Chapter 333: Chapter 332: I Say It Was Broken in a Fall, Any Objections?
WHOOSH...
Furious flames formed a vortex around Shen Haoran. A scorching, powerful wind spiraled outward, instantly evaporating all moisture from the air. The surrounding disciples felt as if they were trapped in a steamer, gasping for breath.
At that moment, the domineering aura radiating from Shen Haoran completely shattered the pressure the Third Elder had been exerting on him. It even pushed back against her, forcing her to take two steps back!
With the Third Elder’s pressure dispersed, the surrounding disciples felt the weight on their shoulders lift. But when they saw Shen Haoran actually force the Third Elder back, they couldn’t help but gasp in shock.
They had already felt how powerful the Third Elder’s pressure was; even the overflow was more than they could bear. Yet Shen Haoran, at the very center of that pressure, had not only resisted being suppressed but had even forced her back! ’Isn’t this kid just a Tier One Spirit Marquis? How can he have such a domineering aura!’
"Fire Spirit Black Obsidian?" A flash of astonishment crossed the Third Elder’s beautiful eyes as she murmured to herself while looking at Shen Haoran. Her expression showed no displeasure. She then withdrew her terrifying pressure, once again appearing as a gentle, delicate woman.
As the Third Elder’s pressure vanished, Shen Haoran also felt the weight lift from his shoulders. The Fire Spirit Black Obsidian coiling around him slowly dissipated, and his eyes returned to their normal brown color. However, his face was now incredibly pale. The Third Elder’s pressure had been terrifying. ’If my Chaos Heaven-Dominating Technique hadn’t broken through under that immense strain, I might have really been crushed, unable to even lift my head!’
HUFF... HUFF...
Shen Haoran panted heavily, casually tossing an Elixir into his mouth and beginning the Refinement process. Some color returned to his face.
Shen Haoran felt no resentment toward the Third Elder for her actions. He knew she had merely wanted to test his strength. ’If she had harbored any killing intent,’ Shen Haoran believed, ’I certainly wouldn’t be standing here alive, let alone completely unscathed.’
"You’re a disciple of the Han Family. Where is your token?" the Third Elder asked again, her voice faint.
Hearing this, Shen Haoran retrieved the Token that Han Feng had given him before his death from his Storage Ring and tossed it to the Third Elder.
Catching the Token Shen Haoran threw, the Third Elder saw the peach blossom carved on it and nodded. ’This is the token I gave to Han Feng. The peach blossom on it isn’t something an ordinary person could forge.’
"How is Mr. Han doing now?" the Third Elder’s tone changed, asking as if catching up with an old acquaintance.
"Mr. Han was framed and killed. He is no longer with us," Shen Haoran said in a low voice, bowing his head.
"No longer with us?" Upon hearing Shen Haoran’s words, a terrifying killing intent erupted from the Third Elder. A razor-sharp wave of Powerful Qi instantly sliced through the surrounding tree branches, leaving behind perfectly smooth cuts, as if severed by a Sharp Sword.
The Third Elder’s sudden burst of killing intent made Shen Haoran’s heart pound. ’Such dense killing intent... how many people must one kill to cultivate something like this? What in the world has this Third Elder been through?’
"However, before Mr. Han passed away, he entrusted me with bringing these disciples here, saying the Third Elder would help. The ones behind me are all disciples of the Han Family," Shen Haoran said, gesturing to Han Xu and the group of children behind him to step forward.
Seeing Han Xu and the other Han Family disciples, the Third Elder let out a long sigh. Her killing intent receded as she said mournfully, "Years ago, Mr. Han did me a great favor. I promised him that I would help him with one matter. I never expected to hear such terrible news before I could repay my debt of gratitude!
Since you are Mr. Han’s descendants, I will have to repay this favor to you instead. Come with me."
Hearing the Third Elder’s words, Han Xu and the others were overjoyed. They hadn’t expected this powerful Third Elder to have a real connection with their grandfather. They quickly followed her, heading deeper into the Celestial Spirit Sect.
"Wait, Third Elder! This kid broke my grandson’s arm. Shouldn’t he be punished?" However, just as the Third Elder was about to leave, Elder Fang stepped forward, pointing at Fang Shizhong, who was still kneeling on the ground, and spoke indignantly.
At these words, Shen Haoran’s brow furrowed. He shot a cool glance at Elder Fang as a flicker of killing intent rose within him.
The Third Elder also stopped and looked toward Fang Shizhong, still kneeling on the ground. When Fang Shizhong saw the Third Elder’s gaze land on him, he jolted and began to tremble uncontrollably.
Seeing Fang Shizhong’s pathetic state, the Third Elder said flatly, "He broke his arm when he fell. It has nothing to do with this young man."
Hearing the Third Elder’s words, the corner of Shen Haoran’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch. ’I can’t believe she’s spouting such nonsense without even batting an eye.’
Elder Fang was also stunned. He retorted in dissatisfaction, "My grandson has the cultivation of a Tier Eight Spirit Marquis! How could he break his arm from a fall? It was clearly this kid—"
"I said," the Third Elder cut him off before he could finish, her tone laced with impatience, "his arm was broken in a fall. Do I need to repeat myself?" A faint pressure began to bear down on Elder Fang.
Feeling the Third Elder’s terrifying pressure, Elder Fang couldn’t help but take two steps back. He could only shoot Shen Haoran a cold glare before taking Fang Shizhong and leaving. No matter how powerful he was, he didn’t dare to openly oppose the Third Elder.
"Hmph!" Seeing Fang Shizhong and his grandfather leave, the Third Elder snorted coldly. She then led Shen Haoran and the others toward her Palace.
...
After the Third Elder and her group left, news of what had happened in the woods spread like the wind, instantly reaching every corner of the Sect. Even the Martial Artists waiting outside for the assessment heard about it.
"Did you hear? The Inner Sect’s Third Elder actually came out! She’s a legendary figure, as mysterious as a Divine Dragon that shows its head but never its tail. I can’t believe she appeared today! And I heard she’s a devastatingly beautiful woman, too!"
"Pfft, the most shocking part is that some kid not only refused to bow his head under her pressure but actually forced her back! How badass is that!"
"What’s that kid’s name?"
"No idea, but I heard his surname is Shen. You think he’s the Third Elder’s closed-door disciple?"
"No way. No one’s ever heard of the Third Elder taking a disciple. Besides, if he were her disciple, she wouldn’t have tested him like that the moment they met, would she? An ordinary person could never withstand that pressure. Even the overflow was more than we could handle, let alone being at the center of it!"
"Then where did this kid come from?"
"..."
And so, more and more people began to speculate about Shen Haoran’s identity. For a time, the long-quiet Celestial Spirit Sect was abuzz with activity once more...
[PS: Sorry, I just got back from my grandma’s house. There will be another Chapter in a bit!]
