Curtain Call

Everyone stared blankly at the scene on the stage, unsure how to react for a moment.

"He... he's dead?"

"One sword? Another one sword?"

"What kind of sword technique was that? How could it be so terrifying?"

After a long while, a disciple finally spoke, his voice trembling.

Yun Qianyue's expression turned solemn. She closed her eyes, replaying the scene from that moment in her mind.

"It wasn't speed, nor sharpness."

"It was vibration... a vibration at the extreme of speed, layering the sword energy thousands of times to weave an invisible net."

"Cicada Wing · Thousand Layers... Legend has it that when this Martial Skill is cultivated to its peak, one can comprehend the Ultimate Form [One Thought · Floating World], turning all things into dust. Though his sword just now didn't reach that level, it already had that essence of deconstructing all things."

"Qin Jue... are you finally going to succeed?"

Meanwhile, on the other high platform.

Ning Wuque's nonchalant expression froze. He looked at Ning Zhiyuan in the pool of blood, his eyes devoid of any sadness, filled only with disgust and coldness.

"Trash, a complete and utter piece of trash."

Ning Wuque cursed inwardly, "I gave you pills, I gave you weapons, I even spared no expense in overdrafting your potential, and you couldn't even block one move from him? You've completely disgraced our Ning Family!"

He stared intently at Qin Jue on the stage, killing intent almost overflowing from his eyes. Liu Yun was killed, Meng Kuang was severely injured, and now even Ning Zhiyuan was dead.

"Qin Jue," Ning Wuque coldly repeated the name in his heart.

On the high platform, Ma Chen's gaze lingered on Ning Zhiyuan's shriveled corpse for a moment, his brow furrowed, a flicker of regret flashing in his eyes.

"What a pity."

Ma Chen sighed softly, his voice not loud but clearly heard by everyone, "Such a promising talent from the Ning Family, gone just like that."

As soon as he said this, murmurs erupted from the crowd below.

Some felt Ma Chen was right; after all, Ning Zhiyuan had died a truly tragic death. But more people frowned—this was a life-and-death battle. Ning Zhiyuan had taken forbidden medicine and fought desperately; who could he blame?

Ma Chen seemed to ignore the discussion below. He turned around, his gaze falling on Qin Jue.

His eyes held a look of scrutiny and dissatisfaction, along with a subtle, almost imperceptible pressure.

As an attendant at the first level of the Nascent Core Realm, Ma Chen's mere presence exuded an invisible oppressive aura. Although his aura was restrained, the majesty belonging to the Nascent Core Realm made the surrounding air feel heavier.

"Qin Jue."

Ma Chen spoke slowly, his voice not loud but carrying a sense of condescension, "In a life-and-death battle, fate decides life and death; that is the rule. You won, and that is your skill."

He paused, then changed his tone:

"However, young man, one should exercise restraint when striking. Although Ning Zhiyuan issued the challenge for a life-and-death battle, you are still fellow disciples of the academy. If you could have spared his life, it would have been a way to preserve a bloodline for the academy."

These words were spoken with great righteousness, but anyone with discerning eyes could tell that he was accusing Qin Jue of being too ruthless.

The disciples below exchanged glances.

Someone muttered softly, "What does that mean... holding back in a life-and-death battle? Then what's the point of calling it a life-and-death battle?"

"Hush, keep your voice down. Elder Ma is in the Nascent Core Realm; do you want to die?"

"But it was Ning Zhiyuan himself who took the Qi-Bursting Pill and fought desperately. How can Qin Jue be blamed?"

Ma Chen seemed not to hear these discussions. He continued to look at Qin Jue calmly, waiting for his reply.

He was certain that as an attendant and a cultivator of the first level of the Nascent Core Realm, Qin Jue, even if unwilling, would have to bow his head and admit his mistake after hearing his words. After all, in Qingcang Academy, the authority of an attendant was not to be challenged.

However--

Qin Jue raised his head and looked calmly at Ma Chen, his eyes showing no fear.

"Attendant Ma."

