Enduring humiliation for three years, seizing the elixir, the treasure, and the holy maiden.

Lin Zhiya came to her senses.

She took a half step forward, and a slender hand naturally took Su Chen's arm.

"What my husband just said is exactly what I wanted to say."

Through the fabric, my fingertips could feel the steady warmth of that person's arm.

"I am already married."

"Junior brother, stop pestering me."

"Otherwise... my husband might overthink it."

This sentence, like a blunt knife, slowly grinded across Han Yue's heart.

The newly formed Qi of the Void Refinement stage suddenly shook and almost collapsed.

My Dao heart is shattered.

Su Chen turned his head away and lowered his voice, so that only the two of them could hear him.

"I'll just say a few words for you, that's all."

"If you keep pulling him like that, your junior brother might really go crazy in a minute."

A hint of mockery played on his lips. "By the way, how was my acting just now?"

Lin Zhiya's eyes sparkled, and the corners of her lips curved slightly.

"It's alright."

Even so, my heart sank inexplicably.

So... it was all just acting.

This disappointment came out of nowhere, and even she found it laughable.

A mountain breeze swept across Yuntai, causing the smoke from the calming incense burner to tilt.

Lin Zhiya suddenly remembered that she thought the plain gauze dress she was wearing this morning was too plain, and she wanted to change into another one, but she was too lazy to move, so she just left it as it was.

I'm actually glad I didn't change it.

It's better to keep it simple, so as not to attract attention.

"Su Chen!"

Han Yue suddenly raised his voice, his usually gentle face contorted into a grimace.

"Today, I will fight you once again!"

Having grasped the final strike of the Rain Sword Intent, he was determined to give it a try in this match, no matter what.

Su Chen had no intention of getting involved in this mess.

"I am, after all, your senior uncle."

He raised his hand to straighten his sleeves, looking rather uninterested. "It wouldn't sound good if word got out that I'm fighting with a junior like you."

"Don't try to fool me with your seniority!"

Han Yue gritted his teeth, "Our cultivation levels are similar, both at the early stage of the Void Refinement realm!"

Lin Zhiya frowned, about to speak again.

"Junior brother, don't make a mistake for yourself."

Her voice carried a hint of urgency, "This matter has nothing to do with Su Chen..."

"Have you all argued enough?"

Master Yunmeng finally put down the incense stick in his hand, his old face darkening.

"Have you gathered here today to settle your personal grudges?"

The disciples below the cloud platform craned their necks, as if afraid the excitement wouldn't be big enough.

Master Yunmeng glanced at everyone and spoke in a deep voice.

"I warned you beforehand."

"Disciples of my sect are not allowed to lay a hand on Su Chen."

"Su Chen is the true disciple of the Supreme Elder, and his seniority is even above yours."

"Such rudeness is unacceptable."

These words were less an admonition to Han Yue and more a message to Li Changfeng.

After all, he dared not forget a single word of those vows he made.

"interesting."

Li Changfeng suddenly put down his teacup and let out a soft laugh.

"In the years since I left the sect, it has produced a few upright and honest young men."

The old monster's gaze fell on Su Chen, his eyes holding a hint of something indescribable.

"Su Chen, you shall have a match with him."

"How could my disciple, Li Changfeng, possibly be afraid of battle?"

"But be careful not to kill him."

Su Chen raised an eyebrow, already cursing in his mind.

This old man.

Li Changfeng ignored him and continued speaking on his own.

"If you also decline this match, others will think that I, as the Supreme Elder, am excessively biased towards my own disciple."

"I have already instructed Elder Yunmeng repeatedly and strictly forbade any disciples in the sect from laying a hand on Su Chen."

"This is not favoritism."

The old monster picked up his teacup and slowly blew on the steam.

"Indeed, this disciple of mine is adept at concealing his talents, has a deep mind, and is ruthless in his methods."

"Anyone who offends him will inevitably suffer a terrible fate."

"I've made this arrangement for your own good."

That's absolutely brilliant.

This not only cleared him of any suspicion of favoritism, but also elevated his own disciple to the highest esteem.

Su Chen's face was so black it looked like ink could drip from it.

That old bastard is clearly forcing him to stop hiding.

He originally intended to keep a low profile for a few years, focus on cultivation, solidify his foundation, and gain a firm foothold in the Haori Sect before making any further moves.

Now that Li Changfeng has praised him so highly, he can no longer hide it.

That's it.

Since we cannot hide our shortcomings, we might as well do the opposite.

Be as flamboyant as possible.

Su Chen understood the principle that "the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind."

But sometimes, if you compare all the other trees in this grove to shrubs, the wind doesn't dare to come.

Being high-profile is also a form of self-protection.

Lin Zhiya had witnessed this man's methods in the lower realm.

During their battle at Luoyun Sect, Su Chen broke her Yin-Yang Silver Ring, suppressing her to the point where she couldn't lift her head.

She wasn't worried that Su Chen would lose.

only……

"Don't hurt your junior brother."

She leaned closer, her voice very low, "He's not a bad person by nature, he's just too stubborn."

Su Chen turned his head and glanced at her.

"Feeling sorry for him?"

His tone was slightly casual and teasing: "Don't worry, it won't hurt him."

"I know you're thinking about that kid."

He brushed off non-existent dust from the hem of his robe. "Our marriage was arranged by Master."

"Now that I have a firm foothold in the Upper Realm, I don't need the title of Holy Maiden's Daoist partner."

"I will give you your freedom another day."

Lin Zhiya was stunned.

She was genuinely worried about her junior brother just now.

But after hearing Su Chen's words, a strange emptiness filled her heart.

She should hate this man.

But hearing him speak of their marriage so casually, as if he could just throw it away at any moment, she couldn't find a trace of joy in her heart.

"This matter... will be discussed later."

She turned her face away, letting out a soft snort, without even realizing the subtle hint of sulking she was displaying.

"This kind of spiritual partner, you can do it if you want, and you can not do it if you don't want to."

"It's not up to you!"

Su Chen touched his nose and didn't reply for a moment.

This woman's thoughts are harder to fathom than any killing move on the battlefield.

He shook his head, ignoring it, and walked towards the martial arts arena outside the hall with his hands behind his back.

"It seems that last time, I went a little too easy on him."

"Let's make this Junior Brother Han give up on that idea completely after this match."

A gust of wind swept across the top of the towering tree, scattering spiritual leaves all over the ground.

The training ground, shaded by trees, is paved with bluestone. It has witnessed countless battles, and the stone surface is covered with crisscrossing sword marks.

The disciples formed a dense, three-layered encirclement.

"Have you heard? Senior Brother Han has just mastered the final sword strike of the Rain Sword Intent."

"That's an extraordinary talent in swordsmanship."

"That junior uncle from the lower realm, who so readily admitted defeat in the hall just now, is probably going to suffer a great loss now."

Amidst the murmurs, Han Yue had already reached the center of the arena.

He looked up at the sky and formed a mudra with his hands.

A long sword gleaming with azure light shot out from the sea of ​​consciousness, hovering in the sky. Its sword cry was like a dragon's roar, resounding through the heavens.

"Su Chen, take this!"

Before the words were even finished, the sword light had already transformed into a streak of azure rainbow, carrying the momentum to destroy mountains and shatter rocks, and cleaved down from above.

The sword intent of the Void Refinement stage cultivator poured down, tearing the air in its wake with twisted lines.

The expressions of the Nascent Soul disciples watching changed drastically, and they all activated their protective spiritual light.

What a fierce sword strike!

...