It was rather unexpected for Mu Lan Rou to appear here, standing resolutely before Elder Xia, her slender frame unwavering as she cupped her hands in a respectful gesture. The gentle mountain breeze tousled her raven locks, framing her porcelain features with an almost ethereal grace.

"Junior Sister Mu? What are you—" Wu Kang, a Senior Inner Disciple often seen in Mu Lan Rou's company and the one who had mocked Ji Wuye earlier, was visibly startled by her appearance. His brows knitted together, and his mouth gaped open, but he immediately fell silent when her cold, crimson eyes glared at him with chilling authority, her delicate lips pressing into a thin line.

"Please, Elder, forgive this Outer Disciple at once. I beg this favor of you," Mu Lan Rou implored, her tone shocking everyone present. Though her gaze and demeanor remained frosty and indifferent, a subtle hint of worry and desperation betrayed her. Her mouth quivered slightly, and she bit her lower lip, lowering her head and closing her eyes in submission, dark lashes fanning across her porcelain cheeks.

Elder Xia observed her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Ji Wuye, standing below and just behind her, was hidden from his view by her slender frame.

Though his anger had not subsided, Elder Xia hesitated, his frustration weighing heavily on his thoughts. Unlike Lian Rougang, Mu Lan Rou’s potential surpassed that of anyone else in the sect.

He also knew all too well that the two of them had once been closely intertwined, engaged to be married—though the engagement had since been called off. What puzzled him now, however, was what he observed in the present. Contrary to what one might assume, it was not the man pursuing the woman, but rather Mu Lan Rou—the unrivaled genius of Kunlun—who was chasing after Ji Wuye.

Granting Mu Lan Rou’s request to spare Ji Wuye from punishment would be a misjudgment, going against his principles and conscience. And yet, harshly punishing the unruly brat risked affecting Mu Lan Rou—a prodigy and the bright hope of Kunlun. It might leave her demoralized and distraught, possibly even stifling her incredible potential altogether.

The creases on his brow deepened as he pondered the situation, his calloused fingers clenching and unclenching at his sides.

Kunlun had invested immense effort in building their reputation, and the sect was already preoccupied with pressing matters, such as managing newly discovered Dungeons and would be sending aided to other faction as well.

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Moreover, rumors of an impending attack from unorthodox factions loomed ominously over their home, casting a pall of unease over the tranquil valley. And yet, instead of contributing to these critical efforts—either by enhancing Kunlun's reputation or defending the sect—this delinquent, an insolent brat living on the charity of the sect, had caused trouble that would burden the entire Elders with headaches.

Taking a deep breath to calm his simmering anger, Elder Xia's silver-white hair fluttered in the mountain wind. His piercing eyes flicked briefly toward Mu Lan Rou before he sighed and shook his head.

"Young one, do not attempt to defend a thug in my presence. He has committed far too many crimes to be forgiven," Elder Xia declared. "Ther—" However, just as he was about to continue, his eyes narrowed, and his face darkened in a deep frown, the lines etched into his features deepening with outrage.

"-Hah..." A soft snort, laced with blatant disrespect, echoed through the Central Courtyard, drawing everyone's attention. The sound seemed to pierce the tense silence like a blade, causing the gathered disciples to stiffen and hold their collective breath. This time, Mu Lan Rou spun around in alarm, her eyes widening with worry, only to realize the source of the sound—it came from Ji Wuye himself.

Such an act of defiance was unthinkable, especially before Elder Xia, whose aura crackled with barely restrained fury. Shocked, Mu Lan Rou hurriedly tried to intervene, her delicate features contorted with concern. She opened her mouth to speak, attempting to defend her Big Brother, but the words caught in her throat as a haunting chill ran down her spine. "Elder, he—" But before she could finish...

A laugh. A bold, mocking laugh erupted from Ji Wuye's lips, reverberating through the courtyard like a brazen challenge. His crimson eyes gleamed with defiance, their piercing gaze directed at Mu Lan Rou's concerned expression for a fleeting moment before locking onto Elder Xia's.

Then...

SWOOSH!

It happened in an instant. Elder Xia vanished, his form blurring into nothingness. To Mu Lan Rou's shock, he wasn't standing where he had been anymore. Before she even realized it, he was now directly in front of her, having closed the distance in the blink of an eye, his robes billowing in the wake of his movement.

And then—

BOOM!

A forceful blast tore through the Central Courtyard, the shockwave rippling outward with devastating force. Wind whipped across the area, scattering dust and splinters from the wooden platform into the air in a swirling vortex. The gust tousled the hair and robes of the Inner Disciples, their wide eyes fixed on Elder Xia's back.

At the same time, a faint, condensed transparent Qi radiated from his entire body, swirling ominously around him like a tempest, the air itself seeming to tremble under its immense power.

And then it descended. The Sword Zone from an 8th realm martial artist, crashed down upon Ji Wuye with the weight of an avalanche, the very earth shuddering beneath its might.

A suffocating pressure crashed down upon Ji Wuye, bearing down upon him like an unstoppable tidal wave. It was an oppressive aura so immense that cracks began to spread across the already damaged wooden platform, which had been erected as a temporary sparring ground.

The cracking sound echoed like rolling thunder, marking the platform's struggle under the incredible force as it groaned in protest.

But just when it seemed that Ji Wuye would be crushed beneath the overwhelming might...

CLANK!

image [https://i.ibb.co.com/B2rqSjR/Notif-3.webp]