Chapter 32: A Subtle Flex, Effortlessly Defusing the Slander

"Your Highness, do you truly intend to pass down a Heaven-tier martial technique to me?"

Wu Shan, an inner sect disciple, stood stunned, unable to believe his ears. He was merely a guard assigned to Qi Xinghai—a lackey, to put it bluntly. What right or qualifications did he have to practice a Heaven-tier technique?

"Naturally."

Seeing Qi Xingyu nod, Wu Shan felt overwhelmed. According to sect rules, inner sect disciples were not permitted to cultivate Heaven-tier martial arts.

"Do not worry. This is not a technique belonging to the sect. You may practice it in peace; even if the sect finds out, they will do nothing to you." Qi Xingyu, understanding the man’s concerns, patted him on the shoulder.

"Your Highness, whatever you need me to do, just say the word." Wu Shan felt as though he had been given a guarantee, his demeanor turning excited. He was currently only practicing a middle-grade Earth-tier technique. If he possessed a Heaven-tier one, his strength would increase significantly, giving him much more confidence for the year-end competition.

"Come closer..." Qi Xingyu leaned in, whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear.

"Your Highness, is that really appropriate? I fear that when the time comes..." Wu Shan’s face tightened with hesitation.

Before he could finish, Qi Xingyu cut him off. "What are you afraid of? Once this is done, I will give you another thousand low-grade spirit stones!"

"I am willing to serve your Highness!" Tempted by the offer, Wu Shan agreed decisively.

Just as the two were conspiring, on the arena platform, Lin Yan was preparing to leave. Suddenly, Li Wudao called out to him.

"Is there something else, Senior Brother Li?" Lin Yan asked, confused.

"Don't just bury yourself in training every day. Go out and walk around when you have time; you might just stumble upon a great opportunity." Li Wudao’s tone was deep and suggestive.

"I’ve been busy with cultivation lately, but I will keep that in mind." Taken aback, Lin Yan turned away with a bitter smile. Where were opportunities so easily found? It was already a miracle he had survived long enough to reach the Xuantian Sect; he dared not ask for more.

Li Wudao remained silent for a moment before producing a sound-transmitting jade slip and handing it over. "If you run into any trouble, you can find me at Misty Peak."

He knew Lin Yan hadn't taken his words to heart, but he couldn't explain it clearly. He couldn't exactly tell the boy, "You are a child of destiny, and you are bound to encounter miracles if you travel." Even if he said it, Lin Yan wouldn't believe him, and it might only breed suspicion, doing more harm than good. Having said what he could, the rest was up to the other's fate.

"This... the True Inheritor is actually lowering himself to befriend an outer sect disciple?"

"Tsk, tsk. This Lin Yan is nothing but trash. What right does he have to cling to a True Inheritor?" The surrounding disciples whispered in doubt.

In a top-tier sect, the hierarchy was strict, and the Xuantian Sect was no exception. Compared to a True Inheritor, an outer sect disciple was like a firefly against the full moon—they were not in the same league.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Li." Lin Yan accepted the jade slip, his emotions complex; he was almost moved to tears. As a bottom-tier waste in the outer sect, his status was pitifully low. That Li Wudao, the second-ranked True Inheritor with a limitless future, would lower his status to befriend him, left him truly flattered.

Just then, Wu Shan stepped onto the arena, blocking Lin Yan’s path.

"Lin Yan, you have some nerve, colluding with Li Wudao to deceive everyone. Do you know your crime?" He stared at Lin Yan, his tall, sturdy frame standing like an iron tower, his gaze piercing.

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire arena fell deathly silent. Every disciple had a question mark hanging over their head.

"I don't know what you're talking about... I didn't deceive anyone!" Lin Yan’s mind went blank. Feeling the pressure radiating from the man, his body couldn't stop trembling.

"Still trying to quibble!" Wu Shan shouted, pointing a finger at Lin Yan’s nose. "Who in the entire sect doesn't know you are the most useless? With your aptitude, you managed to master the 'Thunder Cloud Spear' to the level of subtlety in just one hour? Don't you find that hilarious?"

