A Spiritual Crane circled high in the sky before coming to a hover before the crowd. A young man stood upon its back.
The young man was clad in white robes, standing tall as the fierce wind made them snap and flutter. The most eye-catching detail was the Spiritual Crane emblem on his attire—it was so lifelike it looked as if it might spread its wings and fly away at any moment!
"Well now, it's quite lively today!" the white-robed youth said nonchalantly, looking around.
Hearing the white-robed youth speak, Old Sir Shen cupped his fist and said, "Today is my Shen Family's annual assessment. To what do we owe the pleasure of a visit from the esteemed Spirit Crane Sect?"
The crowd was surprised to see Old Sir Shen being so polite to a mere youth, but when they heard the name "Spirit Crane Sect," their surprise turned into utter shock!
The Spirit Crane Sect was one of the three National Guardian Sects of the Purple Flame Empire, named for the countless Spiritual Cranes raised within it. Its disciples were all extraordinarily powerful—dragons among men, the most brilliant of geniuses! The Sect's strength was considered to be at an Overlord Level in the entire Southern Domain! But everyone was bewildered. Why would such a powerful Major Sect visit a small place like Cyan Mountain City?
"Oh, a family assessment?" Hearing Old Sir Shen, the youth glanced down. When he saw the crowd of green-faced boys below the stage looking up at him in awe, he smirked with disdain. "Hmph. Just a third-rate family. And you're holding a family assessment? You've really made it look the part."
Although the youth's voice was quiet, the people in the main viewing stands were powerful individuals with extraordinary hearing, so of course they heard him. His arrogant words sparked a wave of anger among them!
The Shen Family was considered a great family in and around Cyan Mountain City. Now, this young man had just denigrated them as a third-rate family. If they were third-rate, what did that make the other powers who were of equal or even lesser strength?
However, faced with the might of the Spirit Crane Sect, they could only swallow their anger and pretend they hadn't heard the insult.
"Heh. A sparrow may be small, but it has all its vital organs," Old Sir Shen retorted, clearly annoyed. "This little assessment of ours needn't concern you. Now, why don't you state your purpose for coming here!"
The youth registered the displeasure in Old Sir Shen's tone but was completely unfazed. He drawled, "I am Zuo Chuan, a Direct Disciple of the Spirit Crane Sect's Third Elder. I am here today to inform you that in two years, the Three Great Sects will hold a Hunting Competition here in Cyan Mountain City to select disciples. You should all prepare as soon as possible!"
The crowd erupted at Zuo Chuan's announcement. Even Old Sir Shen was momentarily stunned, unable to process it. Needless to say, the Spirit Crane Sect and the other two Major Sects held an unparalleled status within the Purple Flame Empire. Their names alone were enough to make countless geniuses trample over each other for a chance to join.
And now, the Three Great Sects were setting up a recruitment point in a small place like Cyan Mountain City—how could they not be ecstatic? If they managed to enter one of these Sects, their future would be limitless! After all, the Cultivation Materials one could obtain in a Major Sect were on a completely different level from what a small family could provide!
Zuo Chuan watched the ecstatic crowd and sneered, "Hmph. A bunch of country bumpkins!" He then made a beckoning gesture, intending to recall his sword and depart.
But after a few moments, Zuo Chuan realized his sword hadn't returned. He glanced down to see it clutched in the hand of a boy covered in wounds.
That was right—Zuo Chuan's sword was now in Shen Haoran's hands! As the blade had been flying back to its master, Shen Haoran had reached out and caught it. He then enveloped it in Chaotic Spiritual Power, severing its connection to Zuo Chuan.
Zuo Chuan's brow furrowed as he sensed the connection to his sword had been severed. He was about to explode with rage when he suddenly noticed Shen Ling'Er standing next to Shen Haoran, and his eyes immediately lit up.
Shen Ling'Er stood beside Shen Haoran, her delicate face filled with worry and concern, making her look incredibly endearing. He had never seen such a pure and innocent girl before. For a moment, he was completely captivated!
'Looks like this trip wasn't a waste after all!' Zuo Chuan thought. He tapped his toes lightly on the crane's back and leaped down.
As Zuo Chuan landed on the Martial Arts Arena, all eyes turned to him. He strolled leisurely toward Shen Ling'Er and said in what he considered a suave tone, "My beautiful lady, I see that you possess remarkable talent. Are you interested in returning with me to the Spirit Crane Sect? I can introduce you to my master and make you my junior sister. What do you say?"
Having said his piece, Zuo Chuan stood there confidently, awaiting her answer. He believed the offer to join the Spirit Crane Sect was a temptation no one could refuse. 'She'll definitely agree,' he thought. 'And then, once she's at the Spirit Crane Sect, she'll be all mine...!' At the thought, Zuo Chuan practically started to drool.
Shen Ling'Er looked at the man who had nearly hurt Shen Haoran, her expression cold. She replied flatly, "Not interested!" then immediately went back to checking on Shen Haoran.
"Not interested?" Zuo Chuan froze. This was not how he had pictured it. He had imagined she would accept with delight, maybe even cry tears of joy. But instead, she had just refused him so nonchalantly!
"But this is the Spirit Crane Sect! You'd become the Direct Disciple of an Elder!" Zuo Chuan insisted.
"I said I'm not interested! Are you deaf or just annoying?" Shen Ling'Er snapped, her patience gone. In her eyes, nothing was more important than Shen Haoran—not even joining the Spirit Crane Sect.
At her impatient retort, Zuo Chuan's face darkened. "Hmph. No one refuses me," he snarled. "If you won't listen to reason, then don't blame me for taking you by force!" With that, he lunged, reaching for Shen Ling'Er!
