Yan Siyu's expression was calm and composed.
Su Yingxia, however, was a little worried and uneasy.
Of course, she wasn't worried for Chen Fan, but for her senior sister.
She had joined the Misty Rain Sect not long ago, but her fellow disciples treated her very well. Although she found the strenuous martial arts and cultivation a bit unbearable, she got along well with her fellow disciples.
After all, she had been responsible for some specific affairs in the Su family before. While her interpersonal skills might not be exceptionally brilliant, she could handle these fellow disciples, who had never experienced the secular world, with ease.
Moreover, her physique was very special. According to the Misty Rain Sect Master's investigation, she possessed an extremely rare Dao Body constitution. She was taken in as a personal disciple by the Sect Master as soon as she joined and was highly valued.
Under such circumstances, her fellow disciples were all very protective of her.
It was a pity that she was not a person who could endure hardship, nor was her passion for martial arts particularly fervent.
This was why Yan Siyu brought her down the mountain. The purpose was actually to sever Su Yingxia's worldly ties, allowing her to cultivate with peace of mind.
In other words, her descent down the mountain this time was actually directed at Chen Fan.
The reason the female Taoist priest stepped forward to challenge Chen Fan was precisely for this reason.
Su Yingxia's mortal heart was not yet broken, and Yan Siyu and the higher-ups of the Misty Rain Sect believed it was mostly due to Chen Fan.
Only by killing Chen Fan would Su Yingxia be able to focus on practicing martial arts.
Of course, this was merely the Misty Rain Sect's wishful thinking. They did not fully understand Su Yingxia's character, hence this notion.
Su Yingxia knew very well how detestable Chen Fan was. Seeing her fellow disciple step forward to challenge him, she naturally thought of the times she had targeted Chen Fan, only to end up disgraced herself.
Chen Fan, who had once been engaged to her and lived with her for three years, whom she had considered a good-for-nothing, had indeed become her inner demon.
Under everyone's gaze, Chen Fan sat still, as if he hadn't heard the female Taoist's sharp scolding.
For a moment, some who did not understand Chen Fan wondered if the Misty Rain Sect had mistaken the person.
"Chen Fan, you despicable wretch, dare to attend the Hero Gathering but not accept the challenge?"
Seeing Chen Fan's lack of response, the female Taoist's face darkened. Her inner demons raged, and she shouted angrily.
Chen Fan slowly took a sip of tea and said, "You are no match for me. I have no mood for your childish games!"
The female Taoist was stunned for a moment, then gnashed her teeth in anger.
"Chen Fan, you really do love to brag."
The female Taoist scoffed, "I will not be your match? You are too arrogant. Today, I, Shi Yurong, will surely kill you, you ungrateful wretch, worse than pigs and dogs!"
Upon hearing this, many people's expressions turned strange.
The insults were too harsh.
After the battle of Yanzi Mountain in Yuzhou, Chen Fan's name shook the martial arts world. Even the Hero Alliance, who opposed him, did not dare to insult him in such a manner.
Those who did not know the details ignited with gossip, wondering if Chen Fan had had an affair with a female disciple of the Misty Rain Sect.
Chen Fan was also slightly taken aback.
His expression turned cold. He suddenly flipped his palm, raised his hand, and struck Shi Yurong from thirty feet away.
His internal energy erupted outwards, like a waterfall or a flowing ribbon, and instantly crossed the space.
A terrifying aura rose with it, sweeping through the air.
Shi Yurong's heart trembled, and she was terrified. She instinctively retreated and drew her sword.
She was also a martial artist of the Hua Jin level. Her internal energy condensed, and a three-inch sword aura emerged, attempting to break through Chen Fan's externalized true qi.
Although the sword's edge was sharp, it could not withstand the density of the true qi. After cutting through only a little, she was struck by the true qi.
Shi Yurong was sent flying, and after soaring several feet, she fell heavily to the ground.
Many young martial artists trembled in fear.
Even various martial arts grandmasters showed a hint of astonishment.
Yan Siyu, who had been calmly drinking tea with a look of certainty, also trembled. Her teacup fell to the ground, and she turned her head to look at Chen Fan in shock.
The female disciples of the Misty Rain Sect were all stunned, finding it hard to believe.
When Su Yingxia learned about Chen Fan's situation, while not completely distorting the truth, she naturally embellished the events she had been involved in.
Therefore, in the eyes of the Misty Rain Sect, Chen Fan had become an ungrateful, heartless, and abandoning scoundrel.
Chen Fan's strength, in their eyes, was only slightly stronger than Gongsun Zheng, at the peak of Hua Jin.
Who would have thought that with a single move, Chen Fan would suppress Shi Yurong, a prodigy of the younger generation of the Misty Rain Sect, almost effortlessly.
Even Yan Siyu, a seasoned martial arts grandmaster, was greatly shaken.
Shi Yurong struggled to get up, her mouth bleeding. She had already sustained internal injuries.
Chen Fan's expression was calm. He said, "I told you you are no match for me, yet you insisted on courting death. You dare to insult a martial arts grandmaster like this. Even if I kill you, what can your Misty Rain Sect do?"
"Presumptuous!"
Yan Siyu snorted, "Chen Fan, although your true qi is projected outwards, it lacks volume and weight. Clearly, you are still at the Hua Jin level, yet you dare to speak so boldly?"
She strode forward, her movements graceful like a swallow, and said, "You dare to injure my disciple and belittle my Misty Rain Sect. If I don't teach you a lesson today, you will likely not know the immensity of heaven and earth!"
Upon hearing her words, many martial arts grandmasters nodded in agreement.
As an expert who had entered the grandmaster realm twenty years ago, Yan Siyu's judgment was sharp.
Chen Fan's previous projection of internal energy, though casual, had its shortcomings clearly seen by them.
Chen Fan was not, after all, a martial arts grandmaster in the conventional sense, and in their opinion, he still had significant deficiencies.
Although Chen Fan had defeated Gao Hongchang, and there were even rumors that he had killed Gao Hongchang, they had not witnessed it firsthand, and thus harbored doubts.
"Martial Uncle Yan!"
A flicker of worry reappeared in Su Yingxia's eyes.
Just now she had been worried for Shi Yurong, but in the blink of an eye, Shi Yurong was defeated.
Now that Yan Siyu was stepping onto the stage, although she knew Yan Siyu was very powerful, she still couldn't feel at ease.
She had suffered too many losses at Chen Fan's hands, to the point of forming a psychological shadow.
"Don't worry, Yingxia. Today, your martial aunt will sever your worldly ties and bring this to an end. From now on, you will cultivate with peace of mind and not waste your talent and aptitude!"
Su Yingxia opened her mouth, but in the end, she didn't know what else to say. If she said too much, it would seem as if she didn't trust her martial aunt enough.
"Junior Sister Yingxia, rest assured. Martial Uncle Yan is a Grandmaster. This ungrateful wretch will surely be annihilated with a flick of her fingers."
"Junior Sister, this Chen Fan is simply too detestable. If he is not killed, it will not suffice to quell the anger in our hearts!"
"..."
The younger generation of the Misty Rain Sect were indignant, consoling Su Yingxia while also venting their hatred for Chen Fan.
Chen Fan chuckled, stood up, and walked to the open space before him, saying, "Elder Yan, I shall see how you intend to teach me a lesson."
"Shameless wretch, he must be punished, lest he disrupt the martial hearts of my disciples!"
Yan Siyu sneered, her figure flashed, as light as a swallow. With a wave of her hand, her qi moved, flying towards Chen Fan like silk threads.
With this move, many martial arts grandmasters' eyes lit up, and some even showed expressions of admiration.