Outside the secret realm, atop the high platform.
The atmosphere had originally turned subtle, tinged with a hint of mockery due to Elder Mu’s praises of "benevolence" and "returning kindness for malice."
Liu Changhe’s face was ashen, yet he could not find a proper outlet for his frustration, forced to suppress his rising fury.
The other sect elders who were at odds with the Five Elements Dao Sect did not speak again, but the faint, knowing smiles on their faces spoke volumes.
However, before the echoes of those praises had even died down, the shocking reversal within the light screen struck like a silent slap, landing squarely on his face.
Every elder, including those from the Wuji Sect and the Sword Heart Sect who had just been speaking with dripping sarcasm, as well as all the spectators, felt their expressions freeze instantly.
Mocking smiles stiffened on their lips; the leisurely air of watching a play vanished without a trace, replaced by slack-jawed disbelief. It was the kind of bewilderment one felt when a sudden turn of events practically snapped their spine.
The corners of Elder Mu’s mouth, which had been curved in a derisive smirk, twitched. He subconsciously opened his mouth as if to say something, but found his throat constricted, unable to utter a single word.
He felt that his earlier commentary about "returning kindness for malice" sounded like nothing more than a colossal joke now.
How was this returning kindness for malice? This was clearly a precision strike to finish a wounded ally, adding insult to injury, and a form of accidental poisoning!
It was as if he feared the other party wasn't dying fast enough!
The other elders who had been subtly or overtly joining in the mockery now looked at each other with colorful expressions. They wanted to laugh but felt the occasion was inappropriate; they wanted to say something but found themselves at a loss for words. They could only awkwardly avert their gazes, pretending to cough or looking down to smooth their robes to hide the turmoil in their hearts.
The shock on Liu Changhe’s face had also been replaced by a subtle, unreadable expression.
Even the elder from the Water Moon Sect who had just praised the boy wished he could slap himself twice. What had he praised him for? A rare temperament? Looking at it now, the boy was clearly... simple-minded to the extreme!
And it was a dangerously lethal kind of simple-mindedness.
Some even began to harbor malicious speculations: Liu Qingyang had always been close to those from the Five Elements Dao Sect, and he particularly seemed to clash with Duan Xianxing. Could he be intentionally pretending to help while seizing the chance to strike a hidden blow?
Though this thought wasn't voiced, it represented the inner voice of many present.
The "help" Liu Qingyang provided was far too effective—so effective that one couldn't help but doubt his motives.
Yet, looking at his terrified state as he scrambled to hide, looking like his soul had left his body, it really didn't seem like an act...
Even Bu Qingwei, who had been sitting calmly in the main seat enjoying the show, couldn't help but hide his face behind his sleeve. His shoulders shook violently as he desperately tried to suppress the urge to burst into a raucous laughter.
He had originally thought the Liu family kid was a simple and kind boy, but he turned out to be an absolute savage in disguise!
This was a massive source of amusement. A half-hour experience of super itchy powder... that poor fellow from the Five Elements Dao Sect was likely going to be left with psychological scars for life.
Bu Qingwei was overjoyed, feeling that this team battle was truly full of surprises. This Liu Qingyang was practically his lucky star, always providing unexpected entertainment.
As for the sect elders who were usually at odds with the Five Elements Dao Sect and the Water Moon Sect, they had completely lost the heart to mock. All that remained was a profound sense of speechlessness and a trace of sympathy.
Sympathy for Liu Changhe and Duan Xianxing.
This Liu Qingyang was truly... a talent!
Inside the secret realm, Liu Qingyang was still shivering behind Jiang Yifan and Ling Suxin, muttering "Amitabha" and various prayers. He had no idea that he had become famous outside and had successfully plunged his father into unprecedented embarrassment.
As for the Mingguang Sect disciples who had been eliminated, although they were still itching intensely, their resentment toward the Five Elements Dao Sect had completely vanished.
After all, with such a miserable example right before their eyes, the itch they felt seemed like nothing in comparison.
