Chapter 129: Wang Yulin: Impossible, This Is Impossible!
Taixu Valley—this was the entrance to the Taixu Secret Realm.
The secret realm had yet to open, so the area remained an ordinary valley. As such, the Ten Holy Lands had agreed to set the tournament platform for the loose cultivator quota right here.
The rules were simple: win ten consecutive matches to earn a spot in the Taixu Secret Realm.
Ten slots would be awarded each day, with a total of one hundred over ten days. Each person had only one chance—one loss meant elimination.
The scattered cultivators had no objections. After all, if one couldn't even stand above the rest, what right did they have to compete with the geniuses of the Holy Lands for resources?
Chu Feng's group descended gracefully on their flying artifacts, landing atop the platform reserved for Wendao Academy.
The moment they landed, countless gazes turned their way. Whispers quickly rippled through the crowd.
"Which institute of Wendao Academy are they from?"
"Probably the Miscellaneous Dao Institute. I once caught a glimpse of Xiao Chen in Wendao City."
"So that means both the top true disciple and the first place winner of the internal competition are here?"
"…"
In the crowd, Wang Yulin stared blankly at Wang Baole standing atop the viewing platform. Her expression twisted in disbelief as she muttered, "How could that guy Wang Baole be qualified to represent Wendao Academy at such an important event?"
Her voice had just fallen when everyone around her turned to look at her with strange expressions.
A female cultivator, annoyed but amused by her beauty, sneered, "Where did this country bumpkin come from? Daring to question Senior Brother Wang of Wendao Academy, who placed third in the outer courtyard competition? She must be tired of living."
"Amitābha."
A young monk from the Monastery of Reflection said, "Senior Brother Wang is not just some third-place outer disciple. I heard from fellow Wendao disciples that their cohort had three 'first place' rankings.
The nominal first, the actual first, and the equal first. Senior Brother Wang falls into that 'equal first' category."
A cultivator from the Great Yu Dynasty chimed in, "Little monk, stop with the riddles. Let me explain. Senior Brother Wang once fought your Monastery of Reflection's future Buddha—ended in a draw, both severely injured. In the end, it was Senior Brother Liu who benefited.
Your monks have always held a grudge, claiming that if Wu Ming and Liu Senior Brother had fought properly, Wu Ming would've won. But all of you seem to forget—though Wang Senior Brother lost half a move to Wu Ming on the platform, he still participated in the third match later that afternoon.
Your Wu Ming had to recuperate for several days afterward. According to many in Wendao Academy, Wang Senior Brother is the true first place."
The monk's face turned red with anger. "Nonsense! Keep talking and I'll beat you up!"
"Heh, you think I'm afraid of you?" the Great Yu cultivator scoffed.
Their dispute didn't affect the spectators around them.
But after hearing all of that, Wang Yulin trembled all over and collapsed to the side.
Fortunately, Sima Yan reacted quickly and caught her, asking with concern, "Yulin, are you alright?"
Wang Yulin's expression was unhinged. She mumbled again and again, "Impossible… This is impossible… This can't be real!"
Then she suddenly leapt up and fled the scene like a panicked animal.
Sima Yan silently watched her retreating figure. She knew all too well how much her friend had despised her fiancé Wang Baole. Now that Wang Baole had completely turned his life around, it was only natural that Wang Yulin couldn't accept it.
She turned to look at Wang Baole on the high platform—radiant and brimming with confidence—her heart filled with a mix of emotions.
Meanwhile, Sima Rui felt a cold sweat run down his back. He never expected Wang Baole to be third place in Wendao Academy's outer courtyard competition.
With a status like that, why didn't he reveal it earlier?
Wasn't he just setting me up to die?!
Wang Baole stood quietly on the high platform, unaware of anything unusual. He simply waited patiently for the loose cultivators in the valley to step forward.
Chu Feng, meanwhile, sat reclining in his chair with his eyes closed, resting.
Suddenly, he sensed several threads of divine sense sweeping in their direction.
His eyes opened at once, and he glanced toward the source.
What met his gaze was the banner of the Dayan Holy Land. Looking at the cultivators seated beneath it, Chu Feng's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
On the Dayan Holy Land's viewing platform, the head of the Dark Hall, seated in the central seat, met Chu Feng's gaze. Upon seeing Chu Feng's smile, he returned it with a forced one of his own.
After that brief exchange of looks, Chu Feng once again closed his eyes, as though nothing had ever happened.
'Dayan Holy Land, let's see what kind of surprise you bring for Qin Qin this time.'
The head of the Dark Hall turned to a disciple beside him and asked, "That one is the head of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute?"
"Yes, Head Elder. That's Chu Feng, the head of Wendao Academy's institute. I heard he's just an ordinary mortal who got lucky and happened to raise four great prodigies."
The disciple spoke with a hint of disdain. In his eyes, a mere mortal had no right to stand on equal footing with the exalted cultivators of a Holy Land.
"Hmph!"
The Dark Hall's head elder snorted coldly. "Fools, all of you. You believe that kind of story meant for children? How could a mere mortal help Qin Qin awaken her double pupils? That Chu Feng is definitely not ordinary. Investigate him. Within three days, I want everything there is to know about him."
"Yes, sir!"
The disciple didn't understand why the head was so furious. Wasn't it common knowledge that Chu Feng of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute was just a mortal?
Meanwhile, the battle for the loose cultivator slots had officially begun, and everyone's attention shifted to the valley below.
By evening, the ten available spots for the first day had been decided.
"Master, it's over," Xiao Chen whispered when he noticed Chu Feng still resting.
Chu Feng opened his eyes, glanced at the sunset on the horizon, and muttered, "It's finally over. Let's head back to camp."
With that, the group mounted their artifacts and flew off.
Later that night, in the Dayan Holy Land's camp—
The head of the Dark Hall gathered all the elders who had accompanied them on this expedition.
"Everyone, it's now confirmed that Qin Qin will be participating in the Taixu Secret Realm trial. In my opinion, we should issue a direct order to our disciples: if they find her alone during the trial, they are to kill her at all costs. We must crush this threat in the cradle."
An elder stepped forward and said, "Head Elder Zhong speaks wisely. If we can't have her, no other Holy Land should either. But Qin Qin is one of Wendao Academy's top prodigies. If we want our disciples to act, we'll need to offer some real incentive."
The Dark Hall's head nodded thoughtfully. "Pass on my command—whoever kills Qin Qin will receive one major merit. All who participate will receive one minor merit."
Hearing this, no one objected. They all said in unison, "Head Elder Zhong is wise."
Seeing everyone comply, the Dark Hall's head sneered inwardly.
'Qin Qin… let's see where you think you can run this time.'
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