"If you talk back again, I'll hit you too."
Su Jie said calmly, not taking Chi Hengshan's words seriously.
"Kneel down right now, or I'll take you myself; then, don't expect even Ghost Ridge Palace to be able to save you."
Chi Hengshan knew he was no match for Su Jie, but with the backing of the Heavenly Soul Sect, he was endlessly confident and exceedingly arrogant.
"Are you sure? You want to offend our Ghost Ridge Palace?"
Su Jie's glance shifted behind Chi Hengshan, spotting a familiar figure appearing, with a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
"Hmph, since you refuse to give in willingly, I will capture you first and have Ghost Ridge Palace come to retrieve you personally."
Chi Hengshan's midsection bulged as the pale head of a fierce ghost emerged, ready to attack Su Jie.
Just as Chi Hengshan was about to make his move, an overwhelming aura hit him, accompanied by a loud slap.
Chi Hengshan received a slap, and a figure landed in front of him, a voice also carried over.
"Fiend! What nonsense are you speaking? What right do you have to represent our Heavenly Soul Sect?"
The voice was filled with rage and dissatisfaction. Chi Hengshan, stunned by the slap, looked up and saw that very familiar figure.
It was Lu Jingshi, the Heavenly Soul Sect Master, a practitioner strong in the Taoist Platform Realm.
"Master...Master, why... why are you here?"
Chi Hengshan stammered out, shocked to have indeed alarmed the Sect Master and confused as to why he was the recipient of the slap, being one of their own!
"Scoundrel, I had to come, or else you would have torn our sect apart."
While speaking, Lu Jingshi turned and gave a respectful gesture towards Su Jie, "Master Su, sorry, I hope I haven't disturbed you. Chi Hengshan does not represent the Heavenly Soul Sect."
"Sect Master Lu is being too courteous, a troublemaker certainly does not represent the Heavenly Soul Sect, I still possess that level of discernment," Su Jie noted, pointing at Chi Hengshan, "But honestly, this elder has indeed been a disappointment regarding the Heavenly Soul Sect; our two brother sects were almost compromised because of this troublemaker."
Hearing Su Jie's implication, Lu Jingshi understood Su Jie's discontent with his mild punishment, and could only sigh inwardly. With a wave of his large hand, his spiritual power descended like a heavy mountain.
Chi Hengshan spewed out a mouthful of fresh blood, forced to kneel before Su Jie, with his internal organs crushed and his limbs twisted horribly, he screamed in agony, unable to discern how he had offended the Sect Master.
"Mercy, Master, mercy..."
Chi Hengshan's screams drew the attention of all present.
"Chi Hengshan, your reckless and outrageous actions have violated our sect's rules. Considering your past contributions, your life is spared, but do you accept this punishment?"
Lu Jingshi's voice was cold, chilling to the bone.
It seemed he was punishing Chi Hengshan for breaking the sect rules, but it looked more like he was extracting revenge for Su Jie.
"I submit, I submit, Sect Master Lu, Master Su, I realize my mistake and am willing to accept this punishment of having my limbs broken."
Chi Hengshan knelt before Su Jie, his features twisted in pain, but he had no choice but to apologize to Su Jie.
Regardless of whatever backing Su Jie might have, with Lu Jingshi's stance, how could he dare resist?
The many demon cultivators present showed various expressions, as Lu Jingshi's actions clearly favored Su Jie.
"Let it be, we are brother sects after all, Sect Master Lu, there was no need for this, I had already forgiven Elder Chi, I am not one to hold a grudge."
Su Jie spoke with a smile, somewhat rendering Lu Jingshi speechless.
If this isn't holding a grudge, then there are few good people left in the world.
However, Lu Jingshi said nothing further, nor did he reproach Su Jie for lack of magnanimity.
Currently, the Heavenly Soul Sect needed Su Jie, an important figure of Ghost Ridge Palace, and who Lu Jingshi needed to win over; the partiality was apparent.
He couldn't afford to offend Su Jie over someone as minor as Chi Hengshan, gaining the support of Ghost Ridge Palace was crucial.
Compared to that, Chi Hengshan, with only First Level Secret Realm cultivation, was quite insignificant.
"Master Su, you should have informed us at the Heavenly Soul Sect just now. You are an honored guest of our sect, and should you face any trouble here, we would not stand idly by."
"Heh, Sect Master Lu, I didn't want to make a big fuss over such a minor issue. I thought to handle it myself; it's just that these flies are too annoying, disrupting your good cheer."
