CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 78: PAY-TO-WIN PLAYER (SEEKING INVESTMENT AND FOLLOW-UP READS)

「The next afternoon, Qingmu Tavern.」

The small group with Lin Yiru at its core gathered once again, but this time, Zhao Gonghe was absent. Zhao Gonghe lay in a sickbed in Zhengren Clinic on Paulownia Peak, his body wrapped in white bandages like a mummy. He wanted to sleep, but the slightest rustle or breeze brought such pain that he couldn’t help but grit his teeth.

"Yiru, this is the ’Li Jianxiang’ information that Junior Brother Gonghe paid a heavy price for," a female disciple said, handing a piece of paper to Lin Yiru.

Lin Yiru responded, "Junior Brother Gonghe has worked hard." She then took the paper and began to read the information about Li Jianxiang that Zhao Gonghe had recorded.

The handwriting on the paper was crooked yet painstakingly neat, clearly showing the author’s poor physical condition when writing it. Seeing this, Lin Yiru couldn’t help but feel a surge of respect for Zhao Gonghe in her heart. This was precisely why Zhao Gonghe, even though he could have dictated for someone else to write, insisted on personally writing it despite the severe pain. His dedication was truly painstaking.

After a brief review, a slight smile touched Lin Yiru’s lips. This Li Jianxiang seems to be all bark and no bite, she thought. Let’s see how I’ll calmly defeat him!

Under the gaze of the others, Lin Yiru placed the paper on the clean, wooden dining table. "Everyone, come closer," she said. "Let’s analyze this information about Li Jianxiang together. We can’t let Junior Brother Gonghe’s efforts go to waste."

The other five cultivator disciples leaned in. After reviewing the paper, they began discussing, one after another identifying even more weaknesses in Li Jianxiang than Lin Yiru had noticed. Their insights were deeper and more numerous. Listening to her friends’ summations, Lin Yiru was overjoyed, her entire being feeling light and buoyant.

At this moment, she was brimming with confidence. I, Lin Yiru, am determined to claim a spot among the top ten in the Sect’s competition for new disciples! Father, Wushang, even without your help, I can still prove myself to everyone. I am me, I am Lin Yiru!

...

...

Soon, Lin Yiru’s three-person arena match was about to begin.

Hong Yuan purposefully left the courtyard and headed to the Martial Arts Field, finding Zhu Wushang and joining him.

Zhu Wushang was initially surprised to see Hong Yuan approaching, as he had thought Hong Yuan would continue to stay in his small building, embracing solitude.

Heh, Hong Yuan was cautious, not foolish; he understood a thing or two about worldly ways. In some situations, if you show up, the leader might not remember you. If you don’t show up, the leader will definitely remember you. Besides, I have plenty of time; staying here for just a morning is nothing.

"Yuan, you’ve had dealings with Li Jianxiang before. Share your impression of him," Zhu Wushang said, patting the empty seat next to him, indicating for Hong Yuan to sit to his right.

"Li Jianxiang?" Hong Yuan tilted his head, trying hard to remember. He didn’t know whom Zhu Wushang was referring to. He had experienced so much, both in his own body and as a Demonic Beast Avatar, that if someone wasn’t particularly notable, he likely wouldn’t remember them.

"You don’t remember?" Zhu Wushang suddenly raised his head, looking at Hong Yuan with wonder. This Li Jianxiang caused Xiaoru and the others so much trouble they couldn’t even sleep, yet Yuan, this kid, doesn’t even know who Li Jianxiang is, despite their past interactions.

Just as Hong Yuan was about to answer Zhu Wushang’s question, the three-person duel on the arena stage was about to start.

DANG! DANG! DANG!

Hong Yuan and Zhu Wushang immediately stopped their conversation and focused their attention on the stage.

Zhu Wushang began to shout loudly, cheering for Lin Yiru. His cheering alone surpassed the support from the Talisman Array Hall disciples for Li Jianxiang.

Hong Yuan was so surprised that he began to doubt whether his usually composed senior brother had been possessed. My senior brother has such a side to him?

So, Hong Yuan also started shouting loudly, cheering for Lin Yiru. To play a role, one must commit to the performance.

"Yiru, you can do it! Come on!!!"

