Chapter 231: Disdainful

Xu Qing disliked being disturbed while cultivating or researching.

However, as he looked down at the purple bead brought by a Discipline Division disciple, his gaze deepened. An unknown aura emanated from the bead, causing the Golden Crow on his back to stir. It quickly materialized behind him, and as it gazed at the bead alongside him, it slowly revealed a look of longing.

Xu Qing was pensive. After pondering, he left the prison and found the visiting young man in purple robes in the Discipline Division's reception area. The young man stood tall, his back to Xu Qing, observing a painting of hungry ghosts fighting for food on the wall of the reception hall. Though he hadn't activated his Profound Radiance state, the activation of all 120 dharma apertures throughout his body generated internal flames that continuously surged.

In the eyes of Qi Condensation disciples, everything around him would appear distorted, as if the area had become the purple-robed youth's personal domain. However, these effects were lost on Xu Qing. As Xu Qing stepped inside, all distortion in the area instantly dissipated.

"Xu Qing?" The young man, who had been facing away, turned around, his gaze scrutinizing as it settled on Xu Qing.

Xu Qing disliked such scrutiny but kept his emotions hidden, calmly observing the newcomer.

"With your two-flame power, the Golden Crow Refining All Spirits, deadly poison, and impressive physique, Xu Qing... the Seven-Blood Pupils is already too small a pond for you." The purple-robed youth spoke indifferently, then proceeded to sit in the reception hall's main seat. All his movements were natural, as if he inherently believed that position was his by right.

Yet, as he sat there, he remained oblivious to an apple that had suddenly appeared, floating in the empty space behind him. An invisible person bit into the apple, yet no sound was made.

Xu Qing's expression was odd. He glanced at the apple, remained silent, and waited for the youth to continue.

The purple-robed youth spoke casually. "You must be dissatisfied with your position in the Seven-Blood Pupils, being merely a sequence rather than a direct disciple. This title was only granted after you performed a great service. You needn't be attached to such a sect."

"You already know who I am. I am Huang Yikun of the Profound Nether Sect. You may call me Senior Brother." Huang Yikun's words echoed, his scrutinizing gaze growing more pronounced. The apple behind him, which had another bite mark, seemed about to be bitten again by the invisible person, but it paused, as if displeased by Huang Yikun's words.

Xu Qing pretended not to notice. He did indeed know who the other person was; although he had never met him, records existed in the archives.

"Xu Qing, I admire you greatly. Today, I'm offering you an opportunity to leave the lower sect and join the upper sect."

Huang Yikun raised his red-gloved right hand to the chair's armrest, leaned slightly forward, and fixed his keen gaze on Xu Qing's eyes, speaking each word distinctly. "Of course, the prerequisite for all this is your unwavering loyalty to me."

Xu Qing frowned slightly. Meanwhile, the apple floating behind Huang Yikun swiftly gained two more significant bite marks.

"Xu Qing, you likely don't yet grasp the significance of the upper sect." Huang Yikun noticed Xu Qing's frown but dismissed it with a faint smile. "The Imperial-grade cultivation method you practice, Golden Crow Refining All Spirits, do you know that the Grand Alliance Lord of our Seven Sect Alliance also comprehended this very same Imperial-grade cultivation method? His esteemed self comprehended it comprehensively. Your attainment, I presume, was also by chance, but your gains are clearly not comparable to the Grand Alliance Lord's, am I correct?"

Xu Qing remained silent.

"Therefore, by joining the upper sect, your Imperial-grade cultivation method will have greater potential for advancement. Moreover, the Grand Alliance Lord originated from the Profound Nether Sect, which is why our sect possesses the Fiend-Fire Devouring Soul Scripture. This scripture was, in fact, created by the Grand Alliance Lord, based on the Golden Crow Refining All Spirits."

As he spoke, Huang Yikun's expression became tinged with arrogance, and he lifted his chin. "And the Fiend-Fire Devouring Soul Scripture cultivated by the lower sect is merely a low-tier version." With that, Huang Yikun raised his gloved right hand and slowly removed the glove.

