Establish your authority

"Well, if it isn't Four-Eyes and Little Three. Last time you guys almost got beaten to death. Are you looking for more of that?" A muscular man stepped out, a high-level Wu Zong.

He recognized Four-Eyes and Little Three first and then grinned wickedly, strolling toward them.

Four-Eyes and Little Three cowered at the sight of him, obviously having been bullied by him many times.

"Bang!"

Just as the muscular man was about to approach, Xingjue flicked his sleeve, and a wave of martial energy surged out. Before everyone's astonished eyes, he slammed it into the disciple.

The disciple was knocked back and crashed against the pillar next to the gate of Gao manor, falling unconscious.

Seeing this, the Inner Pavilion disciples were all terrified. He had knocked down a high-level Wu Zong with a single move. What kind of power was this? Could… could he be a Wu Zun? Just the thought of him being a Wu Zun sent shivers down their spines.

After all, there were only six Wu Zuns in the entire Inner Pavilion, and they were all influential figures. They wouldn't dare provoke someone of that caliber.

"Gao Le, are you going to beg for mercy as you get your ass kicked, or do I have to go into your manor and drag you out?" Xingjue didn't care about their expressions or reactions. He yelled into the manor.

"Such big talk!" Suddenly, a roar came from the manor. The disciples standing at the gate immediately made way for a path.

A man with a swarthy face slowly walked out.

"You are Gao Le?" Xingjue glanced at the man and said dismissively.

"That's me," Gao Le replied loudly.

"You are Xingjue?" Gao Le looked Xingjue up and down, but he didn't recognize him.

However, seeing Four-Eyes and Little Three beside him, Gao Le realized who he was. The only one who would stand up for those two was the unknown Xingjue.

"Now that you know who I am, you should also know why I'm here. Are you going to kneel and beg for mercy, or am I going to beat you into begging?" Xingjue smirked. His words were full of arrogance.

"What a joke. You're relying on a woman to get by. You think you could beat me into begging? That's hilarious. Right, guys? Haha…" Gao Le burst into laughter.

He had heard about Xiaohan protecting Xingjue. In his eyes, Xingjue was a good-for-nothing who relied on women.

Following his lead, the disciples behind him also roared with laughter. With Gao Le here, they didn't fear Xingjue anymore.

After all, Gao Le was also a Wu Zun, the sixth-ranked elite. In their minds, even if Xingjue had reached the Wu Zun level, he was still inferior to Gao Le.

"You'll find out soon enough," Xingjue smiled slightly. He flicked his figure, transforming into a straight line, and charged towards Gao Le. At the same time, his five fingers clenched, and he punched Gao Le.

"Hmph!" Gao Le didn't flinch in the face of Xingjue's direct punch. He swung his right arm and punched out as well, meeting Xingjue's oncoming fist.

Seeing that Gao Le was actually engaging in a head-on clash, a cold smirk stretched across Xingjue's lips. His punch, though seemingly ordinary, contained the force of a soul attack. Its power was no less than that of the Devouring Wind Palm.

Gao Le dared to head-on with Xingjue. He was asking for it.

"Bang!"

"Pfft, pfft, pfft!"

The fists collided. Xingjue was unscathed. On the other hand, Gao Le was knocked back dozens of steps before stabilizing.

His arm, which had just collided with Xingjue's punch, was covered in blood, and the sleeve was torn apart.

After the head-on clash with Xingjue, Gao Le's right arm was essentially useless.

"I'll kill you!" Gao Le roared madly, feeling his numb right arm.

He clenched his left fist. Streams of martial energy gathered, forming a silver sword. The terrifying power contained within the blade shocked everyone.

Facing Gao Le's mad counterattack, Xingjue's lips slightly curled upward. His figure flickered, like a phantom, appearing next to Gao Le.

By the time Gao Le reacted, Xingjue's punch, empowered by terrifying force, had landed heavily on his chest.

"Pfft!"

The blow landed. Gao Le spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed onto the ground, unconscious.

Xingjue's punch had struck Gao Le's Qi Sea. While it wasn't enough to shatter it, it was a serious injury that would take a year or two to heal.

Seeing their leader fail after two rounds against Xingjue, the others treated Xingjue as if he were a demon. Their fear was clear.

Whenever Xingjue looked at them, they would take a step back subconsciously, terrified that he might be displeased and attack them.

Facing this cowardly group, Xingjue couldn't be bothered. He clenched his right hand. Streams of martial energy gathered, and, finally, he punched towards the characters "Gao Manor" on the entrance gate.

Following Xingjue's punch, a powerful wave of martial energy slammed against the plaque with the words "Gao Manor."

"Boom!"

With a deafening boom, the plaque shattered into pieces, scattering across the ground.