Su Jie looked towards Chang Shiyang and his group, who were already stunned.
"How long do you plan to keep up this nonsense?"
Lu Jingshi followed Su Jie's gaze and spoke with an expressionless face.
Seeing the inclination of Sect Master Lu, most of the young demon cultivators fell silent.
"Sect Master Lu, it was Su Jie who started the attack first, we were only..."
Chang Shiyang couldn't hold back and tried to argue.
"Hmph, I've seen everything with my own eyes, and yet you still try to deceive me."
With a cold snort from Lu Jingshi, Chang Shiyang felt a tightness in his chest and his heart tensed, his face paling under Lu's imposing presence.
"Sect Master Lu, please calm your anger. My saint son meant no harm in his words."
Di Xiu hurried over, pulling Chang Shiyang to bow and apologize.
Chang Shiyang was resentful, but with a cultivator as powerful as a Taoist Platform Realm and as prestigious as the Sect Master of Heavenly Soul Sect before him, he dared not talk back.
The elders of the other young demon cultivators also came forward to restrain their juniors.
"Ahem, Sect Master Lu, it was my fault, disturbing your birthday celebration."
From within the ruined building, Chu Xuexin staggered out.
Compared to her earlier composure, she now looked somewhat disheveled, with a torn sleeve, and her fair, tender face marred by dust and traces of blood, making her appear even more pitiable.
Her appearance only fueled the anger in the hearts of the young demon cultivators, making them want to restore their goddess's face.
But seeing Lu Jingshi's biased attitude, they couldn't help feeling disheartened as the judge was biased towards their opponent; they felt powerless to fight back.
"I understand the fire of youth, but there is a limit to the foolishness. Please proceed to enjoy the birthday feast, and none of you shall act rashly again, lest you force my hand to be severe."
Lu Jingshi's gaze swept across everyone, focusing particularly on Chang Shiyang and Chu Xuexin, making them feel an indescribable pressure.
Su Jie smirked at the two, saying, "Did you hear that? Now scram, your presence is an eyesore."
Though Chu Xuexin inwardly seethed, she maintained a smile on her face, leading Chang Shiyang and his group away.
Only after walking some distance did the group uncontrollably curse, communicating through divine sense.
"Damn it, what's up with Sect Master Lu, why does he favor that guy Su Jie so much, especially when it was him who attacked first?"
"Exactly, if Sect Master Lu hadn't been there, I would have made sure Su Jie didn't get off easily."
"Miss Chu, are you okay? That bastard Su Jie acted so swiftly, I blame myself for not reacting in time."
In her indignation, Chu Xuexin's eyes were sorrowful as she sighed, "Alas, I hadn't expected Su Jie to have such solid backing in the Heavenly Soul Sect. If I hadn't brought everyone here, we wouldn't have lost face and been mocked and looked down upon by him."
Chu Xuexin's eyes reddened, on the verge of tears.
The nearby young demon cultivators were stunned, feeling pity, wishing they could embrace her alluring body into their arms for tender affection.
"What nonsense you're talking! I've decided, since the Heavenly Soul Sect favors Su Jie, let's find trouble with him outside the sect's boundary after this event ends. Going back meekly , I can't even face others. We are all here; surely we won't be bullied by a local demon cultivator."
Someone clenched their fists, filled with the urge to fight for their beauty.
"Count me in; once the celebration is over, let's gather outside the Heavenly Soul Sect to deal with that Su Jie. When the sect isn't there to back him up, let's see how arrogant he can be."
"I'll call my elders too, let's show this Qingzhou country bumpkin our might."
The crowd was immediately riled up, and as Chang Shiyang looked at Chu Xuexin's lovely face, he boldly declared, "Su Jie took five million spirit stones from me. After we kill him, we'll split the money, and we won't let that bastard leave triumphantly."
Hearing the rallying cries of the crowd, a hint of a smile flashed deep in Chu Xuexin's eyes as she silently withdrew her bewitching technique, thinking to herself, "These are all my pawns!"
The highest level of bewitching technique is not having to use any seductive tactics, just standing there attractively, covering up modestly with only her forearms exposed, she can magnetize anyone's attention, enthralling everyone around her.
This was also why Chu Xuexin became the Holy Daughter of the Desire Sect; her bewitching technique, seamless and traceless, could elicit the deepest desires in people, making them follow their hearts, performing acts of passionate folly all for a smile from a beauty.