Chief Disciple Blocks the Door, Plotting to Cripple Chen Du
Chen Du sat cross-legged steadily in the cultivation room, his True Essence still circulating and stabilizing around him.
Outside the tightly closed courtyard gate, a sudden burst of hurried, chaotic footsteps, accompanied by arrogant curses, shattered the tranquility of the courtyard.
He slightly opened his eyes, concealing his Qi Refining, and his clear shout pierced through the courtyard gate, "Zhang Shun, come out immediately."
Chen Du frowned slightly, slowly stood up, and pushed open the wooden door.
Outside the courtyard gate stood seven or eight figures dressed in the robes of outer sect disciples.
The leader was no more than twenty years old, with a fair and handsome face. He wore a brocade robe embroidered with fine dark patterns, exuding a luxurious feel. The jade pendant hanging from his waist shone brightly, with the four seal characters "Outer Sect Chief" prominently displayed.
Behind him, his entourage stood with their arms crossed, their eyes arrogant and their faces full of provocation, looking menacing as if they had come to pick a fight and collect a debt.
Without much thought, Chen Du instantly discerned the visitor's background from the original Zhang Shun's remaining memories.
Zhou Jingxuan is undoubtedly the number one person in the outer sect of the Holy Land. His cultivation level is firmly at the Seventh-Tier Peak Stage, and the half-step shackle has already been loosened. He is only one step away from stepping into the Eighth-Stage Grandmaster realm.
He came from the Zhou Family, a top-tier family in the Heavenly Gift Dynasty. The Zhou family and Zhang Shun's Zhang Family had been on good terms for generations, but in recent years, the two families had completely broken off relations over the ownership of a rare spirit mine, resulting in deep-seated resentment.
Zhou Jingxuan had cultivated his influence in the outer sect for four or five years, amassing a large following and establishing a deep and complex power base. He was the undisputed leader in the outer sect, and even the outer sect stewards would give him some face.
Today, he personally led a group to block the door, ostensibly to take the opportunity to warn and suppress the younger generation, but in reality, it was driven by the old grudges between the two families that had turned against each other. His intentions were by no means pure.
Upon seeing Chen Du emerge from the door, Zhou Jingxuan immediately put on a seemingly gentle smile, cupped his hands in a polite and proper manner, and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, I apologize for disturbing your cultivation. I have no ill intentions in coming today, but I have come specifically to speak a word of justice to you."
"The inner disciple selection will be held in a year. Inner disciple spots are scarce, and countless outer disciples are eager to participate. Junior brother is exceptionally talented and his cultivation progress far surpasses that of his peers, which senior brother has always admired."
However, the selection of inner disciples is not only based on cultivation speed, but also on the sect's foundation, cultivation accumulation, and network of connections. Junior brother, you have only been in the outer sect for a short time and your foundation is still shallow. I advise you to take a year to consolidate your strength and not rush to compete for an inner disciple position. Just wait patiently for the next selection, and I will definitely recommend you with all my might then."
His words were eloquent and persuasive, employing both soft and hard tactics with remarkable finesse.
Chen Du in front of the door, his expression calm, having already seen through the other person's thoughts.
These polite words are nothing more than a pretense of politeness before resorting to force.
The implication was crystal clear: Zhang Shun was not allowed to participate in the inner sect selection a year from now.
He shook his head slightly. "I appreciate Senior Brother Zhou's kindness, but the inner sect selection has always been based on talent and ability. Whether I have the strength to enter the inner sect will be judged in the examination hall a year from now. I have no intention of competing for the empty title of outer sect member, nor do I have any intention of making enemies or fighting with anyone."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jingxuan's gentle smile vanished almost instantly.
His henchmen behind him could no longer contain themselves, whispering amongst themselves, their voices full of sarcasm: "They're really asking for it!" "Do they really think they can look down on everyone just because they have higher cultivation?"
