C5 I Am Here to Bully You

The next day in Deepmere City, Lee Qingyun led a grubby old donkey through the streets, his Daoist robe pristine amidst the dust of the road. He strode confidently, unfazed by the sideways glances of passersby.

Ye Xiaoyu had assured him that with her as the sect master at the Foundation Stage, reclassifying Twin Rage as a one-star sect shouldn't pose much of a problem. Yet, Lee Qingyun was acutely aware that Twin Rage still fell short of the one-star criteria. To achieve that status, they'd need the backing of the Deepmere Trading Company, which meant dealing with Wang Ruhai's whims.

Lee Qingyun was not one to kowtow to others, a sentiment shared universally—no one enjoys pandering.

The sect's assets were a reflection of its strength. If Lee Qingyun could reclaim Twin Rage's assets, their power would match that of the original three-star sect, qualifying them outright for one-star status.

Moreover, with the system issuing a new mission and Lee Qingyun having already reaped its benefits, he was not about to pass up the chance for more substantial rewards.

Spiritual fields were cultivated by a sect with painstaking effort, inch by inch. Three years prior, Twin Rage boasted thirty acres capable of yielding a bounty of first-grade spiritual herbs and food, ensuring a steady flow of spirit stones.

But during the calamity three years ago, as the saying goes, "when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter." Fong Chuan, the steward of the sect's assets, turned traitor in their darkest hour.

The memory ignited a fierce look in Lee Qingyun, who had been strolling with ease. If not for Fong Chuan's betrayal, he wouldn't have faced such dire straits, struggling to establish his foundation without resources. He could have achieved a top-grade Dao Foundation, but instead, he was left with the lowest of the low.

Fong Chuan took pleasure in observing the street crowds, especially from his vantage point on the fifth floor of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. From there, he reveled in the illusion of superiority, looking down upon the ordinary folk below.

He was a cultivator, and naturally, he viewed ordinary mortals as no more significant than ants.

"Lord Fong, the three-year protection period is almost up. Haven't you decided yet?" came the voice of an assistant from behind Fong Chuan.

Without turning, Fong Chuan replied, "I've long since made up my mind."

"So you've ultimately chosen the Soul Capturing Sect?" the assistant inquired.

"The three-year protection period..." Fong Chuan began, "I've milked it for all it's worth. These thirty acres of spiritual field are simply too much for a cultivator at the Early Period of Dao Foundation like myself to enjoy."

"Once Nature's Mystery Pavilion's protection of Twin Rage expires, if we don't secure a strong ally, we'll likely be left with less than the bones picked over by the neighboring sects..."

It turned out that Nature's Mystery Pavilion's protection also extended to the assets of the sect, and Fong Chuan had exploited this relationship to quietly amass a fortune.

"I've been in touch with Elder Situ from the Soul Capturing Sect. His terms are steep, but he's left me some room to maneuver..."

"Why not stick with Twin Rage Sect, then?" the assistant pressed. "If you return the spiritual fields to them, you'd still retain practical control."

Fong Chuan turned to face his assistant.

The assistant, Lin Zhixiao, was a young man of average height, clad in a short grey robe, radiating an air of cleverness. He had been assisting Fong Chuan for over a year.

Patting Lin Zhixiao on the shoulder, Fong Chuan said, "Zhixiao, you're young and there's much you don't understand."

"After the protection period ends, given Li Qingshan's incompetence, I doubt he'd even consider applying for a one-star sect status. Forget the sect's assets; even his own sect's gates will likely fall to the Soul Capturing Sect."

"Is Lee Qingyun truly that hopeless?" Lin Zhixiao asked.

"Do you know him well?" Fong Chuan countered.

"Only by reputation," Lin Zhixiao admitted. "They say he's around my age, but his cultivation has advanced much faster. He's already reached the Foundation Stage."

