Shen He, Xu Yang, and the others came to their senses, their hearts churning like rivers and seas as they stared at Chen Xun with constricted pupils.
Hadn't Chen Xun been settled on Servant Disciple Peak?
H-how had he ended up on Heaven Mystic Peak?
And on such an important day, no less...
Gradually, Shen He began to tremble faintly with panic. He had agreed to Zhao Ting's request and brought Chen Xun back to the sect without authorization. Now that Chen Xun had suddenly appeared to disrupt the investiture ceremony, he might well be implicated.
The Martial Arena was deathly silent, thousands upon thousands of gazes fixed on Chen Xun, all flickering with different emotions.
Zhao Ting abruptly rose from his meditation cushion, ready to walk toward Chen Xun.
The movement gave Shen He a fright, and he hurriedly sent a voice transmission:
"Z-Zhao Ting, d-don't go over there!"
Zhao Ting paused. Hearing that familiar voice in his mind, he immediately recognized Shen He.
Shen He continued urgently, his transmitted voice trembling. "Zhao Ting, today is the day you're invested as a Purple-Robed Disciple and become the Fourth Elder's disciple. Never mind that every disciple and elder in the sect is gathered here-even the sect master is present! Most importantly, the other sects and factions are watching. If you make a mistake and cause the Heavenly Dao Sect to lose face, you'll be severely punished! It isn't worth it for this mad friend of yours!"
Zhao Ting froze, his heart pounding harder and harder. Cold sweat streamed from his palms in his anxiety, and he had no idea what to do.
At that moment, no one noticed that Sect Master Nangong Yao was staring at Chen Xun in astonishment, his eyes filled with surprise and delight!
S-Senior???
"That's right, that's right! Isn't this much quieter? All right, this humble fellow is going back to sleep. Make sure you keep things this quiet, heh heh heh."
Chen Xun gave a deranged laugh, then turned around under countless astonished, bewildered gazes and began heading down the mountain, wagging his head.
"Stop!"
At last, Liu Yunjian spoke coldly.
Chen Xun stopped and turned around, looking curiously at Liu Yunjian.
Liu Yunjian turned toward the outer sect contingent and said flatly, "If I remember correctly, the foot of Heaven Mystic Peak is guarded by the Outer Disciples, is it not? Hmm?"
At his words, the outer sect disciples and elders shuddered in fright, then dropped to their knees en masse.
Xu Ansong, the elder in charge of the outer sect, answered in terror, "Reporting to the Grand Elder, yes, the Outer Disciples are responsible."
Liu Yunjian snorted coldly, pointed at Chen Xun, and asked, "Then tell me, how did this man get up here?"
Xu Ansong's face went deathly pale as he stammered, "Th-this..."
Liu Yunjian suddenly thundered, "Do you know what day it is today? I'll deal with you properly afterward!"
Xu Ansong's scalp prickled and his entire body shook, but he had no idea what to say. Inwardly, he hated the elders and disciples under him to death.
If he, the elder in charge of the outer sect, was punished, none of the outer sect disciples or elders would have an easy time once he returned.
More importantly, being reprimanded like this by the Grand Elder before so many people today had utterly stripped Xu Ansong of his dignity.
Meanwhile, everyone grew increasingly puzzled as they looked at Chen Xun. His clothing clearly did not belong to a disciple of any peak in the Heavenly Dao Sect. How had he sneaked into the sect?
Sensing Liu Yunjian's gaze, Xu Ansong immediately drew a deep breath. Knowing he had to resolve this at once, he barked, "This man has trespassed on the investiture ceremony and disrupted proceedings, showing no respect for rules or discipline. Someone, execute him on the spot!"
"Yes!"
An outer sect steward behind Xu Ansong immediately answered. He swiftly rose, drew his longsword, and darted toward Chen Xun, his eyes vicious as he sought to take his life with a single strike!
Yet Chen Xun merely giggled at the sight, as though unaware of the approaching danger.
Zhao Ting was frantic, cold sweat pouring down his body!
Seeing this, Shen He hurriedly sent another voice transmission to dissuade him. "Zhao Ting, Chen Xun brought this disaster upon himself by ignoring propriety. You've only just become a Purple-Robed Disciple. Don't get involved!"
Though Purple-Robed Disciples held extremely high standing in the Heavenly Dao Sect, Shen He knew perfectly well that even they had no right to speak on an occasion like this!
If Zhao Ting spoke up to stop this, it would be tantamount to ruining himself!
Zhao Ting's gaze darted about. He, too, knew how serious the consequences would be, but he could no longer afford to worry about them!
