Zhang Hong was in shock, but even more so, he was overjoyed! Finally! After all this time, someone from the outer court had finally brought him something decent!


    Devil''s Blood Flower… although it couldn''t be considered something supernatural and extremely valuable, due to its rarity, it was difficult to obtain this nt.


    Some time ago, Elder Hong learned that the Sect Master required these very flowers. And this was his long-awaited opportunity!


    Zhang Hong''s eyes gleamed with gold as he looked at the flowers in the young man''s hands, but then he restrained his excitement.


    "Indeed. I cannot be too greedy. However, these flowers… hmm… I must take care of thisd," the elder thought and nced at his astonishedpanions. Then heughed out loud, saying, "Well, since the junior asks, this senior will graciously ept your act of respect… hmm… catch!"


    Xie Qing raised an eyebrow and effortlessly caught the round object flying towards him. As soon as he opened his palm, he saw what the item was – a round token made of dark wood with five characters engraved on it.


    "Hahaha, boy, now you can be sure that no one will bother you in the outer court. Of course, you must not use it as a means to threaten the disciples of the inner and main courts. Do you understand?" the elder''s eyes shed with steel as he issued the warning.


    "So, I can threaten the disciples of the outer court?" Xie Qing thought with disdain, but outwardly maintained a serious expression and nodded, "The elder''s words are full of wisdom. This disciple would not dare to defy your will."


    "Hahaha! Good, excellent! You have made me very happy! You said you live in the western part? Hmph, how dare those bastards ce my dear nephew in such an ugly ce?" Zhang Hong feigned anger and disappointment on his face, then turned to the other four with a righteous expression and said, "Brothers, I have checked and this disciple has a very pure heart, and his talent is undeniable.


    I believe we should assign him to the eastern part!"


    "Hahaha, Elder Zhang, those were my words! How can we let our dear nephew live in such a terrible ce as the western part? Immediately move him to the eastern part!"


    "How righteous, my brothers! I agree with you!"


    "Ah, what would the disciples do without us, the kind elders… ha-ha-ha…"


    The five eldersughed heartily, looking as if they were enjoying their own performance.


    "…"


    Xie Qing''s left eye twitched.


    ***


    The process… turned out to be much faster than expected. The female disciple who greeted him at the entrance was actually a member of the outer court''s housing management, so she quickly arranged his amodation and handed him the keys.


    The most pleasant news was that he would be the only one living in the house, with no roommates. This was exactly what he needed most.


    In the house where he was initially ced, there was another roommate who was absent due to matters in the outside world. And Xie Qing least wanted to interact with suspicious individuals, especially in such close proximity.


    Leaving the pavilion, Xie Qing saw a long queue and… hmm? Severalrge-bodied men in outer court disciple robes approached him with obvious hostility on their faces.


    Xie Qing cast them an indifferent nce, then turned to go to his house, but…


    "Stop, bastard! Where are you rushing off to? Hahaha, did you piss your pants? But when you killed my juniors, I didn''t see any nervousness on your face!"


    The speaker was none other than arge, bald man over 6''7" (200 cm) tall, who looked down at Xie Qing''s face with obvious arrogance.


    "Pfft, just a neer. I thought, I even worried that these idiots had offended someone important and I would have to bury their corpses without proper revenge, but fate! Turns out you, bastard, are strutting around here, alive and carefree, while my brothers were given to the mes! Hahah! The nerve!"


    Therge man''s expression changed from contempt to irritation, and then to anger. From the side, he looked like a schizophrenic.


    Xie Qing narrowed his eyes. Who would have thought that trouble woulde so quickly? In this sect, it seemed that above one sky, there was another, and so on to infinity. Shaking his head, he sighed.


    "What foolish people… only at the Soul Nascent stage, yet they act as if they are the kings of the world…"


    Xie Qing''s dismissive gesture definitely infuriated the men when they exchanged nces and shouted.


    "Fuck your mother, do you think you''re tough?"


    "Pfft, another bastard! We will torment you to death and the Jia brothers can rest in peace!"


