Li Yuan

"Elder Pe, what is going on here?"

Elder Tang was not stupid, he immediately figured out the layout of the accident as soon as he put all the puzzle pieces into his mental board.

Of course, it could be the opposite. If that is so, then these disciples are truly cunning! Putting aside his own assumptions, Elder Tang pretends to not notice the drastic changes in Elder Pe's face, choosing to interrogate these disciples instead.

"Tell me what happened. You, explain."

Elder Tang specifically chose Me Feng, who looked noticeably calmer compared to the grieving Gu Peng and the lifeless Li Yuan. He didn't even mention Elder Mu, who was stuck in the ground upside down.

Inwardly, he could not help but disdain the Mu Family. To forcefully elevate this useless old thing's status, what a disgrace!

Noticing the opportunity, Me Feng flashed a small smirk, to which only Elder Pe, who was suspicious of him, noticed. Other disciples saw it as hesitation, fearing that he said something wrong.

Inwardly, they were thinking the same thing. Who is this mysterious Senior Brother who could hold down Gu Peng, one of the most prominent geniuses within the inner circle?

"Elder, I apologize for my intrusion. But when I was wandering around the sect this early morning, I heard a commotion in the sparring building. Finding that the building was open despite the early hour, I couldn't help but check it out, only to find my confidant, Li Yuan, getting brutally beaten up by Gu Chen while two elders, Elder Pe and Elder Mu, watched the whole thing indifferently."

"Bullsh*t!"

"Silence! I do not permit you to talk, Elder Pe. Lad, continue."

Elder Tang may have the same moniker as Elder Pe, but while the latter is merely in charge of the Outer Division, as a Vice Head of the Detainment Hall, Elder Tang's authority covers up the whole sect! Even Elders at Golden Core Concoction realm would have to go through him first if they committed something that was against the sect's code.

Their difference in authority, standing, and power were worlds apart!

"What about those two disciples?"

"They're the people I brought along. Unfortunately, as I tried to talk it down with them, Elder Pe knocked them unconscious, rendering them useless in preventing him from escaping."

"If not for Brother Feng, I would never know just how cruel the elders in the sect could be. Is this... Truly the sect I've always wanted to fight for?" Gu Peng knelt, as if witnessing how his world came crashing down.

Even the disciples around started to waver. Their hearts that belonged to the sect that had raised them to their current standing started to doubt. If even a pair of elders could force them into a deathmatch, then how are they supposed to resist?

Elder Tang was thoroughly furious! Just because of a pair of two rotten elders, a Core Disciple's faith in the sect started to waver?! Even the hundreds of disciples behind him showed their doubts, expressing their confusion.

"Even Gu Chen, the little brother of a Core Disciple, was treated like this. Then what about me, a lone boat in the vast sea?"

"If an elder didn't like me and forced me into a deathmatch, what am I supposed to do?"

"This is terrifying, I might be coerced into something I don't want to do."

"You're still a lucky one, being an Inner Disciple. We Outer Disciples are the ones who have to worry! Discarding our lives is as easy as picking their noses!"

As Gu Peng watched this all from the side, he couldn't help but glance at Me Feng. He enforced a plan to defame not only Elder Mu and Elder Pe, but he was planning to destroy the reverence the disciples had towards the sect itself!

The intention was not bad, of course. Other than the fact that Gu Peng and others could remain unsuspected, it would also serve as a foothold for the sect to reform the structure of the sect. It was a reminder that this sect was still rotten, letting an incompetent elder like Elder Mu be in charge of the Outer Division.

Who knows how many diamonds in the rug that old thing has plucked before they could shine?

Gu Peng believed that Me Feng was not so stupid to do such a reckless thing. It must be the orders from his master, the Sect Leader herself. Such a figure was not simple!

Elder Tang was getting angrier and angrier the more he stayed in this place. He glared at Elder Pe, who stuttered with indecipherable words.

"Uh, this... Senior Brother—"

"Silence!"

It's not only Elder Pe who shuts up. The whole building turned silent immediately as soon as Elder Tang's overbearing voice reached their ears.

"While the elders were entrusted the authority to detain those who are irresponsible and disrespectful, you have to remember that this sect was made to nurture disciples, not elders! We old things are already half-stepped into the damn grave, so why are you still clamouring around?! If you want to be so f*cking ambitious, why didn't you do it when you were young, huh?!"

