Chapter 404: Which Insect Dares to Make a Sound?

"Interesting."

Sang Kong, who had been watching the spectacle, saw Li Rui step onto the stone platform; initially surprised, his expression turned sly when he noticed the disciple of the Yu Kingdom's State Preceptor accompanying him.

This is internal strife.

Though it's not uncommon for fellow sect members to debate the Dao.

But Sang Kong knew many inside secrets—he understood this was between Li Rui and Fang Hua, and more importantly, between the Yu Kingdom's State Preceptor and the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

Many in the Wu Kingdom were eyeing his position, and Li Rui was in the same predicament.

Still, compared to Fang Hua, he found Li Rui more agreeable.

He did not wish for Li Rui's position to be taken.

Seeing Li Rui take the stage.

Ning Zhongtian, Ge Hong, Wei Ming, and Tan Hu all flickered with concern in their eyes.

They had been standing nearby when Li Rui spoke with the State Preceptor's disciple just now.

It was obvious.

The State Preceptor was launching an attack.

If Li Rui couldn't withstand it, disaster would be upon him.

Even with Gu Changsheng's protection, his position as Elder of Qingwei Sect would surely be lost.

As Qingwei Sect's reputation grew, countless people across the land coveted this position.

"Do you think Big Brother can win?"

Ning Zhongtian.

Ge Hong murmured: "If it's just a Dao debate, there's still some chance."

That's what he said.

But none of them had real confidence.

There was no way—Fang Hua, that disciple of the State Preceptor, was surely a top-tier expert; how could their Big Brother possibly match him?

All they hoped for was that he wouldn't lose too badly.

Then Gu Changsheng could still invoke the rule forbidding top-tier experts from joining, and block the State Preceptor's move.

If he collapsed at the first strike, even Gu Changsheng would find it hard to intervene.

After all, the Yu Kingdom wasn't ruled by Gu Changsheng alone, and the Dragon Throne's master wouldn't favor one side unconditionally.

Li Rui walked onto the platform with a calm expression.

On the stone platform were two raised circular discs—places to sit during Dao debates.

Both men sat down.

Instantly, many eyes turned toward them.

It wasn't just because of the Yu Kingdom's internal conflict, but also because Fang Hua himself held extremely high status within the Hidden Sects.

During the Luotian Grand Rite.

Every time a top-tier Elder stepped onto the stage, it caused a stir.

Today,

Fang Hua was the first top-tier Elder to ascend—naturally drawing all attention.

"Who is the man across from him?"

"Could he also be a hidden top-tier expert?"

Many of the sect elders' disciples didn't recognize Li Rui; seeing him on stage, they began whispering among themselves.

Soon,

someone familiar with the Yunzhou situation stepped forward:

"This man is Li Rui, an official stationed by the Yu Kingdom at Qingwei Sect, but—"

"If I recall correctly, he should be a Foundation Establishment cultivator, right?"

"How dare he step up?"

Hearing this, even more spectators gathered.

Foundation Establishment versus Spiritual Penetration—and it's an internal Yu Kingdom feud—this was far more interesting.

On the high platform,

Fang Hua smiled warmly at Li Rui.

His gaze subtly swept toward the nearby Bai Yu platform—his master, the State Preceptor, and Qingding True Person were both there.

'I must win.'

Or rather, winning wasn't his goal—he sought a crushing victory!

To leave Gu Changsheng speechless.

Though the State Preceptor hadn't said so outright, he had long understood the implication.

"The Dao of Heaven and Earth seeks truth."

Fang Hua spoke slowly.

His voice rang like a great bell, shaking the hearts of all who heard it.

'So domineering!'

Not only the disciples, but even the Elders were startled by Fang Hua's display.

Especially that single word—'truth.'

It struck the soul like a sledgehammer; most couldn't withstand it.

Look at those weaker disciples—they could barely stand.

Just as everyone expected Li Rui to collapse instantly,

they realized—

Unmoved!

Li Rui, barely three feet from Fang Hua, remained serene, not even a fold of his robe stirred.

"He—"

The crowd below stared wide-eyed.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator had just blocked a Spiritual Penetration soul strike.

Incredible!

But soon, someone realized and cried out: "Has he broken through?!"

With that exclamation,

everyone's faces lit up with sudden understanding.

Yes.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator couldn't possibly withstand such a devastating blow—unless Li Rui had already broken through!

At that moment,

Li Rui's voice rose calmly: "I was fortunate to break through the Spirit Refining threshold. Today, I shall let Brother Fang enjoy himself."

Hearing Li Rui's words,

the crowd erupted in shock.

They never imagined that Yunzhou, a tiny backwater, had produced two top-tier experts in barely a decade.

Even among the great continents, such martial vigor was rare.

Though Spirit Refining wasn't yet fully Spiritual Penetration, his soul had already formed—no wonder he could block Fang Hua's strike.

