Elder Li laughed coldly. “I’d like to hear just what kind of reason you can come up with!”

Zhao Mengyou also stared at Zuo Yang, her pretty eyes glimmering murderously. She thought she was quite attractive, and had given such obvious hints to Gu Han. Who would’ve thought he’d be so dense as to ignore her, and even want to draw his sword on her? She felt extremely wronged.

Zuo Yang just shook his head. “This matter can’t be spread around.”

Elder Li was stunned for a moment. “What?”

Then, Zuo Yang sent him a voice transmission. The anger in Elder Li’s eyes was replaced by shock and confusion, before transforming into understanding and sympathy.

The onlookers’ eyes widened. What on earth did he say?!

Dying to know what Zuo Yang had said, Zhao Mengyou couldn’t be bothered to be angry anymore. “Elder Li.”

Elder Li glanced at Zuo Yang, and seeing that he didn’t object, he secretly transmitted a message to Zhao Mengyou.

Soon, her expression mirrored the change in Elder Li’s. She glanced silently at Gu Han, then returned to her chariot.

Ah Sha suddenly sighed. “That demoness’ influence on Young Master seems to be getting stronger and stronger.”

Yang Ying understood her concern. “Indeed. Otherwise, with his temperament, he would absolutely never do something so irrational.”

In his memory, Gu Han always remained calm no matter how dire the crisis. He remained steady, even when facing the saint’s reincarnation. Each time, by relying on different methods, he could almost always prevail against Chu Kuang. Only with that demoness did he often lose his composure and become very irrational.

Murong Yan rubbed her chin. “I’m more curious, what exactly did Zuo Yang say to settle this with just one sentence?”

Shen Xuan thought for a moment. “Definitely not anything good.”

Gu Han was a bit unsettled by Zhao Mengyou’s final look. “Senior Brother, what exactly did you say?”

Zuo Yang patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry. It was very reasonable!”

Gu Han felt even more uneasy. His guts told him that Zuo Yang had set him up in no small trap.

Beside Chu Kuang, Yuan Gang was full of worry. “Junior Brother, Gu Han is getting harder and harder to deal with.”

Chu Kuang clenched his fists a little tighter, remaining silent. Luan Ping was expressionless. After today’s event, he felt that Chu Kuang wasn’t as terrifying as he had imagined.

Suddenly, Wu Han’s somewhat dissatisfied voice rang out. “Mengyou, are you just going to let this matter go?”

Qi Jun also seemed cold. “So this is your so-called friend? I just saw it clearly, he genuinely wanted to kill you. That’s not something a friend would do!”

Wu Han interjected. “That’s right! If we let him go so easily, I fear for your reputation, and for the Tiansheng Hall... Of course, if acting isn’t convenient for you, simply say the word, and the two of us will handle him!”

Since they harbored feelings for Zhao Mengyou, her coldness toward them and warmth toward Gu Han made them intensely jealous. They would seize upon this chance tightly.

Of course, as candidates for Holy Sons and young lords, they weren’t brainless. With just a few words, they elevated this matter to involve the Tiansheng Hall’s reputation, placing her in an awkward position.

Elder Li understood their malicious intent. “You two, this matter—”

Zhao Mengyou’s voice, tinged with killing intent, rang out again. “This matter is none of your concern! How the Tiansheng Hall conducts itself is also not something for outsiders to interfere with!”

After hearing Zuo Yang’s explanation, she felt that everything she had done today was no different from making eyes at a blind man. Already in a rather depressed mood, the two’s instigation only annoyed her further, and she snapped.

The two exchanged a glance, about to continue their instigation, when they suddenly stiffened. “Mengyou, you—”

Gu Han’s killing intent had locked onto them. He stared at Wu Han and the other, somewhat curious. “It looks like you two really dislike me?”

Wu Han was expressionless. “Yes! So what?”

Qi Jun laughed coldly. “What about it? You just realized?”

Gu Han turned his sword, slowly pointing it at the two. “Perfect timing. The feeling’s mutual. I haven’t settled that score with you yet!”

Qi Jun’s follower was enraged. “How bold! Do you know that my Holy Son is—”

“Holy Son? Sorry, I was born clashing with Holy Sons and young lords and the like. The titles are quite impressive, but unfortunately...” Gu Han said in a slightly mocking tone, glancing at Chu Kuang in the distance. "They’re useless!”

