42: drugging

Amidst the deathly silence of the entire arena.

Lin Chen slowly withdrew his gaze from Xiao Qingxue, who lay on the ground, her fate unknown.

Then, he turned around and flashed a brilliant, "innocent" smile at Sect Master Yun Yun, who sat on the main stage, her face deathly pale and her delicate body still trembling slightly.

"Sect Master,"

His voice was not loud, yet it rang out like a thunderclap, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

"According to your previous rules, this Disciple seems to have... luckily won again."

"And, it seems to be... first place."

"The three purple extreme gold pills you personally promised at the celebration banquet, now..."

"Is it not time to honor that promise?"

Demanding a debt!

In front of the entire Sect, he was ruthlessly demanding a gambling debt from this high-and-mighty queen!

Boom—!!!

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire martial arts arena erupted once again!

Everyone stared at Lin Chen with the gaze one might reserve for a madman!

He... he actually dared to provoke the Sect Master, who was already on the verge of explosive rage, at a time like this?!

Was he not afraid that the Sect Master, in a fit of rage, would disregard everything and kill him on the spot?!

On the main stage, after hearing these words, Sect Master Yun Yun's beautiful face, which had only just regained a hint of color, instantly turned livid again!

A terrifying pressure of a Nascent Soul expert uncontrollably flashed from her body for an instant!

Humiliation!

Naked humiliation!

This man not only used his strength to smash her face!

Now, he was using her own words to grind her dignity into the dirt, repeatedly and ruthlessly!

She looked at the youth who appeared "harmless to humans and animals," and the killing intent in her heart reached its peak at this moment!

But...

She could not make a move.

At least, not now.

Under the gaze of everyone, if she were to openly break her promise, how could she, as the Sect Master, command respect in the future?!

In the end.

Yun Yun bit her silver teeth tightly, and almost squeezed a few words out from between them:

"...Fine!"

"Someone come here!"

"Bring... three purple extreme gold pills! Reward... reward them to our... new champion!"

Soon, a jade box containing the three supreme pills was delivered to Lin Chen by a trembling Deacon Elder.

Lin Chen did not even glance at it before casually tucking it into his storage ring.

Then, he smiled slightly once more at the queen on the main seat, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"Many thanks to the Sect Master for the reward."

With that, amidst countless gazes filled with awe and fear, he turned and walked off the Arena Platform with a carefree air.

Watching that departing back, Yun Yun's jade hand, which was gripping the armrest of the throne, tightened abruptly!

The incredibly hard ten-thousand-year profound crystal armrest was actually crushed by her, forming hideous cracks!

"Pass on my order!"

Her voice was so cold, as if it came from the Nine Nether Hell!

"Let 'her' come out of seclusion!"

"The finals, continue!"

...

The night deepened.

Inside Lin Chen's "Heaven-grade" Immortal Cave.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged, toying with the three purple extreme gold pills in his hand, yet no hint of joy could be seen on his face.

He knew that today's victory had completely torn the veil between him and Sect Master Yun Yun.

Tomorrow's final would definitely be a... true battle of life and death!

The "final trump card" that the Sect Master released at the last moment must have strength far exceeding that of Xiao Qingxue!

Just as he was pondering countermeasures.

Outside the Immortal Cave, a faint, almost imperceptible... knocking sound suddenly came.

"Who is it?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Mas... Master... it's... it's me..."

A hoarse female voice, filled with cowardice, humility, and a hint of complex emotions, came from outside the door.

Lin Chen moved his mind, and opened the Restriction of the Immortal Cave.

He saw a familiar yet strange figure curled up outside the door, shivering.

She was wearing the coarsest servant's clothing, her whole body was dirty, and her hair had long lost its former luster, becoming withered, yellow, and split.

She looked like a beggar about to freeze to death in the cold wind.

It was none other than Su Mei, the one whom Lin Chen had personally "drained" of all her cultivation!

"What is it?" Lin Chen's tone remained indifferent.

Su Mei slowly raised her head. Her face, which had once been incomparably enchanting, now held only endless haggardness and humility.

She looked at the man before her who had changed the fate of her life, and a flash of extremely complex emotions crossed her eyes—a mixture of fear, resentment, and a hint of... morbid dependence and longing.

During these few days since losing her cultivation, she had tasted the coldness and warmth of human relationships in the world.

The Junior Sisters who used to fawn over her now avoided her like the plague, or even kicked her while she was down.

She had completely fallen to the lowest level of the Sect, where even a servant dared to bully her at will.

In this despair, her mind uncontrollably recalled that night repeatedly...

Although painful, although humiliating...

But that feeling of being completely filled and completely conquered by an absolute, unmatched masculine force...

Had made her develop a... morbid, poison-drinking-to-quench-thirst kind of... longing!

In the end, she could not help but come looking for him.

"Master..."

She fell to her knees with a "thump" in front of Lin Chen, using all her strength to hug his lower leg, as humble as the most loyal female dog.

"Su Mei... was wrong..."

"Please... take me in..."

"I... I don't want to live that kind of life anymore..."

"I am willing... to do anything for you! Even if it means being the lowliest dog by your side!"

Looking at this "scrap" at his feet, who had been completely broken in by him, no expression could be seen on Lin Chen's face.

He just listened quietly to her tearful complaints.

"I beg you... Master..." Su Mei raised her tear-streaked face, her eyes filled with pleading, "And... and... I... I also heard a... huge conspiracy... concerning you!"

"Oh?" Lin Chen finally showed a hint of interest.

"It's the Sect Master!" Su Mei said hurriedly, "I just overheard a conversation between the Sect Master and several Grand Elders!"

"They... they witnessed your strength and know that in tomorrow's final, 'that person' might not have full certainty of defeating you!"

"So... they... for the sake of the Sect's face, and to ensure nothing goes wrong..."

She looked at Lin Chen, her voice trembling, and spat out that vicious plan.

"They are planning... to put a kind of... forbidden drug called [Bone-Softening and Flesh-Corroding Powder] into your food tonight!"