Chapter 2189 - A Hot Commodity

Niu Kui couldn’t help but laugh.

The Red Lightning Pupils!

This was one of Nie Que’s taboo divine abilities. When it hit someone, their soul fell under its thrall. Nie Que could control them completely!

Now that he’d been hit, Xiao Jian was like a puppet on a string, his life and death no longer his to control!

This was exactly what Niu Kui wanted to achieve. So long as he seized control of Xiao Jian, there was no need to strike the hidden blow now. Xiao Jian would be helpless to defend himself after the Spring and Autumn Dao Assembly.

The higher-ups in the spectator stands couldn’t help but feel nervous.

Feng Wuji’s expression shifted dramatically.

But then, Nie Que let out a desperate shriek, and his whole body was flung ruthlessly backward.

He convulsed from head to toe, as if he were having a seizure. Shockingly, he couldn’t crawl to his feet. Agony was written all over his face.

“This...” The crowd was stunned, and their minds went blank.

What on earth happened? Nie Que obviously had the advantage. How could he have lost in the blink of an eye?

“How is this possible!?” Niu Kui’s smile froze, and his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

This scene was far too strange. Never mind the other attendees, even the other spectating higher-ups had no idea what had happened.

Only the host, Elder Wei, seemed to realize something. “The Curtain of the Silent Night! That’s an innate divine ability of the Torch Dragon lineage. Those it strikes have their hearts and souls plunged into an abyss of darkness, and their bodies are completely sealed. They cannot even struggle!"

He said with astonishment, “Nie Que got complacent this time. Xiao Jian caught him off guard!”

The Curtain of the Silent Night? A taboo divine ability of the Torch Dragon lineage?

The prominent experts gasped. How terrifying was this divine ability? Xiao Jian had been sure to lose, only to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat!

“The Curtain of the Silent Night?” Niu Kui clenched his fist, his face ashen. He was so angry that his lungs threatened to explode.

He would never have guessed that a divine ability would defeat Nie Que at a critical juncture.

The whole ritual grounds were in complete uproar. A commotion arose on all sides. Everyone was astonished, as this outcome had been far too unexpected.

Niu Que had had an absolute advantage, yet he’d nonetheless lost in the end. Who wouldn’t have been astonished?

Su Yi stood in the arena, gasping for breath, his long hair loose and disheveled. He looked utterly wretched.

Yet to the crowd, he seemed to have gained a newfound, formless majesty!

It was true that Nie Que might have lost due to his own complacency, but there was no denying that the Curtain of the Silent Night of the Torch Dragon was incomparably terrifying. If all went as the audience expected, word of this divine ability would spread rapidly and take the world by storm.

“Dammit!! How is this possible!?” Niu Kui’s face was ashen, and he was infuriated to the brink of madness.

Now, when the other higher-ups looked at Su Yi, there was no concealing the admiration in their gaze. All of them thought it would be just wonderful if he joined their sect. Recruiting him would be like picking up a treasure!

“Haha, hahahaha....” Feng Wuji burst into mad laughter. He didn’t say a word, but the implied mockery was readily apparent, and it left Niu Kui on the verge of coughing up blood.

Only Su Yi found the whole situation boring. He was even a bit ashamed of himself.

Toying with an opponent like him was truly beneath me...

A moment later, Su Yi shook his head. It was enough that he’d achieved his goal of keeping a low profile.

The fourth round began. Few contestants remained. Soon, it would be time to determine who placed in the top ten!

But just as the fourth round was about to begin, something unexpected happened. Su Yi stepped forth and announced that, due to the severity of his wounds, he wouldn’t participate in the next round of duels.

This drew a round of uproar, and many of the onlookers found it a pity.

But most of them knew that it hadn’t been easy for him to make it to the fifth round. There was no dishonor in backing down now. On the contrary, it was the wise choice.

“Please, wait a moment, my young friend!” A purple-robed expert rose, then smiled and extended an invitation. “Are you perhaps interested in joining the Nine Profundities Yao Court?”

Boom!

The entire venue was in uproar. The Spring and Autumn Dao Assembly had not yet ended, but one of the prominent onlookers already couldn’t hold back. He’d gone and tried to recruit Xiao Jian early! Who wouldn’t have been envious?

Niu Kui was instantly frantic. “Brother Liu, I know you know that Xiao Jian is the enemy of the Severed Heavens Demon Court! How could you do this?”

The purple-robed man just smiled and disregarded him.

“Fellow Daoist Liu, this really is rather improper of you.” Another prominent expert rose and said, “Xiao Jian has a Torch Dragon bloodline, so he’s best suited to cultivate in the Red Dust Demon Lands!”

He then smiled at the distant Su Yi and clasped his fist. “Fellow Daoist, if you’re willing to join the Red Dust Demon Lands, I guarantee we won’t mistreat you!”

Yet another top faction had extended an invitation. They were trying to snatch Xiao Jian away from the Nine Profundities Yao Court!

Yet another round of uproar ensued. Many of the onlookers’ and participants’ eyes went red with envy.

Niu Kui was completely frantic. “Do you have any idea what you’re doing!? Is Xiao Jian really worth opposing the Severed Heavens Demon Court?”

“How could you call this ‘opposing’?” Yet another higher-up rose and said, “No matter what happened between him and the Severed Heavens Demon Court, his latent potential and strength are so spectacular that we of the Donghua Sword Pavilion will do everything in our power to recruit him!”

One prominent expert after another rose and made their positions clear. All offered generous terms in a bid to entice Su Yi to join their faction.

