"Hmph, don't try to use your status to pressure me. Everyone knows Xia Qing's temperament. Since you dared to injure my disciple, it's only natural that I would teach you a lesson. Even if there are consequences in the future, I'm not afraid. But for now, who can stop me?"
Xia Qing still regarded Jiang Yun with disdain. There were only four people present. Feng Lun had already lost to him, and in the Land of Spirit and Martial Arts, preventing his actions was no longer feasible. As for Liu Yi, he was merely an inner disciple, barely even worth noticing in Xia Qing's eyes. At this moment, there was indeed no one who could stop Xia Qing from dealing with Jiang Yun.
Xia Qing raised his palm, covered in spiritual energy that emitted a constant vibrant blue light. As he brought his palm down, the blue light was released from his hand and swiftly slashed towards Jiang Yun's legs.
If this blue spiritual energy struck Jiang Yun's legs, they would likely break, and he would need one or two months of rest before he could even get out of bed. However, the Three-Sect Alliance Examination was imminent. If Jiang Yun's legs were broken, he wouldn't be able to participate in the examination, and that would severely impact the Sky Sword Sect's position in the rankings.
Among the outer disciples of the Sky Sword Sect, Jiang Yun was relatively strong. If he couldn't take part in the examination, the sect's ranking would undoubtedly be affected. Xia Qing's move could kill two birds with one stone – venting his anger over Jiang Yun injuring his disciple and weakening the Sky Sword Sect's chances of securing the top spot.
Yet, as Xia Qing's palm was about to strike, Jiang Yun didn't react as expected. He didn't cry out or make a scene. Instead, the blue spiritual energy dissipated into thin air just before it was about to hit Jiang Yun's legs.
Xia Qing was taken aback. Even though he had used only ten percent of his strength for that palm, someone had managed to dispel his spiritual energy right in front of him, without him noticing. This display of skill brought forth a sense of fear.
Xia Qing was, after all, an Empty Martial Realm warrior, just a step away from breaking through to the Sky Martial Realm. Although this step was still distant, the fact that someone could dispel his spiritual energy right under his nose without him detecting it meant that this person's cultivation level was at least that of a Sky Martial Realm warrior. Whether it was a Martial Lord or a Martial Emperor, they were opponents he couldn't hope to contend with.
"You say that because Jiang Yun injured your disciple, you want to break his legs. Then, according to your logic, if you want to break my disciple's legs, should I also break your legs?"
Jiang Yun, who had initially prepared himself to endure Xia Qing's attack, couldn't believe his ears when he heard the voice that advocated fairness. Overwhelmed by joy, he exclaimed, "Master?"
Upon hearing Jiang Yun's voice, Xia Qing's expression darkened. If the newcomer was indeed a Sky Martial Realm warrior and Jiang Yun's master, then he might have overstepped this time. It appeared strikingly similar to how Jiang Yun had once overwhelmed Chen Si instead of just teaching him a lesson.
Xia Qing was no stranger to adaptability. When he heard the voice of fairness, he was prepared for the worst. He spoke humbly, "I wonder which Martial Lord of the Sky Sword Sect is here?"
As Xia Qing spoke, he dared not even look back. He couldn't see that Qu Bu Ping was leisurely strolling out from the entrance of the library. When he finally saw Qu Bu Ping at the entrance, his expression became even more respectful. It was clear that the newcomer was no ordinary figure.
Even if the heavens provided Xia Qing with ten thousand reasons, he wouldn't have expected Jiang Yun, a mere outer disciple of the Sky Sword Sect, to be accepted as the disciple of such an extraordinary high-level figure. Was Jiang Yun truly destined to become the pillar of the Sky Sword Sect in the future, so highly regarded?
Qu Bu Ping, rubbing his sleepy eyes, walked out of the library. He gently flicked his thin, withered palm that was hidden in his sleeve, and Jiang Yun immediately felt the restriction of Xia Qing's spiritual energy dissipate. As his spiritual energy flowed back, Jiang Yun stood up from the ground and walked toward Qu Bu Ping, expressing gratitude, "Thank you, Master, for intervening. Your disciple is unworthy and has brought shame upon you."
Qu Bu Ping lazily glanced at Jiang Yun, thinking that this young man was quite clever. Jiang Yun's words shifted the focus to Qu Bu Ping's dignity. If Qu Bu Ping didn't intervene to save face for Xia Qing, then it would be widely known. People would talk about how Xia Qing had walked away easily after injuring Qu Bu Ping's disciple, leaving Qu Bu Ping with no face.
"Don't blame yourself. The gap in strength is just too wide," Qu Bu Ping said in a tone that revealed he saw through Jiang Yun's attempt to save face. He then turned to Feng Lun with a serious expression and said, "Feng Lun, this is your junior brother. If I didn't intervene today, would you just stand by and watch as he's bullied by others?"
Qu Bu Ping's words caused large beads of cold sweat to form on Feng Lun's forehead. While the third-generation disciples might not be fully aware of Qu Bu Ping's reputation, the second-generation disciples like him were very clear about it. Others might say that Feng Lun had a bad temper, but compared to Qu Bu Ping, Feng Lun's temperament was already considered mild.
Qu Bu Ping's question held a faint trace of dissatisfaction, and Feng Lun immediately nodded in acknowledgment. When he was still an inner disciple, he had received many lessons from this senior uncle. Although decades had passed, the memories were still vivid, and he dared not show the slightest hint of defiance toward Qu Bu Ping.
What worried Feng Lun even more was another matter. He had once tried to forcefully take Jiang Yun as his disciple. However, now it seemed that Jiang Yun had become a disciple of Qu Bu Ping. If Qu Bu Ping found out that Feng Lun had tried to compete for Jiang Yun as a disciple, Feng Lun didn't know how he would be dealt with.
In this moment, Feng Lun was even more respectful toward Qu Bu Ping than he was toward his own master. He lowered his head and said, "Senior Uncle Qing Shi, you've misunderstood. I truly didn't know that Jiang Yun is your disciple. If I had known that Jiang Yun was your disciple, I would have risked my life to ensure his safety."
Xia Qing still behind him heard Feng Lun address the person as Senior Uncle Qing Shi. The fear on his face grew stronger. He and Feng Lun were of the same generation, naturally aware of Qu Bu Ping's reputation. At this moment, he felt like he wanted to die. He couldn't understand how he had provoked this star of ill fortune. Why was Jiang Yun capable of becoming a disciple of Qing Shi?
Before, Xia Qing thought that the person who had intervened for Jiang Yun was one of the unmatched Martial Lords of the Sky Sword Sect. However, he never expected that it would be Qu Bu Ping, this old eccentric. Qu Bu Ping had reached the Martial Emperor Realm thirty years ago, and even in the Land of Spirit and Martial Arts, those who dared to provoke him were few and far between. Now, finding himself on Qu Bu Ping's bad side, it seemed almost impossible to leave unscathed.