Chapter 23: The Angry Song Junjie and the Elder's Reprimand

"No need." Shen Mo waved his hand, uninterested in entangling with them, and was about to leave.

The faces of the two female disciples grew even stiffer.

The girl on the left was particularly annoyed, pointing at Shen Mo's nose and scolding him.

"Shen Mo, don't be ungrateful. We are only inviting you because of your strength to join Senior Brother Song's faction."

"Being invited by us is an honor for you, don't fail to appreciate it."

Shen Mo sneered.

He detested people like this the most.

Arrogant and self-important.

However, he couldn't be bothered to argue with such people.

So, without saying more, he chose to leave. At this moment, a loud laugh slowly echoed.

"Junior Brother Shen? I've heard your name, defeating Lei Xiaojun head-on. You have some strength. Why not join my faction?"

Shen Mo turned around and saw a tall, upright young man.

This person, like Liu Yunxuan, put on the airs of a refined gentleman.

However, his appearance was noticeably inferior to Liu Yunxuan's.

His actions and tone seemed to be deliberately imitating Liu Yunxuan, rather clumsily.

Shen Mo knew the names of the four true disciples of Qingxuan Sect.

This person's surname was Song, so he was naturally Song Junjie, ranked second among the four true disciples.

Shen Mo was about to speak when another dull voice rang out nearby.

"Are you Shen Mo? My sister often mentions you."

"Why not join my faction under Zhao Ting? Joining Song Junjie's weak faction will only dull your skills and ambitions."

Shen Mo looked towards the voice and saw a tall, muscular young man with bulging muscles.

His loose dark green disciple robe was worn like tight-fitting clothing.

Zhao Ting, a member of the Zhao family from Gufeng City.

Shen Mo raised an eyebrow.

So, this person was Zhao Rou's brother. Zhao Rou was standing beside Zhao Ting at that moment.

Upon hearing Zhao Ting's words, her pretty face turned red, and she pinched her brother's waist hard.

Song Junjie raised an eyebrow, "Zhao Ting, speak properly. Don't resort to verbal attacks, or you'll face the consequences. I'm not someone to be trifled with!"

Zhao Ting sneered, "Say that again when you can beat me."

The simultaneous comments from Song Junjie and Zhao Ting immediately drew the attention of many inner disciples.

These inner disciples looked at Shen Mo, recalling the remarkable achievements of this fierce new inner disciple from not long ago.

Liu Yunxuan, along with another true disciple, Luo Shengnan, also looked over.

Liu Yunxuan recognized Shen Mo, frowning slightly.

Three days ago, when he went to Xishan City, he had inadvertently encountered an inner disciple who had obtained a demon crystal.

He had ordered the disciple to hand over the demon crystal.

Unexpectedly, that person turned out to be Shen Mo.

His father, Liu Yuanfeng, had mentioned this name to him in secret.

"The person Father mentioned is actually him..." Jealousy flickered in his eyes.

Even though Murong Yue ordered silence on the matter, Liu Yuanfeng still told him about Shen Mo awakening a heaven-grade physique.

Therefore, Liu Yunxuan was genuinely envious.

He had only awakened a low-grade earth physique.

This person, however, had an upper-grade heaven physique.

Barring any accidents, Shen Mo's future achievements would far surpass his own.

Luo Shengnan, meanwhile, looked Shen Mo up and down, then dismissed him with a curl of her lip. "This guy is so effeminate; he's useless. I don't want someone like him."

She licked her lips, eyeing Zhao Ting's back. "It's a pity Zhao Ting is a true disciple; otherwise, I'd pick him first!"

She sighed and continued to pick other inner disciples for her faction.

Luo Shengnan was a woman, but her bulging muscles and broad frame made her more manly than many men.

Thus, the inner disciples she recruited were all brawny types.

Shen Mo, with his handsome appearance and well-proportioned build, was not in her selection criteria.

However, despite this, the sudden competition between two true disciples for one inner disciple attracted the attention of most people in the martial arts field.

Everyone wanted to see how this situation would unfold.

After all, joining Song Junjie's faction would offend Zhao Ting.

Joining Zhao Ting's faction would offend Song Junjie.