Zhou Jingxuan raised his hand to calmly silence the commotion behind him, his gaze fixed intently on Chen Du. After a few moments of contemplation, his tone deepened. "Since Junior Brother insists, then Senior Brother has no choice but to follow the sect's rules. Seven days from now, at the outer sect's martial arts arena, you and I will have a public sparring match."
"If you can defeat me, you can go all out in the inner sect selection a year from now, and no one will dare to stop you. If you lose, then you should stay in the outer sect for a year, suppress any improper thoughts, and obediently follow the path."
Before Chen Du could answer, Zhou Jingxuan stepped forward, seemingly affectionately patting his shoulder with a meaningful smile, "Junior brother, rest and prepare well. Senior brother will await the sparring session in seven days."
After saying that, he turned around and led his entourage away. Their footsteps were firm and arrogant as they quickly disappeared at the end of the alley.
Chen Du stood in front of the courtyard gate, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
The moment Zhou Jingxuan touched his shoulder, he keenly sensed a faint, eerie aura seeping from the other's fingertips, seeping into his flesh through the fabric.
This wisp of energy is colorless, odorless, formless, and intangible. After entering the body, it quietly travels, following the muscle structure and sinking deep into the meridians. It is clearly an extremely secret medicine for sealing meridians and suppressing cultivation.
He immediately used his internal vision technique to examine the meridians throughout his body and instantly understood the mystery within.
This strange medicinal power will not take effect immediately, but will accumulate and settle in the body layer by layer, and will fully erupt during the seven-day martial arts training period.
At that time, his meridians will be blocked and his True Essence will be disordered and restless. He will be able to unleash only half of his full cultivation, which is equivalent to having most of his combat power crippled and left to be at the mercy of others.
What a hypocritical outer sect leader! He's impeccably polite and respectable, yet behind the scenes he resorts to such insidious schemes.
Chen Du smiled indifferently to himself. The cultivation holy land that people yearn for is actually more wretched and scheming than the mortal world.
However, he didn't intend to expose him on the spot. Why let such an opportunity slip by when it's presented to him?
In the blink of an eye, his mind trembled, and a cold system panel suddenly popped up:
[Intentional targeting and malicious sabotage detected! The opponent's hostility is rampant, and their schemes are insidious, triggering an extreme face-slapping scenario! Base Hatred Qi Value calculation: Gain one thousand years of Hatred Qi Value!]
[Super Talent - Deliberate Revenge Ascension effect! Triggers a tenfold Super Ascension multiplier! Base Hatred Qi Value undergoes ultimate transformation! Ascension successful! One thousand years of base Hatred Qi Value, multiplied tenfold to ten thousand years of Ascension Hatred Qi Value!]
A faint, sharp glint flashed in Chen Du's eyes. He raised his hand to close the courtyard gate, turned around, and returned to the cultivation room, where he sat cross-legged.
Seven days later, a public duel will take place in the martial arts arena.
He wanted to see what a bewildered and embarrassed look this high-ranking outer sect leader would have when he discovered that all his carefully laid out insidious schemes had failed and become a laughing stock.
Zhou Jingxuan led his entourage back to the courtyard on the east side of the outer gate. As soon as the gate was closed, the seven or eight people could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.
Someone quickly closed the wooden door to shut out the noise from outside; someone else brought out a wine jar from inside the house, and as soon as the mud seal was broken, the rich aroma of the wine spread out.
The short, stout man picked up the wine jug and poured wine for everyone, his eyes full of smugness. "Senior brother's move was flawless. That meridian-sealing medicine is colorless and odorless. That brat Zhang Shun is still completely in the dark and hasn't noticed anything."
The tall, thin man leaned forward, his eyes full of curiosity. "Senior brother, just how potent is this secret medicine?"
Zhou Jingxuan leaned back in his armchair, took a sip of wine from his cup, and spoke slowly and deliberately, "The medicinal effects will slowly Lie Dormant in the body for a full seven days, just in time to fully erupt on the day of the martial arts competition."