SWISH! Just as Zuo Chuan was about to grab Shen Ling'Er, a whistling sound cut through the air as a brilliant flash of Sword Light slashed at his arm.
Sensing the unexpected flash of Sword Light, Zuo Chuan instantly pulled his arm back, but he was a fraction too slow. The sharp blade sliced a piece of his sleeve clean off!
Staring at the severed piece of his robe on the ground, Zuo Chuan's expression turned murderous. He whipped his head around to face Shen Haoran, whom he had ignored until now, and snarled, "Are you looking to die?"
The one who had struck was Shen Haoran. His loved ones were his Reversed Scale. Zuo Chuan had not only almost killed Ling'Er, but was now harboring ill intentions toward her. There was no way Shen Haoran would let him get away with it!
Facing the furious Zuo Chuan, Shen Haoran remained completely indifferent to his threat. "I have long heard that the disciples of the Spirit Crane Sect are righteous heroes who punish the wicked and help the weak," he said calmly. "Seeing you in person today, I can see that your reputation is indeed well-earned!"
Zuo Chuan caught the heavy sarcasm in Shen Haoran's tone, and the fury in his heart finally erupted. Since becoming a disciple of the Spirit Crane Sect, no one had ever made him lose face like this! His aura exploded from his body, and the oppressive might of a Spirit Pupil Tier Six cultivator surged toward Shen Haoran.
The crowd gasped as they felt Zuo Chuan's aura. "Spirit Pupil Tier Six! As expected of a Spirit Crane Sect disciple. To have such a high Cultivation at his age!"
"How dare Shen Haoran provoke a disciple from the Spirit Crane Sect? That's beyond reckless!"
"Hmph! And he calls himself a disciple of the Spirit Crane Sect? First he insults the Shen Family, and then he tries to kidnap Ling'Er. He's a disgrace to his Sect!" someone muttered in displeasure.
"Exactly!" The crowd slowly began to edge closer to Shen Haoran.
Meanwhile, Shen Haoran was in a dire state. Already wounded, his face turned even paler under the pressure of Zuo Chuan's aura. His body swayed, and he looked as if he was about to collapse. Shen Ling'Er quickly rushed to support him.
Seeing Shen Haoran's dire condition from the main stand, Old Sir Shen's figure flashed, and he appeared in front of him, shielding him from Zuo Chuan's oppressive aura.
"Brother Zuo, I suggest you show some restraint!" Old Sir Shen said in a low, dangerous voice.
"Hmph! This brat insulted my Sect. It's only natural that I seek justice on its behalf!" Zuo Chuan said without a shred of shame.
The moment the words left his mouth, a chorus of boos and jeers rose from the crowd.
"He actually has the nerve to say that? How shameless!"
"Exactly!" Seeing how utterly shameless Zuo Chuan was, the crowd could no longer hold back and began to verbally tear into him.
Hearing the crowd's outcry, Zuo Chuan's face grew progressively darker. He had completely and utterly lost all face today! He glared at Shen Haoran with pure hatred. 'This is all his fault!'
"Kid, if you've got any spine, stop hiding behind someone else and fight me!" Zuo Chuan challenged Shen Haoran.
"Oh, look at the great Direct Disciple of a Spirit Crane Sect Elder! Can't you see the man is already injured? Or do you only know how to pick on the wounded?"
"Maybe an injured opponent is the only kind he can beat!" It had to be said, once the crowd started roasting someone, they became fearless. They were no longer afraid of the Spirit Crane Sect's retaliation—since they had already started, they figured they might as well let it all out!
"Brother Zuo, my grandson is seriously injured. I suggest you don't push your luck," Old Sir Shen warned, "or you'll find this old man is no pushover!" As he spoke, he unleashed the full might of his Spirit General aura, forcing Zuo Chuan to stumble back two steps.
"You...!" Zuo Chuan choked, speechless with rage.
"Wait!" At that moment, Shen Haoran spoke. He stepped in front of Zuo Chuan and said, "Since you're so desperate to fight me, let's make an agreement."
"An agreement?"
"Yes. Right now, I'm just a small fry in the Spirit Tempering Stage," Shen Haoran said. "Even if you win against me now, people will just accuse you of bullying the weak. Why don't we schedule a life-and-death duel for the Hunting Competition two years from now? Then, we'll let fate decide who lives and who dies!"
Shen Haoran had his reasons for proposing the two-year pact. He knew that a petty man like Zuo Chuan would surely seek revenge in secret if the matter was simply dropped today. The Shen Family was currently too weak to endure the wrath of the Spirit Crane Sect, so the two-year pact was merely a stalling tactic.
As for the duel itself, it gave him a clear goal and put some much-needed pressure on him. After all, pressure is the mother of motivation!
"Fine! Two years it is!" Zuo Chuan agreed. In the current situation, it was indeed not the right time for an all-out confrontation.
"I have one more condition," Shen Haoran added. "For the next two years, you are forbidden from retaliating against the Shen Family in any way. That includes harming so much as a single flower or blade of grass belonging to them. If I discover you've done anything against the Shen Family, trust me when I say I will bring chaos to your entire Spirit Crane Sect!" In that instant, Shen Haoran was like a Demon straight from Hell, striking fear into the hearts of all who saw him. Zuo Chuan did not dare to doubt the conviction in his words for even a moment.
"Hmph. I swear it on the honor of the Spirit Crane Sect," Zuo Chuan snorted. "And I expect you not to break your promise when the time comes!"
"It's a deal."
"It's a deal! Let's go!" With that, Zuo Chuan leaped onto the back of the Spiritual Crane and departed from Cyan Mountain City.