CH 18

Ling Ye furrowed his brows but soon relaxed.

“As long as the fertile water does not flow into others’ fields (1), the disciples in the sect are better than Ye Bingran. If Junior Brother likes it, then it’s fine.”

Shen Liuxiang felt his scalp tingle under Ling Ye’s gaze and had a strong intuition that there was a misunderstanding. He was about to explain when a voice came from outside the door, “Master.”

He with a flick of his fingers, his robe fell to the ground.

Ling Ye took in this scene and sighed inwardly. Was Junior Brother once again indulging in unrequited love? If he couldn’t obtain what he sought this time, he hoped he wouldn’t go mad again.

He turned around, blocking Zhou Xuanlan’s line of sight as he tried to peek inside the room. “Has the draw concluded?”

Zhou Xuanlan replied, “My opponent is Zhao Qi.”

Ling Ye nodded. “Zhao Qi is at the late Foundation Establishment stage, so don’t underestimate him.”

Zhou Xuanlan acknowledged and glanced behind him, wanting to say something but hesitating.

At that moment, a dog rushed out from the room. “This aura…”

Without stopping his steps, Ao Yue collided with the door frame and sat on the ground, seeing stars.

Regaining his vision, he saw a black-clad young man with lowered eyes looking at him. A chilling intent emanated from his dark eyes. “Is it you who wants to kill Master?”

Ao Yue shivered in fear and immediately retreated back into the room, curling up and trembling.

This was clearly a being from the ancient times. Shouldn’t they have been extinct long ago? Why do they still exist…

On the eve of the quarter-finals, Shen Liuxiang went out for a stroll, followed by Ao Yue, who kept whimpering, “I want to see Lord Su.”

Such a devoted dog.

Shen Liuxiang was deeply moved. He lowered his head to look at the grey wings just sprouting on the puppy’s back. “Fly for me, and I’ll take you there.”

Ao Yue dared not speak in anger. He flapped his wings desperately, causing a small gust of wind to swirl around. Gradually, his small body lifted off the ground.

Seeing Shen Liuxiang’s amazed expression, Ao Yue let out a soft snort. Just as he was about to speak, an aching sensation spread through his wings, and he plopped down onto a pile of dry leaves.

Shen Liuxiang couldn’t help but laugh. “You can’t even fly as high as my knees.”

“Don’t laugh! Could you run when you were a few months old?” Ao Yue sniffed, feeling more frustrated than ever. “Once I regain my true form, I’ll soar into the sky.”

“Very well. When that time comes, I’ll sit on your back,” Shen Liuxiang said as he picked him up and walked towards Huannan Peak.

“That’s impossible. By then, sparing your life would be an act of kindness,” Ao Yue said from behind the tree, lowering his head and digging his claws into the tree trunk.

At the foot of Huannan Peak.

By the side of Su Baiche stood a disciple, with a short knife hanging from his waist, exuding a sense of arrogance between his eyebrows.

As they conversed, the disciple’s face blushed slightly.

Shen Liuxiang recognized him.

He was Ling Yue’s disciple, Ling Zifan.

His eyes brightened as if he had seen countless spirit stones. A smile appeared on his lips as he walked with him.

When Ling Zifan saw Shen Liuxiang, his face darkened instantly. He took a big step forward and blocked Su Baiche’s path. “What brings the Immortal here to Huannan Peak at this late hour?”

He admired Su Baiche and detested Shen Liuxiang, who always bullied the Lord. He only lamented that his own strength was not strong enough to protect the Lord.

Ao Yue hid behind a big tree, hanging his head in dejection, using his paw to scratch at the tree trunk.

He couldn’t let Lord Su see him in this state. He could only steal a glance to relieve his lovesickness, hoping that the wicked Immortal wouldn’t expose him.

“Just wandering around with nothing to do,” Shen Liuxiang replied, then changed the subject. “You will be facing Xiao Wen in a battle tomorrow. Are you confident?”

Ling Zifan frowned.

He had never had any interaction with Shen Liuxiang before, so what did this sudden concern mean? Could it be that he wanted to provoke discord in front of Su Baiche?

He snorted lightly and a contemptuous smile appeared on his face. “I don’t need the Immortal’s concern. Xiao Wen is only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. I will defeat him within ten moves.”

