Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Observing Jiang Chen's smile,

Lin Feng furrowed his brow and slightly narrowed his eyes.

Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi also regarded Jiang Chen and Lin Feng, recognizing that a conversation between the two was imminent.

In this moment,

Both of them understood that a misunderstanding had arisen between Lin Feng and Jiang Chen, and they hoped the two could resolve it.

"Lin Feng,"

"Now that your dantian has been restored,"

"Why not return with me to the Starry Abyss Sect for cultivation?"

"The Starry Abyss Sect is among the most powerful sects on this continent, boasting ample resources and advanced techniques to aid your progress, enabling you to rise swiftly."

Jiang Chen smiled as he gazed at Lin Feng, speaking slowly.

"Return to the Starry Abyss Sect? Hah!"

"Have you forgotten how the Starry Abyss Sect treated me?"

"I shall never forget those humiliations!"

"And you, don't feign kindness towards me. Have you forgotten how you treated me when I was cast out from the mountain?"

Lin Feng scoffed, "You manipulated my relationships with Li Kai and Liu Qing using two pills, subjecting me to public humiliation..."

Gradually, Lin Feng recounted the events that had transpired at the mountain gate.

Upon hearing this,

'What!?'

'Young Master Jiang Chen would engage in such manipulative tactics?'

Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi were astonished, never expecting to hear of such actions.

"Ah."

"I did offer to help you remain in the sect at that time, but you rejected me, believing I intended to harm you."

"I merely wanted you to comprehend that, with my influence, harming you would be all too simple, and there would be no need to resort to any schemes!"

Jiang Chen smiled, "It seems you still haven't grasped my original intent, and you continue to harbor resentment."

'So that's how it was.'

'Did Lin Feng previously reject Jiang Chen's offer, forfeiting the chance to remain in the Starry Abyss Sect?'

'He believed that Young Master Jiang Chen intended to harm him, but Young Master Jiang Chen merely sought to demonstrate his lack of ill intent.'

'...'

Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi had various thoughts racing through their minds.

At present, it appeared that Lin Feng harbored an odd bias against Jiang Chen.

"Heh!"

"Employing two precious Upper Grade Clarity Awakening Pills to showcase your vast power?"

Lin Feng sneered, "Young Master Jiang, your extravagance surpasses even that of a Mysterious Platform Realm cultivator!"

Upon hearing these words,

Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi appeared puzzled.

The Clarity Awakening Pill was an incredibly valuable elixir for those in the Spiritual Awakening Realm, and a treasure for individuals in the Mysterious Platform Realm.

Jiang Chen's use of two pills to sever the relationships between Li Kai, Liu Qing, and Lin Feng seemed excessive and illogical.

"Extravagant?"

"Do you consider two Clarity Awakening Pills extravagant?"

Jiang Chen smiled wryly, "I'm afraid you have no idea just how many precious pills I possess."

His self-assured demeanor evoked the image of a peasant attempting to estimate a nobleman's wealth.

Promptly, the doubts in Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi's hearts subsided considerably, and they came to perceive Jiang Chen as even wealthier than they had initially imagined.

"Hmph!"

"Regardless,"

"I refuse to return to the Starry Abyss Sect!"

Lin Feng snorted, repulsed by the memory of those who had once fawned over him.

With the Burning World Red Lotus, even the Heavenly Origin Realm would be insignificant.

Once he came into his full power, he would be able to dominate the entire Mysterious Truth Continent, with the Starry Abyss Sect as merely one among many!

Furthermore,

It was due to the Burning World Red Lotus that his dantian had been healed.

Should he return to the Starry Abyss Sect, it might arouse the curiosity of certain individuals.

If the Burning World Red Lotus were exposed before he had fully matured, his demise would be all but certain.

"Lin Feng,"

"I understand that for your dantian to have healed, there must be some hidden secrets."

"But you need not worry that someone will covet you because of your secret; I, too, have secrets."

