As soon as Di Long, Yu Xiaoyun, and the others left, Long Chen had felt that Qu Jianying’s gaze was a bit off, and so he had been on guard.

As soon as Qu Jianying’s arm had reached toward him, he had turned and dodged behind the patriarch, hiding.

“You little brat, you dare to dodge?!” raged Qu Jianying.

“Alliance head, if there’s anything to say, we can talk about it properly. Long Chen is already grown up, and treating him like this is a bit unsuitable,” said the patriarch. Since the patriarch was the only one whose cultivation base and seniority were high enough to say such things to Qu Jianying, he could only thicken his face.

“What? Once he’s grown up, I can’t beat him? Just because he obtained first place on the Devil Slaughter Rankings, I can’t admonish him? You little scoundrel, I was in the midst of thinking how to reward you when you stirred up such trouble! He gave me that much trouble so quickly, why can’t I set him straight?!” raged Qu Jianying.

“This matter can’t be blamed on Long Chen. It was entirely those people who went too far. Even the Xuantian Tower couldn’t bear it,” explained the patriarch hastily.

“Don’t bring up such useless things. I’m more aware of Di Long and Yu Xiaoyun’s intentions than you are. I simply find this little scoundrel to be displeasing. So what if I want to vent?” Qu Jianying glared at Long Chen.

“Alliance head, I worked so hard to get first place for you! How can you find me displeasing?” said Long Chen in an aggrieved manner.

“Do you still not realize that these two matters are unrelated? You’re a typical case of a child who will start tearing out roof tiles if you aren’t disciplined every day. If I let you off so easily, sooner or later you’ll cause such trouble that even I won’t be able to handle it.” Casting Long Chen a sideways glance, Qu Jianying added, “As for that woman, you should be careful. As soon as anyone catches solid proof, you will immediately become the enemy of the world. Your enemies won’t let that opportunity go. When the time comes, even if I were to sacrifice my own life, I wouldn’t be able to protect you.”

Qu Jianying’s words gravely emphasized the danger. Long Chen’s argument clearly hadn’t tricked her, nor could it trick Di Long, Yu Xiaoyun, and the others.

The only reason Yu Xiaoyun and the others had left was because they had no solid proof, and with Qu Jianying and the Xuantian Dao Sect fully supporting Long Chen, there was no way for them to use force against him.

Just because they had left now didn’t mean that they had given up. It was the opposite. They would be keeping a close eye on him in the future, and if he slipped up, then the venomous viper that had been lying in wait for so long would strike, killing him in one bite. So Qu Jianying had to admonish him, or it would be too late if Long Chen were to act without thinking of the consequences.

However, even Qu Jianying did not ask the truth about Yue Xiaoqian. Clearly, this topic was taboo even for her.

“I understand.” Long Chen knew that Qu Jianying was doing this for his own good.

The four of them sat down. Long Chen once more told the whole story of what had happened. Although that matter had passed, Long Chen’s fury still ignited when he explained how someone from Heavenly Fate Island had sabotaged them.

“Alliance head, I don’t understand. Why would Heavenly Fate Island do so much to target Long Chen? That’s not their usual style,” asked Li Tianxuan.

“Because the old master of Heavenly Fate Island went into seclusion eight hundred years ago, and during this time Duan Tianya is in charge of Heavenly Fate Island. You know Duan Tianya’s relationship with Xuan Jizi, correct?” said Qu Jianying.

Li Tianxuan was startled. “You mean the rumors are true? Xuan Jizi is Duan Tianya’s secret bastard child?”

“It’s most likely true. Otherwise, considering how Xuan Jizi harmed others in the past, then according to Heavenly Fate Island’s rules, he’d have been executed. The fact that he was only expelled and even managed to establish the grand Heavenly Fate Pavilion in the Grand Han definitely has Duan Tianya’s shadow behind it. Then Xuan Jizi suddenly vanished, while that matter of ‘Long San’ suddenly appeared in Pill Valley right while Xuan Jizi was there. Even without the ability to read fate, I know this matter was done by Long Chen. Duan Tianya has hundreds of ways to determine the true cause of Xuan Jizi’s death. Long Chen, tell me, am I correct?” Qu Jianying looked at Long Chen.

“Cough, actually, it wasn’t done by just me. I did it with the Pill Fairy. If we were splitting the merit, she would be the main culprit,” said Long Chen awkwardly.

He really hadn’t known that Xuan Jizi had such a background. He guessed that the Pill Fairy also hadn’t known. It must be a secret only the senior generation knew.

After a moment’s hesitation, Long Chen finally decided to ask. He greatly longed to know the secret of the original devil race and why they had become enemies with the entire world. “Alliance head, when it comes the original-”

“This isn’t a question you should ask. It’s taboo. It would be best if you never mentioned it.”

