“Elder Xu, please stay!”

　　Quickly, Elder Lee stepped forward to block Xu Que and his entire group.

　　His smile was strained, his laughter forced. Elder Lee looked strained in his attempt to appear casual.

　　Xu Que’s eyes narrowed as he examined Elder Lee’s comportment, coldly laughing as he asked, “Elder Lee, was there something else?”

　　“Umm…Elder Xu, you’ve come all this way, why not relax for a moment? Our Sect Leader is preparing to give you some things as reparations. If you leave now, what explanation will I have for him?” Elder Lee said innocently.

　　“Oh? You’re saying that I have to stay just so you can fulfill your duty?” Xu Que responded, maintaining his cold smile.

　　Upon hearing this response, Elder Lee’s smile stiffened, but, keeping his humor, he continued, “Please don’t misunderstand me, we just want to offer up our goodwill. Please, Elder Xu, do stay a little while longer!”

　　“Come on, just look at your face! You’re begging me to stay with a smile that doesn’t reach your eyes. Obviously, a dagger is hidden in that smile, an idiot could tell that you are planning something sinister!” Xu Que said coldly.

　　Elder Lee stood momentarily stunned. He couldn’t believe Xu Que’s words. They tore right through his lies, leaving him no room to wiggle out of this situation.

　　Xu Que must have seen through their plans. Despite that, he didn’t have to bring the entire thing to light!

　　Elder Lee didn’t know how to respond.

　　“It’s all right, I know that you’re in a tough position. After all, you are acting on orders from above. I won’t make things difficult for you.” Xu Que waved his hands diffidently, appearing as the magnanimous warrior.

　　At this, Elder Lee looked relieved, as if a huge weight had fallen off his back. He spoke hurriedly, “Thank you, Elder Xu! Thank you for your understanding!”

　　Within the Hall, many expressions changed at the sound of Elder Lee’s words.

　　Abruptly, Xu Que shouted, “D*mn! I was just testing you! I didn’t think that you were actually planning to harm me!”

　　Elder Lee suddenly realized what he had done. He became extremely agitated. When he finally recovered, his mind was screaming at his own stupidity.

　　“How could he fix this? What could he say to keep the plan from unraveling?”

　　With his own words, he had just admitted that they were hiding something.

　　“Elder Xu, you misunderstood me. I didn’t mean it that way!” Elder Lee feverishly tried to explain.

　　“Didn’t mean it? Do you think I’m stupid?” Xu Que smiled grimly and again waved it off. “However,…I’m always straightforward, and I never go back on my word. When I said I wouldn’t count this against you, I will follow that through!”

　　At these words, Xu Que looked over at his group that included Buttface and Duan Jiude and then quietly ordered, “Since the Sect Leader is showing such affection, let us stay a little longer.”

　　“Of course!” Buttface and Duan Jiude gladly nodded their heads and sat down, along with Mo Junchen and Liu Jingning.

　　Elder Lee secretly sighed in relief, and his face held a fake smile as he said, “Elder Xu, stay a while, our Sect Leader will definitely provide a satisfactory resolution. Come, let’s get more tea for Elder Xu and our warriors in the Exploding Heavens Faction!”

　　After speaking, Elder Lee turned around and returned to his seat. His bland expression couldn’t contain the satisfaction he felt inside.

　　As long as Xu Que agreed to stay, his goal could be attained. Once the Sect Leader opens that door, the entire situation will change!

　　However, even before he reached his seat, he felt as if something was off.

　　The other people of the Sect were in front of him, their faces in shock staring at him. One man’s mouth gaped open, as if wanting to speak.

　　But the moment passed too fast. Elder Lee didn’t even hear the warning before he felt a powerful blast at his back, a force incomparable in strength.

　　Immediately, his head felt numb. Frantically, he tried to move, to propel himself forward a distance but all he managed was one step.

　　He heard an explosion as his entire person was flung into the air, like a kite with a cut string. His body was thrown up to the ceiling of the Grand Assembly Hall and then it fell down to the ground with a heavy drop.

　　BOOM!

　　The Sect members in the Grand Assembly Hall stood up, all their eyes guardedly staring at Xu Que.

　　Xu Que hovered near the ground, one hand carrying the Chiliad Gold Resurrection Vine, the other hand gripping a purple-gold rod. His pompous attitude permeated his entire face and stature, and he showed no sign of sorrow at the destruction he left behind him.

　　TUT! TUT! TUT! “You old thing! You are really something…still alive after that hit!” Xu Que shook his head, speaking softly.

