Chen Xiao hadn't expected Ye Santong to be so composed. Even with his disciple bleeding from all seven orifices, Ye Santong remained nonchalant, claiming his disciple had brought it upon himself.
Chen Xiao smiled faintly and increased the pressure of his fingers.
He wanted to see if Ye Santong was truly calm and magnanimous, or just putting on a show.
The truth was, Ye Santong was indeed putting on a show.
When Chen Xiao's finger pressed into Shi Qi's forehead, Ye Santong could no longer hold back.
"Young man, show mercy where mercy can be shown. This old man has already given you enough face. Why must you press on relentlessly?"
As he spoke, he slapped towards Chen Xiao's fingers.
To Qi Qingfei and Lin Zicong, it was just an ordinary slap.
But Chen Xiao could see that this slap possessed the power to cleave a small mountain with ease.
"Elder, I am not pressing on relentlessly. I merely wish for you to understand a principle."
Chen Xiao's other hand met Ye Santong's slap. "Talent represents nothing, nor does it prove the heights of future achievement."
"Before the true gods, all beings are equal!"
*Slap!*
Chen Xiao's palm collided with Ye Santong's, and they stuck together like two magnets of opposite poles.
"Young man, I have eaten more salt than you have walked roads. On what grounds do you believe you can educate me? You can stand before me and say these words only because you are a person of great fortune. But among the myriad beings, how many possess such fortune as yours?"
The moment Ye Santong's palm met Chen Xiao's, their contest began.
Gongsun Yi was shocked. He hadn't imagined Chen Xiao was powerful enough to contend with his teacher.
Yet, at the same time, he smiled bitterly. Although he harbored some resentment towards his teacher, he had never thought of becoming his enemy.
"Forget it. Since I can't reason with you."
Chen Xiao shook his head. "Then I will use facts to show you that the person you once looked down upon, the one you disdained to take as a disciple, is now my brother, Chen Xiao. His future achievements are beyond what a frog in a well like you can imagine... As for your carefully nurtured beloved disciple, in my eyes, he is less than nothing, and so are you!"
With that, a fierce surge of energy erupted from Chen Xiao's palm. Ye Santong was immediately sent flying back, staggering four steps before he could stabilize himself.
Though this exchange did not decide life or death, the victor was clear!
As for Shi Qi, Chen Xiao withdrew his finger and kicked him away.
Chen Xiao spared his life, but crippled his cultivation, rendering him no different from a cripple from now on.
"Today, out of respect for Brother Gongsun, I shall not kill you. If you wish for revenge, come find me anytime. I will accompany you to the end!"
Chen Xiao picked at the blood left by Shi Qi on his fingertips and said calmly, "Let's go!"
With that, he led Gongsun Yi and the others away.
After confirming Chen Xiao and his group had left, Ye Santong could no longer support himself and spat out a mouthful of black blood.
His gaze was solemn, his brows furrowed into a knot.
He could not fathom how such a powerful being existed in this mortal realm.
Could it be a super disciple secretly cultivated by some ancient martial sect?
As Ye Santong pondered, a weak voice suddenly came from beside him, "Master, save me. I'm in so much pain..."
The voice belonged to Shi Qi. Although Chen Xiao had spared his life in the end, he was bleeding from all seven orifices, and a piece of his forehead had been pressed in by Chen Xiao. His injuries were severe.
"Alas..."
Ye Santong shook his head and sighed. "This can be considered the karmic debt left by your teacher. Qi'er, do not panic. Master will now end your suffering."
With that, he slapped towards Shi Qi's forehead.
With this slap, Shi Qi would no longer suffer.
Ye Santong, however, spoke with feigned sorrow, "Qi'er, do not blame your master for being heartless. It is just that your cultivation is completely lost. Even if you survive, you will only face endless suffering in the future!"
...
On the way back, Chen Xiao asked Gongsun Yi, "Brother Gongsun, treating your former teacher in such a manner, you do not blame me, do you?"
Gongsun Yi laughed heartily. "Mr. Chen, what are you saying? I am not new to the martial world. Whoever has the bigger fist holds the power to speak; this is an undeniable truth. Even if you had killed them all, I would not have had a single complaint... Moreover, it was only because you were here this time that I dared to speak boldly in front of that brat Shi Qi. I would never do something as foolish as an egg hitting a rock."
Gongsun Yi was an old hand in the martial world and a man who had long since accepted reality.
Principles were for the onlookers. When a tiger faced a rabbit, its claws and fangs were the greatest principle.
The group returned to the hotel. The night passed without incident, and the next morning, they set off for Mount Jiuyi.
Along the way, they encountered many fellow martial artists, but most were ordinary. Experts like Luan Pangzi and Ye Santong were nowhere to be seen.
After spending half a day, the four finally arrived at the foot of the main peak of Mount Jiuyi.
The Hall of Gods was built on the summit of Cangwu Peak, the main peak of Mount Jiuyi.
At this moment, Cangwu Peak had already welcomed many guests. Looking at the sea of people around, Chen Xiao was momentarily stunned. It was the first time he had seen so many martial artists at once.
The crowd was dense, numbering several thousand.
It seemed the Hall of Gods had invited more than just the martial artists on the Heavenly Rankings. Chen Xiao noticed that some individuals present were weak, not even as strong as Lin Zicong, which made him a little puzzled.
He wondered what criteria the Hall of Gods used to issue invitations. If invitations were based on strength, then Qi Tianhu should have received one, as he was also listed on the Golden Rankings.
Among these thousands of people, there were no martial artists as powerful as Luan Pangzi or Shi Qi.
Furthermore, Ye Santong and Xiao Hongchan were not in the crowd. He wondered if they had other ways to ascend the mountain, or if they had not yet arrived.
Thousands of people were arranged in several queues. At the end of the queues, several individuals wearing black and gold robes were inspecting invitation letters.
Only after the guests presented their invitations would those individuals permit them to pass.
Gongsun Yi introduced, "Mr. Chen, those are the special envoys of the Hall of Gods. Although they are merely inspecting invitation letters, each of them possesses unfathomable strength. This is likely the foundation of the Hall of Gods."
Chen Xiao nodded slightly. Gongsun Yi was right; the foundation of the Hall of Gods was indeed formidable.
Those assigned to inspect invitation letters here would certainly not hold very high positions within the Hall of Gods.
However, the aura emanating from each of them was not weaker than that of Luan Pangzi and his companions, and even compared to Shi Qi, they were only slightly inferior.
Considering Xiao Tian Ce, ranked first on the Heavenly Rankings and hailed as the foremost figure in the martial arts world, his strength, when compared to these special envoys, was at best a fifty-fifty match.