Chapter 84: Brother Liu, Please Don’t Stand on Ceremony!

With a sudden whoosh, Luo Tian’s right leg, poised like a scorpion’s stinger, shot out with the force of a released arrow, unstoppable, as if it would pierce through any obstacle in its path. Yet at the very last moment, just as it was about to touch He Yiming’s head, this fierce and wild strike came to an abrupt halt.

At that moment, He Yiming’s eyes were shut tightly, even his eyelashes trembling incessantly—clearly, he was deeply tense. Who could blame him? In a moment of life and death, how could anyone remain calm?

After a brief while, He Yiming felt all his strength drain away, as if he could barely stand. He gazed at Luo Tian with a complex look, filled with shock—not just at the impossibly angled attack, but at Luo Tian’s ability to halt such a ferocious strike so lightly at the critical moment. This alone demonstrated Luo Tian’s extraordinary control over his own body.

Such an opponent!

He Yiming truly did not know how to describe him.

“Senior Brother Luo is truly remarkable—just now, that kick was so imaginative!”

“Exactly! That’s what brings honor to our Divine Sun Sect. Let those rabble from the Dayuan Sect know their place for once!”

Liu Longfei’s face was flushed. Even the normal chatter of his fellow Divine Sun Sect disciples made him uncomfortable. Did his fighting three at once not bring the sect honor? Was it not enough?

Chen Qingshan and Tang Yu exchanged glances, their eyes equally complicated. Luo Tian did not just possess unique abilities; his personal strength was jaw-dropping. In such a short time, he’d made another breakthrough—what took others endless effort and resources to achieve, he seemed to surpass as easily as a meal or a drink of water.

Most importantly, Luo Tian embodied the true spirit of a senior disciple: stepping forward when it mattered, courageously shouldering all burdens. Now, that was a real man, a true leader!

“The items,” Luo Tian said coldly. Naturally, he would not kill an outstanding disciple of the Dayuan Sect in front of everyone; otherwise, the sect leader outside would likely skin him alive, and not even Liu Changtian’s presence could smooth things over. In the secret realm, away from prying eyes, killings could be blamed on savage beasts—but in an official duel, a death would be hard to explain.

The items? What items?

He Yiming paused, then recalled what Luo Tian meant. Having just escaped death, his already pale face darkened further.

“Zhao Ke, your storage pouch!”

“Senior Brother He, I—”

The previously arrogant and insolent Zhao Ke now wore an expression of deep reluctance, a hint of venom hidden in his eyes.

“The storage pouch!” He Yiming snapped, losing patience. When in a foul mood, one always finds someone to take it out on. If Zhao Ke kept resisting, He Yiming might just teach him a lesson.

This time, Zhao Ke said nothing. He silently handed over two storage pouches.

He Yiming snatched them, glanced briefly inside, and then poured out all their contents. “Take what you want, but leave the pouches. You may check for anything missing.”

“Surely, Junior Brother He, you don’t think I’d distrust you?” Luo Tian’s eyes gleamed with delight as he saw the items on the ground. Though he claimed to trust He Yiming, he still carefully checked the pouches himself.

He Yiming’s face darkened further. It was one thing to call him “Junior Brother” and take the upper hand verbally—among cultivators, respect was given to the stronger regardless of sect. But to say you trust me and then inspect so thoroughly—was that not a slap in the face?

Nevertheless, He Yiming knew there was nothing he could do about it and had to swallow his frustration.

The disciples of Dayuan Sect all glared at Luo Tian, cursing him inwardly. Two-faced, despicable!

Luo Tian could read their thoughts from their expressions but did not care. After quickly checking the pouches, he declared with a righteous air, “Junior Brother He, I knew you wouldn’t cheat me! See, everything’s here as I thought!”

At this, not only did the Dayuan Sect disciples led by Huo Jiang and Ye Lei look at each other in dismay, even the Divine Sun Sect disciples were at a loss for words, unsure what to make of their esteemed Senior Brother Luo’s conduct.

“Hmph!” He Yiming took the pouches back irritably, watching Luo Tian expertly sort through the medicinal herbs and select a portion, his heart heavy with resentment.

“Junior Brother Liu!” Luo Tian called out. “Since you fought three on behalf of our Divine Sun Sect yesterday, naturally you deserve a share of these spoils!”

Having taken two pouches’ worth of treasures from Liu Longfei, Luo Tian felt it only right to compensate him somewhat. Besides, the Liu family was currently the ruling family of the sect; winning them over was essential, especially since the Shen family was indifferent toward him. It was smart both publicly and privately—a win-win situation.

Senior Brother Luo is such a man!

