Data-Driven Cultivation: I Defy Heaven and Overthrow Interstellar Domestication

Inside the attic, the atmosphere grew increasingly somber.

Wang Demao's words were gentle as water, seemingly considerate and protective, but in reality, they were pressing forward step by step and concealing murderous intent.

He picked up the spirit tea, took a small sip, and made no attempt to conceal the greed in his eyes. He slowly and deliberately threw out the fatal trump card: "Zhou Chong was seriously injured and his cultivation was ruined because of you. Elder Zhou has a deep grudge and has officially submitted a complaint to the Enforcement Hall, demanding that you be held accountable and punished according to the rules on the grounds that 'an outer disciple deliberately injured an inner disciple'."

"According to the rules of Qingyun Sect, if there is a dispute between inner and outer disciples, the outer disciple will be punished regardless of who is right or wrong. At best, their cultivation will be abolished and they will be expelled from the sect; at worst, their spiritual roots will be destroyed and they will be imprisoned in the dungeon."

As soon as he finished speaking, the pressure inside the pavilion suddenly intensified, and the spiritual energy of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator quietly spread out, silently crushing everything in its path.

"As the head of the outer sect, I naturally do not wish to see such a once-in-a-millennium genius as you perish."

"Opportunities are precious, but not as valuable as the path to immortality. You only need to be honest with me, and I can use my connections to suppress this case and ensure your safety. I can even secure you an inner sect spot and top-tier cultivation resources."

Coercion and inducement, extreme manipulation.

On one side lies the desperate situation of being expelled from the sect and having their roots destroyed, while on the other side is the promise of a smooth and easy path. Ordinary disciples have long since lost their composure and obediently compromised.

Xie Yanchen stood tall and straight, his expression calm and unwavering, his clear gaze meeting Wang Demao's directly without flinching or avoiding him: "I have memorized the rules of the sect as the elder has said."

He spoke steadily, clearly, and forcefully: "Article 21 of the Qingyun Sect Rules clearly stipulates that when a disciple is deliberately pursued and his life is in danger, he has the right to defend himself legitimately, and he will not be held responsible for self-defense."

"On that day at the bottom of the Broken Soul Cliff, Zhou Chong, along with several inner disciples, surrounded an outer disciple, intending to commit violence and bully the weak, attempting to cripple my cultivation and sever my path to immortality. I acted in self-defense in a desperate situation, in accordance with the law, and without the slightest fault."

"Elder Zhou disregarded the facts, distorted the truth, and showed favoritism, which violates the sect's fairness. If the Enforcement Hall were to hold him accountable for this, it would be a violation of the sect's thousand-year-old rules and disrupt its laws!"

Her words were logically sound and well-founded, instantly shattering Wang Demao's pressure tactics.

Wang Demao's fingers tightened suddenly around the teacup, his gentle smile froze on his face, and a hint of surprise and anger flashed in his eyes.

He never expected that a disciple with mixed spiritual roots who came from the bottom and had been humble for many years would be so well-versed in the sect rules, so eloquent, and so daring to contradict a Foundation Establishment elder in public!

"What a sharp tongue!" Wang Demao slowly put down his teacup, his tone turning completely cold. The gentleness in his eyes vanished, leaving only icy authority. "Are you using the sect rules to defy me?"

"This disciple wouldn't dare." Xie Yanchen bowed slightly, his manners impeccable, yet he showed no sign of yielding. "This disciple is merely stating the facts, not wanting the elder to violate sect rules due to favoritism or bias, thus giving others grounds for criticism."

It is soft yet firm, and its strength lies hidden beneath its gentle exterior.

This not only upheld the proper etiquette of a junior but also exposed Wang Demao's selfish motives of settling personal scores and extorting money, leaving the other party with no way to retaliate.

Wang Demao's expression shifted between light and dark, turning pale and then flushed.

  

He had been in charge of the outer sect for decades, and all the outer sect disciples respected, obeyed, and fawned over him. No one had ever dared to directly contradict him or expose his thoughts.

If he were to pursue the matter forcefully today, it would be an open abuse of power and a violation of the law, which would damage his prestige built up over half a lifetime. If he were to let it go, he would be unwilling to accept it and would miss out on a golden opportunity that was within his grasp.

After a few breaths of stalemate, Wang Demao suppressed his anger, withdrew his imposing aura, his expression returned to calm, and his tone was cold and distant: "Since you insist on being stubborn and ungrateful, I don't need to waste any more words on you."

"Go back now and await the results of the Enforcement Hall's investigation. Take care of yourself."

Xie Yanchen bowed slightly, turned and left calmly, his steps steady, without the slightest panic or timidity.

Once his figure had completely disappeared and the attic door closed, Sun Hongchang stepped forward and whispered, "Elder, are we just going to let him go like this? This boy possesses extraordinary talent; if we let him grow unchecked, he will surely become a great threat in the future!"

Wang Demao's eyes were sinister, filled with ruthlessness: "Let her go? Wishful thinking."

"I'd like to see how long this rootless, powerless outer disciple can hold out without my protection, with Elder Zhou holding a grudge and the sect distrusting him."

"Freeze all his monthly resources, revoke his access to the cultivation room, and suspend his eligibility to borrow materials from the cultivation technique pavilion."

"Cut off his resources, confine his cultivation, and block his path. I want to see how long his heaven-defying talent can last without the support of resources!"

"When his cultivation stagnates and he's driven to desperation, he'll naturally turn back and beg me for help!"

The chilling order was given, and a silent crackdown on Xie Yanchen was fully underway.