　　The Tough-Acting King’s Purple-Gold Rod is a high-grade Celestial Artifact, the combination of a Black Rod with Purple Sky Age Metal. However, the combined explosion of the holy physique and the physical body only sent Elder Lee flying and did not kill him or cause him great harm.

　　It was obvious that their levels of ability were too far apart.

　　Xu Que’s true ability was at the Earth Celestial Middle Stage. Elder Lee was a True Celestial of the Great All-Embracing Heaven, only one step away from the Golden Celestial of the Great All-Embracing Heaven, an extremely powerful being!

　　With such disparate abilities, even if he exerted his peak power, it would be very unlikely for Xu Que to hurt Elder Lee. By sending Elder Lee flying, he had already perfectly used the holy physique’s power.

　　Elder Lee climbed out of the rubble, covered in ash.

　　He shook his body, quickly recovering and clearing his head. His gaze landed directly on Xu Que.

　　Xu Que had his own moment of confusion. He understood that the rod wouldn’t kill Elder Lee, but ordinarily it should have rendered him unconscious.

　　His Tough-Acting King’s Purple-Gold Rod was a new weapon, capable of stunning any level of warrior through a surprise attack. Why didn’t it work?

　　“What happened?” Xu Que reflexively inquired with the System interface.

　　However, at the same moment, Elder Lee reached into his robe and took out a broken piece of bronze. A dark haze enveloped him as he angrily looked at Xu Que.

　　This was a Celestial Artifact Grade Armor. It was now shattered because Xu Que had used all his strength in that blow. But it had protected Elder Lee from being knocked unconscious.

　　Upon seeing the armor, Xu Que immediately understood what had happened. He rubbed his chin as a meaningful look of regret appeared on his face.

　　If Xu Que had known Elder Lee had had such a Celestial Artifact on him, he wouldn’t have attacked. What a waste of Celestial Artifact Grade Armor!

　　“You aren’t a Celestial King and definitely not above a Celestial King. You have only Earth Celestial grade training!” Elder Lee spoke coldly as he stared daggers at Xu Que.

　　Xu Que’s move had exposed his true abilities!

　　After all, Celestial King or above, even if they were conservative, the power would still not be the same. Moreover, the moment Xu Que attacked, Celestial power poured into the physical body, exerting all his strength. This revealed one’s own true abilities and Xu Que’s was Earth Celestial Middle Grade!

　　Elder Lee’s words jolted the still-seated elders, their faces frozen in shock.

　　This Xu Que, he was only an Earth Celestial Middle Grade?

　　Suddenly, the elders all frowned, and an uneasiness began to develop among them.

　　If Elder Lee’s guess was correct, then this had all been a big misunderstanding. Wasting half a day in terror, and the entire Heaven Continent threatened by a mere Earth Celestial.

　　Yet, Xu Que didn’t show a bit of anxiety. His face remained in a constant calm humor. “I’ve never said whether I was a Celestial King or beyond. However, you all are welcome to try my true abilities. I’m leaving now. If anyone wants to stand in my way, come on!”

　　Having spoken, Xu Que turned his back on the Sect, picking up the Tough-Acting King’s Purple-Gold Rod and lifting the Chiliad Gold Resurrection Vine, and boldly preparing to leave.

　　This brazen confidence momentarily bewildered the Sect’s elders.

　　Even Elder Lee, his face showing consternation, began doubting himself and whether he had guessed correctly.

　　As Xu Que stepped through the Grand Assembly Hall’s door, a shock of lightning gathered beneath his feet. At the same moment, Buttface and Duan Jiude along with the rest of the group cried out, “Quickly! Run!”

　　At once, he flew straight into the sky.

　　The Sect’s elders within the Grand Assembly Hall finally gathered their wits to realize that Xu Que was only an Earth Celestial. Why else would he need to run away? Didn’t this confirm it?

　　“Go after them!” Elder Lee shouted as he rushed out.

　　None of the elders wished to be the last in pursuit, especially the middle-aged man who was a representative of the Ming family. They all immediately took off toward the heavens.

　　Any one of them able to take Xu Que’s life would be well-received.

　　Despite the group of powerful enemies at his back, Xu Que, at the head of the chase, still kept his lips curled in dark humor.

　　The Firestorm Wheels hidden in his chest were eager to present themselves. And in the midst of the excitement, they exploded with an air of incredible ferocity.

　　“He, he, he…your Sect Leader wants a kill, I will grant his wish!”

　　Snickering, Xu Que threw his hand out wide. The Firestorm Wheels came out!