The Sect Master Has Ordered Me Not to Intervene

As the many higher-ups and Grand Elders discussed among themselves,

Chu Tianwang brought Chu Tian to sit upon the high platform. Pointing at the little bald head in the arena, he said solemnly, "The Bone Forging Ranking shows that this little bald head possesses only nine hundred thousand jin of strength, so both your Tianxiong Uncle and I underestimated him.

"He should now possess at least 1.1 million jin of strength, stronger even than quite a few Primordial Fierce Beast Cubs. Moreover, his Spiritual Power is deep and condensed, his gaze solid and focused. He has already reached the realm of seeing the subtle and knowing the whole, sensing autumn winds and knowing leaves will fall. He is only half a step away from the Spirit Refining Realm, and the power he can unleash is at least over Two Million Jin."

"Little Tian, are you confident you can defeat this little bald head?" Chu Tianwang's voice was low and burning with anger, yet he did not immediately send his son into the arena. After all, Chu Tian was two years younger than Hui Mei. Condensing Spiritual Power required time and effort; if his son refused, he would not force him.

Chu Tianwang held a lofty position and rarely cursed anyone, yet he pointed at Hui Lian and directly called him little bald head. This showed just how much Hui Lian's arrogant, lawless bearing had pushed even an Emperor Venerable like him to the brink.

Never before had anyone dared to be so arrogant and reckless within the Sacred Heaven Sect, so contemptuous of it.

Yet the culprit was a ten-year-old brat, and no one had the face to step in and teach him a lesson.

Had it been someone even slightly older, even if they came from the Cihang Sacred Sect, they would already have been crushed until not even dregs remained.

At this moment, the many higher-ups of the sect also turned their eyes toward Chu Tian, their gazes filled with scrutiny, astonishment, and anticipation.

Personally brought up and taught by Chu Tianwang, Chu Tian had kept a low profile and rarely appeared in public. Although he had been named the Little Holy Son the moment he emerged, even they had seldom seen him.

Chu Tian did not look particularly robust. He even carried the refined air of a cultured young gentleman in a troubled age. If the Hengtian Ranking's tests had never been wrong, they truly would not have connected this seemingly elegant youth with the one who had slaughtered a thousand Primordial Mammoth Elephants in thirty seconds, then killed thirty Primordial Fierce Beast Cubs in another thirty seconds—including mythical beings such as True Dragon Cubs.

"Little Holy Son, this concerns the sect's reputation. That little bald head is far too arrogant. Are you confident?" one of the sect's higher-ups could not help asking.

"If you have any demands, feel free to make them of the sect."

"We do not ask that you defeat him, Little Holy Son. As long as you can withstand three of his moves, at least our sect will not lose too much face when word gets out," said the white-haired Grand Elder in a deep voice.

The other higher-ups nodded as well.

At this point, they no longer dared hope for too much. This monstrous prodigy Hui Mei of the Cihang Sacred Sect was simply too abnormal. So many famed prodigies from the sect's Hengtian Bone Forging Ranking, several years older than him with far more condensed Spiritual Power, had been unable to withstand even a single move. Their bones and tendons had been shattered, blood spilling endlessly from their mouths as they lost all ability to fight.

Such a monster appeared only once in tens of thousands of years across the Hengtian Continent.

If Chu Tian could withstand three moves and preserve the Sacred Heaven Sect's dignity, they would be completely satisfied.

Chu Tian glanced at Hui Lian in the arena. Though he was still a child and had not even appeared yet in the original plot, he was exactly as he had been in Chu Tian's memories—seductive and bewitching even in childhood, proud, domineering, and lawless, making people instinctively want to give that bald head of his a vicious slap.

No wonder the Son of Destiny, Ye Fan, would suppress him later, seal away all his strength, and send him to a brothel to auction off his first night, fetching an astronomical price.

Aside from the fact that his appearance truly gave him the capital for it, more alluring than countless peerless beauties, he really did make people want to crush that arrogance of his.

Yet beneath the expectant gazes of the many sect higher-ups, Chu Tian merely shook his head and smiled. "Uncles, elders, Grandpa, please forgive this junior for being unable to comply. The Sect Master said that he will handle and resolve this matter himself. There is no need for Chu Tian to enter the arena."

