Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!

It appeared that some of the old masters were blaming Yi Chen for being excessively brutal, failing to leave Zhang Longyi any dignity. With a cold snort and a dramatic sleeve wave, they escorted Zhang Longyi away after casting a severe gaze at Yi Chen.

The remaining old masters looked on like spectators watching a show, their faces betraying expressions of profound significance after briefly eyeing Yuan Hong, the True Person.

Among those present, if anyone could have stopped Yi Chen's final blow, it would certainly have been Yuan Hong, the True Person.

This was a top expert of the ninth layer of the True Person Realm.

But he did not.

Heh heh.

The reasons behind this, intriguing to ponder.

With a silent sigh in his heart, Yuan Hong thought:

"If only Yi Chen had slipped up and killed that Zhang Longyi, it would have been perfect. Then I could have used his head to pave a golden path for my son."

"But the outcome now is not bad either. After this battle, Zhang Longyi's reputation is in tatters. If he cannot break through the inner demons and overcome this, he might find it difficult to attain the True Person Realm."

Such dark thoughts, Yuan Hong naturally would not voice aloud. After casting a deep glance at Yi Chen, he left the scene without saying a word.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Yi Chen strode confidently over to Yue Qingzhu, spreading his large hand, thumb and forefinger rubbing together continuously.

"I, Yi Chengzi, ask for payment." Yi Chen's gesture spoke louder than words.

These 500 taels were hard-earned compensation for his role as an entertaining companion; he had to get his hands on it, or it would itch under his skin.

Yi Chen had already made up his mind to take the money and run.

A true gentleman does not stand beneath a collapsing wall, and regardless of anything, he had certainly caused a loss of face for Zhang Longyi. From the looks he got from the old masters who helped Zhang Longyi leave the stage, Yi Chen knew he had severely offended a faction.

Having no other business on Dragon Tiger Mountain, it would be better to make a quick departure and watch from afar.

"Yi Taoist, are you sure you won't reconsider? Without my mediation, you could genuinely die,"

"That particular True Monarch is not one to be trifled with," Yue Qingzhu said as she handed over a banknote of 500 taels earnestly.

Having defeated Zhang Longyi with one punch, his strength had evidently won her recognition, and she was willing to give it another try.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Princess, but I'm used to being carefree and don't like constraints. However, we can certainly engage in some trade in the future if the opportunity arises; as for the price, that's negotiable," Yi Chen said with a grin, handing over a letter and a small jar of tiger bone wine that he had prepared in advance.

The letter was a farewell note he had prepared for Heavenly Master Zhang Taichu, and the tiger bone wine was a selfless gift from the 'greatly benevolent' Mountain Lord of Black Wind Mountain.

"Daoist Qing Zhu, I must trouble you to deliver this letter to the Heavenly Master for me. I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot impose any longer, so I will be departing from the mountain. Consider this jar of tiger bone wine a token of thanks for your help," Yi Chen said.

After finishing, he tucked Little Miao into his arms and promptly dashed away, disappearing over the horizon.

Dragon Tiger Mountain had clearly used him as a tool, and although his battle with Zhang Longyi was decreed by the Heavenly Master, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't try to trip him up later.

After all, in the eyes of some, he, the one with golden horns and silver horns, was seen as a boy attendant, while the mischievous monkey was the true demon.

Others would only remember that he tarnished the image of Dragon Tiger Mountain; Zhang Longyi was, in the end, one of their own.

Now that the payment was received, why wait for others to react and make arrangements for you?

Yi Chen's fleeing gesture was practiced to perfection; Yue Qingzhu opened her mouth slightly, a complex expression on her face. She glanced at the farewell letter that had been prepared in advance, ultimately saying nothing.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Good luck to you, Yi Chengzi."

With a silent sigh in her heart, Yue Qingzhu's figure also disappeared over the horizon.

Yi Chen sprinted until Dragon Tiger Mountain behind him was as small as a soybean, only then did he stop to look back, his expression indifferent.

Little Miao's fur on its head was also a bit disheveled by the wind rushing past during the run; it didn't understand why Yi Chen was in such a hurry to leave.

They weren't even going to Zhengyang City.

It meowed, looking at Yi Chen's indifferent face and sensing its father's mood was somewhat downcast.

"Miao Zi, do we not look like we're fleeing in panic?"

"Let's never be like this again, shall we?" Yi Chen said, stroking Little Miao's head and speaking softly to himself.

Being used as a tool was a good thing, he had gained a lot this time, and the compensation given by Heavenly Master Zhang Taichu was fair. He didn't resent Dragon Tiger Mountain but regretted that his own strength was not enough.

Dragon Tiger Mountain used him as a whetstone, and he used them as an ATM; this seemed fair enough.

Yi Chen had decided to take off early for the sake of security; the moment he agreed to be the Heavenly Master Zhang Taichu's whetstone, he anticipated this moment.

Putting his own crown chakra on the line against the moral standing of Zhang Longyi's faction was not the low-risk, no-reward business he was willing to take on.

"Miao Zi, I don't feel it's secure enough; we can't return the same way. We need to take a detour. Choose whether to make a detour left or right," Yi Chen said after a moment of thought, spreading the map for Little Miao to decide with a paw.

"Meow~" Little Miao randomly pressed a paw onto the map.

"Left, huh? Alright, let's take a longer way around," he said.

After glancing around to the left, right, and the sky to ensure there were no abnormalities, Yi Chen donned his hooded cloak from the overlord rooster and began his journey.

Underneath the silent sky, a solitary black figure journeyed across the verdant plain, stepping into an unseen future.

The figure's silhouette was a bit disheveled, but his spine remained straight as an arrow, like a longsword piercing the heavens.

…

…

On Tianhong Peak resided Zhang Longyi.

