Chapter Thirteen: Acting as the Sect Leader to Discipline You

Wang Li suddenly felt that the sect leader was truly pitiful—so blind as to take in an imbecile as his final disciple. He and Liu Wanjin had already made everything clear; could this little girl still not understand? Jiang Yue wasn’t naive—she was genuinely foolish!

“Are you sure you want to fight here? The sect rules state that weapons are forbidden in important places like the Sutra Pavilion. Violators will be severely punished, even if the sect leader favors you,” Wang Li warned, invoking the rules. He pointed to his steward’s robe. “The rules also state that disciples must not challenge their superiors. I am a steward, you are a disciple—it’s improper for you to draw your sword against me, isn’t it?”

“How do I know if that robe isn’t stolen? Trying to trick me with rules I’m unfamiliar with, tempting me to make a move here?” Jiang Yue sheathed her sword, put her hands on her hips, her eyes narrowing. “I won’t hit you here. Let’s go to the arena in front of the Hall of Heart Inquiry. As long as no one dies there, no one interferes. Don’t worry, I won’t kill you.”

“You’re that eager to fight me? I’m a Sutra Pavilion steward. Think carefully—whether you win or lose, you’ll be punished for challenging a steward,” Wang Li was completely speechless. This girl was definitely slow-witted, unable to distinguish whether he was a real steward or not—hopelessly muddled!

Jiang Yue turned her head, disdainful. “So what if I hit some so-called steward I’ve never heard of? At worst, I’ll apologize to Grandfather afterward.”

“You’re sure?” Wang Li pressed again.

“Yes! Are you fighting or not? If not, I’ll go straight to my grandfather!” she threatened.

Wang Li rubbed his forehead. This little girl was truly spoiled—daring to joke around with sect rules. Did she really think a simple apology would fix things?

“I despise these pampered girls,” Old Sheng, sensing Wang Li’s thoughts, fanned the flames. “Boy, teach her a lesson—just the thing to test your strength! For the sake of cultivation, you must learn to resist all temptation. Not even little girls are allowed—women only slow your sword!”

“Old Sheng, are you serious? You want a man nearly at the second level of Foundation Establishment to use a top-grade Earth-rank flying sword against a newly advanced female Foundation Establishment disciple? Isn’t that shameful?”

“Nonsense! You’re the shameless one. Did I say you could use that Exploding Flame Sword? I told you to slap her!”

“Old Sheng, she’s got a spirit treasure flying sword—at least a top-grade Mysterious-rank! I’m not invulnerable. You want me to slap her barehanded? What are you thinking?”

“Don’t be a coward—you’ve got Earth-rank top-grade armor. What are you afraid of?”

“Aren’t you the one who told me to keep a low profile? Isn’t beating up the sect leader’s personal disciple a bit too high-profile?”

“High-profile my foot! Would you dare beat up anyone else’s disciple?”

“True, the sect leader would just have to swallow his anger. But if I beat his disciple, won’t I lose out on resources…”

“You won’t! He’ll only give you more!”

Jiang Yue, unaware that Wang Li was planning to use her as leverage for more benefits from the sect leader, thought his silence meant he was intimidated. She felt much better, though she still had to complete her sister’s task—she wasn’t one to give up halfway!

“All the men of the Wang family are supposed to be fine fellows, but you’re a coward—what a disgrace to your family!” Jiang Yue taunted him, hoping to provoke him.

Wang Li, seeing her use this tactic, pretended to be furious, veins bulging on his forehead. “If you want a fight, I’ll oblige. But don’t drag our families into this!”

“Then bring it on, coward!” Jiang Yue cried gleefully, dashing off toward the Hall of Heart Inquiry, muttering as she ran, “This princess is truly clever. Silly Wang Li, just wait to marry my sister in the Five Elements Pavilion…”

Wang Li quickly followed, nearly thunderstruck by her muttering.

Did she really want him to be her brother-in-law that badly?

With Liu Wanjin and the two main participants gone, the Sutra Pavilion suddenly filled with figures—disciples of the Pure Yang Temple who had come to consult materials. They had noticed Wang Li’s unusual presence but hadn’t dared ask because of Liu Wanjin’s sour face.

“Did Wang Li really become a steward? I thought he couldn’t cultivate,” someone remarked.

