Cave Abode Seized? Ran Deng Defeated with One Punch

"Your physical body is actually this tough!"

Ran Deng climbed up from the ground. His hair crown had fallen off, his hair hanging loose, and he looked utterly bedraggled. Seeing Lu Chen's completely unscathed fist, his face was filled with disbelief.

His Qiankun Ruler had struck Lu Chen's fist, yet not only had it failed to leave so much as a mark, an irresistible vast force had instead traveled from the Qiankun Ruler into his hand. The ruler had flown from his grasp, and even he himself had been sent flying.

His Qiankun Ruler was a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!!!

To withstand a blow from his Qiankun Ruler without the slightest injury—could Lu Chen's physical body already rival a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure?

Ran Deng simply could not imagine it. Even among the great witches of the Witch Clan, who specialized in cultivating their bodies, not just anyone possessed a physical body comparable to a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!

Was Lu Chen a monster?

Aside from not looking as miserable as Ran Deng, Duobao and the others behind Lu Chen were no less shocked. Their mouths hung slightly open, their eyes brimming with disbelief.

"Their Eldest Senior Brother is... is simply too fierce!"

Zhao Gongming stared at Lu Chen's back, his eyes filled with worship, and secretly swore to himself, I'll be as fierce as Eldest Senior Brother someday too!

Lu Chen did not spare Ran Deng even a glance. He turned back to Jin Ling. "This cave abode will remain yours from now on."

"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother!"

Jin Ling hurriedly came back to her senses. A faint blush rose on her pretty face as she looked at Lu Chen.

She walked toward the cave abode.

"You dare break the rules and seize our cave abodes by force. Aren't you afraid the Sage will hold you accountable?!"

Ran Deng roared in a low voice.

He had no choice. If he could help it, he did not want to invoke Yuanshi's name either. Earlier, he had thought that with the Qiankun Ruler and his cultivation at the peak of Great Luo, he could suppress Lu Chen if he went all out. But that punch had shattered his fighting spirit.

Though he only appeared battered and still had the strength to fight, Lu Chen was not one of those Witch Clan barbarians who cultivated only their bodies and not their mana. His mana was equally terrifying. As Tongtian's foremost disciple, he was bound to have spirit treasures protecting him.

Perhaps more than one, even. Back at Treasure Distribution Rock, Tongtian had collected the most magic treasures.

But now that his skills fell short, he could only hope Yuanshi would make Lu Chen wary. After all, he truly did not want to return to that cave abode whose spiritual energy was not even as rich as his own daoist field.

"Rules? Weren't you the one who broke them first?"

"Taking by force while I was away, and now you claim I broke the rules? Ran Deng, you truly have no shame at all."

"I am the Chan Sect's Vice Sect Master, your martial uncle! How dare you speak to your martial uncle like that!"

Though Lu Chen did not say much, every word was a blade stabbing into Ran Deng's heart, making him so furious that he stamped his feet.

Lu Chen raised a hand and pretended to pick at his ear. "Oh, so you still know you're a martial uncle. Fighting juniors for their cave abodes—how utterly beneath you. Or is this what Martial Uncle Yuanshi taught you?

"I'm sure it isn't. Everyone knows Martial Uncle Yuanshi values rules and reputation above all else. How could he teach his own disciples to bully the weak with the strong? This must have been your own idea."

Lu Chen directly placed Yuanshi upon the highest pedestal of morality. Even if Yuanshi had ordered this, he would never admit it—he would even deny it. After all, everyone knew he was the most rule-abiding person in the entire Primordial World. If he admitted it, would that not be slapping his own face?

Therefore, Ran Deng could only bear this blame—and he could bear it. Ran Deng was already famous throughout the Primordial World for lowering his own status to become a Sage's disciple. For someone so shameless, was it not perfectly normal to bully the weak with the strong?

Hearing Lu Chen's words, Ran Deng felt a mouthful of blood lodge in his chest.

Why was this fellow so sharp-tongued? This was clearly...

