Chapter 10: Naive

"A fake token won't save you," Tian Zunzhe snarled, launching a fierce attack. "You're nothing but a weakling!"

Fwoosh!

"Three-Legged Emperor Fist!"

Huang Longtian's instincts kicked in, swiftly drawing the word "Shield" in the air. 

The spell formed a glowing barrier, blocking Tian Zunzhe's fist attack.

Bang!

The impact of the fist sent shockwaves through the courtyard, but the shield held firm. 

Tian Zunzhe's eyes widened in surprise, but his surprise quickly turned to a sneer. "Oh, you do have some tricks up your sleeve," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "But let's see how you handle this!"

"Four-Legged Emperor Fist!"

With a roar, Tian Zunzhe gathered even more power, his aura intensifying. 

Boom!

He launched a stronger attack, a wave of energy that shattered Huang Longtian's shield and sent him flying. 

Huang Longtian crashed into the ground, spitting a mouthful of blood.

The pain was unbearable.

The physical pain was intense, but the  mental torment was worse. 

Why? They had no grudge. Everything had seemed like sunshine and rainbows since he arrived.

But this was a cultivation world—where weakness was the original sin.

Struggling to stand, Huang Longtian felt a crushing pressure descend upon him, making it impossible to move. 

Tian Zunzhe loomed over him, his expression cold. "Kneel and admit your mistake," he demanded, his voice stern as steel.

Huang Longtian's face twisted with fury. "I haven't done anything wrong. Why should I kneel to you?"

Tian Zunzhe frowned and increased the pressure, making it even harder for Huang Longtian to breathe. "How dare you defy me? Even if you don't want to, you'll kneel before me!"

Despite the overwhelming pressure, Huang Longtian gritted his teeth and tried to stand, his bones making cracking sounds from the strain. 

His vision was darkening, and he was about to faint.

Just as he was about to crack under the pressure, a soothing yet cold presence enveloped him.

Chu Yuechan appeared, her aura radiating icy fury. Clad in snowy white robes, her long blue hair flowing behind her, she locked her sharp, frosty gaze on Tian Zunzhe. "That's enough," she commanded, her voice as chilling as her eyes.

Tian Zunzhe hesitated before continuing to apply pressure for a moment longer. 

Noticing Chu Yuechan's eyes narrowing, with seething anger, he reluctantly withdrew his aura and stepped back. "You have poor insight Pavilion Master Chu. How could you choose a mere mortal as your disciple over me, Tian Zunzhe?" he mocked before turning and walking away.

His back seemed solitary, but his stride was powerful. If I can be your disciple, no one else can. Little ant, you'd better not cross my path again—or else...

Chu Yuechan didn't respond to his remarks. Instead, she looked at Huang Longtian's battered form, blood trickling from his seven orifices. He probably had a few broken bones. She sighed and pulled out a healing pill, gently placing it in his mouth. 

The guards' eyes widened in shock upon seeing the pill.

"Is that a High-Rank Earth Pill?" one guard whispered. "The Heaven Restoration Pill?"

"It is!" his comrade replied, astonished. "It heals severe injuries and restores Spiritual Qi. Only High-Rank Earth Alchemists like Pavilion Master Chu can refine it. The cost and failure rate are too high, making it rare."

"We're lucky to see one today," the first guard murmured.

"But who is he?" the first guard added. "He had one of the sect's highest authority tokens!"

"Yeah, with that token, he can access almost any place in the sect. Could he be a new disciple?"

"He must be someone significant. No one would give such a valuable token to just anyone," the second guard replied, glancing around nervously. "If he's Pavilion Master Chu's disciple, we need to be careful. We can't afford to offend them."

Chu Yuechan overheard the guards' conversation, though it wasn't intentional.

Her higher cultivation made their voices more audible, and they weren't being very discreet. Nevertheless, she chose to ignore them and focused solely on her disciple.

After a few moments, Huang Longtian's breathing steadied, and his wounds began to heal. Chu Yuechan waited patiently. "How do you feel?" she asked calmly.