Hong Yuan’s resonant voice carried far, and Zhu Wushang cast an approving glance at him. Then, the cheers of the two martial brothers rose higher and higher, like waves, instantly drawing the attention of the entire audience.

On the platform, Li Jianxiang felt, for the first time, that the cheering for his side had been surpassed. He whispered in admiration to Lin Yiru, "Not bad at all. Worthy of being Elder Lin’s daughter."

SQUEAK.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yiru unconsciously gripped the hilt of her Changchun Sword tightly, her gaze towards Li Jianxiang already frosty. You’re courting death!

"DANG!" An outer sect officer struck the copper drum and then announced, "The match begins!"

As soon as the match began, Lin Yiru launched a fierce attack on Li Jianxiang. Each sword strike aimed at the weak points in Li Jianxiang’s movement technique. With the help of the other competitor, Li Jianxiang was briefly put at a disadvantage.

BOOM! RUMBLE!

The sounds of Talismans exploding, weapons clashing, and True Essence colliding filled the air. The scene was exceptionally intense.

Seeing such a dangerous situation, Zhu Wushang’s cheers for Lin Yiru grew quieter. He stood up anxiously, craning his neck to see if Lin Yiru was injured. Hong Yuan, seeing this, also gradually stopped his cheers, standing up with Zhu Wushang, his expression showing deep, tight-lipped concern for Lin Yiru’s condition.

Soon enough, the first combatant was defeated, leaving only Lin Yiru and Li Jianxiang on the field. However, despite the clear disparity in strength now that it was one-on-one, Lin Yiru smiled instead of despairing.

"Li Jianxiang, I’ve long seen through your moves!"

Lin Yiru snorted coldly and immediately took out a stack of second-order Ice Arrow Talismans from her bosom, confidently throwing them at Li Jianxiang. The target was precisely the blind spot in Li Jianxiang’s Nine Heavens Sword movement technique that they had researched!

Multiple ice arrows coalesced in mid-air, then shot straight toward the blind spots in Li Jianxiang’s movement technique. Upon seeing another opponent use Talismans, Li Jianxiang felt a sense of helplessness. Throughout his journey in the Sect competition, he had witnessed too many disciples not from the Talisman Array Hall using Talismans more adroitly than he, a Talisman Array Hall cultivator, ever could.

WHOOSH!

With a leap and a sweeping sword stroke, Li Jianxiang dodged most of the ice arrow attacks, while the few that reached him were forcefully blocked by his Body-protecting True Essence.

"Huh?! That’s all the effect it had?" Lin Yiru was puzzled. Could it be that the intelligence Junior Brother Gonghe gathered was incomplete!?

Thinking this, Lin Yiru continued to frantically throw second-order Talismans. Although Li Jianxiang was unable to organize an effective counterattack, he managed to hold his ground overall.

Lin Yiru’s confidence began to waver. What she thought was a certain victory now seemed like an unpredictable, even match.

On the spectator stands, Hong Yuan watched each of Lin Yiru’s attacks, costing thousands of Energy Stones, making his heart itch. If not for his senior brother being there, Hong Yuan would have also liked to jeer at Lin Yiru, this big spender, like the other ordinary spectators. This Lin Yiru really doesn’t treat Energy Stones like Energy Stones!

Meanwhile, Zhu, who was nearby, frowned, deeply puzzled. He couldn’t comprehend where Yiru had gotten so many Talismans, since Lin Yiru simply refused to accept gifts from him and their Master.

Damn it, how can Li Jianxiang be so difficult to deal with? Had I known, I should have borrowed more Energy Stones from Yang Sen, Lin Yiru fumed internally. She found the current situation incredibly tricky. And it’s not just the Talismans; the True Essence in my Energy Sea is also running low...

On the platform, Li Jianxiang, who was battling Lin Yiru, was now furious. He, a fellow Elder’s descendant, was actually being suppressed by Lin Yiru, pelted with Energy Stones until he couldn’t raise his head, forced to scurry about like a cornered rat. He was clearly the one with higher cultivation and deeper martial skills!

At this moment, due to Lin Yiru’s tactics, Li Jianxiang significantly revised his previously disdainful view of Formations and Talismans.

"Damn Lin Yiru, daring to pelt me with Energy Stones! You better not give me an opening to counterattack!" Li Jianxiang seethed, his anger stoked by Lin Yiru.