"What?!"
Hong Qianye was stunned, a chill surging through his chest.
"Hehe, with a body like yours, even if you're a man, I wouldn't mind. Now be good and lie down. I can't wait to get a taste," the lecherous Reclusive Real Man said with a twisted smile, eyes gleaming with lust.
"Get lost! I'd rather die than submit!"
Hong Qianye roared, unleashing all his magical power. With rapid hand seals, a lotus-shaped flame of crimson-orange burst to life above his head, surging with terrifying energy.
The temperature in the area spiked. Dry leaves on the ground spontaneously ignited.
"Hm?"
The Reclusive Real Man's face darkened as he licked his lips. It was suddenly hard to breathe.
He had never seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator release such overwhelming pressure.
What level was this spell?
Profound grade? Earth grade?
"You bastard, now you've really pissed me off!"
"Die!!"
Hong Qianye's long hair whipped in the wind, his eyes cold and deadly. He looked like a fallen demon reborn, voice ringing with unshakable resolve.
Swoosh!
The blazing flame lotus shot forward, releasing an unstoppable wave of pressure toward the Reclusive Real Man.
"You—!"
Feeling the immense pressure, the Reclusive Real Man turned pale. He quickly raised his hands to summon a defensive artifact.
But to his horror, it began to melt under the scorching heat.
The next moment, the fiery lotus engulfed him.
"Ahhh—!!"
The Reclusive Real Man let out a blood-curdling scream as the flames consumed him like a raging inferno.
Within moments, only a pile of charred remains remained, scattered and swept away by the breeze.
"You filthy freak, you brought this on yourself."
Hong Qianye spat coldly before collapsing to the ground.
His dantian felt like it had shattered, and an overwhelming weakness took over his body.
That technique was a Heavenly-grade spell. Incredibly powerful, yes—but also devastating to cast for someone still in the Foundation Establishment realm.
If that hadn't killed him, Hong Qianye would've been completely helpless.
His condition was rapidly declining. Even if he had other powerful spells, he lacked the strength to use them.
Once, with a mere glance, he could turn ants like that to ash.
Now, drained and broken, Hong Qianye could barely move—a lamb awaiting slaughter.
"This is such bad luck…"
"I need to get out of here—find a place to recover, fast."
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright.
"Hehe… That pervert got what he deserved, but you, my friend, seem to be full of surprises."
A sudden voice made Hong Qianye's heart jolt.
A ragged old beggar with a red nose and a wine gourd slung over his shoulder walked out from the bamboo grove, a cunning glint in his eyes.
"Who are you?!"
Hong Qianye's face darkened. Was this nightmare still not over?
"Don't be nervous, young friend," the beggar chuckled. "I just happened to be passing by and saw something interesting. As for the Reclusive Real Man, we knew each other, but I had no ties to him. I won't be avenging him."
He smiled kindly. "Besides, I swing the normal way, so you don't need to worry."
"Good."
Hong Qianye let out a breath and cupped his fists. "Then let's go our separate ways. Farewell."
Something about the old beggar screamed danger.
But as soon as Hong Qianye turned to leave, a gust of wind swept past—and the beggar reappeared before him, grinning with yellowed, crooked teeth.
"But unlike that fool, I'm far more interested in your secrets…"
Boom!
A wave of Golden Core stage pressure suddenly crashed down on Hong Qianye, forcing him to his knees. His bones creaked from the force, eyes bloodshot.
"You—!"
Hong Qianye's heart sank. Escape was no longer an option.
Once, he had been a towering figure in the cultivation world. He knew full well how ruthless cultivators could be when something valuable was at stake.
This old man wanted his Immortal inheritance!
"Hehe… Let's see what's inside that head of yours—and how you can cast such high-level spells."
The beggar's smile turned sinister as he raised a withered hand.
"Damn you and your ancestors!"
Hong Qianye clenched his teeth, fear beginning to seep into his heart.
Right now, he was as good as a fish on the chopping block—completely helpless!
Was this really how his path to recovery ended?
Still smiling, the beggar pressed his palm down on Hong Qianye's head, preparing to forcefully search his soul.
"I won't accept this! Never!"
Hong Qianye screamed internally, shame and fury colliding within him.
Boom!
At that instant.
A terrifying force descended from the sky, as though the heavens themselves were collapsing.
"Who's there?!"
The beggar's face twisted with shock and fear as he turned.
The void rippled, and a black-robed youth stepped through.
Silver hair billowed in the wind. His handsome face glowed with otherworldly brilliance, eyes sharp as blades.
The beggar froze. Sweat poured down his face as he stammered, "S-Senior…"
Ye Junlin's eyes swept past him to Hong Qianye, who was kneeling on the ground.
"Huh?"
Ye Junlin's expression shifted.
"Seriously? This guy is the Fire Cult Leader? A True Immortal-level powerhouse? He's barely at Foundation Establishment—are you kidding me?"
[Ding! The system is not deceiving the host. This is indeed the former Fire Cult Leader, once at the True Immortal realm. However, his cultivation has fallen drastically.]
[Ding! Eye of Insight has been activated.]
In the next second, a virtual panel appeared before Ye Junlin, displaying Hong Qianye's information.
---
[Name]: Hong Qianye
[Gender]: Male
[Cultivation]: Early Foundation Establishment
[Talent]: Damaged Celestial Fire Spirit Root
[Identity]: Former Fire Cult Leader, once ascended to the True Immortal realm
---
"Damn… It's actually true?"
Ye Junlin was stunned. This once-unshakable figure had truly fallen into such a pitiful state?
"Wait… this guy's really a man?"
Ye Junlin blinked, staring at the "gender" line before giving Hong Qianye another once-over.
Fair skin, striking features, those alluring Danfeng eyes… even the crimson mark on his brow added a strange, exotic charm.
Honestly, plenty of women would feel outclassed.
Cough, cough. So he's really a guy?
Ye Junlin had assumed he was just a beautiful man or maybe a crossdresser, but now it was clear—this was just how he looked naturally. Long hair, ethereal beauty… but definitely male.
"Still, with that level of talent, even at Foundation Establishment, he should be able to climb back to the top."
"Taking him as a disciple… now that's worth it."
Ye Junlin's thoughts began to stir.
After all, who wouldn't want a former cult leader—someone who had once ascended to Immortality—as their subordinate?
Meanwhile, Hong Qianye felt only despair.
"A Transformation Stage cultivator… it's over for me."
He didn't rejoice at Ye Junlin's appearance.
In his view, the secret he carried was enough to shake the entire cultivation world. How many powerful figures would kill just to obtain it?
This silver-haired youth would be no exception.
Once the beggar was dead, he would simply become someone else's prey.
His fate wouldn't change at all.
---
The only character that might have his pronouns mistaken is "Hong Qianye",just tell me where mistakes are. I'd change it.