“Don’t go making wild accusations. We weren’t bullying Lin Zhen. It was just a few senior Outer Sect Disciples kindly testing his progress in his cultivation techniques. A few bumps and bruises during the process are perfectly normal. Even if you complain to Elder Mo, it won’t do any good.”

Wang Luchuan wore a cold sneer on his lips, his expression one of utter confidence.

“You, on the other hand, are nothing but a four-spiritual-roots waste at best. You just started cultivating a few days earlier and dare to swagger around in front of me? You really don’t know what’s good for you.”

As he spoke, his expression gradually turned vicious.

“Since you want an explanation, fine. As long as you kneel down right now, kowtow, and beg for mercy, I might generously forgive you for offending me last time.”

“If not, I’ll make sure you can’t survive in the Outer Sect, just like Lin Zhen!”

At this point, the other Outer Sect Disciples accompanying Wang Luchuan began to jeer and cheer him on.

“That’s right! Hurry up and kneel properly to apologize to Young Master Wang, or you’ll regret it!”

“Hehehe, Young Master Wang, why not let me be the one to ‘test’ whether this Junior Brother has properly mastered his foundational techniques…”

……

Facing these taunts, Qi Yuan’s emotions showed not the slightest ripple. He merely let out a soft sigh.

“Even though there’s no reward this time, I still feel like bullying you bunch of weaklings. What should I do about that?”

Then, he gently raised his right hand and said unhurriedly:

“Take a look. Does this hand look like a big slap to you?”

“What kind of crazy talk is this guy spouting?”

“Kid, looking for death!”

Seeing Qi Yuan’s provocative gesture and words, those Outer Sect Disciples with cultivation bases flushed with anger and made moves as if to attack.

Slap!

In the crowd, Wang Luchuan felt his vision blur. A searing pain suddenly bloomed on his face. He instinctively touched his cheek, then his entire body stiffened as he knelt straight down on the ground.

Realizing his current posture, Wang Luchuan’s face changed drastically. He hurriedly tried to stand up but found his knees seemed rooted to the spot; no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t rise.

Faced with such a bizarre situation, Wang Luchuan was both shocked and terrified. He couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

“What did you do to me? Why can’t I get up?”

Qi Yuan had somehow appeared right in front of him. He leisurely retracted his hand and replied with little sincerity:

“I don’t know. Maybe I didn’t control my strength properly and slapped you so hard you got a cramp.”

Hearing this, Wang Luchuan instantly flew into a rage and shouted:

“What are you all standing around for? Teach this bastard a proper lesson! And hurry up and help me stand!”

The incident had happened too suddenly. Only now did his companions snap out of their daze. They hurried forward to support Wang Luchuan, while three Qi Refining stage Outer Sect Disciples menacingly closed in on Qi Yuan.

“You dare lay a hand on Young Master Wang? Today we’ll make sure you learn your lesson.”

As they spoke, the three surrounded Qi Yuan in the middle, each forming hand seals, preparing to cast spells.

However, before they could release them, Qi Yuan moved first. His speed was as fast as lightning.

The next moment.

Thud!

Thud!

Thud!

The protective Qi aura of the Qi Refining stage disciples was torn through as easily as paper by the punches. All three let out miserable cries as they were sent flying backward, crashing heavily onto the ground. Clutching their ribs, they were unable to get up for a long time.

Looking at the three moaning on the ground, Qi Yuan smiled slightly, inwardly marveling at his increasingly perfect control over his physical strength.

Currently being within Falling Cloud Valley, it wasn’t advisable to cause deaths. Breaking a few ribs could still be explained as failing to control strength during sparring between fellow disciples. Any heavier-handedness would definitely invite trouble.

So, the hardest part of this encounter wasn’t whether he could win, but how to avoid killing these three…

“What… what happened?”

Witnessing this scene, Wang Luchuan, still kneeling on the ground, was utterly dumbfounded, seemingly unable to believe his eyes.

Without using a shred of true Qi, relying solely on physical strength to knock down three cultivators with at least Qi Refining fifth layer cultivation—one of them even a Qi Refining seventh layer expert—was this even human?

Not just him; everyone else also wore expressions of disbelief.

It was said that Big Qi was a rogue cultivator before joining the sect. If even a rogue cultivator possessed such ferocious body-refining cultivation… were rogue cultivators these days really that competitive?

Or had they, sect disciples, grown too complacent for too long, losing touch with the real standards of the outside cultivation world…

Meanwhile, Qi Yuan said with an unchanged expression:

“I forgot to tell you all. When I, Big Qi, traveled the martial world seeking truth and enlightenment, aside from seeking truth and enlightenment, I also dabbled in a bit of fist and footwork. If anyone else is unconvinced, feel free to step up for some sparring.”

Everyone exchanged glances, their gazes toward Qi Yuan filled with strangeness.

Good heavens, your level of ‘fist and footwork’ is practically heaven-defying, and you call that ‘dabbling’?

Seeing his side suffer one setback after another, Wang Luchuan’s face gradually turned ashen with rage. He gritted his teeth and said:

“Forget about him. Let’s go!”

His body was now stiff as a block of wood. Even supported by two people, he maintained the bizarre posture of covering his face with one hand while kneeling on both knees.

Seeing more and more fellow disciples gathering to watch, he knew nothing more could be done today. If they lingered any longer, even more people would see him in this state…

Thinking this, he didn’t even dare utter any parting threats. Supported by his lackeys, he slunk away from the scene in disgrace.

……

Not far away, Lin Zhen, who had also scrambled up from the ground looking disheveled, limped over. His face was full of emotion as he said:

“Brother Qi, thank you for teaching them a lesson for me. But it’s best if you don’t get involved in my affairs anymore from now on. Wang Luchuan’s maternal uncle is a Golden Core stage Elder here. I don’t want to drag you down.”

Then he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and said bitterly:

“The more they bully me like this, the more it proves they’re actually all bark and no bite. I refuse to believe that in broad daylight, they can actually beat me to death?”

“As the saying goes, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don’t bully the young when they’re poor. As long as I, Lin Zhen, have breath in my body, sooner or later I will repay today’s humiliation twofold!”

Huh?

Qi Yuan listened, feeling somewhat baffled, completely unable to grasp how this Child of Destiny’s mind worked.

Good heavens. You clearly know Wang Luchuan has powerful backing within Falling Cloud Valley, yet you foolishly chose to join Falling Cloud Valley anyway. Isn’t that just asking for trouble?

Wouldn’t it be much better to honestly switch sects, develop properly there, and come back to tear your enemies limb from limb once you have the strength?

Even becoming a rogue cultivator would be better than staying in Falling Cloud Valley getting beaten up every day…