Eren had a feeling that he had screwed up. The strength that this girl revealed was not something that an ordinary disciple was supposed to possess.


    It wasparable to Xiu Ying, if not stronger. He finally put all the pieces of the puzzle together, realizing what a big mess he was in.


    ''You freakin lolicon author! Why would a Great Elder look like this?!''


    ''And this system... What the hell did an option to make her a disciple mean? How in the hell can I make the Great Elder my disciple?''


    Eren was screaming in his mind. He had expected Great Elder Zia to look like an adult at least. But this... This was out of his expectations.


    Unfortunately, it was toote to step back. In this situation, the more cowardly he acted, the more problems he could raise for himself.


    Moreover, his mentality had changed after the recent trip. He had faced Aster, and even the Sea Dragon Empress. A Great Elder who only specialized in Alchemy was nothingpared to them.


    If he had survived them, he could survive this situation as well. The only problem was that he did not have the Pendant of Protection anymore. He could not afford a battle.


    He had thought about using the Fragment of Memories afterpletely healing himself and the Phoenix. In the current situation, he knew he could not afford to be cowardly.


    Still, he stood his ground while his aura countered Great Elder Zia''s aura.


    "I would advise you to control your anger if you don''t want this entire mountain to be destroyed!" Eren said.


    This time, he wasn''t simply bluffing. He did not have the Pendant of Protection, but he had the Pendant of Poison, which was used for attacks.


    At first, he had thought that the Pendant of Poison only turned his blood to Poison. But only when facing the Sea Dragon Prince, he learned that it was much more.


    It created a perfect synergy with the Sword Emperor''s Aura. Even if he wasn''tpletely healed yet, he could still use the same attack that killed the Sea Dragon Prince.


    Even if he could not kill this woman, he could still hurt her a lot. He wasn''tpletely helpless anymore.


    "If you try to hurt him, you will have to fight me as well."


    Xiu Ying also stood next to Eren. She was also in the same position as the Great Elder Zia. And their strength was alsoparable since none of them specialized inbat.


    If it came to a battle, Eren had more advantage. Great Elder Zia also realized it.


    "Leave my mountain and never return!"


    Zia was enraged, but she also understood the reality of this situation. In any case, she could not kill Eren. Even if he upset her, he was still an Elder.


    Fighting was also useless as this was her mountain. The Alchemy Hall and the Beast Hall were on this mountain as well.


    If two great elders fought here, then it could only be a disaster for the two halls. Even the entire mountain could be destroyed, which was a bigger loss for her.


    "From today onwards, both of you are banned from the Alchemy Hall and Beast Hall!"


    She retreated her aura and walked past them.


    "If I see any of you on this mountain again, I will have to approach the Sect Master myself! And if even she doesn''t make it happen, I will leave this sect forever!"


    The woman mmed the door after entering her house. The echo of the door closing reverberated through the ce, leaving a tense silence in its wake.


    Eren also retracted his aura. He already had a headache the moment he saw those options, and now the headache became even worse.


    He rubbed his forehead, not knowing what to do next. Without the Beast Hall or Zia''s help, his Phoenix could not heal. He had to keep her in the inventory.


    Even worse was the fact that his system was stuck. He had already selected an option and now there was no other choice. Until he finished the selected option, he could not get any other option.


    He stared at the door in the distance. The more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became.


    "That woman is truly just as described... A childish witch," he muttered under his breath. "But no matter what, I will make that witch my disciple!"


    He made a promise to himself. Currently, he did not know how he was going to fulfill this promise, but he had made up his mind.


    Even if the world turned upside down, he was going toplete this promise to himself.


    He turned his back on the Courtyard and told Xiu Ying, "Can you take me back?"


    Xiu Ying silently nodded. She ced her hand around his waist and flew back towards his mountain.


    Eren was weak and hadn''t healedpletely. She helped him fly, not realizing that even if he wasn''t weak, he could not fly. It was the first time he was without his phoenix whose winds helped him fly in the past.


    She brought Eren back.


    She was about to enter the house herself, but Eren stopped her.


    "I want to cultivate a little. Can you..."


    Xiu Ying was initially taken aback, but she quickly understood.


    "Uh, right. I will cast a barrier around your house so no one can disturb you or sense anything that happens inside."


    She also brought a small crystal out of her storage ring and gave it to Eren.


    "This is..."


    "This is a space enhancement crystal. It can increase the space inside your house, so you can keeprger things there."


    Eren couldn''t help but smile. Xiu Ying truly understood him well enough.


    Although she didn''t know exactly what he wanted to do, she understood what he might need.


    "If you''re feeling grateful, don''t forget to take me on another date. This one was fun."  Xiu Ying''s sweetughter fell in Eren''s ears  as she flew back. "Also, I will try to find another way to help your phoenix."


    She soon disappeared in the distance. After standing there for some time, Eren closed the door. It was time for him to use the Memory Fragment.