Chapter 476: Bullying the Young? (Part 1)

"Me?"

Ren Yidao raised his eyebrows slightly, blinking as he looked at the battle-ready Gongyang Ke on the stage, feeling somewhat confused.

Why me?

Gongyang Ke choosing Ren Yidao as his opponent for the first match was, in truth, somewhat unreasonable.

Because, in essence, they were both insurance measures for the three great super sects; their strategic goals were actually identical—to ensure the final championship was not snatched away by others—so they shouldn't be engaging in infighting, right?

Just as Ren Yidao was feeling bewildered, Jian Xinxin, who stood beside him, twitched his brow and gently patted him on the shoulder.

"Yidao, stay safe in everything."

"Oh, alright."

After turning his head to see his Senior Brother Jian Xinxin, Ren Yidao, who had been somewhat confused, suddenly realized and understood the reason behind it.

Oh!

So that's how it is; the others had misunderstood.

Compared to a lively youth with unknown origins and a steady young man who had been famous for many years, they would subconsciously make a choice.

Even if the youth had already displayed his strength, most people would still subconsciously look down on the seemingly easy-going youth, believing the young man to be the true safeguard.

This was not deliberate discrimination against Ren Yidao personally, but a stereotype that was difficult to correct.

Compared to the bright smile of the delicate youth, they trusted the grim, bitter expression on the young man's face more; the latter looked like he could fight.

Although Jian Xinxin had been hiding within the Divine Path Sect for these years, the reputation he had built in his early years had not completely faded from the jianghu.

Qin King—a title that sounded like he could really fight.

Ren Yidao felt that Jian Xinxin participating in the tournament was a bit of a stretch, but others did not think so.

They would only think that Jian Xinxin must be hiding a special trump card and was not as simple as he appeared on the surface.

"So, when it comes down to it, these people are actually treating me as a soft persimmon to be squeezed?"

"Heh..."

After thinking this through, Ren Yidao couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, "This is really looking down on people."

Seeing the helpless smile on his face, some people thought he was afraid of the fight and felt a faint sense of contempt in their hearts.

Standing beside the Valley Master of the Ten Thousand Flowers Valley, Zhao Yundan, the Empress curled her lips slightly, forming a look of disdain.

"Heh, just a cowardly fellow."

Zhao Chaofeng had originally thought quite highly of Ren Yidao and wanted to pull him into her camp.

But Ren Yidao's intimate behavior with Li Qiushui earlier had not been deliberately concealed, and many people had noticed.

After confirming that the relationship between Ren Yidao and the Ninth Princess was very close, he was completely marked as an enemy by the Empress.

"..."

Beside her, Zhao Yundan frowned upon hearing the Empress's mockery; she truly had not expected this distant relative of hers to be so beneath contempt, which made her feel some disdain.

To think that she was already the noble Empress, yet she was still so lacking in depth and foresight.

Then, by what means had she been able to stay in the palace so safely for so many years?

Could it be that the women in the Emperor's palace were all idiots, allowing such a person to sit above them for so many years?

Just because of a face?

Or did Li Long just like such idiotic women? Otherwise, there was no reason for Zhao Chaofeng to have been the master of the Inner Palace for so many years...

Just as Zhao Yundan was regretting agreeing to cooperate with Zhao Chaofeng, Ren Yidao, who had been deemed afraid of the fight by the Empress, tapped his feet lightly and leaped onto the stage.

Compared to Gongyang Ke's landing, which was like a meteorite hitting the earth, Ren Yidao's movements were at the other extreme—effortless and graceful, with his whole body radiating an elegant immortal aura.

The youth's wide white robes fluttered in the wind, like a protective dragon coiling around his body, carrying him as he landed lightly.

There was not a hint of cowardice or confusion on Ren Yidao; one hand was behind his back, the other reached forward, and he smiled slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Gongyang, please enlighten me."

He was never afraid of a fight.

Since you want to watch, then I will let you watch properly.

Let's see if I am that musician just pretending to fill a spot?

Before the spectators off-stage could cheer, the contestant on the stage let out a loud shout.

"Good!"

Gongyang Ke looked at Ren Yidao with appreciation and nodded vigorously.

"Courageous! This old man thinks highly of you!"

"The Divine Path Sect has finally produced a junior disciple worth looking at in all these years."

"Rest assured, since you have the courage to step onto the stage, this old man will certainly not make you look too embarrassed; I will not bully the young!"

The Casting Sword Hut had never really had a good impression of the Divine Path Sect, feeling that the people in this sect lacked vitality, were half-dead, and were not proactive at all.

And now, Ren Yidao's performance without the slightest hesitation made Gongyang Ke think very highly of him, feeling that this was a rare talent.

"Junior? Bullying the young?"

Ren Yidao blinked, his smile suddenly becoming playful, "Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist Gongyang, do you know Jing Yueqin?"

"You mean your sect's Peak Master Jing? Of course, I know of Senior Uncle Jing."

Gongyang Ke was somewhat puzzled and did not understand what Ren Yidao meant by mentioning Jing Yueqin at this time, thinking he was trying to get close, so he added, "However, I have no friendship with her; don't expect me to deliberately show mercy."

Ren Yidao shook his head: "No, Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand me; I just wanted to tell you that she is my Senior Sister, and I am of the same generation as her."

"Hm?"

Gongyang Ke froze for a moment, his eyes widening slightly.

Could, could it be!?

"So, strictly speaking, Fellow Daoist Gongyang is the junior."

Seeing that Gongyang Ke had already reacted, Ren Yidao nodded with a kind smile and spoke words that pierced the heart, making him even more despairing: "By seniority, you should even call me... Senior Uncle."

You have no respect for me at all, and are not even willing to call me Senior Uncle.

"This, I... this..." Gongyang Ke stammered, for seeing Ren Yidao's youthful face, he had never considered such a possibility.

Although in the world of cultivation, strength is respected and seniority is ranked by power, if one insists on nitpicking the details, the three super sects do acknowledge each other's seniority.

However, because the Divine Path Sect recruits disciples based on fate, a single lineage might not have a new disciple for decades, while the Sword Casting Hut has relatively loose conditions for recruitment, so the seniority gap between the two is quite large.

Gongyang Ke had originally wanted to encourage him with the tone of an elder, but he hadn't expected it to become so awkward.

Fortunately, Ren Yidao was not some Demon, and seeing that Gongyang Ke's momentum had already been sapped, he took the initiative to speak and relieve him of the awkwardness.

"It's fine, let's just treat each other as equals; let's still address each other as peers."

Ren Yidao shook his head understandingly, looking as if he were thinking for him, "Otherwise, it would still be too unfair to Fellow Daoist Gongyang."

"Ahem, then many thanks, Fellow Daoist." Gongyang Ke nodded gratefully and cupped his hands.

But after finishing his thanks, he felt something was strange.

Wait, that's not right.

Isn't this awkward situation of mine caused by him?

Why am I even thanking him!?

"... Tsk!"

Gongyang Ke clicked his tongue, knowing he couldn't dwell on this issue anymore, or he felt he would still be the one to suffer.

Damn it, what was I going to say before? With him interrupting like that, I've forgotten it all.

"Ahem!"

Gongyang Ke coughed forcefully, straightened his expression, returned to a serious demeanor, and continued from where he left off:

"Since you have not entered the Heaven Realm, I am unwilling to suppress you with my cultivation level, so I have decided to change the battle between us into another form, how about it?"

"Oh?"