The square of Heavenly Profound Sect was deathly silent.
Every gaze was fixed on the white-robed young man standing atop the judgment platform. His robe fluttered lightly in the wind, yet no one dared utter a word. Seconds ago, a respected elder—Elder Yan, a cultivator at the peak of Nascent Soul Realm—had collapsed without warning, his eyes wide open, blood trailing from the corners of his mouth.
He was dead. No technique. No spell. No weapon.
Just a glance.
"A soul-killing gaze… T-That's impossible… That forbidden art disappeared ten thousand years ago!" someone whispered, almost choking on their own breath.
But it happened. They all saw it.
Xu Min's expression remained calm, even detached. He turned toward the crowd of disciples and elders watching from below. His voice, though quiet, rang out with terrifying clarity.
"Disrespecting me... comes with a price."
A murmur rippled through the crowd. No one dared speak aloud, but countless thoughts churned.
Who… is this man?
Xu Min was supposedly just an outer disciple brought in half a year ago. Even with rumors of his sudden rise through the ranks, no one expected this. Killing an elder with a look? That wasn't just rare—it was unnatural. Impossible, even.
Tao Qing, another elder, gritted his teeth. "You dare kill a member of the Heavenly Profound Sect, brat? Do you want death?!"
Xu Min tilted his head. "Elder Yan plotted against me. He used poison in my meals, tried to cripple my cultivation while I was in closed-door training. You think I didn't know?"
The crowd erupted in gasps.
Tao Qing shouted, "Lies! Elder Yan would never—"
But then, a soft explosion echoed from Elder Yan's corpse. A black pill rolled out from inside his sleeve—its scent unmistakably toxic.
Xu Min didn't even look.
"Try again."
Now even the most stubborn doubters shut their mouths. The evidence spoke louder than any defense.
Xu Min looked at the high seat where the Sect Master was supposed to be. Empty.
"He's not coming. Cowards don't descend from their thrones when things get messy," he muttered.
Then he turned to the gathered disciples and spoke slowly.
"From today onward, I'm taking over the inner sect trials. Anyone who wants to challenge me... step forward."
Silence.
Not one dared move.
Even Tuo Long, known for his arrogance and top-ten rank among disciples, lowered his gaze. His knees trembled.
Xu Min turned. "Good. Then I'll see you all tomorrow."
And with that, he walked away. Calm. Unhurried. Dominant.
Behind him, the wind howled.
But inside their hearts, fear screamed louder.
Somewhere far away, inside a secret hall of the sect, a middle-aged man in ornate robes watched the scene through a jade mirror. His brows furrowed.
"This boy… is no ordinary disciple. He must be related to that bloodline. Should I act now… or wait?" His voice echoed in the empty hall.
A cloaked figure behind him whispered, "He's dangerous. If left unchecked, he'll overturn everything."
The man clenched his fist.
"Then we'll see how long he can dance before the heavens crush him."
---
To be continued…
End of chapter 27