Chapter 7: Picking a Fight

## Chapter 7: Seeking Grievance

The morning light, resplendent and pure, bathed the Heng Yue Sect.

Ye Chen descended from the small peak, his steps quickening as he made his way to the Mission Pavilion. His arrival drew considerable attention. In part, it was due to his unfamiliar visage, but even more so, it was the combination of his Qi Condensation first-layer cultivation and the imposing Tian Que heavy sword slung across his back.

"Qi Condensation first layer, such meager talent." A Heng Yue disciple scoffed dismissively, glancing at Ye Chen.

"To choose Tian Que as a spiritual weapon... truly a fool with time to spare."

"Seriously suspect his head is full of water."

Ye Chen paid no mind to the murmurs of others. His gaze was fixed on the stone tablet within the Mission Pavilion, adorned with numerous small jade plaques. Each plaque represented a mission, their difficulty scaling from low to high.

"My Dantian Sea is forged, my physical body is blessed, and I possess true fire for protection. I have sufficient strength to face demonic beasts below the fifth layer of Qi Condensation head-on."

As he perused the missions on the stone tablet, Ye Chen silently assessed his own capabilities. Finally, his eyes settled on a jade plaque representing a relatively low-level mission, one he believed to be within his grasp: "Blood Wolf."

The Blood Wolf, a creature Ye Chen had encountered in the Treasured Beast Compendium, was known for its ferocity. Its strength was equivalent to a cultivator at the third layer of Qi Condensation, possessing a robust physical body that general Qi Condensation realm cultivators found difficult to penetrate. Most cultivators preferred not to provoke it.

"Just you." Ye Chen reached out to grasp the jade plaque, but a hand, deceptively swift, snatched it away before he could.

"The Blood Wolf mission, taken by I, Zhao Long." A faint chuckle echoed in Ye Chen's ear, laced with both provocation and mockery.

Ye Chen turned instinctively, his eyes falling upon a disciple clad in purple robes. He possessed a handsome, refined appearance, his black hair thick and flowing like a waterfall. Yet, a smirk, one that utterly repulsed Ye Chen, played on his lips.

"What? Not convinced?" The disciple, Zhao Long, lifted his chin haughtily, his gaze a disdainful slant.

"Senior Brother has taken it." Ye Chen chose not to engage in a pointless argument. His attention returned to the stone tablet as he sought out other missions. His gaze landed on a mission of similar difficulty to the Blood Wolf, also involving the slaying of a demonic beast.

However, just as he prepared to retrieve it, Zhao Long's hand, faster still, took the jade plaque.

"This mission, I have also taken." Zhao Long's mocking laughter resounded again, and as he spoke, he did not forget to cast a provocative glance at Ye Chen.

Ye Chen shot Zhao Long a look, yet still held his temper.

His gaze once more fell upon the stone tablet, where he located another mission. But as with the previous two attempts, just as he reached out, a hand, fair and swift, intervened again.

"This mission, also mine." It was Zhao Long once more, his chin raised high, his provocation even more blatant.

Ye Chen's brow furrowed. He now understood. This Zhao Long had not come to take missions, but specifically to find fault. Otherwise, with so many disciples selecting missions, why was he exclusively snatching Ye Chen's?

"This Senior Brother, I have no grievance with you, why do you make things difficult for me?" Ye Chen stared directly at Zhao Long.

Ye Chen had initially resolved to maintain a low profile upon entering the Heng Yue Sect, to avoid initiating conflict. But this did not mean he was afraid of trouble. Zhao Long's actions clearly indicated he was targeting him. Given the circumstances, with Ye Chen's temperament, he would not passively endure such bullying.

"No grievance? Humph hum hum." Zhao Long scoffed coldly. "You struck my little brother, and you dare say there is no grievance? Your courage is not small! You dare bully my little brother, Zhao Long? Truly, you do not wish for a long life."

With these words, Ye Chen fully comprehended. He had a rough idea of who Zhao Long's "little brother" was. Aside from Zhang Tao, whom he had sent sprawling in a daze yesterday, he could think of no other.

So, Zhao Long had come to avenge Zhang Tao. Indeed, the little brother Zhao Long had brought up was far more arrogant and overbearing than Zhang Tao, though his cultivation was significantly stronger.

Suddenly, Zhao Long's hand rested on Ye Chen's shoulder.

Following this, a strand of overbearing true qi surged into Ye Chen's body, rampaging within him.

Ye Chen's eyebrows twitched, but he remained calm. His Dantian Sea's true qi surged forth, forcefully pushing out the true qi that Zhao Long had infused.

Though slightly surprised that his true qi had been repelled, Zhao Long's mocking smile grew even more pronounced. "Boy, I truly underestimated you."

"He made the first move; you cannot blame me," Ye Chen replied indifferently. He had managed to subdue Zhang Tao, and he was not afraid of Zhao Long either. Zhao Long's cultivation was merely at the fifth layer of Qi Condensation. If they were to truly clash, he might not necessarily lose.

"Good, very good." Zhao Long clapped his hands together in mock praise. "I just like those without strength who pretend to be tough."

As he spoke, true qi began to flow around his body, suggesting he was ready to strike Ye Chen down.

Seeing this, Ye Chen would not be outdone. With a thought, the true qi within his Dantian Sea surged forth in a frenzy.

The atmosphere between the two crackled with hostility, quickly attracting the attention of the surrounding disciples who gathered to watch.

"They're going to fight!"

"A first-layer Qi Condensation cultivator dares to fight Zhao Long? Has he eaten the wrong medicine?"

"Are you rebelling?" A stern voice boomed from within the Mission Pavilion. The elder overseeing the pavilion had emerged, his shout filled with authority. "This is the Mission Pavilion, not a place for your unruly behavior. If you want to fight, go to the Feng Yun Stage. Begone!"

With the elder's deterrence, Zhao Long naturally dared not act recklessly, and even Ye Chen obediently withdrew his true qi.

"Boy, I'll settle this with you sooner or later." With a cold smile, Zhao Long, as he left, did not forget to issue a vicious threat to Ye Chen.

"I await it," Ye Chen replied calmly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. He turned back to the stone tablet, sweeping his gaze across it before taking down a jade plaque. It was a mission to slay a Fire Wolf, a creature of not particularly high level.

Taking the mission plaque, Ye Chen followed suit and exited the Mission Pavilion. However, he knew that in the days to come, peaceful cultivation would be a difficult luxury.

Leaving the Mission Pavilion, Ye Chen headed directly down the mountain.

As he passed the small spiritual garden, Ye Chen stepped inside to see Zhang Fengnian and the others.

"It is you all who once again make me feel warmth, who make me understand that I still have people to protect." A smile played on his lips. Ye Chen descended the spiritual mountain, his anticipation for a new beginning filled with more beautiful expectations. He needed to strive for this expectation, to protect the people he wished to protect.

Beyond the Heng Yue Sect, more than ten *li* away, lay a demonic beast forest. The demon beast slaying missions of the Heng Yue Sect were mostly targeted there.

After briefly orienting himself, Ye Chen tightened the rope binding his Tian Que sword and set off towards the demonic beast forest.

An hour later, before a dense mountain forest, Ye Chen stopped, panting. The demonic beast forest was vast and verdant, a jungle of ancient, towering trees. Simply standing at its edge, one could clearly feel the violent and bloody aura emanating from within.

"Time to work." Ye Chen took a deep breath and stepped into the demonic beast forest.

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