“Who knows what’s going on? Maybe he pulled some strings again. He became Elder Chu Xuan’s disciple through someone’s connection, didn’t he? Otherwise, how could someone who can’t cultivate be a menial worker here?”

“Exactly—nepotism is the worst!”

“Get off your high horse—you didn’t get into the outer sect without connections either!”

“Hey, did you notice the little fairy’s identity? When did the sect leader take a final disciple? For such a big event, there wasn’t even a rumor. How odd…”

“They’re about to duel—let’s see how strong the sect leader’s disciple really is.”

“Count me in!”

“They’re both useless—one can’t cultivate, the other’s just a kid. Not much to see. I’ll stick to my books—once a month in the Sutra Pavilion, don’t waste your chance.”

Though most were uninterested in a “battle of the weak,” many who loved a spectacle followed Wang Li and Jiang Yue outside.

Wang Li and Jiang Yue arrived at the Hall of Heart Inquiry and handed the steward on duty two top-grade spirit stones, who then activated the arena outside the hall.

This arena was reserved for resolving personal grievances between Pure Yang Temple disciples. The outcome here was simply victory or defeat, not life or death. The loser admitted fault, the winner felt vindicated. The sect’s approach to internal disputes was simple and direct.

This method also encouraged disciples to cultivate. It was easier to manage than having disciples fight to the death in secret—and it minimized the risk of mortal grudges.

For cultivators who often lived hundreds or thousands of years, as long as no one died, any resentment would eventually fade. If there was ever a grudge that truly couldn’t be resolved, there was only one reason: you hadn’t lived long enough.

Such was the power of time.

With the arena’s barrier activated, as long as no one’s life was at risk, the steward acting as judge would not intervene.

The steward assigned to Wang Li and Jiang Yue didn’t bother asking their names. In a sect with over ten thousand disciples, grievances were common. Having seen so much, the judges in the Hall of Heart Inquiry were unperturbed—so long as no one died, they didn’t care who was on the stage. Besides, these two looked like kids having a spat—what trouble could they possibly cause?

The steward stood between them, expression wooden. “You understand the rules? No taking lives—that’s the bottom line.”

Wang Li and Jiang Yue nodded.

“Then begin. The sooner you finish, the sooner I can go home—my wife’s waiting for dinner,” the steward said, stepping aside, mind wandering to which family’s mischievous child had stolen top-grade spirit stones to cause trouble here. Should he warn his colleagues to beware of fire, theft, and unruly children?

But the two brats quickly shocked him.

A surge of energy erupted from Wang Li, the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, followed by a set of faintly glowing armor enveloping him, transforming him into a walking ironclad.

Jiang Yue was momentarily stunned by Wang Li’s aura.

Wasn’t he supposed to be unable to cultivate?

What was going on!

That aura was at least the peak of Foundation Establishment, stronger than her!

Heavens above… Earth-rank top-grade spiritual armor!

How could he possess such a treasure?

Wang Li’s revealed cultivation and spiritual armor left her reeling, but she was a proud soul. Even knowing she was outmatched, she refused to back down.

As a princess of the Great Wei Dynasty, she could lose, but she could not cower!

“Come then! I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I don’t believe a useless man can be stronger than this princess!” Jiang Yue steeled herself, her aura bursting forth and sweeping across the arena, dispersing the pressure from Wang Li. She drew her short sword, readying herself.

The steward was even more astonished than Jiang Yue.

What on earth is this? Two Foundation Establishment brats—one in earth-rank treasure armor, the other wielding a top-grade mysterious-rank flying sword. Where did these little monsters come from?

Once his shock subsided, a more serious thought occurred to him.

Could these two be the legendary illegitimate children of the sect leader and Master Chu Xuan?

Recalling the widely circulated rumors in the sect, the steward was no longer calm. If these two little ancestors got hurt, the sect leader would probably flay him alive!

“Stop!” the steward shouted, rushing to halt them, but it was already too late.

With a clang, Jiang Yue vanished from where she stood and reappeared with her short sword stabbing at the spiritual armor on Wang Li’s chest. Sparks flew, and Wang Li collapsed to the ground.

It’s all over! the steward cried, rushing toward the fallen Wang Li.