Translator: AnubisTL
As soon as these words were spoken, Zong Shixuan and the others darkened their expressions, while the hundreds of disciples from the five major sects, who held considerable status, erupted in uproar.
"One million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones just to sense that damned bald monk? That's equivalent to a hundred million Low-grade Spirit Stones! Why don't you just rob us instead!"
"Do you really think that without the participation of your Sunset Glow Sect, the five major sects would be helpless against that bald monk?"
"Drive them out! This is not a place where your Sunset Glow Sect has the right to be!"
"A Sect Master who hides like a turtle, and disciples who are obsessed with money—such a sect is unworthy of standing alongside us!"
"Utterly ridiculous! Always demanding Spirit Stones as if they're pebbles on the roadside, free for the taking!"
"..."
They glared at Chu Youhuan with furious expressions, clearly indignant.
"Silence!" Zong Shixuan of the Blazing Light Sect shouted, suppressing the noise in the room. He then turned to Chu Youhuan with a smile.
"Miss Chu, as you can see, if we were to agree to such an unreasonable demand, it would likely incite the wrath of our disciples."
"One million Mid-Grade Spirit Stones is a friendly price. Take it or leave it!" Chu Youhuan replied indifferently, not backing down an inch.
Zong Shixuan's eyes turned cold, but he managed to control his anger.
"The Military Dao Academy declares that we will never agree to such a demand. With our strength, I refuse to believe we can't handle a mere bald monk!" Dugu Ao declared loudly, a hint of arrogance in his expression.
He also glanced subtly at Hua Wenyue, Duan Yansheng, and Wu Sheng, thinking that the Tyrant Body Sect, Flower Sect, and Sword Gate, having been robbed by the bald monk, were unworthy of being ranked among the five top sects of the Great Chu Dynasty alongside the Military Dao Academy.
"Indeed, on behalf of the Blazing Light Sect, I formally reject Miss Chu's absurd demand," Zong Shixuan also stated.
"Then farewell!" Chu Youhuan was equally decisive. Seeing that the other party refused, she immediately stood up, signaled to Yan Yexue and the others who had come with her, and prepared to leave.
"Wait!"
At that moment, Hua Wenyue, who had remained silent until now, stood up.
Her eyes gleamed with intensity as she stared directly at Chu Youhuan. "Are you truly capable of sensing the bald monk's presence?"
"If I, Chu Youhuan, say I can, then I can. No one has the right to doubt me!" Chu Youhuan retorted with equal intensity, her tone commanding.
"Good, I believe you!" Hua Wenyue nodded expressionlessly, then turned to the others. "The Flower Sect agrees to her demand!"
"That bald monk must be found!" As Duan Yansheng spoke, the ancient Buddhist characters on his forehead, cheeks, and the back of his head trembled, making his fierce expression even more comical.
He had the most ancient Buddhist characters among all the Nurtured Spirit candidates, largely because his 'North Darkness Mystic Tortoise' was exceptionally domineering. In terms of pure defensive power, it far surpassed Hua Wenyue's 'Prosperous Colorful Lotus.'
However, his movements were slow, and in Gu Feng's eyes, he was nothing more than a living target, only good for taking hits. After being pummeled for an entire incense stick's worth of time, he naturally ended up with more characters than anyone else.
After Duan Yansheng made his stance clear, Wu Sheng of the Sword Gate also stepped forward. "A person like the bald monk, who violates the rules of the examination, cannot be allowed to roam free!"
Wu Sheng's tone was calm, but his tightly clenched fingers betrayed his inner turmoil.
When he was born, ten thousand swords resonated in unison. Before the age of ten, he never held a sword, but after turning ten, he was invincible among his peers!
Any sword technique, he could discern its essence at a glance, and his comprehension of sword principles was unparalleled within the Sword Gate.
Surrounded by countless stars, the Sect Master of the Sword Gate had already designated him as the future Sect Master three years ago.
His status within the Sword Gate was unrivaled; even disciples with higher cultivation levels respectfully addressed him as Senior Brother.
Everyone knew he was the future of the Sword Gate, destined to surpass all previous Sect Masters!
Yet, such a Heaven's Chosen, brimming with honor and glory, was actually robbed during the exam?
Being robbed was one thing; after all, even the best can slip up occasionally, and a momentary lapse is no big deal!
The disciples of the Sword Gate still held him in the highest regard, never doubting his strength.
But who could have known how humiliating and disgraceful his defeat was, almost being castrated by that damned bald monk?
The entire ordeal lasted less than three breaths, and he didn't even have a chance to draw his sword before being knocked unconscious.
No one would believe it if told!
