A cool breeze swept past, rippling the blue lake. Emerald bamboo groves rustled, golden vine trees shimmered with radiant glow, and clusters of flowers and herbs gave off a delicate fragrance.
Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu had each moved into a house with a spacious courtyard. Compared to the dim woodland shacks from before, here the Fire Springs gurgled pleasantly and the open vistas refreshed their spirits.
Xiao Wu spoke up. "Bro, it looks like Xin Youdao lost. Sigh, do you think it was because of our fight earlier? I feel kind of bad for him."
During the duel between Shanhe Academy's two great prodigies, the spectators had cheered and roared continuously. Even without going to the grounds, one could hear the wave-like din rolling in.
Regardless, the two were in excellent spirits as they settled into their new lodgings and took in the picturesque scenery.
"Cheng Rui!" Xin Youdao called out to the girl in yellow, trying to stop her.
"Stay out of this! I refuse to believe in such a coincidence. He must have brought in some high-realm divine seed at the last minute who suppressed their cultivation just to ambush you before the decisive match!"
Cheng Rui simply could not believe that two "fierce dragons" had suddenly emerged among this intake of new students. It defied all reason.
Looking across Kun City's dozen or so academies of higher learning, who besides Ling Yu and the bearer of the pure yang physique could possibly stand shoulder to shoulder with Xin Youdao among the newly admitted disciples?
Cheng Rui walked swiftly, and her former residence soon came into view.
At a glance, she spotted the two. The "older brother" of the pair was actually using the fishing rod she had left behind, casually angling for five-colored dragon carp in the lake—the picture of leisure.
Instantly, her chest heaved with stifled fury. "Look! It's those two! Don't you dare say you don't recognize them!"
Ling Yu was clad in black, his dark hair falling past his shoulders, his eyes bright and piercing. He carried a restrained, heroic vigor, exuding immense confidence through calm composure.
Tonight in particular, after defeating Xin Youdao—one of the absolute strongest contenders in this year's unified examination—he seemed to have nurtured a new presence, completing a metamorphosis. Ling Yu's spirit, vitality, and mind had all risen to new heights, and he could feel for himself that his cultivation had advanced markedly.
His pupils contracted slightly. Was this the person Master Wu thought so highly of?
With a soft swish, as though teleporting, he bounded across the branches of the golden vine tree and drifted down before them light as a fallen leaf, his gaze fixed on the youth holding the fishing rod.
Wu Yaozu happened to walk out the courtyard gate carrying a grill. Seeing this, he said, "We barely just moved in, and someone's already looking to challenge us and take back the house?"
"Why did you strike?" Ling Yu stepped forward, eyes locked on Qin Ming.
"None of your business." Qin Ming cast him a brief glance.
Ling Yu considered for a moment, then said, "I want to spar with you!"
He decided to cut straight through the tangle. That would clear up any misunderstanding on Xin Youdao and Cheng Rui's part, and more importantly, he personally wanted to take the measure of someone Master Wu regarded with such esteem.
Thus, stripping away all complexity, he offered neither explanations nor arguments.
Qin Ming was taken aback. So blunt?
Ling Yu believed that the Great Dao was simple, and since his path was to test his blade across the world, he needed no other justification.
"No!" Qin Ming flatly refused. He had no interest in a pointless exchange.
"Right here. It won't take much of your time," Ling Yu said. His black hair lifted in the night wind, his eyes deep and burning with unshakeable conviction.
"Right here again? Are you out of your mind, or am I?" Qin Ming firmly rejected him. A single fight had already bankrupted them; another, and he and Xiao Wu would have to indenture themselves to Shanhe Academy.
"Why is someone else here?!" That senior student, Qian Chuan, felt utterly helpless. He was on duty here today, only to encounter one incident after another.
"Hiss!" He sucked in a breath of the lake's misty air. Who had he just seen? It was Ling Yu!
A headache instantly struck him. He had thought the newcomer duo were nobodies, yet how did they keep crossing paths with figures of this stature?
"This battle cannot be avoided!" Ling Yu advanced. His hair rose, his black robes whipped in the air, and rich heavenly light force surged through his entire frame.
