Chapter 18: Battling the Spirit Stone, Fools Cannot Protect the World

Outside the secret realm.

On the tung oil wooden table lay dozens of piles of spirit stones, roughly similar in amount, except for one pile that was exceptionally large, towering like a small mountain.

Every time the Qingchuan Grand Competition or the Dingkun Sect’s selection trial took place, the peak elders would wager spirit stones, betting on the top three placements.

The peak elders publicly claimed it was just a game for amusement, not to be taken seriously, but in truth, each hoped their disciples would earn glory and bring honor and profit to themselves.

The elders and peak masters gathered around the table, eyes bloodshot, constantly watching the scoreboard, closely tracking their disciples’ points.

However, whenever their disciples showed slight improvement, their scores would fragment and their names would sink to the bottom.

The disbelieving elders increased their stakes, but all their spirit stones ended up piled before Luo Chen.

Luo Chen sat in his chair, unmoving, propping his head with one hand while cracking sunflower seeds with the other, watching the chaotic scrambling of the others as if enjoying a spectacle.

He didn’t care about winning or losing. After all, Suian, that kid, was immensely wealthy and indifferent to such petty stakes.

Among all the elders present, he was the only one treating the spirit stone bets as mere entertainment.

Below the stage, Suian gazed at the spirit stones amassed before his master, tears of emotion welling at the corner of his eyes.

His junior sister must have been slaying beasts relentlessly in the secret realm, dancing on the edge of life and death, to have earned such impressive points.

She must want to give them hope.

Hope to witness the rise of a worthless nobody!

It was enough to move him to tears.

Another day passed, and as the trial neared its end, the so-called wastrels of Danbo Peak still ranked at the top. The others’ gazes toward Luo Chen shifted noticeably.

“Master Luo, don’t you have a precious disciple to back you up? Why persist so fiercely? You said this was just for fun—”

“Once Lingxi comes out, I’ll take a good look at what kind of promising talent she is, to see if Master Luo’s heavy investment and disregard for reputation are truly justified.”

…

The elders circling the table, gambling away half a year’s salary on spirit stones, had lost so much they were seeing red, growing irrational and sneering at Luo Chen.

Luo Chen still leaned back lazily, cracking seeds with a smile, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

“Well said, well said. When my Lingxi emerges, you’ll all see. Unlike some who, with the trial almost over, still haven’t broken into double digits. Truly unbearable!”

He deliberately glanced at the spirit stone scoreboard, emphasizing the words “my Lingxi” with heavy, deliberate weight.

The elder who had spoken earlier turned a shade of green then purple, fingers curled inside his sleeve cracking audibly, but mindful of his dignity, he restrained himself.

Let Luo Chen frolic a little longer. When Lingxi appears carrying a full set of magical artifacts, let’s see what they’ll say then.

There will be a spectacle to witness.

They could endure losing face later, but the present discomfort was unbearable.

Some hot-headed ones couldn’t hold back and blurted out.

“A mere mortal who isn’t even a wastrel—what’s there to boast about? When the time comes, won’t her body be covered with magical artifacts to dazzle us all?”

The elder standing beside him tugged at Elder Hong’s sleeve but was met with a glare. Hong paid no mind.

Luo Chen remained unfazed, smiling broadly at the burly elder and gesturing at the spirit stones on the table.

“I only tied a red string for my Lingxi, so the siblings can communicate easily. Aside from that, there are no other magical artifacts.

If there were, all these stones would be yours. How about that?”

Elder Hong’s eyes flickered upon seeing Luo Chen smile and offer money as bait, thinking the other had grown afraid, so he lifted his chin arrogantly.

“That means nothing! Now you admit you’re afraid? Planning to transfer spirit stones to me to calm the crowd? Impossible! If she has other magical artifacts, Danbo Peak will withdraw from the competition, and you’ll abandon your cultivation.”

A dark gleam flashed in Luo Chen’s eyes, the smile on his lips deepening.

“Are you sure about that?”

“Positive. You act arrogantly just because you were specially recruited, often disregarding your status and beating disciples from other peaks. No one has forgotten that!”

“Well, do you see whose disciple they talk about? If the disciples still have a chance to improve, I wouldn’t mind giving him a beating to vent.”

“Master Luo, you’re truly arrogant! Do you dare agree to my conditions?” The burly elder laughed angrily.

Their own cultivation levels were lower than the peak masters’, and their disciples were even more inferior.

Usually, they suffered under the peak masters’ oppression, especially Gu Jiuyuan’s. Today was to make an example, to show the peak masters not to look down on them recklessly.

Luo Chen’s smile grew even brighter. “No regrets?”

“None.”

Luo Chen crossed his feet and rested them on the chair’s front, halting his hand from cracking seeds but still leaning lazily, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

He had secluded himself for years. Now everyone wanted to ride on his head, testing his limits.

But they were fools.

“Good. What if you lose?”

“I won’t lose!”

“Suppose you do.”

“If I lose, I will voluntarily leave the sect and descend the mountain.”

“If you lose, you will self-destruct your cultivation and accept a public announcement across the continent: a person of corrupt intent who cannot protect the people!”

A magnetic voice sounded, cold laughter intertwined, causing Elder Hong to shudder.

They had said Luo Chen’s cultivation had declined!

He must have been scared before and hallucinated.

Under the keen watch of the surrounding elders, Hong nodded stiffly. “Fine.”

Rumble—rumble—

Ancient patterns flickered, stirring layers of energy waves, the transparent barrier fluctuating.

The blue stone gate above slowly opened, and several white light orbs flew out, landing and transforming into disciples.

The emerging disciples looked at each other, instinctively reaching for their waists—and found nothing.

Countless resentful eyes fixed on Gu Jiuyuan.

Although there were no rules forbidding deceit of others’ efforts, cultivators must act with integrity and uprightness, never resorting to cunning tricks.

Return the gentleman’s sword!

Gu Jiu’s cultivation was profound and exceptionally sharp. He glanced at his disciples, lips pressed into a thin line, maintaining his frosty demeanor.

Why did all the disciples look at him? Could it be that at the last moment, his two disciples encountered a great opportunity?

He waited for the scoreboard to update.

Indeed, the scoreboard rose. Lingxi’s name, once golden, turned scarlet and pulsed wildly, as if ready to burst through the crystal stone and leap out.

Gu Jiuyuan pinched his fingers, closing his eyes slightly to steady his emotions.

It must be a mistake!

Lingxi, that mortal, could never top the ranks.

With a “bang,” a white light slammed onto the ground, and Chu Xinghe appeared, lying down.

His green robe was dust-stained, blood stained his chest, and his right eye bore a dark purple mark, his breath faint.

The crowd froze, unable to believe their eyes.

Was this still the impeccably groomed, gentlemanly Chu Xinghe?

Bang—

Another dull sound.

A snow-white light orb rolled on the ground, refusing to stop.

Luo Chen casually tossed two sunflower seed shells, and the orb finally settled.

Both on stage and off held their breath; the noisy chatter ceased abruptly, leaving only the sound of breathing.