Heavy Heart, Many Thoughts Entangle the Immortal Path

Seeing their master being insulted, Li Jing's subordinates felt worse than if they themselves had been cursed. They retorted without showing weakness, their sarcasm gradually escalating into a shouting match. Li Jing's face grew increasingly grim. He had lived a life of privilege for sixteen years, accustomed to praise and flattery. Even his own father, the Emperor, had rarely scolded him. This was the first time he had been publicly humiliated!

Amidst their verbal sparring, Qin Haoxuan remained unfazed. Both Zhang Kuang and Li Jing held grudges against him, and he would gladly watch them tear each other apart like dogs fighting over a bone.

However, emerging from the Lava Cellar only to encounter two groups bickering like fishwives was truly a mood killer. Noticing Li Jing's darkening expression and the escalating argument, Qin Haoxuan smiled slightly, seeking peace for his own ears. He advised Li Jing, "Senior Brother Li, why bother getting angry? What's the point of losing your temper with a bunch of foul-mouthed ruffians? Why not focus on your cultivation and Rooting as soon as possible? If you Sprout before Zhang Kuang, it'll be like slapping their faces yourself, and these sycophants who rely on others' power will have nothing to say."

Qin Haoxuan's reminder made Li Jing realize the truth. Zhang Kuang's early Rooting had already dealt a blow to their side's morale. To engage in a war of words with Zhang Kuang's faction now would be like offering his face for them to slap, and it could even escalate into a physical conflict, completely severing ties. This would be detrimental to his long-term plans.

"Junior Brother Qin is right," Li Jing said, his anger subsiding slightly. He forced a smile. "Junior Brother Qin just came out of Solitary Confinement Mountain, so I won't keep you any longer. Goodbye."

Having been distanced by Zhang Kuang, Li Jing was in no mood to exchange pleasantries with Qin Haoxuan. Furthermore, Qin Haoxuan's indifferent attitude annoyed him greatly, especially the words of advice he had just given, which had stirred a significant change in Li Jing's heart.

You, Qin Haoxuan, a mere villager from the wilderness, and just a weak Seed at that, need to teach me such basic principles? Are you just relying on Xu Yu as your backer and actually think you're someone important? Moreover, the methods I used today to show courtesy to subordinates would have moved anyone else to tears and pledges of loyalty. Yet, you're unappreciative, speaking to me as an equal. Give you an inch, and you take a mile!

In Li Jing's view, if he were to act as an equal to win people over, they should respond with pledges of loyalty. Moreover, when Qin Haoxuan called Zhang Kuang's subordinates sycophants who relied on others' power, he had subtly glanced at his own subordinates. This alone showed Qin Haoxuan still held no good feelings towards him and would never serve under him.

Such an ignorant person must be eliminated sooner or later. But for now, he still has some use. I'll let him frolic for a few more days!

In Li Jing's eyes, the only ones in Spirit Field Valley he could treat as equals were Zhang Kuang and Xu Yu. Zhang Yang and Murong Chao, those Gray Seeds, didn't qualify.

"Farewell," Qin Haoxuan said, cupping his fists. He didn't bend his waist, merely returned the salute with a cupped hand, his expression calm and indifferent, showing no respect for Li Jing whatsoever.

Qin Haoxuan's gesture not only displeased Li Jing immensely but also rubbed all of Li Jing's subordinates the wrong way. By treating Li Jing as an equal, Qin Haoxuan was placing himself above them. A mere weak Seed, how dare he step on our heads? Murong Chao, who had been beaten by Qin Haoxuan, looked particularly indignant, but to avoid disrupting his master's long-term plans, he could only turn away.

After Li Jing's side stopped retaliating, Zhang Kuang's subordinates lost interest in them and shifted their taunts to Qin Haoxuan.

It was an open secret in Spirit Field Valley that Zhang Kuang and Qin Haoxuan had a past feud. These subordinates, without any scruples, resorted to all sorts of ridicule and insults to curry favor with Zhang Kuang.

Qin Haoxuan merely sneered. These individuals knew that Zhang Kuang wouldn't send them to attack him, so they didn't fear being turned into imbeciles or having their cultivation crippled. But did they really think flattering Zhang Kuang like this would be effective? Zhang Kuang, though arrogant, had great ambitions since childhood. Once he truly soared, would he even spare them a glance? Yet, some people in this world didn't understand. It was better to strive to become a strong person yourself than to flatter one.

"Oh, look who it is. Qin Haoxuan is out after seven days of confinement."

"Haha, look at his tattered clothes. He must have suffered a lot in there! This is the consequence of offending Junior Brother Zhang Kuang!"

"Of course. With Junior Brother Zhang Kuang's cultivation progress, Sprouting and Leafing are just a matter of time! I heard that Purple Seed disciples in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf can even challenge those in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf! With Junior Brother Zhang's talent, the elders must be nurturing him wholeheartedly, teaching him all sorts of supreme mystic arts! He'll have it coming to him then!"

A burst of laughter erupted, interspersed with various flattering remarks directed at Zhang Kuang.

A moment later, a sarcastic voice sounded from beside Zhang Kuang: "He doesn't have a turtle shell growing on him, so why is he so tough?"

"Maybe his turtle shell is under his clothes, can't you see? If you're capable, why don't you take his clothes off and check?"

The guy with the lewd grin replied, "I don't have that ability. I'm not Xu Yu, I can't take his clothes off... Haha!"