Three years ago, he had already reached the 12th level of Qi Refinement, and two years prior, he achieved the Foundation Stage. Such a shame..." Fong Chuan let out a sneer. "It's a shame that this once-talented but unfortunate sect master rushed his advancement. Without proper resources, he ended up with nothing more than a low-grade Dao Foundation."

"This..."

"Sure, a low-grade Dao Foundation is a weak foundation, but it still qualifies one as a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I started with a low-grade Dao Foundation myself, and look at what I've accomplished since then."

"The most disappointing aspect of that kid is his incorrigible nature."

"Cowardly, soft-hearted, lacking ambition, and too timid to take risks..." Fong Chuan gazed out the window, his voice detached. "He's nothing but a complete waste."

"Ding, ding, ding..."

Just then, a series of clear bell tones drifted in from the street below. Fong Chuan peered down to see a young Taoist leading an ungainly donkey past the building.

The Taoist seemed to sense something, glancing up with a knowing smirk that met Fong Chuan's gaze.

Fong Chuan mumbled to himself, "Why does that Taoist look so familiar?"

But as the bell sounds grew fainter, seeming to distance themselves from him, he let the thought go and refocused on Lin Zhixiao, continuing his earlier point, "Bottom line, I can't put my faith in Lee Qingyun."

"Boom!!" A thunderous noise erupted from below.

It was followed by three more explosive sounds, each accompanied by a jarring shake that ran through the entire tavern.

"What's going on?!" Fong Chuan lost his composure and bolted out like a man possessed.

Rushing to the lower floors, he discovered the once lavishly appointed tavern reduced to a jumble of wooden planks, the pillars the only part left intact. The place was in shambles!

"My tavern! Who's responsible for this?!" Fong Chuan's eyes bulged with fury.

Then, a calm voice floated in from the entrance: "That would be me."

"You!" Fong Chuan turned toward the sound, spotting the very Taoist he'd seen earlier.

"And you are?"

"Who am I?" Lee Qingyun chuckled with disdain. "I'm the one who's come to give you trouble."

Before he could finish speaking, Lee Qingyun charged forward with a burst of wind.

Fong Chuan swiftly stepped aside, narrowly evading Lee Qingyun's onslaught. "Young Taoist, you think you can bully me with those paltry skills?" he taunted.

"Bang!" Lee Qingyun's fist smashed into the third-floor staircase, sending it crumbling down.

"Don't get the wrong idea," Lee Qingyun said with a chuckle. "That punch was just to dismantle your stairs. I'll take apart your entire restaurant before I deal with you personally."

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" With a series of hand seals, Lee Qingyun unleashed a barrage of wind blasts, swiftly reducing the third and fourth floors to rubble.

The Immortal Drunken Restaurant, once a top establishment in Deepmere City, now stood in ruins from the first to the fourth floor, stripped down to its bare pillars.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered at the restaurant's entrance, drawn by the commotion. They murmured among themselves, speculating about the owner's mysterious adversary who had come for revenge. Who could this powerful enemy be?

After his demolition work, Lee Qingyun flashed a toothy grin at Fong Chuan.

Bloodshot eyes and a trembling frame betrayed Fong Chuan's shock. He was at a loss for words. This young Taoist, a stranger to him, had inexplicably laid waste to his restaurant.

The stranger's mastery over spiritual energy, capable of external release, was beyond Fong Chuan's ability to contend with.

The crushing sense of being overpowered and helpless was maddening, a mix of humiliation and impotence swirling in his mind.

Fong Chuan bellowed, "What grudge do you have against me to warrant such destruction?"

The reply came cool and indifferent, "No grudge. I simply came to bully you."

Outside, the crowd buzzed with speculation:

"Is this Taoist really just causing trouble for no reason?"

"It doesn't look like it."

"Then why is he being so excessive?"

"Maybe Manager Wang has some hidden feud?"

"You're out of the loop. Manager Wang's past conflict with Twin Rage was the talk of the town..."