Shen Liuxiang nodded. “That’s good to hear.”

Seeing Ling Zifan so arrogant, he felt relieved. The more arrogant, the harder the fall.

Tomorrow’s upset will be your doing.

Most of the disciples in the sect were betting on Ling Zifan’s victory. Shen Liuxiang was waiting for that day, having borrowed hundreds of spirit stones to bet on Xiao Wen’s victory.

“You are among the top disciples in terms of strength. I have no worries,” Su Baiche spoke up, looking at Ling Zifan with gentle eyes. “However, be careful not to get injured during the competition.”

Touched from having been trusted like this, Ling Zifan’s heart was melting. He replied fervently, “Rest assured, Lord Su. I will not disappoint your expectations. I will make Xiao Wen fall within seven moves!”

Touched~ Tears in my eyes~

Shen Liuxiang couldn’t help but clap his hands, hoping to praise Ling Zifan a bit more and make him even more conceited. This way, his plan to get rich overnight through this battle would be more secure.

There were four matches taking place in the square today, and Ling Zifan’s match had already begun. Shen Liuxiang found his disciple and gave some symbolic instructions.

Zhou Xuanlan noticed his absent-mindedness and saw his gaze frequently shifting towards the competition arena. “Who is Master looking at?”

Shen Liuxiang winked. “The money tree.”

The disciples gathered around the competition stage burst into excitement.

“Could it be that Ling Zifan is going to lose?”

“How is that possible? Xiao Wen is recognized as the weakest among the eight, only at the late Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Oh no, I forgot about this. I bet a hundred spirit stones on this.”

“I-I-I bet on Xiao Wen’s victory, ahhh!”

Standing at the side of the competition stage, Ling Yue stared expressionlessly at the arena, counting down mercilessly. “Ten, nine, eight…”

Ling Zifan felt pain all over his body. Xiao Wen had grabbed his neck and pressed him to the ground, leaving him unable to move except for his eyes.

He was anxious to fulfill the boast he had made in front of Su Baiche, to defeat Xiao Wen within seven moves. But unexpectedly, he had exposed a flaw and was ruthlessly beaten down without noticing it.

Hearing the commotion around him, Ling Zifan’s face turned red, showing an embarrassed expression. He felt an unprecedented sense of shame.

As he looked around, he wondered how he would face Su Baiche if the Lord saw him in such a miserable state.

With this thought in mind, he suddenly met a pair of cold eyes. His Master seemed to be looking at him like a roadside ant. “Three, two, one… Ling Zifan is defeated.”

Ling Zifan’s mind shook, and his thoughts became chaotic.

“Immortal, we’ve made a fortune!” Wu Zhi shook a storage bag and his mouth cracked with a fast smile. “A whole ten thousand spirit stones, hahaha.”

“As agreed in advance, I take seven and you take three,” Shen Liuxiang remained calm on the surface but was laughing hysterically inside.

Profits from organizing the gambling, plus the tenfold increase of his own three thousand spirit stones overnight. He had become rich overnight, ahahaha!

“Of course,” Wu Zhi quickly handed over the storage bag, “but I’m afraid it won’t be as easy to make money in the upcoming matches.”

The disciples who entered the semifinals had similar strengths, and it wouldn’t be surprising regardless of who won or lost. There would be no upset.

Shen Liuxiang opened the storage bag, reached his hand inside, and with an intoxicated expression, he grabbed it. The hard and cold touch confirmed that they were indeed spirit stones!

“No need to worry about the semifinals. We’ll make a big profit during the finals.”

In the novel, the two disciples who made it to the finals were as everyone expected: Zhou Xuanlan and Ling Mushan.

During their intense battle, Zhou Xuanlan made an inexplicable mistake and was swiftly knocked down by Ling Mushan. Just when everyone thought Zhou Xuanlan was going to lose, a gentle and firm call came from the seat of the elders.

It was the encouragement from Su Baiche, whom Zhou Xuanlan loved!

Instantly, Zhou Xuanlan’s fighting spirit surged, and he defeated Ling Mushan to claim the top spot. This marked a significant development in their relationship.

Although Shen Liuxiang believed that his disciple didn’t have any special feelings for Su Baiche, he firmly believed that this scene would happen because the protagonist’s halo was just so unreasonable!

