Chapter Seven: Shamelessness Is Invincible

As Chen Xuan examined his status panel, the surrounding disciples turned deathly pale, filled with shock and disbelief.

Fang Dao... just died like that? Beaten to death by Chen Xuan? Many who remembered bullying Chen Xuan in the past felt their legs trembling, gripped by anxiety.

Liu Dashan, standing to the side, had realized quite a lot. Stroking the black mole on his chin, he thought to himself, "Who would have thought that after reaching a certain level of mastery, the Iron Shirt technique could possess such power? Perhaps I should try training in it? No, the Iron Shirt is too low-level. I recall obtaining a Golden Bell Shield manual a while back; yes, I could try that. Furthermore, one must remember not to bite off more than one can chew. Fang Dao’s death was caused by that very greed—he knew many techniques but had mastered none. As they say, 'master one skill and you can thrive everywhere.' This kid Chen Xuan has understood this truth thoroughly, far better than I have."

He couldn't help but glance at Chen Xuan once more. If he had realized this truth sooner, he wouldn't be nearing fifty with nothing to show for his life. Truly, comparing oneself to others only leads to misery! But now that he realized his error, perhaps it wasn't too late to mend his ways?

At that moment, after Chen Xuan finished allocating his points, a fierce hunger roared in his stomach; the twenty buns he had just consumed seemed to have been digested in an instant. He turned to Liu Dashan and said, "Boss, bring me forty more large buns!"

The disciples nearby widened their eyes. Forty? Could he actually eat all that? Even Liu Dashan squeezed his own mole so hard it hurt, gasping as he stared at Chen Xuan. "Kid, can you finish them? If you can't, I’ll slice the meat right off your own bones!"

"Enough with the chatter, just bring them!" Chen Xuan sat down and slapped the table.

"You've got guts!" Liu Dashan grunted, turning to prepare the food. Before long, basket after basket of buns was brought out. Chen Xuan grabbed them and began to devour them voraciously. As he ate, he continued to observe his panel. To his surprise, his Luck value had reached 7 points; he only needed 20 to open a grand gift package. He wondered what kind of treasures such a package might contain. Ideally, it would hold internal cultivation manuals like the Yi Jin Jing, the Art of Energy Absorption, or the Hunyuan Skill. He hoped it wouldn't be sword or blade techniques, as he had little interest in those, unless they were of the highest caliber. Chen Xuan felt a surge of anticipation.

Just then, an elder arrived from a distance. The man, dressed in green robes with a grim expression, moved with great speed and, guided by a group of disciples, quickly reached the kitchen. Liu Dashan looked at the elder and wore a look of schadenfreude, once again stroking the mole on his chin. "Chen Xuan won't escape death this time. Fang Dao’s master has arrived. Heh, let’s see what this kid can use to defend himself."

The other onlookers were terrified, instinctively backing away. It was over.

The Five Poisons Sect’s most protective elder, Qian Dacai, had arrived. Fang Dao was Elder Qian’s prized pupil; having been killed, Elder Qian would certainly not let it slide.

Chen Xuan, still eating his buns, sensed the green-robed elder rushing toward him and felt a chill in his heart. Is this Fang Dao’s master? He had known that killing Fang Dao would cause trouble, but he hadn't been able to restrain himself earlier. He hadn't expected the master to arrive so soon. Chen Xuan sped up his eating.

Elder Qian finally arrived. Upon seeing the state of Fang Dao’s body, his expression grew even darker. He looked up at Chen Xuan and said coldly, "You are the one who killed my disciple?"

Chen Xuan swallowed the last of his bun, suddenly rose, and bowed three times to Elder Qian. "Master is here, please accept your disciple’s respect!"

Elder Qian frowned, barking, "Boy, what are you babbling about? Who is your master?"

Liu Dashan, standing by, was stunned. He realized he had underestimated this kid. Not only was his aptitude for martial arts incredibly high, but his shamelessness far exceeded his expectations. Damn, to kill someone’s disciple and then immediately turn around and try to apprentice himself to the victim’s master? A new trick learned! Liu Dashan nodded repeatedly.

Chen Xuan looked at Elder Qian and smiled. "Master, you are my master; does that even need to be asked? How could a piece of trash like Fang Dao be worthy of being your disciple? That wastrel did nothing but bully the weak and bring shame upon your reputation. Having him as your disciple was a waste. If you take me as your disciple, wouldn't I be ten times better than Fang Dao? With my strength, I will surely bring great honor to you within the sect. Any bastard who dares to disrespect you, I’ll crush them in a heartbeat!"

The surrounding disciples were all dumbfounded, marveling at Chen Xuan’s shamelessness. Elder Qian’s brow furrowed. He had been filled with rage, intending to kill Chen Xuan, but upon hearing this, he couldn't help but hesitate. Damn it, it... it actually made sense. Hadn't he taken Fang Dao on as a disciple because of his potential? Wasn't it to boost his own status? Now that Fang Dao was dead, and the man who killed him was willing to apprentice himself to him, this was a good prospect. Should he refuse? If he refused, what if another elder snatched him up?

Elder Qian narrowed his eyes and stroked his beard. Yes, the boy was right; he was indeed ten times better than Fang Dao. His expression gradually softened, and he said in a low voice, "Boy, regardless of the circumstances, killing a fellow disciple within the sect is wrong. You... well, kneel down and perform the apprenticeship."

"Yes, Master!" Chen Xuan, entirely shameless, knelt and kowtowed three times, then looked up at Elder Qian with eager eyes. "Master, do you have any martial arts techniques you can pass on to your disciple?"

Liu Dashan, standing nearby, gasped. Damn, the depth of this guy’s shamelessness was unfathomable! Kowing on command, and then immediately asking for techniques?

Little did they know, Chen Xuan was sneering internally. Having read countless novels and watched endless dramas in his previous life, he knew this tired revenge trope all too well. In a typical brainless novel, the master would make life difficult for the protagonist to avenge his disciple, but Chen Xuan had decided to do the exact opposite. I’ll just become your disciple; I don’t believe you won't accept me. Would you really reject a strong recruit just for the sake of a weakling? Unless you were truly an idiot!

"Hmm," Elder Qian stroked his beard again, pondering for a moment. "I do have techniques, but I’m not sure if they are suitable for you."

"Master, as long as it is taught by you, this disciple will surely study it diligently!" Chen Xuan shouted.

"Good disciple, stand up." Elder Qian looked at Chen Xuan with a smile. This disciple seemed quite obedient. And he spoke well, too.

Chen Xuan rose from the ground. Elder Qian smiled and said, "The technique I am most proud of is the Centipede Palm. If you wish to learn it, come find me this afternoon, and I will teach you personally."

"Thank you, Master!" Chen Xuan shouted, then asked with a smile, "Master, why don't we go learn it right now?"

"Have you finished eating?" Elder Qian asked.

"Finished, finished long ago."

"Very well, then let us go now," Elder Qian said with a smile.

"What about Fang Dao’s body?" Chen Xuan asked in a low voice.

"I’ll have it handled shortly; it can be used to cultivate poison," Elder Qian replied lightly.

"Yes, Master!" Chen Xuan responded.

Damn, this Elder Qian was no saint either. In the parlance of his previous life, he was a "scumbag"—the type who loved the new and loathed the old. Once a new favorite was found, the old one was kicked to the curb without a second thought. People like this were absolute egoists; as long as it benefited them, they would do anything!