Zhao Xueyi’s expression darkened as she looked at Yin Lanying and asked, “Sixth Junior Sister, did Senior Brother really peek at you while you were bathing?”
Yin Lanying looked wronged and replied, “Yes, Senior Sister. It was a few years ago. He had too much to drink and barged into my cave residence while I was bathing.”
“He charged in and tried to… take advantage of me.”
“Senior Sister, you don’t know how vile that mutt is. I really didn’t expect him to behave like that.” As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, making her look like a wronged young girl. It was a pitiful sight.
Zhao Xueyi frowned deeply. She couldn’t believe that Li Chen had turned into someone like that. Could losing his cultivation really have changed his temperament so drastically?
She sighed. “Senior Brother used to be upright and honorable, not to mention a stunning man. So many women admired him, yet he never showed interest in any of them. How could he become like this?”
Yin Lanying added tearfully, “It must be because his cultivation collapsed. His mental state must’ve shifted.”
The others quickly chimed in to support her claim.
Ning Ningyun followed up, “He didn’t just spy on Sixth Junior Sister bathing. He even climbed into my bed in the middle of the night. If it wasn’t for the fact that he used to be our Senior Brother, I would’ve killed him myself.”
Zhao Xueyi looked shocked. Climb into your bed?
You weigh at least 120 kilograms… why would he be interested in you?
The rest of the group added more fuel to the fire, recounting one incident after another of Li Chen’s supposed wrongdoings.
The more she heard, the more Zhao Xueyi’s brow furrowed. She had never expected Li Chen to fall so far. She sighed again. “I’ve been in seclusion for years and failed to guide Senior Brother properly. It’s my fault.”
“Senior Sister, it’s not your fault.”
“People may know faces but not hearts. You can paint a tiger’s skin but not its bones. Maybe this was his true nature all along. Don’t blame yourself.”
“He raised us from childhood. If he wanted something, he could’ve just said so. Instead, he crept into my room at night… sob… Senior Sister, you have to stand up for us!”
“Senior Sister, we were all wrong about him. He’s a heartless traitor.”
Zhao Xueyi felt deeply conflicted. Memories of following behind Li Chen, calling him ‘Senior Brother’ sweetly, now made her feel sick.
After a moment of silence, she said, “Enough. Where is Li Chen now?”
“He was punished by Master. He’s an outer sect disciple now. Probably down at the base of the mountain.”
Zhao Xueyi’s figure flickered, and she appeared at the foot of the mountain. Spreading her divine sense, she searched for Li Chen’s presence, but no matter how long she searched, she couldn’t find him. Her frown deepened.
She took out a talisman and contacted the Elder in charge of registration. “Elder Li, come to the base of the mountain. I need to speak with you.”
Soon, an Elder arrived and respectfully cupped his hands. “Greetings, Holy Maiden.”
Zhao Xueyi asked, “Elder Li, where is Li Chen living?”
Elder Li looked at her furrowed brows and trembled slightly. “Li Chen is an outer sect disciple. Outer sect disciples aren’t officially registered. I don’t know where he is.”
“Dispatch all disciples immediately to search for him. Bring him back at any cost.”
“Yes,” Elder Li nodded.
Watching Zhao Xueyi leave, Elder Li sighed in his heart. Was this really necessary? The Holy Son once battled the Demonic Woman for ten days and nights. Without him, the Qilin Holy Land would’ve long been destroyed. Even if he has lost his cultivation, should he really be hunted down like this?
But he was just an Elder. There was nothing he could do but follow orders.
…
At the moment Li Chen severed the chains, he felt complete relief. He immediately sat cross-legged. He had long been at the peak of the Qi Refining Realm. The only reason he hadn’t been able to break through was because of the Demonic Woman.
Now that the shackles were removed, everything fell into place naturally—it was time to enter the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Fu Tiancheng, seeing this, handed him a pill. “Disciple, don’t worry. Here’s a Foundation Establishment Pill to help ensure success.”
“Thank you, Master. But no need. I was once at the Great Ascension Realm. I can manage without any pills,” Li Chen replied firmly.