Qu Jianying immediately interrupted him. She then profoundly added, “There are no absolute rights or wrongs in this world. You’ve already grown up, and you know your responsibility. The reason I normally admonish you is in hopes that you will be more cautious in the future instead of always leaving a pile of crap for your seniors to clean up after you. After all, you’ve also grown into a large tree capable of blocking the wind and rain. You have to consider the big picture instead of being hot-tempered and charging forward blindly. However, when it comes to your choice, both myself and your sect leader support you. You must form your own opinion and determine your own responsibility. As long as you think your choice is right, then you do it. However, in that process, it would be best if you left yourself a path out so that you can survive while you still haven’t grown to your peak state. Otherwise, the next time Heavenly Fate Island sneak attacks you, you won’t be this lucky.”

Qu Jianying reached out and straightened Long Chen’s collar. The current Qu Jianying didn’t have any of the imposing dignity of the leader of the Martial Heaven Alliance. Instead, she seemed like an elder kindly teaching a child.

“Many thanks, alliance head.” Long Chen was moved inside. From the start, Qu Jianying had viewed him as her own child.

“What is there to thank? If that old man heard you thank me, he’d break your leg.” Qu Jianying smiled faintly, but that smile contained a trace of worry.

The odds of failure when attempting to break through the Netherpassage realm were extremely high. No one was guaranteed to pass. Right now, all she could do was wait.

“Senior Qu, how should we handle Heavenly Fate Island?” asked Li Tianxuan.

“There’s no need for us to do anything. Let them continue. They are interfering with the Heavenly Daos, so they won’t have a good end. People like them walk the precipice between the inside and the outside of the Heavenly Daos. Having made such a huge movement that interferes with the natural order of the Heavenly Daos, the Heavenly Daos will definitely not let them off easily. Hmph, when the time comes, their deaths will definitely be miserable ones.” Qu Jianying shook her head.

Heavenly Fate Island cultivated the ability to see through the heavens. This kind of profession seemed amazing, but it was like dancing on the tip of a blade.

If they only viewed things from the perspective of a bystander, perhaps it would be better. However, if they tried to interfere with fate, the Heavenly Daos would immediately lock onto them.

That was why Heavenly Fate Island didn’t have many true disciples. Many of them died to heavenly tribulation because once you were locked onto by the Heavenly Daos, when the time for your tribulation came, your heavenly tribulation would turn into heavenly punishment.

Countless experts longed to be able to know the future while not imagining the danger involved. Each year, millions of disciples would enter Heavenly Fate Island to cultivate, but the number that could become core disciples was less than one in ten thousand.

Heavenly Fate Island didn’t even need trials to wash out their disciples. If they could survive their tribulations, then they could continue studying the way to peer into the heavens.

Many disciples committed a taboo of the Heavenly Daos without even realizing it. When their tribulation transformed into heavenly punishment, they were turned to dust.

So training in heaven-peering arts was like standing on a raised pole above a thirty-thousand-meter cliff. Whether you went left or right, if you went past a limit, you would fall.

An old monster like Duan Tianya definitely wouldn’t be so foolish as to personally do anything to Long Chen. Most likely, he had used a large number of disciples to collect information about Long Chen from many different angles. That was the only possibility as to how he had made such a perfect scheme.

He might not be as affected, but all those people who obeyed his orders would definitely die when their tribulations came.

“However, if Heavenly Fate Island wants to, can’t they reuse these people?” asked Li Tianxuan.

After all, they would die in any case. Using them once meant they died, but using them ten times also meant that they died. Why not use the same people over and over again?

“You’re overthinking it. They will only have one chance to do such large-scale calculations against Long Chen. Such large movements will definitely draw the attention of the Heavenly Daos. The Heavenly Daos will protect themselves, screening the lines of fate from those people. Duan Tianya would have to use another batch of people, however, if he does that, ignoring whether or not he cares if there will be any disciples left to carry out Heavenly Fate Island’s inheritance, he himself will not get off lightly. If he tries to undergo such a large movement again, with him in charge twice, the Heavenly Daos will lock onto him. Although he’s at the Netherpassage realm and has no hope of further advancements, the heavens have other ways to punish people. His longevity will shorten by hundreds or even thousands of times. Do you think he would dare?” Qu Jianying smiled.

“So that’s the case.” Li Tianxuan and Long Chen understood now. No wonder Qu Jianying dared to say that they wouldn’t be able to pull off such a scheme again.

In truth, Heavenly Fate Island was just a group of people that were full of tricks. But the Heavenly Daos were merciless, and if they interfered with the Heavenly Daos, they would invoke karma.

“However, even if Heavenly Fate Island does not try to read your fate again, you can’t be careless. They have great influence, so be careful of them setting you up for something. In any case, just make sure not to give them anything they can use against you. You can leave the rest to me. As long as there’s no proof, you can mess around as much as you want. I’ll handle them,” said Qu Jianying.

Long Chen smiled. The feeling of having someone supporting him was truly good. However, some enmities had to be avenged personally. He had to give Heavenly Fate Island a painful lesson.

“Alright, let’s not talk about these things. Aren’t you interested in the reward for this battle?” As soon as Qu Jianying said this, Long Chen’s eyes began to shine. Money!