Above his head, a hazy spiritual waterfall seemed to cascade down. Faint though it was, manifesting such an ethereal spectacle purely through heavenly light was already astonishing!
People called him a Young Ancestor precisely because of his extraordinary gifts, having attained heights ordinary men could never reach.
At the same time, from between his brows, a concentrated ray of conscious spiritual light unsheathed like a sharp sword, slicing through the night mist. He walked two paths simultaneously.
Rumble!
The ground quivered faintly as he gathered momentum. With every forward step, his mental will was honed like a celestial blade, growing sharper, more dazzling, and radiating an overwhelming aura.
Ling Yu's physical body also shone with rising brilliance, resonating with his spirit and ringing like a celestial blade being ground to an edge. His entire being melted into the vast night, seeking to harness some terrifying momentum.
Clang!
A grill came hurtling through the air, only to shatter against Ling Yu's protective heavenly light.
Ling Yu whipped around, not expecting anyone to force their way into the confrontation.
Seeing the turf trampled and ruined by the newcomer's steps, Wu Yaozu blinked right in front of him and opened with a major technique—rainbow light burst from his body as he wielded the mysterious brass pestle.
Naturally, avoiding deeper bankruptcy was only one part of it. Xiao Wu felt guilty, wondering if Xin Youdao's defeat had stemmed from their earlier bout. Seeing the victor coming here to cause trouble, he was itching for a fight.
A tremendous collision shattered the earth in an instant, ravaging the nearby vines, flowers, and grass all over again.
"Are you trying to bankrupt us?!" Panicking, Xiao Wu brought the divine rainbow down like a blazing golden arch bridge, pressing over Ling Yu to keep him from wreaking further havoc.
"What?!" Ling Yu was shocked. How could this short-haired youth be so powerful?
He knew practically all the exceptional figures of this intake. For two unknown youths to suddenly emerge with performance beyond all expectations was absurd.
As the sole prodigy of the Fourth Peril, Xiao Wu was terrifyingly formidable!
He intercepted Ling Yu, using the golden bridge to hook onto the opponent's conscious spiritual light and drag it forth. Bearing the ambition to test his blade against the world, Ling Yu naturally possessed frightening depth and startling power. Rosy light erupted from him like a celestial phoenix bathed in flame, spreading its wings to tear through every obstruction and illuminating the entire area.
In the distance, cries of shock arose. It looked as though a scorching sun was steadily rising into the night sky.
With a dull thud, Ling Yu felt a sharp, blinding pain at the back of his head. He strained to look behind him, but his strength deserted him. Darkness rushed over his vision, and he pitched forward onto the ground.
In his final conscious moment, he was beyond furious. The youth Master Wu thought so highly of had no honor whatsoever—he had actually ambushed him from behind!
Qin Ming lowered his palm, feeling not the slightest trace of embarrassment.
Since Xiao Wu had already made a move, and with the painful lesson of impending bankruptcy fresh in their minds, Qin Ming naturally refused to let matters escalate further. A simple, brutal strike was the cleanest way to end it.
Far off, the yellow-clad girl Cheng Rui let out a shriek and bolted like an arrow. She had brought Ling Yu here, and feared the two youths would thrash her next.
Now she finally believed it. Ling Yu had nothing to do with these two savages—he had been flattened himself!
Still nursing his injuries, Xin Youdao had walked more slowly and had only just caught up.
The dozen or so young men and women around him witnessed this scene from afar and were struck dumb with utter shock.
They knew full well that tonight's protagonists were supposed to be Ling Yu and Xin Youdao. Yet out of nowhere, two mysterious youths had stepped in roughly and knocked both prodigies flat, one after the other!
If word of this leaked, it would ignite a massive uproar!
How would the crowd of spectators feel if they found out? In an obscure corner, such a bizarre "spar" had just transpired.
Xin Youdao felt deeply conflicted. He and Ling Yu were truly lined up side by side now—both had been overturned!
Cheng Rui whispered, "Youdao, I believe you now. Ling Yu didn't arrange anyone to intercept you. He's... become a victim too."
The rest of the group fell dead silent.
None of them knew what to say.
Qian Chuan, who was on duty nearby, felt dizzy with disbelief. Ling Yu, one of tonight's two supreme talents, was lying sprawled across this patch of grass as well.
