C14 Elder Bai

Behind the blue and white phoenix, there was a young girl and an elderly woman seated.

Upon noticing the girl, Chen Yu involuntarily began to back away.

"I wonder what brings Elder Bai here? If there's something you wish to discuss, it can wait until after I've dealt with this youngster."

"That won't do," the elderly woman replied as she gracefully descended from the phoenix, the young girl still cradled in her arms. "I've come specifically for this young man."

Ye Feng was slightly taken aback by her forthrightness. He had his suspicions upon seeing the girl, but he hadn't expected the elderly woman to be so candid about her support for him.

Elder Chen's face soured upon hearing Elder Bai's words, and his tone lost its previous cordiality. "Bai Yan, this kid has bullied my grandson. You really should step in."

"And what about your grandson bullying my granddaughter?" Elder Bai retorted, tapping the ground with his cane, visibly upset. "How do you explain that?"

"Bullied your granddaughter? When did this happen?" Elder Chen turned to confront his grandson, only to find that the boy had silently retreated quite a distance away.

It was clear as day; his grandson had wronged Elder Bai's granddaughter.

Internally, Elder Chen cursed his grandson's audacity but felt powerless to reprimand him, given his own discomfort.

Despite Elder Bai's seemingly minor role in overseeing a small medicinal garden, he was an Inner Sect Elder, a figure not to be trifled with by those in the Outer Sect like himself. How could his grandson have been so bold as to offend her?

After a moment's contemplation, Elder Chen conceded, "If my grandson has indeed wronged your granddaughter, once we resolve the current situation, I will ensure he personally apologizes. However, I must insist that you refrain from involving yourself in this matter between the boy and me."

"That is unacceptable. We must intervene," Elder Bai declared firmly. "If your grandson hadn't bullied my granddaughter, this young man wouldn't have gotten involved. If I can't protect him, what standing will I have in the Inner Sect?" With a gesture from Elder Bai, Ye Feng found himself inexplicably shifting to stand behind her.

"Senior Brother Ye, there's no need to worry. With my grandmother here, they wouldn't dare lay a finger on you," Bai Yunxue declared, her fists clenched firmly.

Ye Feng offered a wry smile. He had definitely noticed the warning in Elder Bai's gaze when Bai Yunxue spoke up, cautioning him not to entertain any thoughts about his granddaughter. Heaven knows, despite her appealing looks, he had no interest in a sickly beauty.

Elder Chen, observing Elder Bai's reaction, struggled to contain his fury. "Elder Bai, perhaps we should refrain from meddling in the younger ones' affairs."

Elder Bai gave him a cool glance. "And what's your solution?"

"Why not let the juniors spar with each other? The victor will clearly be in the right," Elder Chen suggested, casting a dismissive glance at Ye Feng. He was skeptical that this young man could have advanced to a martial artist of Body Tempering Rank Seven in just a month.

In his view, his own defeat at Ye Feng's hands was solely due to a surprise attack.

"Do you propose a match between your grandson and my granddaughter?" Elder Bai's eyes blazed with rage, nearly incinerating Elder Chen on the spot.

It was common knowledge within the sect that his granddaughter had been frail and ill from a young age. Though she had attained Rank One of Spirit Astral, her physical condition prevented her from matching up to a regular warrior.

"No, no, no, I meant this young man should compete with my grandson," Elder Chen clarified, clearly not eager to provoke Elder Bai's granddaughter—or Ye Feng, for that matter.

"Mr. Ye, are you willing to accept the challenge?" Elder Bai asked, his protection of Ye Feng motivated by his granddaughter's favor. His only concern was to prevent Ye Feng from sustaining serious injuries.

Ye Feng had no illusions about Elder Bai's support. He knew he had to confront many challenges on his own. "If Elder Chen insists, I shall humbly comply," he responded. With measured steps, Ye Feng advanced, Chen Yu's sword still in his grasp.

The kitchen tools bestowed by the system were indeed potent, each a Divine Artifact. Yet, it seemed a waste to use such treasures against someone like Chen Yun.

Elder Chen and Chen Yu took notice of the sword in Ye Feng's grasp.

Elder Chen's expression darkened. "Kid, give my grandson's weapon back."

"That's not going to happen; it's my war trophy. If you want it back, try defeating me first," Ye Feng retorted, eyeing the sword in his hand.

"You're not recognizing what's in your best interest," Elder Chen warned, his voice laden with menace.

Elder Bai's icy tone quelled his fury. "Fair is fair; we honor our bets. Your grandson was eager to use the same excuse to claim the Immortal Grass from my granddaughter, wasn't he? Or do you need me to have a word with him?"

Elder Chen, seething with silent rage, bit back his anger. "You impudent boy, retrieve your own weapon."

Chen Yu clenched his fists and fixed Ye Feng with a fierce stare before stepping forward deliberately.

Aware of his weapon's might, he initiated the terms before the duel began, "This is a friendly sparring between fellow disciples. We'll use only our hands and feet, no weapons."

Ye Feng's eyebrows lifted in amusement, and a scornful smile played on his lips. "Fine, we'll stick to hand-to-hand combat." With that, he casually tossed the sword aside onto a nearby rock.

His trials in the Nine-level Demon Tower hadn't been in vain. Even with a limited arsenal of martial techniques, he was more than capable of handling this youngster.

Chen Yu's eyes gleamed with excitement, having successfully baited Ye Feng.

He was determined to regain his honor here and now.

"Great Splitting Palm!" Without giving Ye Feng a chance to respond, Chen Yu launched a swift strike at his chest.

"Wow, that Chen grandson is utterly despicable, launching an attack on Senior Brother Ye without any formalities," Bai Yunxue exclaimed indignantly.

Elder Bai gazed affectionately at his granddaughter, then rubbed her head with a mix of affection and resignation. "Naive child, the battlefield has no place for niceties. Victory is all that matters."

Noticing his granddaughter's anxious look, Elder Bai reassured her, "Didn't you say this young man once bested a member of the Chen family? You should have faith in him."

Bai Yunxue nodded, though her eyes still brimmed with concern.

As Chen Yu observed the fierce wind barreling toward him with a detached gaze, he didn't overthink his response. Gathering Spiritual Force in the palm of his hand, he instinctively assumed a defensive stance.