Within a tightly shut room, Zhang Longyi faced the wall in silence.

It was shameful enough to have been beaten and to have screamed like a woman; what was worse was that he had been so frightened he wet himself. Although others respected his family's influence and dared not mock him to his face, he guessed that his old rivals, whom he had once suppressed, were likely scheming against him behind his back.

Amidst whispers, his reputation was already in ruins.

At the same time, Zhang Hu, however, was rapidly gaining fame. For years, the twin prodigies of the Dragon and the Tiger were equally renowned, but now the Tiger prodigy had completely overshadowed the Dragon prodigy.

This turn of events was undoubtedly thanks to Yi Chen's tireless efforts over the past few days on behalf of the Tiger.

A single phrase, "Tiger's martial prowess is not inferior to mine," was enough to choke the supporters of Zhang Longyi.

With the creaking sound of the door suddenly flung open, and a gaunt Daoist with a pale face and graying hair strode in.

It was his father, True Monarch Yuan Hong.

"Father, I...," Zhang Longyi began as he turned around.

Smack!

A crisp slap knocked Zhang Longyi to the ground.

For some reason, after receiving a slap, Zhang Longyi felt his mood somewhat lightened.

"Do you know why I hit you?" True Monarch Yuan Hong asked coldly.

"I lost, disgraced you, father," said Zhang Longyi, his expression dismal.

"Foolish thing, do you think I care if you lost? Is it that you now worry you're not better than Zhang Hu?

What I care about is that you can't afford to lose. Our ancestor was once a commoner too, and he faced humiliation, crawling between another man's legs in full view of the public.

Yet our ancestor took it calmly, wiped off the spit on his face, and never gave up. He considered his humble beginnings not a disgrace but a source of strength, that flexibility in adversity is the true measure of a man.

Afterward, he joined Dragon Tiger Mountain, attained the fruit of a True Monarch, and established our family's teachings. Have you forgotten them?"

"Now tell me, what would you have me do?" True Monarch Yuan Hong's beard and hair bristled as he roared.

"I want Yi Chengzi dead!" shouted Zhang Longyi, his eyes blazing red like a madman. "Father, help me!"

Smack!

Another hard slap struck Zhang Longyi's cheek, and a flicker of disappointment crossed True Monarch Yuan Hong's eyes. Having been indulged because he was a gifted son born in his later years, Zhang Longyi had developed this temperament.

"Father, I implore you, just kill Yi Chengzi and I will agree to anything you ask," Zhang Longyi said, his blood-red eyes revealing his insanity.

"Yi Chengzi hasn't returned to the sect since your fight; he ran away directly. Do you think everyone is as foolish as you? Do you think the Heavenly Master is dead?

Yi Chengzi has the Heavenly Master's personal endorsement, possesses an exceptional constitution, and his combat power far exceeds that of an ordinary person in the True Person Realm. Do you expect me to kill him and then let the Heavenly Master execute me?

You're utterly senseless," True Monarch Yuan Hong chided his youngest son.

"Father, I have made inquiries. I know the assassin sent by the Yan Family is in Zhengyang City. Yi Chengzi is accompanied by a spiritual beast. I possess a Treasure-seeking Rat, a naturally rare variant with exceptional spiritual perception. Seven days ago, it sensed that his spiritual beast was extraordinary. I attempted to buy it but was refused.

However, my Treasure-seeking Rat has remembered the scent of his spiritual beast. He hasn't left long ago, and with my rat, I am certain we can catch up," Zhang Longyi's voice croaked, his head knocking the ground like pounding garlic; soon his blood poured like a stream.

True Monarch Yuan Hong was torn between anger and pity, knowing his son, whom he had always been proud of, was now deeply afflicted by inner demons. If Yi Chengzi did not die, it would be a miracle if his son could reach the True Person Realm, let alone achieve the rank of True Monarch.

He sighed deeply. True Monarch Yuan Hong, who had always been proud and domineering, never resorting to such despicable tactics and always announcing his intent before killing someone, eventually softened his voice, swayed by fatherly love for his son.

"Stand up. Just this once, and never again. Hand your Treasure-seeking Rat over to those two from the Yan Family, then go to the Yin Hell Thunder Realm for seclusion. Regardless of the outcome, this matter ends here. Our sect must no longer intervene. You can't cultivate our Dragon Tiger Mountain's supreme thunder technique anymore. You will have to switch to the Yin Five Thunder Technique."

"Your heart has changed, and you've lost your firm and dominant will. To forcibly practice the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder Technique would only lead you to your death. For now, you have no choice but to settle for less."

"If it must be the Yin Five Thunder, so be it. Even snakes have their day to become dragons. Don't be disheartened,"

"My son, take good care of yourself. No matter what happens, you are still my son, Yuan Hong's son."

With a faint click, the door instantly closed. By the time Zhang Longyi looked up, the room was empty.

For his beloved son, True Monarch Yuan Hong, who never indulged in cunning schemes and always acted with overwhelming force, even announcing his kills beforehand with mourning notices, ultimately conceded.

Zhang Longyi gave a wretched smile, pushed open the window, and let out an eerie laugh like the hoot of a night owl into the mirror in the room. The sound was filled with bitterness and spine-chilling resentment.

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting vast shadows behind Zhang Longyi. Suddenly, a snake-like shadow that caused one's heart to flutter appeared on the wall.

"Yi Chengzi, you've ruined my path and brought me to this state; I must kill you~"

"That I allow you to die like that is already letting you off easy," Zhang Longyi said coldly to his own reflection in the mirror.

As the words fell, the mirror shattered with a crash, scattering across the floor.

Zhang Longyi returned to his usual genteel demeanor, with a faint smile on his face. However, the smile on his face now sent chills down one's spine, as if one were being hunted by a venomous snake.