Chapter 21: Core Disciples

"Jasper, as the head of the Xenos Family, you've ignored external affairs, which might be excusable. But now, such a significant event has occurred, and you still appear clueless. Alright then, let's assume you really didn't know. Now, listen carefully." Gavin spoke slowly, "Titus of your family the Xenos has committed a grave error in the Skynet Sect. He murdered fellow disciples, defied his elders, and even resisted arrest. That's not all; the foolish Titus also offended Chloe." Upon hearing this, the Xenos Family members present were stunned. Jasper's face tensed up. "You should know who Chloe is, right? She's a direct disciple of the Skynet Sect's Sect Master. With such a status, your family the Xenos can only look up to her." Gavin's mouth curled slightly on the right, "Moreover, I'm not afraid to tell you. Just three days ago, the Skynet Sect announced that their Supreme Elder has emerged from seclusion and publicly declared Chloe as the chief disciple. You should know what being the chief disciple means, right?" Jasper and the others' expressions changed drastically. The title of Skynet Sect's chief disciple was well-known to Jasper and others. Traditionally, the Sect Master of the Skynet Sect was succeeded by the chief disciple. In the absence of a chief disciple, the successor would be chosen from among the direct and core disciples. Simply put, the chief disciple is the future Sect Master of the Skynet Sect. Becoming the Skynet Sect's chief disciple meant that, barring any accidents, in ten or twenty years, when the current Sect Master steps down, the position would naturally fall to the chief disciple. "Offending the future Sect Master of the Skynet Sect, and to such a degree, your family the Xenos's Titus is truly courting death. Chloe has sent a message saying that if you hand over Titus now, she will not hold the past against your family," Gavin said lightly, fanning himself. "What if we don't?" Elsie asked through gritted teeth. "If you don't, the Xenos Family will not have a good day starting today," Gavin waved his hand, and the black and white elders swiftly moved forward, their black-armored guards bringing a deadly aura. At the same time, numerous black-armored guards appeared on the surrounding high grounds, along with many ballistae, their sharp bolts glistening coldly. Elsie's face paled; these crossbows were designed to counter Martial Cultivators. Even a Martial Cultivator at the Element Integration Stage couldn't withstand their piercing power. If they were to fire in unison, most of the Xenos Family members in the inner hall would likely perish. "My time is precious, and I don't wish to waste it here. I'll give you one last chance: hand over Titus within three breaths," Gavin said, tapping his nails and then squinting. "Three!" "Two!" The sound of crossbows being drawn echoed around, ready to fire. Jasper and the others tensed up, but they were already circulating their true qi, ready to react. "One!" Gavin looked at Jasper and the others, raising his hand high, ready to order the crossbowmen to fire. Titus was about to step forward. Suddenly, a beautiful figure rushed out - it was Anya. Anya, stunningly beautiful, had grown even more attractive over the years. Gavin had seen her before, but he hadn't expected her to become so beautiful, and with a unique cold demeanor. "Gavin, let them try shooting their bolts. If I die here, do you think the Icy Heart Sect won't come after you? Will the House of Windsor protect you? Or are you trying to start a war between the House of Windsor and the Icy Heart Sect?" Anya took out an ice crystal token, raising it high. The token bore the name "Marlee." "Marlee's token from the Great Protector Sect..." Gavin abruptly closed his fan, his smile replaced by a rare seriousness. The Icy Heart Sect had two Great Protector Sects, second only to the Sect Master. These Great Protector Sects give their disciples a token with their name on it. Possessing this token automatically places the disciple among the core disciples. The key point is, it's not just any core disciple, but a direct disciple of the Great Protector Sect, almost on par with the Sect Master’s direct disciples. Gavin's expression darkened, not expecting Anyya Xenos to return to the Xenos Family at this time, and that she was no longer an Inner Sect disciple but a core disciple, backed by the Marlee Great Protector Sect. If Anya were just an ordinary Inner Sect disciple, then even if Gavin killed her, the Icy Heart Sect would likely only demand some compensation. But now, Anya was not an Inner Sect disciple but a direct disciple of a Great Protector Sect. If she were killed, the vengeful Marlee Great Protector Sect would personally seek him out. "Your family the Xenos is indeed lucky. We're leaving!" Gavin gave Anya a deep look, waved his hand, and the black-armored guards atop the high grounds withdrew their ballistae and retreated. Jasper and the others finally relaxed. As Gavin, who was preparing to leave, turned around, he locked his gaze onto Anya. "As a direct disciple of the Marlee Great Protector Sect, you will participate in the South Figaro Martial Hall's initiation challenge a month from now, won't you?" "Of course," Anya replied calmly. "Then you better take good care of yourself. Don't die in the competition, or your family the Xenos will be in trouble," Gavin snorted and then left with his black-armored guards. It was only at this moment that the members of the Xenos Family truly breathed a sigh of relief. Meanwhile, the crowd was excited; Anya becoming a direct disciple of the Icy Heart Sect's Great Protector Sect was a great boon for the Xenos Family. "You girl, now that you've been accepted as a direct disciple by Marlee of the Great Protector Sect, why didn't you tell your father earlier?" Jasper said with a smile, his eyes filled with relief. "You only have eyes for Titus; where do you have room for me?" Anya huffed and returned to the inner hall. Jasper gave a wry smile and shook his head, understanding his daughter's temperament well – she had always been like this, feeling that he favored Titus too much. "Father, my sister has felt for years that you favor Titus too much. Why not just tell her the truth?" Elsie approached, her typically carefree demeanor hiding a keen mind. "It's too early," Jasper shook his head. "What about Titus? Are you not going to tell him about his origins? He's almost an adult now. After this incident, fortunately, he came back alive, but if something had happened to him, he would have never known his parents' background," Elsie said, frowning. "We'll tell him when the time is right," Jasper sighed deeply. "What should we do with Titus now?" Elsie asked. "Let him stay at home for a couple of days, and as soon as the situation cools down, send him away from the Xenos Family," Jasper said. "Leave the Xenos Family? Why? With my sister here, this is the safest place. If we send Titus out, he will surely face risks," Elsie said, puzzled. "You're wrong, the Xenos Family is now in a precarious position. Although Anya can protect us for now, she will leave for Xanth City in the Yanille Empire in a month. If the House of Windsor makes a move then, even if we fight to the death, we won't be able to protect Titus." "Don't worry, in two days, I'll send him to a safe place. As long as he stays there quietly, he'll have no worries for the rest of his life," Jasper said. ... East Courtyard. This was where Titus had lived since childhood, preferring the quiet of this remote area. Before dawn, Titus was already practicing his Blade Cultivation in the courtyard. Swish-swish... The steel blade sometimes swung lightly, sometimes struck heavily. With each movement, Titus's body followed the blade's motions, though it looked somewhat clumsy, as if he was swinging the blade without any technique. "With that form, you're still thinking of revenge? I advise you to stop wasting your effort," Anya's voice suddenly came. Dressed in an ice-blue gown, she stood not far away, her demeanor still cold.