As he removed it, an astonishing aura immediately radiated from his right hand. All five fingers of his right hand were startlingly purple, resembling crystals. They appeared remarkably peculiar, yet simultaneously emitted breathtaking fluctuations. They were like priceless treasures! All ambient light dimmed, seemingly drawn into these five fingers, which now served as the sole light source.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. He sensed an extraordinary quality emanating from these five fingers, and even the Golden Crow totem on his back became active at that moment. Faintly, the fiend-fire within his body seemed to stir and be drawn in.

However, Xu Qing felt that Huang Yikun shouldn't be showing off these five fingers here. Behind Huang Yikun, the floating apple trembled, as if the hand holding it was agitated. Two burning gazes faintly erupted from that spot, fixated on Huang Yikun's raised right hand, though he remained completely oblivious.

Noticing Xu Qing's expression, Huang Yikun felt a mix of pride, contempt, and hidden jealousy. He was proud of these five fingers, forged from a lifetime of accumulated wealth and cultivation. Each time he revealed them, they astonished everyone, and their power was indeed extraordinary. His contempt was for Xu Qing, who was, after all, merely a fish in a small pond. Even with some opportunities, his vision was still far too limited. What he envied was precisely this opportunity.

But he concealed it well. He rotated his right hand, which gleamed like polished purple-gold, and spoke calmly. "Xu Qing, do you see? This is the Profound Nether Ancient Method I cultivate, known as the Profound Nether Finger. Each of these five fingers was nurtured using countless profound techniques combined with a vast array of rare treasures. Should I touch someone with a single finger, their soul will be affected, granting me control over their very life and death. This is the true essence of the Fiend-Fire Devouring Soul Scripture. If you pledge allegiance to me and return to the sect, I will intercede with the Old Ancestor on your behalf, requesting the method to cultivate one finger. Should you make further contributions in the future, you may even have the opportunity to cultivate two or more fingers. Only with this method, combined with your Golden Crow Refining All Spirits, can you unleash its true power!"

Xu Qing gazed intently at the five fingers, also noting that no new bites had appeared on the apple behind Huang Yikun for a while. Clearly, the invisible individual's full attention was now on those fingers. He then looked intently at Huang Yikun.

Furthermore, Xu Qing believed that while Huang Yikun's cultivation method was indeed formidable, it wasn't absolute. The Golden Crow Refining All Spirits required no complementary technique. This perception likely stemmed from the fact that the Grand Alliance Lord of the Seven Sect Alliance had only comprehended the superficial aspects of the Golden Crow Refining All Spirits at the time, hence the need for a complementary technique. Xu Qing recalled his own understanding of the Golden Crow Refining All Spirits; the method's core essence was its domineering nature. If it required coordination with other techniques, it would lose its very soul.

Seeing Xu Qing remain silent throughout, Huang Yikun sneered inwardly. "You might still be unconvinced, perhaps feeling I'm not worthy of your allegiance. Therefore, you don't need to give me an answer immediately. In a few days, I will challenge the three direct disciples of your Seventh Peak."

With that, Huang Yikun rose, his hands clasped behind his back, and walked toward the exit. As he passed Xu Qing, he spoke calmly. "Xu Qing, remember to follow the Seventh Peak's challenge in a few days. Just observe the outcome. The next time we meet will be after the three direct disciples of the Seventh Peak have been soundly defeated, and then I will demand your answer. This is your opportunity; make the most of it."

With that, Huang Yikun exited the Discipline Division without a backward glance, walking into the evening glow and disappearing into the distance.

"Haha, Little A'Qing, it's always entertaining here with you. I saw that guy acting all pompous earlier, so I decided to follow and watch the show. I never expected to find a treasure!" The Captain's voice, filled with surprise, came from beside Xu Qing. "This is the first time I've encountered such a sudden surprise, someone actively showing off in front of me. I'm a little unaccustomed to it. Just now, I had to exert considerable effort to resist tearing it off."

"Or rather, resisted taking a bite?" Xu Qing calmly retorted.

"Director Xu, as the First Direct Disciple of the Seventh Peak, I must criticize you. Is that how you speak to a direct disciple?" The apple floating in front of Xu Qing was then bitten into vigorously.

Xu Qing looked down at his shadow. His shadow now appeared to be limping, its head seemingly swollen, as if it had endured a severe beating. Xu Qing remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Captain, what have you done this time?"

The apple paused its movement.

