"We lost it all again in the Qi Condensation Realm matches that came afterward."
Zheng Fei said, his expression immediately turning indignant.
"It's been a hundred years—an entire hundred years! How could an Outer Court champion like that possibly appear?"
It was clear enough why Zheng Fei had lost all his Spirit Stones.
He hadn't expected Xu Aotian to win.
"Betting is a losing game nine times out of ten. Whether it's for the sake of cultivation or your own purse, you should do less of it."
Chen Yan advised him.
"But, Senior Brother Chen..."
Li Xiuxiu said, her expression growing serious.
"Actually, it isn't just the two of us. A lot of Outer Court Disciples want to ask you the same thing."
"What is it?"
Chen Yan asked.
"Did you really cheat in the Outer Court Grand Competition?"
Li Xiuxiu asked.
Beside her, Zheng Fei fell silent too, staring into Chen Yan's eyes, eager to learn the answer.
When the Outer Court Disciples beneath the arena saw Chen Yan kill Qi Yadong with a single punch, their first reaction was surely panic. No one truly wanted a life to be lost at the Outer Court Grand Competition.
But then, a strange feeling rose in their hearts.
Chen Yan was an Outer Court Disciple.
And yet he had defeated an Inner Sect Disciple—not just any Inner Sect Disciple, but Qi Yadong, a candidate for Chief Disciple of Kongyuan Mountain, a favored disciple of Song Wencheng, the Law Enforcement Hall elder.
Ever since Empty Mountain Sect was founded, the Outer Court had always been a cut below the Three Mountains Four Peaks of the Inner Sect.
Outer Court Disciples were second-class citizens in the sect.
They received fewer cultivation resources, held lower status, and were often looked down upon by Inner Sect Disciples.
Just like Qian Xun had done moments ago.
So when Chen Yan punched Qi Yadong to death, many Outer Court Disciples felt as if something inside them had finally been set free.
Even though Elder Lin Qifeng belonged to Kongyuan Mountain, and Chen Yan could be considered half a disciple of Kongyuan Mountain...
When he punched Qi Yadong to death, he represented the Outer Court.
"Does it really matter whether I cheated or not?"
Chen Yan said.
"Senior Brother Qi shouldn't have died."
Chen Yan wasn't lying. Though Song Wencheng was at odds with his master and had wanted to make a fool of him, Qi Yadong had given him no reason to kill him.
He didn't know Qi Yadong or what sort of person he was, or how he conducted himself.
He had simply failed to hold back, bringing about an outcome no one wanted.
"Playing the grieving cat, pretending to care."
Qian Xun sneered from nearby.
"Smack!"
Another slap rang out, and Qian Xun's other cheek quickly swelled red as well.
He stared in astonishment for a moment, then looked toward Lu Li.
"Senior Lu!"
"I didn't get there in time to stop it."
Lu Li said calmly.
"Don't cause trouble."
Taiyun City, Cloud King's Mansion.
It was an imposing estate, covering at least three hundred mu.
Its gates stood two zhang tall. The black plaque, traced with gold, bore the three characters "Cloud King's Mansion," carved in sweeping, elegant strokes.
Though the Cloud King's Mansion looked as still as a lake, its servants had long been scurrying about in a frenzy.
They had already received word that, later that day, the immortals of Empty Mountain Sect would pay a visit to discuss the County Princess.
Word was that the leader of the visiting immortals from Empty Mountain Sect was a mighty cultivator of the Martial Spring Realm!
His cultivation was two entire realms below that of the Star Heaven Gate Daoist who had recently tried to take the County Princess as his disciple. Even so, a Martial Spring Realm expert was a powerful figure who could make all of Taiyun City tremble with a single breath.
What's more, four Qi Condensation Realm cultivators were accompanying him.
Taiyun City had seven Cultivation Families.
Of them, the Huang Family was the most powerful, and the reason for its strength was that it currently had three Qi Condensation Realm cultivators.
In the mortal world, anyone whose cultivation reached the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm or higher could be called a local overlord.
But forget the Huang Family—even if all seven families joined forces... no, even if every immortal power in the entire Qingque Kingdom joined forces, they still wouldn't match a single hair of Empty Mountain Sect.
In the courtyard of the Cloud King's Mansion.
A sixteen-year-old girl sat before a stone stool in the courtyard, with a maid standing behind her.
"Tell me, Yue'er: would you rather marry some eloquent scholar serving in the imperial court, or a dashing, valiant general?"
She suddenly remembered how, not long ago, her mother had smiled at her tenderly one night and asked her that question.
Qin Yue had been taken aback. She didn't know how to answer, because she had never considered the matter.
As the emperor's illness worsened, the entire Qingque Kingdom had been thrown into turmoil.
The imperial physicians said the emperor might not survive the year.
But the emperor had only two sons, one six years old and the other two.
If the emperor passed away, the future of the Cloud King's Mansion would become uncertain as well.
So, a marriage alliance?
With a storm about to break, a marriage alliance could make both families more secure.
"I'll do whatever Mother says."
Qin Yue had answered her mother calmly.
This was her fate.
That was what Qin Yue had thought.
But everything changed when that white-haired, youthful-looking Daoist, who seemed to have stepped out of a painting, came to visit.
"County Princess, are you willing to return with me to Star Heaven Gate and become my Personal Disciple?"
The old Daoist asked.
It seemed her aptitude for cultivation was exceptional.
So exceptional that even this Wanhua Realm expert from Star Heaven Gate wanted to take her as his Personal Disciple.
Qin Yue had little idea what the Wanhua Realm meant.
She only knew that in Taiyun City, aside from the Prince's Mansion, the most powerful people were the Huang Family in the eastern part of the city.
The Huang Family's head, Huang Renqiu, was in the Qi Condensation Realm.
He wielded tremendous influence; even her father had to give him some respect.
But this Attendant Elder of Star Heaven Gate had told her that with a gentle breath, he could make Huang Renqiu vanish, body and soul—and if he failed, he would take Huang's surname.
Qin Yue was tempted.
Rather than become a tool for a marriage alliance, she would much rather become an immortal who could turn Huang Renqiu, who lorded it over Taiyun City, to ash with a single breath.
But her father stopped her.
"This is a grave matter. Elder, I hope you'll give my daughter and me some time to discuss and consider it."
That was what her father had said to the Attendant Elder of Star Heaven Gate.
The old Daoist said nothing. He merely smiled and shook his head at her.
"County Princess, it seems you and my Star Heaven Gate were fated to miss each other."
Then he vanished from the Prince's Mansion.
Her father was more inclined to have her join Empty Mountain Sect.
The Attendant Elder of Star Heaven Gate seemed to know she would join Empty Mountain Sect too.
Before he vanished, he had left her with a warning.
He said that if she joined Empty Mountain Sect in the future, she must be wary of one person.
That person's name was—
Before you continue