"What on earth are they shouting about?"

"Peak Master Tantai is the Deputy Sect Leader. What does this have to do with Elder... Zheng?!"

"Forget it. Surviving is hard enough. This is something we can’t get involved in."

"Why?! Clearly, these demonic beasts were killed by Senior Sister and us at the risk of our lives. What right does he have to steal the credit?"

"Shh, Senior Brother Shi, lower your voice!"

As the people of Zhenlian City bowed to Zheng Shengmo and even shouted for him to take over as Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect, the more than thirty surviving disciples of Zhenyang Sect on the ground were filled with indignation.

They fought desperately against the demonic beasts, watching as their fellow disciples, with whom they lived day and night, fell one by one, some even dismembered and eaten by the beasts, leaving no remains.

After such a brutal battle, just when they were about to win, Zheng Shengmo lightly took away the victory’s fruit.

Even making all the people of Zhenlian City think that the extermination of the demonic beasts was his sole achievement.

Such behavior is truly brazen!

Even though he is an elder of Zhenyang Sect, these surviving disciples can’t accept it.

Especially Shi Ying, who by nature has a bad temperament that submits to none; during the tragic battle just now, all the junior brothers from Divinity Transformation Peak died, leaving only him and He Zhiqiu.

So many comrades-in-arms gone in order to resist the beast tide, yet the glory won with their lives was snatched away so easily by someone else.

Shi Ying can’t accept it!

At this moment, Zheng Shengmo descended lightly from the peak of Qilian Mountain, standing in front of Zhenlian City. The city gates opened, and Xu Jiangxing led a group of noble family heads to greet him.

Following behind them were countless citizens of Zhenlian City, every face showing gratitude and worship.

Xu Jiangxing stepped forward quickly, bowed to Zheng Shengmo, and said respectfully:

"Thank you, Elder Zheng, for slaying the demonic beasts and saving tens of thousands of citizens in Zhenlian City. Your kindness and virtue will be remembered by all of us!"

As soon as Xu Jiangxing finished speaking, countless citizens of Zhenlian City loudly shouted:

"Thank you, Elder Zheng!"

"Elder Zheng, please accept our bow!"

"Please accept our bow!"

In an instant, at the city gate and on the city wall, countless people bowed to Zheng Shengmo.

Zheng Shengmo smiled gently, speaking kindly: "Please rise, everyone. It is the duty of us cultivators to protect the people of the world. I dare not take credit."

"Elder Zheng’s noble character is truly our model!"

"Elder Zheng is revered and respected; we submit to his authority!"

The crowd again bowed, and Xu Jiangxing and Zhou Shinen also bowed respectfully.

Almost the entire Zhenlian City was bowing at Zheng Shengmo’s feet; such prestige and influence even Sect Leader Tantai Mingyue as the Deputy Sect Leader of Zhenyang Sect could not match.

"Hmph!"

Suddenly, a cold snort was heard, and Shi Ying walked up to Zheng Shengmo, coldly saying:

"May I ask, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng, while we battled the demonic beasts and barely survived, why did you arrive so late?"

Upon hearing Shi Ying’s words, the crowd in Zhenlian City, who were bowing to Zheng Shengmo, looked up in astonishment and gazed at him in surprise.

"No way?"

"What is this Immortal Master saying?"

"We saw Elder Zheng slaying the ancient exotic beast with our own eyes!"

Xu Jiangxing and Zhou Shinen exchanged glances but said nothing.

Zheng Shengmo remained calm, with a smile on his face, asking Shi Ying:

"Which peak are you a disciple of?"

Shi Ying saluted: "I am a disciple of the Outer Sect of Divinity Transformation Peak, Shi Ying!"

Zheng Shengmo’s smile grew even more amiable, and his voice was very kind:

"So it’s Junior Shi Ying. Shi Shuhong mentioned you to me, saying you have extraordinary talent and will achieve great things in the future, though your mentality still needs some refining. Rest assured, your martial uncle won’t blame you."