"When I claimed to possess numerous precious elixirs, it was no fabrication, and the Red Sun Seven Flowers Pill is one such example."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, continuing, "Furthermore, I also possess medicine capable of healing dantian injuries."

"What?"

Lin Feng's expression shifted, and he asked incredulously, "You have medicine that can heal dantian injuries!? How is that possible!"

"Do you recall?"

"At the mountain gate, I expressed my admiration for you."

"That was no lie but the result of prior assessments I had conducted on you. Do you remember those minor conflicts we had? Those were the tests."

"Had you remained at that time, I would have bestowed that pill upon you."

"However, you stormed off from the mountain gate in a fit of rage and impulsiveness."

"Fortunately, you encountered a fortuitous opportunity and managed to heal through some means, but I wonder if there were any side effects?"

Jiang Chen was well aware that protagonist Lin Feng's dantian healing could not have any side effects.

He deliberately posed the question to lower the other party's guard.

As anticipated,

Lin Feng was readily deceived.

'Side effects? Ha!'

'My Burning World Red Lotus, if I were to reveal it, would make your eyes pop out of your head!'

He had held back several times before. Now that he could look down on Jiang Chen, he naturally wouldn't let the opportunity pass.

But he wasn't foolish. In order to conceal the Burning World Red Lotus, he merely sneered inwardly and refrained from voicing his thoughts.

"Lin Feng,"

"Give it some thought; return to the Starry Abyss Sect with me."

Jiang Chen spoke softly when Lin Feng remained silent.

"No need."

"I have already accepted Master Qiu as my alchemy mentor and will not return to the Starry Abyss Sect!"

Lin Feng declared coldly, then nodded to Qiu Liaoxi, who smiled faintly and was quite pleased.

"Very well."

"It's merely my personal gesture of goodwill."

"If you cannot let go of your biases against the Starry Abyss Sect, then don't return."

Jiang Chen smiled subtly, not taking offense.

Ning Xian and Qiu Liaoxi felt relieved to see this and their esteem for Jiang Chen grew slightly.

They had anticipated that Jiang Chen would be displeased, but they didn't expect him to be so magnanimous.

"Hmph."

Lin Feng grunted in response and ceased speaking.

At this moment,

"How about this?"

"I invite you to join my Jiang Clan as an honorary guest."

"This won't affect your master-apprentice relationship with Alchemist Qiu, and you can also gain access to some additional resources."

Jiang Chen spoke once more, appearing sincere.

"Join your Jiang Clan as an honorary guest!?"

Lin Feng questioned, his expression a mix of doubt and astonishment.

He genuinely couldn't comprehend why Jiang Chen would extend such assistance to him!

Could it be that Jiang Chen truly harbored no ill intentions?

Was his initial use of subtle tactics to manipulate him actually just a test?

Had his effort to keep him at the sect gate been genuine?

Reflecting on all that Jiang Chen had done,

Lin Feng found himself somewhat perplexed.

However, the intuition that had always been present prompted him to sense deep down that something about Jiang Chen seemed off, so he promptly dismissed those thoughts.

At this moment,

"Yes, join my Jiang Clan as an honorary guest, how about it?"

Jiang Chen nodded at Lin Feng and reassured, "You can rest assured, I won't let you suffer any disadvantages."

"No need."

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Jiang."

Lin Feng shook his head, smirking inwardly.

With the Burning World Red Lotus, his confidence and self-esteem had soared to the point that he didn't even care about the mere Jiang Clan in Autumn Glory City, let alone accepting Jiang Chen's generosity!

Thus, his refusal was clean and unequivocal.

This left Qiu Liaoxi and Ning Xian somewhat baffled, but they chose not to bring it up directly.

After all, Lin Feng was a disciple recently accepted by Qiu Liaoxi, and one who would potentially inherit the mantle. It wouldn't be proper to cause him any embarrassment.