The Senior Brother Returns, Cleansing the Sect

Time flew by, and half a month passed.

During those half months, Chen Changsheng never stepped beyond the gates of his cave abode, carrying the art of "survival" to its utmost extreme.

Every day, he meditated and cultivated within his cave abode, consolidating his Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivation while studying the marvelous Innate Stealth Technique.

This Divine Ability had practically been tailor-made for him. Once activated, it could not only perfectly conceal his aura but also weaken his sense of presence, as though he had merged into his surroundings. Unless a mighty expert far surpassed him in cultivation deliberately investigated him, no one could see through his true capabilities.

My cultivation has skyrocketed, and I can hide it perfectly too. This is practically the ultimate technique for playing the pig to eat the tiger! Chen Changsheng thought happily.

Besides cultivating, the system occasionally issued notifications in response to his "survival" behavior.

[You have secluded yourself in your cave abode for one day, free of disasters and tribulations. Your Dao of Survival has made minor progress. Reward: Cowardice Points +10.]

[You have declined Outer Sect Disciple Li Si's invitation to spar, successfully avoiding karmic entanglement. Reward: Cowardice Points +20.]

Though the rewards were not much, small gains added up, leaving him full of anticipation for the future.

That day, Chen Changsheng was meditating in his cave abode when he suddenly heard a commotion outside, mixed with sorrowful cries.

His heart stirred, and he quietly extended a thread of divine sense.

At the docks of Golden Ao Island, several battered clouds descended unsteadily. Standing atop them were over a dozen Interception Sect disciples, drenched in blood and exuding weak auras.

The leader was none other than Senior Brother Steward Zhang Feng!

But Zhang Feng had long since lost the high spirits he had possessed half a month ago.

His face was as pale as paper, his left arm severed at the shoulder. Black qi coiled around the wound; he had clearly been struck by an exceptionally vicious Witch Curse.

Behind him, the once-mighty group of a hundred had dwindled to barely more than a dozen. Every one of them was wounded and in a wretched state.

"They're back..." Chen Changsheng withdrew his divine sense, understanding flashing through his eyes.

Just as he had expected.

The Flowing Fire Meteor Abyss was teeming with great demons. To cannon fodder at the Earth Immortal and Heavenly Immortal levels like them, it was simply a place where cannon fodder went to die.

Before long, the news spread throughout the entire outer sect... Those disciples who had previously regretted not being selected were now all celebrating their escape from disaster.

"Have you heard? Senior Brother Zhang Feng and the others are back. A hundred went out, but only thirteen returned!"

"More than that! I heard Senior Brother Zhang even lost an arm, and his Dao foundation was nearly destroyed!"

"It was all because Zhang Feng and the others were too greedy! They heard that Ruins had appeared in the Flowing Fire Meteor Abyss and wanted to snatch some leftovers, but then...!"

"Hmph. Killing Intent is everywhere now, and the heavenly secrets are unclear. Going down the mountain recklessly is no different from courting death."

For a time, the entire outer sect was gripped by panic. Those disciples who had previously regretted not being selected were now all celebrating their escape from disaster.

And Chen Changsheng, the fellow who had "suffered a qi deviation at the last minute," was remembered once more.

"Come to think of it, Chen Changsheng really was lucky. Not sooner, not later—he just happened to suffer a qi deviation at that exact moment. It was simply... incredible!"

"Isn't that so? What do you call that? Profound blessings! He was born to survive!"

"Do you think he sensed something in advance?"

Inside his cave abode, Chen Changsheng heard their discussions without the slightest ripple in his heart.

Luck? A premonition?

No. I was simply more afraid of dying than you were, and I had cheats.

Just then, the restrictions around his cave abode were roughly disturbed.

"Chen Changsheng! Get out here!"

A roar containing boundless fury exploded outside the cave abode.

It was Zhang Feng!

Chen Changsheng raised an eyebrow and slowly stood.

What was meant to come had finally come.

He removed the restrictions and opened the stone doors of his cave abode. At a glance, he saw Zhang Feng standing there with a savage expression, one arm remaining.

"Senior Brother Zhang, your injuries have yet to heal. Why get so worked up?" Chen Changsheng asked with a concerned expression, his tone calm.

"Cut the crap!" Zhang Feng's eyes were bloodshot as he glared at him, looking as if he wanted to devour him alive.

"Chen Changsheng, did you already know that the mission to the Flowing Fire Meteor Abyss was dangerous? Is that why you deliberately pretended to be sick and escaped?!"

He was no fool.

After returning in crushing defeat, the more he thought about it, the more something felt wrong. Chen Changsheng's "qi deviation" had come too perfectly—so perfectly that it seemed carefully arranged!

He blamed the agony of losing his arm and the tragic deaths of his junior brothers entirely on Chen Changsheng's "standing by and watching them die"!

"You jest, Senior Brother." Chen Changsheng spread his hands innocently. "That day, my cultivation truly went awry. An Inner Demon invaded my heart, and I nearly suffered Death of Dao. It was already a great blessing that I barely survived. If Senior Brother does not believe me, you may ask an inner sect uncle-master to inspect me."

His expression was utterly composed. Combined with the Innate Stealth Technique, he appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, even somewhat frail, Earth Immortal.

"You!" Zhang Feng trembled in rage at his shameless attitude, and black blood even burst from the wound where his arm had been severed.

"Fine! What a coincidence!" Zhang Feng laughed in extreme fury.

If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author. It may simply have been renamed!

