Chapter 45

"Is that it?"

Walking on the stone path paved with blue stones, Li Chen’s mind was full of the scenes inside the Disciplinary Hall. The gloomy hall, the powerful law-enforcing disciples, the indifferent Zang Xingqian, and the words filled with authority and decisiveness all proclaimed the power of the strong. Unconsciously, Li Chen clenched his fists, his eyes emitting an indescribable firm and resolute light. His goal in life had finally become clear.

Having endured all the hardships and suffered countless cold glances, serving as a slave for so many years, he had always dreamed of one day making a name for himself. But as his cultivation increased, his horizons broadened!

While walking, Li Chen was so lost in thought that he suddenly stepped into thin air, stumbling. Fortunately, his agile movements allowed him to steady himself on the spot.

"Getting carried away!"

Li Chen scolded himself for being careless, not even noticing such a steep slope. He then scratched his head awkwardly, looking around, "Oh no, I left Feng Luming behind, and now no one will take me to the Martial Appraisal Hall!"

The Martial Appraisal Hall was where the disciples of the Xuan Yun Sect advanced in status. Originally, Li Chen had not intended to take revenge on Feng Luming, but unfortunately, Feng Luming had wanted to finish him off, and ended up trapping himself.

"Let’s look for him!"

With no other choice, Li Chen began searching along the stone path. Unfortunately, the dense forest made it impossible to see any other buildings on the mountain top. He had to go downhill, hoping to find a disciple to guide him, and gradually entered a cluster of buildings in the mountain forest.

The exquisite courtyards and pavilions that appeared from time to time made it seem like he had entered a garden. Conversations could be heard from within.

Seeing the individual courtyards, Li Chen knew they belonged to the geniuses among the inner disciples, as no ordinary place could have such exquisite residences.

"It’s the Inner Courtyard!"

Seeing the familiar path, Li Chen’s expression relaxed slightly. He had worked here for several months, so he was quite familiar with the buildings.

After a moment’s hesitation, Li Chen walked over. Although the people were the same, he felt an indescribable sense of relief, not because the heavy wooden buckets were no longer on his shoulders, but because he had finally shed the slave status that had weighed heavily on his heart.

"Excuse me, Senior Sister, how do I get to the Ascension Hall?"

After a short while, Li Chen arrived at an elegant courtyard and asked a female disciple who was about to enter.

The female disciple was tall, wearing a green robe, with a delicate appearance, and was only about fifteen or sixteen years old. She held a basket of fruit. Hearing the voice, she turned her head slightly, glanced at Li Chen’s gray robe, and immediately turned away coldly, "I don’t know!"

Li Chen scratched his head. He had seen this attitude many times and understood its meaning. Not wanting to invite trouble, he turned to leave, but then froze, his ears trembling.

Squeak!

A weak, desperate cry, filled with anger and a longing for freedom, accompanied by the sound of metal clanging.

Whoosh!

A gust of wind swept past, and Li Chen’s figure instantly disappeared, turning into a gray shadow as he rushed into the courtyard.

"Hey, who are you?"

The female disciple, almost knocked over by the gust of wind, glared at the gray-robed youth who had appeared in the courtyard.

"Get out, is this a place you can come to?"

Seeing Li Chen walk straight to an iron cage in the courtyard without turning back, the female disciple immediately shouted, but her face turned pale with fear.

Creak!

The grating sound of metal, the iron cage, which could confine a late-stage first-rank beast, was turned into a pile of scrap metal by Li Chen’s hands.

Squeak!

A shrill cry, the small gray figure in the iron cage lunged at Li Chen’s neck, but at the last moment, it stopped, its brown eyes filled with委屈 (grievance) instead of anger, and it hugged Li Chen’s neck.

Li Chen’s body stiffened, the bloody scene in the Monkey Valley flashing through his mind. He gently patted the small monkey’s thin back and slowly turned, "Whose courtyard is this?"

"You... What do you want?"

Seeing the inhuman eyes under the messy hair, the female disciple felt a chill in her heart, as if facing a world-class beast. She stumbled backward a few steps, dropping the fruit basket.

"Speak!"

The fierce aura Li Chen had cultivated in the Ancient Cang Mountains was not the best among his peers, but it was rare for anyone to match it. How could an outer disciple servant stand up to it, especially when a breeze lifted Li Chen’s hair, revealing a dark red birthmark on his forehead.

The female disciple turned pale with fear, retreating to the courtyard gate, and finally screamed as she ran away.

Squeak!

The small monkey in his arms squeaked timidly, as if seeking a safe haven, its head pressing into Li Chen’s chest.

"Whoever it is, they will pay the price!"

Gripping his fists tightly, Li Chen’s face darkened. He grabbed the iron chain around the small monkey’s neck, and with a crisp snap, broke it. He then carefully examined the monkey’s body.

This monkey was the one with golden eyelashes from the iron-armed monkey group. After a year, its size had not changed.

After confirming that the monkey was only weak and had no external injuries, Li Chen breathed a sigh of relief. He took out a Breath-Gathering Pill from his backpack, crushed a bit, and fed it to the monkey. He stood in the courtyard, closed his eyes, and waited quietly.

After a short while, a series of hurried footsteps approached the courtyard.

"Who dares to flirt with a junior sister in the Inner Courtyard?"

A deep, powerful voice suddenly echoed in the courtyard. A muscular figure appeared, grabbing a massive iron staff and swinging it down at Li Chen’s head.

Buzz!

The powerful strike, if it hit Li Chen, who was only at the Ninth Layer Realm, or even a True Forging Realm martial artist unprepared, would result in a bloody mess.

But at that moment, the iron staff paused, the wind lifting Li Chen’s hair, revealing his relatively handsome face and his star-like eyes, which did not blink.

"Junior Brother Li!"

Pang Wenshan was pleasantly surprised, putting down the iron staff and slapping Li Chen’s shoulder.

"Senior Brother Pang!"

Li Chen’s brows furrowed slightly, looking past Pang Wenshan’s muscular body toward the courtyard gate.

Three men and three women, handsome and beautiful, truly a match made in heaven. Among them, Li Chen only recognized Zhang Chulong, the top inner disciple of the South Courtyard, and Chu Ziyun, the top outer disciple at the time. Of course, there was also the servant girl with a pale face and a frightened look.

"Ha ha, Junior Sister Chu, it seems there was a misunderstanding. Junior Brother Li is not that kind of person!"

Pang Wenshan laughed heartily, pulling Li Chen’s shoulder and turning to the others.

But his smile froze when the arm he held was as solid as a rock, not moving an inch. He looked at Li Chen in surprise.

"Senior Brother Pang, don’t believe him. Appearances can be deceiving. He... he just... sniff!"

The servant girl’s shoulders trembled, pointing at Li Chen, tears streaming down her face, as if Li Chen had done something unforgivable to her.

Squeak!

A shrill cry suddenly rang out. The small monkey in Li Chen’s arms turned its head, glaring at one of the men, its eyes filled with terrifying hatred.

"It’s not a misunderstanding!"

Li Chen’s eyes dimmed, his shoulders trembling slightly, shaking off the strong hand.