Bai Xunli was now sweating bullets. She really thought her life was going to end there, when the pressure suddenly spiked. Yan Zhen and Luo Heng even had blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
This was definitely not the aura of a Mid Immortal. Not even Han Shengzun's presence had ever felt like this.
The three Enforcers' faces were pale as clouds. They panted for air, struggling to breathe—as if invisible hands were gripping their throats in a slow, merciless choke.
And just like that, the presence lessened. Bai Xunli could feel it—like a wave receding, drawn back into stillness. But it wasn't gone. It hovered, waiting, ready to pounce the moment she let her guard down.
Fear crept into her bones.
I made a mistake. I should have listened to my initial gut. This man is dangerous, and I do not want to be his enemy.
Bai Xunli heard Xuan Tian clear his throat. She jumped to her feet, bowed deeply, and saluted. "Shengzun, this lowly Immortal apologizes. This lowly Immortal will not make the same mistake again. Please, have mercy on this lowly Immortal."
Yan Zhen and Luo Heng followed suit, acting purely on instinct.
Xuan Tian inwardly face-palmed. Another one. What is going on? I need to calm down.
He cleared his throat again, attempting to curb his aura further.
"Captain Bai, no need to be this formal. I'd like to apologize as well. I was— I just woke up from my injuries. I didn't mean to hurt any of you."
But then he added, his voice turning cold, "But I meant what I said about insincerity."
Bai Xunli remained bowing. "Yes! Shengzun!"
Gu Tianzhu inwardly sighed. Ever since Shengzun woke up, his presence had become increasingly terrifying.
Xuan Tian felt the tension still lingering, so he tried to ease it. "Captain Bai, yes. I defeated Tie Yanfang alone. But not without paying the cost. I was injured—quite severely. And now my cultivation has dropped to Mid Immortal One."
All three Enforcers nodded like chickens pecking rice.
At that moment, Ling Yu entered the stone bed chamber and instantly felt the heavy tension.
She stepped forward carefully. "What's going on?" she asked, walking straight to Xuan Tian.
When Xuan Tian heard her voice, he exhaled loudly and stood. "Ling Yu!" He cleared his throat for the third time. "Are you ready to move?"
Bai Xunli and her assistants looked at Ling Yu like she was a savior. They quickly bowed and saluted—which made the scene unintentionally funny. Three uniformed Enforcers bowing to a fourteen-year-old girl.
Ling Yu's eyes flicked from Xuan Tian, to the three Enforcers, to Gu Tianzhu, and then back to Xuan Tian.
"Iron Wall, what did you do?"
Xuan Tian silently thanked her for 'rescuing' him from the awkward moment and looked at her, deadpan. "What do you think I can do? I'm injured, remember?"
Ling Yu scoffed. "Even when you're injured, you pushed back Captain Wu. So, what did you do to make them nervous?"
Gu Tianzhu seized the moment to shift the subject. "Shengzun, there's one matter I forgot to inform you. I'd like to take this opportunity to officially request Miss Ling Yu as my last inner disciple."
Ling Yu looked at Gu Tianzhu, surprised. "Me? Your disciple?! Really?"
Li Ran approached eagerly. "Yes! Really! Shimei! You'll be our Xiao Wu!"
Gu Tianzhu smiled widely. "Li Ran is correct. If you accept, you'll be my fifth disciple. Xiao Wu."
He turned to Xuan Tian to observe his reaction.
Xuan Tian was watching Ling Yu carefully, trying to gauge her response. He would never put her in a difficult position—or force her into anything. Not that anyone could force Ling Yu.
When he saw nothing but joy in her eyes, he turned to Gu Tianzhu and gave a small nod.
The final weight in Gu Tianzhu's heart lifted. He had been dreading this moment, afraid that Xuan Tian didn't trust him enough.
"What should I do? Start calling you 'Shizun'? Don't you have ceremonies or something?"
Gu Tianzhu, still smiling, replied, "Yes, we do. We can perform it at the new residence. It's pretty simple. You only need to serve me tea on your knees and bow to me three times."
"After that I'm your disciple? It's that simple?"
Gu Tianzhu nodded. Li Ran chimed in, "Yes. It's that simple."
"But as a disciple, there are many things you'll need to pay attention to," Xuan Tian interjected.
"Like what?"
"Like stop calling me 'Iron Wall.'"
Ling Yu stuck her tongue out at him in response.
Zhao Zhi appeared, followed by the three disciples and the awakened victims. He was supporting a man so weak he looked like he might collapse at any moment. Xuan Tian recognized him instantly—one of the Celestials they had rescued.
Shen Qingyu assisted Feng Hailin, while his two shidis handled Xiao Qin and the other junior disciples.
Feng Hailin, though extremely weak, was very much conscious. The moment he spotted Xuan Tian, he nearly lost his footing. He dropped to his knees, whimpering, crying, clutching Shen Qingyu's robe in a desperate attempt to hide his face.
Everyone froze, stunned. A High Immortal Five—someone on par with Gu Tianzhu—reduced to a sobbing mess.
Xuan Tian said nothing. But his expression turned grim.
He remembered exactly what Feng Hailin had done to all those innocent people.
Ling Yu's expression turned grim. She remembered it clearly—Feng Hailin had been the one about to extract 'Xuan Tian's' core. His cruel face was the last thing she saw before losing consciousness. She had never seen him again after that moment in the cavern. Now, seeing him again brought it all back. Without thinking, she leaned her body slightly toward Xuan Tian.
Xuan Tian noticed the subtle movement. Quietly, without a word, he shifted his body forward—just a little—placing himself between her and Feng Hailin. Shielding her.
His aura, though mostly restrained, began to leak. Cold and razor sharp. His gaze locked onto Feng Hailin, sharp and merciless.
Everyone felt it—that murderous chill in the air. The chamber fell still. Not a single breath dared disturb it.
Xuan Tian's voice sliced through the silence like a blade. "I hope you cooperate well with Captain Bai of ICEB."
Everyone knew exactly who he was talking to—including Feng Hailin. If just spotting Xuan Tian had reduced him to a sobbing mess, this final line shattered him. He soiled himself on the spot.
The sharp stench of urine and feces filled the chamber, nauseating and foul.
Xuan Tian crinkled his nose slightly. Without a word, he placed a hand on Ling Yu's back. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear, "Let's go."
He gave her a gentle push forward, guiding her toward the cavern entrance.