At the top seat, one of the Peak Masters trembled as he voiced the question everyone was silently wondering. But the others also exchanged bewildered glances, equally filled with doubt. Unconsciously, they all looked to Sect Master Xuanyuan Hong.
Xuanyuan Hong’s face was equally blank, his expression saying, “You’re asking me? Who am I supposed to ask?”
Of course, no one was more shocked than Duan Feng himself. As the one involved, he was fully aware of the power in Zhong Qing’s punch. That power… it wasn’t something someone of his realm could possibly possess.
What the hell was going on? How could that little bastard have a cultivation stronger than his?
At that moment, Zhong Qing looked at him. “You wanted to kill me?”
Duan Feng’s face turned grim as he glared at Zhong Qing, but he no longer dared speak. In the next instant, Zhong Qing moved. In the blink of an eye, he appeared right before Duan Feng and, without a word, threw a punch.
Duan Feng’s scalp went numb. Instinctively, he activated every layer of defense he had. But Zhong Qing’s punch crushed through them like paper, blasting him straight into a nearby building, which collapsed from the impact.
Even then, Zhong Qing wasn’t done. With a mocking smile, he approached Duan Feng again.
“Help… help me, Sect Master, save me!” Duan Feng’s mangled body lay in the rubble, his voice weak with fear.
At that moment, he was truly terrified. He never expected that the so-called waste was hiding such strength. If he had known earlier, he wouldn’t have dared offend him. His cry for help snapped the others out of their daze. They all gasped, shocked by the complete reversal.
The waste Peak Master of Command Hall Peak had actually beaten the proud Peak Master of Divine Sword Peak into crying for help.
The other Peak Masters and elders finally reacted. Duan Feng was still a Peak Master—if he were beaten to death, it wouldn’t be a small matter.
Just as several of them were about to rush forward to save him, Zhong Qing turned his icy gaze on them. “Let’s see who dares to move.”
That cold voice made them freeze in place, none daring to take another step.
Xuanyuan Hong narrowed his eyes as he looked at Zhong Qing. At this moment, even he couldn’t see through this former waste of a Peak Master.
Zhong Qing might have seemed indifferent, even lazy before, and indeed, he had never cultivated. But that didn’t mean he was a pushover. If someone wanted his life, why would he show mercy?
Looking down at Duan Feng, Zhong Qing said, “Next time, don’t mess with me.”
Duan Feng’s face was filled with unwillingness—pain, hatred, a desire to beg for mercy—but more than anything, regret.
But all those emotions turned to dust under Zhong Qing’s next punch.
With Duan Feng’s death, the entire scene fell eerily silent.
No one could believe that the so-called waste Peak Master of Command Hall Peak had unleashed such terrifying strength. No one expected the arrogant Peak Master of Divine Sword Peak to die so easily.
Some sharp-eyed people even noticed that if Zhong Qing had wanted to, he could’ve killed Duan Feng with a single punch. The reason he used three punches seemed to be testing how much Duan Feng could endure—or perhaps he was toying with him.
In other words, the cultivation Zhong Qing revealed might not even be his full strength.
“Hah… I didn’t expect this waste of a master. I totally misjudged him,” Elder Jian’s voice echoed from the ring as he spoke to Lin Feng.
“So… my master is really powerful?” Lin Feng couldn’t help asking.
“Powerful is a stretch. He just surprised me, that’s all,” Elder Jian said indifferently. “From what I can tell, he’s probably just at the Star Profound Realm. Back in the day, I could wipe out a crowd at that level with one slap.”
“So he’s not much help to you.”
Back in the plaza, after the shock of Duan Feng’s death passed, the disciples who had just joined Divine Sword Peak suddenly swarmed toward Zhong Qing.
“Peak Master Zhong! I’m willing to join Command Hall Peak! Please accept me!”
“Yes, please let me join Command Hall Peak!”
More and more voices joined in. Everyone began to realize the benefits. Zhong Qing’s strength aside, the key was that Command Hall Peak had no other disciples!
If they got in early, they’d have access to all the peak’s resources. Everyone wanted to be the first to grab the crab.
“I want to join Command Hall Peak too!”
“Command Hall Peak is the number one peak of Azure Jade Sect. I want in!”
“Move aside! I said it first! Go to the back!”
In an instant, the crowd before Zhong Qing surged. Faces flushed with excitement, they fought to be chosen.
Zhong Qing looked at these eager disciples.
Earlier, he could still hear their voices saying not even dogs would join Command Hall Peak.
He couldn’t help but chuckle.
“A bunch of useless trash like you… not even qualified to join my Command Hall Peak!”
The moment he spoke, the excited crowd turned red with shame.
Without giving them another glance, Zhong Qing walked toward Xuanyuan Hong. “Sect Master, I’ve accepted my disciple. I’ll return to Command Hall Peak now,” he said, cupping his hands.
Xuanyuan Hong looked at the Zhong Qing before him, filled with questions. But in the end, he said nothing, only offering a warm smile. “Very well.”
Zhong Qing nodded, then took Lin Feng with him and headed toward Command Hall Peak.
As they watched the two depart, countless disciples were filled with regret, looking at Lin Feng with envy.
A white-level talent had ended up with a master as powerful as Zhong Qing. And since no one else had joined, Lin Feng would have access to all of Command Hall Peak’s best resources.
If only they had chosen to join from the start, they could’ve shared in that fortune.
But in this world… there’s no medicine for regret.
Before long, Zhong Qing returned to Command Hall Peak with Lin Feng.
Unlike the bustling main peak, Command Hall Peak was quiet and deserted. Beautiful scenery, yes, but not much else.
As soon as they arrived, Zhong Qing used the Heavenly Eye on Lin Feng.
After all, the system had said the waste tie only activated if the disciple was a true waste. But Lin Feng had shown white-level talent during the test—not technically a complete waste.
So Zhong Qing wanted to clear up the doubt.
[Lin Feng.]
[Age: 16.]
[Cultivation: None.]
[Talent: None.]
[Fated Chance: Wears a desolate ring on his left hand. Inside the ring is the remnant soul of a Heaven Profound Realm expert.]
[Note: The reason his talent showed as white-level was due to tampering by the remnant soul within the ring.]
In an instant, all of Lin Feng’s details appeared in Zhong Qing’s mind.
Zhong Qing showed a curious expression.
So, a grandpa in a ring, huh?
So that’s how it is…