The fact that Fang Xing had hidden the metal ring so well in his hair—coupled with the abnormal expression on his face—caused Feng Qingwei to be suspicious of the ring’s true purpose. She felt that the item Shixiong Xiao Jianming was looking for was most certainly within.

　　Fang Xing’s eyes shifted back and forth. “If it’s not in there, what are you going to do?”

　　Feng Qingwei looked towards Xiao Jianming before nodding and showing a cold smile. “If it’s not in there, then I will have wrongly accused you. But if it is there… heh, no matter how large the Qing-Yun Sect is, it will no longer have a place for you!”

　　Fang Xing’s gaze hardened as he looked to her. “No matter how sharp your teeth or how clever your words may be right now, when it’s my turn to search you….” He smirked with clear provocative intentions.

　　Feng Qingwei felt a sense of disdain. She was certain that the metal ring in his hair was none other than a storage ring, and if Shixiong Xiao was sure that the item he was searching for was on the boy, then the only possibility was that it was hidden inside this ring. Once the item was found, when would the boy get the chance to search her body? It was likely he’d immediately be seized and brought back to the sect for punishment! “I will give you the opportunity to search me, but I’m afraid you won’t have the courage to do so!” Feng Qingwei coldly laugh while holding out her palm.

　　Fang Xing reluctantly removed the storage ring and placed it in her hand, and once she had the ring, Feng Qingwei was even more certain that it was a storage ring. Finally at ease, she waved it in front of Xiao Jianming as if to show off her accomplishment, but Xiao Jianming’s expression was creased in concern as he nodded and signaled for her to open it.

　　As for the Qing-Yun disciples, they all moved forward of their own accord. From the stern expression of Xiao Jianming to the proud expression of Feng Qingwei, even they were certain that the lost item had to be inside the ring. In mere moments, they all believed that perhaps Fang Xing had truly stolen Xiao Jianming’s treasure, and they were curious as to what exactly that treasure was.

　　“Hehe, so you’ve been caught red-handed now, ay?” Shen Lo wore a cold grin on his face as he looked sharply at Fang Xing.

　　On the other hand, Qin Xing’er, Liu Heihu, Wu Xiangtong, and the rest of the Duanzhen disciples appeared rather gloomy. Even Xu Linyun did not speak a single word, her eyebrows creasing as she looked at the storage ring.

　　“You managed to hide this very well. I searched twice and still almost missed it….” Feng Qingwei released a chilling laugh as she instilled the ring with Qi. A black slit immediately appeared in the air above the storage ring, revealing its entrance. It was possible to see what was within the ring by looking into the slit, and it was also possible to smell anything that was hidden inside.

　　Yet something unexpected happened.

　　Even when the storage ring was opened, there were no scents of anything. Xiao Jianming’s expression immediately fell.

　　Feng Qingwei had been observing Xiao Jianming all the while, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat as well when she saw his expression drop. With a hasty motion, she poured out all of the items inside the ring into the open. Under the noise of clatters and clangs, over a dozen beast cores, four or five high-tier Flying Swords, a few jugs of unopened wine, and some bottles of medicinal pellets were all revealed. On the bottom of one of the bottles that had come out bottom first, there was the word “Lin” etched on it.

　　Feng Qingwei turned to look at Xiao Jianming once again. When she couldn’t find any signs of delight on his face, she became even more frantic and kneeled down to rummage through all of it over and over.

　　BAM

　　It was at this moment that she felt someone kick her from behind. A delicate beauty like her had nearly been forced into the muddy ground head first, almost like a dog being pushed into sh*t.

　　Feng Qingwei anxiously yelled, “How dare you kick me…. Do you want to die?” With her status and beauty, had she ever been hit growing up even once, let alone get kicked from behind?

　　Without question, the one who had kicked her was Fang Xing. His gaze was cold as he asked, “All of this stuff here is my most important treasures, yet you just threw them on the ground like this? If any were to be broken, do you even have enough to compensate me for my losses?”

　　Xu Linyun involuntarily blinked when she saw the bottle with her name etched on the bottom. She remembered that this was the bottle the boy had scammed off of her when he’d complained about a “sore bottom” back at her Linyun Valley. She hadn’t expected that even after three years had passed and the boy had grown substantially, he’d still kept the bottle. And it was with all of the other “most important treasures” of his, as well.

　　Feng Qingwei was embarrassed and angry. “Since it’s a search, everything must be searched thoroughly!” she exclaimed, her face bright red.

　　Fang Xing then turned coldly towards Xiao Jianming. “Great then. Go ahead and search. Did you find what you’re looking for?”

