Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

But considering Luo Pu is, after all, a Sixth Layer Heaven True Person, the sect wouldn't dare deal with him too harshly. On top of that, Luo Pu himself indeed had a use for these resources, so he accepted them without hesitation.

It wasn't until this return to No.5 Cave that Chen Jichuan discovered just how greedy Luo Pu had become.

What an unlucky twist of fate!

The one currently in charge of the Law Enforcement Hall turns out to be none other than Luo Pu's old nemesis from the past!

Can Luo Pu still expect to get away unscathed?!

"It was nothing more than a petty quarrel—surely it wouldn't be held against me until now?"

Luo Pu was finally beginning to lose his composure.

Now that Zhangg Wuya had become one of the Six Great Hall Masters of the Heaven Mending Sect—a true titan within the sect—it would be all too easy for him to target a Sixth Layer Heaven Chamber Elder like Luo Pu.

"Don't count on luck."

"You've made enough during these years. Use these next few days to clean up your loose ends; sever what needs to be severed, abandon what needs to be abandoned. This way, I can still maneuver for you in the sect, at least helping you retreat unscathed—it might also prevent Luo Feng and Luo Hua from being dragged into this mess."

Chen Jichuan was far less optimistic than Luo Pu.

Given his ties to Luo Pu, if Zhangg Wuya were to dig deeper in his investigation, there's no way Chen Jichuan could remain uninvolved. Not to mention his two disciples—they were already caught up in this situation.

Since everyone's fate was now tied to the same rope, there was no escape. Instead, it would be better to get involved early, to at least seize the initiative.

"Alright."

"I'll deal with it right away!"

Seeing Chen Jichuan speak this bluntly, Luo Pu finally dispelled the last remnants of wishful thinking in his heart and began taking action immediately.

...

In the blink of an eye, another month had passed.

Chen Jichuan had been back in No.5 Cave for three months now.

Luo Pu was running himself ragged, while Chen Jichuan was enjoying leisure.

Sometimes, he cultivated alone; other times, he guided Li Ji and Zhang Kaixuan, or chatted with old subordinates like the Tornado Demon King, who had gradually returned. He took the opportunity to gather intelligence on the current state of No.5 Cave, preparing for an all-out confrontation against the Evil God in the coming days.

On this day.

Chen Jichuan was immersed in cultivation when the jade pendant at his waist suddenly lit up.

"They've arrived rather quickly!"

Chen Jichuan stood up and ordered Zhang Kaixuan to activate the 'Twenty-four Bridge Formation,' stepping onto the Green Stone Bridge and heading toward the main base.

...

Main base.

Law Enforcement Hall's Vice Hall Master, Guan Chao, stood before Luo Pu, his voice icy cold: "Luo Pu, you've been exposed. Come with us."

"Exposed for what?"

Luo Pu looked at Guan Chao with an innocent expression.

"Hah!"

"There's no point in denying it."

"Our Law Enforcement Hall has been investigating you for a long time. We've already gathered all the evidence of your crimes. I advise you to cooperate and come with us. Considering your past contributions, the sect might still grant you leniency."

Guan Chao sneered coldly, and with a flick of his hand, the dozens of others present immediately fanned out, surrounding Luo Pu.

Guan Chao stared at Luo Pu. His smile faded as he spoke firmly: "By order of the Hall Master, apprehend the criminal Luo Pu. Any resistance will be met with execution on the spot."

Several True Persons standing beside Luo Pu hesitated upon hearing this command.

The group Guan Chao had brought consisted of elite members of the Law Enforcement Hall, led by several Chamber Elders, along with thirty-two Dharma Protecting Elders. Clearly, Luo Pu and his handful of allies stood no chance.

"Luo Pu, come quietly."

Guan Chao pulled a rope out of his sleeve and, without further ado, threw it toward Luo Pu.

"Dragon Binding Rope!"

Luo Pu's heart sank. He instinctively looked northward, silently praying for Chen Jichuan to come to his rescue.

It seemed his prayers worked.

Luo Pu's gaze caught sight of a Green Stone Bridge extending from the north.

On the Green Stone Bridge, a young man clad in green robes strolled casually. From afar, he swept his broad sleeve, effortlessly taking in the 'Dragon Binding Rope' before it could even resist.

"How bold!"

"You dare seize the Law Enforcement Hall's Dragon Binding Rope?!"

With the rope taken, Guan Chao erupted in fury, turning to look at the approaching youth. But the moment he caught sight of the man's face, his expression froze and his aura diminished.

"True Person Dai!"

"Greetings to True Person Dai!"

Among the four Chamber Elders from the Law Enforcement Hall accompanying Guan Chao, two were the first to bow in salute toward the newcomer. Similarly, ten or so of the thirty-two Dharma Protecting Elders also straightened up, bowing respectfully.

