Chapter 2214 - Prioritizing The Bigger Picture

The second round of sparring began. This time, the bouts were between the two sects’ Creation Realm Lesser Gods.

In an ordinary sect, Lesser Gods could become sect leaders and high elders, but in peak sect, Lesser Gods were still juniors who’d only just begun their pursuit of the Divine Dao.

Some of the sect’s core disciples were in the Creation Realm. It was only upon reaching this level that a top sect would invest heavily in them.

Thus, the second round of sparring matches had an altogether different significance.

If Qingwu Divine Court lost, it would mean that they were inferior to the Severed Heavens Demon Court in terms of their ability to train core disciples. That would deal a heavy blow to the sect’s reputation.

It was for this reason that before the sparring matches even began, Liang Lingxu called the sect’s top ten Lesser Gods out to participate. Their ranks included no small number of heaven-defying figures.

But when the fighting began, the higher-ups of Qingwu Divine Court suddenly realized the cruel reality of the situation.

Each of the thirteen core disciples the Severed Heavens Demon Court sent into battle was stronger than the one before. They continuously clinched victory after victory!

In the end, Qingwu Divine Court sent thirty-nine Lesser Gods into battle, yet all of them were defeated.

In stark contrast, only ten of the Severed Heavens Demon Court’s disciples had been defeated. Three core disciples remained!

One of them, a Lesser God named Fang Shuo, was particularly terrifying. He single-handedly defeated Qingwu Divine Court’s three top Lesser Gods in a row, astonishing everyone present!

There was also a particularly terrifying woman called Liu He. She’d fought repeatedly, defeating eight opponents in a row!

Ultimately, Fang Shuo and Liu He had played a crucial role in determining the outcome of this sparring match. The two of them had suppressed all of their competition in Qingwu Divine Court!

Qingwu Divine Court had lost because it lacked heaven-defying figures like Fang Shuo and Liu He. Remove these top monsters from the equation, and the two sects’ Lesser Gods were roughly comparable in strength.

But that just proved how important it was for a sect to have heaven-defying figures to oversee things.

Buddhist Son Lian Sheng of the Western Paradise Spirit Mountains and the Four Sons of the Dao of the Three Purities Daoist Court were leading figures within their levels. They could rush the competition.

Unfortunately, although Qingwu Divine Court had no lack of peerless experts, it lacked a single preeminent figure capable of serving as a true leader.

“Does anyone else want to fight?” Fang Shuo looked around, his gaze utterly contemptuous.

He was dressed in a warrior’s robes, and his long hair was as dark as ink. His back was tall and upright, his hair was as dark as ink, and even standing there alone, he had an imposing, contemptuous bearing, as if he looked down on all of creation.

Everyone in Qingwu Divine Court felt stifled and dejected. Their expressions were unsightly.

An outsider was standing in their ritual grounds, sweeping through their experts, and no one could stop him. Who could have tolerated such a thing?

“Don’t tell me that Qingwu Divine Court has run out of people?” someone gnashed their teeth with grief and anger. “That’s... that’s far too humiliating!”

Many members of the sect felt indescribably stifled.

They’d lost the competition between Great Profound experts. Were they really going to lose the competition of Lesser Gods, too?

If word got out, what would become of Qingwu Divine Court’s reputation?

“But... there’s no denying that Fang Shuo is just too terrifying. He’s simply beyond imagination!” someone sighed.

This was what made them feel so helpless.

Qingwu Divine Court had lost in a fair, open competition. Who could they blame but themselves?

Over in the VIP spectator stands, the higher-ups’ expressions were dark. The disciples’ crushing defeat reflected badly on them, too.

It was only out of consideration for the rules that they didn’t leave in a huff.

Shameful!

Far too shameful!

“If Deacon Xiao of Wandering Night Palace fought, he might well be able to turn things around,” an elder said suddenly.

Numerous others’ hearts stirred.

But the sect leader and Third Elder Ku Zhen frowned.

Xiao Jian? That kid’s got a bellyful of grievances. How could he possibly be willing to fight for the sect now?

Besides... could he even beat an opponent like Fang Shuo?

“Xiao Jian?” Fang Shuo said from the center of the River of Stars Ritual Grounds. “I heard of him before I came here. They say he’s an unparalleled figure and a descendant of the Torch Dragons. Why isn’t he here today?”

His voice boomed throughout the arena.

His words brought back too many memories. Everyone recalled Xiao Jian’s unfair treatment, and for a while, they all felt deeply uncomfortable.

𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

“If I were Deacon Xiao, I’m afraid I wouldn’t come spar either,” someone grumbled.

Many others felt much the same way.

He’d achieved an enormous act of merit, only for the sect leader and third elder to turn around and suppress him. In his position, who wouldn’t have been aggrieved at the unfairness of it all?

“I’ve heard the name Xiao Jian too,” the Blue Rose Demon Master said suddenly from the stands. “It’s been far, far too long since a Torch Dragon last entered the world. Is he present?”

The gathered higher-ups exchanged glances. All of them knew why Xiao Jian wasn’t here, but they didn’t want to air their dirty laundry in public. How could they speak of such things in front of outsiders?

Sect Leader Liang Lingxu smiled. “Deacon Xiao is indeed a rare and wondrous talent for cultivation, but he’s recently gone into seclusion, so he’s unable to participate in this discussion of the Dao.”

