An incredibly soft, yet distinct, clicking of a tongue suddenly echoed from an empty space not a few dozen steps from Yue Rong.

The sound wasn’t loud, but it struck Yue Rong’s heart like a clap of thunder.

He whipped his head around, his bronze-colored pupils instantly shrinking to pinpricks as he stared in disbelief at the source of the sound.

There was clearly nothing there.

The next moment, a bizarre transformation took place!

In that empty patch of air, countless currents of wind converged and took form.

A figure, without any warning, materialized with perfect clarity!

He wore simple, dignified robes. His posture was ramrod straight. His face was serene, and he even wore a faint... smile.

With his hands tucked into his sleeves, Qi Yun smiled at Yue Rong.

His relaxed and effortless appearance was the most glaring contrast to Yue Rong’s current tragic state—bathed in blood, leaning on his saber, and on the verge of collapse.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. It’s a trick the Holy Sect has used to death, but you actually managed to pull it off today."

After his initial surprise, Yue Rong’s expression became strangely composed.

"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. But behind the oriole, there might just be a boy with a slingshot."

"Winning by a trick like this... it’s not exactly a glorious victory." Yue Rong’s grace in defeat impressed Qi Yun, who couldn’t help but hold the prodigy—one who had dominated all the other Outer Mansion Disciples—in higher regard.

Defeated but not broken, he still had his dignity.

"That’s not right."

Waving a hand, Yue Rong propped himself up and sat down cross-legged on the ground, exhaling a breath of Muddy Qi:

"For us of the Holy Sect, it is intent that matters, not action."

"A win is a win. Who cares if it was glorious or not?"

As he spoke, he reached out, unfastened the nine jingling Crystal Keys from his waist—stained with his own fresh blood—and tossed them at Qi Yun’s feet without a second glance.

The Crystal Keys landed with a crisp clatter, shimmering brightly.

"This year’s Champion Scholar is you." Yue Rong’s voice was hoarse, yet it held the clean finality of the defeated.

Gazing at the nine shimmering Crystal Keys at his feet, a sharp glint flashed in Qi Yun’s eyes, and he instinctively moved to bend down and pick them up.

But just as he began to move, he stopped, returning to his original posture.

"What, you don’t want them?"

Qi Yun’s strange behavior made Yue Rong look at him with a trace of confusion. ’Did this person lie in wait for so long for something other than the Crystal Keys?’

Shaking his head, Qi Yun wore a sincere expression:

"I have to wait a little longer."

"Wait for what?"

"For you to die."

"..."

After a moment of silence, a deep, resonant laugh rumbled from Yue Rong’s throat:

"HAHAHA! Interesting! You truly are a natural-born scion of the Holy Sect!"

Though it was said in a complimentary tone, the meaning of the words made Qi Yun’s expression turn a little strange.

’He’s praising me... right?’

"Fine. The winner becomes king, the loser a bandit. I know when I’m beaten. I’ve learned a valuable lesson today." After giving Qi Yun a fist-and-palm salute, Yue Rong straightened his back and half-closed his eyes. The next second, his body abruptly shattered, scattering into countless Black Feathers.

Standing quietly in place, Qi Yun stared at the Black Feathers covering the ground. After confirming there was no reaction from them, he silently took out a stack of Evil-Exorcizing Talismans from his robes.

"Better safe than sorry..." he muttered to himself, his tone filled with the caution of a seasoned veteran.

He activated the Talismans, and a continuous, vast Dharma Light washed over the nine Crystal Keys, grinding away any tiny, hidden traps left on them.

Only after washing the Crystal Keys inside and out, back and front, three times with the Evil-Exorcizing Talismans did Qi Yun finally pick them up.

And with that!

The nine Crystal Keys were all in Qi Yun’s hands!

BOOM—

The instant the nine Crystal Keys were in his grasp, a pillar of light a hundred times brighter and more brilliant than before erupted from the ground, soaring into the heavens.

The vast radiance illuminated every direction, nearly lighting up the entire Mirage Thousand Faces Realm!

Under the glow of this irresistible light, the surrounding labyrinth of indestructible and ever-changing crystal walls began to rapidly melt and disintegrate like ice and snow under the sun.

The entire scene before his eyes rapidly faded and flattened.

