What Lowell couldn't bear even more was the trace of disdain in Quincy's tone.

  Leo was even more furious—not just at Lowell's hysteria, but at Quincy's ignorance, or perhaps deliberate provocation. Though she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, she evoked not a shred of sympathy.

  "I'll kill you!"

  Lowell wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes bloodshot. He slapped his storage pouch, and a purple lightning-speckled spear flew out, hovering above his head. The aura emanating from that spear was unmistakable—a lightning-attribute magic artifact!

  Was this madman out of his mind? Leo found himself in deep trouble. If Lowell used that artifact, even wounded as he was, Leo would have to unleash the Demon Binding Rope or die. He couldn't withstand a full strike from a lightning artifact. But revealing the rope would expose his secrets completely.

  Quincy watched curiously, wondering what tricks Leo would use against Lowell's artifact spear. Brash and the others retreated in fear, dreading Lowell's rage. But Leo, though grim-faced, showed no such terror. Her curiosity grew. She didn't know Leo now hated her.

  "Stop!"

  Just as Leo hesitated, a stern voice rang out.

  A massive black hand, several meters across, descended from the sky and seized Lowell's artifact spear.

  Leo looked up, startled. Two figures landed. A gaunt, sharp-featured elder—Sam, whom he'd met in Moonwatch Immortal City. Leo had never seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator act before. Casually seizing an artifact from a Qi Refining disciple—the gap was immense. Beside him stood another elder, about Sam's age, with a black beard.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  "M-Master Sam, Master Aldric..." Brash and the others paled. Of all the bad luck, they had run into Sam, renowned for his severity.

  "How dare you! Not only do you fight privately within the sect, but you draw magic artifacts? Do you seek to kill?" Sam thundered, his hair and beard bristling with fury.

  "M-Master Sam, this Leo from Azure Lotus Peak provoked us first and injured Senior Brother Lowell. We were merely stopping him." Brash quickly turned the tables, falsely accusing Leo.

  "Is that so?" Sam's gaze shifted to Leo. He seemed familiar, but he couldn't place him. Thousands of disciples; name duplication was common. Besides, nearly seven years had passed since Moonwatch Immortal City. Leo had grown, no longer the boy he'd met.

  "Esteemed Master Sam, Master Aldric, would a lone disciple truly provoke Senior Brother Lowell and his group? If you doubt me, question them separately about how I supposedly provoked them. See if their stories match." Leo bowed respectfully, unperturbed. Brash's clumsy accusation almost made him laugh. If such a trivial trick could fool him, he'd never have survived this long.

  "Is that so? Provoking first, then lying? When did Heavenly Summit Peak produce such despicable disciples? If true, sect rules will apply!" Sam's eyes narrowed on the ashen-faced Brash. Their expressions alone condemned them.

  "M-Master Sam, we... we said nothing! Brash spoke nonsense!" The others, trembling, immediately distanced themselves from him.

  "Excellent! Treating sect rules as decoration? I'll take you to the Punishment Hall myself!" Sam barked.

  Brash fell to his knees with a thud, terrified..

  "Enough, Senior Brother Sam. Don't frighten the children. Brash is despicable, but youth brings mistakes. And Lowell is injured—let him heal. With Master Caelus's granddaughter here, given his family's upbringing, this was surely a friendly spar. No need for further investigation." The black-bearded elder spoke soothingly.

  "Quincy greets Master Sam, Master Aldric." She curtsied gracefully.

  "Hmm, growing more charming by the day, Quincy." Master Aldric nodded approvingly. Sam, less adept at such pleasantries, merely grunted.

  "Well fought, young man. Defeating Lowell is no small feat. Regardless of who started it, fighting privately is wrong. Have Lowell compensate you for any losses. Fellow disciples, let this matter rest. Agreed?"

  Master Aldric turned to Leo. He knew Lowell's father; alone, he could have suppressed this. But with stubborn Sam present, he needed Leo's cooperation.

  "Junior Brother Aldric, if we always compromise, sect rules become a joke." Sam frowned.

  Leo understood. Master Aldric's words exonerated Lowell. His question was a formality. He couldn't refuse. Offending Sam, blunt but fair, was one thing. Master Aldric, seemingly kind, could make real trouble. And pursuing this would cost him the Pond Peak Town auction. He nodded. "Master Aldric is right. A minor misunderstanding. I've suffered no loss, no compensation needed. Senior Brother Lowell should tend his wounds."

  "Ha! A wise young man." Master Aldric smiled, satisfied. Leo was sensible. But Sam's dignity required acknowledgment. He turned. "Senior Brother Sam, youthful sparring. No need for sect rules. But Brash's lies to elders deserve punishment. Agreed?"

  Sam glared at Leo, displeased. "Fine. As you say." He stormed off.

  Brash collapsed, sobbing. In a few words, he had become the scapegoat. Leo smiled coldly. He deserved it. Bowing, Leo departed.