Huang Longtian's face flushed red as he clenched into fists and took a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm alright, Master," he replied.

Chu Yuechan was a little surprised. 

Most people of his age would have reacted strongly after such humiliation, but he simply clenched his fists and took a deep breath to steady himself. 

It was commendable. This cheap disciple of hers was more impressive than she thought.

Chu Yuechan nodded. "This will be the last time I help you against someone of the same generation. You must grow stronger and learn to defend yourself."

Huang Longtian was silent for a moment before nodding. "I understand, Master. It won't happen again."

Chu Yuechan looked at him with a hint of approval. "Good. Now, go to the Alchemy Pavilion Treasury and see if they have the items you need."

However, a loud scream pierced the air, causing Huang Longtian to flinch.

"Who is making a ruckus in the Alchemy Pavilion Treasury?!"

A middle-aged man suddenly appeared, his expression stern until he saw Chu Yuechan. His name was Xie Ping.

Elder Xie Ping's demeanor immediately changed, and he greeted her respectfully. "Greetings, Pavilion Master Chu. How may I assist you?"

Huang Longtian looked at him with contempt. Only now did he show up? It was obvious he knew what was happening but chose not to interfere. 

He didn't want to offend that arrogant blonde guy. This elder probably didn't realize Huang Longtian was Chu Yuechan's disciple until it was too late.

Chu Yuechan didn't respond to Elder Xie Ping's greeting. She just looked at her disciple, Huang Longtian, and disappeared as silently as she had appeared.

Huang Longtian also ignored him and marched straight to the Alchemy Pavilion Treasury.

Elder Xie Ping's face darkened, though he said nothing, silently cursing in his mind. 

It was one thing for Chu Yuechan to ignore him, but to be disregarded by a boy wet behind his ear was humiliating. He felt as if his face had been tossed in the trash.

However, seeing Huang Longtian walking further away, he quickly pursued him.

As he entered, Huang Longtian saw that the Alchemy Pavilion Treasury was a grand chamber filled with neatly organized shelves and glass cases, with rare herbs, precious elixirs, and pill formulas. 

Soft golden light bathed the polished marble floors, and the air was thick with the scents of ingredients and old scrolls.

Along the way the Elder Xie Ping tried to appease Huang Longtian. "I apologize for any inconvenience, Young Master. How can I assist you?"

Huang Longtian's responses were cold and short. "I need Nightshade Flower Petals and Crystallized Spirit Bones."

Elder Xie Ping appeared surprised. "Hiss… Those are extremely rare materials. What does the Young Master intend to do with them?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Huang Longtian looked at him coldly and said nothing.

Elder Xie Ping coughed awkwardly. "I'm afraid we don't have any of those materials in stock," he said, trying to deflect his embarrassment.

Huang Longtian felt a pang of disappointment. He didn't know how long it would take to obtain the missing materials. 

Huang Longtian felt a sense of urgency and knew he needed to grow stronger quickly. 

Especially, after making an enemy out of nowhere, someone likely with a god-complex just like in these cultivation novels he had read before.

Elder Xie Ping noticed his disappointment and his eyes flashed with an idea. "However," he began, "there might be a way to acquire them. Central City will soon host an auction organized by the Celestial Epoch Chamber of Commerce, one of the  most renowned in the Eastern Domain. The chances of finding those materials there are extremely high. I recommend the Young Master go there to try his luck."

Huang Longtian's face lit up with hope. "Thank you for the information," he said, though his tone remained cool.

Elder Xie Ping seized the opportunity. "Of course, I only hope you can forgive my earlier oversight. I didn't realise you were Pavilion Master Chu's disciple."

Huang Longtian nodded curtly. "I understand. We all make mistakes."

Elder Xie Ping smiled, relieved. "If you need anything else, please let me know, Young Master."

With that, Huang Longtian left the Alchemy Pavilion Treasury. 

He needed those materials to grow stronger and never feel powerless again. The path ahead would be filled with challenges, but he was determined to face them head-on. 

After all, he had already faced death once; he wasn't eager to meet it again.