"From today on, anyone who dares to attack my brothers will meet the same fate," Xingjue turned around, pointing at the unconscious Gao Le, and said coldly.

The crowd trembled, unable to utter a single word…

Seeing that his desired effect had been achieved, Xingjue didn't linger. He smiled slightly, lifted his right foot, and prepared to leave.

"Brother Xingjue," one of the disciples who had been under Xingjue's wing suddenly spoke up.

Hearing his voice, Xingjue stopped in his tracks. He turned slowly, smiling and said, "I am not your brother, and please don't call me brother anymore."

Ignoring the disciple's reaction, he turned around and walked directly towards his own manor. Four-Eyes and Little Three followed behind, smiling triumphantly.

From today on, Xingjue's name would once again echo through the Inner Pavilion. Xingjue was back, and he was even more formidable than before.

"Haha, this is way too satisfying. Gao Le, who's always been so arrogant, couldn't even last two rounds against Brother Xingjue. This is too much fun," Little Three said loudly, sitting in the living room of Xingjue's manor.

He was so excited as if he had been the one to beat Gao Le.

"Right! I saw those disciples who had joined Gao Le's faction. Their faces were full of regret when they saw Xingjue beat Gao Le. It's so rewarding," Four-Eyes also chimed in, chuckling.

"Hehe, you can't blame them, actually. They were in a difficult position back then," Xingjue said with a soft smile.

In his heart, Xingjue didn't really blame those who had left him. But he couldn't accept them back.

While Xingjue, Four-Eyes, and Little Three were chatting merrily in the manor.

News of Xingjue's destruction of the Gao manor spread quickly. It caused a major stir in the Inner Pavilion. Right now, everyone in the Inner Pavilion was talking about it, and rumors flew about.

Deep within the Inner Pavilion, in the grand hall of the Second Elder, it was no different.

The Second Elder sat majestically on a huge dragon throne. His calm face exuded a faint trace of anger.

Behind him stood a man in a purple robe. His strength had already reached the mid-level Wu Zun realm.

This man was "Hu Bin," the second-ranked elite in the Inner Pavilion.

Down below, an elderly man stood deferentially. This elder was Zhu, the enforcement elder of the Enforcement Pavilion.

"Elder Zhu, that Xingjue dared to demolish the manor of his fellow disciples. What are you going to do about it?" The Second Elder said slowly.

"Second Elder, it might not be a good idea to do anything to Xingjue. After all, if Xiaohan, that girl..." Elder Zhu said hesitantly. He was still a little afraid of Xingjue after the previous incident.

"Nonsense!"

"You are an enforcement elder, and yet you fear a little girl? What kind of disgrace is this?" But before he could finish his sentence, the Second Elder erupted in fury.

"Yes, Second Elder. You are right! It is my fault. I am foolish," Seeing the Second Elder's anger, Elder Zhu trembled, immediately flattering him.

"Hmph, good. You know better now. Besides, you are just doing your duty. Even if someone wants to cause you trouble in the future, I will protect you."

"What you should do next, I think you know. Go," The Second Elder said slowly, waving his sleeve to dismiss Elder Zhu.

"This subordinate will take his leave," Elder Zhu bowed respectfully and hurried away.

"Master, why don't you let me go and teach that Xingjue a lesson." Hu Bin looked puzzled after Elder Zhu left.

"Just let the Enforcement Pavilion handle that kid. The Four Major Forces will be holding a joint "Hunting Competition" in a few days. What you need to do now is to rest and revitalize yourself."

"Right now that Xu Changqing is gone, you are the top dog in the Inner Pavilion. Don't disgrace our Wind-Riding Pavilion in this hunting competition. No matter what, you need to maintain your previous second place position." The Second Elder said slowly.

"Hmph, Xu Changqing, if he were still here, I would have already taken his position as the top-ranked elite. " Hu Bin grumbled indignantly when the Second Elder mentioned Xu Changqing.

"Did you forget how you were beaten by Xu Changqing two years ago? In two years, with Xu Changqing's talent, reaching high-level Wu Zun is a piece of cake. On the other hand, it's been two years, and you haven't gone beyond mid-level Wu Zun.

"You're progressing so slowly. Sooner or later, Xingjue will become the second Xu Changqing in the Inner Pavilion and trample you underfoot." The Second Elder roared angrily when he heard his words.

"This disciple has made a mistake. From now on, this disciple will devote himself to cultivation and live up to master's expectations. " Seeing the Second Elder's anger, Hu Bin immediately rushed to the front, bowed, and said respectfully.

"Good. Go," the Second Elder waved his hand slowly.

Hu Bin took his leave and slowly walked out of the hall.

The Second Elder was alone in the empty hall. He looked at the vast space and put away his usual air of authority. The Second Elder sighed helplessly and said softly, "Why do the most talented disciples refuse to join my faction? Sigh…"