Chapter 27: A Staged Trap? Trying to Be Clever Only to Outsmart Oneself

"Senior Disciple Li, everything is inside. Please take it."

Not long after, Elder Sun returned. He handed over a storage ring, a gentle smile plastered on his lips. Li Wudao inspected the contents, his eyes flickering with subtle change. The storage ring was of high-grade mysterious rank, its interior space more than double the size of the one he currently possessed—a treasure worth at least a thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"You are too kind, Elder Sun." Li Wudao accepted it calmly with a faint smile. Since the man was showing goodwill, it would be improper to rebuff him.

"It is only right. If there is ever an opportunity in the future, I hope Senior Disciple Li might look out for this old man," Elder Sun said, lowering his posture significantly. He even stepped out from behind the counter to personally see the young man off.

This scene, witnessed by the gossiping disciples, caused quite a stir.

"What is that youth's background, to make Elder Sun act so obsequious?"

"Elder Sun has manned the Internal Affairs Hall for years; he doesn't even show such deference to inner sect elders. Why is he currying favor with a newcomer?"

"I know him. I believe he is the newly appointed senior disciple who ranked second in talent this year. Li Wudao, I think? He was assigned to the Ethereal Peak."

"The Ethereal Peak? He went to that abandoned peak... Strange. If that is his status, why would Elder Sun treat him this way?"

Within the hall, new and old disciples whispered to one another, finding the situation increasingly bewildering. When other elders stepped forward to inquire, Elder Sun remained tight-lipped, refusing to disclose a single word about Li Wudao.

*I once thought Jiang Churan was the most monstrous talent the sect had seen in ten thousand years. It seems today that Senior Disciple Li is the one who truly hides his depth,* Elder Sun thought, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes after dismissing the other elders. With such a monster in their ranks, the Xuantian Sect was destined to flourish—perhaps even return to the glory of ten thousand years ago. *Thank goodness I didn't offend him. No, I must find a way to cling to his coattails. I cannot miss this opportunity.*

Elder Sun stood lost in thought, plotting how to deepen their connection.

...

The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze brushed against his face. Along the roadside, flowers swayed, their fragrance warm and intoxicating. Li Wudao hummed a tune, sauntering back home in high spirits.

Halfway there, an outer sect disciple came sprinting toward him in a panic. Li Wudao paid no mind, continuing to walk along the edge of the path. Unexpectedly, the man seemed to aim directly for him, slamming into him with the force of a wild bull, nearly sending him into the ditch.

Li Wudao was unscathed, but the outer sect disciple was a different story. He tumbled backward several meters, rolled a few times, and finally spat out a mouthful of blood, clutching his throat.

Li Wudao blinked, a row of question marks appearing over his head. *Come on, brother, could you be any more fake? I was the one who got hit, yet you’re the one acting like you’re on the verge of death? Who am I supposed to complain to?*

"Help! Someone help! A senior disciple is beating people!" The outer sect disciple suddenly sat on the ground, wailing at the top of his lungs.

Seeing this, Li Wudao realized what was happening, his expression turning strange. *Good heavens, I’m being set up!*

Barely had the words left the man’s mouth when two young men rushed out from behind him, dressed as senior disciples. They jogged over, looking anxious. It was Tang Yi and Deng Lin.

"Was that you screaming for help? What happened? Who is trying to beat you? To dare assault a fellow sect member is a grave crime—speak up, and we shall see justice done!" They stepped forward, helping the outer sect disciple up with righteous indignation.

"It was him! I was walking in a hurry and accidentally bumped into him, but he immediately turned violent and beat me until I was severely injured!" The outer disciple pointed at Li Wudao, sobbing as he pulled up his shirt. Several visible bruises on his chest and abdomen showed clear signs of trauma.

"As a senior disciple, you dare to assault a fellow member? The evidence is irrefutable. What do you have to say for yourself?" Deng Lin’s lips curled upward, his tone turning cold and sharp.

"This cannot be let go. We must demand justice for our fellow disciple!" Tang Yi added.

Watching the two play their roles, Li Wudao’s mouth twitched. There were rarely many disciples on this path to the Ethereal Peak; how could two senior disciples just happen to be nearby? They weren't just a random setup; they were an organized gang. This had been planned.

"Cut the nonsense. Tell me, what exactly do you want?" Li Wudao asked, looking at the three with amusement. He hadn't encountered such a scam in his previous life, and to experience it now was an indescribable feeling.

"Five thousand low-grade spirit stones, and this matter ends here," Deng Lin said coldly.

"That's right. Not one stone less," Tang Yi echoed.

Li Wudao was so amused he nearly laughed out loud. They could have just robbed him, but they insisted on going through the motions to make him feel less cheated. Truly, he felt like dying of laughter.

"And if I refuse?" Li Wudao asked, smiling. Five thousand spirit stones was roughly a year’s stipend for a senior disciple. Many core elders couldn't even produce that much at once; they were truly bold.

"If you refuse, hmph... then we have no choice but to use our own methods to secure justice for our fellow disciple!" Deng Lin’s eyes flashed with a cold light, his knuckles cracking. Tang Yi stepped up, his late-stage True Origin Realm aura erupting. They sneered as they approached, ready to strike.

