Only I am Venerable

After a moment, Steward Gu snapped back to her senses. She lunged at Qin Li like a madwoman, raising a hand to send a gust of wind rushing toward him as she let out a piercing shriek, "You damned servant, I’ll kill you!"

BANG!

With a dull thud, Steward Gu’s body instantly bent into the shape of a bow, like a large shrimp, as she was sent flying by Qin Li’s kick. She landed more than ten meters away and spat out a mouthful of blood. Her eyes were filled with shock and terror as she struggled several times but failed to get back up.

Everyone stood there, dumbfounded. Xiaoying’s mind went completely blank, with only a single thought running through it: ’Qin Fang knows Martial Arts? Heavens... he actually knows Martial Arts? How can he be this strong? What in the world is going on? Am I dreaming?’

The woman next to Steward Gu couldn’t afford to be surprised. She rushed to Steward Gu’s side, helped her up, and asked, "Sister, are you alright?"

"I... I’m fine. Quickly, go tell the Young Mistress! Ask the Young Mistress... to get justice for me!" Steward Gu’s mouth was full of blood. Her eyes shot out beams of immense hatred, yet deep within them, a light of terror flickered. Her strength wasn’t considered top-tier, but she had already reached the Earth Venerable realm. And now, she had been sent flying with a single kick by a lowly firewood servant.

If word of this got out, no one would believe it. And yet, it had happened!

More and more disciples of the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace gathered around. Unsure of what had happened, they looked toward the few disciples guarding the gate and sidled over, wanting to know what was going on.

But Qin Li had moved too quickly. They hadn’t seen clearly what happened before it was all over. Even now, everyone, including Yu Xiaoyi, still had a dreamlike feeling, as if the scene before them was an illusion and not real at all.

At this moment, the second attendant looked up at Qin Li with a frightened expression and asked coldly, "Who are you really? What is your purpose for sneaking into our Moon Shaking Immortal Palace?"

It had to be said, those who could stay by Han Mei’s side were no ordinary people. The moment this woman’s words left her mouth, she had essentially defined the nature of Qin Li’s actions!

A spy from the outside had infiltrated the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace with malicious intent. He was discovered by Steward Gu, and after a battle between the two, Steward Gu was honorably wounded...

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Regardless of the original truth, from the moment she spoke, this would become the new reality. In other words, with just a few words, this woman had effectively handed Qin Li a death sentence with no chance of appeal.

While there was no rule stating a firewood delivery servant couldn’t know Martial Arts, everyone would assume that someone with such immense power who chose to be a mere firewood delivery servant must be harboring ill intentions!

Therefore, the woman had used these words to pin him down from the very beginning.

Qin Li revealed a simple, honest smile and said, "I don’t understand what you’re talking about."

"It doesn’t matter. As long as others understand, and as long as the Saintess understands, that’s enough!" The attendant supporting Steward Gu sneered. "It’s useless for you to keep pretending. Where did you get all that strength? Do you have any idea that Steward Gu is at the peak of the Earth Venerable realm, yet you severely injured her? You can save your explanation for the Saintess and the Sect Leader Venerable!"

"Heh, strength? You mean my skill at hitting things? My village was full of dogs when I was little, and they loved to bite people. I fought with those dogs every day. After fighting so much, I got really fast, and no dog could bite me anymore. I’m a Yellow Level Martial Artist now!" Qin Li said with another simple smile and a proud look on his face. "I’m a ranked Martial Artist too! So, if you say I’m strong, I guess I’ll reluctantly admit it!"

"You..." The attendant speaking with Qin Li was so angry she nearly coughed up blood. The hand she used to support Steward Gu trembled slightly as she said repeatedly, "Fine. Fine! I won’t get into a war of words with you. In any case, you can explain yourself to the Saintess! Someone will deal with you. And if you dare to run, hmph, Steward Yu and her disciple will be your accomplices!"

Qin Li rolled his eyes and cursed inwardly. ’I thought this woman might be a little kinder, but it turns out she’s just a schemer, cut from the same cloth as that Steward Gu! Me, run? Hah! Even if your Sect Leader Venerable showed up, I wouldn’t need to run!’

Just then, a faint voice suddenly echoed from the sky. "Oh? Since when did others have the right to point fingers and give orders within my jurisdiction? Go tell the Saintess? Tell her what? What is she planning? Has she grown tired of being the Saintess and decided she wants to be the Sect Leader Venerable instead? And you two girls are certainly overstepping. You’re meddling in my territory and have even labeled my two worthless, Low Level disciples as accomplices? Hmph! You blind fools! Who gave you the nerve!"

The last sentence was delivered with a sharp, stern tone. Following her words, Elder Hu, a beautiful woman in a long, dark red dress, appeared before the crowd.

When Yu Xiaoyi saw Elder Hu, she quickly walked over with an aggrieved expression and said, "Master..."