Li Rui remained utterly calm within.

His ability to so easily withstand Fang Hua's strike wasn't merely because his Dao Embryo had formed.

His soul had already been tempered a thousandfold on the Bai Yu Steps—he'd endured far fiercer assaults than this; now, it was merely a breeze brushing over mountain mist.

His earlier words,

were deliberately meant to dispel the wild speculations in others' minds.

Saying he had broken through was far more believable than claiming a Foundation Establishment cultivator could block a Spiritual Penetration strike.

He'd broken through in his eighties—compared to Jiang Linxian, Nie Siming, and Yuan Xiong, he wasn't particularly outstanding.

Moreover, he'd already formed his Dao Embryo; revealing his Spirit Refining strength posed no risk.

Even without today's event, he would have found some pretext.

Fang Hua, seated across from him, narrowed his eyes.

"Broken through?"

Unexpected.

But he quickly realized—there was no such coincidence in this world. Li Rui had clearly broken through days ago and merely concealed it.

He snorted.

He was about to speak again,

when Li Rui spoke slowly: "It's my turn."

Fang Hua hadn't expected Li Rui to challenge him to a debate.

Not only him—the crowd below was equally stunned.

Is he turning the tables?!

"Heaven and Earth coexist with me; all things are one with me. Heaven, Earth, and all things—self and object are one. We cultivators must contend with Heaven!"

The word "struggle" fell.

Before the Hall of Transmission, all debate voices were instantly silenced.

Complete silence.

One man silenced a thousand.

When I, Chun Lai, do not speak first, which insect dares to make a sound!

At the highest point.

The Yu Kingdom's State Tutor and Qingding the True Person's gazes were also drawn to this spot.

Qingding the True Person stroked his beard and laughed long: "Excellent—challenging heaven itself!"

The State Tutor stood still, his expression unreadable.

Qingding the True Person turned to the Yu Kingdom's State Tutor: "Yuan Daoist, your Yu Kingdom has no shortage of remarkable talents."

The State Tutor spoke slowly: "I humbly apologize for the display."

Both great figures fixed their gazes on the stone platform.

Fang Hua's eyes instantly turned cold.

His master was now watching; he was trapped, forced to win this debate—or the State Tutor would be disappointed in him.

Disappointment was a serious matter.

The only consolation was that Li Rui had not yet fully crossed that threshold—there was still time.

Suddenly—

The spiritual energy around the stone platform stirred, forming a vortex centered on Fang Hua.

"A spiritual vortex?!"

Someone cried out in shock.

Fang Hua was about to unleash his ultimate technique.

Li Rui narrowed his eyes slightly.

Just as he prepared to mobilize spiritual energy to counter Fang Hua's assault—

The spiritual vortex collapsed on its own.

It vanished without a trace.

From Fang Hua's dazed expression, it was clear he had not dismissed it himself.

"Enough."

The State Tutor's voice carried authority, tinged with faint anger.

Clearly, he was displeased with Fang Hua's actions.

Fang Hua involuntarily shivered.

Li Rui slowly rose and bowed toward the State Tutor: "Thank you, State Tutor."

Saying this,

he turned and descended from the stone platform.

Only Fang Hua remained, his face dark with humiliation.

Li Rui understood perfectly.

The State Tutor's intervention was not to protect his disciple—it was to prevent Fang Hua from further shaming the Yu Kingdom.

It was simply impartial justice.

Li Rui walked into the crowd.

Many who looked at him now held admiration, even awe.

As he reached the side of Ning Zhongtian and the other three—

A line of small characters appeared before his eyes.

【Congratulations, Host! You have completed the Intermediate Plot Achievement: Fame Spread Through the Immortal Sect.】

【This year, you are fifteen. At last, you have made your name within the Immortal Sect, recognized by all disciples as a genius. Remember: your path has only just begun. Do not grow proud. The Immortal Way is fleeting—walk it with care.】

【Achievement "Fame Spread Through the Immortal Sect" completed. Reward calculation in progress.】

【Achievement rating: B.】

【Obtained 30 Achievement Points!】

【Achievement Points reached 100. Reward acquisition in progress.】

【After surviving a great calamity, you suddenly awakened—you are the reincarnation of an ancient powerhouse. You fused all cultivation methods into one, creating your own Immortal Art.】

【Obtained Immortal Art: Ten Thousand Eons Evergreen Technique.】

【Young Master, begin your perfect cultivation journey!】

【Age +10】

【Name: Li Rui】

【Age: 25】

【Talents: Martial Bone, Extraordinary Comprehension, Insightful Eyes, Dreaming Immortal Wanderer, Demon-Slaying Advantage, Dao Seed】

【Technique: Ten Thousand Eons Evergreen Technique】

【Item: Spirit-Ascending Book】

【Achievements: 20/100】

(End of Chapter)