Achoo!
In a cave within the Taixu Secret Realm.
A young man with an air of authority, whose every gesture exuded the presence of a leader, subconsciously rubbed his nose.
"How strange. I, Lei Aojie, am already half a step into the Spirit Nourishment Realm, so how can I catch a cold?"
He glanced at the silent cave and muttered, "I don't even know how long I've been in seclusion. This time, I'm only half a step away from perfecting my sword intent. Once I return and spend another half year in closed-door cultivation, I'll break through to the Spirit Nourishment Realm and perfect my sword intent as well.
By then, what will that brute Chao Xiu use to block my Heavenly Thunder Sword Formation!"
After saying this, Lei Aojie, in a great mood, prepared to go out and gather the disciples of Dayan Holy Land, ready to leave the Taixu Secret Realm at any time.
With his formidable strength and proud nature, Lei Aojie had no intention of concealing his identity. But he quickly sensed that something was off.
The surrounding passersby were all looking at him with gloating expressions.
Just as Lei Aojie was about to grab someone and ask what was going on, a familiar voice sounded in his ear through divine sense transmission.
"Senior Brother, stop flying around, or you'll get targeted."
"Hm?"
Lei Aojie's expression turned displeased. As one of the candidates for Holy Son of Dayan Holy Land, was he supposed to fear being hunted down?
He swept his divine sense around and suddenly found a familiar presence.
Wang Lie—why was this guy actually calling him senior brother now? Normally, this kid barely even acknowledged him.
Despite his suspicions, Lei Aojie still descended beside Wang Lie, who was accompanied by two bedraggled junior brothers.
Lei Aojie frowned slightly. "Junior Brother Wang, what happened to you all? Where's your Black Sovereign?"
Wang Lie glanced around, a bitter smile on his face. "Don't mention it, Senior Brother. Black Sovereign's brains were smashed out by Wendao Academy's Overlord Fist, Cao Youqian. As for our Dayan Holy Land, we're not much better off than Black Sovereign."
???
Lei Aojie narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "Junior Brother, what do you mean by that?"
Sigh…
Wang Lie let out a long sigh and slowly explained, "Here's what happened."
After Wang Lie finished, Lei Aojie's eyes nearly popped out of his head.
"You're serious? Xiao Chen and Cao Youqian from Wendao Academy have both perfected their sword intent and fist intent?"
Wang Lie nodded bitterly. "Senior Brother, what's there to hide at this point? All we can do now is wait for the secret realm to end, teleport out, and report this to the sect elders. If even we die here, there will be no one left to avenge our fallen brothers."
Once full of confidence, Lei Aojie's expression kept shifting as he listened. After a long while, he finally said, "Junior Brother Wang, you did the right thing. Is this place safe?"
"…"
Wang Lie and the others were taken aback. "It's fairly safe."
"Then let's squeeze in together."
Lei Aojie said this without changing his expression, silently swearing in his heart: Xiao Chen, just you wait. One day I'll settle this score.
...
"The Taixu Secret Realm is about to close. Everyone, come with me to receive the disciples."
Inside the palace, King Hengjiang addressed the crowd with authority.
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone responded, then followed King Hengjiang as he flew toward Taixu Valley.
When Chu Feng and his group arrived, all the cultivators from the various factions were already waiting.
However, the expressions of the leaders from the various factions varied—some looked utterly disheartened, some were filled with murderous intent, and some were beaming with smiles.
Among the people of Wendao Academy, everyone was grinning except for Chu Feng, who remained as calm as ever.
This time, Wendao Academy had lost only five disciples—far exceeding everyone's expectations.
They would have quite a story to brag about once they got back.
Just then, the gate of the Taixu Secret Realm opened. Xiao Chen led the Wendao Academy group out in grand fashion, followed by disciples from the other Holy Lands.
Seeing Xiao Chen and the others walk out, a happy smile appeared on Chu Feng's face.
Xiao Chen led the disciples in a respectful salute. "We greet all our seniors."
"No need for formalities."
King Hengjiang smiled and said, "You've all had a hard journey. If there's anything you want to say, let's discuss it after we return to camp."
"Yes, sir!"
Xiao Chen responded, and the disciples followed King Hengjiang and the others back to Wendao Academy's camp.
Once they landed, each academy began to tally up their own disciples.
Chu Feng noticed an extra girl in a purple dress and asked, "Who is she?"
Cao Youqian immediately stepped forward. "Master, her name is Song Zhaoyi. She's my good little sister."
Chu Feng nodded slightly. "Xiao Yi, go report your safety to the elders of your sect first, then come find Da Qian."
"Yes, Master."
Song Zhaoyi wanted to see her elders as well and tell them everything that happened in the Taixu Secret Realm.
She gazed affectionately at Cao Youqian and waved, "Brother Overlord Fist, I'll go ahead. See you later."
"Take care."
Cao Youqian made no move to see her off, simply watching her leave.
Chu Feng watched her go and teased with a laugh, "Didn't expect you to find a new sweetheart so quickly, Da Qian."
Cao Youqian panicked at once. "Master, please don't play matchmaker. She really is just my little sister."
Chu Feng smiled playfully. "Purple does have a certain charm."
Cao Youqian: "…"
"All right, tell me what happened in the Taixu Secret Realm," Chu Feng said, steering the conversation back on track.
Xiao Chen stepped forward. "Master, we nearly wiped out the cultivators from Dayan Holy Land in the secret realm."
Everyone watched Chu Feng carefully, but to their surprise, his face showed no shock.
Chu Feng nodded. "As expected from my disciples. You don't let grudges fester overnight. Dayan Holy Land will surely come looking for trouble soon. Chen'er, come with me so King Hengjiang will know what to expect."
Qin Qin spoke up. "Master, aren't you angry?"
Chu Feng laughed. "Why would I be angry? Should I stop you from taking revenge? Rest assured, whatever you do, I'll back you up. Let's go."
"Master, I want to go too."
As soon as Cao Youqian finished, Qin Qin and Xiao Pang echoed, "Master, we want to go too."
Chu Feng gave a helpless smile. "Fine, I'll take you all."
A short while later, Chu Feng brought his four disciples to King Hengjiang's tent and told him everything that happened in the Taixu Secret Realm.
After hearing Xiao Chen's account, King Hengjiang was stunned for a moment. After a while, he finally spoke. "Well done—truly well done! Xiao Chen, you're worthy of being our Wendao Academy's Holy Son candidate. This time, you really showed our academy's might!"
???
Xiao Chen and his group all had baffled expressions.
They could understand why Master didn't blame them, but why wasn't King Hengjiang angry either?
King Hengjiang seemed to see their confusion and laughed. "What, do you regret it now?"
Xiao Chen shook his head, his expression especially resolute. "As sword cultivators, once we draw the sword, there's no turning back."
"Haha…"
King Hengjiang roared with laughter. "Youth is a wonderful thing! Don't worry, even if Dayan Holy Land comes for revenge, I'll stand up for you.
Even if I have to stay here, I'll personally see you all safely back to Wendao Academy. I won't let those old men from Dayan Holy Land lay a finger on you!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than a powerful pressure swept across the entire Wendao Academy camp, and a furious, ancient voice echoed down from the sky.
"You brats from Wendao Academy, get out here right now!"
{MC will take action in next chapter, Please keep reading and show your support.}
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