"The Sect Master's word is final. This junior cannot disobey."

The moment those words fell, the faces of the sect higher-ups visibly darkened.

The corner of Chu Tianwang's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. After all, he too had been involved in telling Chu Tian not to act; it had not been Ye Tianxiong's decision alone.

The many higher-ups simply did not know that.

Yet Chu Tian's words had cleanly removed him from the matter, making it sound as though only Ye Tianxiong had forbidden Chu Tian from acting.

"At a time like this, you still want to fight among yourselves, tear each other apart, and scheme against one another? Have you no shame left?" The white-haired Grand Elder was so furious that his old eyes widened, and even his beard stood on end.

He was a Grand Elder of the Duanmu Family, immensely senior in both status and age, from the same generation as Chu Tianwang's grandfather. Even Chu Tianwang had to bow properly when he saw him.

"What a bore. Truly boring. Is there anyone else who wants to come up and challenge me?"

Seeing that no one had stepped into the arena for so long, Hui Lian began shouting provocatively again. "The Sacred Heaven Sect boasts nearly a million disciples. The Two Founding Families and Three Top Families are renowned across the continent—but where are they? Did they all die somewhere? Could it be that aside from Chu Tian, there is not a single prodigy worth mentioning?

"Have every last one of you been scared out of your wits?

"If so, stop wasting my time. Hurry up and send that little brat Chu Tian out here. I'll make short work of him.

"He actually dared take my sister's first place on the Earth Ranking and even trample me beneath his feet.

"I want to see just how much real skill this little brat possesses, and whether his Chaos Demon God Body can withstand a few of my punches."

"You little beast, outrageous!" Grand Elder Duanmu trembled all over with rage, his face flushed crimson as he repeatedly turned his head, searching for Sect Master Ye Tianxiong.

"I can't endure this anymore. He already dares name our families outright. An uncle can endure it, but an aunt cannot!" one higher-up roared, looking at Chu Tianwang. "Vice Sect Master, let the Little Holy Son act."

Some higher-ups even spoke directly to Chu Tian. "Little Holy Son, just go into the arena. Beat that little bald head to death. If the Sect Master holds you accountable, we will cover for you."

"This is a battle for the Sacred Heaven Sect's reputation. It is a great merit. The Sect Master would never dare pursue the matter."

A particularly senior Grand Elder directly began cursing.

"When I was fighting north and south for the sect, Ye Tianxiong was still drinking milk. Let him try holding me accountable. Don't think that just because he became Sect Master and broke through to Emperor Venerable, I would not dare slap him around."

"Chu Tianwang, say something. Or do you also disagree with letting the Little Holy Son enter the arena?" A Grand Elder stared at Chu Tianwang with a sinister expression.

Though these Grand Elders did not hold high positions, and their strength might not surpass Chu Tianwang's or Ye Tianxiong's, they had made great contributions, possessed immense seniority and influence, and—so long as they did not violate taboos like Ye Hongwu—they could essentially walk sideways through the sect.

At their age, they already had one foot in the grave and no longer cared about rank or hierarchy. To those who had struggled for the sect for most of their lives, the sect's honor and interests came first.

When Grand Elder Ye Hongwu had been forced to commit suicide for leaking sect secrets and plotting against the sect's younger prodigies, they had all believed he had died well and deserved it.

"This, this, this..."

Chu Tianwang gave a bitter smile. Pressed into a corner, he could only turn toward Chu Tian. "Little Tian, you..."

Before he could finish, Chu Tian shook his head and said calmly, "The Sect Master has given his order. As a sect disciple, obeying the Sect Master's command is only natural. I cannot act."

Chu Tianwang helplessly covered his forehead, his head throbbing in pain.

He should have understood long ago. His son had come with him not because he was especially obedient, but because the brat held grudges. He was likely determined to force Ye Tianxiong to lower his head to him.

If he had been obedient, he would not have gone to Hengtian Hall for testing, and none of today's events would have happened.

Just then,

A youth in tattered, bloodstained clothes stepped onto the arena. His gaze was resolute as he looked at Hui Mei, his voice low and hoarse. "Ye Family's Ye Fan challenges you."