First, Kill Him

The moment the two appeared, the North Gate disciples around them immediately changed expression and, in the next instant, dropped to their knees in unison.

Feng Chuan could not speak, but he immediately kowtowed as well, crawling forward. Only now did the terror in his eyes begin to lessen.

His master had come. He had finally gained a chance to survive.

Among the disciples present, only Su Hao remained standing, staring straight ahead.

"How presumptuous! You dare refuse to kneel upon seeing this elder?" The gloomy old man in black robes was none other than Liu Dao. He glanced at Su Hao, his voice exploding beside his ears like thunder.

"Does the sect have a rule requiring disciples to kneel when they see an elder?" Su Hao fixed his gaze on him and asked, neither servile nor defiant.

A trace of fury appeared amid Liu Dao's gloomy expression. "No. But if this elder tells you to kneel, then today, you must kneel!"

His voice was domineering and arrogant, like an emperor berating a slave. As the thunderous sound rang out, the soundwaves transformed into an invisible giant palm seal that crashed down over Su Hao's head, seeking to force his knees to buckle and make him kneel on the ground to beg for mercy.

The immense pressure weighed down like a mountain. Su Hao's legs trembled, cracking loudly. He gritted his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, and stared fixedly ahead as he refused to fall.

Cultivation tempered one's body, but even more so one's heart. If one's Dao heart was stained, it would become a nightmare within, eventually turning into an inner demon and hindering one's path ahead.

A cultivator's heart was hard as iron—better to break than bend.

"For a dignified elder to humiliate a disciple like this truly violates all fairness. Besides, he is an East Gate disciple. Even if he were to kneel and bow, it would not be to you, but to Xiao Wuji!"

Just then, a young man's voice rang out. Another figure approached from afar, dressed in white robes with handsome features and a smile at his lips, giving off an air of carefree irreverence.

It was Xia Xiaojiu.

Liu Dao's expression changed, as though he feared him somewhat. He withdrew his oppressive aura and said, "The sect has sternly decreed that you are not permitted to enter the mountain peaks. By doing this, you have already broken the rules."

"I came here to seek a master and learn my craft. You people would not allow me into the sect, but you never said I could not come to this mountain peak. If Elder Liu Dao is dissatisfied, you can slap me off the mountain. Or perhaps you want me to kneel here too?" Xia Xiaojiu sneered as he stepped forward, faintly shielding Su Hao behind him.

Liu Dao's expression shifted. He did not dare say such words. This man's origins were far from simple; even with all his abilities, Liu Dao did not dare act too recklessly.

"Enough. All of you, leave. My Danyang Hall is a pure land. If anyone dares cause trouble here again in the future, I will not spare them, no matter who they are."

Danyangzi, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His gaze also swept over Xia Xiaojiu, seemingly as a warning.

"Let's go."

Xia Xiaojiu tugged Su Hao. It seemed the pill he wanted could not be obtained. Liu Dao and Danyangzi were together now; Danyangzi could not possibly act for Su Hao.

"No."

Su Hao shook his head.

Danyangzi, who had turned to leave, halted his steps. "I know why you have come. I will not act, nor is it possible for me to act. You do not understand the distinction between superior and inferior, and you came to my North Gate to act wildly. The fact that I have not killed you is already mercy. Get lost at once!"

"Hmph!"

Liu Dao gave a cold snort. Su Hao had offended him and killed his disciple, yet he still wanted the North Gate's foremost alchemist to refine pills for him? He was simply dreaming.

The surrounding disciples sneered as well. Su Hao truly did not know what was good for him. Anyone could have figured out with their backside that this was impossible, yet he had come here to make a fool of himself.

"Let's go. We can think of another way," Xia Xiaojiu urged. In his view, this was already impossible.

"Lin Yaoyao's body may possess extremely strong self-healing abilities, but every day his dantian and meridians remain injured adds another measure of danger. And if too much time passes, his talent will suffer tremendous damage. This concerns the rest of his life. I cannot give up."

Su Hao said.

"That is your business, and it has nothing to do with me. I will give you one final chance: get lost immediately. Otherwise, no matter who is here, I will kill you."

Danyangzi spoke again, his voice brimming with killing intent. The temperature around them immediately plummeted.

"Hurry up and get lost."

"Stay away from our North Gate in the future. You are not welcome here. East Gate trash, carrying a curse—do not contaminate the sacred land of our North Gate."

The disciples around them cursed loudly.

Su Hao paid them no heed. He merely looked at Danyangzi and said calmly, "To be precise, I did not come to ask for pills. I came to save you. If I do not act, you will surely die within a year!"

Only after tossing out those words did Su Hao turn to leave.

"Do you know that Elder Danyangzi is a fourth-grade alchemist of lofty status? You dare speak like that? Even dying a hundred times would not atone for your sin."

"You shameless braggart! Believe it or not, once the North Gate elites arrive, they'll chop you to pieces at once!"

An alchemist's status was that of nobility no matter where they went. A fourth-grade alchemist commanded enough respect that even an emperor had to give him some face. Su Hao had directly cursed Danyangzi to death, naturally drawing everyone's displeasure.

Feng Chuan, whom Su Hao had beaten badly, had his jaw reconnected. He said even more venomously, "Elder Danyangzi, your status is that of a true dragon in the nine heavens. This man's rebellion cannot be forgiven. Please act at once and kill this madman!"

Danyangzi slowly turned back. In the next moment, he stomped down. Amid a surging gale, his figure shifted like stars changing course, appearing directly before Su Hao and blocking his path.

The people around them immediately sneered. Su Hao was utterly finished.

Feng Chuan was even more vicious, shouting, "The elder is wise! Anyone who insults your reputation deserves death!"

His hatred for Su Hao had reached an unsurpassable extreme.

As his voice fell, he looked coldly at Su Hao, gloating over his misfortune.

"Today, you are dead for certain." Su Hao swept him a glance and said coldly.

"Hmph, worry about yourself first." Feng Chuan was utterly fearless, his sneer deepening.

Danyangzi stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes fixed on Su Hao and filled with immense surprise. He opened his mouth, but before he could make a sound, Su Hao cut him off. "Kill him. Otherwise, you are not qualified to speak with me."

Danyangzi was enraged. As a fourth-grade alchemist, even the Spirit Creek Sect's sect master had to be courteous before him, yet this brat actually dared to give him orders directly.

His face changed again and again. Then he fiercely flung his sleeve, and as a mighty gale surged forth, a crimson beam shot from his fingertips with a sound that tore through the air.

Everyone around them sneered. Su Hao was going to die.

Xia Xiaojiu's expression changed as well. His figure flickered, and he immediately rushed forward.

But it was already too late. Danyangzi's magical power had surged forth, the beam of light as sharp as sword radiance and as swift as lightning.

Yet, just when everyone thought Su Hao was certain to die, the beam that had reached within three inches of him flexibly shifted beneath their incredulous gazes, instantly changing direction.

With a puff, blood sprayed through the air, and a figure toppled straight to the ground.

It was Feng Chuan!