Chapter 43

"Disciple Li Chen, paying respects to Manager Feng!"

With a clatter, Feng Luming hurriedly got up, knocking over the teapot and kicking down the female disciple who was massaging his legs, stunning the young girl who was rubbing his shoulders.

This also made a group of half-grown boys who were practicing martial arts crane their necks to watch the commotion.

"You... you are Li Chen!"

Feng Luming looked at the tall, disheveled youth who was almost as tall as him, with great surprise.

A gentle breeze blew, revealing the dark red birthmark covering his right eye, confirming that the youth before him was indeed Li Chen, who had been away from the sect for a year.

"Of course, I am Li Chen. Has Manager Feng forgotten?"

Li Chen looked at him with a playful expression. He had spent little time in the outer courtyard, but he had heard a lot about Manager Feng's notorious reputation and had even scolded him before.

"Hmph, you have a lot of nerve! You have been away from the sect for a year without returning, not respecting the sect's rules, and have already been expelled!"

Feng Luming was about to lose his temper, but thinking back to the past, he changed his words at the last moment.

"Expelled? Although I have been in the sect for a short time, I know that the sect gives disciples who cannot return on time a chance to explain. If the reason is reasonable, they will only receive appropriate punishment, not be expelled from the sect. Are you saying that Manager Feng has the power to punish disciples at will?"

Li Chen was not easy to fool. Having mixed with servants for many years, he was very clear about the ins and outs of the sect.

"Be bold, don't forget your identity! How dare you speak to the manager like this? Do you believe I can charge you with disrespecting your elders and strip you of your cultivation!"

Feng Luming, who was used to bullying others, was immediately enraged by Li Chen's reprimand in front of so many disciples.

"Is that so? Then it's great!"

Li Chen was not afraid of this bully. This time, he had already made his plans.

"You... hmpf, you are sharp-tongued. Let's see how you explain yourself to the Discipline Hall!"

Feng Luming, knowing he was no match for Li Chen, said with hatred.

"Hehe, I came here precisely to ask Manager Feng to lead the way!"

Li Chen glanced at him indifferently. Since he had returned, he was already prepared to explain.

"Let's go!"

Feng Luming was secretly delighted. If Li Chen returned with injuries, it would be understandable. But seeing him now, full of energy and in perfect condition, while the three promising inner disciples, including He Kongming, were missing, no matter what he said, he would be stripped of his cultivation and expelled from the sect.

The two of them then left the outer courtyard and headed towards the mountain top, causing a murmur among the disciples.

...

Xuanyun Sect is located in the Xuanyun Mountains, which cover an area of several dozen miles and have five peaks, hence the name Xuanyun Five Peaks.

Many disciples who have passed the age limit and reached the True Refinement Realm, besides going out for training, also hold important positions in the five peaks, guarding the safety of the sect and even teaching disciples.

Among the four peaks in the east, south, west, and north, the one where Li Chen is located, the Southern Courtyard, is on the Southern Cloud Peak.

From the lowest to the highest, the peaks are divided into registered disciples, outer disciples, inner disciples, and various hall and office disciples.

As for the most elite and talented disciples of Xuanyun Sect, they will enter the Xuanyun Peak for training after meeting the conditions and be apprenticed to the Core Essence Realm elders.

Some outstanding disciples even directly apprentice to several Pill Rotation Realm grandmasters, achieving a meteoric rise and looking down on the tens of thousands of disciples in Xuanyun Sect.

Each peak has its own independent Discipline Hall to handle violations within the peak.

The Discipline Hall of Southern Cloud Peak is located above the inner disciples' residence, separate from other halls, on the back side of Southern Cloud Peak, where it is always dark and rarely visited, making it seem extremely eerie.

In front of the grand entrance, there are only a few solitary and fierce stone statues, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

Thump, thump, thump!

On the wide road paved with blue stones, Feng Luming and Li Chen walked one after the other.

The difference was that Li Chen was not out of breath, with a steady breath, while Feng Luming was the opposite, panting heavily and occasionally glancing at Li Chen with shock.

Creak!

Feng Luming walked to the entrance, pushed open the heavy and imposing black door, and a creaking sound echoed, making him shiver from the cold breeze that blew out.

"Manager Feng Luming of the outer courtyard, reporting an issue!"

Swallowing his saliva, Feng Luming bowed to the empty courtyard.

Buzz, buzz, buzz!

Strangely, there was an echo in the courtyard, as if they were in a cave.

"Enter!"

A cold and stern voice, devoid of emotion, seemed to come from all directions, making Feng Luming, despite his regret, have to gather his courage and step inside. But just as he took a step, his eyes darted and he turned his head, saying, "Li Chen, go in!"

Li Chen glanced at his trembling legs with a smile and walked straight in, passing through several columns and a spacious path, finally entering a large hall that was dark inside.

Feng Luming, behind him, looked around nervously, as if afraid that some fierce beast would come out from the corners.

"Disciple Li Chen, due to certain matters, has been away for 193 days and has come to request punishment!"

Li Chen stood respectfully in the hall and bowed to the upper seat.

"Nonsense..."

Feng Luming was startled, immediately remembering the purpose of his visit, and was about to speak, but was suddenly speechless.

Thud, thud, thud!

A series of dull sounds came from the six pillars in the hall, and suddenly six flames rose from their tops, casting flickering shadows, making the already quiet hall even more eerie.

Under the glow of the flames, Li Chen's pupils suddenly contracted, seeing six men in black martial attire standing beside the pillars, the uniform of the enforcement team.

He was secretly shocked, as he had not sensed their presence at all, indicating that their cultivation was definitely above the True Refinement Realm, and not ordinary True Refinement Realm martial artists.

What made Li Chen even more hesitant to look directly was the middle-aged man sitting behind a heavy table at the upper seat of the hall.

Just one glance made Li Chen involuntarily turn his head, as if looking at a lethal weapon with supreme killing intent.

But strangely, when he closed his eyes, he could not sense the middle-aged man's presence at all.

This man was none other than the deputy hall master of the Southern Cloud Peak Discipline Hall, Zang Xingqian, a formidable existence at the mid-Core Essence Realm.

"Reporting to Hall Master Zang, I am the outer courtyard manager, Feng Luming, here to report that this disciple, Li Chen, has been away from the sect for over a year. Today, he returned without respecting the rules and has been bullying me with his cultivation. Today, he even went further, humiliating me in front of the other disciples. Please, Hall Master, do justice for me."

Feng Luming shivered and hurriedly fell to the ground, looking aggrieved as he recounted Li Chen's faults.

"Oh, how did he humiliate you?"

Zang Xingqian glanced at Li Chen indifferently, a hint of amusement appearing on his expressionless face, adding a touch of ferocity to the environment, making it even more chilling.