A vicious glint flashed in Master Wei's eyes, and he planted his foot on Steward Hong's back again.
He struck with tremendous force.
The dull thud was especially grating in the silence.
Steward Hong immediately spat out another great mouthful of blood.
Several disciples in the crowd could not bear to watch.
This Master Wei really was arrogant; he would not even show the sect master any respect.
And attacking someone so viciously right in front of the sect master was a slap in his face.
"You're courting death!"
Anger flashed in Chen Ning's eyes. He moved, blasting out a fiery palm imprint.
Master Wei instantly raised his Essence Power to defend himself, but the Fire God Seal was fierce and overbearing, shattering his defense in an instant.
He could only retreat several steps. Once he had reached a safe distance, he exhaled and said, "Sect Master, are you trying to spar with me?"
"This isn't a spar."
Chen Ning spoke evenly. "I want your life."
"Hahahaha... Sect Master, you want to kill me for a lowly servant? Kill a noble talisman master?"
Master Wei was so furious he laughed instead. He snorted coldly. "If you do this, will the others accept it?"
Chen Ning smiled faintly. "They don't need to accept it. They only need to submit to me."
As soon as he finished speaking, killing intent flashed in his eyes again. He summoned the God-Slaying Bow and drew it, sending an arrow shooting forth like a meteor.
Master Wei inwardly cried out that things were bad, but it was too late to dodge. He could only sacrifice the chariot to save the commander, using his left arm to block the arrow.
"Pfft!"
The arrow sank into his flesh, and the searing pain made sweat pour down him like rain.
A look of surprise appeared in Master Wei's eyes.
The information was wrong!
This young sect master's cultivation was actually higher than the rumors claimed.
Hadn't they said he was only at the Late Stage of the Human Martial Realm?
Wasn't that information less than half a month old?
How had it changed so much?
Chen Ning's presence now erupted in full, revealing that he was unmistakably at the Third Heaven of the Spirit Martial Realm.
The same realm as Master Wei.
Master Wei himself was not adept at cultivation and specialized only in the art of talismans, so his cultivation was merely at the Third Level of the Spirit Martial Realm.
He had thought Chen Ning was relying solely on his authority as sect master. Who could have expected this young man to be a cultivation genius?
Moreover, the Essence Power arrow lodged in his left arm was extremely strange. He could feel the Essence Power in his body continuously draining away.
If one side kept weakening while the other grew stronger, his defeat was certain.
"Sect Master, forgive the offense."
Master Wei's face darkened and his pupils contracted. Two talismans flew out from inside his robes.
The two talismans shattered in midair.
Master Wei's body, however, swelled a size larger, as though he now had an inexhaustible supply of Essence Power within him.
"Sect Master, let me tell you why I, Master Wei, hold such a high position in the sect."
Master Wei smiled arrogantly as his presence surged.
Exclamations rang out from the crowd. Both of his talismans were first-grade talismans: a Qi-Gathering Talisman and a Bronze Bone Talisman.
The former allowed its user to draw on the surrounding heaven and earth primal Qi for a certain period, using it as their own and preventing them from running short of Essence Power.
The Bronze Bone Talisman, once used, would give him a body like metal, with a bronze head and iron arms, capable of breaking through anything.
"Sect Master, let me show you how a talisman master fights!"
Master Wei let out a low shout and charged. The talismans boosted his speed as well, and in a few strides he was right in front of Chen Ning.
"That's it?"
Chen Ning curled his lip and said evenly, "If that's what gives you the right to be arrogant and what you rely on to act brutally-"
"Then the Dragon-Seeking Sect can do without a talisman master like you..."
With that, Chen Ning held a talisman glowing with golden light between his fingers.
Master Wei glanced at it, and his expression could not help changing drastically.
What Chen Ning held was actually a...
Super first-grade talisman!
A Heavenly Lightning Talisman!
The talisman paper was crushed, and the heavens immediately changed, the entire sky darkening.
An immense oppressive force hung in the air.