He hit the ground hard, crashing onto the dueling platform as his broad saber flew from his hand.
For a moment, the massive arena fell into utter silence, so quiet one could hear a pin drop.
The two sect leaders stood just at the edge of the platform, both breaking into a cold sweat.
Thank the heavens Song Wanníng had some restraint left. She hadn't truly gone for the kill.
But that wave of killing intent just now had been terrifying.
It was only then that the crowd began to realize something—this renowned master of alchemy had walked the path of the sword. A path drenched in blood.
The contrast was far too sharp.
"Ugh—"
Lying on the platform, Liu Yao trembled, his body twitching as another mouthful of blood spilled from his lips.
He wasn't just covered in wounds. Internally, he was a mess. His organs had shifted, and even his heart had cracked from that last sword strike. It would take at least one or two years of focused recovery before he'd fully heal.
Terrifying.
When that sword had descended, he couldn't stop the sudden surge of submission rising from deep inside.
She must be using some kind of demonic technique!
Song Wanníng was too unnatural. Too strange.
Liu Yao flinched involuntarily. In the midst of his pain, he actually felt relieved that they were still on the dueling platform. Had this happened elsewhere, he might not be breathing right now.
He was lost in thought when a pair of boots appeared in his vision—elegant, blue and white, inlaid with tiny gemstones.
He looked up and met Song Wanníng's cold, impassive face.
She stood there, aloof and unbothered, her killing intent still lingering like a storm that hadn't quite passed.
Her voice was frosty.
"Liu Yao, I didn't expect you to look down on me so much. Yes, I made an agreement with Yiyi, but that doesn't give you the right to insult me like this. You thought that if you humiliated yourself, I'd suddenly fall for you?"
Her voice echoed through the arena for all to hear.
"Let me tell you, someone like you isn't even worthy to carry my boots."
Not even worthy to carry her boots?!?
Liu Yao's eyes bulged. His blood surged uncontrollably, and he spat out another mouthful. His vision dimmed, and in the next moment, he collapsed completely, unconscious from sheer rage.
This… this wasn't how it was supposed to go at all…
Gasps and laughter rippled through the stands. The crowd erupted into mockery and low whistles.
The sect leader of Wangshan Sect looked like he wanted to dig a hole and crawl in. His face burned, and his shame reached its limit.
But he couldn't leave.
The duels had only just begun, and he still had to stay here and keep "losing face."
He glared at Liu Yao several times, then turned and barked into the crowd.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get him off the platform!"
Wasn't this humiliation enough?
These siblings were completely unreliable. If he'd known it would turn out like this, he never would have brought them!
Liu Yiyi turned red at the shout. Clenching her jaw, she stepped up onto the platform and lifted Liu Yao's bloody body into her arms. Her hands trembled with fury. When she looked at Song Wanníng, her eyes were filled with hatred.
"Song Wanníng, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person. After all our years of friendship, you..."
"What, trying to play the victim now?" Song Wanníng didn't bother pretending anymore. Her sneer was sharp as a blade.
"You and your brother set this up to humiliate me, and now you're crying foul? Shameless.
You really thought that if your brother let me win, I'd be so touched I'd fall in love with him, and let both of you into the Song family? What a joke. I'm not that stupid."
What she said wasn't a lie. Liu Yao had always intended to use her as a stepping stone into the Song family and the wider world of influence.
Her words made the onlookers murmur in realization.
So that's what it was. Liu Yao's schemes ran deep.
One cultivator chuckled and said, "Seems like Wangshan Sect's benefits aren't enough. Why else would someone throw their dignity away just to curry favor?"
"Maybe all of you should come join our sect. We won't treat you so poorly!" another jeered.
"Hahahaha!"
The disciples from Wangshan Sect had no words. All they wanted now was death.
"You're slandering me!" Liu Yiyi stared at Song Wanníng, stunned by how shameless she could be. That hadn't been her plan at all.
All she wanted was to trample Song Wanníng to boost her own reputation. Her brother didn't know anything about it!
This was slander. Pure and simple.
As her mind spun with rage, a voice suddenly echoed in her ear, a private transmission from Song Wanníng.
It was laced with disdain and cruel amusement.
"I did it on purpose. What can you do about it, idiot?"
"Song Wanníng!!!"
Liu Yiyi completely lost it.
In the past, she was always the one pulling the strings, making a fool of Song Wanníng.
How had it all flipped?
Furious, she began shouting without restraint, completely forgetting the gentle and innocent image she usually maintained.
The crowd once again buzzed with murmurs.
Song Wanníng smiled faintly, curled her lip, and turned to leave the platform.
She walked lightly, her movements graceful. When she returned to her seat, she sat with ease and flipped her hair back into place, as though none of the chaos had involved her at all.
The Nascent Soul cultivators nearby all turned to look at her.
She glanced back, resting her leg lazily on the side and said with a smile, "Why are you all staring at me? Do you have a problem with how I handled things?"
This duel had been labeled as a friendly match, so technically she shouldn't have gone so far. But considering Liu Yao's performance, there was really only one word for it: deserved.
No one could say otherwise.
The crowd chuckled awkwardly, tossing out a few polite words before shifting their attention elsewhere. With that, the second match ended in a thoroughly bizarre fashion.
The whole experience left everyone feeling a little stifled.
Liu Yiyi reluctantly carried Liu Yao away, intending to settle him somewhere on Yingke Peak to recover. She needed to stabilize his condition and make sure this farce didn't ruin his foundation.
With that, the chaos faded, and order slowly returned.
Other cultivators stepped up to the dueling platform, and the next match began.
Song Wanníng slouched in her seat, looking utterly bored. Bai Yang and Li Ruo quickly came to stand behind her.
Their master had just given Liu Yao a brutal beating. It was deeply satisfying.
Li Ruo's eyes were sparkling. Every strike just now had increased her admiration tenfold.
Her master was the strongest person in the world!
Bai Yang's expression was proud as well. That fool Liu Yao thought he was worthy of their master?
Not even close.
Still, the situation was far from optimistic. Until the Ancestors returned, Wentian Sect's position remained precarious.
As a member of the sect, Bai Yang hated how powerless he felt. If only his cultivation was stronger, he could step forward and fight on their behalf.
He clenched his fists in frustration.
He needed to cultivate harder. He couldn't stand this feeling of helplessness.
…
The duels continued, but Song Wanníng was clearly growing sleepy.
She yawned and propped her chin on her palm, watching the platform without much interest.
None of this mattered to her.
The only reason she stayed was to wait for a certain message to arrive.
A message that would mark Wentian Sect's fall to a second-rate power.
It should be about time…
In her past life, this message had dealt a blow to the sect, but they had managed to recover—her Martial Uncle had still been guarding the sect, and later, under the favor of the Heavenly Dao, Gu Qingyuan had ascended to Divine Transformation, helping the sect avoid total collapse.
But in this life, that fortune wouldn't be repeated.
The dueling platform was once again filled with tension as cultivators clashed.
Suddenly, the toll of a bell echoed through the mountain air.
Everyone froze.