359: Chapter 359 Joy and Schemes

On the street, two ordinary-looking women walked side by side.

One was taller, and the other was shorter.

The taller one wore a light green dress, her hair pinned up, with an ordinary face that would easily blend into a crowd.

The shorter one wore a light blue top, her hair tied in a ponytail, with an equally ordinary and unremarkable face.

The two walked through the crowd without attracting any attention.

No one knew that these two ordinary-looking women were the Tianlang Empire's King Xuanyin and her Disciple, Ai Wei.

Both of them had used a secret technique to alter their appearances.

Hearing the discussions of the people around them, they laughed inwardly.

King Xuanyin transmitted her voice to Ai Wei:

"Weiwei, when you make your appearance and reveal your cultivation level, what kind of expressions do you think they will make?"

The smile at the corner of Ai Wei's mouth deepened:

"It'll definitely be fun. Every single one of them thinks they've got this in the bag, only to find out their opponent is a seventh-stage. Just thinking about their expressions is exciting."

The two of them could already imagine the scene three days from now.

The spectators of the Lingyuan Empire going from excitement to shock, from shock to despair, and from despair to silence.

That scene would definitely be very amusing.

The more they thought about it, the happier they became, and their steps grew a bit lighter.

...

King Xuanyin and Ai Wei walked into a teahouse and found a seat by the window.

The teahouse wasn't large, decorated in a simple, ancient style, with quite a few customers.

Sitting at the surrounding tables were all Martial Artists of the Lingyuan Empire, chatting enthusiastically, and their topic of conversation was entirely about the Friendship Tournament.

"The Sword Origin Body! That's a legendary Physique! Its offensive power is unparalleled!"

"The Ice Phoenix Divine Body is even more powerful! I heard that when cultivated to a profound level, one can undergo Nirvana and Rebirth!"

"This time, we are sure to win!"

"Yes! We are sure to win!"

King Xuanyin picked up her teacup, took a sip, and a hint of a smile flashed in her eyes.

She had been in Lingyuan City for over two months now.

Not long after she arrived, she had already gathered information on the participants from the Lingyuan Empire.

Ten contestants: two with special Physiques, and eight ordinary Geniuses.

All at Sixth Order Completion, with no seventh-stage.

When King Xuanyin saw this list, she already had a plan in mind.

She had someone spread the news about the Sword Origin Body and the Ice Phoenix Divine Body.

It wasn't out of kindness, but to get the people of Lingyuan hyped up in advance.

When the tournament began and Ai Wei made her entrance, she would reveal her seventh-stage cultivation and crush everything.

The emotions of the Lingyuan people would fall from the highest peak to the lowest depth.

That contrast, that despair, that silence...

Just thinking about it was exciting.

King Xuanyin had thought that once the people of the Lingyuan Empire found out, they would immediately spread the news about the Tianlang Empire having a seventh-stage combatant to dampen the hype and keep their citizens from getting their hopes up.

After all, that would be the logical move.

Informing them in advance to cool down expectations beforehand, so that the disappointment wouldn't be as crushing.

Yet, there was absolutely no movement from the Lingyuan Empire's side.

No news was spread, no hype was suppressed—nothing.

Their citizens were still immersed in their beautiful dream, still believing they were guaranteed to win.

King Xuanyin didn't suspect any trap.

Those ten contestants were already the best the Lingyuan Empire had meticulously nurtured.

If there were anyone stronger, they would have been selected long ago.

A Genius couldn't just pop out of the ground out of nowhere, could they?

That was too absurd.

Besides, even if one did pop up, so what?

The Ai Wei she had personally nurtured was at the seventh-stage.

The Friendship Tournament had been held for ten thousand years, and this was the very first time there was a seventh-stage contestant.

There was a massive chasm between the sixth-stage and the seventh-stage.

The suppression of a Domain by a World Projection was not something talent or a Physique could make up for.

King Xuanyin couldn't conceive of any way the Lingyuan Empire could turn the tables.

They couldn't do it.

It was simply impossible.

She simply assumed that the Lingyuan Empire had completely given up.

She was ready to watch the show three days from now.

"Too boring," King Xuanyin put down her teacup, her tone carrying a hint of laziness. "There isn't even a single variable."

Ai Wei chimed in, "Indeed. They are still immersed in their beautiful dream. I almost feel bad about crushing them like this."

King Xuanyin looked at her with a half-smile. "Oh? Is that so?"

Ai Wei giggled, revealing two little canine teeth. "Of course it's fake. I'll definitely crush them ruthlessly this time to make Revered Master proud."

King Xuanyin smiled.

The two of them became cheerful once again.

...

While King Xuanyin and Ai Wei were enjoying themselves,

King Blood Axe and the other two were also enjoying themselves.

Lin Yun's existence had been kept a secret the entire time.

On the surface, the contestants had always been those ten.

The Sword Origin Body, the Ice Phoenix Divine Body, and eight ordinary Geniuses.

