Upon hearing Liu Feng’s words, Zhang Chen seemed oblivious to the deeper implications and simply smiled, saying, "Since we’ve come this far, we might as well give it a try. What if by some stroke of luck, I succeed? What if Prince and Chu Mingyue are as unlucky? Besides, if I don’t go up to compete, even if the Prince wins the championship, it wouldn’t be rightfully earned. Wouldn’t that put the Prince at a disadvantage?"
Liu Feng’s face turned even darker at these words. He gave Zhang Chen a cold look but did not continue to persuade. The Prince is a deity, and Zhang Chen is merely a mortal. Liu Feng simply couldn’t see any hope of Zhang Chen winning.
"You truly do not know your limits. Can you fathom the immense power of the divine? When the Prince leaves you crippled, you’ll regret it, but by then it will be too late. Even Leader Xie won’t be able to protect you." Liu Feng sneered coldly at Zhang Chen, then turned to Zhang Xiaohua, who was watching from the side:
"Crown Prince, please ascend the stage. We trouble you to make an appearance."
Zhang Xiaohua smiled and walked up to the stage as if returning home, nodded to Liu Feng, and then Liu Feng left the stage. Zhang Xiaohua looked at Zhang Chen, filled with praise, saying condescendingly, "I never expected you to come this far, to have a chance to compete with me on the same stage."
"It was merely a fortuitous coincidence. I hope the Crown Prince will show mercy." Zhang Chen held his Treasure Sword and flattered Zhang Xiaohua.
"Rest assured, in the name of Commander Xie, I will naturally show mercy. I won’t let you die on the stage." Zhang Xiaohua looked at Zhang Chen, constantly feeling the surge of murderous intent. The enmity between them was long irreconcilable. Previously, it was only due to Xie Lingyun’s influence that he refrained from acting against Zhang Chen.
But now, on the stage, competing against each other, if he accidentally injured the boy, causing him to lose a limb, not even Xie Lingyun could have anything to say.
While speaking, a thin layer of gauze appeared around Zhang Xiaohua, transforming into golden robes that covered him.
Zhang Chen saw this and lifted his Treasure Sword, using ultrasonic sensing, then directly thrust forward.
Faced with Zhang Chen’s thrust, Zhang Xiaohua did not dodge, a hint of confidence in his eyes. After all, Zhang Chen was merely an ordinary ant. How could he break through his protective superpower?
However, the next moment, Zhang Chen’s sword pierced through the golden gauze like paper and stopped at Zhang Xiaohua’s throat.
He did not harm Zhang Xiaohua further. For him, climbing higher and obtaining a higher-level Qi Cultivation Technique was most important. Zhang Xiaohua was not worth ruining his grand plans.
"Crown Prince, I concede. Thank you for going easy on me; otherwise, I fear I could not have won! The Crown Prince’s kindness, I won’t forget." Zhang Chen smiled, withdrew his sword, and looked at Zhang Xiaohua, a golden light swirling deep within his pupils. He could clearly see that as he defeated Zhang Xiaohua, a mysterious aura of fortune flowed from Zhang Xiaohua to him.
That was the fortune belonging to the position of the Star God!
Zhang Xiaohua looked at his broken superpower and then at Zhang Chen’s disdainful smile. His mind went blank, his eyes filled with confusion: "What happened? Where’s my protective divine technique? How did it get pierced so easily, giving me no time to react?"
Not only Zhang Xiaohua was bewildered, but so were the elders, disciples, and onlookers. Their eyes were filled with disbelief as they gazed at the stage.
"Zhang Chen, how dare you draw your sword against the Crown Prince, admit defeat and apologize at once!"
While Zhang Xiaohua was in a daze, Liu Feng shouted angrily, storming onto the stage, glaring at Zhang Chen with suppressed fury.
At the moment Zhang Xiaohua was defeated, Liu Feng felt as if the sky had fallen, all his carefully laid plans were disrupted, leaving him utterly flustered.
How should this end?
