Under the charm of Feiduan, all three members joined the Evil God Sect, increasing the sect's numbers from 1 to 4.
At first, the three were extremely respectful, cautious, and fearful of Feiduan. This was because the impression he gave them initially was overwhelming, cold, ruthless, decisive, and... powerful.
However, after spending some time together, all those illusions shattered. Once you got along with Feiduan, you realized he was just a joker with no airs at all. Just earlier, Feiduan had stolen a melon from a shop owner.
Now, Feiduan was walking casually, devouring the melon in his hands. The melon juice splashed uncontrollably, and soon his clothes and face were covered in sticky juice. Red melon pulp residues dotted his attire, but he didn't care at all, thoroughly enjoying his meal.
"Hey, Feiduan, how many people are there in the Evil God Sect?" Ye Chen seized the opportunity and carefully asked. He had never even heard of this so-called Evil God Sect.
Just moments ago, while Feiduan was enjoying his melon, Ye Chen had secretly asked his teacher, who had just awakened from slumber. His teacher had once been a peak-level practitioner of the Void Refining stage. Though now just a remnant soul within a ring, his knowledge and experience remained vast.
When his teacher heard the words "Evil God Sect," he was utterly confused, saying he had never heard of it. He also declared that it was definitely a low-tier, obscure force. Ye Chen trusted his teacher's words. After all, he had obtained this ring by chance, and his teacher, trapped in it for years, knew countless hidden secrets. If his teacher didn't even know about this force, it could either be an extremely hidden power or an insignificant small group. Ye Chen silently leaned towards the latter.
"How many people, huh? Let me think," Feiduan stopped and casually tossed the half-eaten melon aside. Wiping his face with his sleeve, he furrowed his brow in deep thought.
Ye Chen's eyes brightened at the sight. Judging by Feiduan's serious expression, perhaps the Evil God Sect was a hidden, powerful force, with so many people that Feiduan needed to calculate?
After 25 seconds, Feiduan finally looked up, his eyes filled with certainty as he shouted, "4 people!"
"4... Four?" Ye Chen almost shouted a curse. He stared at Feiduan with wide eyes, utterly speechless. His expectations were shattered in an instant, replaced by a wave of disappointment and disbelief.
In his mind, he screamed: "What the hell, it's just us? What were you thinking for so long!"
Creak,
The large red door slowly opened, and Lu Li waved at Feiduan with a smile: "Feiduan, come to my house."
Feiduan looked up at the impressive gate, with the golden plaque reading "Lu Mansion" shining in the setting sun. Two stone lions stood guard on either side.
As Feiduan stepped over the threshold, a beautiful courtyard filled with intricate carvings and painted beams greeted his eyes. A winding nine-curved corridor stretched ahead, with uniquely designed lanterns hanging from the arches. In the distance, pavilions and towers were scattered tastefully.
At that moment, a figure approached slowly.
Lu Li quickly introduced: "This is my father."
Lu Yuan, dressed in a brocade robe, had a calculating glint in his eyes as they discreetly swept over Feiduan. He silently pondered: Golden Core early stage. Not top-tier, but if he can be used, he could be of help.
With a smile that blended sincerity and courtesy, Lu Yuan raised his hand in an inviting gesture: "This must be Mr. Feiduan. Please, come in."
"Mr. Feiduan, this is top-grade tea. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."
Lu Yuan poured a cup of hot tea for Feiduan, his eyes never leaving his guest's every move. When Feiduan grabbed the cup, bit it, and swallowed it all, tea and cup in one, Lu Yuan's hand holding the tea froze momentarily. The surface of the tea rippled slightly before settling back to calm.
"Damn, impressive!" Lu Li and his friends couldn't help but exclaim, seeing such a unique way of drinking tea for the first time.
Lu Yuan lowered his eyes, concealing his disgust. He cursed silently: Damn it, you idiot!
But his face immediately broke into a smile, his fingers gently caressing the rim of the cup as he hid his true emotions behind a warm tone: "Mr. Feiduan truly lives up to his reputation."
"Peh! Ugh! Old man, this tastes terrible! Hey, can you get me a can of cola? I want to taste that."
Feiduan spat out the remnants of his meal and, with an air of superiority, ordered Lu Li around.
Lu Yuan lightly tapped the table, seemingly casually agreeing to the request, but his mind was working quickly, trying to determine whether this person's madness was genuine or just an act.
He raised the tea cup, blowing away the foam. The rising steam blurred the calculating look in his eyes: "Mr. Feiduan, I wonder if you could tell me more about the Evil God Sect? I'm actually quite curious."
"Hahahaha! Old man, I didn't expect you to have such good taste despite your looks!" Feiduan clapped him on the shoulder.
Lu Yuan, without showing a change in expression, subtly leaned back, his smile becoming even warmer. As he listened to Feiduan brag about the Evil God Sect, Lu Yuan nodded in agreement. When Feiduan referred to himself as the leader, Lu Yuan casually asked: "So, Mr. Feiduan, what made you decide to form this sect?"
His palm hidden in his sleeve, Lu Yuan silently traced the token at his waist, wondering whether this crazy wolf could become a useful weapon or if it should be eliminated before it became a threat.
Lu Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly, and he absently stroked the jade pendant at his waist.
The power struggles of Xuanxi City swirled in his mind. Though the Lu family held a strong position, they could easily be overtaken by another family if not careful. This young man, a Golden Core cultivator, could become a valuable tool if he could be molded. His flesh and blood might even feed his spirit beast.
"Uh, the boss probably got tired of me, so he kicked me out to let me develop on my own. Seriously, I was just concerned if the boss was sleeping or not," Feiduan casually said, causing Lu Yuan's smile to freeze. Alarm bells rang in his mind.
"The boss?" Lu Yuan's voice remained natural, but a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "And what's his strength like?"
"I'm not sure, but he's pretty tough on me."
Lu Yuan nodded nonchalantly, though his mind raced. Without knowing the full details of this "boss," making a rash move would only backfire.
A kind smile spread across his face, but his eyes were cold as he said: "Ah, Mr. Feiduan, I've always loved to make friends with great heroes. How about we test our friendship through a sparring match? It would be a case of not fighting, not knowing each other, right?"
Feiduan, who had been looking bored, immediately perked up, his mood lighting up at the suggestion.
Lu Yuan's smile became even gentler as he watched the unsuspecting youth in front of him.