Chapter 21: The Unforeseen Victory and Its Aftermath

Bathed in an aura of grandeur, Lan Wu Xi exuded an unparalleled charm, captivating many noblewomen whose eyes sparkled with admiration. Indeed, Lan Wu Xi, illuminated by such radiance, perfectly embodied the image of a prince charming for these blossoming young women.

With a formidable wellspring of spiritual energy now bolstering him, a wild idea sparked in Lan Wu Xi’s mind for the very first time.

“You junior, cease your theatrics! Do you truly presume to defeat me, a mere Xuanlun realm cultivator?”

Even as Lan Wu Xi’s aura surged dramatically, Yun Tianqi’s apprehension deepened, and his intent to kill became overtly clear.

Following Yun Tianqi’s furious roar, the Unfettered Sword Art reached its peak power at this moment, arguably the most potent it had ever been under Yun Tianqi’s command.

A colossal energy storm began to engulf the venue, overturning every table with its furious gales. Dishes, wine glasses, and other implements shattered explosively. All those present, save for the cultivators, instinctively shielded their eyes against the swirling dust and debris.

“Only with your death will she relinquish her feelings; only then will I have my chance. Thus, you must perish here today!”

The phantom above Yun Tianqi’s head seemed to perceive something, as its hands gripped the colossal sword, and its figure moved with sudden force. The storm-rending power coalesced into a tangible sky-dragon, which, with a thunderous roar, lunged fiercely towards Lan Wu Xi, hinting at a world-shattering might.

“Stop it! Stop it! Yun Tianqi, I warn you, if he dies, I will never forgive you! My Huang family will pursue you relentlessly until death!”

Huang Yao Yue cried out, hoping to dissuade the already irrational Yun Tianqi. Alas, the die was cast, and Yun Tianqi was resolved to kill Lan Wu Xi that day.

“First Form…”

Confronted by this overwhelming torrent of power, Lan Wu Xi remained utterly still, his eyes tightly shut, seemingly muttering to himself.

‘Damn it, Yun Tianqi is truly serious now. My young mistress explicitly ordered me to protect that fellow. If I don’t act soon, it will truly be over.’

Wei Yuantian’s heart pounded in his chest as his spiritual energy surged violently, eager to rush forward and rescue Lan Wu Xi. After all, it was his young mistress’s direct command. Should any mishap befall Lan Wu Xi, given his mistress’s temperament, Wei Yuantian knew he would never escape accountability. In her fury, the entire Cloud Firmament Royal Family might even face ruin.

‘Wait… is something amiss with this fellow?’

Just as Wei Yuantian prepared to intercept what he perceived as a fatal blow for Lan Wu Xi, the subtle smile playing on the latter’s lips, coupled with a sudden shift in his aura, caused Wei Yuantian to halt his advance.

‘What is this guy doing? Has he given up? No, that can’t be right. Someone capable of understanding ‘spiritual resonance’ wouldn’t act like this. Could it be…’

As if to confirm everyone’s unspoken thoughts, just as the attack was poised to engulf and obliterate Lan Wu Xi, he abruptly opened his eyes. A surge of dark spiritual energy enveloped his body, forming a modest spiritual shield. Yet, compared to the overwhelming, beast-like assault, it seemed utterly insignificant.

“Judgment.”

A faint, ethereal whisper brushed past Huang Yao Yue, who stood closest to Lan Wu Xi. As Lan Wu Xi casually extended a finger, a black pillar of energy erupted, directly tearing through the furious assault. The spiritual energy rippling through the air was pulled and compressed by this dark force, ultimately being devoured until it vanished without a trace.

“What kind of move is that? I’ve never heard of such a technique! What exactly was that…”

Witnessing Yun Tianqi’s full-power assault shatter under Lan Wu Xi’s casual gesture, and with such apparent ease, left them stunned.

Yun Tianqi gnashed his teeth, his eyes burning with hatred, yet he was utterly helpless against the black pillar of energy. Ultimately, he was consumed by the attack, his blood splattering across the already crimson carpet, making its hue even more vivid and unsettling.

“How is this possible? He actually won!”

Xuan Liuli found themselves unable to suppress their profound astonishment. Lan Wu Xi’s unexpected attack had been utterly bizarre; even they couldn’t guarantee survival against such a strike. At best, their fate might be slightly better than Yun Tianqi’s, but they would still suffer severe, incapacitating injuries on the spot.

‘Who would have thought this fellow possessed such formidable strength? I, Wei Yuantian, truly misjudged him this time. Young mistress, it seems your discerning eye is quite sharp indeed~’

Knowing the victor had been decided, Wei Yuantian couldn’t help but regard Lan Wu Xi, who stood motionless and silent in the arena, with newfound respect. It seemed this fellow truly possessed extraordinary qualities. Could it be that his young mistress had…

‘Sigh~ After we return, I’ll have to warn those restless brats. They shouldn’t suffer a major setback that affects their cultivation state; that would be a tremendous loss.’

He then glanced towards the other side, still shrouded in smoke and dust. After briefly sweeping the area with his spiritual perception, his expression subtly shifted. ‘That Third Prince… he’s not dead?’

The abrupt conclusion of the battle was entirely unexpected, shattering everyone’s perception of the Cloud Firmament Royal Family. Was the Cloud Firmament Royal Family not invincible after all? It seemed they were gradually beginning their decline.