No one knew that there was also Lin Yun.

No one knew that Lin Yun had cultivated a Heaven-tier Top-grade Defensive Battle Technique to Major Achievement in just one month.

No one knew that the Lingyuan Empire was hiding such a trump card.

Their contact over these past few days had all been in private, without going through any official channels.

King Blood Axe and the other two had not let Lin Yun meet with the other contestants either.

They would wait until the tournament started, and then swap him in and announce it when it was time to step onto the stage.

The three of them could already imagine the scene three days from now.

The Tianlang Empire's side thought they were guaranteed to win.

King Xuanyin thought everything was under her control.

Ai Wei thought a seventh-stage could crush everything.

The result...

On the Lingyuan Empire's side, Lin Yun would suddenly appear.

At Sixth Order Completion, with the Space Domain, and a Major Achievement in the Void Barrier.

Ai Wei's attacks landing on him would feel like nothing at all.

Meanwhile, Ai Wei wouldn't be able to block Lin Yun's attacks.

Just thinking about that scene was exciting.

King Blood Axe and the other two looked forward to it just thinking about it.

How spectacular would the faces of King Xuanyin and the people of the Tianlang Empire be when the time came?

Shock? Disbelief? Flying into a rage out of humiliation?

No matter what it was, it would definitely be a sight to behold.

However, what the three of them were worried about now was not the tournament itself.

They had already verified Lin Yun's strength.

With a Major Achievement in the Void Barrier, Ai Wei wouldn't be able to break through his defense.

With the Mirror Corridor Sword Formation at Perfection, Ai Wei wouldn't be able to block it.

This match was a guaranteed win.

What they were worried about was another matter...

When the tournament began, what if King Xuanyin did it again—just like at the start of the auction, looking back with a smile that charmed the entire venue?

At that time, the spectators of Lingyuan City would all have their souls stolen away.

It was the Lingyuan Empire's home ground, yet everyone would end up mesmerized by the Tianlang Empire's King Xuanyin.

That scene would be way too embarrassing.

Thinking of this, King Blood Axe looked at King Feiyun. "When will that person arrive?"

King Feiyun said, "Tomorrow."

King Blood Axe let out a sigh of relief. "That's good."

That person.

The perfect person.

Unlike King Xuanyin's seductive temperament, that person was like a Fairy from the heavens and could suppress her.

With her around, King Xuanyin wouldn't dare to act presumptuously.

Seeing King Blood Axe look so relieved, King Feiyun couldn't help but tease him.

"You, the grand King Blood Axe, are actually afraid of a woman?"

King Blood Axe glared at her. "Aren't you afraid too?"

King Feiyun's smile froze, and she stopped talking.

Ziyi stood to the side, and seeing the two of them like that, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

King Blood Axe and King Feiyun looked at her at the same time.

Ziyi quickly stifled her smile and said solemnly, "I'll go confirm tomorrow's schedule."

After saying that, she turned and left.

The voices of King Blood Axe and King Feiyun came from behind her.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I wasn't laughing."

"You clearly laughed."

"I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

Ziyi quickened her pace and disappeared at the end of the corridor.

...

Lin Yun was completely unaware of all this.

He still cultivated during the day and was passionate at night.

During the day, he cultivated "Void Barrier" in the garden.

Although it had already reached Major Achievement, it still needed to be consolidated, adapted to, and polished.

A Major Achievement in the Void Barrier was only the beginning.

Real combat wasn't something cultivated; it was forged through fighting.

He needed to integrate the Void Barrier into his instincts, making it a part of his body.

Only then could he use it naturally in combat without needing to think or prepare; with just a single thought, the barrier would form on its own.

At night, the lights in the Revered Master bedroom still stayed lit until dawn.

Fei Xue, Feiying, and Ruozao still stayed in the adjoining room.

Appearing on time every night, watching on time every night.

The three of them had already grown accustomed to this kind of life.

Chatting about everything under the sun with Lin Yun during the day, and watching Lin Yun and his wife get passionate at night.

Although they would still blush, their hearts would still race, and their legs would still go weak.

But at least, they wouldn't feel like steam was rising from their heads like in the beginning.

At least, they could stand and watch through the entire night.

Looking at how Ruozao was gradually getting used to it, Lu Shan was delighted in her heart.

It would be soon.

After the tournament, Zaozao would marry in.

When that time came, she wouldn't be watching from the adjoining room anymore.

She would be lying in bed, together with her.

Just thinking about it made Lu Shan look forward to it.

Noticing Lu Shan's gaze, Ruozao's face flushed red again.

She didn't know what Lu Shan was thinking, but she knew it definitely wasn't anything proper.

Because Lu Shan's gaze was just too familiar.

She had seen that kind of gaze countless times from the adjoining room.

It was the look Lin Yun gave his wife.

It was the look his wife gave Lin Yun.

It was that kind of...

Ruozao didn't dare to think about it anymore, lowering her head and staring at the floor.

But her ears had turned completely red.