Volume One, Chapter 13: A Prominent Figure of the Core Institute!

“Mu Yuyao, you won’t lay a hand on Chu Tianxing!”

Suddenly, a cold voice rang out, and a streak of light swiftly approached from afar.

With a sharp snap, the streak of light struck the sword in Mu Yuyao’s hand, sending it flying.

Thud! Thud!

Both the sword and the streak of light plunged into the ground simultaneously, revealing the latter to be an exquisitely crafted throwing knife.

“A Bone-Piercing Blade? Su Xiaowan?” Mu Yuyao’s eyes narrowed sharply as she glared coldly at the newcomer.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, a young woman clad in a pale yellow gown appeared, walking deliberately toward Chu Tianxing with her hands clasped behind her back.

She was about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a graceful and delicate figure, strikingly beautiful, her aura pure yet tinged with playful charm.

“The fourth disciple of the Core Sect, currently undergoing the demon-slaying lineage’s trial, supporter of the Holy Maiden, and founder of the Xuan Palace—Su Xiaowan!”

Everyone recognized her immediately.

“Su Xiaowan, supporter of the Holy Maiden…” Chu Tianxing’s expression flickered in surprise; it seemed this might be an instruction from the Holy Maiden Ye Qingxuan.

Su Xiaowan stood beside Chu Tianxing, gently raising her jade-like hand. The ornate throwing knife embedded in the ground flew into her palm.

“You actually know each other?” Mu Yuyao’s face turned icy with a murderous gleam as she sneered angrily at Chu Tianxing. “I never expected that during these past two years, you not only concealed your martial cultivation but also secretly fraternized with a core female disciple! Though I don’t understand why she would take a liking to a useless wretch like you, you have betrayed me first!”

Her words immediately caused Su Xiaowan to frown slightly, her face hardening as she rebuked coldly, “Mu Yuyao, don’t spout nonsense!”

“I am not involved with Chu Tianxing in the way you imagine! We have only just met for the first time!”

Mu Yuyao sneered with disdain, “Save your explanations! If this is truly your first meeting, why would you come from the Core Sect to the Inner Sect to help him?”

“Do you think everyone present is a three-year-old child? A prestigious fourth disciple of the Core Sect coming to aid a notorious useless waste from the Sacred Land?”

Su Xiaowan’s breath caught in her throat. She clenched her silver teeth, wanting to explain but unable to reveal the truth.

The Holy Maiden had explicitly ordered that her directive to protect Chu Tianxing must not be disclosed.

“Don’t you want to explain?” Su Xiaowan, frustrated, turned to look at Chu Tianxing.

Chu Tianxing’s eyes flickered; he had no intention of engaging with Mu Yuyao further, nor did he feel the need to explain anything.

Even if he did, knowing Mu Yuyao’s nature, she would never believe him and would only intensify her slander.

Yet since Su Xiaowan had spoken, despite his reluctance, Chu Tianxing decided to consider her feelings, given her assistance.

“I truly am meeting Miss Su for the first time; we have never had any prior connection,” Chu Tianxing said expressionlessly. “Mu Yuyao, you needn’t spout such rubbish. It would be best if you put an end to your filthy thoughts.”

“Did you hear that?” Su Xiaowan placed her hands on her hips.

Mu Yuyao’s disgust deepened. “Chu Tianxing, it seems you truly harbor illusions about me! Otherwise, why would you bother explaining so clearly?”

“It’s me who should advise you to give up your fantasies! No matter what, I, Mu Yuyao, would never look at a useless wretch like you! Never!”

“Even if you and Su Xiaowan are close, today I will sever your limbs—I will see it through!”

Buzz!

At that moment, Mu Yuyao raised her hand and summoned the sword from the ground.

“You’d better not bother explaining.” Su Xiaowan ground her silver teeth in anger, never expecting Mu Yuyao to be so unreasonable.

Chu Tianxing remained expressionless, his heart unmoved, for he had anticipated such an outcome long ago.

“You won’t manage it on your own!” Su Xiaowan pinched the exquisite throwing knife between her fingers and said coldly, “You’re only the sixth disciple of the Core Sect; you’re no match for me!”

