NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1:
Chapter 1: The Fated Protagonist Ye Xuan!:
-Eastern Continent, Celestial Peak Sect
“So, this is the true face of the Celestial Peak Sect, a third-ranked sect of the Eastern Continent?”
“Elite disciples bullying the weak, seizing whatever they want by force, and the senior members turning a blind eye, twisting right and wrong—today, I, Ye Xuan, have seen it all!”
“You don’t need to expel me; today, I, Ye Xuan, am leaving the Celestial Peak Sect of my own accord!”
“From now on, I have nothing to do with the Celestial Peak Sect!”
The grand hall was filled with noise and tension!
A young man with a determined face stood in the center of the hall, glaring defiantly at the elders of the Celestial Peak Sect, his expression fierce and unyielding.
This was Ye Xuan, an inner disciple of the Celestial Peak Sect!
On a recent journey, Ye Xuan had stumbled upon a top-grade earth-grade Body Cleansing Pill, but somehow, the true disciple Li Zhen found out and used every underhanded tactic to steal it from him.
However, no one expected that Ye Xuan would rise from his challenges, displaying extraordinary talent by defeating Li Zhen—a Spiritual Sea Realm cultivator—with his Spirit Sea Realm powers!
Under ordinary circumstances, such a genius would be intensely nurtured by the sect.
But Li Zhen wasn’t just any disciple; he was the personal disciple of Qingxuan Zhenren, the Sect Master. Rumors even suggested he was the illegitimate child of Qingxuan Zhenren and a female demon cultivator.
The Discipline Hall acted with unprecedented speed, arresting Ye Xuan on fabricated charges, leading to this very scene.
“Thirty years east, thirty years west!” Ye Xuan declared. “The shame I endured today, I will repay…!”
“Enough!” The head of the Discipline Hall, Zhang Yuan, roared in fury before Ye Xuan could finish his words.
With terrifying power at the Law Manifestation stage, Zhang Yuan’s aura filled the entire hall, creating a crushing sense of dread.
The path of cultivation is divided into ten realms: Spirit Qi, Spirit Sea, Soul Palace, Supernatural, Yin-Yang, Law Manifestation, Heavenly Cave, Heavenly Tribulation, Void Immortal, and finally, True Immortal.
The gap from Spirit Sea to Law Manifestation spanned four entire major realms—a difference of countless magnitudes!
The hall fell silent at Ye Xuan’s accusation of corruption and injustice. The rumors of Li Zhen being the illegitimate child of Qingxuan Zhenren and a demon woman had circulated within the sect for ages. Otherwise, why would he have been taken as a personal disciple at the mere Qi Refinement stage, groomed as the next sect master?
In his first year, Li Zhen made a breakthrough into the Spirit Sea Realm; by his third, he reached the Soul Palace Realm! He had walked a path in four short years that would normally take cultivators over a decade.
The head of the Discipline Hall, Zhang Yuan, had heard these rumors for years.
A rumor? No—this was practically fact!
He even knew the demon woman’s name and appearance. But knowing something in his heart was one thing—who dared to speak it out loud?
After all, the sect’s founder had inscribed “Justice in Law” above the Discipline Hall’s doors.
Feeling Zhang Yuan’s oppressive aura, cold sweat dripped from Ye Xuan’s eyebrow, yet he still sneered. “What? Did I say something wrong?”
“You’ve harmed your fellow disciple, showing blatant disrespect. You’ll be spared no mercy!” Zhang Yuan snarled furiously.
“Master Qingxuan is here!” A disciple announced as Zhang Yuan prepared to make his move.
A middle-aged man with a commanding presence entered the hall, his aura as vast as the sea, his mere presence disorienting. His gaze seemed to cut through space, giving an otherworldly impression.
This man was in the Heavenly Cave Realm!
He had opened his inner world, becoming a realm unto himself, an undisputed powerhouse even in the stronghold-filled Eastern Continent.
“You’re Ye Xuan, correct?” Qingxuan Zhenren looked calmly at Ye Xuan.
Despite not showing his full might, he felt even more terrifying than Zhang Yuan of the Law Manifestation Realm moments before.
One look, and cold sweat began to stream down Ye Xuan’s face.
“Three years ago, you were brought into the sect from the Lower Academy of the Heaven’s Blessing Domain. In two years, you reached the Spirit Sea Realm, displaying incredible combat power. Impressive.”
“Li Zhen’s injuries aren’t severe. Would you be willing to join the Sect Master Peak and become a true disciple?” Qingxuan Zhenren’s words stunned everyone present.
In the Celestial Peak Sect, disciples ranked from lowest to highest: servant disciple, outer disciple, inner disciple, and true disciple.
Ordinarily, reaching the Spirit Sea Realm qualified one as an inner disciple, while breaking into the Supernatural realm granted the possibility of becoming a true disciple. However, exceptionally talented disciples occasionally rose straight to true disciple status with support from high-ranking elders.
Yet, this Ye Xuan, having committed such an offense, was rewarded with a promotion instead of punishment?
The disciples began murmuring amongst themselves.
“Master!” The head of the Discipline Hall, Zhang Yuan, began to protest but was silenced by a wave from Qingxuan Zhenren.
“Enough!” Without hesitation, Ye Xuan declined the offer, a cold smile on his face.
“If it weren’t for Qingqing, I wouldn’t have come here at all!”
“The Celestial Peak Sect? I’m not interested!”
His words caused an uproar.
The Celestial Peak Sect, a third-ranked sect, governed dozens of Dao domains and hundreds of mortal kingdoms, yet he claimed it wasn’t worth his time?
Qingxuan Zhenren’s expression darkened in anger.
“How dare you! The Sect Master is being gracious, forgiving your transgressions. Show some respect!” An elder couldn’t contain his anger and stepped forward to berate Ye Xuan.
“Enough. Since you voluntarily wish to leave the sect, then go. From this day forward, Ye Xuan is no longer a member of the Celestial Peak Sect.” Qingxuan Zhenren’s tone was calm yet resolute.
“Sect Master, you mustn’t!”
“Sect Master, he has insulted the sect and shown blatant disrespect. If he isn’t executed, how will we command respect?”
“Sect Master, reconsider!”
At these words, the elders began pleading one after another.
“No need for further discussion. As the Sect Master, I won’t be petty enough to hold a grudge against a junior,” Qingxuan Zhenren waved them off indifferently.
“You’ll regret this!” Ye Xuan cast a cold glance at the hall’s occupants before turning to leave.
“The Sect Master is truly magnanimous!”
“As expected of the Celestial Peak Sect’s Master!”
“Today’s act of mercy should be written into our sect’s history.” With that, the dispute ended, and the elders began showering Qingxuan Zhenren with praise.
No one noticed the young man dressed in white, standing in the hall’s corner, his handsome face filled with utter bewilderment as he watched the scene unfold before him.