The mountain path grew darker,
Morning sunlight filtering through the trees,
Casting mottled shadows like a net—
Draped over the hearts of men.
Xuan Chen and Xiao Chen descended slowly from Tianping Mountain,
Their expressions calm,
But their thoughts diverged.
"Brother," Xiao Chen murmured,
"That last thing Cang Fuzi said…
It felt layered.
Like he already knew we'd choose Ao Tian Academy."
Xuan Chen didn't pause.
His voice was steady.
"He was probing—
But also hinting.
That line, 'The real game is only beginning',
Wasn't about us.
It was about the world.
All change begins with one word—momentum."
Xiao Chen nodded.
"You mean…
He knows it's not just Supreme Academy and Starseizing Palace.
There's something deeper moving behind the scenes?"
Xuan Chen gave a slight nod.
He flicked a pebble with his finger—
Striking a small beast hidden by the roadside.
His gaze never shifted.
"Possibly.
He chose Tianping Mountain for a reason.
It's a statement.
He's not Ao Tian's man.
He's a watcher of the board."
As they spoke,
They stepped out of the pine forest at the mountain's heart.
In the distance, the foot of the mountain revealed a stretch of official road—
Leading southward to the plains.
But just as they descended,
A shadow darted from the thickets—
Racing in another direction.
"They've moved.
Notify the Fourth Elder's people.
It's time."
At that moment,
Xuan Chen's eyes sharpened.
He turned slightly, voice low.
"We're being watched."
Xiao Chen tensed.
His steps remained steady,
But his aura shifted.
"Not a long-term tail," Xuan Chen said calmly.
"More likely someone who got tipped off—
Rushing here to intercept us at the border."
"You think it's Supreme Academy…
Or someone else?"
"Could be either.
But if the plan is what we suspect—
This won't be a simple ambush."
His tone darkened,
But his stride remained composed—
As if every trap had already been mapped.
Soon, at a bend in the road,
Dust still hanging in the air—
A group in Crimson Refining Sect uniforms appeared.
Their leader had a stern face,
A massive axe slung over his shoulder,
Aura fierce and unyielding.
That's… a Crimson Refining Sect transport squad?
Xiao Chen frowned, sending a thought-message.
A flicker of doubt passed through Xuan Chen's eyes.
Returning from Supreme Academy with tribute…
This route makes sense.
This squad of Crimson Refining Sect disciples
Had been privately dispatched by the Fourth Elder—
Officially tasked with escorting offerings back from Supreme Academy.
But as they passed through a mountain hollow,
Two of them suddenly halted.
They exchanged a glance—
Then attacked.
Killing intent surged.
The two disciples shouted,
"You thieves!
Return our lives!"
Their strikes were vicious.
Three of their own comrades fell instantly, caught off guard.
At that moment,
Xuan Chen and Xiao Chen arrived nearby, drawn by the commotion.
As they appeared,
The two attackers locked eyes with them—
Then charged.
"For our fallen brothers!
You'll die here!"
Xuan Chen and Xiao Chen reacted instantly,
Meeting the assault head-on.
Within moments,
The two Crimson Refining disciples lay dead.
One of them, in his final breath,
Roared—
"You stole our treasure and killed us!
Crimson Refining Sect will never forgive you!"
Xiao Chen crouched, inspecting the wounds.
His expression darkened.
"This wasn't impulsive.
They fought like… death-bound agents."
Xuan Chen's gaze sharpened.
"This is a setup.
A framing."
Xiao Chen's face hardened.
He opened his mouth to speak—
But footsteps echoed from the forest.
The blood hadn't cooled.
More figures emerged.
A voice rang out—
"Two criminals have slain our comrades—
Intent on stealing treasure.
They must be punished!"
Dozens of figures stepped from the woods—
A joint force from Supreme Academy and Crimson Refining Sect.
At the front stood a man in a purple-gold robe,
Bearing the badge of a Supreme Academy steward.
Beside him, a stern-faced middle-aged man—
The Crimson Refining Sect's External Affairs Envoy.
The disciples and elders arrived nearly simultaneously.
Their eyes fell on Xiao Chen and Xuan Chen—
Standing beside the corpses.
Xuan Chen raised an eyebrow,
His gaze sweeping the scene,
Silently reconstructing the battle.
Then he spoke coldly.
"Well timed."
Xiao Chen's eyes narrowed.
He flicked his sleeve, spear in hand.
"Too well timed, if you ask me."
"Bold!"
The Crimson Refining elder roared.
"You dare ambush our disciples—
And pretend innocence?"
A disciple from Supreme Academy shouted,
"They killed and looted—
The evidence is clear!
And they still dare talk back?"
Xuan Chen didn't respond aloud.
