Chapter 2717 Unforeseen Variable

Qin Wuyu felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Lin Xun’s sword strike had not only astonished him with its brilliance, but more importantly, it had also secured such a flawless victory.

Tooth for tooth!

He sighed inwardly.

What a pity. Shen Zaidao was used as a pawn, and now even his dao heart had cracked. If he can’t mend it, he will likely never touch immortality in this lifetime. Shen Zaidao himself was not detestable; what was detestable were those manipulating things from behind the scenes!

At this thought, his gaze shifted toward Yue Wuchou in the distance.

That old man has always shunned trouble and maintained a neutral stance. Why then had he allowed Shen Zaidao to get involved in this matter?

Far away, Yue Wuchou’s expression was as dark as water. No one could tell whether he was furious at Shen Zaidao’s defeat or enraged at something else entirely.

“Zhuang Shiliu, I want an explanation for this!” Yue Wuchou’s eyes were like ice as they bore into Zhuang Shiliu.

Zhuang Shiliu’s face flickered uncertainly. “I didn’t expect things to turn out this way...”

Yue Wuchou only snorted coldly, ignored him completely, and left with Shen Zaidao, vanishing from the Heaven-Derived Dao Arena. Seeing this, many important figures present had subtle changes in expression.

Qin Wuyu suddenly realized that Yue Wuchou, master of the First Peak, seemed to have been kept in the dark about Shen Zaidao’s participation in this duel! This thought made his heart grow solemn.

Whoever dared to do that had to possess a status and foundation strong enough to not fear him! But who could it be? Zhuang Shiliu? Impossible. His standing was far too low.

Qin Wuyu sank into deep thought.

“Junior Brother Lin won!”

At that moment, Qin Ruoling, Ye Chunjun, and the other successors of the Ninth Peak erupted with joy, their eyes shining with excitement. Meanwhile, the successors of the other peaks were settled and doubtful, like a flock of startled birds.

On the assessment platform, Zhuang Shiliu’s expression grew darker than ever. Yue Wuchou’s furious words before departing made it clear that if he could not provide a satisfactory explanation, he would have completely offended the First Peak’s master.

“All because of that little beast!” Grinding his teeth in secret, Zhuang Shiliu glared at Lin Xun.

Lin Xun met his gaze calmly and said, “Deacon Zhuang, let’s begin the second match. There’s no need to waste everyone’s time.”

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Though he spoke casually, his words were like an invisible provocation. Zhuang Shiliu drew in a deep breath, forcing down his anger. However, when he thought of the peerless genius about to step onto the stage, his heart couldn’t help but jolt with anticipation.

“In the second match, Feng Qixi, core successor of the Second Peak, will take the field.” Zhuang Shiliu declared in a deep voice.

Feng Qixi!

The crowd was thrown into an uproar, with many showing astonishment.

“Didn’t they say she had already been chosen by the Origin Sky Pavilion as their successor?”

“That will be next month. For now, she is still a core successor of the Second Peak and thus qualified to fight in this duel.”

“I never thought she would personally take part...”

Voices of discussion erupted all around, and many of the Nine Peaks’ core successors could no longer remain composed.

Feng Qixi.

She was a peerless genius who had deliberately suppressed her cultivation for over a thousand years, and who had claimed second place in the last Nine Peaks Dao Contest!

As Zhuang Shiliu’s voice faded, a slender figure stepped onto the Heaven-Derived Dao Arena.

She wore black martial attire, her long dark hair tied into a simple ponytail that revealed the graceful curve of her snow-white neck. Her oval face was bright and beautiful, her eyes shining like stars. Most striking of all were her long, slender legs, standing with effortless grace. She radiated a heroic, valiant spirit, with a commanding presence that made even men instinctively feel inferior.

Her appearance instantly stirred the arena. Her prestige, background and cultivation surpassed even those of even Li Zhongyuan and Shen Zaidao. Rumor had it that hundreds of years ago she was ready to step onto the immortal path, yet she chose to hold herself back.

The reason was that she was not satisfied with that path of breakthrough! She would rather wait and continue suppressing her cultivation than breaking through so recklessly. That alone spoke volumes about her courage and determination.

“Why is she participating...” Qin Wuyu’s face darkened.

If Shen Zaidao had already been unexpected, then Feng Qixi’s appearance was an even greater shock. After all, everyone in the Origin Sect Ancestral Court knew that Feng Qixi immersed herself in cultivation, never meddling in disputes.

Despite that, she had come! Qin Wuyu’s gaze shifted toward Zhuang Shiliu, whose eyes glimmered with pride. It was obvious this had all been within his grasp from the start.

“Shen Zaidao is ranked among the top five core successors of the Nine Peaks, and Feng Qixi placed second in the last Nine Peaks Dao Contest. This arrangement is clearly aimed at Junior Brother Lin Xun. They don’t intend to give him any chance of becoming a core disciple!”

Qin Ruoling and the others’ expressions sank. Even the dullest person could see what was happening. In the past, no participant in the core disciple assessments had ever been targeted like this.

Think about it, to dispatch core successors ranked in the top five of the Nine Peaks just to deal with a newcomer...was this not blatant bullying? It was utterly unfair!

