Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 1266: Your Reputation Isn’t Enough

”Isn’t that Wei Chen, a wandering cultivator?”

”This guy’s got some guts, daring to meddle in the affairs between the Cangyun Sect and the Duan Family. Sure, the Cangyun Sect might have been dragons where they came from, but they still can’t beat the local snake.

”Still, a Dao Union Realm elder guards their sect, so they can afford to mess with the Duan Family somewhat. But Wei Chen, what’s he thinking? What makes him think he can get involved in something like this?”

”I’ve heard someone in Wei Chen’s family works at Guangyuan Hall.”

”So what? Having someone who works at Guangyuan Hall doesn’t mean he’s untouchable. All that does is ensure he doesn’t get bullied walking around Qingyuan Market. If he pushes his luck too hard, that person behind him won’t be able to save him.”

The crowd exchanged whispers through sound transmission while maintaining impassive expressions. The surroundings fell slightly quiet.

In a place like this, and at a time like this, a single careless word could offend one side or the other. No one dared overstep.

When Duan Tian’en and the Duan Family Golden Core Realm cultivator saw Wei Chen stepping forward to speak for them, joy crossed their faces.

Normally, they would not bother with a small fry like Wei Chen, who was hardly worth their notice. But now, with no Duan Family Nascent Soul Realm cultivator around, they were under Fang Chen’s mercy. If a Nascent Soul Realm expert could step in, it might ease their shame and defuse the awkward situation.

”Daoist Wei, you’re pleading for these two?” Fang Chen asked with a faint smile.

Wei Chen smiled and nodded. ”Consider it as doing me a favor, Fellow Daoist Fang. Please stay your hand for now. If there’s any misunderstanding, once we return to Cang Mountain, both parties can sit down and talk. I believe the elders on both sides wouldn’t wish for a minor misunderstanding to spark enmity between us.”

His words hinted at the Duan Family and Cangyun Sect’s higher-ups, trying to make Fang Chen hesitate and dissolve the tension.

Fang Chen was silent for a moment, then shook his head. ”Not enough.”

Wei Chen was slightly startled. ”Not enough?”

”Your ’face’ isn’t enough.”

Fang Chen turned to Hua Yuhe and the others with a smile. ”Continue. Don’t stop unless I say so. If you get tired, switch with someone else.”

Hua Yuhe immediately raised her palm again and smacked it down, delivering one slap after the other.

At that moment, the crowd noticed that the sound of the slaps seemed a little off. Taking a closer look, they realized that Hua Yuhe had channeled the metal element in her strikes.

Each slap was as solid as a shovel to the face.

The lecher’s face had long since lost its arrogance. With his spiritual power suppressed, each slap landed with raw, unfiltered pain.

Without his spiritual energy, he was no different from a mortal. The fierce, relentless onslaught had caused his cheeks to cave in and his eyes to bulge out grotesquely.

Wei Chen stood stiffly, embarrassed. He hadn’t expected Fang Chen to disregard him publicly like that. He’d already invoked the name of both sects’ elders—did this man not understand what that implied? Was he really willing to escalate over two insignificant Golden Core disciples?

A flash of anger crossed Wei Chen’s eyes before vanishing. He forced a calm smile. ”Fellow Daoist Fang, you’re young, so it’s understandable for you to be a little hot-blooded. Back where you came from, the Cangyun Sect must have been a top-tier power. But this is Qingyuan Market. Have you thought about the consequences of such rashness?”

”Think carefully; venting your anger like this won’t come for a small price. Even your sect’s very own disciple understood this and held back. As their elder, how can you act more recklessly than them?”

Seeing Duan Tian’en and his companion nearing the point of death, Xu Gaohu couldn’t help but send a voice transmission. ”Fellow Daoist Fang, perhaps you should let it go for now. Endure a moment’s anger for lasting peace. The Cangyun Sect has only just established itself in Qingyuan Market. Best not to stir public outrage over this. The Duan Family has been here for many years and has a few friends.”

Fang Chen ignored both Xu Gaohu and Wei Chen. Sweeping his gaze around the area, he chuckled. ”So many familiar faces. Many of you are from Cang Mountain, aren’t you?”

No one answered.

Who would dare respond now?

Fang Chen clasped his hands with a smile and said, ”I didn’t have the chance to greet you all before. So let me take this opportunity to make something clear: if you don’t piss us off, we won’t offend you. The Cangyun Sect might be new in Cang Mountain, but we won’t swallow any sort of disrespect.

”We won’t bully others unprovoked, but nor will we allow ourselves to be humiliated. What that Duan Family member did was unacceptable, so I had no choice but to let my disciples give him a little lesson.”

The crowd exchanged glances. Was that what you call a ”little lesson”? Those two from the Duan Family were hanging by a thread!

One Duan Family member couldn’t hold back anymore. Summoning his courage, he yelled, ”Senior, if you keep hitting them, our two Golden Core Realm cultivators will die here! Killing people in the market without cause is a serious crime!”

Wei Chen had intended to step in again, but after being completely ignored by Fang Chen before, he didn’t want to risk another slap to his pride.

If Duan Tian’en and the Golden Core cultivator died, the Cangyun Sect would definitely face serious trouble.

With that thought, Wei Chen quietly stepped back a few paces to the entrance of an Immortal Origin Stones shop, joining a few fellow Daoists.

”Daoist Wei, it was unwise to stick your nose into this matter.”

Wei Chen sneered. What do you know?

He might have lost face today, but he had already extended the courtesy of speaking up. When the Duan Family’s Ascension Realm ancestor heard about this, he would surely remember Wei Chen’s goodwill. If trouble ever came in Cang Mountain, he could call on the Duan Family’s help.

”Stop... stop hitting me...” Duan Tian’en suddenly said weakly.

As he wasn’t the main culprit, Fang Zhixue and the others had held back somewhat when striking him. As for the main culprit, he wasn’t so lucky. His eyeballs had been beaten out of their sockets by Hua Yuhe, hanging by sinew and swinging with each movement.

Anyone could see he was more dead than alive. Hua Yuhe was deliberately keeping him alive.

Duan Tian’en was terrified out of his mind. He realized Fang Chen really intended to kill them right here in the market.

”Did he make a move earlier?” Fang Chen asked, looking at Duan Tian’en.

When told the answer was no, he instructed Fang Zhixue and the others to throw Duan Tian’en aside.

Then Fang Chen looked at Hua Yuhe and smiled. ”Let me do it.”

Hua Yuhe was momentarily stunned, then respectfully stepped aside. Now that she had vented the anger in her heart, she was in an excellent mood.

Duan Tian’en was catching his breath when he saw Fang Chen swing a palm into his cousin’s battered face.

His cousin’s head was blasted off his neck in a vicious spin, landing perfectly in Duan Tian’en’s arms.

Clutching his cousin’s head, Duan Tian’en stared blankly at Fang Chen’s departing figure, his face pale and bewildered.

He had actually dared to kill... in Qingyuan Market?

Xu Gaohu’s expression darkened. ”It’s over.”

”He’s finished. The Cangyun Sect is finished.” Wei Chen’s eyes glinted with amusement as he sent a voice transmission to several Nascent Soul Realm friends beside him. ”Care to join me in watching a good show?”