"It's the Ninth Elder!"

"The Ninth Elder, who oversees the sect disciples' experiential training! This Zhao family elder is actually helping a disciple of his own clan in broad daylight. Ning Fan is in big trouble now."

A murmured voice rose from the crowd, spelling out Ning Fan's current predicament.

"Third Uncle."

Zhao Yuanzhe limped over to the Ninth Elder's side, raising a hand to point at Ning Fan.

"You must seek justice for this disciple!"

"Is it you?"

"Who dared to injure a disciple of my Zhao family?"

The Ninth Elder looked Ning Fan up and down. Upon sensing Ning Fan's cultivation realm, the Elder could not help but frown slightly.

Interesting.

A new disciple.

At the sixth layer of the Yellow Extreme Realm?

But so what? Within the Divine Sect, how dare a mere new disciple harm a member of their Zhao family!?

"Kneel and apologize."

"Considering your exceptional aptitude, this Elder can pretend today's matter never happened. When walking within the Divine Sect in the future, remember well who you can provoke and who you must avoid."

The Ninth Elder's voice carried neither joy nor sorrow as he stared coldly at Ning Fan.

"This Elder."

Ning Fan narrowed his eyes.

"The sect has rules. In a duel, life and death are left to fate. This Senior Brother was injured by me simply because his skills were inferior."

"For an Elder to stand up for him, is there any reason in this? Does it conform to the sect's rules?"

"Heh. Hahaha."

Hearing Ning Fan's words, the Ninth Elder burst into loud laughter, as if he had just heard a hilarious joke. Once his laughter subsided, he looked at the youth with mockery.

"Reason?"

"A mere newly entered disciple, and you think you are worthy to discuss reason and sect rules with this Elder? Even if I violate the sect's regulations, this Elder can bear the consequences."

"Kneel down immediately before this Elder changes his mind, and apologize to my Zhao family's disciple."

"..."

Hearing this, Ning Fan tightly clenched his fists.

"Weren't you quite arrogant just a moment ago?"

"Kneel down for me!"

Zhao Yuanzhe stepped forward a few paces, standing in front of Ning Fan with a look of immense satisfaction on his face.

"I am sorry, Zhao Yuanzhe. I should not have..."

Seeing this, Ning Fan slowly bent his knees.

Witnessing this scene, everyone in the crowd could not help but sigh.

So what if he was the top genius of the first grade? Faced with a formidable power like the Zhao family, he still had to bow his head!

"Haha."

"Kid, even if you can fight, don't you still have to kneel before me? Just you wait. Your Dao companion..."

Just as Zhao Yuanzhe was spouting his arrogant drivel, Ning Fan's bent legs suddenly snapped straight. Power transmitted from his legs through his entire body, and he shot forward like a fired arrow.

"I never should have left you a way out!"

Ning Fan raised his fist, his spiritual energy surging wildly, and blasted a punch directly at Zhao Yuanzhe's chest.

The sudden change was far too abrupt. Even the Ninth Elder failed to react in time.

Bang—

Ning Fan's fist smashed into Zhao Yuanzhe's chest. The latter instantly spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward before crashing heavily onto the ground.

Pfft—

Zhao Yuanzhe coughed up another mouthful of blood, this one mixed with fragments of his internal organs. His body violently convulsed once, and then his limbs went completely limp against the earth.

Zhao Yuanzhe.

Was dead!!

In an instant, everyone who witnessed this scene was utterly stunned.

This Ning Fan.

He was actually bold enough to kill Zhao Yuanzhe with a single punch right in front of the man's Third Uncle, an Elder of the Divine Sect. This was simply too audacious!

Hiss—

Everyone present could not help but draw in a sharp breath of cold air. This Ning Fan possessed not only strength, but unparalleled courage!!

"You... you dare!?"

The Ninth Elder's eyes widened as if they might split apart. A mere newly entered disciple actually dared to kill the person he was protecting right in front of his face?!

It was a blatant slap to the face!!

"Since you wish to die, I will grant your request!!"

Spiritual energy surged frantically around the Ninth Elder.

Just the terrifying Pressure radiating from the Ninth Elder caused Ning Fan's body to tremble uncontrollably. The next moment, the Ninth Elder's figure flickered, and he smashed a fist into Ning Fan.

Ning Fan only felt an irresistible force sweep through his body. The pain was so intense it felt as if his flesh was being torn apart, and his internal organs felt like they were about to explode.

It was raw, agonizing pain.