Many minds now began to churn with thoughts and schemes. Clearly, this battle had inflicted considerable negative repercussions upon the Cloud Firmament Royal Family.

However, this outcome was perhaps inevitable. Yun Tianqi had sought to leverage this banquet to intimidate the various sects and elevate his own prestige and standing. Yet, he had never anticipated provoking a formidable opponent like Lan Wu Xi, ultimately digging his own grave and suffering a humiliating defeat. It was, in essence, a consequence of his own actions.

–”Haha, I always thought that Yun Tianqi was nothing special. I wasted my time thinking he was powerful. He’s really nothing much~”

Soon, the disciples from various sects escalated their whispers into open jeers and mockery, utterly disregarding the anger etched on the faces of the soldiers who had rushed to the scene. Yet, not a single soldier or individual dared to intervene or speak out.

Even Elder Huang could only sigh silently at this moment. His figure blurred into a phantom, and by the time anyone could react, he had already hoisted the unconscious, convulsing Yun Tianqi from the ground. Gazing at the ugly, sneering faces of the sect disciples, he could only seethe inwardly, powerless to speak.

After all, Yun Tianqi had suffered a devastating defeat before so many witnesses. This incident would undoubtedly spread throughout the Cloud Firmament Kingdom within a day, and with deliberate embellishment from malicious parties, the Cloud Firmament Kingdom was likely to face another wave of public scrutiny. As the central figure of this debacle, Yun Tianqi would probably find it exceedingly difficult even to step outside for a considerable time.

Fortunately, Yun Tianqi had only sustained severe injuries; aside from his shattered necklace, his Dantian and meridians remained unharmed. This was, perhaps, a blessing in disguise amidst the misfortune.

This survival was largely thanks to the life-preserving artifact bestowed upon Yun Xiao Yu. Without that priceless protective necklace, Yun Tianqi’s chances of surviving such an attack would have been negligible.

[Ding! System Notification: Congratulations, Host, for perfectly completing your first mission! You successfully provoked the Cloud Firmament Kingdom’s prince and defeated him in front of everyone, utterly tarnishing his reputation. As a reward, you receive a cultivation technique tailored to your practice and one Heavenly Profound Primordial Pill. Please continue your efforts and strive to become a qualified villain as soon as possible!]

‘Did I win?’

As the system’s voice echoed in Lan Wu Xi’s mind, he finally grasped the reality: he had won. He had truly won! In that instant, his body felt as though it had been completely drained, his abundant spiritual energy abruptly depleted and parched. Even standing upright required immense effort. Fearing that others might perceive his current predicament, he remained perfectly still and silent, like a wooden puppet, holding his posture without moving.

–”Hey, what’s with that guy? Why is he still standing there, unmoving?”

–”Yeah, but honestly, it makes him look a little cool, hehe~”

–”Tsk tsk, didn’t you say you liked the muscular type? What, have you suddenly developed a fondness for this kind now~?”

–”Don’t talk nonsense! He’s nothing like those effeminate pretty boys.”

While some women found Lan Wu Xi’s stance quite dashing, in the eyes of Wei Yuantian and his companions, it was an entirely different matter.

–”Hey, hey, look, that guy is still posing. Doesn’t he get tired?”

–”Seriously, even when showing off, you should at least change poses. If I keep looking at this one, I’ll get eye strain.”

Wei Yuantian, noticing this peculiarity, narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Lan Wu Xi, seemingly lost in thought. A moment later, a spark of insight flashed in his eyes, and he slapped his palm with a fist, suddenly understanding.

‘Could that fellow have cramped up? No! If this continues, he’ll make a fool of himself. I must go forward and lend him a hand!’

With this thought, Wei Yuantian slowly advanced towards Lan Wu Xi. The latter had already sensed someone approaching, but with his body utterly depleted and reduced to a mere husk, he could only listen as the footsteps drew nearer.

“Lan Wu Xi!”

After Elder Huang departed, the restraints naturally loosened, allowing Huang Yao Yue to break free and rush towards Lan Wu Xi. To Wei Yuantian’s bewildered gaze, she flung herself into Lan Wu Xi’s embrace, murmuring words of concern, leaving Wei Yuantian to stand there awkwardly, his hands hanging uselessly.

–”Lan Wu Xi! Are you alright? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I can’t believe how incredible you are!”

–”Um… could you… hug me a little less… tightly?”

“Hm?”

Huang Yao Yue tilted her head, gazing at Lan Wu Xi with a puzzled expression. He was biting his lip, struggling to endure, looking as though he might suffocate. His entire body trembled, his legs shaking uncontrollably. Finally, he pried open his eyes just a sliver and spoke in a trembling, pleading tone.

–”I’m about to… collapse…”

With those words, Lan Wu Xi’s body unexpectedly slumped forward, not onto the ground, but directly into the arms of a startled Huang Yao Yue. She hastily propped him up, her voice filled with anxious concern.

–”Lan Wu Xi! Are you okay? Don’t scare me like that!”

“He’s fine.”

At that moment, Wei Yuantian stepped forward, observing Lan Wu Xi, whose eyes were tightly shut and whose breathing was ragged. He spoke, his voice imbued with an unspoken emotion.

–”Then why did he suddenly…”

“He fell asleep.”