Qin Jue's voice was exceptionally clear, "The challenge for a life-and-death battle was issued by him. The Qi-Bursting Pill was taken by him. I merely accepted the challenge."

"As for holding back?" Qin Jue gave a sarcastic smile. "If I were the one who died today, would Attendant Ma also jump out and say Ning Zhiyuan was too ruthless?"

This remark caused Ma Chen's expression to change.

Of course, he wouldn't.

If Qin Jue had died, he would have merely thought Qin Jue lacked the skill and couldn't blame anyone else.

But how could he admit that?

"That's sophistry!" Ma Chen's voice deepened, tinged with anger. "I am teaching you the principles of conduct! A martial artist's duel should end when one side concedes; killing them all is too cruel!"

Qin Jue sneered inwardly.

In his past and present lives, he had encountered too many people like this—those who relied on their power to twist right and wrong, whose double standards were nauseating.

"End when one side concedes?"

"Then, Attendant Ma, are the words 'fate decides life and death' on the life-and-death challenge letter merely decorations?"

"Or does Steward Ma think that rules are only meant to restrain people like me without background, while people from the Ning Family can be an exception?"

These words were extremely harsh, directly tearing away Ma Chen's pretense of propriety.

The disciples below felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction upon hearing this.

Ma Chen, relying on his position as a steward, often bossed them around, the ordinary disciples. They had long been displeased with this. Now, seeing him rendered speechless by Qin Jue's retort, they were all secretly cheering.

Ma Chen's expression instantly turned grim.

He hadn't expected Qin Jue to dare to openly defy him.

As a steward in the Nascent Core Realm First Layer, he had always been the final say in the Outer Prefecture. When had he ever been refuted like this by a junior in the Hundred Refinements Fourth Layer?

"Insolent!"

Ma Chen let out a low growl. The aura of the Nascent Core Realm erupted from him, and his pressure instantly enveloped the entire training stage.

The pressure was as solid as substance, forcing the surrounding disciples to retreat, their faces pale.

But Qin Jue stood straight in the center of the pressure.

The Nine Revolutions Viscera Refining Secret Record within his body automatically circulated, and the power of his surging Qi and Blood coursed through him, forcefully resisting Ma Chen's pressure.

The atmosphere became tense and charged.

Just then—

"Enough."

A cool voice echoed from the high platform.

Yun Qianyue slowly descended from the high platform, her moon-white long dress fluttering gently in the wind. She walked to the edge of the training stage, her cool eyes sweeping over Ma Chen, and said indifferently:

"Steward Ma, the rules for life-and-death battles were set by the academy. Qin Jue accepting the challenge was reasonable. As the referee, what you should do now is announce the result, not get entangled here."

Upon seeing Yun Qianyue, Ma Chen's expression changed again.

Although Yun Qianyue was only an Outer Court Disciple, her status was unusual. She had the Yun Family behind her and had the potential to advance to the Nascent Core Realm, unlike him, an Outer Prefecture steward whose potential had been exhausted.

Ma Chen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the anger in his heart.

He knew he couldn't suppress this matter today.

"Very well, being too sharp as a youth is not necessarily a good thing."

Ma Chen cast a cold glance at Qin Jue and said sternly, "This battle... Qin Jue wins!"

Qin Jue's expression was calm, showing no joy at his victory. He bent down and picked up the Frost Blade from beside Ning Zhiyuan's corpse. Although the blade was broken, it was still a Mortal Tier Upper Grade weapon and could be sold for a good price.

Then, he searched Ning Zhiyuan's clothes and retrieved the jade token representing Battle Merit.

After doing all this, he slowly raised his head and his gaze pierced through the noisy crowd, landing precisely on Ning Wuque in the distance.

Their eyes met in mid-air, as if sparks were flying.

Ning Wuque's expression was blank, his eyes icy, as if he were looking at a dead man. He didn't speak, merely let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and turned to leave.

Qin Jue watched Ning Wuque's retreating back, the corners of his mouth curving up into a sinister smile.

"I won't be polite and will accept the thousand gold notes."