Three questions in a row, each filled with naked humiliation. Lin Yan felt his eyes burning with rage, his fingernails digging deep into his palms. He didn't even know this man, yet the stranger had attacked him so viciously, not treating him like a human being at all.

Just as he was about to explain, Wu Shan cut him off again with a sneer. "You two must have been in on this from the start!"

As he said this, he raised his voice, his gaze shifting to Li Wudao. "In truth, you had already mastered the 'Thunder Cloud Spear' long ago. You staged this act in front of everyone just to create the illusion that Li Wudao has supreme comprehension, all to deceive the other disciples and extort wealth!"

"I didn't! You are slandering me!" Lin Yan shook his head frantically, his face as pale as paper. He felt a deep sense of sorrow and panic, unable to understand why things had turned out this way.

Hearing Wu Shan’s claims, many disciples began to nod in agreement, feeling that something was indeed suspicious.

"He makes a point. Lin Yan’s aptitude is so poor; even with one-on-one guidance, how could he learn it in such a short time?"

"It is indeed strange. And the status gap between Li Wudao and Lin Yan is like heaven and earth. Why would they be so friendly unless... they knew each other beforehand?"

"Guiding any martial art for just one spirit stone, and guaranteeing enlightenment? Thinking about it, there’s definitely a problem. Where would you find such a saint in this world?"

Because of Wu Shan’s interference, the atmosphere in the training grounds shifted drastically in the blink of an eye. Those who had supported Li Wudao began to voice their doubts, and jeers rang out across the arena.

Those close to Li Wudao felt their hearts jump into their throats.

"Impossible! The Young Master is not that kind of person!"

"I believe in Brother Li’s character; he would never do such a thing." The Li family disciples and Qiu Zishi’s group fought back, feeling nothing but hatred for the villain spreading rumors.

"How will you break this situation..." Jiang Churan’s nerves tightened, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on Li Wudao. At this moment, even she hadn't realized how deeply she had come to care for the boy she once viewed as a mere passerby.

"A bunch of fence-sitters." On the stage, Li Wudao shook his head, his heart as calm as still water. No matter how others slandered him, he remained entirely unperturbed. In the face of absolute strength, all conspiracies and schemes were nothing but illusions, crumbling at a single blow.

"You say I colluded with Lin Yan to stage a show, just to earn spirit stones?" Li Wudao walked calmly toward Wu Shan, his tone frigid, his eyes devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

"Y-yes... so what if I did?" Facing those eyes, Wu Shan inexplicably lost his nerve. Even though he was big and burly, standing before Li Wudao, he felt as insignificant as an ant.

Li Wudao smiled. The next moment, he waved his hand. A massive pile of gleaming spirit stones dropped onto the arena floor, overflowing with spiritual energy, crystal clear and incredibly enticing. There were at least five thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"Do you really think I care about the one spirit stone earned from guiding a martial art?" Li Wudao tilted his head, looking down at Wu Shan as if he were a clown.

Looking at the mound of spirit stones, Wu Shan opened his mouth, wanting to say something. However, Li Wudao gave him no chance. With a flick of his wrist, he produced another five thousand low-grade spirit stones.

"Is this enough?" He smiled brightly.

A small mountain of ten thousand spirit stones filled half the arena, shining brighter than diamonds, the vast spiritual energy saturating the air and creating a massive visual impact.

"Honestly, I really don't care for that pittance of spirit stones." Li Wudao looked at the wide-eyed Wu Shan with disdain.

Wu Shan fell silent. The crowd watching the spectacle also fell silent. They had never imagined that Li Wudao would be so wealthy. For an outer sect disciple, these spirit stones were an astronomical figure, equivalent to over eighty years of salary! Even a True Inheritor would have to go without food or drink for over a year and a half to accumulate this much.

If Li Wudao could casually pull out ten thousand spirit stones, how could he possibly be lacking in wealth?

The slander collapsed on its own. It was clear that they had all been used. Many disciples realized the truth and glared at Wu Shan.

"Now that things have come to this, do you have anything else to say? Slandering a True Inheritor in public—according to sect rules, the lighter penalty is the stripping of cultivation, and the heavier is expulsion from the sect!"

Seizing the momentum, Li Wudao pressed his advantage, beating the dog while it was down.