"Guan Zhi? Isn’t that Guan Zhi from the Chen Alliance? What’s he doing here?" someone in the crowd exclaimed upon seeing the figure.

Indeed, the one who had just stopped Shen Haoran was none other than Guan Zhi.

Shen Haoran looked at the beaming Guan Zhi, retracted his foot, and instantly concealed his killing intent. Brushing the dust from his clothes, he said casually, "I was starting to think you didn’t care whether this cannon fodder lived or died."

Seeing Shen Haoran’s mocking gaze, the smile vanished from Guan Zhi’s face. He asked coolly, "You knew all along I would come out to save him?"

At his words, Shen Haoran simply shrugged. "And why wouldn’t you?"

’From the moment I saw Kui Da, I knew he was just a pawn. For one thing, I’ve never met him or Kui the Second before, so there’s no way we could have any prior grudge. Yet, this Kui Da came out of nowhere to frame me!’

’And why do I say frame? Because I have absolute confidence in the elixirs I refine. There’s no way they would be substandard! Besides, with Elder Yan overseeing the process, how could any elixir below High Level quality even be produced?’

’Furthermore, I observed Kui the Second. He had simply taken a Turtle Breath Pill to seal his aura. A Turtle Breath Pill isn’t something an ordinary person can get their hands on. There had to be someone behind Kui Da and Kui the Second, instructing them to do this!’

’Second, Long Zhen mentioned on the way here that the Chen Alliance was planning to make a move against the Yao Sect. But when I arrived, I didn’t see any members of the Chen Alliance around. So, I had to use the pretense of killing Kui Da to force their hand. And it worked—I really did manage to draw Guan Zhi out!’

"Hmph. I merely heard that your Yao Sect refined a faulty elixir that caused a disciple’s Dantian to rupture and his cultivation to be completely destroyed. I simply came to investigate!" Guan Zhi retorted slyly.

"Oh, is that so?" Shen Haoran grinned and chuckled softly. Inwardly, however, he sneered, ’Still trying to put up a desperate struggle?’

After speaking, Shen Haoran walked over to Kui the Second, circled him twice, then stopped and looked at Guan Zhi with a grin.

Seeing that strange smile on Shen Haoran’s face, Guan Zhi’s heart tightened. In the next moment, his expression turned grim, for Shen Haoran made a move that shocked everyone present.

Shen Haoran raised his foot and brought it down violently toward Kui the Second’s Dantian. A piercing gust of wind howled forth. If that kick landed, it would likely run straight through Kui the Second’s body! 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Seeing this, the crowd couldn’t help but grow furious.

"Kui the Second has already lost all his cultivation. Is Shen Haoran trying to be completely ruthless?"

"I think he’s just trying to destroy the evidence! What a monster!"

"I never thought he was this kind of person!"

Hearing the crowd’s murmurs, Shen Haoran didn’t stop. In fact, his foot descended even faster!

WHOOSH... The Powerful Qi from Shen Haoran’s foot kicked up a cloud of dust as it was about to stomp down on Kui the Second’s Dantian!

However, just in the nick of time, Kui the Second’s tightly shut eyes suddenly snapped open, and he rolled his body to the side!

BOOM! A loud explosion echoed as Shen Haoran’s foot smashed a massive crater where Kui the Second had just been lying. Staring at the cracked earth, beads of cold sweat trickled down Kui the Second’s forehead. If he hadn’t reacted so quickly, that kick would have been the end of him!

Seeing Kui the Second suddenly spring to life, the onlookers’ jaws dropped. They stared at him in utter disbelief.

"Didn’t he lose all his cultivation? How..."

"So he was faking it!" The people who had just been denouncing Shen Haoran felt a burning sting on their cheeks.

Shen Haoran, however, simply looked at Guan Zhi with a grin and said, "Cultivation completely destroyed, you say?"

Hearing the mockery in Shen Haoran’s voice, Guan Zhi’s face darkened. "Useless trash!" he cursed.