"True Person Zhang."

"True Person Shen."

Chen Jichuan greeted the two who had first spoken, smiling warmly as he did so.

Both men had cultivated in No.2 Cave before. The first, Zhang Jian, had once been ambushed and nearly killed, saved only by Chen Jichuan's intervention.

That was a life-saving grace.

The second, Shen Lin, although he hadn't had much direct interaction with Chen Jichuan during his time in No.2 Cave, had repeatedly benefited from Chen Jichuan's reputation. On more than one occasion, despite being outmatched by rivals during treasure battles, he managed to survive.

Shen Lin knew that the Six Sect True Persons had refrained from killing Heaven Mending Sect cultivators only because they feared vengeance from the 'True Person Jade Face.'

For this reason, many Heaven Mending Sect True Persons, including Shen Lin, were deeply respectful toward Chen Jichuan.

Among the Dharma Protecting Elders present, more than half had at some point trained in No.2 Cave.

Upon seeing Chen Jichuan, each displayed unwavering respect.

"Greetings to True Person Dai!"

With Zhang Jian and Shen Lin leading the way, the other two Chamber Elders and the remaining ten or so Dharma Protecting Elders quickly responded—

It turned out the renowned 'True Person Jade Face' was here in person.

One after another, they bowed deeply in salute.

Nearly twenty people saluting in unison made for a striking scene.

Guan Chao stood frozen, visibly awkward.

He, too, knew of Chen Jichuan's name, aware that his strength rivaled the Seventh Layer Heaven realm. The earlier display of 'Daluo Heavenly Sleeve' had only reaffirmed this.

Thus, Guan Chao adopted a softer tone, addressing Chen Jichuan: "So it was True Person Dai himself."

"Vice Hall Master Guan."

Chen Jichuan nodded in acknowledgment toward Guan Chao.

Guan Chao had also cultivated in No.2 Cave before, but during the period when Chen Jichuan had risen to prominence, Guan Chao had already broken through to the Seventh Layer Heaven and left No.2 Cave. They had no direct interactions.

Unexpectedly, Guan Chao had now climbed the ranks to become a Vice Hall Master in the Law Enforcement Hall.

In the past, when the Heaven Mending Sect had fewer experts, figures like Luo Pu and Zhangg Wuya—both Chamber Elders—could even be addressed as 'Vice Hall Masters' within the Five Directions Hall.

But such titles were purely honorary.

Today, the Heaven Mending Sect boasted an abundance of powerhouse cultivators.

Above the Chamber Elder rank and below the Hall Master rank, each hall now appointed three to five Vice Hall Masters to accommodate the influx of newly ascended Seventh Layer Heaven True Persons.

Guan Chao was one of them.

"The evidence against Luo Pu is indisputable. The Hall Master specifically assigned me to bring him in. I ask True Person Dai to grant your cooperation."

Luo Pu was at the Sixth Layer Heaven, and Chen Jichuan the Fifth Layer Heaven, yet Guan Chao treated the two with starkly different attitudes.

In the main base.

Murong Jue, Zhou Yang, and Peng Hai watched the scene from afar, shaking their heads in astonishment. That Guan Chao was a Seventh Layer Heaven True Person, stepping into the Second-order Late Stage, far beyond the strength of any Sixth Layer Heaven True Person.

And yet, before Chen Jichuan, he was acting so restrained—it was truly astonishing.

On the other side.

Even Guan Chao himself felt helpless.

The strength of this Dai Zong in combat alone would have been troubling enough, but far more significant was what Dai Zong represented. Over the past century, since Dai Zong had proclaimed himself the foremost cultivator below the Seventh Layer Heaven, the Heaven Mending Sect's casualties in No.2 Cave had sharply declined.

Dai Zong had personally declared: "A life for a life."

No sect dared kill even one Heaven Mending Sect cultivator, lest Dai Zong retaliate by taking a life in return. After several demonstrations of his resolve, no one dared harm the Heaven Mending Sect's True Persons.

Someone like Shen Lin, who had trained in No.2 Cave for years, owed his survival to this policy.

Today, faced with Chen Jichuan, Shen Lin didn't hesitate to put aside his responsibilities and bow in respect.

Generations of Heaven Mending Sect cultivators had come and gone within No.2 Cave.

Low-level True Persons advancing to middle-stage, middle-stage advancing to high-level—many carried gratitude for Chen Jichuan's deeds.

Just among the thirty-six individuals he had brought along today, led by Zhang Jian and Shen Lin, more than half had trained in No.2 Cave and benefited from Chen Jichuan's interventions.

And the broader Heaven Mending Sect?

Looking deeper would reveal just how enormous this network of rapport truly was.

To wield such far-reaching influence, Chen Jichuan was a figure whom Guan Chao could scarcely afford to offend lightly.

...