Suddenly, Ran Deng's face turned pale. He could not say a single word, drooping like an eggplant struck by frost.

"Make way."

Lu Chen led his junior brothers past Ran Deng, casually pushing him aside as they headed toward the next cave abode.

The next cave abode had been occupied by Guangchengzi. He was Yuanshi's favorite and the Chan Sect's Eldest Senior Brother, so aside from Ran Deng's, his cave abode was the best.

Just as before, Lu Chen shattered the formation with a single punch and forced Guangchengzi out.

Sensing the Late-Stage Mysterious Immortal aura emanating from Guangchengzi, Lu Chen nodded inwardly. Regardless of Guangchengzi's temperament, his cultivation was quite decent.

"Wudang, spar with our Junior Brother Guangchengzi. Whoever wins gets this cave abode."

Lu Chen looked at Wudang. He did not choose to act himself. Fighting Ran Deng was one thing—Ran Deng was, after all, a Great Luo, so it was appropriate for him to intervene. But if he fought Guangchengzi, although they were of the same generation in status and respectively the Eldest Senior Brothers of the Jie Sect and Chan Sect, his cultivation was there for all to see. If he acted, it would carry the suspicion of bullying the weak with the strong.

Wudang and Guangchengzi had comparable cultivation, so a spar between them would be fairer.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Lu Chen."

It was Guangchengzi who said this.

Though Lu Chen had come to seize his cave abode, Guangchengzi was deeply grateful. When he saw Lu Chen arrive, he had already prepared himself to surrender the cave abode. He had not expected to still have a chance to fight openly for the right to use it.

"Wudang will not disappoint Eldest Senior Brother."

Wudang stepped out from behind Lu Chen, looking at Guangchengzi with a face full of fighting intent.

Neither used any magic treasures. They merely competed in dao techniques and cultivation.

In terms of dao techniques, Tongtian had proven his Dao through the sword, and the techniques he passed down all carried some of a sword's sharpness, making them stronger in killing and battle. Yuanshi's Yuqing Immortal Method was, at best, evenly matched with the older version of the Shangqing Immortal Method.

Compared to the Shangqing Sword Canon, however, it was far inferior.

In the end, Guangchengzi was defeated.

"Thank you for yielding!"

"Likewise!"

After the formalities, Guangchengzi turned and left without another word.

Having lost in a battle against someone of the same realm, what else could he say?

"Eldest Senior Brother, I defeated Guangchengzi."

Dressed in a black skirt, Wudang looked calm and dignified. Yet after defeating Guangchengzi, she came to Lu Chen like a lively little girl, seeking praise.

"Very good."

Lu Chen reached out and rubbed Wudang's hair. It was smooth and soft beneath his hand.

"Hehe."

Yuqing Palace.

Laozi and Yuanshi sat side by side.

Yuanshi's face was frighteningly dark.

Laozi turned a blind eye to it and continued speaking to himself.

"Lu Chen cultivates the Witch Clan's body-refining method as well. I fear no one within the Great Luo realm can stand against him. Although his Three Flowers have all shattered, if he follows the path of the physical body and encounters sufficient opportunities, he may yet prove the Dao."

"As for..."

Yuanshi suddenly spoke. "Eldest Brother, I have suddenly gained some insight and intend to enter seclusion, so I will not keep you any longer."

"Mm."

Laozi nodded, gave Yuanshi a deep look, and quietly departed.

After Laozi left, Yuanshi could no longer restrain himself. The Sage's might around him surged forth, and the palace instantly became a complete mess.

"Tongtian truly has good fortune!"

Yuanshi gritted his teeth, a trace of envy appearing in his eyes.

Elsewhere.

Lu Chen led his junior brothers and sisters from one challenge to the next, but the cave abodes were empty. Even the items inside had been taken away, clearly indicating that their owners had left for good.

Lu Chen was happy to have it easy and returned to his own cave abode.

"Bai Geng, stop sleeping,"

"What is it, Master?"

"Come with me to Heavenly Court."