"In the later Qi Circulation Realm matches, I lost everything again."
Zheng Fei said, his expression quickly turning resentful:
"It's been a hundred years, a full century. How could such an outer court champion possibly emerge?"
The reason Zheng Fei lost all his spirit stones was now quite obvious.
He never expected Xu Aotian to win.
"Nine out of ten gambles end in loss. Whether it's for cultivation purposes or protecting your own wallet, it's best to avoid such activities."
Chen Yan advised.
"But, Senior Brother Chen,"
Li Xiuxiu said, her expression equally serious:
"What question?"
Chen Yan asked.
"Did you really cheat in the outer court competition?"
Li Xiuxiu inquired.
Zheng Fei beside her also fell silent, staring intently at Chen Yan's eyes, wanting to know the answer to this question.
When the outer sect disciples below the arena saw Chen Yan kill Qi Yadong with just one punch, their initial reaction was certainly panic, because no one truly wanted fatalities in the outer court competition.
But afterwards, a peculiar feeling arose in their hearts.
Chen Yan was an outer sect disciple.
Yet he defeated an inner disciple, and not just any ordinary inner disciple—he defeated Qi Yadong, a chief disciple candidate of Kongyuan Mountain, the favored disciple of Enforcement Hall Elder Song Wencheng.
Since the founding of Kongshan Sect, the outer court had always been considered inferior to the inner court's Three Mountains and Four Peaks.
Outer sect disciples were treated as lower class within the sect.
They received fewer cultivation resources, held lower status, and were frequently discriminated against by inner disciples.
Just like what happened earlier with Qian Xun.
Therefore, when Chen Yan struck down Qi Yadong with one punch, many outer sect disciples felt as if something had been released within them.
Although Elder Lin Qifeng belonged to Kongyuan Mountain, and although Chen Yan could be considered half a Kongyuan Mountain disciple.
When he killed Qi Yadong with that single punch, he represented the outer court.
"Whether I cheated or not—does that really matter?"
Chen Yan said:
"Senior Brother Qi shouldn't have died in the first place."
Chen Yan wasn't lying. Although Song Wencheng had conflicts with his master and wanted to embarrass him, Qi Yadong had no reason whatsoever to be killed.
He didn't know Qi Yadong well, didn't understand his personality or how he conducted himself.
He simply couldn't control his strength properly, resulting in consequences nobody wanted to see.
"Crocodile tears, fake sympathy."
Qian Xun sneered from the side.
"Slap!"
The sound of a slap echoed again, and Qian Xun's other cheek rapidly swelled and reddened.
He was stunned for a moment, then looked toward Lu Li's direction:
"Senior Lu!"
"I didn't have time to stop it."
Lu Li said slowly:
"Don't cause trouble."
...
Taiyun City, Cloud Prince Manor.
This was an exceptionally majestic estate, covering at least three hundred mu of land.
The main gate stood twenty feet high, with a black plaque adorned with golden patterns bearing the three flamboyantly carved characters "Cloud Prince Manor."
Although the Cloud Prince Manor appeared as calm as a lake's surface, the servants inside had actually been bustling with activity for quite some time.
They had all received news that later today, immortal masters from Kongshan Sect would visit to discuss matters concerning the princess.
Reportedly, the leader among the visiting Kongshan Sect immortal masters was a Martial Spring Realm expert!
Although his cultivation realm was two major realms lower than that Star Heaven Sect Taoist priest who recently wanted to take the princess as his disciple, a Martial Spring Realm cultivator was still someone who could make the entire Taiyun City tremble with just a breath.
Moreover, accompanying this Martial Spring Realm expert were four Qi Circulation Realm cultivators.
Taiyun City had seven major immortal cultivation families.
Among these seven, the most powerful family was the Huang Family, and the reason for their dominance was that the Huang Family currently had three Qi Circulation Realm cultivators.
In the mortal world, anyone with cultivation reaching mid Qi Circulation Realm or above could be considered a regional overlord.
But forget the Huang Family—even if all seven great families combined... no, even if all immortal forces throughout the entire Qingque Kingdom were gathered, they probably couldn't compare to a single hair of Kongshan Sect.
Within the Cloud Prince Manor's courtyard.
A sixteen-year-old girl sat before a stone stool in the courtyard, with a maidservant standing behind her.
"In the future, does Yue'er wish to marry some scholarly court official, or perhaps a dashing and heroic general?"
She suddenly remembered how, not long ago during a night, her mother had smiled kindly at her and asked this question.
At that time, Qin Yue had been momentarily stunned, unsure how to answer because she had never considered this question before.
As the emperor's condition worsened, the entire Qingque Kingdom had become increasingly unstable.
The imperial physicians said the Emperor likely wouldn't survive the year.
But the Emperor only had two sons—one six years old, the other two years old.
If the Emperor passed away, the Cloud Prince Manor's future would also become uncertain.
So, an arranged marriage then?
During such approaching turbulent times, marriage alliances could help stabilize each other's families.
"I'll listen to whatever Mother decides."
Qin Yue had simply replied calmly to her mother.
This was her destiny.
Qin Yue believed this.
However, everything changed when that ethereal, white-haired yet youthful-looking old Taoist priest visited.
"Princess, would you be willing to return to Star Heaven Sect with me and become my personal disciple?"
The old Taoist had asked.
Her immortal cultivation aptitude seemed exceptionally outstanding.
So outstanding that this Passable God Realm expert from Star Heaven Sect wanted to take her as his personal disciple.
Qin Yue had no concept of what Passable God Realm meant.
She only knew that in Taiyun City, aside from the Prince Manor, the most powerful person was the Huang Family in the eastern part of the city.
The Huang Family head, Huang Renqiu, was at Qi Circulation Realm.
He could be considered immensely powerful, to the extent that even her father had to show him some respect.
But this Star Heaven Sect offering elder told her that with just a gentle breath from him, if Huang Renqiu didn't have his soul scattered and body vanished, he would take Huang Renqiu's surname.
Qin Yue was tempted.
Because compared to becoming a tool for political marriage, she preferred to become an immortal who could reduce the domineering Huang Renqiu of Taiyun City to dust with just a breath.
But her father stopped her.
"This matter is significant. I hope the elder can give my daughter and me some time to consider and discuss it."
That's what her father told the Star Heaven Sect offering elder.
The old Taoist didn't say anything, just smiled and shook his head at her:
"Princess, it seems you and our Star Heaven Sect are destined to meet but not destined to be together."
Then he vanished from the Prince Manor.
Her father preferred her to join Kongshan Sect.
That Star Heaven Sect offering elder seemed to know she would join Kongshan Sect.
Because before disappearing, he left her a message.
He said that if she joined Kongshan Sect in the future, she must be careful of one person.
That person's name was—