Shi Qingfeng

After paying respects to the founder's statue, over 1,000 new disciples were settled into a bamboo forest.

There were many houses here, and new disciples initially lived in this area.

Bai Yixin didn't have any objections, but after living there for only a few days, he was handpicked by an elder who came looking for him.

Like Bai Yixin, those who had performed astonishingly on the Second Battlefield were all selected within a few days.

His new residence was a spiritual plot of land, with clear peaks and lush valleys, mist swirling about; it was extremely suitable for cultivation and far superior to the dwellings of ordinary disciples.

"This one will do."

Being a newcomer, Bai Yixin didn't know the rules of this new environment, so he casually picked a spot far from the crowd to settle in first, planning to move later if there were any requirements.

Bai Yixin chopped down a few bamboo stalks outside to make a bamboo bed, spreading several thick layers of Beast Skin on top as a mattress; although it was a bit crude, it was comfortable enough to sleep on.

"Snap."

Bai Yixin warmed up, preparing to have some enthusiastic exchanges with other friendly residents.

There was nothing more enthusiastic than fists meeting flesh.

"From now on, this place shall be called Lu Ben... cough cough, from today, I am the boss here!"

"Yo, is this the genius specially recruited via the Rune token? With just these two moves, he's way too pathetic!" A gray-clad youth pointed at the bruised and swollen youth on the ground, laughing loudly.

"Heh, I don't know how a guy like this even got into the Heaven-Mending Pavilion." Another blue-clad youth beside the gray-clad one spoke with utter disdain.

"He's a special recruit; who knows how many resources his family spent to trade for a Rune token just to send this trash in," another blue-clad youth sneered.

On the ground, the bruised and swollen youth kept his head down and didn't reply, knowing full well that these people had come specifically to bully him.

These few came to cause trouble for him every day, making unreasonable demands for "sparring" just to wear him down with injuries, waiting for him to be kicked out so they could get their own people in.

Because there was a rule in the Genius Camp: if one showed no progress after a long time, they would be eliminated and replaced by someone from the outside.

"Bullying?"

Bai Yixin glanced at the bullied youth. He looked very delicate and frail, appearing easy to push around, and seemed a bit dim-witted; he didn't even know how to group up for protection when bullied. Seeing him not resisting, it didn't look like this was his first time.

"Yo yo yo, it's quite lively here. Won't you let me join in the fun?"

Seeing injustice and drawing a blade to help?

No, this was purely just looking for entertainment.

Bai Yixin wouldn't help just anyone who was being bullied; first, the person being bullied had to have value.

Although this sounded a bit heartless, there was no helping it; this world was just like that. The warmth and coldness of human relationships are known only to oneself.

Compared to questioning the three bullies, Bai Yixin preferred to ask the bullied youth; bestowing a favor often yielded better results than intimidation.

"Who are you?" The gray-clad youth, Zhou Yuhao, looked at the youth walking toward them with slight surprise.

"Oh? Are you looking to meddle in other people's business, or are you joining us?"

"Join you bunch of small-time thugs? Don't make me laugh! Heh." Bai Yixin looked disdainful.

"You aren't even worthy of knowing my name."

"How arrogant. Then let's spar and see if your strength matches your big mouth!"

Runes erupted from his body, and the gray-clad youth signaled the other two blue-clad youths to charge at Bai Yixin together.

"Ho ho, you actually dare to walk toward me." Bai Yixin looked at the three youths, none of whom had more than a single Heavenly Cave manifesting above their heads, yet they dared to be this arrogant. Heh, it seems bullying the weak in groups has made them bloated!

Today, he would let them see that no matter how many people there were, it was all in vain in the face of an absolute gap in strength.

Bai Yixin flickered, and he vanished from the sight of the three gray-clad youths.

Just from this speed alone, the three knew they had kicked an iron plate.

"Stop... ahhh..."

Before the words could even leave their mouths, a massive force erupted on their backsides, and the three of them shot into the sky like firework rockets.

"Three rookies, only worth one kick each."

Bai Yixin shook his head, wondering if there were any truly capable people in this Genius Camp; surely they weren't all just bullies who picked on the weak?

"Thank you, my name is Shi Qingfeng, thank you for helping me."

The bruised and swollen Shi Qingfeng looked dazed, staring at Bai Yixin who had suddenly extended a helping hand, and felt a surge of gratitude, thanking him sincerely.

Shi Qingfeng? Why does that sound familiar? Oh~ so he's the substitute for Little One. Bai Yixin thought about it; he had a vague impression, but it wasn't a very important character—just someone who later took Little One's place and became the Stone Emperor.

"My name is Bai Yixin. Saving you was just to ask you a few things; no need to thank me."

Bai Yixin waved his hand and said.

"Bai Yixin, Brother Bai, Brother Little White?" Shi Qingfeng was stunned. Why was this name the same as the "Brother Little White" that Little Brother always talked about?

Could it be...

"Brother Little White? Are you the Brother Little White that Little Brother is always talking about?" Shi Qingfeng asked, feeling a bit uncertain.

"Hmm, if there isn't a second person called Brother Little White, then it's me. You're the substitute suffering in Little One's place, right? 'A long whistle at the Heavenly Gate, ten thousand miles of clear breeze comes.' Qingfeng, what a good name!" Seeing Shi Qingfeng looking a bit dejected at the mention of being a substitute, Bai Yixin patted his shoulder and said with a smile.

"Since you're Little One's little brother, you're my little brother. Call me Brother Bai, and I'll take you under my wing."

"Understood, Brother Bai!"

Shi Qingfeng, seeing that Bai Yixin had no intention of looking down on him, responded with great delight.

"Here, these weaklings sure fight dirty! Why are they giving you trouble?" Bai Yixin handed a bottle of medicinal powder to Shi Qingfeng.

"Thank you, Brother Bai. They come to harass me every day, refusing to let my wounds heal. They want to drag me down like this so my cultivation makes no progress, waiting until they can kick me out to make room for their own people." A large bruise marred Shi Qingfeng's small face, but it began to heal rapidly after he took the medicinal powder.

Bai Yixin dispersed the lingering Runes the three attackers had left in Shi Qingfeng's wounds and said, "Let's go. I'll take you to demand justice and show them who's the boss around here!"

"But, Brother Bai, they have a genius from the Rain Clan backing them. He is a terrifying figure. Is it really okay to deal with them?" Shi Qingfeng asked with some concern.

"The Rain Clan? You don't mean the Rain Clan of the Stone Kingdom, do you? Qingfeng, it doesn't matter. The Rain Clan is nothing. Here in the Heaven-Mending Pavilion, as long as we follow the rules, even if Shi Yi comes, I'll beat him up all the same!"

Bai Yixin was full of courage and felt no fear at all.

"Let's go, take me to beat them up. I want to see what kind of skills these so-called geniuses actually have."