"Pruning Action"

To ensure the mission went smoothly, the mysterious person had even arranged operational guidance for Li Sibao and promised to give him a Yellow-grade Spell in advance.

The first step of the mission was to gradually build up all sorts of conflicts with Xiao Chen, deliberately oppose him at every turn, and make their clashes erupt as naturally and reasonably as possible.

The second step was to use the conflict as an excuse, pretend to be drunk, and seize an opportunity when Xiao Chen was alone to launch an attack.

The contact's stated reason to Li Sibao was that they disliked Xiao Chen and wanted to teach him a lesson.

The real purpose, however, was to test Xiao Chen's true level of strength and decide, based on the abilities he revealed, whether to carry out the "Pruning Action."

The so-called "Pruning Action" was a customized elimination plan specifically aimed at Outer Sect Disciples of the Li Fire Sect who were not born into powerful families but had already displayed a certain potential for growth.

Li Sibao had never imagined that he had already set foot on a road of no return.

Right now, his mind was filled with thoughts of how to provoke a conflict with Xiao Chen and complete the first step of the mission.

If the later attack on Xiao Chen was to avoid drawing attention, this first step had to be carried out well.

In the past, Li Sibao had often picked fights with others and fantasized about suddenly rising to power and trampling them beneath his feet.

But when such an opportunity truly came, he became somewhat indecisive. He came up with several methods in a row, yet every one of them felt too deliberate.

After only a brief delay, the group arrived at the Great Plaza on the sect's Main Peak and saw the red lanterns hanging high overhead.

The Three Sects Joint Tournament was a beast-taming competition jointly hosted by the three strongest powers in all of Li Province: the Li Fire Sect, the Azure Flame Sect, and the Four Seas Sect.

The tournament champion could be said to represent the highest standard among Li Province's younger generation and was the undisputed number one beast tamer.

The top ten below that likewise essentially represented the future of Li Province's beast-taming path.

In another thirty years, once this group had matured, they would all become the backbone of their generation.

This time, not only did two descendants of the Song Family enter the top ten, but Song Zhongming had placed tenth with his 6th level of Qi Refining cultivation, greatly bringing honor to both the Li Fire Sect and the Song Family.

At the same time, the outstanding younger generation of the family and their promising future also foretold that the Song Family would continue to flourish and prosper.

Thus, the Song Family had spared no expense this time, holding this Celebration Banquet on a grand scale at their own cost to display the family's prestige.

The moment Xiao Chen and the others entered the Great Plaza, maidservants came forward to greet them and guide them to their seats.

They looked around.

The once-empty plaza had already been covered in red carpets, packed with tables, chairs, and benches, and laden with fine wine and delicacies.

At the very front, a large group of beautiful dancers performed, while curtains more than ten feet high had been raised on both sides. Behind them came the sound of silk strings and wind instruments.

"What extravagance! They even served Spirit Wine!"

Chen Guangyu, who had come with them, was the first to exclaim. The Chen Family had not been very well-off in recent years, and he himself was consequently short on money as well.

"Indeed. The Song Family truly is rich. These Crispy Fragrant Preserves are made from Spirit Fruit too. Such a heaping plate would probably cost me two months of my monthly stipend."

Liu Benxin spoke as well, reaching out to taste one of the preserves.

Jiang Sixuan chuckled softly. "Senior Brother Liu, you jest. With your family's wealth, would you really care about that little monthly stipend?"

"Wouldn't casually pulling up a spiritual herb from the Spirit Fields in the medicinal garden be enough to buy a whole basket? You could eat as much as you wanted."

"Oh, that simply wouldn't do." Liu Benxin hurriedly waved his hands. "Most of the spiritual herbs at home are grown for others. We only earn hard-earned money from them. How could we dare waste them so casually?"

As the others chatted freely, Xiao Chen silently began eating the dishes before him.

He kept his ears open and his mouth shut, strictly adhering to the principle of listening more and speaking less.

Ye Fei, who had come along with them, happened to be seated opposite him and was likewise silently eating.

Li Sibao, however, grew somewhat anxious. He had originally planned to deliberately oppose Xiao Chen at the table.

No matter what Xiao Chen said, he would take the opposite stance and create the illusion that the two held conflicting views.

But the problem was that Xiao Chen did not say a single word. He merely kept his head down and ate. What was Li Sibao supposed to do now?

Soon, it came time for the congratulations. Led by the Song Family Old Ancestor, Song Fengming, the Song Brothers appeared in formal dress and shared some of their insights on beast taming through speeches.

The topic of discussion among the crowd likewise shifted to spirit beasts.

"Senior Brother Xiao, if it were you, what kind of spirit beast would you choose?"

Liu Benxin looked toward the taciturn Xiao Chen and took the initiative to ask.

What a great question!

Li Sibao immediately perked up. At last, someone had asked Xiao Chen something.

If the mission had not required him not to make trouble too obvious, he would have wanted to ask himself long ago.

Li Sibao had already made up his mind. No matter what species Xiao Chen named, he would declare that it was the spirit beast he hated most in his life.

Anyone who liked that kind of spirit beast had something wrong with their head.

Yet Xiao Chen put down his chopsticks and answered calmly, "I don't know the species either. In any case, that one."

Everyone followed the direction of Xiao Chen's finger. There stood a Dragon Blood Mysterious Turtle, Song Fengming's Foundation Establishment spirit beast.

Li Sibao shot to his feet, ready to speak, only to realize that this was the Song Family's Celebration Banquet and the Song Family members around him all greatly revered that mysterious turtle.

If he criticized that spirit beast now, he might be beaten half to death on the spot and then thrown out.

Manager Chen looked at Li Sibao. "Li Sibao, why did you suddenly stand up? Is something wrong?"