He sent a thought-message.
This setup…
Borrowed blades, planted confusion—
It's textbook.
We barely left the mountain,
And someone already laid the trap.
This isn't just Crimson Refining Sect.
They want us to retaliate—
So they can pin the blame.
Xiao Chen gripped his spear.
So what now?
Do we fight?
Another man threw out a ledger and badge.
"This is the transport manifest.
They were scheduled to pass through here today.
How do you explain that?"
Xuan Chen's eyes sharpened.
"I'd rather ask—
Who tipped you off?
Why didn't you show up before the incident?"
Xiao Chen sneered,
His gaze cold as steel.
"Loot and murder?
Please.
They charged at us.
We didn't go hunting."
"You killed our disciples in broad daylight—
And still deny it?"
The Crimson Refining elder pointed angrily.
Xuan Chen spoke calmly.
"First—
Look at their wounds.
All on the back.
If we fought head-on,
Why were they struck from behind?"
He stepped forward,
Turning over a corpse.
"Second—
Check their positions.
They all fell in front of us.
We haven't moved.
Clearly, they rushed in and were struck down.
If we were looting,
Would we just stand here waiting for them to run into our blades?"
Xiao Chen added,
"Third—
Your sect uses blades and axes.
I use Dragon Soul.
He uses talismans.
Look at the wound shapes and depth.
Which of these came from my spear?"
The elder faltered,
His face darkening.
Xuan Chen's gaze turned icy.
He pointed to one corpse—
A man wearing an unusual ring.
"This one—
You don't recognize him, do you?
That ring is an old outer sect insignia—
From thirty years ago.
Your current disciples don't use it.
So how did it end up on a stranger?"
His voice dropped,
Each word striking deep.
"Maybe you should investigate—
Whether someone inside your sect
Is distributing old robes and insignia to death-bound agents,
Just to frame others."
Silence fell.
Xiao Chen chuckled coldly.
"And really—
Would looters stand around waiting to be caught?
You think we're toddlers?"
The disciples from both factions exchanged glances.
Some eyes flickered—
Doubt beginning to stir.
Elsewhere on the mountain path,
A young scholar crouched behind a stone—
Eyes wide with shock.
He was from Tai Xuan Pavilion,
Originally here to observe whether Supreme Academy and Crimson Refining Sect would act.
But he hadn't expected to witness a game within a game.
His eyes were filled with conflict and disbelief.
He didn't reveal himself.
Instead, he quietly retreated,
Leaving behind a whispered thought—
"Truth… will surface one day."
—
The atmosphere at the scene was heavy.
Xuan Chen swept his gaze across the crowd.
"You dared to set a trap—
Then be ready for it to be exposed.
If anyone wants to keep playing this farce,
Go rewrite your script first.
Because next time—
It won't end so easily."
He paused.
His eyes sharpened like blades.
"But this debt—
We'll remember."
Xiao Chen planted Dragon Soul into the ground,
Killing intent radiating.
"And I'll remember who shouted 'murder and theft' first."
He stepped forward.
His aura surged.
No one dared block them.
—
Just as the two turned to leave,
A young man in blue robes stepped out from the crowd.
His expression was conflicted—
But tinged with unwillingness.
He cupped his hands, voice restrained.
"Gentlemen…
We failed to recognize your strength earlier.
Would you reconsider joining our academy?
Supreme Academy's sincerity remains."
Xuan Chen didn't stop walking.
His tone was cool.
"The terms we gave—
Has your academy responded clearly?"
The youth hesitated,
Then gave a bitter smile.
"It's still under discussion.
Such resource allocation…
Isn't something I can decide."
Xiao Chen clicked his tongue, shaking his head.
"Enough.
You keep painting cakes—
But we're not getting a bite.
How about…
I paint one for you?"
He raised his hand,
Spiritual energy gathered in the air,
Sketching a floating image.
Four bold words appeared:
Academy Master
The crowd was stunned.
The youth's face turned pale.
Xuan Chen glanced sideways,
A faint smirk on his lips.
"What's wrong?
Don't want the title?"
Xiao Chen chuckled,
Spinning Dragon Soul.
"See?
Painting cakes—
Anyone can do it."
The crowd fell silent.
A young scholar from Tai Xuan Pavilion,
Dressed in blue robes,
About seventeen or eighteen—
His badge faintly marked with the character Wind.
He quietly retreated,
Sweat beading on his brow,
Saying nothing more.
Though members of Crimson Refining Sect and Supreme Academy were furious,
None dared step forward.
In the nearby woods,
Someone watched from the shadows—
Recording every moment.
Deep in their eyes,
A decision had already formed.
This scene…
Would be revealed during the upcoming Academy Tournament.
And when it was—
It would ignite everything.