"The people who envied him…" Cheng Sheng said. "… that includes a mage, right?" he said and looked at Shu Mu. "That's why his mage badge is like that." He looked at the mage badge on Xiao Le's waist.

Shu Mu felt guiltier, but also there's anger in his eyes. "Yes." he answered. "An elder of their sect has a daughter. She's also a mage. She got jealous of Xiao Le and humiliated him in front of everybody." He said. "That time, I already left when I noticed the sudden change of his fellow disciples' attitude towards him. I didn't expect for it to become worse because of that elder's daughter." He said. "That elder suggested to their sect leader to not make Xiao Le his apprentice because of his poor aptitude. Their sect leader is also bias. He wouldn't offend an elder just for a disciple's sake. Thus, Xiao Le was alienated by his sect. He can only secretly make talismans." He explained.

They finally remembered now. It was during the first day, after Li Tian woke up and they heard the audience was talking about banning the use of talismans and spells after a contestant won by surprise when he used a talisman.

So that was Xiao Le. They thought and looked at Xiao Le who is now making a Moving Talisman. His match before was fierce and in order to win, he took out a talisman which surprised not only his opponent, but also his fellow disciples.

"After I apologized to Tang Zhe, I met him on the way." Shu Mu continued. "If I just hadn't been cured in time from my demonic qi poison, I would've already ran to the Huli Sect and beat them up." He frowned when he remembered Xiao Le was crying all night.

Cheng Sheng and the others understood Shu Mu's anger. If it was them, and it happened to their friend, they must have done worse than what Shu Mu was thinking.

"The worse is – " Shu Mu said and took a deep breath to calm himself. " – Xiao Le was forced by his sect to participate in the Intersect Competition." He said.

"WHAT?!" Chen Han said as he looked at Shu Mu with wide eyes. "It was stipulated in the rules – " he said.

Shu Mu cut him off. "But if the participant would say he is willing even if it's not, then he can participate." He said.

Silence fell upon them. "Why did they force him?" Fei Yin asked.

Shu Mu turned to him. "Xiao Le was forced into a corner by his fellow disciples." He answered. "They told him that if he could win in the competition, everything will go back to normal." He said.

"That's preposterous!" Sun Yi said, his face indignant. He looked at Xiao Le with his eyes full of sympathy.

"That's not only it." Shu Mu said and his face darkened. "They're using the competition to kill off Xiao Le." He said through his gritted teeth.

"WHAT?!" they were shocked. They didn't think it would go this far.

"Every day they meet him, and they see him as an eyesore. Don't you think it's irritating?" Shu Mu asked and sarcastically smiled.

They fell silent. Chen Han and Sun Yi already heard about Cheng Sheng's matter with Ruo She. They completely understand Xiao Le's situation. It wouldn't take long before a fight would break out in their sect.

"They always sees him blocking their path to their future." Shu Mu said. "Xiao Le, even though he's bold, but he's actually timid. He's not dumb to not notice their intentions." He said. "Even more, their sect leader just wanted to use Xiao Le to get the glory of winning the competition." He clicked his tongue in disgust. "Xiao Le might look strong, but he's just a child. He'll definitely die. But, the result of his performance in this competition will be going to his sect." he explained. "I can't stand it." He added.

Cheng Sheng looked at Shu Mu before he turned to Xiao Le who successfully made a Moving Talisman. "I'll bring him to glory." He said.

"What?" Shu Mu said. "Cheng Sheng. I know you're strong, but you can't always protect Xiao Le." He said. "Furthermore, if Xiao Le will really win with your group, but the result of his performance will still go to the Huli Sect." he told him.

"So, what do you want to say?" Chen Han asked. His brows knit in confusion.

"I want Xiao Le to be liberated." Shu Mu answered.

"You're saying…" Sun Yi said.

Shu Mu nodded. "I want Xiao Le to leave his sect." he said.

"But, if he'll leave his sect, where can he go to?" Sun Yi asked.

"You can't take him with you." Fei Yin told Shu Mu. "Your sect will be implicated. And you're still in bad terms with your father. Do you think you can reconcile with your father for Xiao Le's sake?" he asked.

"That's…" Shu Mu fell silent.

"We can take him to our sect." Chen Han said.

"No. I'll take him." Cheng Sheng said.

"Huh?" they looked at him.

"Brother. You can't take him with you. The Youxiwang Sect is just starting its new era." Cheng Sheng said. He's referring to Wu Yuan becoming the new sect leader. "You can't create a problem just when your sect is starting its change." He told him.

"Then…" Chen Han said.