Shi Ying was taken aback, his face turning red: "Did Peak Master really say that about me? No, Junior Martial Uncle Zheng, why wouldn’t you blame me? What did I do wrong?"

Zheng Shengmo smiled: "Junior Shi Ying, I understand you faced great danger resisting the beast tide. I was in confrontation with two seventh-grade demonic beasts and couldn’t break free, only just managing to kill them and come to your aid."

"Elder Zheng single-handedly faced two seventh-grade demonic beasts?!"

"Seventh-grade demonic beasts are equivalent to late-period Nascent Soul level, yet Elder Zheng killed both alone!"

"That’s too powerful!"

"So there were seventh-grade demonic beasts lurking in the shadows? Without Elder Zheng, Zhenlian City would not have been saved!"

Upon hearing Zheng Shengmo’s words, countless citizens of Zhenlian City were stunned and were further touched by his profound cultivation, deeply moved.

Shi Ying was also dazed, "Two seventh-grade demonic beasts?"

The surviving disciples of Zhenyang Sect behind him looked at each other.

Could it be that we really misunderstood Junior Martial Uncle Zheng?

"My goodness, this guy lies without even blinking, he’s even more shameless than me!"

Liu Su was also dumbfounded, eyes wide, muttering.

Jian Yue chuckled: "If Fatty Zheng really saw two seventh-grade demonic beasts, he’d probably wet himself out of fear!"

Qin Gengyun looked coldly, about to leap down and question this shameless man, but Qiu Zhihe and Jian Yue held him back on either side.

"Husband, don’t."

"Master, don’t go."

Qiu Zhihe looked coldly at Jian Yue. This woman explained with a coquettish smile:

"Please calm your anger, First Madame. I just fear for Master’s loss. Zheng Shengmo may seem gentle, but he’s vengeance-driven. There’s no need for Master to clash with him."

Qiu Zhihe looked at Jian Yue’s hand holding Qin Gengyun’s arm. Jian Yue smiled and let go, speaking sweetly:

"Master, First Madame, Second Madame, Third Madame, we should also head down."

Qiu Zhihe nodded to Qin Gengyun: "Husband, don’t act rashly. It’s not worth it for someone like that."

For Qiu Zhihe, after the beast tide, Zheng Shengmo was bound to die.

If her husband were to confront Zheng Shengmo now, it would attract his attention, endangering her husband.

For someone who was doomed, it wasn’t worth it.

Hearing Qiu Zhihe’s words, Qin Gengyun finally suppressed his rage. He was not impulsive or reckless but felt Zheng Shengmo was too shameless for stealing the juniors’ credit so brazenly.

To unabashedly fabricate tales of defeating seventh-grade demonic beasts was even more despicable than Jian Yue!

Below, the cultivators of Zhenlian City were escorting Zheng Shengmo and the other disciples into the city. The four of them were also preparing to descend when a groan was heard nearby:

"Ouch... Junior Sister Ye, Junior Sister Ye, are you alright?"

Jian Yue glanced back and snorted: "We forgot about this one."

Chun Ningzhi gradually regained consciousness, still murmuring about Junior Sister Ye. Jian Yue resumed her cool expression, standing in front of him. Chun Ningzhi opened his eyes and was instantly joyful:

"Junior Sister Ye, are you alright?"

Jian Yue spoke coldly: "Congratulations, Senior Brother Chun, your master turned the tide, slaying the Tiger Boar, saving us all."

Chun Ningzhi was stunned, struggled to get up, and then saw Zheng Shengmo being led into Zhenlian City by the crowd below. He was once more overjoyed:

"Master came? So it was Master who saved us, Junior Sister Ye, that’s great!"

In his joy, he noticed that Junior Sister Ye had already taken He Zhiqiu onto her flying sword, and He Zhiqiu was adeptly holding onto Junior Sister Ye’s slender waist.

With a few swift noises, several people flew down Qilian Mountain on their swords.

"??"

"Junior Sister Ye, wait for me!"