Following that, he lightly flicked his sword. “You’re not convinced? Then come and have a go at me!”

Wu Han and Qi Jun turned grim.

Gu Han laughed scornfully. “You’re scared? Oh, right, didn’t you two ring the Dao Bell six times? That’s nothing! Of course, when it comes to the art of being disgusting, you are at least nine-ring caliber! How about you two come together, I’ll take you on.”

Their faces grew even darker. Though already in the Soaring Realm, they weren’t confident they could defeat a nine-ring prodigy even if they joined forces.

Murong Yan was full of disdain. “Scared shitless even when it’s two against one? And you call yourself a Holy Son?”

“Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance.” Gu Han broke into a smile, his tone indescribably arrogant and domineering. He slowly moved his sword, pointing at the people behind the two, about fourteen or fifteen of them. “Are those people all your followers? Have them come too! Saves me from having to deal with them after I cut you two down. I might as well clean the house all at once!”

Not only was his gaze sharp, but his aura was also akin to a sword, carrying a keener edge than during his fight with Chu Kuang.

Everyone was dead silent. No one could have imagined he would say such a thing. Even if those followers were weaker than their masters, they were still at the Soaring Realm.

They asked themselves, “A single Divine Connection realm cultivator challenging over a dozen Soaring Realm cultivators?”

None of the younger generation dared to even think of doing that. It was pure suicide.

Behind the curtain, Zhao Mengyou’s eyes sparkled with brilliance. This is how it should be!

A true Dao Bell nine-ring, with heaven-defying talent, had to have this kind of domineering posture! He had to stand on top of the peak, overlooking all living beings, with the conviction that none can match him.

What a pity... How could he be—finally! She thought.

Wu Han was livid with rage. “Cocky bastard! You’re too arrogant!”

One against a dozen? As much as they would like to, they couldn’t. Even if they won, it would be a lifelong disgrace.

In the distance, Di Kan said, full of sarcasm, “Quit your barking! If you don’t have the skill, don’t jump out and make a fool of yourselves. Also, are you all blind? Something’s wrong with the Profound Pill Pavilion again, can’t you see?”

The crowd was startled. So much had happened, to the point they had almost forgotten the purpose of their visit: the Profound Pill Pavilion! Even Wu Han and Qi Jun subconsciously glanced at it. One look, and their hearts sank. They no longer had any mind to argue with Gu Han as there really was a problem.

Even though exactly half an hour had just passed, the light mist hadn’t completely dissipated. It had thinned to the point of being nearly invisible, allowing everyone to vaguely make out the patch of dilapidated buildings inside. Judging by the trend, there was no sign it would thin any further.

If the mist never dissipated, would they have to wait forever? Meanwhile, the pavilion’s manifestation time was limited. Even Chu Kuang forced himself to focus, staring at the layer of light mist. He frowned deeply, as if pondering something.

Gu Han remained unmoved. “Ah Sha, can you see anything?”

Ah Sha looked carefully for a few moments.

“I feel like there’s no danger anymore, but it seems like people with too high a cultivation level can’t enter either. Moreover...” She gulped hard. “Young Master, there’s something inside.”

Gu Han was stunned. “Something? What kind of thing?”

Ah Sha bit her lip. “I can’t see clearly. The light mist is very powerful. I still can’t see through it right now.”

Gu Han was shocked. Ah Sha could even see the person living in his head, yet still couldn’t see through the depth of the mist. What exactly was this thing, to be so powerful?

Zuo Yan sighed. “I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu and I can enter?”

Gu Tian seemed to sense something as well and shook his head. “No. Can’t... enter!”

Zuo Yan had always felt Gu Tian was very mysterious, so he believed his words. “It seems like we can’t accompany you inside.”

Gu Han wasn’t bothered. “It’s fine. If you all can’t enter, then those guardians definitely can’t either. That’s actually a good thing for me!”

The others were also discussing incessantly. Conflicts could be resolved later, but if they missed this rare opportunity, who knew if there would be a next time.

“What do we do, should we notify the Holy Master?”

“Didn’t they say they don’t have any solution either?!”

“Are we just going to wait here and do nothing?”

The crowd argued endlessly, without reaching a conclusion.

Suddenly, one person slowly said, “Holy Son, I have a way!”

It was Wang Chi, Qi Jun’s follower, the one who had voluntarily stepped forward earlier to oppose Gu Han. Everyone’s eyes instantly fell on him.