Boom—

Ning Fan flew even higher than Zhao Yuanzhe had, fell even harder, and smashed ruthlessly into the ground.

Yet, the very instant his body struck the earth...

The pain that felt capable of tearing his body apart simply vanished. Ning Fan instantly understood: his dual cultivation partner, Yun Qingyao, had borne the impact for him!

Normally, the injuries shared between dual cultivation partners were limited. Usually, only a small fraction was transferred, ensuring that the other party's survival and cultivation were not affected.

A situation like Ning Fan's, where the brunt of the blow was completely absorbed by the other party, was exceedingly rare. This was only possible because his dual cultivation partner's realm was simply too high. To her, this level of injury was utterly negligible, which allowed all of it to be safely redirected.

At the same time, deep within the Tianxuan Holy Land, Ye Honglian suddenly felt a tiny injury appear on her body. Although it healed in a flash, it still aroused her vigilance.

After investigating herself, she could find absolutely no trace of why this minor injury had occurred.

Ye Honglian thought, "Could this also be related to the jade pendant?"

Back at the sect, Ning Fan's body was completely fine, but he did not get up.

Are you joking?

Ning Fan was no match for the Ninth Elder. If he stood up now, wouldn't he just invite the Ninth Elder to beat him half to death again??

The next moment, a resonant voice rang out.

"Who?"

"Which Elder is making a move in the disciple residences?"

"..."

A middle-aged man descended from the sky, landing squarely between the Ninth Elder and Ning Fan. Upon seeing the Ninth Elder, the middle-aged man frowned.

"Ninth Elder, it is you again?"

"You actually struck out to kill a new disciple!? Do you hold any regard for the sect rules in your heart?"

"Is your Zhao family being too arrogant!"

"Heh."

The Ninth Elder gave a contemptuous laugh, an expression of total indifference surfacing on his face.

"I killed him. So what?"

"What can you do about it? You are a mere Deacon Elder, your status is beneath mine. It is not your place to lecture this Elder."

"According to the sect rules."

"It is nothing more than paying some compensation. To my Zhao family, this compensation is a drop in the ocean. But even this single drop, it seems, cannot be paid out."

"..."

The Deacon Elder fell silent upon hearing this.

It was true.

He truly could not do anything to the Ninth Elder. As for compensation, he could hardly force the Ninth Elder to compensate a dead man. After all, Ning Fan was already...

"Mmm... ungh..."

Just as the Deacon Elder was having these thoughts, a groan suddenly rang out. Ning Fan's "corpse" on the ground suddenly twitched.

Everyone's eyes went wide.

Especially the Ninth Elder's.

"He's... he's not dead!?"

"Impossible! Ning Fan is merely a new disciple, only at the sixth layer of the Yellow Extreme Realm! How could he take a direct punch from the Ninth Elder and survive!?"

"..."

The entire crowd was dumbfounded.

However, by the looks of it...

Ning Fan's condition seemed rather dire.

Ning Fan writhed on the ground, seemingly unable to stand up.

Although he was not coughing up blood.

It was highly likely that his meridians had been shattered inch by inch.

"Ninth Elder?"

The Deacon Elder suddenly looked over at the Ninth Elder.

"Since this disciple is not dead, what about the compensation?"

"..."

Hearing this, the Ninth Elder gritted his teeth. He flipped his palm, tossing a storage ring directly in front of Ning Fan, before speaking with cold detachment.

"The items inside are more than enough to buy your life."

"I hope I will still be able to see you next time."

Dropping those words, the Ninth Elder turned and strode away.

Everyone present understood the meaning behind his final sentence clearly-

Even if Ning Fan had not died.

He was still severely injured.

He would likely need at least six months to a year to recover. The path of cultivation was like sailing a boat against the current; if one did not advance, they would be pushed back. Wasting half a year to heal meant that, even if he made a full recovery, he would basically be crippled.

"Alas."

The Deacon Elder let out a sigh, then turned and left as well.

At this moment.

Even those who desperately wished to see Ning Fan dead could not help but feel a pang of sorrow in their hearts. In the face of the great clans of the Divine Sect, new disciples like them were truly nothing more than ants...

"Husband."

Yun Qingyao stepped forward and helped Ning Fan up, not forgetting to pick up the storage ring in the process.

After the two of them entered their cave dwelling, ensuring no one was around.

Ning Fan abruptly stood up straight. Sweeping away his previous near-death facade, he instantly became brimming with vitality.

This directly startled the grief-stricken Yun Qingyao.

"Ah!"