At this moment, even the true and core disciples of the Nine Peaks had begun to realize that something was off about this assessment and that it was deliberately aimed at Lin Xun. Strictly speaking, it did not violate the rules of the Origin Sect. but such a scene inevitably ignited anger in many hearts.

This time, Lin Xun had become the target. Next time, would it be someone else they target? How could one not feel disheartened when what was meant to be a promotion assessment turned into nothing more than a chance for the Origin Clarity Pavilion to suppress Lin Xun?

It was true that many in the Origin Sect Ancestral Court harbored hatred toward him, but there were just as many who bore him no grudges. Seeing him being so unfairly suppressed naturally left them feeling displeased.

Although no one spoke up in his defense, the high-ranking figures present keenly sensed the shift in the atmosphere. This so-called assessment had clearly stirred public anger! Of note, that was no small matter.

If the successors began to resent such injustice and voiced their discontent, the reputation the Origin Sect had built up over the years would inevitably suffer. In addition, as the chief examiner of this assessment, Zhuang Shiliu...would very likely end up as the scapegoat to appease the outrage!

Thinking of this, many important figures couldn’t help but glance at Zhuang Shiliu with a trace of pity.

Zhuang Shiliu was no fool. How could he fail to notice the change in the air? Though his heart sank, he remained unconcerned. As long as he could stop Lin Xun from becoming a core disciple in this assessment, then even if punishment followed, he believed someone would come forward to shield him.

“The duel has started! Why haven’t you made your move?” Zhuang Shiliu shouted.

After stepping into the arena, Feng Qixi did not strike right away. She just stood in place, locking eyes with Lin Xun. By now, everyone had noticed her unusual behaviour and couldn’t help but exchange puzzled glances.

What’s going on?

Even Lin Xun was somewhat taken aback. In his eyes, Feng Qixi was a formidable enemy. Her aura alone carried enough weight to make him feel pressured. However, she showed no intention of fighting.

Finally, Zhuang Shiliu’s impatient urging seemed to stir her into action. But instead of attacking, she turned around and calmly walked out of the arena.

“This match...I concede.”

Those few words left the entire audience stunned.

She’s giving up without even fighting? This isn’t like Feng Qixi at all!

Even Lin Xun couldn’t hide his surprise. However, Feng Qixi looked as if nothing had happened. Her expression remained serene, and her tall, graceful figure had already walked out of the arena.

Zhuang Shiliu’s face turned an ugly shade of green. “Nonsense! This is an assessment. How can you declare defeat before even fighting? Do you not care about the rules?”

A wave of panic surged within him. If Feng Qixi refused to fight, then Lin Xun would claim his second victory by default, and that could trigger an unexpected chain of events.

“There’s no rule against conceding.” Standing outside the arena, Feng Qixi met the countless bewildered stares with unshakable calm. “Besides, I’ve already accepted that I’m no match for Junior Brother Lin Xun. Since that’s the case, why waste the effort?”

The scene fell into turmoil. No one could fathom what was going through Feng Qixi’s mind. Her decision was simply too peculiar.

“You haven’t even fought, yet you’ve already decided you’re no match? Feng Qixi, you placed second in the last Nine Peaks Dao Contest and will soon enter the Origin Sky Pavilion to cultivate. To come up with such a childish excuse...don’t you find that ridiculous?!” Zhuang Shiliu’s voice was cold.

Feng Qixi’s decision had completely unsettled him and in his frustration, he lashed out at her instead.

Feng Qixi frowned, her tone equally cold. “Since you put it that way, then I may as well speak plainly. The only reason I participated in this assessment is because the Second Peak Master, Yun Tianming, personally asked me to. As a successor of the Second Peak, how could I refuse?”

The crowd erupted, ripples of commotion spreading through the arena. Countless eyes turned to the Second Peak Master. Yun Tianming was clearly caught off guard, his expression darkening. “Feng Qixi, I merely suggested you take part in the assessment. I never ordered you. Please do not twist my words and mislead others.”

Feng Qixi remained calm. “Since everything has already been said, I may as well add more. Someone like me is far too insignificant to meddle in the open and covert struggles between the great figures of our Origin Sect. If such matters fall upon me, I can do nothing but endure. But fairness and justice live in the hearts of the people!”

After a pause, she continued, “Junior Brother Lin Xun’s achievements and strength are plain for all to see. Even though he has only just joined the sect, he is already more than qualified to be recognized as a core disciple. Yet now, there are people who don’t want him to pass the assessment and resort to such underhanded means to hinder him. This is truly disheartening!”

Her voice echoed throughout the arena, and many disciples from the nine peaks couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Lin Xun’s suffering filled them with indignation as well, and a bitter chill settled in their hearts

Yun Tianming and Zhuang Shiliu’s expressions became increasingly dark. They had never imagined Feng Qixi would choose this moment to ‘turn against them’, leaving them with no chance to intervene. After all, countless high-ranking figures were gathered around the Heaven-Derived Dao Arena, and even some old monsters were secretly watching.

At such a time, how would they dare lay a hand on Feng Qixi?

Just as Feng Qixi seemed ready to continue, Zhuang Shiliu could no longer hold back and barked harshly, “Impudent! This is an assessment, not a stage for you to vent your grievances. If you continue to cause disruption, don’t blame me for subduing you and handing you over to the Origin Sky Pavilion for punishment!”