Chapter 157: Never Admit Defeat

Qiu Chenghe swallowed his saliva, gripping his sword hilt tightly as he lunged toward Xiao Lingwei.

Pa—

The next moment, the sound of the whip lashing into flesh rang out.

Qiu Chenghe was whipped straight to the ground, and his long sword clanged to the ground with a clang.

Qiu Chenghe winced in pain, his face instantly turning pale.

Seeing Xiao Lingwei about to lash her whip, Qiu Chenghe cried out in fright, "I admit defeat!"

The crowd wasn't surprised by this result.

Xiao Lingwei retracted her whip and gave a slight nod to the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, the Carefree Sect Leader, and Second Elder Zongrao seated ahead.

But as Xiao Lingwei walked back to the waiting area, she noticed someone staring intently at her; following the gaze, she saw it was Dongfangxiu of the Tai Sui Sect.

Dongfangxiu stared at her with a gloomy gaze.

Xiao Lingwei raised an eyebrow, tapping the bone-joint whip coiled at her waist, the meaning clear.

Recalling how she had whipped him three times that day, Dongfangxiu's face darkened almost to the point of dripping ink.

His fists clenched involuntarily.

He would never let Xiao Lingwei go!

…

The competition was in full swing.

Three years later, each sect had gained many outstanding new disciples.

And in the middle of the night, Shiziwen, who had drawn number 137, stepped onto the stage.

Many also paid close attention to Shiziwen, for his performance in the previous secret realm points competition had been exceptionally outstanding, ranking him fiftieth on the points leaderboard.

His one-eyed appearance also left a deep impression on everyone.

Yuan Yao propped her chin with one hand, yawned, and continued to stare at the one-eyed youth on the platform.

The youth's face was deathly pale, as if his grave wounds had not yet healed.

At that moment, Shiziwen glanced over, his gaze unintentionally lingering for an instant on Lu Xiangxiang sitting beside her.

Lu Xiangxiang's face grew even colder.

She knew Shiziwen had betrayed her; without him, Yuan Yao would never have discovered what she had done in secret.

These days, she had not sought him out at all.

Since Shiziwen had defected to Yuan Yao, he no longer had any reason to live.

Before leaving the Carefree Sect, she would kill him.

After all, in his previous life Shiziwen had grown to wield power surpassing even an Immortal Sovereign.

If she kept him, he would surely become a grave threat to her.

Lu Xiangxiang thought this, her feelings toward Shiziwen growing more complex, silently resenting: Why did Shiziwen betray me?! In his past life he was like a loyal dog, doing whatever he was told without ever questioning his orders.

She couldn't help but glance sideways at the evidently weary girl beside her, pursing her lips.

All of this was because of Yuan Yao's existence.

On the platform.

Shiziwen's cultivation had broken through to the late Foundation Establishment Realm, while his opponent possessed the Initial Golden Core Realm.

"Dual Extremes Sect, Ke Huaron," the opponent announced.

"Carefree Sect Heaven Inquiry Peak, Shiziwen."

Shiziwen nodded in response.

Seeing this, the crowd couldn't help but chatter.

"Ke Huaron is a disciple of the Dual Extremes Sect Sect Leader, his cultivation surpasses Shiziwen by a notch; I bet Ke Huaron will win this match!"

"Although they differ by only a minor realm, the strength of a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a Golden Core cultivator is not just a slight difference."

"If the Shiziwen of the Carefree Sect had faced anyone other than Ke Huaron, he would surely have a good chance to advance into the top five hundred. But now… sigh…"

Most people favored Ke Huaron of the Dual Extremes Sect.

Ke Huaron drew his sword, wearing a confident smile, his demeanor graceful, and said, "Please."

Shiziwen's expression remained unchanged, only his eyes deepening slightly.

His thoughts drifted a little.

Earlier, whenever the Carefree Sect's disciples took the stage, she would cheer them on; now, looking weary, does she even bother to watch?

Just as Shiziwen lost focus, Ke Huaron swung his blade.

By the time Shiziwen regained his senses, he had already been flung to the ground, his white robe stained red at the chest, his flesh indistinguishably mangled.

This sight shocked everyone from the Carefree Sect.

"Junior Fellow Disciple Shiziwen! Get up quickly!"

The one-eyed youth's face grew ever paler as he hastily scrambled to his feet, his hands beginning to form a seal—

Ke Huaron had already launched a fierce assault at him.

As a spellcaster, Shiziwen should have struck first, but Ke Huaron the blade cultivator seized the initiative, leaving him unable to complete a full spell seal.

The originally weary Yuan Yao, seeing the one-eyed youth on the platform being chased and hacked in a sorry state, instantly grew much more alert.

Cang Li remarked, "His grave wounds haven't healed; he's likely to lose this match."

Yuan Yao frowned slightly, thinking Shiziwen was the type who wouldn't give up until his goal was met; although his condition was poor, logically he shouldn't be this wretched against Ke Huaron of the Dual Extremes Sect.

Xiao Lingwei said, "He can't even take the offensive now; it looks like he'll lose after a few more rounds."

Saying this, Xiao Lingwei wondered aloud, "Isn't there a healer to treat Junior Fellow Disciple Shiziwen's wounds?"

Cang Li said, "I heard he refused anyone's help to heal his wounds, merely asking Lead Instructor Li Daoshi for a second‑grade pill."

Yuan Yao heard this and suddenly recalled the injury they had previously suffered in the Carefree Sect's forbidden area…

At that time she even kicked him a few times.

It's been over a month already; hasn't his wound healed yet?

Her gaze fell on the low-level storage ring on his hand.

At that time, his storage ring contained only some low-level wound medicines, so his injury could not have recovered by relying on those low-level medicines.

Shiziwen was probably afraid that the doctor would discover the injury he had sustained in the forbidden area, so he refused to let the doctor treat him personally.

At this point, Yuan Yao let out a cold hum in her heart.

Serves him right.

Who made him help Lu Xiangxiang steal the Taiwu painting scroll?!

Yuan Yao finished cursing Shiziwen in her mind and calmed a bit.

She then recalled that he had previously sworn to her that he would never betray the Carefree Sect in this life…

She still hoped that Shiziwen could win this round on behalf of the Carefree Sect.

But now she has no way to help him; he must rely on his own skill.

On the arena, Shiziwen had already been slashed several times by Ke Huarong.

Each slash tore through flesh and blood, leaving streaks of crimson wounds.

"Daoist Shiziwen, why don't you concede?" Ke Huarong slightly frowned and let out a light sigh. Whenever he thought he could eliminate Shiziwen, Shiziwen would miraculously get up and stubbornly block his attacks.

Shiziwen didn't want to concede.

Boom!

Shiziwen was flipped onto the ground again; his whole body lay in a disheveled posture, hair loose, wearing a black eye mask, and a gush of fresh blood spurted from the corner of his mouth.

When he lifted his head, he saw the eye‑catching white‑clothed girl in the waiting arena.

The girl opened her mouth and silently said, "Concede."

Shiziwen clenched his fist hard, his eyes gradually turning blood‑red.

On what grounds does he have to concede?!

On what grounds?!

Shiziwen struggled to rise, his body slightly hunched, and in the next instant his blood‑stained hands swiftly formed a magical seal.