If we're talking about frustration, he was even more frustrated than Hua Wenyue, who at least had the chance to resist for a long time, even if the outcome was equally humiliating.
Perhaps due to his abrupt movement, a sharp, burning pain shot through his lower body, causing his heart to churn with anger, and he couldn't help but reiterate, "The Sword Gate agrees to Miss Chu's demands!"
"Your agreement is your business; the Blazing Light Sect firmly refuses!" Zong Shixuan raised his voice, thinking the three major sects had lost their minds to agree to such blatant extortion.
One hundred million Low-grade Spirit Stones at a time—what an outrageous number, more terrifying than robbery!
"The Military Dao Academy shares the same sentiment!" Dugu Ao's stance was resolute.
"It seems your opinions are still divided. Come back to me once you've reached a consensus!" Chu Youhuan's eyes flashed as she turned with a haughty air, leading her group to leave.
"Miss Chu, please wait! We'll reach a consensus soon!" Hua Wenyue stood up to stop Chu Youhuan, speaking coldly.
"Today, whether you agree or not, you must agree!"
"Hua Wenyue, what do you mean? Are you forcing us to agree?" Zong Shixuan was utterly enraged.
Dugu Ao's expression also turned grim. "Your Flower Sect doesn't have that kind of power!"
"Hua Wenyue is right; you must agree!" Duan Yansheng sided with Hua Wenyue.
"How do you think the odds stack up with our three major sects against your two?" Wu Sheng said indifferently, his body exuding a sharp, sword-like aura.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what it sounds like. Either agree, or our three major sects will face off against your two. If we fail, we'll all fail together!" As Hua Wenyue spoke, the 'Prosperous Colorful Lotus' bloomed.
Duan Yansheng and Wu Sheng also unleashed their auras, with the disciples of the three major sects following suit.
Dugu Ao and Zong Shixuan trembled with rage, shouting, "You were robbed by that damned bald monk because you're incompetent. What does that have to do with us?"
"Then let's fight. You have points; we lack points. Robbing points is allowed by the exam rules!" Hua Wenyue declared boldly.
"You witch! Did that bald monk do something to you that day? Otherwise, why are you being so unreasonable?" Dugu Ao, who had once held a slight fondness for Hua Wenyue, now felt that fondness utterly shattered!
"Bastard, how dare you humiliate me?" These words directly ignited Hua Wenyue's fury. Her hair stood on end, and with a wave of her hand, she unleashed a streak of energy, attacking Dugu Ao!
Dugu Ao was not one to take things lying down and immediately engaged in a fierce battle with her.
The scene quickly descended into chaos, with both sides drawing their weapons, ready for a fight.
Zong Shixuan's expression fluctuated between dark and light. Seeing Hua Wenyue's unyielding attitude and Duan Yansheng and Wu Sheng constantly poised to strike, he knew the tide had turned and there was no stopping it.
Among the five major sects, there were differences in strength, but it was impossible to face two against three!
"Stop!!!" he bellowed, his voice wave shattering the surrounding stones.
"My Blazing Light Sect agrees!"
Upon hearing this, Hua Wenyue and Dugu Ao ceased their intense battle.
Dugu Ao's expression turned extremely grim. As the son of the West Border Grand Marshal and a peerless genius of the Military Dao Academy, he could not afford to lower his head.
"If you want to unite, go ahead. My Military Dao Academy will not partake!"
With that, he turned and left with the disciples of the Military Dao Academy. The four others did not attempt to stop him. The four major sects were enough.
"Young Marshal, these people have no backbone!"
"Hmph, sects are just sects, a bunch of trash!" Dugu Ao sneered disdainfully.
"What should we do then?"
"We'll search for that bald monk ourselves. I'll show those people that I, Dugu Ao, am the strongest among them!"
Dugu Ao calmed his emotions, realizing that parting ways with the four major sects might not be a bad thing!
If he could capture the bald monk alone, it would undoubtedly prove his worth and, by extension, that he was the strongest!
Thinking of this, he felt a surge of ambition and his spirits soared!
"Everyone, wait for me to split up and search!"
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, after paying Chu Youhuan for her initial service, the four major sects also began searching for the bald monk in the examination grounds.
Chu Youhuan laughed inwardly, "That scoundrel, he really has a knack for swindling money. It actually worked."
...
In fact, shortly after the large-scale search began, Gu Feng received the secret signal left by Chu Youhuan.
"The Military Dao Academy is acting alone? Hehe, just the right time to fulfill my promise to Sima Juncong!"
Perhaps Dugu Ao's arrogance had influenced the disciples of the Military Dao Academy, or perhaps the disciples themselves were inherently proud!
