Chapter 196 – A Thunderous Strike, The Scripture Pavilion and Pill Recipes

“Apologize…”

As the flood of shouting rang out and the taunting gazes of over a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators swept toward him, Yu Xian’s eyes remained indifferent, yet the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a smile.

He stood there, unmoving, silently watching the scene below. As the shouting reached its climax, it gradually weakened—until silence blanketed the area.

More than two thousand disciples looked upon Yu Xian’s unshaken demeanor and suddenly felt like fools. A chill crept into their hearts.

To each of the Qi Condensation disciples, it felt as if Yu Xian’s gaze was specifically directed at them—as if he remembered each one of them.

Meanwhile, Luo Fan and the other six Foundation Establishment elders frowned slightly.

Zhao Fengjuan, seeing that Yu Xian still showed no intent to apologize, could no longer hold back his temper and barked, “Yu! Are you going to apologize or not!?”

Yu Xian finally looked directly at Zhao Fengjuan and replied with a calm voice, “Are you even worthy of my apology? Even if some dog did frame me, and even if I truly arrived late on purpose, do you have the qualifications to demand an apology? Who do you think you are? Do you even understand respect and hierarchy?”

A heavy silence instantly fell.

All seven Foundation Establishment elders’ faces darkened in unison.

They had plotted to humiliate Yu Xian, but were instead labeled dogs in front of everyone.

And yet, rather than shame, what filled them was fury.

They could frame you—but how dare you insult them?

As for Zhao Fengjuan and the other Foundation Establishment disciples, their rage boiled over.

Yu Xian’s words weren’t aimed at just Zhao Fengjuan—they were a blatant dismissal of all of them.

He was essentially declaring: So what if I ignored you? You think you’re worthy of a response, let alone an apology?

“Yu!!!”

Zhao Fengjuan snapped. He pointed at Yu Xian and roared, “What did you just say!? We’re both mid-stage Foundation Establishment! You only became an elder because of connections! Who do you think you are!?”

Yu Xian remained composed. “Oh? I have connections—do you? Right now, I’m an elder, and you’re just a disciple. Stand down. If you dare act out again, I’ll discipline you according to sect law.”

“Discipline me!?”

Zhao Fengjuan’s eyes turned bloodshot. “You think you’re worthy!? Let me see how powerful you really are. Come down here!”

As he spoke, his gathered spiritual energy exploded into a ten-zhang-long flaming flood serpent and charged directly at Yu Xian.

“Zhao Fengjuan, don’t be rude!”

“You can’t disrespect an elder!”

“Oh no, Zhao Fengjuan, don’t do this!”

Despite shouting protest, the seven elders didn’t move to stop him. In fact, their eyes gleamed with sinister delight.

Letting Zhao Fengjuan fight Yu Xian was perfect. If Yu Xian lost, he’d be humiliated. If he got injured, even better.

The other Foundation Establishment disciples immediately backed off, making room for the impending battle.

Zhao Fengjuan was known for his temper. No one was surprised he was the one to throw the first punch.

This was what everyone had been waiting for!

Let them fight!

Yu Xian’s indifferent expression abruptly turned cold and severe.

“You dare assault an elder? Ignorant fool.”

As he spoke, he unleashed his long-prepared Wood Vine Art.

At this point, there was no other option but to kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.

And Zhao Fengjuan… was clearly the chicken.

Six massive vines exploded out from Yu Xian’s back, and at the same time, he activated his Spirit-Piercing Finger.

BOOM!

The flaming serpent slammed into Yu Xian, who made no attempt to dodge. It engulfed him completely.

The power of that spell should have been enough to seriously wound even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Yet in the midst of the inferno, Yu Xian remained still—unshaken.

His wooden armor shielded him from the flames. He was like a lotus emerging from the mud—untainted and serene.

Not only was he unharmed—he was perfectly unharmed!?

A wood-based defense spell completely countered a fire-based attack!?

Wasn’t fire supposed to counter wood?

The only explanation: Yu Xian’s spiritual energy density and sea of Qi far surpassed Zhao Fengjuan’s. At least double.

That pressure… was the difference between a mid-stage cultivator and someone at the late Foundation Establishment stage!

Even Zhao Fengjuan’s expression changed.

“No way!!”