Elder Tang had no choice but to side with the disciples. He mentally noted down these disciples. Gu Peng, Li Yuan, and Me Feng. Although it was favourable to him, considering how the higher-ups would praise his decision, he must keep his eyes on them.

How could he not know the explosive rumour of that trash Gu Chen clamouring around left and right because of the status his elder brother had? It's a matter of time before someone offers him a death match in rage.

It means there was either a consensus between them he didn't know of, or perhaps one of the parties decided to evict themselves from the muddy water, wanting those inside to suffer instead.

He didn't believe it was all an accident. Although Elder Pe and Elder Mu were considered amateurs in the cultivation world, with their experience, how could they easily be tricked by a bunch of disciples?

Besides, he never liked these elders anyway.

"Disciples, arrest the elders!"

This was a form of compensation from him, allowing the disciples to vent their rage and disappointment. In no time, the helpless Elder Pe was already surrounded, meeting the disdainful faces of the disciples he used to look down on.

Some disciples directly went to Elder Mu, having their own reasons. With his current position, it was perfect for them to abuse his lower body...

"N-No, that Me Feng was an impostor. H-He was the one who did this all. I'm an Elder! How could you do this to me?! You trust an impostor more than me?!"

Me Feng watched it all with a lukewarm gaze. When you have absolute advantages, it is naturally easy to turn the tide. If not for Gu Peng who believed him as an unprecedented genius nurtured personally by the Sect Leader herself, he would have no choice but to call out his trump card, the Sect Leader, Yu Minhe, to save Li Yuan.

The person in question had already arrived before him, and with no hesitation, the kid prostrated himself.

Although Me Feng did not like this kind of gratitude, deeming it exaggerating and disrespectful to one's own parents, he knew that sometimes gratitude could consume one's heart, eroding one's confidence, if not expressed properly.

As for the reason he was willing to go to such a length for a mere 'goon', well, he just doesn't like it when something he had worked hard for was snatched away by someone else, especially incompetent fools. No matter how much of a bad person he could be, he still had his principles and integrity.

"In this life, my heart, my soul, my body, all belong to you, my liege! I'm at your command and disposal!!!"

No words could describe the warmth in Li Yuan's heart. The despair that gripped his heart as he was coerced into the deathmatch by two elders who insisted that it was a punishment for defaming a fellow disciple, the helplessness as the weaker Gu Chen freely beaten him up, the sadness and longing as he saw his supposed wife graciously dance in the waterfall, and the grievance knowing such a beautiful individual would have to marry a disgusting, abusive pig.

How could he let that all happen?

It was a pity that he lacked the courage. He lacked it until the very end when the words of his boss rang in his heart.

Cultivation was meant to defy the heavens! If you don't have such a heart, then what the hell are you cultivating for?! No matter the despair, no matter even if there was not a single strand of a ray of hope, a cultivator must fight until the very end, no matter the circumstances!

As Li Yuan prostrated himself before his Hero, his heart successfully underwent its metamorphosis, and with an iron will and newfound determination, he reached the First Stage of the Heart, the Tranquil Heart!

Something that the Sect Leader herself had yet to achieve!

The State of the Heart could only be achieved when one experienced true despair, and dared to fight, even when it was hopeless. Unfortunately, most cultivators would fall into despair, and even if they have the heart to fight, most of them would died by the impossible situation they were in.

With a shocking boom, Li Yuan's aura exploded, breaking through two stages instantaneously!

5th Stage of Body Refinement, Body Condensation Phase! It has to be known that Li Yuan was only 16 years old, so to achieve this cultivation was already impressive!

And with his current state of heart, the speed of his cultivation would only increase!

As the others watched his metamorphosis in shock, Me Feng smiled, crouching down to be at his goon's level.

"You make me proud, my goon. Keep it up, and show that fiance of yours that you are the only one worthy of her!"

"Hahahah! Yes, Boss!"

Both men laughed gleefully. Gu Peng witnessed it all, his heart was in disbelief this whole time. A mere goon achieving the legendary State of the Heart...?

His suspicion diminishes a little. Maybe it wasn't so bad to be this man's goon? Perhaps there was truly something he, a mere Foundation Establishment junior, could not see?