Sect master Huang turned his head in a hurry to see something sitting on his shoulder and living its best life.

Was this a cat?

****

“What the hell is this!?”

Sect master Huang was about to react and fling this thing off his shoulder when every cell in his body screamed at him to stay his hand.

He didn’t feel any aura from Pebbles, but his danger senses were going haywire!

They told him that should he act out against this thing, he would die!

“It’s embarrassing how the sect master of Golden Lion Gate would resort to taking hostages to deal with a younger generation expert,” Violet Flame Noble couldn’t hold back and finally spoke what was on his mind.

When sect master Huang heard what Violet Flame Noble said, his expression changed.

“He’s right, sect master Huang Jianyu.” Heavenly Sun Noble joined in calling the sect master by his full name. “This isn’t expected of an elite figure such as yourself.”

“You!” Sect master Huang Jianyu was incensed that two of the Five Nobles would speak up for Long Di!

“He destroyed most of my sect!” Sect master Huang Jianyu bellowed. How could he forgive Long Di for something like this!?

No one else spoke up as the Five Nobles were the ones to speak up and their prestige couldn’t be compared to.

Only people like Black Fortress Guo Da didn’t care about things like prestige and did what he liked. It was just that this situation wasn’t something he was particularly interested in.

Violet Flame Noble cupped his fist towards Huang Jianyu and said. “If Sect Master is willing, I will have Dao Flame Mansion foot the bill for the damage to the sect.”

“What!?”

Everyone including Heavenly Sun Noble, was shocked to hear this. Violet Flame Noble was willing to pay such an exorbitant sum!?

As the lone and beloved disciple of his master in the Dao Flame Mansion, Violet Flame Noble was an existence that had an illustrious status in the sect. His authority was quite great as well.

However, when looking at the charred buildings and plumes of smoke that rose from countless ruins, it was obvious that the damage to Golden Lion Gate was great.

Long Di had laid waste to a lot of areas within the sect, and for this to be taken care of by Dao Flame Mansion alone would not be something that sat well with higher-ups within, no?

Conditions were likely to be imposed before such a thing was authorised.

“No way, Firecracker,” expressed Long Di.

Violet Flame Noble was shocked when he saw who spoke. “Brother-”

Long Di held up his hand to stop him from speaking anymore. “You chose to follow me of your own volition and to be honest, for the plans I have in the future, I have need of your strength. However, the driving force behind your following me is the life I saved… yours. If you help me in such a huge way, something tells me your sect will advise you to cease your following and have me rescind the claim you made to me. No. I will not accept your help.”

Violet Flame Noble’s expression changed and an uncomfortable feeling welled up within him.

“Don’t worry,” Long Di continued, causing Violet Flame Noble to look at him curiously. “I would never put my friends in danger simply because of such a thing. I tell you to stand down because I have everything under control.”

Long Di wasn’t aware of it, but for a moment Violet Flame Noble’s perception of him dropped a few levels. He thought that Long Di cared more about the status and prestige that having one of the Five Nobles following him brought.

However, his last statement blurred these feelings. If Long Di truly had everything under control, then his perception of Long Di would remain untouched. But then, how was this something that Long Di had under control?

His gaze was then drawn to Lord Pebbles the Wondercat.

‘Right!’

He had forgotten about this existence for a short time. His instincts told him that Lord Pebbles the Wondercat was extremely dangerous. If he got involved, maybe Long Di did have everything under control.

But then, Lord Pebbles said he would have to leave right after didn’t he?

“Ha! You have everything under control!?” Huang Jianyu looked to the sky and laughed despite himself. “I would advise you to take Violet Flame Noble’s offer or your friends are de-”

Sect master Huang Jianyu’s next words were caught in his throat when a faint aura leaked from Pebbles that ripped the courage from the sect master’s heart.

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At the same time, an imperceptible rumble in the sky took place compelled Pebbles to seal back in his aura.

‘Stingy!’ Pebbles wasn’t pleased with that old lizard teacher of his. Just leaking his aura was pushing it!? Really!?

Nevertheless, the sect master was sure of it. This unassuming thing on his shoulder looking at him with dead eyes similar to the child was a monster!

“Pebbles, there is no need.”

“Mmkay.” Pebbles didn’t complain and vanished from sect master Huang Jianyu’s shoulder before reappearing on top of Long Di’s head.

Long Di cocked his head to the side, drawing a yelp from Pebbles. “What are you-”

“Why do you always wanna sleep on my head?” Long Di asked him.

“Because it’s comfy. Now stay still.” Without another word from Long Di, Pebbles went to sleep on top of Long Di’s head.

Long Di shook his head in exasperation. Pebbles was still Pebbles.

“What are you playing at?” Sect Master Huang Jianyu didn’t know why Long Di would recall his seemingly most powerful means to not take action.

