Chapter 53: Get Out

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Get Out

The two youths, a boy and a girl, watched the White-robed Scholar step into the Daoist temple, their expressions growing increasingly tense.

’First-Grade Hall?’

Having heard him announce his affiliation, they immediately understood. Both came from prominent families, and though their clans had been annihilated, they still possessed some knowledge of the Jianghu. Moreover, their time with Li Jianzhou had broadened their horizons, so they were naturally aware of this new power that had shot to prominence in the martial arts world in recent years.

It was said that the First-Grade Hall was composed entirely of famous Grandmaster-level experts.

’Why would a power like that come looking for our master?’

"How did you know we were here?" Zhao Yunkong asked nervously.

His master was at a critical point in his cultivation. Regardless of whether the visitor’s intentions were good or ill, he couldn’t dare let the man disturb him.

The White-robed Scholar laughed. "With the First-Grade Hall’s network of informants and intelligence spanning the realm, what difficulty is there in finding the three of you?"

He folded his fan and began to survey the temple’s interior as he spoke.

’Since these two disciples are here, Li Jianzhou must be in this temple.’

He was under orders from Miss Peacock to invite Li Jianzhou to the First-Grade Hall to serve as an Honored Guest Elder.

He had a good idea why.

Not long ago, the Extraordinary Nine Monsters had been completely wiped out on Dao Yi Mountain. Now, the First-Grade Hall was in desperate need of someone familiar with Dao Yi Mountain’s internal affairs.

Li Jianzhou was the best candidate to win over.

However, before he had taken more than a few steps, Zhao Yunkong and his sister rushed forward to block his path.

"You can’t go in!"

"Oh?"

The White-robed Scholar’s eyes narrowed into a smile.

"And why not?"

Though nervous, the two glared at him. "You just can’t!"

They knew there was a vast gap in strength between them and the White-robed Scholar, but their resolve to protect their master would not waver.

"And if I insist on entering? You two children are in no position to stop me," the White-robed Scholar said with a smile.

Just then, a man’s voice, as smooth as jade, drifted in from outside. "Wang Lun, do not be rude. Mr. Li is at a critical juncture in his cultivation. We must not disturb him. Come out."

Hearing this, Wang Lun’s expression changed drastically. He didn’t dare take another step forward.

"Yes."

Zhao Yunkong and his sister watched as the White-robed Scholar retreated with a look of reverence. Shifting their gaze, they saw an elegant man standing under an old tree near the temple entrance in the distance.

’Who’s that now?’ The siblings exchanged a glance.

But they didn’t dare approach to ask.

Under the tree, the White-robed Scholar walked up to the elegant man and said respectfully,

"Mr. Xiao, what brings you here?"

This man was none other than Xiao Sheng, one of the seven Grandmasters of the First-Grade Hall. ℯℯ𝑙.

In the Jianghu, he was known as "He Who Kills No One."

Xiao Sheng smiled in the direction of the Daoist temple. "While you were outside, I already found Li Jianzhou. He’s lying in a corner inside, cultivating a Superior Martial Scripture from the Jin Country Martial Arts. He has turned himself into a ’Human Cocoon.’ He is at a critical stage, and since we came to extend an invitation, it’s best not to interfere."

"If we cause him to suffer a cultivation deviation and die at a time like this, how will we answer to Miss Peacock and the Young Master?"

The White-robed Scholar was inwardly shocked.

’I was just outside, no more than ten steps from the temple’s interior. At such a short distance, I didn’t even sense Xiao Sheng’s presence when he went inside ahead of me.’

’He truly is a Grandmaster peerless in his generation for his Lightweight Skill and Acupoint Pressing.’

That Light Body Technique was practically ghostly. He came like a shadow and left without a trace.

"Then what should we do...?" the White-robed Scholar asked.

Xiao Sheng smiled faintly. "When I went inside, I could sense that the life force within the Human Cocoon has reached a certain peak. He will break out either today or tomorrow. We’ll just wait here."

And so, the two of them settled down outside the temple to wait.

Inside the temple, Chengg Lin and Zhao Yunkong breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that the men outside didn’t try to enter again. They couldn’t help but feel a sliver of goodwill toward the man who had called the White-robed Scholar back.

