"So... the members of the Disciplinary Hall can kill, but when someone kills them, it becomes a crime?"
Lin Feng's cold voice echoed across the courtyard.
An old man in dark elder robes stepped forward, his expression filled with disdain.
"Hmph! How dare you kill a member of the Disciplinary Hall, cripple a fellow disciple, and even assault an outer court elder!"
"They deserved it," Lin Feng replied calmly, his tone sharp as a blade.
"You should be executed for your crimes," the old man said, lifting his chin arrogantly. "However, I will be lenient—cripple your cultivation yourself, and I might spare your life."
"Elder," one of the nearby disciples protested, "it was the Disciplinary Hall member who attacked first! You didn't even investigate!"
Lin Feng's eyes flicked toward the elder. "You see? I did nothing wrong. He attacked first. I simply defended myself."
"That doesn't give you the right to kill him!" the elder snapped.
"He wanted to kill me," Lin Feng said with a faint smile, "and I killed him instead. You should blame him for being weak. Honestly, it was just... a slip of the hand."
He shrugged with a deliberately innocent look. "Not my fault he couldn't survive."
The elder's face darkened. "You insolent brat!"
A suffocating wave of spiritual pressure burst from the elder's body. The full might of a Heaven Realm expert crashed down on Lin Feng like a mountain of iron.
But Lin Feng didn't flinch. His robe rippled lightly, his expression unmoved.
He was the wielder of the Sword of Destiny—a weapon that refused to bow to heaven or man. Even the aura of a Saint would not make him yield.
The elder's eyes widened in disbelief.
Impossible! He's still just a Xiantian cultivator—he should be on his knees! Unless... he's using a treasure.
Greed flashed in his eyes.
"Lin Feng," the elder said, voice trembling with desire, "hand over the treasure!"
Lin Feng's lips curved faintly. As expected.
"What treasure are you talking about?" he asked, feigning confusion.
"Don't play dumb with me!" the elder roared, drawing his sword. "You dare lie to me? Die!"
He lunged forward, sword gleaming with spiritual power.
Lin Feng's expression turned grim. He hadn't expected the old man to attack so suddenly. "I can't face him head-on—I have to run!"
He turned and shot through the courtyard like lightning.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Gasps erupted around the sect grounds.
"An elder... is trying to kill a disciple?"
"What's happening to this sect?!"
"This Lin Feng is doomed!"
Lin Feng dashed through the forest path, leaping from rock to branch, his qi flickering weakly. His breath came in ragged bursts.
"I'm down to ten percent of my inner qi… this old dog will catch me soon," he muttered.
Behind him, the elder's laughter echoed. "Hahaha! Give up, boy! Accept your death!"
Lin Feng clenched his jaw. "I'm a disciple of the First Elder!" he shouted, hoping to stall him.
"Hmph!" the elder sneered. "That old man doesn't even have a disciple—and he's not in the sect anyway!"
Lin Feng's body trembled, his qi finally collapsing. He fell to the ground, knees striking the dirt.
The elder's shadow loomed over him, sword raised high. "Hahaha! Die!"
The blade whistled through the air—
—and then a radiant sword light tore across the sky.
The elder's attack vanished in an instant, dissolved into dust.
A calm, ancient voice resounded like thunder.
"Who dares to attack my disciple?"
An old man with white hair and a long robe stepped out of thin air, his presence vast and suffocating. His eyes were like bottomless stars.
The attacking elder froze, his sword trembling in his grip. "F–First Elder... what are you doing here?"
The First Elder's gaze was cold enough to freeze bone. "What gives you the right to strike my disciple? You must have grown tired of living."
Lin Feng bowed slightly. "Master, I told him I was your disciple, but he called you a dying old man—said it was impossible."
The First Elder's expression darkened. "Is that true, Elder?"
The man's face turned pale. "No! No, I never said anything like that!"
"So... my disciple is lying, then?" The First Elder's tone was low, dangerous.
"N–No, I—"
He didn't finish. His legs gave way. He knew he was dead. Even the Sect Master feared the First Elder—and he had just tried to kill his disciple.
Damn it... I was set up. The information I got didn't say he was the First Elder's disciple!
He clenched his teeth in despair.
--
Moments later, two figures arrived—the Envoy and the Disciplinary Hall Leader.
"Where is that reckless elder?!" the Hall Leader barked—then froze when he saw who stood there.
"F–First Elder…"
The First Elder's eyes glinted. "I heard my disciple was nearly killed in front of everyone, and none of you stopped it?"
The Hall Leader's voice trembled. "Which fool dared to attack the First Elder's disciple?"
The elder opened his mouth. "Hall Leader, you sent me to—"
Hiss!
A single flicker of sword light passed through his neck.
The elder's body collapsed to the ground, lifeless.
"Impudent dog," the Hall Leader muttered, though his eyes flickered guiltily.
Lin Feng frowned. Something isn't right. That elder wasn't acting alone. Someone sent him... most likely the Hall Leader himself.
The First Elder said nothing, his gaze unreadable.
---
The Hall Leader straightened. "First Elder, your disciple still broke sect rules—he crippled a fellow disciple, killed a member of the Disciplinary Hall, and assaulted an elder. As Hall Leader, I must issue judgment."
His tone hardened. "Lin Feng, you are hereby sentenced to serve four months on the Warzone Frontline."
The crowd gasped.
"What?!" the Envoy shouted. "Hall Leader, you can't! He's a six-star-rated talent!"
The First Elder's eyes narrowed dangerously. They're trying to get rid of him.
Even the Hall Leader hesitated. This kid's talent is rare… the sect won't approve if I send him to die.
He adjusted his tone. "Fine. Then two months it is—no more."
Lin Feng frowned slightly. The Warzone… so it's as dangerous as they say. He could see the worry on his master and the envoy's faces.
"Hall Leader," Lin Feng said suddenly, stepping forward. "Before you pass judgment, may I speak?"
"Go on," the Hall Leader replied, curious.
The First Elder and the Envoy turned to him, wondering what he was planning.
Lin Feng's lips curved faintly. "Hall Leader, I am truly a six-star talent. It took me only one month to rise from an eighth-grade Mortal Realm cultivator to the second-grade Xiantian Realm."
As he spoke, he released his aura.
Power rippled outward, shaking the air itself.
The Hall Leader's eyes widened, a rare flicker of surprise crossing his face. This boy... he's clever.
The First Elder and the Envoy exchanged stunned looks.
Their disciple had just turned the entire hall silent.