"I will take Xiao Le as my apprentice." Cheng Sheng said. "After this competition, founder is planning to make me, da shixiong, Li-shixiong and Feng-shixiong as elders of our sect." he said.

Shu Mu looked at him in shock. "You…" he said.

Cheng Sheng lowered his gaze. "I can't run away from my problem always." He said. "I'll make Xiao Le as my disciple after this." He looked at them. "I have the qualification, anyway." He smiled. "Also, the Huli Sect won't cause trouble to a mage master, right?" he looked at Shu Mu and grinned.

"You're really…" Shu Mu said and laughed. Chen Han and Sun Yi smiled.

Fei Yin stared at Cheng Sheng. "How do you plan to do this?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng suddenly grinned. "You'll see it soon." he answered.

"Cheng-shidi! Da shixiong!" Feng Mo called as he, Li Tian and Xiao Le ran towards them. "Xiao Le recreated the talismans!" he said.

They turned to them. "Great!" Cheng Sheng said as he stood. "We'll take you with us in the third stage!" he patted Xiao Le's shoulder before he turned to Li Tian and Feng Mo. "Li-shixiong. Feng-shixiong. I have a good news for you!" he told them and smiled brightly. "We're going to be elders of our sect after this competition!" he said.

"… huh?" Li Tian and Feng Mo stared at Cheng Sheng in shock. "HUH?!" they exclaimed, their expression stunned.

Cheng Sheng just grinned. "But, we should keep this between ourselves first. You also want to surprise shijie, shimei and Ling-shidi, right?" he said as he winked at them.

"Oh…" Li Tian and Feng Mo said and nodded. "Okay!" they agreed.

From afar, Xie Lan smiled as he watched his disciples. "Guess I have to send another message to Wen." He said and sighed as he took out a Voice Transmitting Talisman.

"Eh? Why?" Chen Jing said.

"We're with senior Xie earlier. Have you heard him tell Cheng Sheng anything other than our meeting with the Alliance?" Wu Yuan asked Chen Jing.

"Huh? No…" Chen Jing answered as he thinks. "Then – " he said and stared at Xie Lan in shock. "Hey. You can't be…" he said and his jaw dropped when Xie Lan threw the Voice Transmitting Talisman in the air. "You're too reckless!" he told Xie Lan.

"My disciples all are." Xie Lan said as he watched the Voice Transmitting Talisman flew to the direction of the east. "Especially your son." He told Chen Jing.

Chen Jing's face was covered in dark lines. "So, you're really going to make them elders of your sect?" he said.

"I just can't disappoint them, right?" Xie Lan said as he placed his hands inside his sleeves. "It's time for Xinfaxian Sect to make its change, too." He said.

Wu Yuan just remained silent but he looked pleased while Chen Jing placed a palm on his forehead. "As I said, this is too reckless…" he sighed. But, a smile was on his face. "This will be a good change." He said.

Yunxiao Inn, night.

"HAH!" a disciple yelled as he lunged his sword to the demonic cultivator. "Ugh!" he cried when the demonic cultivator dodged and clawed his chest. "PPT!" he spat out his blood and he watched his blood flowed out of his chest.

"Shidi!" his fellow disciple saw him and then rushed towards him. He swung his sword and cut the demonic cultivator's arm. "Shidi!" he called.

"Shixiong… I don't want to become a demonic cultivator… kill me…" he said as his eyes closed.

"SHIDI!" his shixiong cried before he took out a Cleansing Talisman.

"That's!" the demonic cultivator exclaimed as he clutched his arm that was cut. "Cleansing Talisman!" he exclaimed when he saw the shidi's body burned and turned to ashes. "Damn it! That Cheng Sheng! He's really a scourge!" he cursed in anger and jumped to escape.

"I won't let you get away!" the shixiong yelled and followed him.

The noises of fighting echoed in the walls of the Yunxiao Inn. The servants are cowering on the side because of fear. "Haa…" Shu Mu sighed when they saw another one died.

"That one is from the Shanliangde Sect." Jing Cheng said and looked at Xi Ming.

Xi Ming just sadly smiled. But, there was no blame in his face. "We won't cover up their death." He said. "This is the duty of a disciple." He looked at the fight between the righteous cultivators and demonic cultivators outside the Yunxiao Inn.

Cheng Sheng's face is cold as they watched one after another the disciples fell. Fei Lin, Xi Ling, Wu Yuan, Chen Jing and Xie Lan, together with Mu Jun, are fighting outside. His hands inside his sleeve shook. "Don't." he heard Fei Yin said before he held his hand tight.

"But – " Cheng Sheng said.

"To not waste their life in vain, you have to live." Fei Yin said. "That's the burden you carry as the person they sacrificed their life with." He told him.