In just a few breaths, the vast, intricate labyrinth with its countless twists and turns visibly transformed into a wide, empty, and boundless wasteland.

And at the far end of this plain stood a White Jade Gate that seemed to reach straight to the heavens.

Gazing at the gate at the edge of his vision, Qi Yun’s expression was calm. He tightened his grip on the nine Crystal Keys, flicked his sleeve, and strode towards it.

With each step he took, the ground beneath his feet seemed to shrink, sending him soaring far into the distance.

What seemed to be a distance of a hundred li rapidly magnified before him with each step he took. After nine steps, he was already standing firmly beneath the massive gate that was like a gateway to heaven.

Standing beneath this gate that resembled a gateway to heaven, Qi Yun lifted his head slightly.

Hmm?

A peculiar look appeared in his eyes. He had the vague feeling of a faint, almost nonexistent gaze falling upon him.

The feeling came as quickly as it went.

It made Qi Yun wonder if he had just imagined it.

In that brief moment of distraction, a suction force surged from the top of the great gate, pulling the nine Crystal Keys from his hand.

KRA-CRACK—BOOM—

The moment the Crystal Keys merged with the gate, the entire structure began to slowly swing open amidst a deafening roar.

’Is it finally time to reap the rewards?’

A slight smile played on his lips as Qi Yun began to imagine what kind of reward he would receive for being the Champion Scholar.

The next second, he took a large stride and stepped through the gateway.

SWISH—

The brilliant light faded, and an irresistible arm suddenly rested on Qi Yun’s shoulder.

"All of you, look closely."

"This is this year’s Champion Scholar."

Ling Master’s voice echoed across the vast plaza of Bixue Hall, reaching the ears of everyone present.

In an instant.

All eyes on him were incredibly complex—some curious, some scrutinizing, some jealous, but most were undisguised, "friendly" gazes that seemed to wish they could swallow him whole.

And these people were, almost without exception, the poor souls he had ambushed and eliminated while lying in wait.

This sudden turn of events caught Qi Yun completely off guard. He tried to struggle free from Ling Master’s arm.

But how could he possibly shake off a Foundation Establishment Great Demon?

"Master, what is the meaning of this..." Qi Yun frowned in confusion.

"Don’t blame me. You screwed over Black Mountain Master’s direct heir and stole his title of Champion Scholar."

"This is a lesson from the old master himself."

"You like to hide in the shadows, so he’s decided to expose you to everyone’s gaze."

"Just accept your bad luck, kid."

Ling Master’s indifferent voice reached Qi Yun’s ears.

’I never thought that after all my careful planning, this would be the outcome. Black Mountain Master is trying to roast me over a fire!’

He was trying to make him a thorn in the side of every Outer Mansion Disciple!

Even for someone as generally thick-skinned as Qi Yun...

...a flame of indignation couldn’t help but ignite in his heart.

Especially when he saw Yue Rong below the stage, his expression nonchalant, a glaring, mocking light shining in his bronze eyes.

’On what grounds?’

’Does Black Mountain Master think the Outer Mansion is his private residence?!’

Unable to suppress the rage in his heart, Qi Yun opened his mouth to furiously denounce this targeted persecution!

But Ling Master’s right hand on his shoulder secretly exerted its strength. A wave of cold, tyrannical Demon Power froze his vocal cords, rendering him speechless.

"Calm down. A little impatience can ruin great plans."

"You’re just a mere Outer Mansion Disciple, not even an Inner Mansion True Cultivator. You think you can seek justice from a Foundation Establishment Master?"

Ling Master’s words were like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing Qi Yun’s impulsive anger.

’That’s right. He was only in the Qi Refining Realm. Even if he could poke a hole in the heavens, how could he possibly shake a Foundation Establishment Master?’

"Thank you, Master. Why did you help me?" Taking a deep breath to force himself to calm down, Qi Yun thanked the Ling Master beside him. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Releasing the arm on Qi Yun’s shoulder, Ling Master’s expression remained as cold and indifferent as ice:

"What are you talking about? This one does not understand."

His expression flickered. Gazing at the stern-faced Ling Master beside him, Qi Yun lowered his eyes and slowly opened his right palm.

There, in the center of his palm, lay a cold, slender Black Feather, faintly glowing, that had appeared there at some unknown time.

...