99: Chapter 99 You want me, a mere Qi Refining stage cultivator, to fill in? Fine then.

The entire venue fell silent.

Everyone understood what was meant.

Leng Ningshuang was forcing the Sect Master's hand, using the entire Hehuan Sect's reputation as a wager to force Xu Ruyu to appear.

Either Xu Ruyu would come out and fight Fairy Caidie in front of everyone—the result most likely being a crushing defeat and the ruin of his reputation.

Or, Xu Ruyu would act like a coward, unable to hold his head high in the Hehuan Sect ever again, his title as a Personal Disciple becoming meaningless.

Either way, Leng Ningshuang had achieved her goal.

On the high platform, Liu Rurao watched this scene with great interest, the smile at the corners of her mouth deepening. Interesting, simply too interesting.

Internal strife in the Hehuan Sect, dogs biting dogs—this drama was far more entertaining than a simple duel.

Elder Hu's face turned livid; he wanted to rebuke Leng Ningshuang for disregarding the bigger picture, but he didn't know where to start.

Because what she said, at least on the surface, was perfectly reasonable.

The Grand Elder narrowed his eyes, seemingly weighing something.

Just at this moment of stalemate, when the atmosphere had almost frozen—

A voice, cold and clear as an ice spring, drifted faintly from the direction of Ningyin Hall, echoing clearly in everyone's ears:

"What Leng Ningshuang says is not without reason."

It was Sect Leader Xiao!

Everyone's heart tightened.

They heard Sect Leader Xiao continue: "Since Xu Ruyu is my Personal Disciple, he ought to bear the corresponding responsibilities. Elder Hu, send someone to the Hall of Power Transmission and invite Xu Ruyu to the Law Execution Platform."

Elder Hu was stunned, then quickly bowed: "Yes! But Sect Master, Junior Brother Xu's cultivation is still shallow after all. If..."

"I have my own judgment." Sect Leader Xiao's voice was calm but carried an unquestionable majesty. "Fairy Caidie."

Fairy Caidie hurriedly restrained her smile and bowed respectfully: "This Junior is here."

"When you spar with my Disciple, you must suppress your cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage." Sect Leader Xiao said slowly, "This is the rule I previously established. Do you have any objections?"

A flash of unwillingness crossed Fairy Caidie's eyes, but recalling that terrifying pressure from before, she lowered her head and said: "This Junior dares not. Since Sect Leader Xiao has given the order, this Junior will naturally comply."

"Very good." Sect Leader Xiao's voice paused, "Remember, this is just a spar; stop when appropriate. If anyone dares to use underhanded means... they will bear the consequences."

The last four words were chilling.

Fairy Caidie shuddered and said repeatedly: "This Junior understands!"

On the high platform, a sharp light flashed in Liu Rurao's eyes.

Suppressed to the Qi Refinement Stage? What game is Sect Leader Xiao playing? Could it be that Xu Ruyu really has something strange about him?

Off the stage, the Hehuan Sect Disciples looked at each other, their feelings complex.

The Sect Master actually agreed!

Xu Ruyu was really going to fight!

But the problem was... even if Fairy Caidie suppressed her cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage, she was still a Golden Core Stage Cultivator at her core. Her combat experience, understanding of techniques, and strength of Divine Sense—which of these wouldn't crush a genuine Qi Refinement Stage Cultivator?

This was simply not a fair duel.

But things had reached this point, and no one could change it.

Elder Hu sighed and said to a deacon Disciple beside him: "Go to the Hall of Power Transmission and invite Junior Brother Xu over. Just say... the Sect Master has ordered him to come to the Law Execution Platform to spar with a Fellow Daoist from the Meiying Sect."

"Yes."

The deacon Disciple hurried away.

Leng Ningshuang stood on the stage, her white robes fluttering, her expression calm.

Only deep in her eyes did a complex and indescribable look flash.

She had won the gamble.

The Sect Master would indeed let Xu Ruyu fight.

But for some reason, when this moment truly arrived, she didn't feel the satisfaction she had imagined.

Instead... there was a trace of inexplicable emptiness.

Off the stage, Ning Caihe had already regained consciousness, his face pale as he was supported by his fellow Disciples.

He looked at Leng Ningshuang on the stage, opened his mouth, but ultimately it turned into a sigh.

Liu Rufeng clutched his chest, his eyes gloomy.

Zhao Yan was still unconscious and had been carried away for treatment.

Everyone was waiting.

Waiting for that Sect Master's Personal Disciple who had been pushed into the limelight.

Waiting for this "spar" that was destined to be unfair.

At this moment, Xu Ruyu had just lifted his head from a Jade Slip recording the theory of the "Nine Turns of the Qi Sea," rubbing his swollen temples as he muttered to himself:

"So, according to this theory, my current 'Qi Refinement Fifth Layer' might be because my Taixu True Qi is too pure and concentrated, causing a qualitative change in my Qi Sea, requiring more accumulation to break through to the next stage? Then, just how many times does this so-called 'Nine Turns' need to turn..."

He had no idea that a storm aimed at him had already descended.

Until the door of the Hall of Power Transmission was hurriedly pushed open, and a deacon Disciple ran up to him, panting:

"Junior, Junior Brother Xu! The Sect Master has ordered you to immediately head to the Law Execution Platform at Yunhai Square!"

Xu Ruyu was stunned: "The Law Execution Platform? What am I going there for?"

The deacon Disciple had a strange expression, stammering: "Well... the Meiying Sect is visiting and is currently sparring with our Sect's Disciples... The Sect Master said to invite you to go... and accept the challenge."

Xu Ruyu: "...?"

He blinked, thinking he had misheard.

Accept the challenge?

Him?

A small Cultivator at the fifth layer of the Qi Refinement Stage?

Go accept a challenge?

"Are you sure you didn't pass on the message wrong?" Xu Ruyu asked tentatively.

"Absolutely certain!" The deacon Disciple said anxiously, "Senior Sister Leng Ningshuang personally recommended you, saying that since you are the Sect Master's Personal Disciple, you ought to fight for the Sect!

The Sect Master has already agreed, and Fairy Caidie of the Meiying Sect will suppress her cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage during the bout. Please hurry and come with me, everyone is waiting!"

Xu Ruyu fell silent.

He slowly stood up and brushed the non-existent dust off his moon-white Disciple robes.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Leng Ningshuang's recommendation? Forcing the Sect Master's hand?

The Meiying Sect? Fairy Caidie? Suppressing cultivation to the Qi Refinement Stage?

Everyone was waiting to see a joke made out of him, the "Sect Master's Personal Disciple"?

Heh.

Xu Ruyu suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, but it carried an indescribable flavor.

"Alright." He said softly, "Then let's... go for a walk."

He wanted to see how this "play" that had been carefully prepared for him would be performed.

And how he, the "protagonist," would... stun the entire audience.