He knew full well that Ling Yu and Xin Youdao were destined to make front-page headlines tomorrow. Yet behind the scenes lay such an untold reality—both had suffered an embarrassing moment tonight that they would never want brought to light. If the outside world caught wind of this, a tempestuous wave of gossip would erupt.
And all of it was because of those two obscure youths!
Qian Chuan found it surreal; that battered patch of grass seemed to possess some bewitching power.
He watched for a long while and never dared approach, harboring genuine awe toward that cursed lawn and the two mysterious youths.
The aftershocks of the main duel were still buzzing. Crowds were chattering excitedly, and some were already heading toward this residential sector.
Xin Youdao had his dozen companions go intercept them slightly, keeping the unconscious Ling Yu from being discovered in such a state and humiliated.
"Brother, wake up," Qin Ming said, giving Ling Yu a shake.
Wu Yaozu's eyes went wide. Brother Ming had very naturally slipped three gold notes out of the fallen youth's robes. Could one even do that?! He felt as though a window to a brand-new world had just been flung open!
Qin Ming's own eyes widened slightly as well. Was Tang Jin's lineage this wealthy? Every single gold note was worth five hundred day gold!
Before his body had detonated, he had saved for so long, yet all of his wealth combined had fallen far short of this.
Qin Ming said, "I'm not robbing him. He attacked me first, and I was forced to counter. He became my captive. But since Xiao Wu intervened halfway, I should return five hundred day gold."
He slid one gold note back, keeping two along with several dozen day gold coins.
"Brother Ming, you're so principled! Truly a good person!" Wu Yaozu praised. Now neither of them would be bankrupt.
Once his excitement subsided, a pang of regret struck him. "What a loss! When I beat Xin Youdao, I forgot to search him for gold."
Not far off, Xin Youdao happened to walk up. Hearing those words, veins nearly bulged from his forehead.
Qin Ming said, "The nature of the situation was different. You challenged him; you can't harbor such notions. I was attacked, forced to defend myself, and am legitimately collecting ransom for a captive."
Ling Yu came to, instantly enraged, wanting nothing more than to fight to the death!
However, the back of his head throbbed with excruciating pain and his mind spun. If he fought a decisive duel in this state, he would suffer a terrible loss.
Xin Youdao spoke up. "Brother Ling, don't be rash. You should leave first. The others are heading back; tonight is not the time to stir up more trouble."
He had to step in. He didn't want matters blown out of proportion, nor did he want these embarrassing affairs splashed across tomorrow's papers. That would be an absolute storm of scandal.
Ling Yu pointed a shaking finger at Qin Ming, his chest heaving with fury. In the end, he turned and stalked off, naturally unwilling to see his name in tomorrow's papers as a laughingstock.
"I will duel you in an official match!" he declared before departing.
"There's really no need," Qin Ming said, genuinely wanting to advise him against such impatience.
The disciples of the esoteric sect and immortal path residing here were now returning. The moment they saw Xin Youdao and Ling Yu, they grew wildly excited.
A large crowd swarmed forward with fervent warmth, surrounding the two like stars circling the moon.
"Brother Ling, you truly are the pride of our generation! I can hardly wait to see you test your blade across the world, sweep aside rivals from every path, and ascend to the absolute summit!"
"Brother Xin, there is no shame in your defeat! Your brilliance astonished all quarters..."
On any ordinary day, such praise and heated admiration would have meant little to Ling Yu and Xin Youdao; they had long since grown accustomed to it. But right now, both were in foul moods.
Every single word felt like a lash across their backs.
Who knew how long it took before the two finally squeezed their way out of the throng, each letting out a long breath, drenched in cold sweat. That brief encounter had been pure torture.
"What? You lost to that youth from Black-White Mountain?!" Late that night, Tang Jin whirled around, staring at the resentful youth before her.
"I didn't lose! He has no honor—he ambushed me from behind!" Ling Yu grew angrier the more he spoke, clenching his fists tight. He raised his voice, "Senior Sister, please arrange a match. I want to fight him fair and square!"
"He might not necessarily accept," the purple-eyed crow remarked.
Chapter 193