How About Intervening?
In the grand square before Qingyun Sect’s main hall, two titanic spiritual pressures collided—
BOOM!
The sheer force of the clash centered around Li Qingran, sending shockwaves through the entire sect.
A suffocating pressure filled the air, making disciples feel like they were drowning. Their ears buzzed painfully, their vision blurred from the dust storm erupting around them.
Floor tiles shattered from the invisible force, their fragments blasted into the surrounding stone walls, leaving behind deep, jagged craters.
“Not good! There’s an expert here!”
Sect Master Wu Duantian’s face twisted in alarm. He barked an order to the elders at his side—
“Activate the sect-protecting formation immediately! Secure the disciples!”
“Yes, Sect Master!”
The two elders sprang into action without hesitation.
But—
Their caution proved unnecessary.
The overwhelming pressure did not target all of Qingyun Sect.
It was precise, controlled.
The force focused only on Chixiao Peak’s disciples—and Taoist Qingxuan himself.
Meanwhile, other disciples felt nothing more than a gentle breeze. Even the flying stones seemed to deliberately avoid them.
However—
The Chixiao Peak disciples were in agony.
They collapsed under the pressure, their faces turning purple, unable to breathe or move.
Yet—
None dared to complain.
“Who Are You?!”
Taoist Qingxuan’s face was ashen.
His spiritual awareness stretched out, desperately trying to locate the source of this terrifying force.
“Who dares interfere in Qingyun Sect’s affairs?!”
Among all present, he was the strongest cultivator—save for the secluded Qingyun Patriarch.
Even Wu Duantian, the Sect Master, wasn’t his match.
But this unknown force…
It was on par with his own power.
Lu Changtian had reported that Li Qingran had encountered a mysterious benefactor.
Qingxuan had assumed that person merely provided resources—perhaps a few pills, a flying sword, nothing more.
But now?
This was no mere benefactor.
This was someone willing to stand against Qingyun Sect itself!
Did this person not fear their sect’s power?!
Then, an ethereal voice drifted through the square—
[I’m interfering. So what?]
A simple sentence.
Yet it smashed into Taoist Qingxuan’s pride like a hammer.
His hands trembled in suppressed fury.
“You—!”
Before he could continue, the voice echoed again, calm yet commanding—
[Li Qingran is no longer a disciple of Qingyun Sect. I am merely here to settle her karma.]
The air grew even colder.
Those words hit harder than a blade.
The Weight of Karma
Cultivators revere karma.
To interfere with another’s cause and effect was to invite disaster upon oneself.
Taoist Qingxuan’s expression twisted into a deep frown.
“What karma?” he demanded.
The voice responded, unshaken—
[The karma of Chixiao Peak, and the resolution of Li Qingran’s fate.]
Then—
A warning.
[I will not intervene in this matter… But neither will you. If you do—don’t blame me for ignoring Qingyun Sect’s so-called dignity.]
The moment those words fell—
Wu Duantian and the elders’ expressions darkened.
Disregard Qingyun Sect’s Dignity?!
What kind of power did this person possess, to threaten them so openly?
Wu Duantian clenched his fists.
He wanted to crush this unknown force, to remind them of Qingyun Sect’s strength!
But—
Where was this person?!
His spiritual sense stretched across the sect—
Yet found nothing.
A hidden master.
A mystery.
Without knowing this person’s full power, recklessly acting could spell disaster.
Taking a deep breath, he relayed a silent message to Taoist Qingxuan—
“Hold back. We don’t know his strength. Li Qingran is insignificant. Let’s observe.”
Taoist Qingxuan’s rage burned, but he gritted his teeth and restrained himself.
The pressure faded.
But his cold, venomous gaze remained locked onto Li Qingran.
If she thought she could return to Chixiao Peak, she was delusional.
Even if she begged, he would never forgive her.
Li Qingran’s Turn
Li Qingran took a deep breath.
With the senior’s presence looming over the sect, she felt a newfound confidence.
She stepped forward, standing before the Chixiao Peak disciples.
Ignoring Taoist Qingxuan’s searing gaze, her eyes locked onto Zhang Hanxiao.
“Fourth Senior Brother, how have you been?” she asked, her tone calm.
Zhang Hanxiao’s expression twisted.
“Heh.”
“Li Qingran, no wonder you dared return so arrogantly—you found yourself a backer!”
Zhang Hanxiao’s mocking voice echoed.
This was Qingyun Sect!
Even if an outsider was strong, they wouldn’t dare to offend an entire sect.
Li Qingran smirked.
“Yes,” she admitted easily. “Senior is backing me.”
Then—
She drew closer, her gaze piercing.
“Fourth Senior Brother, before I was expelled, you constantly relied on me—borrowing spirit stones, running up debts. I covered for you every time. If I hadn’t, your reputation would have been ruined long ago.”
Zhang Hanxiao’s face flushed red.
“What nonsense are you spewing?! Don’t slander me!”
Li Qingran scoffed.
“Am I?”
She reached into her storage bag.
A stack of paper slips flew into the air, fluttering like falling snow.
Receipts.
Dozens, hundreds of them.
Each one bore Zhang Hanxiao’s personal seal.
Each one was paid by Li Qingran.
The crowd gasped.
Whispers broke out—
“I didn’t expect Senior Brother Zhang to be this kind of person…”
“Tsk, tsk. I lent him money last year. He never paid me back either.”
“Junior Sister Li Qingran is incredible. If I had a junior sister like her, I’d even shave a hundred years off my lifespan…”
Taoist Qingxuan caught one receipt midair.
His eyes twitched.
It was for… a brothel tab at Zuixian Tower.
His veins bulged.
“BASTARD! Is THIS what I taught you?!”
His hand went to his sword hilt—
But before he could draw—
A cold presence enveloped him.
[Did you forget what I said? SIT DOWN.]
Taoist Qingxuan froze.
His hand shook.
He gritted his teeth, then slowly withdrew his sword.
“You Dare Duel Me?!”
Zhang Hanxiao’s face burned with shame.
His fury boiled over.
“LI QINGRAN!”
“You dare SLANDER me?!”
His sword flew from its sheath.
“If you have the guts—fight me! If you lose, you KNEEL!”
Li Qingran’s gaze sharpened.
The wind picked up.
Her grip tightened around the Suxian Sword.
She smiled.
“Alright.”
“Draw your sword.“
