Seeing the Grand Elder leave first, the other Elders also left the assembly hall one after another. Shen Haoran’s performance today was truly impeccable—his strength, his courage, and that domineering aura. The Elders now believed that the Hehuan Sect had truly been destroyed at the hands of Shen Haoran’s trio. As for the process, the Elders didn’t care. All that mattered was that the problem was solved.

"Not bad!" Tian Ao couldn’t help but say in admiration as he walked past Shen Haoran. When Shen Haoran had first spoken of teaching the Fourth Elder a lesson, Tian Ao had thought him arrogant and ignorant. He never expected Shen Haoran to actually pull it off. Moreover, the Fourth Elder had no chance to counterattack during the entire process. This was far beyond Tian Ao’s expectations.

In response, Shen Haoran just gave a light chuckle. Although he had taught the Fourth Elder a lesson this time, there was an element of luck involved. Otherwise, achieving such a crushing victory would have been impossible. After all, his opponent was a Tier Six Spirit Aspect, and the power of a full Great Realm was difficult to overcome.

"Haha, Brother Haoran, did you see the look on the Fourth Elder’s face when you beat him? It was as ugly as if he’d eaten shit! I’m dying!" Once the Elders had all left the assembly hall, Murong Wanqing and Han Xu immediately crowded around him, laughing heartily.

"Exactly! That old geezer dared to question our strength. We had to show him a thing or two, or he’d think we were pushovers. Now he knows how formidable Brother Shen is! So satisfying!" Han Xu also laughed boisterously. Seeing the Fourth Elder’s expression, which had gone from wanting the three of them to get the hell out of the Celestial Spirit Sect to looking like he’d eaten shit after Shen Haoran beat him down—that was just incredibly satisfying!

Shen Haoran rolled his eyes at Murong Wanqing and Han Xu, then walked over to Jun Luohua and said with a smile, "Third Elder, I have fulfilled my mission."

However, Jun Luohua’s face showed no sign of joy. Instead, she spoke in a somewhat lecturing tone, "What’s there to be happy about? Your moves were flashy but useless, with too many unnecessary motions. Aside from having a bit of power, there was nothing commendable about it!"

Hearing this, the corner of Shen Haoran’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. ’This Third Elder, can’t she praise me even a little? To defeat a Tier Six Spirit Aspect with the strength of a Tier Five Spirit Marquis... even if there was some luck involved, isn’t luck a part of one’s strength too? She’s so old-fashioned!’

However, what Jun Luohua said was indeed correct. Executing the Heaven-Breaking Fivefold Kill required far too many superfluous movements, not to mention the need to gather power. During that time, an opponent could easily exploit the opening. He might not even land a hit and could end up suffering a backlash from his own power, which would be awkward. But this was hardly Shen Haoran’s fault. His offensive methods were very limited: Heaven-Breaking Kill, Nine Dragon Stomp, and the freakishly powerful Flame Sun Burst. That was it.

He had originally wanted to find some Cultivation Techniques and Martial Skills in the Five Elements Sect’s Library Pavilion, but unfortunately, there were no Martial Skills in the Library Pavilion suitable for him, so he had to give up. Later, he planned to ask Elder Yan for some, but Elder Yan had fallen into a deep sleep prematurely, so that plan came to nothing.

At this thought, Shen Haoran’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he stared intently at Jun Luohua. ’Jun Luohua’s strength far surpasses that of the Celestial Spirit Sect’s Leader, Tian Ao, and her origins are very mysterious. She must have plenty of Martial Skills.’

As if reading the meaning in his eyes, Jun Luohua rolled her eyes at Shen Haoran and said flatly, "Don’t get any ideas about me. I don’t have any Martial Skills suitable for you. If you really want to find one, go to the Library Pavilion. If there’s still nothing there, then go search in the Desert Ancient City. You might just receive the inheritance of some powerful expert!"

Hearing Jun Luohua’s words, Shen Haoran couldn’t help but roll his eyes at her. ’What a mind-reader. I haven’t even said anything, and she’s already rejected me. So stingy.’

After that, Jun Luohua ignored Shen Haoran and turned to Murong Wanqing and Han Xu. "I’ve secured your spots for the qualifying battles. The rest is up to you. As for Shen Haoran, he’s already obtained a spot to enter the Desert Ancient City, so he doesn’t need to participate. For the next half a month, he’ll be your punching bag. Train hard!"

"Ah... Brother Haoran is going to be our training partner?" Murong Wanqing and Han Xu’s eyes went wide. But a moment later, a wicked smile spread across their faces, making Shen Haoran’s scalp tingle.

"I... I object!" Shen Haoran hurriedly protested.

"Objection overruled!" However, the response he received was the other three’s unceremonious rejection. In the end, Shen Haoran had no choice but to submit to their arrangement.

...

At that moment, in a courtyard within the Celestial Spirit Sect, a tremendous roar echoed. A century-old tree in the yard snapped in half, crashing to the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Standing beside the tree was none other than the Fourth Elder. His face was now filled with fury, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes were bloodshot. The moment he thought of how Shen Haoran had defeated him with a single punch in the assembly hall, boundless killing intent surged in his heart.

"Someone, bring Xue Shitian to me!" The more the Fourth Elder thought about it, the more furious he became. He roared in a low voice to the attendant beside him.

Sensing the Fourth Elder’s imminent explosion of rage, the attendant didn’t dare to linger and quickly ran out of the courtyard. A moment later, Xue Shitian walked in.

Upon entering the courtyard, Xue Shitian was taken aback. The dense killing intent in the air puzzled him. When he saw the Fourth Elder, his brows furrowed even tighter. The Fourth Elder was like an active volcano on the verge of erupting; even from a distance, he could feel the boundless fury within him.

"Master, you called for me?" Xue Shitian suppressed the confusion in his heart and cupped his fist in a salute.

That’s right, Xue Shitian’s master was the Fourth Elder. Xue Shitian had been abandoned outside the Celestial Spirit Sect’s gates, and the Fourth Elder had taken him in. Originally, the Fourth Elder had only intended to pick up a servant, but he never expected Xue Shitian’s talent to be so astonishing. He quickly became the number one disciple within the Celestial Spirit Sect. Because of this, the Fourth Elder’s status in the Sect had once risen, and he was on the verge of being promoted to Third Elder. However, Jun Luohua’s arrival shattered his hopes, which was why he opposed the Third Elder at every turn.

’Today, Shen Haoran humiliated me, and this score must be settled. But I am an Elder. If I were to act against a disciple myself, I might be expelled from the Celestial Spirit Sect. Therefore, the best person for the job is Xue Shitian!’

"Do you know of the new disciple the Third Elder took in, Shen Haoran?" the Fourth Elder asked Xue Shitian, his voice grave.

Hearing this, Xue Shitian was stunned for a moment before quickly recovering. He replied, "I know him. We’ve met a few times. The last time was at the Divine Martial Blood Pool in Divine Martial City. What about it?"

"Oh, you’ve met? Even better. I want him dead. Can you do it?" A savage smile appeared on the Fourth Elder’s face as he spoke cruelly.

"You want him dead?!"