Seeing this, Li Wudao suddenly realized he had miscalculated. The scam and the demand for compensation were just a facade—a prelude. The real target was him. Someone was trying to take him down. As to who, Li Wudao had a hunch. There were three people in the Xuantian Sect who despised him: Sun Qian, Ruan Fei, and the Seventh Prince, Qi Xingyu. Given the ability to command two senior disciples, Ruan Fei, the son of the Third Inner Sect Elder, was the prime suspect. Of course, Qi Xingyu was also a possibility.

"Didn't you just say that private fighting between sect members is prohibited? What happened? Did you forget?" He watched them calmly, his expression untroubled.

"Heh, you assaulted a fellow disciple first. We are only subduing you to protect him. Is there a problem with that?" Deng Lin laughed grimly.

"It seems today’s matter won't end peacefully," Li Wudao thought, a chill in his eyes. They had set this trap so that even if they fought, they would have an excuse. He was alone; even if he were beaten, he would have no way to defend his reputation.

"Kid, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being blind. You offended the wrong people, and we are just taking money to do a job." Tang Yi cracked his neck and fists, sneering, "Be smart and don't resist. We won't cripple you; at most, you'll be bedridden for half a month."

Just as they felt victory was within their grasp, Li Wudao chuckled. "Your setup is decent, but there is one fatal problem."

"What problem?" Deng Lin frowned.

"Is it possible that, combined, the two of you aren't even a match for me?" Li Wudao grinned, his smile radiant.

Tang Yi and Deng Lin froze. They looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"Did you hear that, Brother Tang? This kid says we can't beat him together?" Deng Lin laughed until tears nearly formed.

"I’m dying of laughter. Who does this kid think he is?" Tang Yi shook his head, scoffing. "A green newcomer, daring to challenge two late-stage True Origin experts? How ignorant." While their talent might be average among senior disciples, their two years of cultivation base were not something a newcomer could match.

"Since when is the True Origin Realm considered 'expert'? Have you been cultivating with your brains in the gutter? You seem to lack basic self-awareness," Li Wudao said, walking forward with a light smile, mocking them as he moved.

"Brother Tang, this little brat dares to call us dogs. Take him down!"

"Damn it, we have to beat him until he can't get out of bed for a month!" Tang Yi and Deng Lin were furious, their faces reddening as they threw punches.

Seeing the fists flying from both sides, Li Wudao sneered. In the next instant, he rushed directly toward the incoming blows, his movements faster than a phantom.

*Crack!*

A moment later, the sound of breaking bones echoed.

"Ah!"

"My hand! My hand..."

Deng Lin and Tang Yi’s screams followed immediately. Li Wudao had caught both their fists in his palms. With a slight exert of force, cold sweat poured down their faces, their expressions twisted in agony.

"Let... let go!" Deng Lin, eyes bulging from the pain, swung his other fist toward Li Wudao’s chest.

*How can this kid be so strong?!* Tang Yi followed with a palm strike, panic flashing in his eyes. The development was far beyond their expectations—a fresh recruit blocking a simultaneous assault from both of them! Even if they hadn't used their full strength, it wasn't something a Blood-Moving Realm disciple should be able to withstand.

"Let’s see how you handle this strike!" Deng Lin sneered triumphantly. Li Wudao was restricted, his hands occupied. In this situation, he would have to either let go and retreat or take the two blows head-on.

Instead, Li Wudao remained calm and did not let go. He lifted his foot and, with lightning speed, kicked both of them in the abdomen.

*Thud!*

The intense abdominal pain caused them to spasm. They fell to their knees, faces flushed, veins bulging, unable to muster any strength.

"My patience is limited. Speak—who ordered you to deal with me?" Li Wudao stood tall, looking down at the two kneeling men, his eyes glinting with a dark light.

"It... it was Ruan Fei. He promised us half a year’s stipend to teach you a lesson," Deng Lin said, struggling to lift his head, his eyes bloodshot and filled with terror. He had thought this was easy money, but he had kicked a steel plate.

"I was wrong! Please, Junior Disciple Li... no, Senior Disciple Li, spare us! We won't dare do it again!" Tang Yi knelt on the ground, clutching his stomach, looking up at the youth and shivering like chaff in the wind. This newcomer was terrifying. Two breaths, a single punch and kick, and two late-stage True Origin experts had been utterly helpless, handled like cutting vegetables.

"Ruan Fei. It really was him!" The coldness in Li Wudao’s eyes turned into a murderous intent. Back at the manor, Ruan Fei had injured members of the Li family, and Li Wudao hadn't settled that score yet. Now, he had set another trap. At this moment, Ruan Fei was officially on his kill list.

"Get up. I’ll let today’s matter slide for now. You can try to retaliate again if you wish—I’ll take it all," Li Wudao said coldly. "But if I catch you again, it won't be so easy. You will bear the consequences." He leaned in, his voice dropping an octave. "With my talent and strength, it shouldn't be difficult for me to make a disciple disappear. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Yi and Deng Lin froze, their faces turning as pale as paper. They didn't doubt for a second that, with the monstrous talent he had displayed, he truly had the power to kill them without consequence.

*It's over. We're finished!*

"Don't be afraid. As long as you have value to me, staying alive won't be difficult." Li Wudao revealed a row of neat, white teeth, smiling innocently. Yet, the glint on his teeth felt like a blade, sending a chill down their spines. The boy’s smile was that of a devil.

Three seconds later, Deng Lin gritted his teeth and stood up, bowing deeply. "Senior Disciple Li, from this day on, I, Deng Lin, am your dog. I shall obey your commands and never harbor a second heart."

Tang Yi, not being a fool, quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and declared loudly, "Me too!"