He roared, quickly forming hand seals to summon a flaming red shield, then two fire tigers, and finally tried to conjure a flaming butterfly overhead.

Truth be told, Zhao Fengjuan’s combat ability was solid—his reactions, hand seal speed, and spell layering were excellent.

It was enough to make him a match for a typical late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Unfortunately, he was facing Yu Xian.

Someone who had swallowed high-grade pills like candy, whose spiritual sea had expanded to 25 zhang, and whose physique matched a true mid-stage Foundation Establishment expert.

Yu Xian’s gaze sharpened. With a flick of his hand—he cast Flaming Flood Serpent Art too.

“You like fire, huh? Then I’ll suppress you with it—using my wood element Qi to cast fire techniques!”

This fight would establish his status once and for all.

Otherwise, there would be no peace in the sect for him.

In an instant—

The Spirit-Piercing Finger exploded forward, overwhelming the red fire shield. Though its power was halved, it still shot straight at Zhao Fengjuan’s forehead.

Meanwhile, two vines slammed into the charging fire tigers, obliterating them.

Yu Xian himself was startled by how easily his attacks shredded Zhao Fengjuan’s defenses. He quickly halted his Flaming Flood Serpent Art to avoid killing him and suffered some backlash as a result.

Was this guy… really so weak?

Yu Xian had assumed he’d need the flood serpent spell to win. Yet his other two spells had already broken through everything!

The implication was clear:

His spiritual energy quality, quantity, and spell level had completely overwhelmed Zhao Fengjuan.

This was the kind of absolute suppression only a late-stage Foundation Establishment could exert over a mid-stage!

If Yu Xian hadn’t held back just now, Zhao Fengjuan might already be dead.

“No… impossible…”

Zhao Fengjuan panicked. He canceled his butterfly spell and poured everything into reinforcing his battered shield.

The second wave of fire tigers were again instantly shattered by the vines.

Watching this, several disciples around the battlefield paled.

One even approached Zhao Fengjuan afterward and asked cautiously, “Senior Brother Zhao, is that new elder really that strong? Or were you… maybe holding back?”

Zhao Fengjuan, blood on his lips, glared and growled, “Why don’t you try if you’re so curious?”

With that, he turned and flew off.

The other disciples looked at each other and shook their heads.

Clearly, this new elder was not to be trifled with.

From now on, they’d have to treat him with full respect.

On a mountaintop, Zhou Qingyuan watched it all unfold with a cold smile.

“A disciple of a grand sect indeed… so proud, he doesn’t bother to explain or socialize. But he does have restraint… reminds me of Hongshao. Arrogant, the both of them.”

He smirked, the mockery in his voice mixed with menace.

The remnants of Medicine King Valley are just dogs without a home, he thought. Yu Xian’s arrogance would bring him disaster soon enough.

As for Hongshao… his patience was running out.

“Sometimes,” Zhou whispered, “a woman won’t give in to gentleness. In that case… force works just as well.”

His lips curled into a twisted grin before he turned and vanished toward the main hall.

Back in his cave, Yu Xian cultivated quietly for three days without interruption.

By now, the sect had fully accepted that there was an Eleventh Elder in the Fire Sect.

Opening his eyes, Yu Xian thought:

Since he was stuck here for the time being, he might as well take advantage of the Scripture Pavilion, especially since Zhou Qingyuan had granted him free access.

Free access to techniques, formulas, and ancient knowledge?

Of course he wouldn’t waste it.

He flew to the front mountain.

Disciples along the way bowed nervously, fearing he might recognize them from three days ago when they had laughed at him.

Yu Xian didn’t care. He reached the Scripture Pavilion.

A Foundation Establishment disciple stepped out and asked respectfully, “Greetings, Eleventh Elder. What brings you to the Scripture Pavilion?”

Yu Xian replied coolly, “I’m here to study some techniques.”

The disciple smiled politely. “Does the elder have a contribution token? One incense stick’s worth of browsing time costs ten contribution points.”

Yu Xian answered flatly, “The Sect Master said I could study anything here freely. If you doubt me, go confirm with him. Now, step aside.”

The disciple’s face stiffened. After a pause, he stepped back. “In that case… please enter, Elder.”

He watched Yu Xian enter, his heart full of bitterness.

Seriously… maybe he’s the Sect Master’s illegitimate son?