He could not stand by and watch Chen Xun die like this. He was the one who had brought Chen Xun to the Heavenly Dao Sect in the first place. Barely any time had passed-if something happened to Chen Xun here, Zhao Ting would live with that guilt for the rest of his life!
At that thought, resolve hardened in Zhao Ting's eyes. Summoning his courage, he shouted in a trembling voice:
"S-spare him!"
Shen He's scalp tingled, and his anxiety mounted. He sighed inwardly. It's over. I won't escape being dragged into this either.
The outer sect steward, who had already reached a spot several yards in front of Chen Xun, abruptly stopped and turned to stare in Zhao Ting's direction in disbelief.
At the same time, the Martial Arena grew even quieter.
The disciples watched in shock, their hearts filled with confusion.
The representatives of the various sects and factions marveled inwardly. This trip to the Heavenly Dao Sect certainly hadn't been wasted-one spectacle followed another.
Hmm?
Liu Yunjian and the other core elders also looked toward Zhao Ting, their eyes flickering.
"Zhao Ting, what is the meaning of this?"
Liu Yunjian's tone was somewhat icy.
Zhao Ting lowered his head and answered fearfully, "Reporting to the Grand Elder, his name is Chen Xun. He is a friend of mine from the mortal world. His mind differs from that of ordinary people. Please spare his life!"
A friend from the mortal world?
What was a friend from the mortal world doing in the Heavenly Dao Sect?
That question lingered in everyone's mind.
Knowing he could no longer escape, Shen He hurried out of the ranks, prostrated himself, and spoke in a trembling voice:
"Reporting to the Grand Elder, Chen Xun is a mortal without a spiritual root. I agreed to Zhao Ting's request without authorization, brought him back to the sect, and settled him on Servant Disciple Peak. I intended to report this after the investiture ceremony, but I never expected something like this to happen. I beg punishment!"
Noticing the strange looks from the representatives of the sects and factions on either side, Liu Yunjian felt his eyelid twitch.
This was nothing short of a farce!
Liu Yunjian knew he could not let this continue, lest further mishaps arise. As for how to deal with these people, that would have to wait until after the discipleship ceremony.
Just as Liu Yunjian was about to speak, Nangong Yao, who had remained silent all this time, spoke up.
"Enough. This matter ends here. Continue the discipleship ceremony."
Seeing no trace of anger on the sect master's face, everyone felt puzzled.
"Heh heh heh!"
Chen Xun gave a wicked laugh, then turned, clasped his hands behind his back, and skipped down the mountain.
Liu Yunjian ordered, "Don't let him escape. Seize him first. We'll settle this afterward."
"Uh, yes!"
Hearing this, the outer sect steward immediately set off after Chen Xun.
Nangong Yao narrowed his eyes. "Grand Elder, I said this matter ends here. Did you not hear me?"
The moment the sect master spoke, the outer sect steward's legs went weak, and he dared not move.
Hearing Nangong Yao's tone, Liu Yunjian's heart also trembled. He hastily bowed. "Yes, Sect Master."
Never mind Liu Yunjian—everyone in the Martial Arena, from disciples and elders to representatives of the various sects and factions, was somewhat bewildered.
"All right, continue the discipleship ceremony. The drums... need not be beaten," Nangong Yao said with a wave of his hand.
"..."
"Yes!"
Afterward, the discipleship ceremony resumed.
The elders, and even the leaders of the various sects and factions, congratulated Zhao Ting and offered words of encouragement.
Throughout it all, only Nangong Yao remained distracted, occasionally glancing toward the direction Chen Xun had left.
Nangong Yao was certain that... this was the senior he had met atop Little River Peak that day. He had never imagined the senior would come to his Heavenly Dao Sect.
Yet for some unknown reason, the senior seemed like a completely different person. Right, someone had mentioned that his mind differed from ordinary people's. What exactly had happened?
Could the senior be experiencing life in some way I don't understand?
Though Nangong Yao's expression remained unchanged, he was utterly thrilled inside.
He had nearly been unable to stop himself from stepping forward to pay his respects. But remembering how many eyes were on the Martial Arena—and, most importantly, that representatives of other sects and factions were present—he had refrained.
Nangong Yao knew very well that doing so would only bring the senior a host of unnecessary troubles.
That day, atop Little River Peak, the senior had left without a moment's hesitation, leaving Nangong Yao regretting it for a long time.
But now the senior was in his sect. Nangong Yao silently resolved that, no matter what, he would seize this opportunity!
Before you continue