It was a dilemma.

Xiao Fan and Liu Fei were also in the crowd. Seeing this scene, Xiao Fan couldn't help but sneer.

He knew Shen Mo was already a disciple of the Sect Master, so he definitely wouldn't join any faction.

This matter had blown up and would not end well.

Shen Mo rubbed his temples. What did I do to deserve this?

"I'm just passing by!"

"I don't want to join anyone's faction right now," Shen Mo said in a deep voice. "Goodbye!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

As a disciple of the Sect Master, my beautiful master naturally provides me with all sorts of resources.

Additionally, I can go out and seize even better opportunities on my own.

There's no need to join any true disciple's faction and be treated like a lackey.

After Shen Mo said this, the reactions of the disciples varied.

Some shook their heads, some clicked their tongues and gave thumbs up, while others crossed their arms and sneered.

Most of them had a look of watching a show.

Choosing one side would offend the other.

If you tried to stay neutral, you would end up offending both sides.

Zhao Ting snorted, "You... ow..."

Before he could finish, Zhao Rou pinched the soft flesh at his waist.

Song Junjie's eyebrows raised, "Refusing to give me face?"

In this public setting, rejecting me outright, isn't that a slap to my face?

Shen Mo met his gaze without fear.

Even though Song Junjie was a whole realm above him, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Shen Mo was not afraid.

I am the Sect Master's disciple, and this is the sect's grounds. What can you do to me?

Song Junjie's gaze turned colder, "Stop!"

Shen Mo ignored him and continued walking out.

"I told you to stop!" Song Junjie shouted, stomping the ground and launching himself like an arrow.

His fist aimed directly at Shen Mo's back!

"Qingxuan Sect rules, no fighting within the sect grounds, violators will be punished!"

An old voice sounded.

The spiritual energy in the air fluctuated for a moment.

Then, Song Junjie's charging figure stiffened.

It was as if he was bound by an irresistible force.

Veins bulged on his forehead, his face turned red, and he barely managed to squeeze out a few words, "Elder Li..."

The disciples instinctively looked up, towards the elderly woman in the green and white robe, feeling a sense of awe.

She was an inner sect elder, a Core Formation stage powerhouse.

Elder Li didn't even need to move; a mere flick of her finger could manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to restrain lower-level cultivators.

"Song Junjie, considering you are a true disciple, you are exempt from punishment. Go to the Sword Cliff and reflect on your actions," the elderly woman said indifferently.

Song Junjie clenched his fists tightly.

But in the end, he could only lower his head, "Yes..."

Even as a true disciple, he couldn't go against an inner sect elder.

If he did, the punishment would be even more severe.

If his father's enemies got wind of this, the most severe consequence could even be losing his true disciple status!

Step by step, Song Junjie left the martial arts field with a face full of humiliation.

The disciples looked on in astonishment. Why would Elder Li side with Shen Mo?

Even if a true disciple attacked someone, most inner sect elders would turn a blind eye.

Moreover, Song Junjie's father was Grand Elder Song Chaofeng.

Shen Mo was also surprised, and he couldn't help but glance at the elderly woman.

Elder Li looked at him and nodded slightly. Shen Mo immediately understood.

This Elder Li was on Murong Yue's side!

His heart warmed instantly. Having a powerful backer is great!

He bowed from a distance, "Thank you, Elder Li, for upholding justice. Qingxuan Sect should indeed be fair and just!"

Elder Li nodded and said nothing more. Shen Mo also left the martial arts field without lingering.

He had many things to do. There was no need to waste time here.

After Shen Mo left, the martial arts field gradually became lively again.

However, the disciples were all discussing what had just happened.

Was Elder Li Shen Mo's backer?

Would Elder Li really risk offending Grand Elder Song Chaofeng for Shen Mo?

Such gossip was the most tantalizing.

Liu Yunxuan, being in the know, naturally understood why Elder Li would help Shen Mo.

He snorted coldly.

If Song Junjie's punch had landed, Shen Mo would have been severely injured.

If Song Junjie were even more ruthless, he might have severely damaged Shen Mo's foundation, possibly even destroying his heavenly-grade physique!

What a pity!