Chapter 73: Xu Fu

## Chapter 73: Xu Fu

A ripple of panic swept through the Discipline Hall, all because of the arrival of the figure wielding the dust whisk.

"Disciple greets Elder Xu Fu."

The chorus of voices echoing through the hall was deafening, each disciple's expression filled with utmost reverence. Not a single soul dared show the slightest disrespect. It was hardly surprising, given the illustrious identity of the newcomer.

Xu Fu, the esteemed head of the Heng Yue Sect's Spirit Pill Pavilion.

In terms of seniority within the sect, he was the senior brother of the current Sect Master. More importantly, he was the *only* alchemist in the entire Heng Yue Sect. Alchemists were beings of incomparable nobility, their numbers tragically few. Xu Fu was one such rarity. All the spirit pills and elixirs consumed within the sect were provided by his hand. Few indeed were those within Heng Yue who dared to provoke him.

"Zhang Fengnian... greets Senior Brother Xu." Amidst the hushed silence of the Discipline Hall, this faint voice offered a break.

It was Zhang Fengnian, the very man Yin Zhiping had just sent spitting blood with a single kick. He lay prostrate on the ground, his breath shallow and labored.

"You are Zhang Fengnian?" A note of surprise colored Xu Fu's voice as he knitted his brow, his gaze falling upon the kneeling figure. His astonishment stemmed from the profound age etched onto Zhang Fengnian's face, making him almost unrecognizable. Yet, a moment's thought brought understanding. Zhang Fengnian had become a cripple, unable to benefit from the visage-altering effects of cultivation like true cultivators.

"Yes... it is I." Zhang Fengnian remained prone.

Xu Fu's brow furrowed deeper. With his discerning eyes, he naturally perceived the grievous injuries Zhang Fengnian had sustained, and they were not light.

"Who struck you?" With a wave of his hand, Xu Fu sent a stream of spiritual light into Zhang Fengnian's body.

At these words, the reverently standing Yin Zhiping's body trembled. He dared not utter a single sound.

"Who?" Surveying the assembled disciples, Xu Fu's voice turned stern, a resonant command that caused the entire Discipline Hall to hum and vibrate. A powerful pressure settled over the space.

"It... it was I." Though fear gnawed at him, Yin Zhiping steeled himself and took a step forward.

Upon hearing this, Xu Fu's gaze settled on Yin Zhiping, his eyes sharp and piercing, fixing the chief disciple in place and causing his body to tremble.

"Elder... Elder, I... I injured him by accident, I..."

Before Yin Zhiping could finish his sentence, Xu Fu's hand flashed out, a swift palm strike sending him flying.

"What audacity!" Xu Fu's voice was frigid. "As the chief disciple of the Discipline Hall, you dare lay a heavy hand upon a senior? Are you courting death?"

Yin Zhiping, struck by the palm, spat blood, his face ashen. Yet, after clambering to his feet, he immediately fell to his knees, prostrating himself and pleading for mercy. "Elder... Elder, this disciple knows his wrong, this disciple knows his wrong."

"Senior Brother Xu, what matter has caused you such anger?" From within the Discipline Hall emerged an old man clad in a purple daoist robe. It was none other than Yin Zhiping's master and the head of the Discipline Hall, Zhao Zhijing.

"Junior Brother Zhao, you have truly raised a fine disciple," Xu Fu remarked, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Zhijing.

Hearing this, Zhao Zhijing's brow furrowed. He turned his attention to his disciple, Yin Zhiping. "Ping'er, what have you done?"

"I... I accidentally injured Uncle Master Zhang... Zhang Fengnian."

"Zhang Fengnian?" Zhao Zhijing's eyes flickered towards Zhang Fengnian upon hearing the name, his gaze laced with disdain. "Senior Brother Xu, Zhang Fengnian was expelled from the sect by the Master long ago. This is..."

"Even if he was expelled, he is still a member of the Heng Yue Sect," Xu Fu interjected, his tone deepening in its coldness. "Discipline your disciples well. If the chief disciple of the Discipline Hall dares to offend seniors in such a manner, how can he command respect?"

Being thus reprimanded by Xu Fu, Zhao Zhijing took a deep breath, yet did not erupt in anger. Provoking Xu Fu would not lead to favorable outcomes.

Meanwhile, Xu Fu's attention had shifted to Ye Chen, who remained shackled to the bronze pillar.

He appraised Ye Chen from head to toe, his gaze becoming sharp and profound. After a lengthy silence, he finally spoke, "I shall take this disciple with me."

"Elder, this..." The expressions of the disciples from the two peaks changed.