He had promised Gu Mingyue and Zhang Xiaohua, promised Prince Pingbian’s Mansion, that he would push Zhang Xiaohua into that position, making him a candidate for the Star God. Everything had been going smoothly until Li Donglai and Wu Ming’Er betrayed him, throwing everything out of control.
Zhang Chen heard Liu Feng’s words but refused to bow and concede. This was his chance to climb higher, to quickly obtain a higher-level Qi Cultivation Technique. How could he let it slip?
"Observatory Master, your words are amiss. What kind of person is the Crown Prince? He clearly let me win earlier. Since I have emerged victorious now, why would the Crown Prince blame me? The Crown Prince is magnanimous, not one who cannot accept defeat. Your words place the Crown Prince in a bad light, suggesting that he cannot accept a loss. What would the disciples of the Daoist Temple think? I cannot do something that tarnishes the Crown Prince’s reputation." Zhang Chen spoke with righteous indignation, his words standing on the moral high ground, filled with integrity and exuded an air of magnanimity.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua came back to his senses, his face flushing with anger but unable to retort. Liu Feng, next to him, was also speechless, glaring at Zhang Chen, at a loss for a comeback.
He couldn’t fathom how a mere boy from a poor family dared to defy his words. Who gave him such courage?
In his eyes, Zhang Chen was like an ant he could crush with ease. How dare he challenge his will?
Everything has spiraled out of control!
Yet, regardless of what was said, Zhang Xiaohua attaining first place and becoming a candidate for the Star God was part of a predetermined exchange of interests, not to be compromised.
But there was still a chance to make amends. If Zhang Chen would just bow and apologize, the fortune could be reclaimed.
"Zhang Chen, I don’t want to hear your words. You’ve disrespected the Crown Prince, wielded a weapon against him. The Crown Prince is merciful, forgiving your misdemeanors, yet you do not kneel to express your gratitude? The Crown Prince is broad-minded; how can you be so ungrateful?" Liu Feng glared at Zhang Chen, intent on forcing him to bow down.
Zhang Chen smiled lightly at this: "Observatory Master, your words are wrong. Since it’s a competition among fellow disciples, after stepping onto the stage, one relies solely on their skills without constraints. If we have to hold back due to his stature as Crown Prince, suppress each other through ranks, then why even compete? You might as well just give him the first prize directly. What are we even competing for?"
Zhang Chen’s voice was filled with sarcasm: "Why not strip me of my first-place title and announce the Crown Prince as the winner right now?"
"Zhang Chen! Do you have any idea who you’re talking to? Who do you think you’re addressing?" Liu Feng’s eyes were locked on Zhang Chen, shaking with anger, wishing he could slap Zhang Chen to death right then and there.
If not for his own compassion that saved Zhang Chen back then, he would have long turned into dust. Yet here he was, daring to speak to him like this?
Daring to defy his will?
Boundless rage filled his heart, making him wish he could immediately strike Zhang Chen dead.
At this moment, the elders and disciples below the stage whispered among themselves. Many were not disciples of Huangli Temple and were outside Liu Feng’s control. Witnessing the scene, someone spoke up, "Liu Feng, you’re being unreasonable. Since it’s a competition, rank doesn’t matter. Why are you forcing Zhang Chen to admit defeat? Have you considered the Crown Prince’s feelings? Do you think the Crown Prince can’t accept a loss?"
"Exactly, how magnanimous is the Crown Prince, not someone who can’t accept a loss. Don’t disgrace Prince Pingbian’s Mansion and the Crown Prince." Another Daoist Temple elder spoke mockingly, unclear if the mockery was aimed at Liu Feng or directly at Zhang Xiaohua and Prince Pingbian’s Mansion.
"That’s right, such behavior is unacceptable. If this news spreads, it would seem like the Crown Prince cannot accept a loss, tarnishing his face."
"The Crown Prince’s lifelong reputation, how could it be ruined in your hands?"
"Indeed, if he can’t afford to lose a simple duel, how would the Northern Land people regard the Crown Prince?"
"You are the one defaming the Crown Prince’s name."
"By your logic, we might as well stop competing and just award the first prize to the Crown Prince directly."
...