    V-vshuuu!


    In a matter of moments, the aggressive men charged at Xie Qing, their attacks containing Yin Qi… no, it would be more urate to say, devilish Qi!


    In his movements, the young man was limited. He did not want to reveal his main skills so quickly, so he was a bit puzzled, choosing the right technique.


    Boom!


    In two seconds – that''s how long it took for the thugs to strike Xie Qing. Dust appeared around them, obscuring the view of the bewildered onlookers.


    After a few seconds…


    "AAAHH! M-my arm!"


    "T-the fuck?! This guy''s body is made of stone? Fuck, my leg!"


    "Aaaaagh!"


    Suddenly, a whirlwind swept away the cloud of dust. Revealed to the world was Xie Qing, who held the severed heads of two of the thugs in his hands with obvious indifference in his eyes.


    The othersy on the ground, their bodies convulsing. Their skin had turned purple, and foam wasing out of their mouths.


    "Pathetic insect" Xie Qing clenched his fist and… crushed the heads in his hands!


    Boom! With a loud bang, shreds of flesh, blood, and other debris flew in all directions, even hitting some of the bystanders, causing screams.


    Xie Qing stood there for a few more seconds before leaving the scene, looking maximally uninterested in cleaning up after himself.


    In any case, even if he didn''t use any techniques, he could still use nts and physical strength. Thetter he had in abundance.


    The crowd remained silent for a long time, not knowing what to say. This whole spectacle was something otherworldly, as if not of this world. The only reason they didn''t make a fuss – fear of disturbing the elders'' peace.


    Fortunately, after a few minutes, the responsible personnel cleared away the body parts without showing a single emotion on their faces. Seeing their actions, the people in the queue continued to move forward.


    ***


    On the second floor, Zhang Hong watched the departing Xie Qing with curiosity, and wisdom appeared in his eyes.


    "What an unusuald. It would be no trouble for him to enter the inner court. Considering his resources… hmm! It''s beneficial to befriend such a person!" the elder thought with a smile, then his expression darkened: "But… how unusual. This is the first time I''ve seen such terrifying physical strength. Is he a body cultivator?


    Otherwise, it''s inexplicable how his physical strength surpasses the normal limits of Soul Nascent cultivators…"


    Zhang Hong felt that there was an aura of mystery surrounding this neer. Even he, a cultivator at the Soul Integration stage, felt a bit ufortable when he met thisd''s gaze.


    This was the reason why the elder and the others restrained themselves and did not sumb to greed. Something in the young man''s eyes seemed to hold them back.


    "Forget it. I''m just an old man. Myst battle was a hundred years ago. I don''t need these troubles," Zhang Hong thought, dismissing all his worries into the trash can. He looked at his thoughtful colleagues and curled his lips in disdain, "Indeed, you won''t miss such an opportunity.


    If thisd bes their disciple, there is a chance that they will enter the main court as elders who have made a contribution to the sect… but I won''t allow it! Thisd is mine!"


    A stern gleam appeared in Zhang Hong''s eyes. He could not let others reap the benefits.


    "He belongs to me alone! And to no one else! Otherwise… no one will have him!"


    Unconcealed cruelty shed in the predatory eyes of the elder, who had long lost his disguise as a kind old man.


    Xie Qing was unaware of what was happening behind his back, and even if he had known, he wouldn''t have cared. The strength of these elders was decent, but not enough to pose a significant threat to him.


    In a fight against all five, Xie Qing could have gotten away with just a few cuts, and that would be it.


    Speaking of our protagonist, this guy opened the door to his house and then entered.


    Calling it a house would be somewhat of an understatement. It would be more urate to call it his own courtyard.


    A private garden, a pool, and furniture of decent quality.


    "Not bad, they live well here. An outer court disciple with a special status lives it up like there''s no tomorrow…" Xie Qing thought, plopping down on a chair in the courtyard. He looked around: "Hmm. Not bad. There''s a garden here, though… oh? These flowers seem to be infused with devilish Qi.


    But it''s not like they y any significant role here, just decoration."