Chapter 62: The Shattering of Ties

At that moment, a violent gust of wind suddenly surged behind Li Jian San. Everyone turned to look and, to their astonishment, saw the Grand Elder fleeing toward the main hall’s exit. Now, all understood—the true mastermind was none other than the Grand Elder!

But the Grand Elder had already reached the door. The surrounding elders lunged after him, yet his strength far surpassed theirs; how could they possibly catch up?

Just as Li Jian San sighed, resigned to letting the Grand Elder escape, a towering figure suddenly appeared before the fleeing elder, blocking his path.

“Old man, where do you think you’re going?”

It was Li Jian San himself. The Grand Elder was visibly surprised. “How could you be so fast…?”

He glanced back—everyone was giving chase—so, without further hesitation, he veered off in another direction to escape.

Buzz!

Li Jian San intercepted him again. “Did I say you could leave?”

Thwarted time and again, veins bulged on the Grand Elder’s forehead. He simply could not comprehend how the pleasure-seeking young sect master could have changed so drastically—his martial skills advancing by leaps and bounds, his schemes and composure more seasoned than this old man who had lived most of his life.

By now, the other elders had arrived. The Grand Elder cast an unwilling glance around, then suddenly drew a box from his pocket with his other hand. The box glimmered with a faint blood-red glow!

“Not good!”

Li Jian San didn’t know exactly what the object was, but he could guess it was nothing good.

The Grand Elder opened the box with one hand, and instantly, it was as though hell itself had descended—blood surged everywhere. The Grand Elder was enveloped by a massive cluster of blood, his figure entirely obscured.

Li Jian San tried to seize him, but a stray splash of blood struck him, and he coughed up blood, forced to retreat, no longer daring to advance. The others could only watch warily as the blood cluster engulfed the Grand Elder.

Gradually, the cluster shrank, until finally it vanished before their very eyes.

The Grand Elder was gone without a trace.

A chorus of elders sighed. “That old fox still escaped!”

“Don’t worry, gentlemen. That scoundrel can’t have gone far,” Li Jian San declared. “He used a secret teleportation technique, but in his haste, he can’t have gotten far. Though he’s left, he’s still somewhere near Shengjing Sect. You, go and bring him back!”

“Yes, sir.”

With that, the elders dispersed, but not before casting lingering, meaningful looks at Li Jian San. Who would have thought—the young sect master was already capable of handling matters on his own.

Li Jian San then glanced at Ye Tian and ordered, “Throw this brat into the Sky Prison. Assign extra guards to watch him!”

Hearing this, Ye Tian’s face darkened. “Are you going back on your word?”

Li Jian San smiled lightly. “Hey now, watch your words. I, Li Jian San, always keep my promises.”

Ye Tian snapped, “Didn’t you say you’d let me go? Wasn’t that your promise?”

With hands behind his back, Li Jian San replied, “I did say that. But I never said I’d free you right away. Now I’m thinking of keeping you locked up for a decade or so before letting you out.”

Once more toyed with by Li Jian San, Ye Tian was furious, baring his teeth and clawing the air. “Ah—Li Jian San, you bastard! One day, I’ll have you torn to pieces!”

Ding.

“System notice: Target Chu Xi’er’s favorability toward the host has increased to 60.”

Li Jian San, hearing the system’s voice, couldn’t care less about Ye Tian now. Previously, he’d kept him around for Chu Xi’er’s sake, but now she was utterly disillusioned with Ye Tian and her favorability toward him had soared.

Ye Tian was of no further use.

However, to win over Ye Tian’s master, Li Jian San decided to keep him alive a while longer.

“All right, take him away. Assign more guards and keep a close eye on him!”

With that, Li Jian San walked over to Chu Xi’er.

“Junior Sister Xi’er, come, get up.”

Chu Xi’er gazed at him with pitiful eyes. “Senior Brother Li, to think I doubted you again and again because of that wretch. I…”

Li Jian San took the opportunity to embrace her. “Enough, Xi’er. It’s not your fault.”