He made up his mind to bet all the spirit stones on Zhou Xuanlan’s victory and prepared to multiply his earnings by five or six times.

In order to deceive others’ judgments, Shen Liuxiang made great efforts and even used some tricks to make the disciples think that Zhou Xuanlan was bound to lose against Ling Mushan.

As Ling Mushan swung his sword down with an ordinary move, it only caused a slight disturbance among the roadside weeds.

However, Shen Liuxiang suddenly jumped out and applauded, “Nephew, this move may seem plain and unremarkable, but it actually contains boundless mysteries. If I were to fight against you, I wouldn’t dare to take it lightly.”

Ling Mushan: “?”

He simply waved his sword, was it really that amazing?

Several disciples practicing nearby quickly turned their gaze and listened attentively.

They saw Immortal Shen approaching the roadside, stooping down to pluck a wild grass, and sighing, “It’s easy to cut off the wild grass, but it’s difficult to protect it under the sword. Nephew’s previous sword had immeasurable power, yet it perfectly avoided this tiny grass. When it comes to controlling sword energy like this, I am truly inferior!”

The surrounding disciples were shocked, and the news spread throughout the sect in an instant.

“Big news! Ling Mushan has gained immeasurable insights. Zhou Xuanlan is nothing to worry about.”

“Even Immortal Shen feels inferior. With such strength, he is undoubtedly the first.”

“Immortal Shen actually has such high expectations for Ling Mushan? Oh no, I bet on Zhou Xuanlan’s victory yesterday.”

“Quick, change it. There’s still a chance.”

When these words reached Zhou Xuanlan’s ears, he was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit uncomfortable in his heart.

So, his Master had been observing Ling Mushan’s training recently. Did he truly believe that Ling Mushan was superior to him?

Zhou Xuanlan sheathed his sword and headed back to Chaoyun Peak earlier than expected. Unexpectedly, he encountered Su Baiche on the way.

Su Baiche, dressed in snowy clothes, accentuated her graceful figure. “Tomorrow is the day of the decisive battle. Do you have confidence?”

Zhou Xuanlan: “I don’t know.”

Upon hearing this, Su Baiche’s cold and beautiful face under the moonlight suddenly blossomed with a gentle smile. “Although everyone in the sect believes that you are no match for Ling Mushan, even Shen Liuxiang thinks so, I believe that you will definitely claim the top spot.”

The young man in black attire pursed his lips and remained silent.

Master…

After a short while, Su Baiche left, and it was only then that Zhou Xuanlan shook off his scattered thoughts and walked away.

At that moment, there was a rustling sound coming from a tree by the roadside.

Zhou Xuanlan looked up, and his gaze met the sight of two branches gently parting.

His master was leaning against the tree branch, seemingly having been there for a while, holding a half-eaten orange in his hand. He looked down at Zhou Xuanlan with his eyes lowered and a faint smile playing on his lips.

Shen Liuxiang jumped down from the ancient tree, his golden-edged robe swaying and a few fallen leaves swirling on the ground.

“I will have a match with Ling Mushan tomorrow,” Shen Liuxiang nodded and took a bite of the sweet orange.

“Who does Master think will win tomorrow?” Zhou Xuanlan’s gaze tightly locked onto that unparalleled beautiful face.

“You,” Shen Liuxiang replied.

Zhou Xuanlan paused, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes. But it didn’t last long as Shen Liuxiang continued, “With Lord Su observing the battle, I believe you will give it your all and seize the top spot.”

A frozen smile formed on Zhou Xuanlan’s face and vanished, “What does it have to do with Lord Su?”

Shen Liuxiang slipped up and it was not good to explain further. He cleared his throat, waved his sleeve, and left.

Leaving Zhou Xuanlan alone standing in place, furrowing his brows in contemplation.

Has Master misunderstood something?

The battle for the top spot on the next day attracted the attention of everyone in the sect. The two sides were evenly matched and had been fighting for a long time, showcasing various spells that dazzled and bewildered the onlookers.

On the seat of the elders, Su Baiche’s gaze slightly changed.

Tong Xi said, “Zhou Xuanlan is about to make a mistake. When no one believes he can defeat a formidable opponent, you choose to believe and stand by his side. This time, you will enter his heart!”