’No, wait...’

The two suddenly exchanged a look. ’How did that man know their master was at a critical point in his cultivation?’

They immediately turned and rushed inside to check on Li Jianzhou.

The Human Cocoon was still there.

But this only made the two of them even more nervous.

The night passed uneventfully.

Neither of them dared to sleep through the night, instead taking turns standing watch. They continued until the deepest chill of the pre-dawn hours, when the first hint of light appeared on the horizon...

Zhao Yunkong’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

Just then, a sweet fragrance like flower petals suddenly filled the air. It was followed by a sound like tiles clattering to the ground...

CLATTER! CLATTER!

Startled, both of them snapped their heads toward the sound. They saw that over by Li Jianzhou’s Human Cocoon, layer after layer of the casing was peeling off, gradually revealing the face of a person within.

Li Jianzhou slowly opened his eyes.

At that exact moment, footsteps echoed from outside the temple.

"Mr. Li, you have broken through to the Grandmaster Realm and been reborn from the cocoon. You are now poised to become a First-Grade figure in this world. A truly joyous occasion worthy of celebration!"

It was Xiao Sheng and the White-robed Scholar, stepping inside.

Xiao Sheng was beaming, but inwardly, his mind was in turmoil. He was utterly shocked.

As a fellow Grandmaster, he couldn’t sense Li Jianzhou’s presence at all. It was as if the man had vanished, yet there he was, lying right before their eyes.

"Master, you succeeded!" Zhao Yunkong and his sister were overjoyed. They quickly pushed the wheelchair they had prepared over to Li Jianzhou and helped him sit down in it.

"This must have been hard on you both these past few days."

Li Jianzhou took a deep breath. A few small flakes of the cocoon’s husk were still peeling from his face.

However, this was clearly not the time for a reunion between master and disciples.

With that, he looked toward the two men who had just walked in, his voice cold.

"And who might you be?"

Chengg Lin quickly explained, "Master, they’re from the First-Grade Hall. They arrived yesterday. They said they want to invite you to be an Honored Guest Elder."

Hearing this, a flicker of light passed through Li Jianzhou’s eyes as he looked at the two men.

Xiao Sheng and the White-robed Scholar smiled and cupped their fists in greeting.

"I am Xiao Sheng, of the First-Grade Hall."

"And the White-robed Scholar, Wang Lun."

However, after learning their identities and purpose, Li Jianzhou simply glanced up and spoke a single word:

"Out."

The White-robed Scholar’s expression changed instantly.

A flicker passed through Xiao Sheng’s eyes, but he seemed to take no offense. He spoke again.

"Mr. Li, perhaps you should hear me out first. The First-Grade Hall is well aware of your deep-seated hatred for Dao Yi Mountain. We’ve come to offer a partnership. I wonder... are you still interested in the position of Dao Yi Sect Leader?"

Hearing this, Li Jianzhou looked up. "You came to me for help against Dao Yi Mountain?"

Seeing this, Xiao Sheng thought Li Jianzhou was tempted and replied with a faint smile, "Precisely."

But Li Jianzhou simply repeated that one cold word, his enunciation perfect and clear:

"Out!"

Being told to get out so coldly twice in a row, even Xiao Sheng, with all his composure, felt his expression turn cold.

"Sir, you are being incredibly rude!"

Li Jianzhou only said coolly, "Don’t make me say it a third time."

The White-robed Scholar roared in anger.

"The audacity! For a cripple, you’re insufferably arrogant!"

Unable to contain his fury, he moved. In a flash, he swept his folding fan toward Li Jianzhou like a sword.

The strike unleashed his Grandmaster-level power, shaking the air and filling the temple with a thunderous boom.

WHOOSH!

The fan cut through the air like a sword, aimed directly at Li Jianzhou.

Yet Li Jianzhou’s expression remained indifferent. From his wheelchair, he simply lifted a single finger, making no other move.

The White-robed Scholar, Wang Lun, froze stiff, just three steps away from Li Jianzhou.

The next moment,

his body crashed to the ground. His white robes were covered in dust, and a red dot, the size of a pinprick, had appeared between his eyebrows.

A Grandmaster-level expert.

Killed in an instant!