Since You've Paid Respects at My Dock, I've Got Your Back

"The Earth Ranking's number one truly lived up to his name." A sect disciple who had Ignited Divine Fire muttered to himself, his voice filled with shock.

How many people throughout history had ever seen someone in the Body Forging Realm instantly kill the eightieth-ranked expert on the Spirit Refining Ranking?

"The Little Holy Son just said that he was the sect's greatest asset. Suddenly, I feel that makes perfect sense." High in the sky, a Heavenly God spoke in a low voice.

Amid the shock of the entire crowd, what had happened in Hengtian Hall spread through the sect like lightning and flint.

At this moment.

Ye Feng instantly appeared beside Ye Wu, took out healing pills and fed them into his mouth, then ground spiritual herbs and applied them to his chest, preserving his last breath.

"Chu Tian, you have disappointed me too much. We haven't met for two months, yet you have become like a different person—lawless and unrestrained, maiming fellow disciples, disrespecting your elder brother, trampling the sect's rules."

"Once we return, I will truthfully report this to Uncle Chu and have him teach you a proper lesson."

Ye Feng turned and roared. His eyes were already threaded with faint bloodshot veins and Sha Qi.

No matter how good his upbringing or how deep his scheming, after being provoked again and again like this, he had reached the end of his forbearance.

Chu Tian withdrew his fist, and the vertical eye between his brows closed. He merely gave Ye Feng an indifferent glance, made a throat-slitting gesture, then walked out of Hengtian Hall.

Ye Feng was somewhat stronger than Ye Qiang. He was worth a little more of Chu Tian's time and attention.

Hui Mei recovered from his shock and hurriedly followed Chu Tian. Scratching his scalp, he asked, "Big Brother, were you standing up for me?"

"Since you've paid respects at my dock and called me Big Brother, then within the Sacred Heaven Sect, I've got your back!" Chu Tian replied. This was a principle he had upheld across both lifetimes.

In his previous life, he had never shortchanged the brothers under him.

Whenever his people were bullied, he had always taken the lead in striking back.

Even after he became the Godfather, this principle had never changed.

"What does paying respects at a dock mean?" Hui Mei's scalp felt even itchier, and he scratched it hard.

This time, however, Chu Tian did not answer him. Instead, he looked ahead.

Before Hengtian Hall, a middle-aged man flew over and landed not far from Chu Tian.

"The Little Holy Son probably doesn't know me."

The middle-aged man wore a green robe and a smile. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Duanmu Lei, Deputy Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall, and the Duanmu Family's current Second Elder."

The man possessed a gentle, approachable air, truly seeming like an uncle from next door.

But upon hearing that name, Chu Tian did not see him that way.

In the original plot, this man had been one of the Duanmu Family's foremost experts—a Half-step Emperor Venerable, with strength nearly equal to his Third Uncle, Chu Tianyun.

The Internal Affairs Hall oversaw sect affairs, rewards and punishments, the formulation of etiquette, the clothing, food, housing, and travel of sect disciples, and ceremonies such as the Sacrifice Heaven rites. It was an exceedingly powerful department within the Sacred Heaven Sect.

As the Deputy Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall, Duanmu Lei was also a towering figure within the sect.

However, according to Chu Tian's understanding, just as the Law Enforcement Hall had long been controlled by his family, the Internal Affairs Hall had likewise been held by the Ye Family for ages. For the past million years, every Hall Master had borne the surname Ye.

The current generation's Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall was the Ye Family's Fourth Elder, Ye Tianhong.

Under the Ye Family's layer upon layer of control, the fact that Duanmu Lei could become Deputy Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall spoke volumes of his strength.

"Chu Tian greets Hall Master Duanmu." Chu Tian was impeccably courteous as he clasped his fists in salute.

"Little Holy Son, you are too polite. Your father and I have been friends for many years. You may simply call me Uncle Lei."

