Surrounded by mocking eyes, sneering whispers, and faint laughter in the crowd, a voice rose from behind: "Trash will always be trash! No matter how hard you try, you can't change your fate!" Lin Fan struggled to hold back his tears, but suddenly, loud laughter broke through the silence.

"Hahaha! What a farce!" said a voice.

Everyone in the square turned in surprise. From within the crowd, Lord Fifth stepped forward, clapping his hands slowly, a smile of ridicule on his face. He wore strange and unfamiliar clothes—tattered and torn—yet his captivating handsomeness was unaffected. His sharp and striking features, slightly messy hair, and eyes brimming with intelligence and mischief made his presence both charming and intimidating. Despite his humble appearance, he exuded an air of authority and magnetism.

The crowd was confused. How dare this man interfere in the Alchemist Guild's test, an event closely watched by the city's elite cultivators? Whispers of suspicion and bewilderment began to ripple through the spectators.

"Who is this?" one of the onlookers muttered, trying to identify Lord Fifth. "Is he insane? How dare he interfere in the Alchemist Guild's test?"

Another voice responded quietly, trying to mask the rising anxiety: "Hasn't he heard of the Xiao family? If he angers them, he'll be killed on the spot! Even the Alchemist Guild wouldn't hesitate to punish him if he oversteps."

Someone else whispered, glancing at the weakened Lin Fan in the square: "Does he plan to help him? I don't think anyone would dare get involved with Lin Fan now. His reputation has completely collapsed. Getting involved here would mean facing both the Xiao family and the guild!"

All eyes were on Lord Fifth, wondering about his intentions.

"Maybe he's just a lunatic looking for trouble..." one person scoffed.

The whispers of doubt and confusion spread through the crowd as Lord Fifth advanced without a care.

But amid these murmurs, some faces began to change as they noticed the old man standing beside Lord Fifth. "Wait… isn't that Bai Xiantian?" another person said hesitantly.

Someone else gasped in surprise: "Yes! He used to be at the seventh level of Qi Condensation, and everyone respected and feared him. But everyone knows what happened after his mysterious injury… His cultivation collapsed to the second level. Now, he's just 'trash.'"

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

A third person snickered quietly: "Looks like Bai Xiantian has finally decided to commit suicide and found someone to die with him."

As Lord Fifth stood in the center of the square, smiling calmly with clear sarcasm, the faces of Xu Xiao and the head of the Alchemist Guild were filled with anger. No one in the city dared to challenge the Xiao family or the Alchemist Guild, yet this unknown man, with only his ragged clothes and provocative demeanor, had the audacity to do so without a second thought.

Xu Xiao's rage was evident in his burning eyes. He approached Lord Fifth with quick, deliberate steps, each one intensifying the tension in the air. "Who do you think you are?" he growled. "How dare a beggar like you ruin our guild's test?" His voice dripped with fury.

"Since when do we allow trash to wander around as if they own the place?" Lord Fifth replied, looking at Xu Xiao with a mocking smile.

Xu Xiao shouted in a raised voice, his eyes flashing with a clear intent to kill. "How dare you insult our guild and the Xiao family? You're courting death!"

Lord Fifth remained in his place, unmoved. "Oh, did I hurt your delicate feelings? That wasn't my intention, of course. I'm just here to see if there's an entertaining game to watch."

Xu Xiao's expression shifted from anger to murderous intent. He wasn't a fool. There was no gain in helping someone like Lin Fan. It was obvious this man was here to humiliate him in front of the crowd. He raised his hand, signaling to one of his guards, and said in a commanding tone: "End this beggar! Let everyone see what happens to those who challenge the Xiao family's honor."

At Xu Xiao's command, two of his guards stepped forward, unleashing powerful auras at the seventh level of Qi Condensation.

Gasps spread among the audience. Everyone was stunned by the strength the two guards displayed. It was uncommon for someone of the younger generation to be assigned guards of this caliber, as their power rivaled that of a family elder.

"This is unbelievable…" one of the spectators whispered in shock. "Two guards at the seventh level? They're usually at the level of elders from major families!"

Another person responded in awe: "This shows how important Xu Xiao is to the Xiao family. If they assigned him guards this strong, they must have high hopes for him."

A third person muttered: "With protection like this, who would dare challenge Xu Xiao? This strange man doesn't realize he's dealing with an unstoppable force."

Xu Xiao's prestige in the eyes of the crowd was bolstered as they saw the extent of his power and influence within his prominent family.

Xu Xiao smiled arrogantly as he watched his guards advance. He knew well that having two guards at the seventh level of Qi Condensation under his command reflected his high standing in the Xiao family. He raised his hand confidently and declared in a voice full of conceit: "It seems the game is over. Kill him immediately. I don't want to see his face again."