　　The rest of the disciples couldn’t help but to all look at Xiao Jianming, who didn’t need to inspect any closer to know that the Purple Mist Orchid was not inside. With the orchid’s medicinal properties, there would have been a purple light that shot up to the skies the second the storage ring was opened. After getting such a clear look at everything that was inside the ring, he felt a sense of shock. He studied the pile of items without even blinking, as if trying to will something into existence.

　　“How does this kid have so many beast cores? Could he have stolen them from Shixiong Xiao Jianming?” someone softly muttered. This someone was Shen Lo, and once he’d finished speaking, he noticed that most of the people who had stood close to him had now moved away. When he lifted his head shortly after, he felt his heart drop.

　　Fang Xing looked at him with a lopsided smile. There were no signs of anger, but the expression was numbingly cold. This was when Shen Lo finally realized why everyone had moved away from him—the boy’s glare was just too scary. In order to suck up to Xiao Jianming, he had completely and utterly made himself this boy’s enemy; there was no chance the boy would let him go now.

　　If there were any merits to having a reputation as bad as Fang Xing’s, it would absolutely be the impression of “this person is not to be annoyed”. Unless it was someone who was absolutely certain they would want to fight him to the bitter end, most people would choose to steer clear of someone with such a reputation even if it required a slight cost to do so. They knew that if they were to get involved, the grudge wouldn’t be cleared until death got involved, and—most importantly—the boy was very powerful.

　　It was also because of this that Shen Lo suddenly became filled with regret. Just how had he paved his own path, one step at a time, into such an awkward situation?

　　Shen Lo had originally only wanted to help out the Danxia Valley disciples in order to leave a good impression, since doing so would help him obtain spirit pellets in the future. Then he’d wanted to suck up to Xiao Jianming. Yet, now it seemed that even those Danxia disciples were looking at him as though he was some kind of idiot, while Xiao Jianming did not even care to glance his way. What was his reason anymore? Large drops of sweat quickly formed across Shen Lo’s forehead, and he quickly evaded Fang Xing’s glance while feeling a sense of trepidation inside.

　　Fang Xing did not really care about such a clown and merely thought about how he’d cut the man in half when there was an opportunity. He looked back to Xiao Jianming with a grin. “Shixiong Xiao, did you find it?”

　　Xiao Jianming returned the gaze with a darkened face. “Where exactly did you hide it?” he coldly asked. In other words, he’d admitted without a doubt that he had not found what he was looking for.

　　Fang Xing’s face suddenly turned bright red, as though he overtaken with embarrassment. With the sound of his weapon drawn, he brandished the saber in front of him and yelled out, “Xiao Jianming, you son of a turtle bastard, you really think I’m scared of you? I already told you, whatever it is you’re looking for was taken by the Foundation Stage beast, and you’re only accusing me because you know you’re too scared to chase after the beast. So now I let you search me and I clearly don’t have it, yet you’re still trying to blame me? F*ck all eighteen generations of your ancestors, do you really think I’m an easy target?”

　　Clamber….

　　Fang Xing’s words sent all of the disciples moving far away and nearly caused them to wet their pants. Out of fear of being hit with splattered blood, they moved nearly in unison.

　　Who was Xiao Jianming?

　　He was the eldest shixiong of the Hall of Heaven’s Tribute. He was the leader of the Qing-Yun core disciples. He was the nephew of Shanhe Valley’s chief elder, Xiao Shanhe.

　　Xiao Jianming’s status within the sect was higher than most elders, and it could even be said that he probably had the highest status just beneath the sect master and the four chief elders. Yet now, he was being pointed and cursed at by a boy who said “f*ck all eighteen generations of your ancestors”?

　　At that moment, Xiao Jianming’s gaze was frigid while murderous intent began to flare. Right now, his only desire was to kill this boy. He had never had anyone curse at him in such a way— ever!

　　From the moment he’d started his cultivation, even his teachers and seniors had treated him with politeness and respect. Even his uncle had showered him with love and care without scolding him even once. With his status and battle prowess, he had never even had a real opponent!

　　Yet now, this boy dared to curse at him in front of all these people?

　　Amidst the anger, Xiao Jianming could even feel somewhat amazed!

　　This was unbelievably astonishing!

　　Following along with Xiao Jianming’s vicious glare, Fang Xing returned one of his own. Fang Xing’s glare, however, felt as though it contained even more murderous intent than Xiao Jianming’s.

　　Xu Linyun suddenly leapt between the two while holding a jade talisman in her hands. “Shixiong Xiao, it’s best that you reconsider certain actions before doing them. I may not be strong enough to be your opponent, but I am also a core disciple and hold the power to send a direct message to the sect master. If you dare to put your hands on him today, I will stop you, and I will inform the sect master even if I can’t.”