Faiser's small smile remained hanging on his face, calm to the point of provocation, as if it did not acknowledge the existence of tension at all.
The Sixth Elder noticed it immediately, and his brows tightened.
"What is so funny?"
He asked in a low voice, yet loaded with clear weight—the kind of voice that had long made those around him bow before he even finished speaking.
But Faiser did not move.
Instead, he slowly raised his gaze toward him, then said in a straight tone, free of any fabricated respect:
"I was only thinking…"
He paused briefly, as if carefully choosing his words.
"If this is your method of judgment, then I suppose the servants here are not only stronger than you… but calmer as well."
Silence fell—real silence this time. Even the air itself seemed to stop for a moment to see what would happen.
Shirin's eyes widened slightly.
"Mr. Faiser…"
She whispered his name quickly, her tone carrying a clear warning.
As for the book, it burst inside Faiser's mind with hysterical laughter:
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! My god! You stabbed his pride directly! I like you a little now!"
"Be quiet," Faiser said inwardly.
"I can't! This is far too entertaining!"
Outside, the Sixth Elder's face completely changed. His smile vanished, his jaw stiffened, and then he said in an even colder voice:
"It seems our guest… does not know how to speak to those above his station."
"Perhaps," said Faiser calmly. "Or perhaps I do… but I have not found a reason to yet."
"Mr. Faiser!" Shirin said this time in a clearer voice, stepping between them. "Sixth Elder, please… he is my brother's guest, and he did not mean any offense."
"I did," Faiser said without looking at her.
Shirin closed her eyes for a moment, while the book shouted joyfully:
"HAHAHAHAHA! No, no, no! Don't help him, girl! He is destroying everything beautifully!"
A muscle twitched on the Sixth Elder's face.
He stepped forward, then another step, until he stood directly before Faiser.
"Boy…" he said in a low voice, "there is a difference between boldness… and ignorance."
Faiser raised an eyebrow slightly.
"True."
Then he tilted his head just a little.
"And you are a living example that both can exist together."
"...!"
Shirin trembled inwardly.
"Please, stop—both of you—"
But the Sixth Elder was no longer listening.
A dense aura of Chi erupted from his body. Heavy pressure surged through the corridor like solid waves, making the nearby curtains tremble, and forcing Shirin half a step back without meaning to.
The air became heavier. Even the ground gave a faint groan. Eyes gathered from afar. Some servants stopped. Some disciples turned their heads.
The pressure of a true elder was no simple thing.
But—
Faiser remained standing still.
Only his purple hair moved slightly… like someone brushed by a passing breeze.
No bowing. No retreat. No disturbance in his breathing. Nothing.
He looked at the Sixth Elder, then said in a bored calm voice:
"Have you started?"
Silence.
Then—
The book exploded inside his mind:
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"The fat one has failed!"
"Do it again, Elder! Maybe this time it will affect the air!"
"Or the curtains in the corridor! They seem more sensitive than Faiser!"
"Be quiet," Faiser said inwardly.
"I will not! This is a historic day!"
The Sixth Elder's face reddened with fury. He increased the pressure even more—
but the result was the same.
Faiser merely raised his hand and slowly adjusted the collar of his robe, as though the atmosphere had become suitable for arranging his clothes.
"Nice pressure," he said coldly. "Does anything else come with it?"
"Sixth Elder!" Shirin intervened quickly, and this time her voice carried clearer authority. "The use of force is forbidden within the main corridors of the sect. Everyone knows this."
The Sixth Elder stopped.
His breathing was heavier now. His anger had clearly reached its limit, but he could not cross it.
Because he was inside the sect grounds.
Because Shirin was not someone he could ignore.
And because any transgression here… would be counted against him.
He slowly withdrew his aura, like someone pulling thorns from his throat, then smiled an ugly smile.
"Very well…"
He said it in an extremely calm voice—
far more dangerous than his previous rage.
"Since our guest possesses such a sharp tongue… let us see whether he possesses anything to support it."
He clasped his hands behind his back, then began speaking in a voice meant to be heard, as though announcing an official matter:
"One week from now… the return ceremony of the first and second generation disciples from the outer training grounds will be held."
Shirin paused slightly. She immediately understood what he intended.
The elder continued:
"As is tradition, an open combat competition will be held during the ceremony. Any disciple of the Heavenly Phoenix Sect may participate… regardless of rank, so long as they dare step onto the stage."
Then he looked directly at Faiser.
"And I… invite you to join the sect as a temporary disciple."
He paused for a moment, then smiled with clear contempt.
"Not to honor you… but so I may watch you climb the arena officially, and then be crushed before everyone."
"I want to see that purple hair buried in the ground."
"I want to see that smile vanish beneath the feet of my disciples."
"I want to understand… where all this arrogance came from, in a body at the Pulsing Seed level."
Then he lifted his chin slightly.
"So, if you possess even a shred of dignity… I challenge you to participate."
Silence spread.
All eyes froze.
Shirin turned quickly toward Faiser.
"Mr. Faiser, do not accept provocation like this. You have no need for any—"
But Faiser… smiled.
This time, it was wider, clearer, and more dangerous.
Then he said simply:
"It is fine."
He stepped forward.
"I accept your challenge…"
He paused for a moment, his eyes fixed directly on the Sixth Elder.
"…fat one."
"...!!!"
Shirin gasped.
One of the servants at the far end of the corridor choked on laughter, then pretended to cough.
As for the Sixth Elder, his eyelid twitched visibly.
But… he could do nothing.
He turned sharply, his robe whipping behind him like a slap, then said without looking at them:
"Enjoy your final week of peace."
Then he left, his steps faster than he wanted to show.
A brief silence followed his departure.
Then Shirin placed a hand on her forehead and whispered:
"I… do not know whether to save you later… or blame you from now."
Faiser looked at her calmly.
"Do as you wish."
She sighed deeply.
"You are a very exhausting person."
"I have been told that."
"Who said it?"
He paused for a moment.
Then said:
"Hmm… a reliable source."
The book burst out laughing inside his mind:
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, I am the reliable source!"
"Ooooh, Faiser…"
It paused for a moment, then said in a dangerously excited tone:
"In one week… we shall humiliate the fat one before his entire sect."
"And finally…"
"I have found a true reason to live because of you, Faiser! HAHAHAHA!"