"Speak. I hope you’re not wasting my time. Otherwise, you can be my sparring partners later," Ouyang Chen said coolly, looking at the three people before him.

Hearing Ouyang Chen say they’d have to be his sparring partners, the faces of Xue Gong’s trio all changed. They couldn’t help but retreat, as if they had encountered something terrifying.

Xue Gong then gathered his thoughts and quickly said, "This Shen Haoran is a new disciple recruited by the Red Flame Hall this year. During the new disciple assessment, he forcefully ascended to the top of the Chaos Celestial Ladder. And just two days ago, with the strength of a Tier One Spirit General, he crushed Li Ge and fought his way onto the Dragon and Tiger List, becoming the first new disciple to do so in a hundred years!"

Hearing this, Ouyang Chen frowned, seeming somewhat displeased. "Is that all? Since when have you fallen so low as to pay attention to a new disciple?"

Seeing Ouyang Chen frown, Gou Shi hurriedly picked up the conversation. "Now, now, Ouyang, don’t be so hasty. We’re not finished yet! The next part is what will interest you!"

"Speak!"

"Alrighty. From what we know, this new disciple’s relationship with Shui Ruolan... seems to be a little unusual!" Gou Shi said softly, observing Ouyang Chen’s reaction.

"Hn?" Sure enough, the moment Gou Shi’s words fell, a sharp aura emanated from Ouyang Chen. He narrowed his eyes, a cold light flashing within them.

"I heard... that this Shen Haoran was caught peeking at Shui Ruolan while she was bathing on Linglong Peak. But not only did she not gouge his eyes out, the two of them have actually been getting closer. Shui Ruolan has even run over to Shen Haoran’s residence several times. And this time, it was Shui Ruolan who personally delivered the challenge letter for the duel with Li Ge. Don’t you think... they might have... you know..." Gou Shi covered his large, sausage-like mouth and snickered wickedly.

BOOM! Suddenly, a terrifying aura erupted from Ouyang Chen’s body. The powerful Qi directly obliterated the entire pavilion, causing it to collapse. Xue Gong and Fan Zhu reacted quickly, dodging the falling debris, but Gou Shi wasn’t so lucky. Ouyang Chen’s aura pressed down on him, rendering him immobile as all the falling bricks and stones smashed onto his portly frame!

Even though Gou Shi had the strength of a Tier Eight Spirit General, he could only submit before Ouyang Chen.

Ouyang Chen’s gaze was frigid as he looked at Gou Shi. "You said something you shouldn’t have," he stated coldly. "Today, you will be my sparring partner!"

Hearing this, Gou Shi’s face drained of color. He crawled before Ouyang Chen and begged, "Ouyang, I was wrong! Please spare me!" He had been Ouyang Chen’s sparring partner before. It was torture, practically Hell itself. Even with his Cultivation as a Tier Eight Spirit General, he couldn’t endure it!

"Hmph!" However, Ouyang Chen just snorted coldly and kicked him aside. Seeing Gou Shi’s miserable state, Xue Gong and Fan Zhu couldn’t help but tremble. At the same time, they cursed inwardly, ’That damn fatty! Doesn’t he know that Ouyang Chen considers Shui Ruolan his private possession? How dare he say something like that!’

It was well known that Shui Ruolan was the number one beauty in the Five Elements Sect, with countless pursuers. And as heroes have always loved beauties since ancient times, Ouyang Chen was no exception. He was interested in Shui Ruolan. To outsiders, with his talent and her looks, they were a match made in heaven.

However, Shui Ruolan wasn’t particularly interested in Ouyang Chen. Their relationship was merely that of friends. Ouyang Chen had tried several times to cross that line, but he always ended in failure. Now, hearing that Shui Ruolan was actively getting close to another, unfamiliar man, Ouyang Chen felt his territory had been invaded. This was something no man could tolerate.

In his heart, Shui Ruolan was already his woman. Only such an outstanding woman was worthy of him! And now, Shui Ruolan getting together with Shen Haoran... this was a blatant act of cuckolding him! At this thought, the aura around Ouyang Chen grew even colder.

"Xue Gong!" Ouyang Chen called out coldly.

Hearing his name, Xue Gong’s body jolted. He hurriedly stepped forward and replied, "Ouyang, what are your orders?"

"I want Shen Haoran to disappear from the sect. You know what needs to be done," Ouyang Chen said in a frosty voice.

"But... killing is forbidden within the sect. This might be..." Xue Gong frowned.

"This is not a request. It’s an order! If you can’t do it, you know the consequences!" After speaking, Ouyang Chen took a sudden step forward, and the terrifying pressure forced Xue Gong to his knees!

Xue Gong bit his lip, his heart filled with resentment. ’I’m a genius too, and all geniuses are proud. How can I be willing to submit to Ouyang Chen?’ But the thought of Ouyang Chen’s terrifying strength made him nod reluctantly.

"I’ll give you one month," Ouyang Chen said, then dragged Gou Shi deeper into the Sword Forest.

"Shen Haoran, is it? I hope you’ll like the gift I’m sending you!" Ouyang Chen’s bone-chilling voice drifted back, followed immediately by Gou Shi’s bloodcurdling, pig-like squeals. The sound made Xue Gong’s and Fan Zhu’s scalps tingle, and the two of them fled the area as fast as they could.

Meanwhile, Shen Haoran was unaware that a great crisis was about to befall him. He was currently standing outside the Dragon Brothers’ courtyard, waiting for the two of them to emerge from their seclusion.

A moment later, two jets of flame shot out from the Dragon Brothers’ room. One was a purple flame that carried the rumble of thunder, the other a bone-chilling, ghastly white flame. They intertwined before exploding in the sky, scattering countless sparks in a dazzling display.

As the flames rose, one strong and one weak aura also erupted from the room before subsiding a moment later. Soon after, Long Mo and Long Zhen walked out.

Seeing Shen Haoran standing in the courtyard, Long Zhen happily rushed over. "Thank you for the Thousand Illusions Spirit Potion, Brother Shen! I’ve broken through! I’m a Tier Five Spirit General now!"

Long Mo was much more reserved. He simply nodded at Shen Haoran, indicating that he had also successfully broken through.

"Haha, congratulations to you both!" Shen Haoran laughed.

"Hey, Brother Shen, did you come looking for us for something?" Long Zhen asked after his initial excitement, looking at Shen Haoran. ’A cultivation fanatic like him wouldn’t just be out for a casual stroll,’ he thought.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran smiled and took a token from his Storage Ring. The front of the token was engraved with a lifelike Cyan Dragon, and the back with a majestic tiger.

Seeing this token, Long Zhen exclaimed, "The Dragon Tiger Order! You took down Li Ge?"

Only disciples on the Dragon and Tiger List could possess a Dragon Tiger Order. The fact that Shen Haoran was holding one now meant he had already fought his way onto the list!

"It was just a fluke. I came here to ask you guys to take me to the Red Flame Spiritual Vein. I want to try out the Profound Level Cultivation Room there," Shen Haoran said. The cultivation speed of the outside world could no longer meet his needs. He wanted to try the Red Flame Spiritual Vein and strive for another breakthrough as soon as possible.

"You want to go to the Red Flame Spiritual Vein? Great! I was just thinking of going there to consolidate my realm. Let’s go together!" Long Zhen exclaimed excitedly.

"What about you?" Shen Haoran looked at Long Mo.

"Together."

"Alright, let’s head out!"