"You wretch!" His voice was quiet, yet it carried icy rage. "You knew this journey was fraught with danger, yet you feigned madness and played dumb, coldly watching your fellow disciples go to their deaths! Do you have even a shred of fellowship left in your eyes? Do you have even the slightest regard for the sect's greater good?"

He pressed forward step by step, releasing all his pressure and shrouding Chen Changsheng within it.

"Because of your selfishness, over dozens of brothers have suffered Death of Dao! A cruel and immoral man of such vile character—what use is there in keeping you alive? Today, I shall cleanse the sect to console the spirits of our brothers in heaven!"

Before his words had faded, he suddenly raised his remaining right palm. A foul black qi gathered, transforming into a vicious Ghost Claw that tore through the air with a piercing shriek, heading straight for Chen Changsheng's crown!

This strike was fueled by hatred. He showed no mercy whatsoever!

Chen Changsheng's pupils contracted slightly, yet he did not move an inch.

Just as the Ghost Claw was about to touch the top of his head.

"Stop!"

A crisp, cold shout descended from the sky, accompanied by an incomparably sharp sword light.

Like lightning, the sword light instantly struck the Ghost Claw. Zhang Feng's venomous attack, formed from all his mana, was sliced to pieces in an instant as though it were made of paper.

Zhang Feng let out a muffled groan. The terrifying force contained in the sword light sent him staggering backward, and a look of horror appeared on his face.

A figure drifted down and landed in front of Chen Changsheng.

The newcomer wore the robes of an Interception Sect Law Enforcement Hall disciple. His features were stern, and he held a Green Edge Longsword. His cultivation had clearly reached the True Immortal Realm.

"The Law Enforcement Hall is conducting business. No one may interfere!" The law enforcement disciple cast Zhang Feng a cold glance.

"Senior Brother Liu, what do you mean by this?" Zhang Feng was both shocked and enraged. "This man fears death and fled before battle. I am cleansing the sect for our master—what is wrong with that?"

"Cleansing the sect?" The law enforcement disciple known as Senior Brother Liu sneered. "Zhang Feng, do you know your crimes?"

Zhang Feng froze. "What crimes have I committed?"

"What crimes?" Disgust flashed through Senior Brother Liu's eyes. "On this expedition, you rashly led numerous disciples down the mountain. You also secretly accepted bribes and placed every disciple with whom you held a grudge onto the roster, using public office to settle private scores! On the battlefield, you were greedy for life and afraid of death, abandoning your fellow disciples as you fled alone! Do you truly think no one knows of these deeds?"

"You... you're slandering me!" Zhang Feng's expression changed drastically, and panic flashed through his eyes.

"Slandering you?" Senior Brother Liu produced an Imprint Jade Talisman. "The surviving junior brothers have already reported every one of your actions! The evidence is conclusive! Come with me to the Law Enforcement Hall!"

Zhang Feng was completely dumbfounded. He had never imagined that the surviving junior brothers would sell him out!

He cast a venomous glance at the completely unharmed Chen Changsheng, then looked at the frost-faced law enforcement disciple. He knew that all was lost.

"No... I did nothing wrong! They deserved to die! Chen Changsheng harmed me!" He roared like a madman, only for Senior Brother Liu to strike him across the back with his sword sheath, sealing his mana before dragging him away like a dead dog.

Another disturbance was settled.

The gazes of the disciples watching nearby changed completely when they looked at Chen Changsheng.

If they had previously thought that Chen Changsheng had merely been lucky, then compared to Zhang Feng's exposed crimes, Chen Changsheng's "qi deviation" now seemed like an astonishing act of foresight!

How was that luck? He had clearly seen through Zhang Feng's plot and protected himself in a way no one could find fault with!

An expert! Senior Brother Chen had to be a hidden expert!

At the entrance of his cave abode, Chen Changsheng calmly cupped his hands toward the direction in which the law enforcement disciple had departed, as though none of it had anything to do with him.

He turned and returned to his abode, and the stone doors closed.

[Ding! It has been detected that the host successfully used the wisdom of the Dao of Survival to resolve a crisis, borrow force to strike force, and eliminate an enemy. This meets the criteria for advanced Dao of Survival behavior!]

[Reward issued: Five hundred years of cultivation! Dharma treasure: "Turtle Breath Formation Disk" (Houtian Spiritual Treasure)!]

Another vast surge of cultivation poured into Chen Changsheng's body. His realm rose once more, directly reaching the peak of the late Heavenly Immortal Realm. He was now only one step away from becoming a Golden Immortal!

"Awesome!"

Chen Changsheng clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

He took out the Turtle Breath Formation Disk. Once activated, it could completely conceal the aura of his entire cave abode. Even if a Golden Immortal came in person, they would never be able to spy on anything within.

With this item, his safety had greatly improved once again!

Just as he was about to set up the formation disk and continue his ten-thousand-year plan, a sudden sense of alarm rose in his heart.

An overwhelming pressure, powerful enough to nearly suffocate him, descended outside his cave abode without warning.

This pressure was grand and righteous, far beyond the likes of Zhang Feng.

The visitor was a true big shot!

"Outer Sect Disciple Chen Changsheng, come out and meet me."

A gentle yet authoritative voice passed directly through the stone doors of his cave abode and rang clearly in his ears.

Chen Changsheng's heart tightened.

He had heard that voice before.

The Interception Sect's chief outer sect disciple, the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Zhao Gongming!

Why had he come looking for him?!

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