"What, do you have an objection?" Xu Fu's glance swept over the two-peak disciples, and the hall fell silent once more, the air thick with unspoken fear.

"Elder, he... he used the Heavenly Thunder Curse within the sect. He has committed a death... a death penalty offense," Yin Zhiping interjected from the side. With his master nearby, he felt a degree of confidence. Furthermore, Ye Chen had just vowed revenge, and he had no desire to see him simply taken away. That would undoubtedly spell disaster for him in the future.

Hearing Yin Zhiping's words, Zhao Zhijing, as the head of the Discipline Hall, also offered a veiled remark. "Senior Brother Xu, he has committed a death penalty offense. If you wish to take him away, this might..."

"Ye Chen used the Heavenly Thunder Curse solely for self-protection," a voice rang out. Xiong Er had already squeezed his way in from outside the hall.

"Oh?"

Xu Fu's eyebrow twitched. He turned his gaze to the chubby little Xiong Er.

At that moment, Xiong Er glared at the two-peak disciples with gnashed teeth. "These tortoise grandsons took turns attacking Ye Chen on the Wind Cloud Platform!"

Hearing Xiong Er's words, Xu Fu cast another glance at the two-peak disciples, letting out a cold laugh. "So many people beating one Qi Condensation Realm cultivator? Did you truly do such a thing?"

At Xu Fu's gaze, the two-peak disciples one by one lowered their heads, their faces burning hot, not daring to make a sound.

"Continue," Xu Fu retracted his gaze, turning back to Xiong Er.

"Ye Chen was beaten within an inch of his life and could no longer fight, so he jumped off the platform. But these tortoise grandsons forcibly dragged Ye Chen back onto the platform to continue the beating. When Ye Chen refused, they surrounded and attacked him, Elder! Each move aimed to kill! Elder, you must see this clearly! Ye Chen was forced to use the Heavenly Thunder Curse out of desperation for self-preservation!"

Having listened to Xiong Er's account, even Xu Fu's eyebrow twitched. He looked towards Zhao Zhijing and asked with a smile, "Junior Brother Zhao, within my Heng Yue, what is the penalty for arbitrarily inflicting heavy injury on a disciple with intent to kill?"

"Severe cases incur the death penalty."

"Then what about arbitrarily harming a senior?" Xu Fu asked again.

Zhao Zhijing's eyes narrowed. He wasn't foolish; this was clearly aimed at his disciple, Yin Zhiping. However, even so, he took a deep breath and said, "That is also a death penalty offense."

"Since all are death penalty offenses, then let's kill them quickly!" Xu Fu's words were shockingly blunt, intended to stir shock. His single sentence caused the two-peak disciples and Yin Zhiping to all fall to their knees with a thud.

"Senior Brother Xu, do you understand what it means to kill them all?" Zhao Zhijing's face darkened.

"It means the Discipline Hall of my Heng Yue Sect is fair and just!" Xu Fu shrugged. "Since all have committed death penalty offenses, why only execute this disciple named Ye Chen? Either everyone dies, or everyone lives."

"Senior Brother Xu, do you really need to make our relationship so strained?"

"Strained? Then let's find some peace," Xu Fu smiled, pointing to the shackled Ye Chen. "Let me take this little fellow back for punishment. As for the disciples from the two peaks and Yin Zhiping, you can handle them as you see fit."

Ah! At this moment, Zhao Zhijing finally understood. Xu Fu's lengthy discourse was all in service of protecting Ye Chen.

In an instant, Zhao Zhijing's thoughts raced.

Xu Fu was not wrong. All were death penalty offenses, and it was obvious that Ye Chen could not be the only one executed. But if he were to kill all of them, not only the two peaks but also the families behind them would come seeking retribution.

Moreover, he truly did not want to strain his relationship with Xu Fu.

Provoking an alchemist was unwise. A mere outer disciple held no significance in his eyes. Taking him away was no great matter, and it could even earn him a favor from Xu Fu. This was not a losing proposition.

Zhao Zhijing's calculations were thorough. He smiled and said, "In that case, Senior Brother Xu may take him away at your pleasure."

"Master..." Yin Zhiping's expression tightened.

"Silence!" Zhao Zhijing snapped, cutting him off directly. "After today, go to the ice prison and remain there."

"Very well, I shall take the person away then," Xu Fu glanced at Yin Zhiping, then waved his hand, sending out a stream of spiritual light that broke Ye Chen's shackles.

"Boy!" Xiong Er rushed forward in a panic, supporting Ye Chen.

"Thank you," Ye Chen murmured, leaning on Xiong Er's back. He had never imagined that Xiong Er would actually summon this formidable figure, Xu Fu.

(End of Chapter)