18: sarcastic remarks

The Outer Sect testing ground had become the most boisterous and volatile place in the entire Qingyun Sect.

Ever since the news of the Minor Competition was announced, this place had been swept up in a Cultivate craze. From sunrise to sunset, the grounds were always packed with figures drenched in sweat. The sound of fists and feet tearing through the air, the clash of weapons, and the low groans of exhaustion intertwined into a symphony of anxiety and struggle.

Every Disciple fought desperately on these grounds, battling both their own weak Cultivation and the looming threat of “expulsion” hanging over their heads.

This afternoon, a corner of the testing ground was even more crowded, with a circle of Disciples gathered to watch the excitement, blocking the already congested area completely.

At the center of the crowd were Zhao Tian and his inseparable group of followers.

Zhao Tian's right hand was still tightly wrapped in white cloth and hung across his chest. Although his injury was no longer serious thanks to the Sect's lowest-grade Medicinal Pill, his disheveled appearance constantly reminded him of the great humiliation he had suffered that day.

Every time he felt the strange looks from the surrounding Disciples, the resentment and fury in his heart would grow wildly.

He attributed all of this to that good-for-nothing — Lin Ye — who had made him lose face in public!

"Senior Brother Zhao is mighty! This 'Mountain-Splitting Fist' has improved greatly compared to half a month ago!" A follower, looking at the shallow pit Zhao Tian had punched into the wooden stake with his left hand, fawned over him with a flattering expression.

Zhao Tian snorted coldly, retracting his fist, but there was no hint of pride on his face. He glanced at his useless right hand, his eyes growing even more sinister.

"Hmph, just some crude techniques, nothing to boast about," he said, feigning indifference, but then his tone sharply changed, and his voice deliberately rose a few notches, ensuring everyone nearby could hear clearly, "Speaking of which, I really 'admire' a certain person. When disaster strikes, everyone else is desperately Cultivating, but he, like nothing's happened, still chops wood and carries water every day. I think he knows he's doomed, so he's just lying flat and waiting to die!"

As soon as these words came out, the surrounding Disciples immediately understood, and all showed expressions of anticipating a good show. Everyone knew that the “certain person” Zhao Tian spoke of referred to that lucky Lin Ye.

"Isn't Senior Brother Zhao talking about that good-for-nothing Lin Ye?" Another follower immediately chimed in, shouting in an exaggerated tone, "That kid isn't just lying flat! I saw him this morning, carrying water buckets, strolling leisurely along the mountain path. With that relaxed look, one would think he was here to sightsee in our Qingyun Sect!"

"Hahaha! Sightseeing? I think he knows his pathetic skills are utterly useless! He was lucky enough to injure Senior Brother Zhao last time, but he's used up all his luck for this lifetime! This Minor Competition is serious business; his dog-shit luck won't work anymore!"

"In my opinion, in this Minor Competition, the first one to be eliminated and kicked out will definitely be Lin Ye!"

Zhao Tian and his followers took turns speaking, their voices neither too loud nor too soft, yet like pebbles tossed into the already anxious and restless crowd, they quickly stirred up ripples of disdain.

"What they're saying seems to make sense; that Lin Ye really hasn't been seen Cultivating at the testing ground recently."

"Not only hasn't he been here, but I heard he's still the same every day, going back to his room to sleep after finishing his work, completely living in a different world from us."

"Sigh, he's truly hopeless! He had such great luck last time; I thought he'd seize the opportunity to catch up, but he's still acting like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water."

"This is fate! A good-for-nothing will always be a good-for-nothing. Even if he occasionally picks up a gold ingot, it won't change his fate of being a beggar! This Minor Competition, he's doomed!"

Laughter, contempt, disdain, pity… all sorts of discussions merged into an invisible wave of sound, completely branding Lin Ye as a public enemy who had “given up and was waiting for elimination."

In an environment where everyone felt insecure, belittling someone more pathetic than themselves seemed to provide a morbid release for the immense pressure in their hearts. It was as if, as long as Lin Ye was at the bottom, they themselves would be a little safer.

Just as this wave of sound reached its peak, a thin figure, carrying a bundle of freshly chopped firewood, slowly walked down the mountain path beside the testing ground.

It was Lin Ye.

He had just finished his afternoon chores and was on his way back to the utility yard to report.

His appearance instantly silenced the entire testing ground for a moment, and then, all eyes focused on him. Those gazes were like countless sharp knives scraping against him.

Seeing the main character appear, Zhao Tian's sneer deepened. He wanted to say these words to Lin Ye's face; he wanted to savor the humiliated expression of this good-for-nothing, who dared not be angry or speak out!

Lin Ye's footsteps seemed to pause due to this sudden attention.

He looked up, his dark eyes calmly scanning the faces filled with mockery and disdain, and finally, his gaze met Zhao Tian's venomous stare in the center of the crowd for a moment.

There was no anger, no explanation, no hint of emotional fluctuation.

He just looked calmly, then, as if nothing had happened, he quietly withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and with the heavy firewood still on his shoulder, he resumed walking forward.

His steps were neither fast nor slow, steady and powerful, as if the overwhelming wave of sound around him was merely a gentle breeze passing through the mountains, unable even to stir the corner of his clothes.

And so, under the gaze of dozens of complex eyes, he walked quietly past the crowd, step by step, eventually disappearing at the end of the mountain path.

He heard nothing.

His reaction made Zhao Tian, who had prepared a belly full of even more malicious words, feel as if he had punched cotton, an indescribable discomfort.

To the other Disciples, Lin Ye's "submissive" demeanor further confirmed their suspicions—this good-for-nothing was completely numb, lacking even the courage to retort.

"Hmph! Did you see that? He's a good-for-nothing whose bones have been pulled out!" Zhao Tian cursed in exasperation, "We'll see! On the day of the Minor Competition, I want to see how he cries as he's driven out of the Sect!"

...Away from the commotion, Lin Ye's face remained as calm as an ancient well.

Others' mockery? Zhao Tian's venom?

To him, they were nothing more than the noisy chirping of summer insects.

How can a sparrow know the aspirations of a swan?

While their attention was still focused on who would be eliminated, Lin Ye's gaze had already passed beyond this small Outer Sect, looking towards a broader world.

Returning to the familiar wooden house, night fell once again.

Lin Ye lay on his bed, his consciousness sinking into the world only he could see.

On the light blue panel, data faithfully reflected the results of his hard Cultivation over the past twenty days.

["Task One: Iron Sand Palm (Minor Achievement). Current Proficiency: 250/500."]

["Task Two: Golden Bell Shield (Not yet initiated). Current Proficiency: 90/100."]

"The Golden Bell Shield, just ten more proficiency points, and tonight... I can initiate it!"

Lin Ye's heart was ablaze.

He didn't hesitate for a moment, activating the dual-hang-up mode again.

The outside world's sarcasm and ridicule were the best camouflage for him.

Let everyone think he was a good-for-nothing.

He only needed to silently accumulate strength in this endless night, waiting for that Shi Potian moment.