Su Yi was clearly a hot commodity. Everyone was fighting for him.

Countless onlookers’ jaws dropped.

Niu Kui, meanwhile, was so angry that his mustache quivered. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Even if you’d hit him over the head, he could never have anticipated this.

It was to the point that even Feng Wuji extended an invitation to Su Yi, and he offered extremely generous, enticing terms if he joined the Feng Family!

When Tie Wenjing of Qingwu Divine Court rose to invite Su Yi to join them, Niu Kui practically lost it. “Tie Wenjing, can’t you see Qingwu Divine Court’s situation? How could you possibly be shameless enough to get involved in this?”

But then, Su Yi finally spoke. “I am indeed interested in joining Qingwu Divine Court.”

His words were like a slap in the face, and they left Niu Kui’s cheeks red and swollen.

The other higher-ups were stunned. It seemed they dared not believe that Su Yi would directly express his desire to join Qingwu Divine Court.

Tie Wenjing, meanwhile, almost suspected he was hearing things. He hadn’t really expected to recruit Xiao Jian; the competition was just too fierce.

But things didn’t go as he'd expected!

“Do you mean that, my young friend?” Tie Wenjing couldn’t help but ask.

“Naturally,” said Su Yi. He inclined his head. “I’d already made up my mind when I decided to participate in the Spring and Autumn Dao Assembly. If I’m to join a faction, Qingwu Divine Court is my first choice.”

Tie Wenjing practically went mad with delight, and a huge smile spread across his face. “When the Spring and Autumn Dao Assembly ends, I’ll take you back to the sect!”

When the other higher-ups saw this, as unwilling as they were, they could only accept it.

Just like that, the curtains fell on this little interlude.

The fifth round of duels soon began, but Su Yi had no interest in spectating. He’d already achieved his goal.

Meanwhile, in a corner of the Jade Tripod Ritual Grounds.

“Granny, did you discover anything?” transmitted Madam Qi Wei, gazing up into the heavens. She was in disguise, and she’d watched the battle from a corner of the venue.

Much to her confusion, even in battle, Xiao Jian used the unique abilities of the Torch Dragon. There was no indication of inauthenticity whatsoever.

“There’s no doubt about it. He’s a descendant of the Torch Dragon lineage. There’s no faking their unique divine abilities,” said the old woman. “However, he was holding back his true strength throughout his earlier battles!”

Madam Qi Wei was stunned. “Holding back? But he obviously only just barely won his third and fourth duels!”

“He might have fooled everyone else here, but he couldn’t fool me,” said the old woman, a kindly look on her face. “He looked wretched indeed, and there were no flaws in his acting, but his qi was too stable. It remained stable throughout his duels, never growing stronger, and never weakening. I’m sure you realize the implications.”

Madam Qi Wei mulled that over, then quickly understood. “It’s true. In the throes of combat, you either rise to the occasion and grow stronger, or you shrink back and grow weaker, but Xiao Jian’s qi... was just too steady!”

Her delicate brow furrowed. “But why hide his true strength? And why back out after the fourth round?”

“Perhaps because he’s already achieved his goal,” said the old woman, her gaze rife with meaning. “After all, those peak factions were all clamoring to recruit him. There’s no need for him to concern himself with his rank in the assembly.”

“I understand. He just wanted to join Qingwu Divine Court!!” Madam Qi Wei’s eyes lit up. “I’m sure he’s been planning this for a long time. He wanted to use this Spring and Autumn Dao Assembly to enter Qingwu Divine Court. He must have reasons for doing so. I even suspect he has secret ulterior motives for joining them!”

The old woman couldn’t help but smile, seemingly gratified. “Your deductions are surely right on the mark, Young Mistress. I’m sure that Xiao Jian has secrets. But then, who doesn’t? We needn’t concern ourselves with this.”

“No!” Madam Qi Wei’s beautiful eyes shone. “I’m extremely interested in his secrets. I need to get to the bottom of them.”

She then immediately made up her mind. “Granny, I want to cultivate in Qingwu Divine Court too. I don’t want anyone to know who I am. Arrange an identity for me, ideally one that won’t draw attention.”

The old woman was gobsmacked. “Young Mistress, Qingwu Divine Court is a top faction. If you go there to cultivate, there’s no way you’ll elude the notice of those terrifyingly powerful old-timers...”

She wanted to say more, but Madam Qi Wei wasn’t at all concerned. “Never mind that. I insist on visiting Qingwu Divine Court and figuring out what Xiao Jian is up to!”

The old woman grimaced, but she knew there’d be no persuading her, so she reluctantly agreed to help.

“You really do dote on me, Granny!” Madam Qi Wei affectionately hugged the old woman, smiling so broadly her eyes narrowed like crescent moons. “I’ll be sure to treat you with all due filial piety going forward!”

The old woman just sighed. “I’ll be satisfied if you just stop creating so many problems.”

Madam Qi Wei giggled. “When I go to Qingwu Divine Court, I’ll be sure to behave myself!”

The old woman rolled her eyes. How could she

not

understand her young mistress’s disposition? When her wildness flared up, she could tear a hole through the heavens themselves!

The old woman couldn’t help but worry.

She wasn’t worried about her young mistress’s safety, but rather, that Qingwu Divine Court wouldn’t be able to bear that kind of upheaval...

“Ee? Did something urgent happen? Why is Father using the Fire Qilin Divine Jade to contact me?” Madam Qi Wei flipped her palm, and a fiery piece of jade floated into the air.

The message inside left her unwittingly stunned.

Something big had happened!