Chapter 8: The Hidden Killing Intent
The moment Xiao Chen spoke his final decision, the atmosphere on the mountain changed.
"I will still choose Elder Liu."
Silence.
But it was not the same silence from before.
The kindness on the elders' faces slowly faded.
Little by little… their expressions turned cold.
Like masks being removed.
Even the wind around the peak seemed to grow heavier.
Elder Kong's smile disappeared.
He looked directly at Xiao Chen.
"Are you sure about that decision?" he asked coldly.
Xiao Chen met his gaze without fear.
"Yes."
His voice was calm.
But his eyes had also changed.
The respect from earlier was gone.
Only cold certainty remained.
Elder Kong's eyes narrowed slightly.
In that moment, a terrifying pressure erupted from his body.
Boom!
It crashed down on Xiao Chen like a mountain.
The ground beneath his feet cracked slightly.
The strange voice inside Xiao Chen's mind suddenly spoke.
"What is wrong with this man?"
"Does he want to force you into becoming his disciple?"
Elder Kong spoke again, his tone still calm—but now dangerous.
"It seems you are quite stubborn."
The pressure increased again.
This was not ordinary strength.
It was the aura of a powerful cultivator—something beyond Xiao Chen's current level.
Xiao Chen's knees trembled.
His body screamed at him to kneel.
To submit.
But he clenched his teeth.
"No," he said through gritted teeth.
The moment those words left his mouth…
The pressure multiplied.
His bones groaned.
Sweat poured down his face instantly.
His legs shook violently, as if they would collapse at any moment.
But Xiao Chen did not kneel.
Not even once.
Elder Kong's eyes flickered with interest.
One-tenth of my pressure… and he is still standing?
"Interesting," he thought silently.
"Truly a genius."
"And geniuses… are always dangerous if they are not controlled."
A faint killing intent flashed in his eyes.
At that moment, the other elders finally noticed something was wrong.
"This pressure…"
"It's too focused."
"Elder Kong…?"
Elder Liu's expression changed instantly.
His calm demeanor shattered.
He stepped forward immediately, drawing a sword from beneath his robe.
The blade gleamed coldly in the air.
He stood in front of Xiao Chen.
"Elder Kong!"
"How dare you attack my personal disciple when he has done nothing wrong!"
His voice was sharp with anger.
For the first time, he looked truly like an elder of the sect.
Elder Kong, however, only smiled lightly.
"Attack?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"Which of you saw me attack him?"
"I am simply standing here."
"He is standing over there."
"No one saw me move."
The other elders remained silent.
But their expressions were no longer relaxed.
Because they all knew something was happening…
Something invisible.
Something only those at a higher level could understand.
Elder Kong's eyes flickered again.
This child…
Even under my pressure, he refuses to bow.
One-tenth was already enough to crush a body-strengthening cultivator into pieces.
But he is still standing.
A slow, dangerous thought formed in his mind.
If I don't kill him now…
He will become uncontrollable in the future.
Without warning—
Elder Kong turned and stepped into the air.
Then he flew away.
The other elders followed immediately, disappearing into streaks of light.
The pressure vanished instantly.
Xiao Chen's body collapsed.
"Ugh…"
Blood dripped from his nose.
His organs felt like they were burning.
His heart was pounding violently, as if it wanted to explode from his chest.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Like a war drum inside him.
The strange voice in his mind clicked its tongue.
"If I had not strengthened your body when I entered you…"
"You would have died just now without even knowing why."
Xiao Chen's eyes slowly sharpened despite his pain.
Cold.
Sharp.
Obscenely focused.
A name was carved into his heart in that moment.
Elder Kong.
Under the heavens… he was now on his list.
A kill target.
Then everything went dark.
And Xiao Chen collapsed.
When he woke up again…
He was already on Elder Liu's shoulder.
Flying through the sky.
"Hold on," Elder Liu said quietly.
"We're going to the Heavenly Pills Peak."
"You need treatment."
Far above them, Elder Kong's silhouette disappeared into the distance.
But none of them knew…
That this single moment…
Had already planted the seed of a future calamity.
A calamity that would one day shake the entire sect.