Li Sibao said, "Uh, in reply to Manager Chen, this disciple... this disciple's leg just cramped up. It's fine now."

He forced out an awkward smile, but inwardly he was depressed to death.

Manager Chen asked with concern, "How did that happen? Your complexion doesn't look very good. Why not go back and rest first?"

Li Sibao hurriedly sat back down and squeezed out a smile. "It's nothing, it's nothing."

He could not leave early. He had to stay behind so that he could continue finding trouble with Xiao Chen.

Seeing that Li Sibao was fine, Manager Chen turned and praised, "Xiao Chen has ambition. He went straight for the best spirit beast."

"However, this Dragon Blood Mysterious Turtle was something Old Ancestor Song obtained by chance while traveling outside for training. There is only one in all of Li Province."

"If anyone wanted to find another one, they would have to reach Foundation Establishment first and personally travel elsewhere to search for it. Xiao Chen, your goal will not be easy to achieve."

At those final words, the people around them all chuckled. It was far more than merely not easy to achieve.

Chen Guangyu suddenly said loudly, "Junior Brother Xiao has considerable insight. Breaking through realms is as easy for him as eating and drinking."

"Perhaps within three to five years, he will break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Naturally, he should set his sights higher."

Chen Guangyu had suddenly spoken because, while staring at Jiang Sixuan, he had unexpectedly discovered that Jiang Sixuan was actually staring at Xiao Chen.

Ever since he had noticed this Junior Sister Jiang on the day the Trial Ranking was announced, Chen Guangyu had felt his heart stir.

Recently, he had repeatedly sought chances to approach her, but Jiang Sixuan had always remained rather cold.

Yet just now, when she heard Manager Chen praise Xiao Chen for having ambition, she had actually smiled!

Chen Guangyu did not care why Jiang Sixuan had smiled. Jealousy flared in his heart at once, and he immediately spoke to needle Xiao Chen.

The moment these words came out, everyone nearby turned to look at Xiao Chen.

Li Sibao was overjoyed. At last, the opportunity he had waited for had arrived, and he hurriedly chimed in. "That's right. Senior Brother Xiao's cultivation advances so quickly that he is truly a model for our generation."

"With Senior Brother Xiao's talent and ability, naturally he would look down on us ordinary people... and our spirit beasts. His standards are high."

When he said "ordinary people," he deliberately paused, afraid that others might fail to catch the hidden barb in his words.

Li Sibao's words were like adding fuel to the fire.

Originally, Chen Guangyu had merely made one sour remark. Now, however, it made the two of them seem as though they were singing the same tune and mocking Xiao Chen for looking down on others.

Yet Li Sibao still felt it was not enough.

He hypocritically opened his mouth to apologize, while actually continuing to fan the flames. "Senior Brother Xiao, sorry about that. I'm a straightforward person. Whatever comes to mind, I say directly."

"But honestly, Senior Brother has always been aloof, coming and going alone. It's inevitable that people would get such an impression."

"I only said it casually. Surely Senior Brother would not lower himself to argue with a little person like me?"

Xiao Chen smiled calmly. "Senior Brother Chen is joking. The immortal path is difficult indeed, and breaking through realms is truly no easy matter. As for what Junior Brother Li said, it is even more baseless nonsense."

"I merely have a Low-grade Spirit Root. What talent or ability could I possibly possess? The only thing I can rely on is cultivating twice as hard and making up for my shortcomings through diligence."

Liu Benxin also spoke up in support. "Senior Brother Xiao cultivates bitterly for no less than six hours every day. Other than eating, sleeping, and tending the Spirit Fields, he spends all his time working diligently."

"I see this with my own eyes every day. It is nothing like what Senior Brother Chen imagined—something simple and effortless, gained without labor."

Then his tone shifted as he looked at Li Sibao. "As for you, you judge a gentleman's heart with the heart of a petty man, make wild speculations, and spew bloody slander."

"For a petty man like you, Senior Brother Xiao is absolutely right to stay far away. Otherwise, he might turn black from being near ink."

"Oh, right. I'm rather straightforward too, especially when facing people like you. You call yourself a little person, but all I see is a petty man. I don't see any person."

"So, Li Sibao, what the hell are you?"

Manager Chen immediately spoke up to cut off the topic. "Enough! Fellow disciples insulting and attacking one another is utterly disgraceful!"

"Chen Guangyu, Li Sibao, Liu Benxin—you three have all spoken disrespectfully to your fellow brothers in front of me. Your punishment is to return and face the wall in reflection for one full day and night."

Branch 2 had a wall inscribed with the Sect Rules. Disciples who made mistakes would be punished by facing the rules carved upon that wall and reflecting on their actions.

Liu Benxin flashed Xiao Chen a smile, then rose gracefully and left.

Chen Guangyu originally wanted to argue, but Manager Chen glared fiercely at him, so he slunk away in disgrace.

Li Sibao stood as well, but he was delighted inwardly. Once he had been punished, wouldn't that mean a grudge had been formed?

Before leaving, he deliberately fixed Xiao Chen with a vicious glare, snorted, and intentionally muttered, "Hmph, putting on an act and pretending to be noble."

His chest rose and fell violently as he put on an extremely indignant display. Anyone who saw this scene could tell that he and Xiao Chen had a conflict.

Though he had been punished, Li Sibao had successfully completed the first step of the mission.

He had already decided that once his wall-facing punishment was over, he would bring wine and a magical artifact to find trouble with Xiao Chen.

A three-thousand-word chapter—sincerely asking everyone to keep reading! After tomorrow afternoon's update, please open the newest chapter, finish reading it, and add it to your reading list to help this book compete for a recommendation slot. Please!