NOVEL NEXT Ch. 5
Chapter 5: Li Aotian Arrives, Here to Cause Trouble!
The excitement and anticipation on the faces of those newly joined disciples of the Chores Courtyard faded rapidly, replaced by a fear that seemed etched deep into their bones.
They lowered their heads in unison, shoulders hunched, not daring to meet Li Aotian’s gaze — afraid of drawing the attention of this inner sect bigshot.
This was the strictly hierarchical Cultivation World. To them, an inner sect disciple was as high as the heavens.
Zhang Daniu clenched the pill he had just received even tighter, his palm slick with cold sweat.
Nervously, he shielded his fist before his chest as though protecting a priceless treasure.
Li Aotian enjoyed this deathly silence — the feeling of everyone trembling before him.
He swept his eyes across the crowd with disdain, his gaze brushing over each of the chores disciples one by one, as if he were inspecting a group of insects he could crush with a flick of his finger.
Finally, his eyes fixed on Chu Feng standing atop the platform. The corners of his lips curled upward, but the smile was cold and bone-chilling.
“Chu Feng, you’ve really grown some guts, haven’t you.”
Li Aotian’s tone dripped with mockery.
“The Disciplinary Hall didn’t throw you, this piece of trash, out of the Sect — and now you’ve come to this garbage dump to play king?”
The few followers behind him immediately caught on, bursting into harsh, grating laughter.
“Hahaha! Senior Brother Li is absolutely right! What ‘Heavenly Dao Mutual Aid Association’? Sounds more like a ‘Waste Recycle Center’ to me!”
“A bunch of nobodies who can barely sense spiritual energy, and they still dream about ‘shared prosperity’? Wake up, the dream isn’t over yet!”
Each word of ridicule was like a needle piercing the hearts of the disciples below. Their faces turned pale and green by turns; their heads bowed even lower, nails nearly digging into their palms.
The tiny spark of hope Chu Feng had just ignited flickered wildly in the storm — about to be snuffed out.
Chu Feng stood upon the platform, expression calm as he watched Li Aotian, not a ripple in his heart — even finding it somewhat amusing.
Truly, speak of the devil and he appears.
He had just been worrying that he lacked a target to establish his prestige, a villain to highlight the “advancement” of his model — and here Li Aotian delivered himself right to his doorstep.
Was this here to cause trouble?
No — this was clearly a living bodhisattva sent to help him rally hearts and deliver performance!
“Ah, so it’s Senior Brother Li’s grand arrival. My apologies for not greeting you sooner. Forgive me, forgive me.”
Chu Feng smiled faintly, clasping his hands in salute. His tone was neither servile nor arrogant — with not a hint of fear.
Li Aotian frowned, the scolding he had prepared suddenly blocked in his throat.
He had imagined Chu Feng kneeling to beg for mercy, or perhaps running off terrified — but he had never imagined this guy would dare to speak to him in such a calm voice.
“Don’t play that act with me!”
Li Aotian’s face darkened as he barked:
“Chu Feng! You dare defy Sect rules, form private associations, and deceive others’ hearts! I think you’re tired of living! Now — disband your damn ‘Mutual Aid Association’, break your own arm, crawl over here and kowtow! Maybe then I’ll spare your dog life!”
As his words fell, spiritual pressure belonging to Qi Refining Seventh Level burst forth — like an invisible mountain crushing down on everyone in the courtyard.
The chores disciples below were already frightened; now, under the weight of that aura, their legs went weak and trembled uncontrollably.
“It’s over, it’s over… I knew this would happen! We’ve offended an inner sect senior, we’re doomed!”
“It’s all my fault! I got greedy — why did I believe his nonsense…”
Panic and regret spread like a plague; the fragile trust they’d just built collapsed instantly.
Li Aotian was very satisfied with the effect. What he wanted was to crush their hearts!
He would trample everything Chu Feng had built — along with his dignity — into the dirt before everyone’s eyes!
He stepped toward the high platform, his aura growing stronger with each stride.
“What’s wrong, cat got your tongue?”
Li Aotian sneered, now less than three steps from the stone platform.
“Where’s that fiery spirit you had earlier, spouting nonsense to confuse the crowd? Come on — tell me again how you useless trash plan to ‘defy the heavens’!”
Below, Zhang Daniu was drenched in cold sweat. He wanted to speak up for Chu Feng, but under that overwhelming pressure he could barely stand. His lips parted — yet no sound came out.
Everyone thought Chu Feng was finished.
Yet suddenly, Chu Feng laughed.
Not only did he laugh — he laughed brightly, dazzlingly — and before everyone’s eyes, he even began to applaud.
“Pa! Pa! Pa!”
The crisp sound of clapping echoed sharply through the deathly silent courtyard.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Li Aotian froze too, his steps halting mid-stride.
This brat — had fear driven him mad?
As he clapped, Chu Feng’s eyes shone with fervent admiration as he looked at Li Aotian, speaking loudly:
“Well said! Senior Brother Li, wonderfully said! Truly words of gold and pearls of wisdom! Worthy indeed of an inner sect prodigy — such insight, far beyond the reach of us mere outer disciples!”
Li Aotian was completely thrown off.
It felt like he’d swung a full-strength punch, only to hit a pillow — unbearably frustrating.
“You… what do you mean by that?”
Li Aotian’s mind was spinning.
Chu Feng stopped clapping, then turned sharply toward the disciples below — their faces full of panic and confusion. His voice suddenly rose, each word like a hammer striking their hearts.
“Family members! Did you hear that? Did you see that?”
He raised his arm, pointing at the stunned Li Aotian, shouting hoarsely:
“A test! This is a test from the Sect! A final trial from the Heavens themselves — to see if we can truly be reborn!”
“A… test?”
All the chores disciples lifted their heads, staring blankly at Chu Feng — then at Li Aotian — completely lost.
Li Aotian too was stunned. What in the world was this brat playing at?
Chu Feng gave them no time to think. Striking while the iron was hot, he began his strongest art — the live brainwashing performance.
“Yes! A test!”
Chu Feng’s voice brimmed with passion as his gaze swept across each of the members’ faces.
“I told you all before — the path we’ve chosen is a great, unprecedented path! It was never meant to be smooth! It is destined to be full of thorns, obstacles, and suppression from all sides!”
He pointed toward Li Aotian — as though pointing at some insignificant stage prop.
“And Senior Brother Li’s arrival — this is our first test on the road to success! He has come to test us! To test whether our resolve is firm! To test whether our faith is true!”
His words crashed like thunder in the disciples’ minds.
So… so Senior Brother Li wasn’t here to cause trouble — he was here to test them?
The logic sounded strange, yet when spoken by Chu Feng… somehow, it made sense.
Li Aotian finally snapped out of it, his face twisting with rage.
“Nonsense! Who the hell said I’m here to test you?! I’m here to cripple you, you damn foul-mouthed fool!”