In an instant, Luo Tian’s image shone brilliantly in the hearts of his fellow Divine Sun Sect disciples. He bore burdens not his own, stepped up for the sect, never shying away from the enemy. Now, returning in triumph, he still shared his gains with the wounded Liu Longfei.

What nobility! What heroic stature! This was their Senior Brother Luo!

Liu Longfei, who had been inwardly cursing Luo Tian, was momentarily stunned by these words. He wanted to refuse, to show the pride of a great family’s scion, but remembering how most of his hard-won treasures were stolen and he was even framed by the Dayuan Sect, he felt only anger.

No matter how arrogant Luo Tian was, it was still an internal matter of the Divine Sun Sect. If he accepted Luo Tian’s offer, not only could he slap the Dayuan Sect in the face, but he could also increase his own gains from the secret realm. He no longer hoped for first place, but more herbs would only benefit him. If he failed to make the top three, he could never forgive himself.

Clenching his teeth, Liu Longfei stepped forward, collected the remaining items into his pouch, bowed his head, opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, finally forcing out, “Thank you, Senior Brother Luo.”

“No need for thanks, Junior Brother Liu! We are both disciples of Divine Sun Sect; this is nothing. Don’t be so formal!” Luo Tian waved his hand in a grand gesture. “I only regret arriving late this time—please don’t hold it against me!”

Damn it—

Liu Longfei was almost left speechless. This guy really knew how to take advantage. Yet, having just accepted Luo Tian’s generosity, he could not turn around and curse him, and so he swallowed his resentment and returned to the Divine Sun Sect group.

“Senior Brother Luo is truly magnanimous!”

“Indeed, a blessing for our sect!”

“When we return, I must spread word of today’s events so everyone knows what kind of man Senior Brother Luo is!”

Listening to the disciples’ words of admiration and respect, Luo Tian was inwardly delighted, though he kept a solemn expression.

“Junior Brother Zhao, I owe you an apology.”

He Yiming turned and looked at the resentful Zhao Ke, speaking sincerely.

“Senior Brother He, I—”

Zhao Ke wanted to make polite excuses, but the words would not come.

“I, He Yiming, was outmatched, and because of my failure, Junior Brother Zhao lost all his gains from the secret realm. It is my fault entirely. I will compensate him myself for the loss!”

With that, He Yiming took out his own storage pouch, preparing to give its contents to Zhao Ke.

“No, Senior Brother He, please don’t!” Zhao Ke’s anger and resentment vanished in an instant. He Yiming’s gesture left him feeling honored and undeserving, but he could not possibly accept those items.

“Senior Brother He, please don’t say such things!” Huo Jiang interjected in a deep voice. “This is a matter for our Dayuan Sect; you cannot bear this burden alone.”

“Agreed!” Ye Lei added. “I suggest we each give one thirteenth of our gains to Junior Brother Zhao as compensation. We may have lost the contest, but we won’t let the Divine Sun Sect look down on us!”

“Yes! Dayuan Sect stands together as one!”

“Senior Brother Ye is right!”

The Dayuan Sect disciples chimed in, their unity making it seem as if they had won a resounding victory rather than suffered defeat.

He Yiming truly had some skill, Luo Tian thought privately, though he had no intention of following suit—he would never lose so badly.

As for the Divine Sun Sect disciples, their feelings were more complicated. The four great families were rife with rivalry, and none would be so generous as to compensate a fellow like Zhao Ke if the same happened to them.

The Dayuan Sect disciples contributed many herbs, and Zhao Ke, his eyes moist, looked at his comrades with deep emotion, all his previous negativity swept away by their warmth.

“Th—”

“Junior Brother Zhao, say no more! This isn’t your burden alone—it’s the Dayuan Sect’s!”

“Right! We’ll get our chance for payback!”

He Yiming nodded, glancing back at Luo Tian. “Hmph, until we meet again!”

Then, with a command, “Let’s go!”

The twelve Dayuan Sect disciples quickly formed up and left together, their unity clear to see.

As he watched his opponents leave one by one through the secret realm’s portal, Luo Tian glanced at the fifteen Divine Sun Sect disciples behind him and nodded. “Let’s go as well. You go first, I’ll bring up the rear.”

“Yes, Senior Brother Luo!”

The disciples quickly regained their composure and responded in unison. With no strong fighters left among them, had Senior Brother Luo not stepped up at the last moment, the Divine Sun Sect would have faced humiliation, and none could have held their heads high.

For that, they were deeply grateful to Luo Tian—and his conduct was truly admirable.

After everyone else had departed, Luo Tian took a final look at the secret realm, his mind racing with thoughts. At last, he let out a gentle sigh and leapt out after them.