Duanmu Lei smiled as he reminded him, "And I am only the Deputy Hall Master. Little Holy Son, do not omit the word in front, lest outsiders hear it and misunderstand."

"It was this nephew's oversight. Please do not take offense, Uncle Lei," Chu Tian said calmly, as though the form of address had truly been unintentional.

"May I ask what Uncle Lei has come to see this nephew about?" After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chu Tian finally asked, getting to the point.

As the Deputy Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall, who managed the affairs of all sect disciples, he could not have come looking for him without reason.

"I came for two matters. First, to congratulate the Little Holy Son on once again reaching first place on the Earth Ranking."

Duanmu Lei smiled. "Second, to make up for the reward ceremony that should have been held for the Little Holy Son several days ago."

"According to our sect's rules, in order to encourage disciples to cultivate diligently, any disciple who reaches the top of any ranking within the Hengtian Ranking will have a reward ceremony held at Sacrifice Heaven Peak. The Sect Master and the Hall Master of the Internal Affairs Hall will personally offer encouragement and bestow generous rewards. Their status will rise by one level, and they may receive Divine Medicine, scriptures, weapons, spirit stones, divine abilities, and so on."

"Especially the number one on the Earth Ranking, who may make any one request of the sect. The sect must spare no effort to fulfill it and may not refuse."

"Of course, the Little Holy Son surely has no interest in such rewards. Still, these are the sect's rules, so the procedure must be followed. Moreover, this is an enormous honor for the Vice Sect Master and even the Chu Family."

Duanmu Lei continued with a smile, "And although the Little Holy Son was established as the sect's heir from birth, your current record in the Internal Affairs Hall is only Level One, within the category of outer sect disciples. Now, you can rise two levels in a row. Advancing to Level Three at eight years old, equivalent to an inner sect disciple, is unprecedented in the sect's history."

"Since these are the sect's rules, this nephew reached first place on both rankings two days ago. Why is the reward ceremony only being held today?" There was no delight on Chu Tian's face. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject and asked.

Naturally, he knew of the reward ceremony. In the original plot, Ye Fan had later reached first place on the Earth Ranking as well and requested permission from the sect to marry Liu Yun, hoping to dissolve Great Hatred Demon Lord's engagement with her and slap the Chu Family hard across the face.

Chu Tianwang had been so furious that he vomited blood, but it was a sect rule, and he had no choice but to agree.

Great Hatred Demon Lord Chu Tian had begun walking the demonic path from that moment onward.

After giving everything, what he received in return was his fiancée throwing herself into Ye Fan's embrace.

Duanmu Lei lowered his gaze and seemed to casually glance at Ye Wu, who lay gravely injured and on the verge of death inside the Spirit Refining Hall, before saying, "It was delayed for certain reasons."

Chu Tian naturally understood. It had been suppressed by the Internal Affairs Hall's Hall Master, Ye Tianhong—or rather, by Sect Master Ye Tianxiong behind him. They did not want Chu Tian to steal the limelight and gain fame.

Yet now, he had once again risen to first place on the Earth Ranking, and the Bone Forging Ranking recorded that he had killed a True Dragon Cub in the Refine Spirit Realm, shaking the sect once more.

Even if they had a hundred unwillingnesses, they still had to hold the reward ceremony. After all, so many eyes throughout the sect were watching.

And Ye Wu, whom he had injured, was Ye Tianhong's second son. That was why Duanmu Lei had seemingly casually glanced at Ye Wu.

"This uncle came at Hall Master Ye Tianhong's instruction, specifically to invite the Little Holy Son to Sacrifice Heaven Peak."

Duanmu Lei said, "The Sect Master is occupied with many affairs, so this time, the Hall Master himself will present the Little Holy Son with his reward and fulfill any one request the Little Holy Son makes of the sect."

Chu Tian's expression remained calm. Suddenly, he clasped his fists toward Duanmu Lei. "Uncle Lei, I must trouble you to have come personally, but I cannot go to accept the reward."