“This is a rare opportunity, and we came all the way here. Might you invite Deacon Xiao of the Torch Dragons here, Senior?” Fang Shuo said from the center of the arena. “I heard that he put on a brilliant performance during the most recent Spring and Autumn Dao Assembly. It would be a true pity if I left without getting to fight someone like him.”

Silence descended over the crowd. Many of them instinctively looked at Liang Lingxu.

The Blue Rose Demon Master said softly, “What do you think, Sect Leader Liang?”

After a moment’s silence, Liang Lingxu nodded. “I’ll send someone to call for him.”

He then called Ninth Elder Tie Wenjing over. “Elder Tie, this matter is of the utmost importance. I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to pay Xiao Jian a visit personally.”

Tie Wenjing wasn’t at all willing. He almost gave in to the impulse to refuse on the spot.

When you need Xiao Jian, you make me ask him for help, but when you don’t need him, you do everything in your power to suppress him. What do you take him for?

But when Tie Wenjing met Liang Lingxu’s gaze, he hesitated.

“Quick, go on. Whether Xiao Jian wins or loses, I’ll compensate him appropriately,” Liang Lingxu said gently.

This was a roundabout way of putting it, but he trusted that Tie Wenjing would understand.

Indeed, Tie Wenjing understood.

The sect leader is agreeing to promote him!

“Then... I’ll try,” said Tie Wenjing. “But he

is

in seclusion. If he’s reached a critical stage of his cultivation, I’m afraid he won’t be able to divert his attention.”

Third Elder Ku Zhen snorted coldly. “The sect leader has called for him. How could he refuse to come?”

Liang Lingxu’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, but then, he laughed. “Go on. Be quick about it.”

Only then did Tie Wenjing leave.

When they learned that the sect leader had sent the ninth elder, uproar ensued amidst the crowd.

“Even if Deacon Xiao comes, I’m not sure he can win.”

“I’m sure he can! In my heart, Xiao Jian isn’t at all inferior to Fang Shuo!”

“I’m just worried that Xiao Jian might feel too aggrieved to come fight on the sect’s behalf.”

The crowd conversed, and Lu Qingmei heard it all.

This made the higher-ups of Qingwu Divine Court rather uncomfortable. Some of them even started silently complaining.

Why did the sect leader insist on taking Xiao Jian down a peg? Now, even the Blue Rose Demon Master knows about this shameful behavior!

......

Little Pine Peak.

“Xiao Jian, you can think it over, and you’re welcome to refuse. I’ll support whatever you decide,” Tie Wenjing said staunchly. “Besides, Fang Shuo really is terrifying. What if you go and lose...”

“I’ll go,” Su Yi said directly. He was already emerging from his immortal cave..

Tie Wenjing was stunned. Even if you’d hit him over the head, he would never have imagined that Su Yi would agree so straightforwardly.

“You... want to duke it out with Fang Shuo?” Tie Wenjing couldn't help but ask.

“As a member of Qingwu Divine Court, no matter how badly I feel I’ve been treated, I naturally have to consider the bigger picture. Otherwise, how will the sect see me?” Su Yi said casually. “And how will the sect leader and third elder see me?”

Tie Wenjing mulled that over, then said, “It’s true. Win or lose, so long as you fight, you’ll have worked on the sect’s behalf!”

He sounded gratified. “Furthermore, when everyone learns that you were willing to fight on our behalf even after being treated so poorly, I’m sure they’ll see you in a new light! Refuse to fight, and I’m afraid they’ll think you short-sighted.”

Su Yi smiled noncommittally. In truth, he wasn’t emerging to do battle, but because... Lu Qingmei was here!

This was the woman who’d once accompanied Yi Daoxuan. It was bad enough that she’d tricked him into loving her; she’d even almost killed him during dual cultivation.

Yet now, here she was in Qingwu Divine Court. Su Yi naturally wanted to go see her.

Furthermore, he had a strong premonition that she was here because she’d sensed something. It was even entirely possible that she had suspicions about his origins.

Otherwise, there was no way a lofty Nine-Tribulation Master Goddess, a demoness who’d once almost killed Yi Daoxuan, would be so bored as to bring disciples to Qingwu Divine Court just to spar.

Furthermore, Tie Wenqing said that Lu Qingmei had asked about him by name and asked the sect leader to invite him to spar!

Su Yi had a strong premonition that Lu Qingmei was really here on his account, but he naturally wouldn’t just avoid her. The more he hid himself, the more she’d suspect him. It might well lead to even more trouble later.

Better to just go see her now. Su Yi was confident that she wouldn’t be able to see through him!

When Tie Wenjing returned to the River of Stars Ritual Grounds with Su Yi, the crowd burst into uproar.

“Deacon Xiao is here!”

“I just knew it! No matter how aggrieved he feels, there was no way he’d refuse to do battle. He’s too broad-minded and courageous for that! How could he possibly shrink back in the face of battle?”

“That’s right. Deacon Xiao is just too admirable. Whether he wins or loses this match, I respect him more than ever!”

...As countless spectators conversed, Lu Qingmei looked over at Su Yi from the VIP stands. A mysterious, inscrutable talisman marking suddenly appeared in the depths of her starry eyes.