“What if I add myself to the fight?” Suddenly, a cold voice sounded.

The familiar voice instantly caused a cold gleam to flash in Chu Tianxing’s eyes—it was Xing Bufan!

A young man in a black robe strode forward, causing everyone present to hold their breath.

He was another Core Sect disciple, ranked among the top, renowned throughout the Core Sect—Xing Bufan!

“Bufan, you’ve arrived just in time!” Mu Yuyao hurried over and linked her arm with his, speaking intimately, “Help me block Su Xiaowan. I want to cut off Chu Tianxing’s limbs!”

Xing Bufan’s expression was cold. “I only didn’t come with Yuyao to the Inner Sect because I was summoned by the Gu clan’s direct disciple. I didn’t expect a useless wretch to nearly get the upper hand!”

His gaze shifted disdainfully toward Chu Tianxing. “You hide your uselessness remarkably well! If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t believe you had reached the Spirit Profound Realm. Even so, you remain a useless weakling!”

Everyone was shocked by his words, especially by the mention of the “Gu clan’s direct disciple” summons—it carried tremendous weight.

Many direct disciples of the Gu clan resided in the Sacred Land, but they were all direct disciples of the demon-slaying lineage.

After all, the head of the demon-slaying lineage bore the surname Gu.

Moreover, the Gu disciple who summoned Xing Bufan was very likely the young heir of the demon-slaying lineage—the fourth direct disciple of the Sacred Land, Gu Changye.

Xing Bufan was the deputy head of the Night Palace within the Core Sect, and all its core disciples were staunch supporters of Gu Changye.

Likewise, Su Xiaowan, founder of Xuan Palace in the Core Sect, was a supporter of the Holy Maiden Ye Qingxuan.

“This is becoming troublesome,” Su Xiaowan frowned slightly, then secretly transmitted a message to Chu Tianxing.

“Mu Yuyao is the sixth disciple of the Core Sect, Xing Bufan the fifth. If they fight me one-on-one, neither stands a chance. But if they join forces, I fear I cannot protect you.

“So, while I hold them off, you should take the chance to leave the Inner Sect and head straight to the Xuan Palace in the Core Sect. Once there, you’ll be safe.”

Hearing this, Chu Tianxing gently shook his head and replied by transmission, “You can hide for a while but not forever. I am not without the strength to fight!”

“You…” Su Xiaowan gasped, looking at Chu Tianxing in disbelief. She thought, why would the Holy Maiden protect such a fool? She had clearly told him to flee if he couldn’t win, yet he insisted on staying to fight?

Did he really think the top ten disciples of the Core Sect were mere sacks of rice? That he could contend with even one of them at the initial Spirit Profound Realm?

“Looks like things are getting lively here,” a bright, cheerful voice suddenly called out.

Everyone turned their heads to see the newcomer, their expressions shifting dramatically.

A young man around eighteen or nineteen appeared, dressed in white with a black robe draped over his shoulders, holding a long spear. His features radiated heroic spirit.

It was Murong Ao, the second disciple of the Core Sect, founder of the Xuanjun Hall, and a supporter of the third direct disciple Yang Xuanjun.

“Even he’s here! This…” Everyone was incredulous. The Inner Sect had not been this lively for a long time.

Back when the Holy Son and Holy Maiden along with the top ten direct disciples all belonged to the Inner Sect, their contests kept the place bustling every day.

“Murong Ao, you’re not here just to watch, are you?” Xing Bufan frowned.

Su Xiaowan and Mu Yuyao also narrowed their eyes, their expressions grave.

Murong Ao was known never to show up without cause; he was famous for only appearing when there was a matter at hand.

“I have a bond with Chu Tianxing,” Murong Ao said, waving his spear and resting it on his shoulder as he stood beside Chu Tianxing.

At these words, everyone present’s faces changed drastically—once again, someone had come because of Chu Tianxing.

“A bond?” Chu Tianxing furrowed his brow. This was his first time meeting Murong Ao in person; he had only heard of him before.

If so, what bond could they possibly share?