Fu Tiancheng paused, then chuckled wryly. Back then, your peak cultivation was on par with mine.
In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Li Chen successfully broke through to the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Fu Tiancheng was stunned. Most cultivators would bathe, cleanse themselves, and meditate for days to reach optimal condition before attempting to build their foundation. He remembered his own Foundation Establishment process taking two full days.
But Li Chen had done it in under fifteen minutes.
No wonder they called him a once-in-ten-thousand-years genius.
His talent surpassed even the Patriarch of the Qilin Holy Land.
Looking at Li Chen, Fu Tiancheng recalled how awe-inspiring he used to be—wielding a longsword, full of confidence and dominance. With a single strike, he could crush any opponent.
He had once terrified the sects across the land.
Now, the older generation of the Myriad Demons Sect had no hope of advancing, and the younger generation was completely ordinary. The sect had fallen into decline.
But now, with Li Chen here, Fu Tiancheng’s excitement surged.
From now on, Li Chen would be the Holy Son of the Myriad Demons Sect.
“Father, did you say Big Brother Li Chen is here?” A cheerful girl descended from the sky and looked at the meditating Li Chen with sparkling eyes. “Brother!”
Li Chen opened his eyes. “Senior Sister.”
This was Fu Yao, Fu Tiancheng’s daughter and the Holy Maiden of the Myriad Demons Sect. They had trained together in the past. Once, when Fu Yao was nearly devoured by a snake demon, it was Li Chen who saved her. Since then, she had followed him everywhere.
Though she belonged to a demonic sect, Fu Yao’s nature was pure and innocent. She lacked any trace of evil aura.
Li Chen didn’t care about demonic or righteous paths. He only wanted to grow stronger and survive the crisis ahead.
Fu Yao suddenly hugged him from behind, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Brother, you’re finally here!”
Li Chen struggled, “Senior Sister… my neck… it’s breaking…”
Blushing, Fu Yao let go of him. Fu Tiancheng quickly made himself scarce. “This daughter of mine… Girls grow up so fast.”
Fu Yao smiled brightly. “Brother.”
“I’m your father’s disciple now. You should call me Junior Brother.”
“No way! From now on, I’ll call you Brother, and you’ll call me Junior Sister.”
“I’ll just call you Fu Yao. ‘Junior Sister’ feels too awkward.”
“Why?”
Li Chen thought of the past and dodged the question. “It’s nothing. What’s your current cultivation?”
“Ninth stage Celestial Fusion Realm. Impressive, right?” Fu Yao grinned proudly.
Li Chen nodded. “Very impressive.”
Fu Yao immediately handed him her storage pouch and removed her spiritual imprint. “Brother, do you need pills? I have plenty. Just tell me what you need—I’ll give it all to you.”
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me! If anyone dares bully you, just tell me. I’ll avenge you. I’m really strong too!” Fu Yao raised her little fists proudly.
Li Chen smiled.
He had once been the Holy Son of the Qilin Holy Land and made many friends, but only Fu Yao had remained pure and loyal. The rest had cut ties with him the moment he fell from grace.
He remembered when he was bedridden and near death as an outer sect disciple. Fu Yao had wanted to visit him, but the sect wouldn’t allow it. She even clashed with the elders for his sake.
The others had all abandoned him.
People forget you when you fall, but Fu Yao never did.
That was why Li Chen had chosen to come to the Myriad Demons Sect.
Now that he had left the Qilin Holy Land, he could no longer suppress the Demonic Woman with fortune. She would soon break free and retaliate.
His only option now was to grow stronger before she or the Qilin Holy Land found him.
“I do need pills,” Li Chen said. “Now that I’ve restarted my cultivation, I need to go into seclusion and charge toward the Golden Core Realm.”
Fu Yao gasped. “Didn’t you just reach Foundation Establishment?”
“I’ve cultivated once before. With the right pills, I can reach the peak quickly.”
“Alright! Let’s go to my cave.”
“That might not be appropriate…”
“There’s nothing inappropriate about it.” Fu Yao grabbed his hand and pulled him toward her cave.