Within the Phantom Thunder Sect, this second-rate sect was just as vibrant as ever—disciples and elders alike wore cheerful smiles, some cultivating, others chatting, creating a flourishing scene of prosperity.
But none of them knew that their own young sect master was, at this very moment, in the sect's backyard garden, enduring a thorough beating at the hands of a youth.
"Stop hitting me, I beg you! Whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"
The young sect master of the Phantom Thunder Sect had a swollen face, bruises everywhere—just by looking at him, no one could tell he was the same dashing young master from before. In fact, even his voice had changed, sounding worse than a pig being slaughtered.
"You think I'm some common robber who came here for the few coins in your pockets?" Chu Feng sneered contemptuously, but even as he spoke, his hand grabbed toward the young sect master's Universe Bag. At the same time, he swept his gaze over the surroundings at the pale-faced young men and women cowering nearby.
"Young brother, please accept this." And sure enough, the group cooperated perfectly, each of them hurriedly removing their Universe Bags and handing them directly to Chu Feng.
"Mm, not bad. You've got some sense." After collecting all the Universe Bags, Chu Feng nodded with satisfaction.
Truthfully, while these people probably held respectable positions and had decent things in their bags, for Chu Feng—who was extremely demanding about cultivation resources—their belongings were something he normally wouldn't even glance at.
But right now, the reason Chu Feng was taking their Universe Bags was simply that he was dead broke. Their bags happened to be just what he needed to fill the gap.
After tucking away the bags, Chu Feng turned his gaze back to the bruised and battered young sect master and said coldly, "Listen to me carefully. I'm taking Li Datou today, and you'd best pretend nothing happened."
"If I find out you've harmed Li Datou or his family, then it won't just be you who suffers—it'll be your father, and this entire Phantom Thunder Sect."
As Chu Feng spoke these words, a fierce light flashed in his eyes, radiating bone-chilling killing intent. One look at him sent cold shudders through the body, filling one with instinctive dread. His words were clearly no empty threat—he meant every single word.
Immediately after, Chu Feng reached out with his palm and forcefully ripped the token from the young sect master's waist. "I'll be borrowing this. As for the rest of you, just rest here for a while. In half a day, this barrier will automatically dissipate."
With that, Chu Feng turned to leave. The young sect master quickly called after him, "Who exactly are you?"
Chu Feng tilted his head slightly and gave a faint smile. "My name is Shura."
With those words, Chu Feng launched himself into the air, leaped over the barrier, and drifted away, leaving the young sect master and his entourage standing there dumbfounded, their faces still marked with deep, lingering fear.
From that day on, the image of a youth would be forever seared into their minds—a boy far younger than them, yet possessing strength so terrifying it was beyond belief. Shura.
In the Phantom Thunder Sect's dungeon, many people were imprisoned. They had been locked up for various reasons, but the ones who suffered the worst fate were undoubtedly those who had offended the young sect master.
Here, they wouldn't face outright torture, but they were forbidden from cultivating. Being imprisoned for life meant the end of one's future, and those who had crossed the young sect master often met precisely this fate.
"Hey, look—that guy looks like he got thrown in for offending the young sect master!"
"Then he's dead meat. Once you've offended the young sect master, not even the King of Heaven himself can save you." In one of the cells, several inmates were pointing at and whispering about a thin young man huddled silently in the corner.
"Hey! Kid, what's your name?" Upon learning that the youth had been imprisoned for offending the young sect master, the inmates exchanged glances and, with malicious intent, surrounded him.
"Me? I'm Li Datou. Is there something you brothers need?"
The young man was clearly terrified by these people. In the dungeon, inmates beating each other was a common sight. Having offended the young sect master, many would try to curry favor by attacking him. Many who had crossed the young sect master ended up beaten to death inside the prison precisely because of this.
"What? Your name is Li Datou? That's the ugliest name I've ever heard. Come here and kneel—slap yourself a thousand times!" One man pointed at Li Datou and barked.
"Brothers, we have no grudge against each other. Why make things so difficult for me?" Although Li Datou was timid, he wouldn't just submit. Kneeling and slapping himself was something he absolutely refused to do.
"Damn it! I told you to slap yourself and you're still talking back? Get him!" Enraged that Li Datou wasn't complying, the man kicked him to the ground with a savage boot. In an instant, everyone in the cell swarmed in, raining kicks and punches on Li Datou.
"Stop! What are you doing?!" Just then, the elders guarding the dungeon walked over. They opened the cell and pointed at the group inside, shouting sternly. But behind these elders stood a handsome young boy with a tender, youthful face.
"Elder, this brat offended the young sect master. Not only does he show no remorse, he even dares to speak rudely and insult the young master. As a member of the Phantom Thunder Sect, we naturally have a duty to help the young master teach him a lesson!"
"That's right, Elder. This kid is way too unruly. He really deserves proper punishment—locking him up for life wouldn't be too much!"
Hearing this, those inmates who had attacked Li Datou eagerly offered their explanations. It was calculated—while they themselves had been locked up for their own transgressions, beating an inmate who had offended the young sect master was actually an effective way to gain the elders' favor.
At this moment, Li Datou hung his head in silence, knowing his luck had run out again. Facing their fabricated excuses, he had no room to argue. Surely not only would the elders not save him, but he'd be punished even more severely.
However, just when Li Datou felt certain of his doom and the attackers believed they'd earned the elders' approval, those dungeon-guarding elders turned to the young boy beside them and asked respectfully, "Sir, what do you think? This..."
Chu Feng smiled faintly. "The young sect master says that anyone who dared lay a hand on Li Datou should have their arms and legs broken. Do any of you have objections?" As he spoke, he flipped his palm, and the young sect master's token materialized in his hand.
"We obey!" Upon seeing the token, the elders steeled themselves immediately, not daring to hesitate for even a moment.
When they turned back toward the inmates, their eyes blazed with ferocity and killing intent. Without a shred of mercy, they lunged at those men.
"Ahhhh!"
In that instant, heart-piercing screams echoed endlessly through the dungeon. Those men, completely caught off guard, had their limbs brutally broken by the elders.
As for Li Datou, he stood there with his mouth hanging wide open in shock, frozen in place, his face a mask of bewilderment and disbelief.
It wasn't until that tender-faced youth led him out of the dungeon, carried him atop a White-headed Eagle, and flew away from the Phantom Thunder Sect toward his hometown that Li Datou finally understood—he had been saved. Saved by a youth.