If the other party made even the slightest untoward move, Chen Cheng would counter with lethal force in an instant.

However, the person was indeed only checking his Root Bone and did nothing more.

"Hm!?"

Suddenly, Steward Sun's expression changed slightly, and he muttered to himself,

"So, you're the kid with the Innate Iron Lung the Sea Courtyard has been looking for... You're a lucky one. You probably won't be kicked out now."

"Innate Iron Lung?"

Li Wenrou paused, stunned, then also reached out to touch Chen Cheng. After a moment, she couldn't help but sigh softly and say,

"Your frame—muscle, bone, skin, and flesh—is mid-to-upper grade. Your organs are mid-to-lower... but the feedback from your lungs alone is exceptionally pronounced. It truly is an Innate Iron Lung!"

"The people from the Sea Courtyard... are looking for me?"

Chen Cheng's expression was calm. He felt no joy at this news; instead, his heart immediately tensed up.

'Could it be the woman I saw naked and whose Treasure Fish I stole that day, coming to seek revenge?'

"That's right! We're looking for you!"

Li Wenrou said,

"The Sea Courtyard has been sending people over constantly these past few days, urging us to find an Outer Disciple with an Innate Iron Lung. We've screened everyone several times, but somehow we missed you!"

"I'm going to report this to Elder Zhou. You all wait here!"

Steward Sun tossed out the sentence, turned, and strode away. In just a few steps, he disappeared down the winding path.

"This is great."

Li Wenrou's face lit up with a smile.

"An Innate Iron Lung is the kind of promising talent the Sea Courtyard loves most. As long as they accept you, all your problems will be solved."

"...Let's hope so."

Chen Cheng was certain that his retreat that day had been decisive. It was impossible for her to have gotten a clear look at his face. With no proof, he could deny it to his dying breath.

'Besides, this is a prestigious sect. They're looking for someone openly, so they probably wouldn't disregard their reputation and retaliate without any evidence...'

Having thought it through, Chen Cheng wasn't so worried anymore. He would just wait and see.

A moment later.

Steward Sun returned and said in a low voice,

"Chen Cheng, you're a really lucky kid. A Core Disciple from the Dragon Pavilion has come to inspect you personally. You just need to have a practical combat fistfight with someone of the Same Tier. If you pass, you might even be able to enter the Fishing Pavilion!"

"The Fishing Pavilion?"

Hearing this, Li Wenrou's tiger-like eyes widened, unable to contain her delight.

Although the Fishing Pavilion was the lowest of all pavilions, it was still a genuine part of the Inner Sect.

In her opinion, if Chen Cheng could join it, it would be a thousand, even ten thousand times better than striking out on his own!

"A fistfight with someone of the Same Tier? I accept."

Chen Cheng nodded in agreement.

If he could stay by relying on his own abilities, that would naturally be the best outcome.

Besides, when it came to a battle between those of the Same Tier, what did he have to fear?

...

In the center of the Outer Sect's Martial Arts Arena, a rosewood armchair was placed perfectly straight.

Seated in the chair was a young woman with a ramrod-straight posture and a serious, pretty face. It was none other than Gu Qianqian.

Behind her, several Outer Sect Stewards stood with the utmost respect. Each and every one was bowing and scraping, their eyes lowered in silence, like a group of children who had just been scolded for misbehaving.

Even the Outer Sect Elder, Zhou Wansen, could only stand by her side, a smile on his face, nodding and bowing, ready to receive orders at any moment.

At the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

Marsong swallowed hard, his dark face filled with shock, his voice trembling slightly.

"Is that a Core Disciple from the Dragon Pavilion? Her status is actually that high? The head of the Outer Sect is like a servant in front of her..."

Beside him, Ding Lu whispered,

"A regular Inner Sect disciple's status is equal to an Outer Sect Steward. An Elite Disciple from the Inner Sect already has a status equal to Elder Zhou's."

"A Core Disciple from the Inner Sect is naturally an existence far beyond Elder Zhou's comparison... Besides, that Senior Sister Gu is the beloved apprentice of the Dragon Pavilion's Pavilion Master. Her status is a notch higher than even other Core Disciples."

"Damn..."

Marsong swallowed hard again, a look of longing appearing in his eyes.

"If only I could become an Inner Sect Core Disciple someday..."

"You?"

Ding Lu smiled but said nothing, though she secretly rolled her eyes and complained internally:

'You're just a member of an Alien Race, with no foundation, no connections, no money, and no resources. Your Root Bone isn't even that outstanding. If you can become a regular Inner Sect disciple in the future, it'll be because your ancestors' graves are spewing green smoke... A Core Disciple? In your next life!'

"Senior Sister Su's Root Bone is Five Extremes Upper Grade. She should have a chance."

Lu Shang offered the compliment with a half-smile, his gaze sweeping over Su Bing's face and chest.

Su Bing waved her hands dismissively and said,

"Don't just flatter me blindly! I'll be perfectly happy if I can just enter the Inner Sect and become a regular disciple! Now, if you were talking about Senior Brother Ning Chong, that would be more believable!"

"Senior Brother Ning can definitely do it!"

Lu Shang paused, then asked,

"By the way, didn't Senior Brother Ning promise to come out and eat with us today? He's still not here. He couldn't have gotten busy and forgotten, could he?"

"Maybe..."

Ding Lu gazed into the distance toward the Inner Sect, a complicated look in her eyes.

"Senior Brother Ning has been in the Fist Pavilion for three days now. I wonder if everything is going smoothly for him? And if he's been thinking of me... of us."

"What? You miss him already?"

Su Bing let out a PFFT of laughter, leaned in, and wiggled her eyebrows at Ding Lu with the most mischievous expression imaginable.

"Of course not."

Ding Lu's cheeks instantly turned red.

"He... he's a Martial Artist I sponsor! What's wrong with me being concerned about his situation? You laugh again! I dare you to laugh again!"

As she spoke, she reached out to pinch Su Bing's waist. Su Bing dodged with a laugh, and the two girls began to playfully scuffle at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, a flurry of delicate laughter and graceful movement.

Lu Shang felt a flush of heat as he watched them. His Adam's apple bobbed, but he feigned indifference and looked away, only to sneak a peek, then look away again.

Marsong, however, seemed to have little interest in the women. His gaze fell upon another group of people in the distance, and his eyes narrowed slightly.

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