Initially, Qin Haoxuan brushed off their taunts as the barking of mad dogs, paying them no mind. But when they insulted Xu Yu, Qin Haoxuan finally lost his temper.

This is unbearable! In the Taichu Sect, Xu Yu was the only one who genuinely treated him as a friend, not looking down on him because he was a Purple Seed disciple. On the contrary, Xu Yu always cared for and protected him. They could insult him all they wanted, but for them to insult Xu Yu because of him was going too far.

Everyone noticed the anger flashing across his face as he strode towards Zhang Kuang's group.

Everyone's attention was drawn to Qin Haoxuan's intense reaction. Li Jing and his group, who hadn't gone far, also stopped, curious to see how Qin Haoxuan, alone, would handle Zhang Kuang's group, which included several Senior Brothers in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf!

"What do you think you're doing! How dare you approach Boss Zhang Kuang's residence!"

"Get lost, or don't blame us for being rude!"

Seeing Qin Haoxuan approaching with long strides, several disciples with insufficient cultivation panicked. Qin Haoxuan's name had been resounding like thunder these past few days. Rumor had it that Yuan Shanxiang, a disciple in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf, had been in a mutual destructive fight with him, and Yuan Shanxiang was now crippled and mentally incapacitated. Yet, Qin Haoxuan was alive and well, showing no signs of injury! Even if the rumor of Qin Haoxuan and Yuan Shanxiang fighting to a mutual destruction was false, he had beaten Yuan Shanhu, a disciple in the Immortal Seedling Realm Third Leaf, to the point of tears and wails, which many had witnessed firsthand.

Seeing the burning rage in Qin Haoxuan's eyes and his unstoppable momentum, those who had come to flatter Zhang Kuang involuntarily parted ways. With their cultivation levels, they couldn't even compare to Yuan Shanhu, let alone Yuan Shanxiang. There was no point in humiliating themselves!

Zhang Kuang felt Qin Haoxuan's anger and dominance. Even amidst the crowd, he couldn't help but take a step back, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes.

Zhang Kuang, who had just stepped back, suddenly realized. He was a Purple Seed disciple with limitless potential. Moreover, there were so many disciples in the Immortal Seedling Realm around him, including several strong individuals in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf. With them here, why should he fear Qin Haoxuan?

Despite his internal encouragement, Zhang Kuang felt uneasy. Qin Haoxuan had instilled too much fear in him, becoming a psychological barrier he couldn't overcome. When he had first tested his Purple Seed disciple status, he had felt confident, but Qin Haoxuan, that freak, had somehow defeated Yuan Shanhu in the Immortal Seedling Realm Third Leaf and fought Yuan Shanxiang in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf to a mutual destruction. And now, just a few days later, he was back to his old self.

I couldn't possibly do all that! That psychological advantage he had over Qin Haoxuan vanished in an instant. Looking at Qin Haoxuan again, his eyes filled with even greater hatred, wishing he could devour him alive.

The last barrier between Zhang Kuang and Qin Haoxuan was several Senior Brothers in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf. Seeing Qin Haoxuan approaching with long strides, even though they were only ten steps apart, Qin Haoxuan showed no signs of stopping. They had initially thought their strength and cultivation in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf would be enough to intimidate Qin Haoxuan, preventing him from coming any closer, but Qin Haoxuan completely disregarded them.

Ten steps...

Seven steps...

Five steps...

As Qin Haoxuan drew closer, his unstoppable momentum made even the Senior Brothers in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf feel uneasy!

It was the way of momentum: if you are strong, I am weak; if I am weak, you are strong! When Qin Haoxuan was only two or three steps away from them, they instinctively took a step back.

Zhang Kuang, who had initially felt somewhat secure with several Senior Brothers in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf as a shield, suddenly trembled. He had always wanted to kill Qin Haoxuan, wishing he could tear him to shreds, but when Qin Haoxuan was less than three steps away, he began to feel scared again. All his previous smugness vanished. Although he tried to hide it, a look of terror betrayed him in his eyes!

Qin Haoxuan completely ignored Zhang Kuang's hateful gaze and directly grabbed the lewd disciple beside Zhang Kuang, lifting him into the air. His eyes held a chilling killing intent as he stared directly into the disciple's eyes and said coldly, "Believe it or not, I'll cripple you before he even Sprouts!"

The lewd disciple, dangling in mid-air, had lost all the swagger he had when insulting Qin Haoxuan and Xu Yu. His legs flailed wildly. While looking at Zhang Kuang and the cultivators in the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf for help, he put on a brave face, saying, "You wouldn't dare!"

Unbeknownst to him, his voice trembled as he spoke those words. He had completely forgotten that he was a cultivator in the Immortal Seedling Realm First Leaf. Under Qin Haoxuan's fearsome reputation, he hadn't even considered attacking Qin Haoxuan, who held him captive, having already been terrified by his dominance.

"At worst, I'll be confined. Do you think I'm afraid?" Qin Haoxuan sneered, tightening his grip on the disciple's neck. The lewd disciple's face immediately turned red. "To utter words of insult towards a Purple Seed disciple, even the elders wouldn't say anything if I killed you. Do you believe that?"

After Qin Haoxuan spoke, his murderous gaze swept across the entire scene. Those who had been restless and considering coming forward to rescue the lewd disciple now hesitated.