Ding.

“System notice: Target Chu Xi’er’s favorability toward the host has increased to 80.”

Hearing the system, Li Jian San was momentarily stunned. Just a hug and her favorability went up—was it really that easy now? If he kissed her, would her affection overflow entirely…?

Meanwhile, after being thrown into the Sky Prison, Ye Tian’s face contorted with rage. “Li Jian San, you bastard! One day, I’ll see you dead!”

At that moment, Ye Tian’s master spoke. “You stole the sect’s treasure, and Young Master Li still spared your life. Such benevolence—how can you harbor thoughts of vengeance? Do you have some misunderstanding about him?”

“Misunderstanding?” Ye Tian laughed bitterly. “There’s no misunderstanding. I simply want to kill him, that’s all!”

With those words, all strength left Ye Tian, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

He felt as if most of his world had crumbled. In so short a time, even the master he relied on most had been won over by Li Jian San.

Ye Tian’s master could not fathom why his disciple bore such animosity toward Li Jian San. In terms of martial arts, temperament, and vision, Li Jian San was far superior. Logically, Ye Tian should have tried to befriend such a remarkable peer, not make him an enemy.

Why had things come to this…?

Perhaps it was just youthful arrogance—and a touch of jealousy. Ye Tian was still young; how could he cope with everything perfectly?

“Young man, you needn’t despair. As long as you cultivate diligently, it won’t be long before you surpass Young Master Li…” his master consoled him gently.

But Ye Tian’s expression twisted with pain and anger. “Why have you become like this? All you talk about is Li Jian San. Have you become one of his people now? If you admire him so much, why not follow him? Why stay here with me?”

“If it’s just out of gratitude, I don’t need it! I, Ye Tian, don’t care for such charity!” He roared like a wounded beast.

His master, who had always cared for him, now spoke only on behalf of another—and even reproached him. How could Ye Tian endure it?

At Ye Tian’s words, disappointment flickered in his master’s eyes. He had always guided Ye Tian with dedication—never expecting his disciple to say such things. This attitude was a direct challenge to his authority!

He had resisted every temptation before; had Ye Tian not seen it? He had seen it—yet still accused him. That was doubt, pure and simple.

With a sigh, Ye Tian’s master thought to himself: If only Li Jian San had been the one to awaken me…

A trace of regret welled up in him, but at last he could only tell Ye Tian, “No matter what you think, I will still help you.”

His voice was much quieter now, and his tone had grown distant over the past months.

Ding.

“Congratulations, host, for completing Objective One. Reward: Third-Tier Spirit Array Master Divine Ability.”

Hearing the system, Li Jian San couldn’t help but laugh aloud. “What’s this? I haven’t done anything, and the mission is already more than half complete?”

“Happiness really does come unexpectedly.”

After thinking for a moment, Li Jian San guessed that, perhaps, after this blow, that fool Ye Tian, desperate to improve, quarreled with his master. Smiling, Li Jian San thought, “Boy, you’re bringing this upon yourself…”

In a dense forest outside Shengjing Sect.

The Grand Elder, eyes bloodshot, said, “I can help you! When does your plan begin?”

Besides the Grand Elder, a man in black stood there, back turned so his face could not be seen.

“Heh, something must have happened, to shake the Grand Elder of Shengjing Sect?”

Brushing his sleeve, the Grand Elder replied coldly, “That’s none of your business. All you need to know is, I will help you.”

“If the Grand Elder had been so enlightened before, he wouldn’t have ended up like this.”

The Grand Elder snapped, “Enough nonsense. Don’t forget our agreement once it’s done.”

The man in black sneered, “Rest assured, Grand Elder. As long as you bring the goods, your promised reward will be waiting.”

“Very well.”

The Grand Elder offered a chilling smile and turned to leave.

“Li Jian San, you’ve forced me to this!”