“Nothing at all.” Long Di shrugged his shoulders. “You seem to think I’m relying on everyone else for help.”

“Are you not?” the Sect Master asked suspiciously. He was now beginning to think this child was not so simple.

For some reason, the Shidashi Mao, the cat, and his brazenness didn’t give it away.

“You seem to think that I tamed this Shidashi Mao,” he said, pointing to Lord Whiskers. ”And somehow have something sleeping away on my head that inspired dread in even you. Not only that, one of the Five Nobles was saved by me and is following me in turn. Do you think that I am able to do so because I am weak?” Long Di finally asked him.

Sect master Huang Jianyu’s decreased anger at the moment allowed for a wash of clarity to take him.

What Long Di just said made sense. If just one of these factors were to be considered, then maybe, just maybe it could be chalked up to coincidence.

But, for all of them to convene on one disciple? What coincidence was there in this world?

“What are you?” Sect master Huang Jianyu asked.

“Dunno… I’m making a journey out of everything so far,” Long Di replied.

Sect master Huang Jianyu internally battled with something. There were a lot of unknowns with Long Di. In addition, due to the Divine Daughter being in his sect, he was also aware of some things that he normally wouldn’t be privy to.

“Leave. Leave and never come back.” Sect master Huang Jianyu ordered, shocking the crowd present.

One must remember that Long Di just decimated three-quarters of Golden Lion Gate. This was a huge slap in the face!

For Sect master Huang Jianyu to swallow this insult was no small matter. Who was this Long Di!?

He then released Shen Ling and the others from his hold, allowing them to breathe.

“Sect master you can’t be serious!” Xiong Weizhe shouted, his face red with anger.

Sect master Huang Jianyu’s own anger was already being held with great control, but this Xiong Weizhe was so tactless that he couldn’t see greater than two feet ahead of him!

“Xiong Weizhe, calm down! This is not a matter you can involve yourself in!”

“I’m sorry Sect Master, but I cannot obey!” Xiong Weizhe stepped forward in defiance. “I cannot stand back while the prestige of Golden Lion Gate is trampled underfoot by some nobody! You said your name is Long Di right!? Fight me if you dare without any of your helpers! Do that and I will kowtow eight times to you. However, if I win, you must kill yourself here and now.”

Long Di raised a brow in response. “I should die while you kowtow in return? Isn’t this bet a little uneven to you?”

Xiong Weizhe nearly laughed when he heard this. “Do you think your life can compare to mine?” He sneered. “You’re a nobody while I am the greatest talent of Golden Lion Gate! In addition, this is after YOU destroyed my sect with that spiritual artefact of yours!”

Everyone’s eyes then turned to Long Di’s sabre and realised that it was of a higher grade than someone like him should have had access to.

The sect master also eyed Long Di’s sabre and was shocked to find it was a high-ranked mortal-grade spiritual artefact. That is something that can only be used to its full potential by those in the core flame evocation realm.

Though the sect master was above this realm himself, it wasn’t easy to get one’s hands on things like this. It wasn’t like one could just walk around and find a spiritual artefact on the road.

Buying one at the appropriate rank was even harder since the price for actual spiritual artefacts was absurdly high. Auctions were the best avenues to walk, but the price could very well escape the realm of his financial reality.

Though he had a spiritual artefact, it was not at the rank that Long Di’s was.

Thinking of this, now there was something else that made him feel great unease about Long Di. The latter has an incredible weapon that he is able to use with seeming ease.

“Well!?” Xiong Weizhe was growing impatient. “Do you accept?”

Long Di couldn’t be bothered. “Tell you what? How about you try your three strongest attacks? And if I take a single step back, I will kill myself right here and now.”

“What!?” Xiong Weizhe was shocked by Long Di’s words. He wanted him to use his most powerful attacks just to make him take a step back!?

Moreover, if he lost, he would kill himself!? Was he crazy!?

Not just him, everyone else was taken aback by this as well. What could Long Di be thinking!?

“Y-You’re planning something, aren’t you!? How can we even trust what you’re sa-”

Shu!

Before Xiong Weizhe could finish what he was saying, Long Di chucked his thunder dragon rhino sabre to Heavenly Sun Noble who subconsciously caught it.

“Wha-”

“That can be used as my execution blade,” Long Di explained. “In case I renege on the bet.”

Hearing this, Xiong Weizhe and everyone else were further confused. The unease in the sect master’s mind continued to grow.

Long Di was well aware that having such powerful ‘helpers’ on his side would cause Xiong Weizhe and the others to doubt the authenticity of his words. Therefore, since Xiong Weizhe had attributed Long Di’s destructive ability to his sabre, then he would give his sabre to a neutral-ish party so it can be used against him if the time came.

Long Di then stared at Xiong Weizhe who, unbeknownst to everyone, began to question his wisdom in challenging Long Di.

“Come at me, bro.”