Standing on the western side of the audience stands, Luo Nichang couldn't help but look up when she saw the newcomer. She quickly buried her face in the deep ravine of her cleavage.
The sight of Ji Chang instantly brought back memories of their frenzied night in his cave.
Knowing full well there were ghosts present, Ji Chang had naturally avoided the main path. For those few Foundation Establishment Pills, she had debased herself like the lowest of prostitutes, never imagining that even...
Leaving Luo Nichang's inner turmoil aside, on the Martial Arena, Ji Chang raised his gaze to meet the male lead's eyes.
Come to think of it, this was his first time meeting Ling Feng in person.
With his numerous female companions, Ling Feng's appearance matched the original novel's description almost perfectly: handsome features, resolute eyes—the very picture of a virtuous and upright man.
Sometimes, a friendly facade can indeed earn one significant favor.
But having devoured the original novel, Ji Chang knew this was merely Ling Feng's carefully crafted mask.
Orphaned after his father's death, with a stepmother who was not his blood relative, young Ling Feng had endured relentless bullying in the original narrative. This righteous, benevolent persona was a facade he had perfected since childhood.
In reality, he was ruthless and cunning!
This was evident in his calculated exploitation of his stepmother, turning her schemes against their orchestrator.
Later, to ingratiate himself with inexperienced Fairies and Holy Maidens from powerful backgrounds, Ling Feng went so far as to lure Demonic Cultivators and Demon Beasts to their paths, allowing them to wreak havoc. Then, he would dramatically intervene alongside these Fairies and Holy Maidens, slaying demons and monsters in a show of righteous heroism.
Consider this: the Western Wilderness alone spanned vast distances. The Divine Dao Sect, a pillar of the Righteous Path, had suppressed the Demonic Path within its borders for millennia, while the Western Wilderness Ji Clan guarded its frontiers against the Demon Race. Any scattered Demon Beasts or Demonic Cultivators that infiltrated the Western Wilderness, or even the entire Qingyuan Continent, were like mere drops of water dissolving into the sea.
How could so many coincidences occur—each involving a renowned Fairy or Holy Maiden just happening to be traveling through the area, with Ling Feng always conveniently present?
Clearly, this protagonist wasn't the righteous hero he appeared to be.
While Ji Chang scrutinized Ling Feng, Ling Feng was sizing him up in return.
Though Ji Chang's earlier display of power hadn't affected him directly, failing to retaliate would make Ling Feng appear inherently inferior to this Ji Clan upstart.
Lacking a similar technique, Ling Feng's mind raced until he conceived a plan.
He first bowed respectfully toward the sect elders and referees seated to the east before stepping forward, his voice ringing with righteous indignation:
"Ji Chang, do you not realize the importance of today's True Disciple Competition?"
"The entire Divine Dao Sect's Inner Sect, including the Inner Sect elders and all the Chief Seats, have been waiting for you alone! Yet you dare to arrive so late!"
"Do you think you're more esteemed than all the True Persons, even the Chief Seat?!"
"Have you no respect for your elders and teachers?!"
This barrage of accusations slapped Ji Chang with the labels of "disrespectful," "arrogant," and "tyrannical."
Many secretly nodded in agreement, their gazes shifting to Ji Chang.
Under the scrutiny of so many True Persons and even a True Monarch, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would have crumbled under the pressure, trembling with fear.
But Ji Chang was no ordinary man.
To be honest, in terms of status and position, as the sole heir of the Ji Clan—a top-tier aristocratic family—and a renowned prodigy, even though he wasn't yet the Ji Clan's Young Master, he held greater prestige than most Golden Core True Persons.
However, he couldn't say that aloud. Now that he was a disciple of the Divine Dao Sect, he had to at least maintain a facade of respect for his elders and teachers. Otherwise, any perceived moral flaw, no matter how strong his abilities, would disqualify him from becoming a True Inheritance Disciple—a representative of the Divine Dao Sect's honor.
After all, even the Demonic Path wouldn't glorify patricide and betrayal as virtues.
This swift counterstrike caught many off guard.
Ling Feng truly was no pushover!
"Last night, I experienced a sudden breakthrough in my cultivation. To stabilize my realm, I arrived slightly late. I believe that's within the rules, isn't it?"
Ji Chang stood with one hand clasped behind his back, a subtle Law Intent slowly emanating from him.
Only those who had perfected their magical techniques had a chance of comprehending the True Meaning. More than half of the top ten experts in the Inner Sect had reached this level.
But Ji Chang had never revealed this ability before. Now, claiming to have grasped this Law Intent during a sudden enlightenment last night, even if most people didn't believe him, there was nothing they could do.
After all, he had provided a plausible explanation!
Some clueless disciples with no influential backing readily accepted his claim.
However, a handful of observers on the first-tier spectator seats and the eastern VIP platform exchanged knowing glances.
Several divine senses swiftly swept over Luo Nichang, who sat uneasily on the western side.
They knew perfectly well that last night, Ling Feng's adoptive mother had visited Phoenix Cry Peak, only to emerge later, staggering slightly, her face flushed.
Any sane person could guess what had transpired.
Using this tactic to undermine Ling Feng's mental state, though somewhat against the rules, was tacitly condoned out of respect for the Ji Clan.
*Huff...*
Though the probing gazes were fleeting, Luo Nichang, her attention fully focused on the match, still sensed them.
In an instant, her breathing faltered, her heart raced, and a blush bloomed across her alluring face once more.
Her slender, pale hands tightened their grip on the nearby railing.
"You—!"
Similarly, this revelation completely shattered Ling Feng's composure. He, the mastermind behind the plan to turn the tables, found himself completely disarmed.
A terrifying murderous aura radiated from his entire being!
*Cultivation?*
*Cultivation my ass!*
*Last night, he was clearly cultivating his...*
His qi and blood surged, his magical power coursed through him rapidly. He yearned to kill the man before him with a single strike, yet strangely, he felt this unprecedented state was ideal for cultivation. After all, no previous attempts to channel his magical power or circulate his Cultivation Technique had ever brought both his mind and body to such an extreme.
If Ji Chang could hear Ling Feng's thoughts, he would undoubtedly think: *No wonder this novel became such a hit in its previous life.*
*So the male lead had these tendencies from the very beginning.*
*Huff...*
Taking a deep breath, Ling Feng regained a sliver of his composure and roared in protest:
"Stop twisting the truth, Ji Chang!"
"I know exactly what you did last night!"
These words caused Luo Nichang, seated in the audience, to sway precariously, her face ashen.
*Could Feng'er really be... revealing such a thing in public?*
Recalling Ji Chang's words from the previous night, the beautiful young woman couldn't bear to listen any further. She couldn't face such a cruel reality.
*Swish!*
Summoning her rainbow-hued clouds, she fled the Martial Arts Hall at the fastest speed of her life.
*How could she possibly remain here after her adopted son revealed her most shameful humiliation in public, using it as a weapon against his rival?*
***[Ding! Detected Host altering the destiny trajectory of the Heaven's Mandate Female Lead. Reward: 500 Heaven's Mandate Points!]***
Watching her retreat and receiving the System notification, Ji Chang's lips curled into a knowing smile.
Having the advantage of familiarity with the original novel's plot, manipulating this Young Lady Protagonist was child's play.
Meanwhile, on the Martial Arena, oblivious to his adoptive mother's departure, Ling Feng abruptly shifted his attack...