Su Baiche coldly snorted, “Let me make it clear, this is the last time I trust you.”

He cleared his throat discreetly.

At this moment, a cry of surprise came from the square.

Zhou Xuanlan suddenly made a mistake, being struck by a palm and countless sword qi immediately followed. He couldn’t evade in time and was knocked down to the ground with a thud.

“Will you admit defeat?” Ling Mushan approached with a sword in hand.

If he didn’t admit defeat, he would only be beaten until he couldn’t get up again.

As spells attacked, Zhou Xuanlan swiftly moved to the side, narrowly avoiding a strike. But he then covered his chest and spat out blood.

He couldn’t hold his body any longer and collapsed on the competition stage.

“It seems that the outcome has been decided. Just as the Immortal Shen said,” someone remarked.

“Ling Mushan is truly the first among us. His swordsmanship is incredibly exquisite, and even Zhou Xuanlan is no match for him.”

“I’ve made a profit! The spirit stones are in my hands.”

Shen Liuxiang remained calm and composed, not at all flustered. His gaze glanced towards the seat of the elders.

As expected, Su Baiche couldn’t sit still.

When everyone believed that Zhou Xuanlan had been defeated, a slender and delicate figure stood up and shouted in the square.

“Zhou Xuanlan, I have always believed in you.”

The whole crowd was in an uproar!

Although Master Su Baiche usually treats everyone kindly, he has never shown such intense emotional fluctuations before. It’s unexpected that he would go so far as to shout publicly for the sake of a disciple.

What exactly is the relationship between Zhou Xuan Lan and Master Su Baiche? How did he become the sole recipient of that Master’s favor?

Countless questions arose in people’s minds.

Zhou Xuanlan was equally perplexed. His body, which he had tried to support, collapsed to the ground again upon hearing those words.

No, this won’t do…

If he were to stand up now, wouldn’t it appear that his actions were motivated by Master Su Baiche’s encouragement? What should he do if Master misunderstood?

Recalling what Shen Liuxiang had said last night, “With Lord Su Baice observing the match, you will surely…” Zhou Xuan Lan’s heart turned cold. Master must have misunderstood his relationship with Master Su Bai Che, which led to those words.

As for the matter at hand,

Lord Su Baiche’s exclamation was too ambiguous. Zhou Xuanlan couldn’t let his Master further misunderstand the situation. While winning the first place was important, it was not worth even half of his Master’s understanding!

Zhou Xuanlan made a firm decision. He closed his eyes and fell to the ground, pretending to be unconscious and motionless.

“???” Shen Liu Xiang’s smile froze at the corner of his lips. His eyes blinked stiffly, and the confident expression on his face gradually disappeared.

Didn’t he hear the loving call from Lord Su Baiche? Why did he collapse? Wasn’t he supposed to unleash his hidden potential?

Wake up!

Standing outside the arena, Ling Yue announced the countdown, “Ten, nine, eight…”

Oh no! Ten thousand pieces of spiritual stones were bet on this!

Shen Liu Xiang didn’t have time to think about it anymore. His figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the arena, half-embracing Zhou Xuan Lan, desperately shaking his shoulders.

“Wake up, wake up! Lord Su Baiche said he believed in you… Did you hear that, Zhou Xuanlan? Lord Su Baiche is calling you!”

Zhou Xuan Lan’s eyes flickered slightly. Sensing his Master’s presence, he intended to open his eyes, but upon hearing the mention of “Lord Su Baiche,” he closed them even tighter.

Indeed, his Master had misunderstood. He had to prove his innocence, so he continued to play dead.

Ling Yue: “Six, five…”

Everyone’s gaze fell inside the arena, watching Immortal Shen, who was half-supporting his disciple and shouting with all his might. Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes.

Who wouldn’t sigh with emotion? Such a deep bond between Master and disciple!

Ling Yue: “Two, one… The winner is Ling Mushan.”

Crack!

Shen Liuxiang’s heart shattered into pieces…

T/N: From rich to poor… Immortal Shen has suffered it all. On a side note, sorry for the sudden drop in updates! For context I am currently abroad doing a research project, so I haven’t had the opportunity to update at all, but I promise I haven’t dropped the series!!! Updates will be back to normal from next week