Malice

Lin Ming watched as Xiong Dan and Zhou Feng actually faced off directly. A surge of strength made him struggle to his feet.

Remembering how he had not even harbored the slightest thought of resisting just now, Lin Ming felt as though his face were on fire.

The other newly inducted disciples also seemed to regain their fighting spirit at the sight, their eyes fixed tightly on the scene ahead.

As for the older disciples who had been watching the show or preparing to snatch Blood Pills, their faces were filled with astonishment.

They had never imagined things would develop to this extent.

A newly inducted disciple was actually fighting Xiong Dan?

And he could even exchange several rounds with him—who would believe that if it were told?

Who was Xiong Dan, after all? He was someone on the verge of drawing qi and becoming an Inner Sect disciple.

Though the name Xiong Dan sounded somewhat amusing.

Xiong Dan had once been a renowned genius as well. He had been born with vigorous blood qi, Divine Strength, and a frame sturdier than that of ordinary people.

He had reached the ninth level of Body Tempering in less than a year after entering the Three Gu Sect.

Rumor had it that an elder had taken a liking to him directly. As long as he successfully drew qi, he would be accepted as that elder's personal disciple.

It was precisely because of such prestige that the other older disciples had not dared to snatch the Blood Pills.

At the very least, they had to wait until Xiong Dan was done taking them before making their move.

At this point, some people might have been confused.

If Xiong Dan had caught an elder's eye, how could he be so lacking in resources that he would even rob newly inducted disciples of their Blood Pills?

This was actually related to the Three Gu Sect higher-ups' philosophy of nurturing disciples.

Many elders believed that talent was indeed an advantage, but it was not everything.

Geniuses fell, while petty men rose through dark and underhanded means.

That was nothing new within the Three Gu Sect, so possessing talent did not mean everything.

Thus, these elders would at most keep an eye on you. In truth, they would not offer any help.

If you successfully drew qi, then everything would be easy to discuss, for that proved you were worth nurturing.

But if you were unfortunate enough to die, then so be it!

That would only prove that you were a false genius, not a true one.

Besides cultivation talent, a true genius had to master all kinds of methods.

Otherwise, in the Three Gu Sect, they would sooner or later be played to death.

"You're courting death!"

Xiong Dan charged forward once more.

His fist wind carried two piercing howls. Merely hearing the sound of it tearing through the air was enough to tell just how heavy those punches were.

One from the left and one from the right, battering Zhou Feng until his body swayed from side to side.

The enormous gap in strength turned him directly into Xiong Dan's punching bag.

Yet even so, Zhou Feng still defended with all his might.

He clasped both arms over his head, doing his best to keep the fists from landing on vital spots.

At the same time, he held back a breath, ready to counterattack at any moment.

Once again, Zhou Feng was sent flying.

Yet after only three seconds, he slowly climbed back to his feet.

This time, however, he looked truly miserable. Blood had soaked his entire body.

Zhou Feng still wore that dull expression and did not say a word.

With one hand, he picked up two Blood Pills and stuffed them into his mouth.

At this point, he no longer considered gains or losses. Right now, he only wanted to punch the man in front of him.

Though he did not say a single word, everyone around him could feel that ruthless resolve.

A large number of Blood Pills supplied a large amount of blood qi.

Stimulated by this immense blood qi, the Bloodthirsty Gu first absorbed a great deal of blood qi, then fed back a stream of pure blood qi to support Zhou Feng.

Honestly, if the Bloodthirsty Gu had not been continuously feeding blood qi back to him.

Zhou Feng would never have lasted this long.

More importantly, the passive skill he had just gained—Self-Healing Physique—had now begun to slowly recover his injuries.

Though the speed was extremely slow, it was restoring him bit by bit.

"Kid! You're courting death!"

Xiong Dan roared those words again.

Without comparison, Xiong Dan's appearance truly was intimidating.

But with Zhou Feng standing opposite him, expressionless.

In this scene, Xiong Dan looked somewhat like he was raging helplessly.

Strands of Killing Intent rose up.

Xiong Dan had truly developed the intent to kill.

A brat who had just entered the sect dared to act like this. If he did not kill him, he simply could not swallow this anger.

But just as that killing intent arose, a thread of icy chill climbed up from behind him.

It was not permitted for an older disciple to kill a newly inducted disciple in full view of everyone.

Especially in front of the Hall of Receiving Merit.

Though the Three Gu Sect's rules were exceptionally cruel, certain basic principles still had to be observed.

If you did it secretly in the shadows, those above would not bother about it.

But doing it in full view of everyone was unacceptable.

That thread of chill instantly woke Xiong Dan up, and much of the crimson in his eyes faded.

Xiong Dan understood that someone was warning him.

"You've got guts! I hope you can survive three days!"

Having calmed down, Xiong Dan grinned at Zhou Feng, his words carrying a naked threat.

With that, he turned and left.

There was no point in remaining here; it would only make him more of a laughingstock.

However, when Xiong Dan left, he still took all the Blood Pills belonging to Lin Ming, Yin Ling, and the others.

Previously, Lin Ming and the others could still keep half, but now not a single pill remained.

Faced with Xiong Dan's smiling face, no one dared to resist.

The faint urge to resist that had just risen in Lin Ming vanished instantly when he felt Xiong Dan's suffocating Killing Intent.

No one dared to resist outright like Zhou Feng.

From a certain perspective, it seemed Zhou Feng had implicated them.

If not for this, they could still have kept half of their Blood Pills.

"If you want someone to blame, blame him! I'd like to see what happens when everyone in one courtyard has no Blood Pills, while only one severely injured person has them!"

Xiong Dan, who had already gone far away, suddenly said this.

His words were thick with an intent to sow discord.

Though the provocation was crude, it was extremely effective.

Now, nearly everyone in Courtyard No. 7 had had their Blood Pills taken by Xiong Dan. Only the heavily injured Zhou Feng still had Blood Pills.

Though Zhou Feng did not have many Blood Pills left now, only five or six.

At least he still had some. The others did not have a single one.

Without Blood Pill replenishment in the early stages, they would have to waste most of their time recovering blood qi.

Especially when cultivating martial skills and techniques for the first time, taking a Blood Pill afterward would make progress much faster.

As soon as those words were spoken, Lin Ming and the others' expressions changed slightly.

The way they looked at Zhou Feng also gained an indescribable meaning.

To be honest, they were not actually that familiar with Zhou Feng.

Or rather, everyone in Courtyard No. 7 had only known one another for a few short days.

Compared to cultivation and their own lives, how important could the friendship of a few days be?

The answer seemed obvious even with one's toes.

Xiong Dan looked like a brainless, musclebound brute, yet unexpectedly, he knew how to scheme.

Human nature was something that simply could not withstand testing.

Especially in a place like the Three Gu Sect. If you stayed for a few more days, certain beliefs would be directly twisted around.

Zhou Feng instantly felt a wave of malice enveloping him.