They didn't stick together but instead split into groups of ten to conduct their search.
This undoubtedly created the perfect conditions for Gu Feng to act!
Bang—bang—bang
As if a ghost had passed by, a squad didn't even have time to make a sound before they all fell unconscious.
Gu Feng quickly seized their points, spirit stones and Thunder Attribute Natural Treasures, then rushed to the next squad.
...
"Young Marshal, within an hour, fifty of our squads have lost contact!"
Hearing the report, Dugu Ao's expression turned extremely ugly.
"Gather the scattered squads!" Only when he truly faced the bald monk did he realize how troublesome the opponent was—like a ghost, appearing and disappearing without a trace, making it impossible to counter.
At this moment, he somewhat understood why the three major sects had stumbled.
Helplessly, he could only gather his forces to avoid greater losses.
However, during the gathering process, another seventy or eighty squads were lost.
Dugu Ao looked at the remaining hundred or so people, his face as grim as if he had eaten something foul.
"Young Marshal, those unconscious people ahead are our Military Dao Academy disciples!"
"Let's go, take a look!"
Dugu Ao quickly stepped forward to the ten unconscious disciples, signaling everyone to remain alert while he crouched down to check their condition.
No major issues—they weren't injured, just unconscious.
He extended a finger and tapped one of the disciples a few times, and the latter slowly woke up.
"When did you encounter that bald bastard?"
"About half an hour ago!"
Hearing this, Dugu Ao waved his hand, signaling everyone to stand down. Too much time had passed, and the bald bastard had long since fled.
All the Military Dao Academy disciples restrained their Spiritual Power, while Dugu Ao proceeded to wake each of them up one by one.
Once all ten disciples had regained consciousness, he remained crouched on the ground, his brow furrowed as he pondered the next course of action.
At that moment, an ancient bronze demon-subduing staff shot up from below, striking him squarely in the groin!
"Aaaah—!"
This was the most vulnerable spot for male cultivators. Even with Dugu Ao's iron will, he couldn't help but howl in pain. Beads of sweat rolled down his face, his eyes rolled back, and foam spilled from the corners of his mouth.
The pain was so intense that, for a moment, his mind went completely blank. He collapsed to the ground, curling up as his hands instinctively clutched his lower body.
Gu Feng showed no mercy. He raised the demon-subduing staff and began relentlessly smashing it against Dugu Ao's head.
The Military Dao Academy disciples were utterly stunned!
All they could see were countless shadows of the demon-subduing staff striking Dugu Ao's head from every direction.
Dugu Ao swayed like a candle in the wind, his body unable to mount any counterattack. Clearly, he had already lost consciousness.
Yet, the attacker seemed to harbor a deep grudge, continuing to viciously beat him even in this state!
"You bald bastard, you're asking for death!!!"
The Military Dao Academy disciples roared in fury, charging toward the demon-subduing staff.
Seeing the situation turn against him, the demon-subduing staff swiftly retreated.
"Young Marshal, what's wrong? Wake up!"
At this moment, no matter how much others called out to him, Dugu Ao remained in a deep unconscious state.
"Don't chase him! We might fall into the bald bastard's trap!"
Watching the demon-subduing staff retreat into the distance, the group hesitated, too wary to pursue.
"That damned bald bastard!!!" The Military Dao Academy disciples were on the verge of losing their minds.
But the nightmare wasn't over yet.
Gu Feng, who had seemingly fled, quietly returned.
Taking advantage of the group's rage, he launched another surprise attack!
"Bang! Bang! Bang—!"
It was impossible to defend against. Within a few breaths, over a hundred Military Dao Academy disciples were all knocked to the ground.
Gu Feng swiftly looted their points, Spirit Stones, and Natural Treasures, then vanished without a trace.
"161,600 points, plus the 38,400 points from the Blazing Light Sect—exactly 200,000!"
At this moment—
There were still three days left before the exam ended. Plenty of time.
"Aaaah—!"
"Damn it!!!" Dugu Ao, now awake, let out a furious roar as he saw the crisscrossed ancient characters scrawled across his face.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his body trembled violently.
"Let's go! We're heading to the Four Great Sects!"
Meanwhile, the Four Great Sects, having already heard about the Military Dao Academy's encounter with the bald bastard, were laughing their heads off.
"Talk tough, get hit hard—that's the Military Dao Academy for you!"
"Gu Feng, you dare show your face?"
"Why wouldn't I? Didn't you already agree with Senior Sister Chu not to cause me trouble?"
As Dugu Ao and the Four Great Sects converged, Gu Feng also arrived at the scene.
(End of the Chapter)
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