The Rift

"Hmph, I never expected even trash like him to have such a beautiful younger sister."

Someone saw Lin Ni Yu step forward and said.

"Ni Yu, don't stoop to their level. I'm fine."

Lin Bing said at this moment.

Lin Ni Yu had been a child Lin Bing's parents found outside, but they had always treated her as their own and cherished her dearly.

"You're Lin Ni Yu, aren't you?"

Gu Changge approached with elegant bearing and said.

"You are... the Dao Child?"

Lin Ni Yu looked at him, her pearly teeth parting slightly as she spoke.

"I wonder, would you be interested in becoming my maid?"

Gu Changge asked.

At Gu Changge's words, Lin Ni Yu's cheeks flushed faintly, and she did not know how to respond.

"Ni Yu is my younger sister. For now, she has no intention of becoming the Dao Child's maid, so there is no need for the Dao Child to trouble himself over her."

Lin Bing pulled Lin Ni Yu back coldly and said.

"A mere menial disciple dares speak to the Dao Child like that?"

"I think this brat has grown tired of living."

Seeing Lin Bing's attitude, the crowd began to murmur.

In Lin Bing's eyes, although Lin Ni Yu was his younger sister in name, he had long secretly regarded her as his own woman.

Gu Changge's words had touched his forbidden possession, and in his moment of urgency, he spoke in such a manner.

"I think it would be better to follow Ni Yu's own wishes."

Gu Changge said.

"I..."

Lin Ni Yu said hesitantly.

"I'd rather stay with my brother."

Lin Ni Yu said.

"This little girl looks pretty enough. Why is she so foolish?"

"Exactly. Following the Dao Child is far better than following a menial disciple—especially trash among trash."

The outer disciples could not help commenting upon hearing Lin Ni Yu's words.

"It is no matter. Whenever you change your mind, you may come find me."

Gu Changge said with a smile.

Then he left Yu Peak. Before departing, he turned around, looked at Lin Bing, and silently mouthed two words: "It was me." Then he left Yu Peak.

Lin Bing's pupils contracted, and his gaze immediately filled with resentment.

So it was you. So what if you're the Dao Child? You ruined my future and still want to steal my woman. Just wait. Sooner or later, I will have my revenge.

Lin Bing thought.

"Ni Yu, why did you hesitate just now?"

Lin Bing asked Lin Ni Yu.

"Who I am willing to follow is my own freedom."

Lin Ni Yu said unhappily. Did she not even have the freedom to choose who she wanted to be with?

"That Gu Changge will be our enemy from now on. Do you understand?"

Lin Bing said.

"Why? The Dao Child is handsome, and he is so gentle. Why should we be enemies with him?"

Lin Ni Yu asked.

"If I say he is our enemy, then he is our enemy."

Lin Bing said.

"Whoever you say is an enemy is an enemy? Then what about me? Do I count as your enemy?"

Faced with Lin Bing's unreasonable fussing, Lin Ni Yu became angry. Her willow-leaf brows drew together as she spoke.

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully creating a rift between the Son of Heaven's Mandate Lin Bing and the Destiny heroine Lin Ni Yu. Lin Bing's Destiny Value has decreased by 30 points. Host has been rewarded with 300 System Points."

The system's notification sounded at this moment.

Upon hearing the notification about System Points, Gu Changge smiled. His goal had been achieved.

"Ni Yu, that isn't what I meant."

Seeing that Lin Ni Yu was angry, Lin Bing hurriedly said.

"Lin Bing, remember this: I am only your younger sister, not your woman. You have no right to interfere with my freedom."

Lin Ni Yu spoke to Lin Bing coldly now.

Watching Lin Ni Yu's graceful figure depart, Lin Bing's expression turned incomparably gloomy. "Damn it, it's all because of Gu Changge. My path should not have been like this. I should have displayed my talent, turned my life around, slain my enemies with my own hands, and held all the beauties of the world in my embrace—not been reduced to such a pathetic state."

"If I want to further squeeze Lin Bing's Destiny Value, I'll have to make Lin Ni Yu break with him completely."

Gu Changge returned to First Peak, rubbed his chin, and said.

As for the trials of the other disciples, stewards, and elders on the day of the trial, Gu Changge did not discover any new Sons of Heaven's Mandate, so he had little interest in watching them.

"Changge, come to my cave residence."

At that moment, the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy sent a voice into Gu Changge's ears.

"Yes."

Gu Changge replied and made his way to the cave residence of his master, the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy.

"May I ask why Master summoned me?"

Gu Changge asked.

"Haha, no rush, no rush. Sit."

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy sat beside a redwood table forged from Emperor-grade materials, leisurely pouring tea as he spoke.

"Changge, you have been at Tianyuan Academy for some time now. I wonder, which faction do you come from?"

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy spoke as though casually, yet his words concealed hidden depths.

"This disciple comes from the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty in the Southern Region of the Eastern Wasteland."

Gu Changge had no intention of concealing it and directly gave the name.

"So you are from the Qianyuan Divine Dynasty. As your master, I have heard of it. Five Emperors from one sect—it is a colossal force that does not yield to any other across the entire Tianwu Continent."

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy said with a trace of disappointment in his voice.

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy knew that even the top ten core disciples of Tianyuan Academy came from major factions. How could a disciple whose talent surpassed even the core disciples be an ordinary Rogue Cultivator?

"Master, may I ask why you are questioning this disciple's background?"

Gu Changge asked.

"It is nothing. I merely happened to have time today and wished to chat with you, so that we might know each other's roots and origins."

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy said.

"Changge, the Northern Region of the Eastern Wasteland will soon hold a martial arts grand competition. All the factions of the Northern Region will participate. Would you be willing to represent Tianyuan Academy in the competition?"

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy finally got to the point.

"At Master's command, this disciple would not dare refuse."

Gu Changge said.

"Good. Each faction may send no more than ten disciples. Apart from yourself, you may select another nine from among all the core disciples."

The Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy said.

"Yes."

Gu Changge replied, then cupped his hands in salute and departed from the Palace Master of Tianyuan Academy's cave residence.

Before long, news that the Northern Region would soon hold a martial arts grand competition spread throughout Tianyuan Academy.

"Have you heard? This year's Northern Region martial arts grand competition is about to begin again."

"Of course. I wonder what rank Tianyuan Academy can achieve in this martial arts grand competition."

"A martial arts grand competition?"

Lin Bing, who was doing grueling labor, also overheard several outer disciples talking. Two flashes of brilliance gleamed in his eyes again.

"Excellent! Heaven never seals off all paths. I must participate in this martial arts grand competition. This time, I'll enter as an individual. With the Ice Devouring Talisman and my Ice Devouring Physique, I will certainly seize first place, show off my skills, and turn my life around once more."

Lin Bing said confidently.

"Do you want to become stronger, boy?"

Just then, an ethereal voice drifted over from not far away.

A figure clad in black robes stood before Lin Bing.

"Who are you?"

Lin Bing asked.

"I am... Xiao Yan."