Time passed, minute by minute, amid Duan Xianxing’s agonizing torment and Liu Qingyang’s trembling.
Although Li Nanzhu had estimated it would take half an hour, perhaps because of Duan Xianxing’s unique physique, the catalyst effect of the pill, or his own tenacious willpower, the sensation changed.
About three quarters of an hour later, the intense itching that felt like maggots in his bones finally began to recede like a ebbing tide.
When the last trace of the itch vanished, Duan Xianxing looked as if he had just been fished out of a river. He was drenched in cold sweat and collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath with hollow eyes, as if his very soul had been drained.
However, this exhaustion lasted only a short moment.
After the initial void of surviving the ordeal, a towering rage followed immediately after!
The target of this rage was unmistakably clear.
"LIU—QING—YANG—!!!"
A hoarse roar, carrying a heart-stopping killing intent, erupted from Duan Xianxing’s throat.
He lunged up from the ground. Though his footsteps were still a bit unsteady, his gaze was locked dead on Liu Qingyang, who was peeking out from behind Ling Suxin with a guilty conscience!
"Get over here!" Duan Xianxing roared, casting aside all concern for his image as he sprinted toward Liu Qingyang!
"Oh my god! Duan Xianxing, I really didn't do it on purpose! Heaven be my witness! I swear!" Liu Qingyang’s soul nearly fled his body in fear as he turned and ran. He wouldn't dare let a furious Duan Xianxing catch him; that would mean certain death!
"If I don't skin you alive today, my name isn't Duan!"
"Li Nanzhu, save me! Someone, help!"
Jiang Yifan and the others watched this chaotic scene and shook their heads helplessly.
The concealment array set up by Feng Qingping rippled slightly as the two nearly crashed through it. Ling Suxin silently moved a few steps away to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
Looking at Duan Xianxing’s swollen face, Li Nanzhu wanted to laugh but didn't dare. She suppressed it and quickly changed the subject. "Let's check our harvest from this battle first."
The group avoided the chasing duo and began to count their spoils.
Soon, the results were in.
"We eliminated five members of the Mingguang Sect, including two at the Golden Core stage and three at the Foundation Establishment stage," Zhu Yinxi reported in a flat tone as he counted the captured jade slips. "Total points earned... 50."
"50 points?" Li Nanzhu blinked, a bit incredulous. "Five monks, and only 50 points? That’s only 10 points per person on average? They’re way too poor!"
While running until he was out of breath, Liu Qingyang didn't forget to chime in, "Exactly! Such paupers! All that effort... for nothing!"
Hearing this, Duan Xianxing grew even more enraged and chased him harder. "You still dare to speak! If not for your blind meddling, we wouldn't have lost so much!"
Jiang Yifan frowned slightly, musing, "It is indeed quite low. Logically, the Mingguang Sect team isn't weak, and Huineng is at the peak of the Golden Core stage. They shouldn't have so few points."
Feng Qingping analyzed, "There are two possibilities. One is that they had poor luck and didn't find many flags, or they encountered another strong team and lost a portion of their points. Second... they might have transferred the important flags and the bulk of their points to other fellow disciples through some method. For instance, to the Huineng who escaped earlier, or to their other teams in different areas of the secret realm."
Ling Suxin nodded in agreement. "Junior Sister Feng makes a good point. In team battles, it's a common strategy to concentrate resources on core experts or ensure an advantage for a specific portion of the team. Huineng’s hesitation-free abandonment of his peers might be related to this."
Li Nanzhu sighed, her small face slumping. "Sigh, after all that work and a hard-fought battle, and nearly losing Senior Brother Seven in the process, we only made 50 points... It's not even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth! Those bald donkeys are way too stingy!"
Though disappointed, everyone understood that this was the nature of team battles; not every fight yielded a rich harvest. Being able to eliminate a potential threat and have everyone enter the next phase safely was already a good result.
Except, of course, for Duan Xianxing, whose spirit and appearance had both suffered a devastating blow.
Rate on N.U.
