THE REAL PROTEGE-Chapter 504: RIVAL SECTS CHEATING OPENLY

Iron Fang Clan's Assault

The Iron Fang warriors charged, their Core Artifact — a jagged spear — glowing with ancestral qi.

The Iron Fang Clan's Body cultivators charged forward, their heavy frames slamming into the Li Clan's barrier. The impact rattled Four Eyes' shield, nearly knocking him off-balance, but he gritted his teeth and reinforced his grip.

Suddenly, one Iron Fang warrior broke from the ranks, whirling a steel chain before launching it with force. The chain cracked through Nicu's wall of flame, sparks flying as it struck the shielded perimeter.

As the ground quaked from the Iron Fang assault, Fatty felt the platform beneath him buckle. He dropped to one knee, driving his qi downward to keep the platform from collapsing.

The Li Clan held, but the shield flickered, uncertainty and dread settling over the defenders.

Crimson Lotus Sect's Sabotage

Crimson Lotus illusionists, hidden in the shadows, began weaving deceptive images across the battlefield. Their illusions painted false Jade Dragon Emblems at different points around the Li Clan's position, forcing defenders to split their attention.

Ren's Golden Needle Sutra pierced through illusions, unraveling false emblems.

Shun's flames roared, burning away phantom petals. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But amid the confusion, one illusion slipped past the defenders. The phantom emblem darted toward the actual artifact, nearly making contact before Four Eyes, reacting in an instant, flared the shield and vaporized the threat.

The crowd gasped — Li Clan defenders tensed, realizing how narrowly they had avoided catastrophe.

Moonshade Pavilion's Infiltration

A formation of Moonshade mystics moved onto the field, each holding a polished mirror that caught and reflected the chaos around them as they advanced methodically toward the Li Clan's defenses.

With a flick of their wrists, the mystics locked eyes with Reginald, launching a psychic assault. Reginald fought to steady his Nine Yin Manual, but frost raced over his skin as his qi leaked away, momentarily weakening the shield.

Wushing, eyes bright, retaliated with bursts of searing light. The rays fractured Moonshade illusions, but dark tendrils crept at the edge of Wushing's vision, gnawing at his mental defenses.

Just as the mystics pressed their advantage, Mushu stepped forward. He invoked the Infernal Sovereign Sutra, sending coiling flames hurtling at the invaders, forcing them back with scorching force.

The Li Clan's defense held, but cracks appeared in their formation, fear glimmering in each defender's eyes.

Hyun Clan's Precision Strike

The Hyun Clan's hawk-eyed warriors lined up, each selecting a target. With precise movements, they launched spears and loosed arrows together, all aimed at the Jade Dragon Emblem at the Li Clan's center.

Ailun's Iron Oath Sentinel intercepted, his blade ringing against steel.

Goldie's Heavenly Piercing Sword Art cut arrows mid-flight, divine clarity shining.

Despite the defenders' efforts, one spear sliced through the chaos and struck the Jade Dragon Emblem, leaving a bright scar across the artifact's jade surface.

The crowd erupted in murmurs, followed by a tense silence that spread across the Li Clan as they saw the scar on their Emblem.

Siege Outcome

The battlefield trembled as platforms collapsed and qi currents destabilized. The Li Clan's Jade Dragon Emblem still stood, scarred but unbroken, its defenders battered and breathless. Rival clans had pressed them to the brink — illusions, brute force, precision strikes — but the Li Clan endured, steeled by sorrow and pride.

Neutral spectators whispered:

"They bleed, they falter, but they endure. The Li Clan's resilience is unmatched."

Rival clans sneered:

"Their shield flickers. Their artifact is scarred. Next time, they will fall."

From the dais, Otako — Butler Oda, beneath the mask, raised his hand, silencing the crowd. His voice rang out, calm but commanding:

"The Siege is complete. The Li Clan stands. The competition continues."

Ling Li's thoughts burned beneath the mask:

"They conspire, they devour, they betray. Let them; we bleed, but we do not break. The Li Clan will not fall. The final phase awaits — the Devouring."

The Devouring Rite – Final Round: The Devouring

The arena convulsed. The last surviving clans stepped onto the shattered battlefield. Platforms cracked, qi storms raged. The Blood Seal pulsed at the center like a living heart, waiting to crown the victor.

The Li Clan stood scarred but unbroken—faces pale, robes torn, qi reserves drained. Across from them, rival clans sneered. Their eyes gleamed with malice, full of dark anticipation.

Cheating Rivals

The battle began with a roar.

Iron Fang Clan warriors surged forward, weapons coated with forbidden poison. The crowd gasped as Li Clan disciples staggered, coughing blood.

Crimson Lotus Sect illusionists conjured phantom blades that struck from impossible angles, bypassing defenses.

Moonshade Pavilion mystics unleashed soul strikes to cripple meridians — techniques outlawed by the Valley.

Hyun Clan archers loosed arrows inked with cursed sigils, each hit siphoning qi at an unnatural pace.

Spectators erupted in outrage, boos echoing across the Pavilion.

"They cheat openly!"

"Boooo!!!"

"Boooo!!!"

"Where are the judges?!"

"This is injustice!!!"

"Boooo!!!"

"You are bringing shame to the competition and to the Hidden Valley!"

"Get out of the competition!

"Boooo!!!"

The crowd continued to roar in anger.

Yet the judges averted their gaze, faces blank, silence resounding. Rival clans grinned, emboldened by immunity.

Otako's Dilemma

From the northern dais, Otako — Butler Oda, beneath the mask, stood abruptly, his aura radiating fury. His hand hovered above the ceremonial blade, fingers tightening as if on the verge of drawing it to intervene.

Then he saw it — Ling Li's subtle signal: she flicked her fingers, her jade-green eyes burning with calm fire.

She whispered through clenched teeth, her voice low but resolute:

"Not yet. Let them cheat. Let them conspire. They will all lose in one fell swoop."

Otako held still, rage curdled by her command. He settled in, mask glinting, his silence now honed as a weapon.

Li Clan's Desperation

The battlefield was chaos—qi storms tore through the air, weapons clashed, illusions twisted reality. Li Clan disciples fought valiantly, but each strike exposed rivals' cheats.

Shun's flames roared, his Phoenix Command Sutra igniting the arena in a blaze of rebirth. Yet the Iron Fang warriors had laced their blades with forbidden poisons. Each breath burned his lungs, black smoke curling from his mouth as he forced himself to keep fighting. His fire consumed one opponent, but his knees buckled under the toxins.

Four Eyes' shield shimmered, absorbing blow after blow. Crimson Lotus illusionists conjured phantom blades from impossible angles. His shield cracked, fissures spreading, but he bled shadows from his Silent Ink Dao, exposing the rivals' treachery.

Mushu's Infernal Sovereign Sutra blazed, flames coiling around him. Moonshade mystics unleashed cursed sigils that drained his qi. His aura dimmed, sweat pouring, but he roared, incinerating a homunculus born from stolen fire.

Ren's needles struck true: gold glints piercing the air. Illusions twisted every strike into empty voids, mocking her precision. She snarled, blood dripping from her fingertips. Forcing her needles through phantom petals, she persevered until a rival screamed, exposed in their deceit.