Kui the Second lowered his head and said in terror, "Young Master Guan, I’m sorry, I..." But before he could finish, Guan Zhi cut him off forcefully.

"Get lost!"

Guan Zhi roared in anger. These two pieces of trash had actually made him lose face in public!

Sensing Guan Zhi’s fury, Kui the Second quickly helped Kui Da up, and they scrambled away from the scene.

"Eldest Young Master Guan, no need to be so hot-headed!" Shen Haoran said, looking at the furious Guan Zhi and throwing his earlier sentiment right back at him.

"Hmph!" Guan Zhi looked at Shen Haoran and snorted coldly.

"Don’t get cocky. I came today to inform you of one thing: the Chen Alliance has always been the one to handle the elixirs for the disciples of the Five Elements Sect. Your Yao Sect has crossed a line!"

"Heh, what line have we crossed? Where the sect’s disciples choose to have their alchemy done is their freedom. Since when was it the Chen Alliance’s place to interfere?" Shen Haoran sneered.

"Everyone in the sect knows the prestige of my Chen Alliance. How can your tiny Yao Sect possibly compare? It’s been an unwritten rule for ages that the Chen Alliance handles alchemy for the disciples. You don’t even know that?

"However, the Chen Alliance isn’t an unreasonable power that seeks to crush everyone. If the Yao Sect is willing to split the profits from your alchemy fifty-fifty with us, we can pretend we never saw this. We can even provide you with techniques and Alchemists. How about it? Think it over," Guan Zhi said coolly, looking at Shen Haoran.

Hearing this, Shen Haoran and the other members of the Yao Sect stared at Guan Zhi in disbelief. Xuan Yi even whispered to Long Zhen, "Brother Long, is this guy nuts?"

Long Zhen nodded noncommittally. ’Trying to make a move on the Yao Sect... Guan Zhi’s head really isn’t screwed on right. Does he not know that every single elixir Shen Haoran refines is of Top Grade quality? They’re infinitely better than those pellets from the Chen Alliance that can barely even be called elixirs!’

Shen Haoran gave a light cough, glanced coolly at Guan Zhi, and said, "Sorry, not interested."

At his words, Guan Zhi’s face darkened. "Kid, I’m giving you a chance. Don’t make this harder than it has to be. In the entire Five Elements Sect, no one who dares to provoke my Chen Alliance has ever gotten away with it!"

Hearing Guan Zhi’s threat, Shen Haoran’s expression also turned cold. He looked at Guan Zhi and said with disdain, "Hmph. You want the Yao Sect to cooperate? The Chen Alliance isn’t worthy!"

"What did you say?! Not worthy? What right does a puny Second Grade Alchemist like you have to say that!" Guan Zhi snorted coldly.

"Hmph, and what right does a Fourth Grade Alchemist like you have to say such things!" Shen Haoran retorted. To him, a Fourth Grade Alchemist was truly nothing special.

"You...! Fine! If you’ve got the guts, let’s compete!" Hearing Shen Haoran look down on him, Guan Zhi was instantly infuriated. He, a dignified Fourth Grade Alchemist, was being belittled by a mere Second Grade Alchemist!

"Not interested," Shen Haoran replied coldly. ’I’d rather spend the time refining a few more batches of elixirs to improve my alchemy skills than waste it competing against him!’

"If you win, I’ll give half of the Chen Alliance’s alchemy business to the Yao Sect!" Guan Zhi said immediately, seeing that Shen Haoran wasn’t agreeing.

Shen Haoran paused at his words. The Chen Alliance’s influence within the Five Elements Sect was indeed substantial. Half of their alchemy business would be a considerable fortune!

"Fine, I accept!" Shen Haoran agreed instantly. It wasn’t his style to pass up such a good opportunity.

"However, if you lose, you’ll have to transfer all of the Yao Sect’s alchemy business to the Chen Alliance. How about it?" Guan Zhi added with a sinister smile.