"How could that be? I just happened to like this state after I went invisible the time before last. But no more talk about that. Huang Yikun is going to challenge the Seventh Peak, right? I'll go have a chat with the second and third direct disciples." As his words echoed, the apple rapidly flew away, pausing suddenly just before it disappeared. "Oh, right, Little A'Qing, I came to tell you something: this challenge from the Seven Sect Alliance to the Seven-Blood Pupils, where every peak suffered defeat, seems frustrating, but it's all part of the old fellows' grand scheme. The old fellows clearly intend to foster animosity among the disciples towards the Seven Sect Alliance, while also sifting out any with dissenting intentions. So, don't you go getting any other ideas. Otherwise, if I have a big plan later, I'd have to track you down in another sect, and that would be far too troublesome."

With that, the apple directly left the Discipline Division. Once it was far away, the invisible Captain, whose small eyes were bruised and swollen, showed a look of surprise. "Can he really see me? No, that's impossible. This invisibility is a treasure given by the old man. For years, no one in the entire Seven-Blood Pupils, apart from a few senior uncles and the Old Ancestor, has been able to see me. How could this be?" He grumbled, gritting his teeth as if in pain. "That scoundrel Sixth Senior Uncle, he hit far too hard. I just took a bite of his treasure; did he have to grab me and give me a beating the moment I returned?" The Captain fumed, took a furious bite of the apple, and swiftly departed.

Inside the Discipline Division, Xu Qing was pensive. The Captain's words resonated with his earlier conjectures. Xu Qing increasingly felt that the sect must be waiting for something. "Time?"

Xu Qing didn't dwell on it further, deciding it wasn't his concern. He returned to the prison and resumed his cultivation.

Days passed. The ongoing capture of the Night Pigeons led to them becoming increasingly elusive. Consequently, the Discipline Division prepared to cast its net. Before casting the net, to prevent any from slipping through, the Discipline Division needed to make further preparations. This involved implementing a curfew!

"The Seven-Blood Pupils' main city will enforce a month-long curfew. All individuals traveling at night with suspicious movements will be apprehended!"

"Concurrently, the Discipline Divisions of each peak will begin their sweep, systematically dismantling all previously identified Night Pigeon strongholds to avenge our fallen comrades!"

"Henceforth, all Night Pigeons killed and all gains will be kept by the individual. With the Division as command, sections as encampments, and teams as blades, the Pigeon Extermination operation commences!"

Following Xu Qing's orders, the seven Discipline Divisions of the Seven-Blood Pupils immediately mobilized with fierce determination, commencing a bloody purge. That night, the entire main city was filled with an aura of grim severity. Countless Discipline Division members were visible in the streets, moving in teams according to their respective division's directives, heading to designated areas to carry out killings and arrests. From stronghold after stronghold, piercing screams and ferocious roars erupted. In street after street, the fleeing Night Pigeons were visible, relentlessly pursued by the Discipline Division.

Periodically, Discipline Division signals would shoot into the sky, exploding in all directions. Whenever this occurred, deputy directors from various divisions would head to the scene for rescue. If they couldn't handle the situation, a director would then intervene. If the director still couldn't resolve it, the matter would be reported to Xu Qing, who would then personally take action.

During this night's operation, Xu Qing had no opportunity to act because Yan Yan was very proactive and actively involved. Accompanied by her large octopus, she moved about without restraint. Whenever she spotted a Discipline Division distress signal, she would be the first to rush over on the octopus, and each time she resolved a situation, she would declare: "No need to bother Big Brother Xu Qing with such trivial matters, I'll handle it. Just remember to tell him later that I was here!" However, on one occasion, the person she assisted was a newly promoted deputy director from the Seventh Peak, a cultivator with one flame. He was immensely grateful after being saved and clasped his fists, saying: "Thank you, Direct Disciple Yan Yan."

Yan Yan raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and retorted: "I'm your Director's fiancée; you should call me Sister-in-law!"

Yan Yan's words startled the newly promoted Seventh Peak deputy director she had just saved. After a moment of hesitation, he clasped his fists and spoke again: "Thank you, Sister-in-law!"

Yan Yan beamed with delight and tossed him a precious elixir. "Heal well. In our Discipline Division, my husband is the Director, and as his wife, it's only natural for me to help him care for his subordinates. It's nothing, really." With that, Yan Yan spotted another distress signal and rushed off enthusiastically.