"There, there, Xiaoyi. You did nothing wrong. Your master is here to back you up, let’s see who dares to touch you!" As Elder Hu spoke, she noticed Xiaoying standing there in a daze, a flicker of pity in her eyes. She had already learned what happened from a reporting disciple. As the Elder in charge of this area, she would have been a complete failure if she hadn’t received news after all this time.

"You must be Xiaoying. Come here." Elder Hu beckoned to Xiaoying.

Xiaoying walked over hesitantly. Yu Xiaoyi urged her on from the side, "Grandmaster is calling you, hurry up!" Although Yu Xiaoyi was Elder Hu’s disciple, her strength wasn’t particularly great, so she rarely stood out among her martial sisters and seldom had an opportunity like this.

Xiaoying walked up to Elder Hu and bowed. "Xiaoying greets Grandmaster!"

"Mm," Elder Hu said, gently stroking Xiaoying’s face, which still bore the red mark of a slap. "Grandmaster knows you’ve been wronged. Don’t be afraid, Grandmaster will back you up! You’ve been in the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace for a long time, haven’t you?"

"Five years..." Xiaoying’s tears couldn’t help but stream down her face again. She never expected the Grandmaster to speak to her so gently. The grievance and sorrow in Xiaoying’s heart found an outlet, and she began to sob uncontrollably.

"Mm, good child, don’t cry. Later, have your master come to my place to get a few Elixirs. Cultivate well and increase your strength. In the future, if anyone dares to bully you again, you give them a good, hard slap for me!" As Elder Hu spoke, she couldn’t help but cast a cold glance at the crestfallen Steward Gu.

It had to be said that as someone in a high position, Elder Hu’s aura was incredibly powerful. Her appearance alone intimidated everyone. The previously arrogant Steward Gu and the other attendant didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly in front of her.

The reason was simple. Elder Hu’s current status was a tiny bit higher than even Saintess Han Mei’s, or at the very least, they were equals. Never mind the future; right now, they didn’t have the guts to offend Elder Hu.

At this point, Elder Hu turned her gaze to Qin Li. Her pair of exceptionally beautiful eyes swept over him, carrying a trace of suspicion.

Seeing her chance, Steward Gu over there cried out sharply, "Elder Hu, this man must be a spy from the outside..."

"Shut up!" Elder Hu turned and looked coldly at Steward Gu. "You are one of the Saintess’s people. You should be more careful with your words, understand? What spy? Which one of your eyes saw him being a spy? What proof do you have? On what grounds do you believe he is a spy? Who decreed that a firewood delivery servant can’t know Martial Arts? Furthermore, as far as I know, this young man came here to become a disciple and learn our arts! My disciple Xiaoyi made him do menial labor first to test his character! What do you people know?"

Elder Hu’s words were well-reasoned and logical, instantly leaving Steward Gu and the other attendant speechless. Even though they knew perfectly well that Elder Hu was just spouting nonsense, there was nothing they could do about it.

They finally understood the difficulties their Young Mistress faced. It turned out this group of Elders were all such overbearing people!

"Young man, not bad. Are you willing to enter my tutelage?" Elder Hu looked at Qin Li with a smile, feeling that this young man had great potential. Although she looked down on the arrogant attendants that usually surrounded Han Mei, she was also well aware that their strength was not to be underestimated.

Yet this young man, who had no fluctuations of power coming from his body, was able to severely injure a Martial Artist at the Earth Venerable realm. There were only two possibilities. First, this young man was a peerless expert who kept his abilities deeply hidden! Second, he was a supreme genius with a constitution that appears only once in ten thousand years!

History had seen a few such geniuses. Even before they began to cultivate, they could display astonishing strength. Once they started training, they would rapidly grow into peerless experts!

Whichever type this young man was, pulling him over to her side would bring only benefits and no drawbacks!

Elder Hu smiled at Qin Li, waiting for his answer. Over on the side, Steward Gu and the other attendant stared daggers at Qin Li, their hearts filled with hatred and jealousy. If this Qin Li really did enter Elder Hu’s tutelage and had her protection, it would become nearly impossible for them to get revenge.

Seeing Qin Li’s hesitant expression, Elder Hu continued, "I know your future achievements will be limitless. Don’t worry. By entering my tutelage, you won’t actually be my disciple. I can ask the Palace Master to find the most powerful Supreme Elder in the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace to be your master. At that point, your seniority might even be higher than mine. I only hope that you will be considered part of my faction... although you technically already belong to my faction."

Elder Hu was referring to Qin Li’s job as a firewood delivery servant, as this area was indeed Elder Hu’s territory.

"Is that possible?" Qin Li asked, looking at Elder Hu.

"Of course it is!" Elder Hu said with a smile.

"Alright, I agree!"

Qin Li agreed. What truly made him change his mind was Elder Hu’s sentence: "I will find the most powerful person in the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace to be your master!" Qin Li also wanted to see for himself just what realm the strongest expert of the Moon Shaking Immortal Palace—one of the greatest powers in the Land of the Far West—had reached!

Steward Gu and the other attendant couldn’t help but sigh. They stood up and departed quietly. They had to hurry and report this matter to their Young Mistress so she could be mentally prepared.