"You came together in such a state, what trouble you caused this time?" Zhou Tian said, his gaze resting briefly on Zhou Li before shifting away.
His tone remained relaxed, yet the accuracy of his words made Zhou Li's expression stiffen slightly.
Zhou Li took a slow breath before speaking, as if steadying the unrest in his chest.
"Big Brother, something happened at the Flame Spirit Arena."
Zhou Tian sat at the head of the hall, his posture relaxed as his fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his seat.
The rhythm was steady and unhurried, matching the calm expression on his face. However, the moment Zhou Li's words fell, that faint tapping came to a gradual stop.
"Speak more clearly," he said.
His voice was calm, neither cold nor warm, yet it carried a natural authority that made one instinctively straighten.
Zhou Li hesitated briefly before continuing, "I had a conflict with an inner disciple and ended up fighting him at the Flame Spirit Arena."
Zhou Tian's fingers resumed their slow tapping, his gaze steady as if the matter held little importance.
"So?"
That single word carried indifference.
Zhou Li's throat tightened slightly, but he forced himself to continue.
"I lost."
The words were simple, yet as they echoed softly within the hall, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to sink imperceptibly. Even the air felt slightly heavier.
Zhou Tian did not respond immediately.
His fingers paused mid-motion once again, and although his expression remained unchanged, the stillness that followed was far more oppressive than any visible anger.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
"Then why are you here," he said slowly, "instead of washing away this shame yourself? Can't you even handle a mere inner disciple?"
His tone was calm, but the dissatisfaction hidden within it was unmistakable. It was not hard to know that this was not first time when his brother cause such troubles, and he wants his help to revolve this matter.
Zhou Li lowered his head slightly, unable to answer.
Zhou Tian's gaze lingered on him for a brief moment before narrowing slightly, as if noticing something amiss.
"What?" he asked. "Does he have a powerful backer?"
Zhou Li hesitated. However, under that gaze, concealment was meaningless.
"His name is Xiao Feng. He joined the sect only a few days ago and has already gained some fame."
The moment those words were spoken, a subtle change finally appeared in Zhou Tian's expression.
It was slight, but unmistakable.
"Recently admitted… and already famous…" he murmured, as if searching through his memory.
A brief pause followed, before his eyes sharpened.
"I heard that the Fifth Elder recently accepted a newly admitted disciple to his first personal disciple. The name was also seem Xiao Feng."
"Don't tell me its him!"
A faint pressure spread from his body, causing the air in the hall to feel slightly heavier.
Zhou Li felt his heart tighten and quickly added, "I did not know at the time."
The confirmation had just fallen when a terrifying pressure erupted from Zhou Tian's body without the slightest warning.
The air within the hall trembled violently as an invisible force surged outward like a tidal wave.
The calm atmosphere shattered instantly, replaced by a suffocating weight that pressed down from all directions.
Zhou Li and Zhou Yan had no time to react.
Their bodies were lifted off the ground as if struck by an overwhelming force and thrown backward with brutal momentum.
They slammed heavily against the wall behind them, the impact producing a dull, resounding echo that spread through the hall and even caused faint tremors along the stone floor.
Zhou Li's expression tightened as he endured the force.
His feet pressed firmly against the ground as he forced himself upright, the pressure coursing through his body like a lingering shock. However, he could clearly feel that the force directed at him had been restrained.
Zhou Tian had held back. Otherwise it wouldn't just slightest pressure.
Zhou Yan, on the other hand, was not as fortunate.
The moment his body collided with the wall, his face turned pale. A surge of blood rose to his throat, and despite his effort to suppress it, a thin trace still slipped from the corner of his lips.
His breathing became uneven as he struggled to stabilize himself under the remaining pressure.
The hall fell into complete silence.
Zhou Tian slowly rose from his seat.
He did not even spare Zhou Yan a glance. His gaze was fixed entirely on Zhou Li, and the calm composure he had maintained earlier had completely disappeared, replaced by a cold and controlled anger that made the air itself feel heavy.
"Did you not find anyone else to clash with?" he said slowly, each word carrying a weight that pressed directly on the mind.
Zhou Li lowered his head further, his fists clenched tightly, yet he did not dare to speak. He understood clearly that this was not something he could justify.
Zhou Tian took a step forward.
With that single movement, the pressure in the hall grew heavier, like an invisible mountain descending upon their shoulders.
"Do you even understand who the Fifth Elder is?" he asked.
His voice was not loud, yet the suppression within it made it far more terrifying than any outburst.
"This is the first time when Fifth Elder had taken a disciple, and that's personal disciple.
When I first heard this news, I was already planning to find an opportunity to meet this Xiao Feng. To see what kind of person could be worthy to chosen personally by Fifth Elder.
And if possible to befriend him."
Zhou Li's expression shifted more. Although he had already imagine this outcome from his brother, but he didn't expect it would be this much.
"And before I could even take a step, you went ahead and created conflict."
As Zhou Tian think more about it, he became more and more angry.
When his family elder informed him that Fifth Elder had taken a personal disciple, he was also shocked.
If he was not about to make a major breakthrough, he would have go to meet him.
But who knows that before he befriend him, his younger brother make enmity with him.
The pressure in the hall seemed to deepen once more.
"Do you know what would happen if the Fifth Elder took this matter to heart?" Zhou Tian continued, his voice colder now. "Even the entire Zhou family might not remain unscathed."
Those words fell heavily.
Zhou Li's fists tightened even more, but he remained silent, unable to offer any defense.
After a long moment, Zhou Tian exhaled slowly.
The violent pressure gradually receded, though the heaviness in the air did not disappear completely.
He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again. The anger was still there, but it was now fully under control.
"Fortunately, you did not push him too far," he said. "Otherwise, this would not have remained a simple dispute, but a matter of face for the Fifth Elder."
Zhou Yan, standing at the side, finally steadied his breathing, though he still did not speak.
Zhou Tian turned and began walking toward the entrance of the hall.
"This matter cannot be left unresolved," he said calmly.
Zhou Li raised his head slightly. "Big Brother, I was planning to—"
"Enough."
Zhou Tian did not turn back, yet that single word completely cut him off.
"You will not interfere further."
His tone was calm, yet absolute.
Zhou Li's lips tightened, but he did not dare to argue again.
Zhou Tian continued walking, his steps steady and unhurried.
"Since the other party is a disciple of the Fifth Elder and possesses such talent, this is no longer something you can handle. If handled poorly, it will only create unnecessary trouble."
He stepped out of the hall, his robes swaying lightly as he moved.
"I will go personally."
Zhou Li's eyes widened slightly.
"You're going yourself?"
"This is the simplest way. Someone who can be valued by the Fifth Elder is naturally worth knowing."
His figure gradually disappeared beyond the doorway, and the faint sound of his footsteps slowly faded into the distance, leaving the hall behind in a deep and lingering silence.
Zhou Li remained where he stood for a long time, his fists clenched tightly at his sides before gradually loosening.
The frustration within him had not completely dissipated, but it was now suppressed beneath a clear understanding that this matter had already exceeded his ability to handle.
Beside him, Zhou Yan wiped the trace of blood from the corner of his lips and straightened his posture. The pain within his chest had not fully subsided, but his expression remained composed.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the entrance before lowering again, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes as he silently assessed everything that had just occurred.
Neither of them spoke again.
Because both of them understood clearly, this matter was no longer something they could interfere with, and whatever followed would be decided at a level far above them.