“Don’t tell me you don’t want to clear your name.”
Fang Chen looked at Xiao Qing and spoke with deliberate gravity. “Besides, in a life-and-death duel, it is not as if one of us must die. When the time comes, can’t I simply admit defeat?”
The Danran Sect would hardly force one participant to die on the stage.
So long as the opponent agreed to accept a surrender, the duel could end immediately.
He had wanted to drag Xiao Qing to the dueling hall to dissolve the contract earlier only because he feared the boy might lose control of his temper on stage and kill him.
Now that Xiao Qing no longer wished to fight to the death, there was naturally no need to cancel the contract.
Besides, if he canceled the duel, where would he go to increase his cultivation… or rather, help the Child of Providence!
Xiao Qing opened his mouth, stammering, “But… does it really have to be a life-and-death duel?”
“You can take your Spirit Stones and cancel it right now if you wish. But how do you think your former fiancée will react when news of this reaches the inner sect?”
Fang Chen narrowed his eyes. “A coward who used the Xiao family’s inheritance to beg Fang Chen for peace?”
“You wouldn’t want your reputation ruined by such a misunderstanding, would you?”
It had to be said, provocation worked every single time on Xiao Qing.
A surge of hot blood rushed straight to the boy’s head. “No, I am not a coward!”
“Then isn’t that settled?”
Fang Chen patted his shoulder, his tone filled with deep meaning. “Therefore, you must fight this duel!”
“Not only that, you must fight with style and make a grand name for yourself!”
Seeing the expectation and encouragement in Fang Chen’s eyes, Xiao Qing nodded heavily without hesitation. “Alright!”
He thought to himself…
Senior Brother Fang, I will surely give this duel my all.
I will also let everyone see just how powerful you truly are!
Seeing how easily Xiao Qing had been persuaded, Fang Chen sighed inwardly…
Xiao Qing was twelve years old at most. Back on Earth, he would be nothing more than a primary school student. He really was easy to fool!
Thinking of this, Fang Chen felt embarrassed for the original owner of this body.
Having been in the sect for over a decade and now in his twenties, how could he be so disgraceful?!
It was one thing to be terrible at cultivation, but to constantly pick on a young child?
It was the equivalent of a frustrated office worker taking out his workplace misery on a primary school kid. No wonder everyone looked down on him.
Afterward, Fang Chen prepared to leave.
He needed to find some pills to raise his own cultivation-no, to raise Xiao Qing’s!
Just as he bade farewell, a cool, clear female voice called out from outside: “Is Xiao Qing here?”
Fang Chen froze.
Xiao Qing had no friends in the outer sect. Who could be looking for him?
“Is that Senior Sister Jiang?” Xiao Qing was equally startled, though his expression quickly turned to delight.
“Yes. Come out. Wan’er asked me to deliver something to you. I will wait outside,” Senior Sister Jiang replied indifferently.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Xiao Qing turned to Fang Chen and explained in a low voice, “Senior Brother, Wan’er is a… childhood friend of mine. She possesses exceptional talent and has already entered the inner sect. Her abilities are highly valued by Senior Sister Jiang’s master, so she often sends me surplus Spirit Stones and pills…”
Fang Chen could clearly see Xiao Qing blushing at the mention of this “Wan’er.”
So, this was the female lead meant for the Child of Providence!
“Oho!” Fang Chen let out a teasing laugh.
Flustered, Xiao Qing hurriedly changed the subject. “By the way, Senior Brother, Senior Sister Jiang outside is Jiang Ningyi, a core disciple of the inner sect. She is extraordinarily talented. At only fifteen years old, she is already a Foundation Establishment cultivator. It is said she is the most likely candidate to become the Saintess.”
Fang Chen’s jaw dropped in shock.
Foundation Establishment at fifteen?
Good grief!
What sort of monster was she?
Immediately after, a powerful wave of dread washed over him…
She couldn’t be a Child of Providence too, could she?
If Jiang Ningyi was also a Child of Providence, he was completely doomed.
With this wretched System’s track record, it would definitely drive him to his death.
Fang Chen tried desperately to deny the thought…
“Impossible! A modest place like the Danran Sect couldn’t possibly host so many legendary figures!”
Yet, when it came to disappointing him, the System never failed.
Ding-
A cold sweat broke out across Fang Chen’s skin.
The System announced: [Detecting presence of a Child of Providence…]
[Detection complete!]
[Child of Providence: Jiang Ningyi.]
[Jiang Ningyi was born under auspicious celestial omens, symbolizing peaceful realms and bountiful years. Endowed with world-shaking talent from a young age, she possesses supreme Providence destined to reach the realm of Immortal Venerable.]
[However, Jiang Ningyi practices the Ruthless Sword Dao, which requires severing all emotional ties to attain the ultimate supreme realm.]
[To assist Jiang Ningyi in severing her emotional ties, the Host must prepare to first make her fall deeply in love with you!]
[When she is thoroughly infatuated, the Host must wound her feelings and trample her dignity. Once she despairs of love and her emotional bonds are destroyed, allow her to slay you, thus severing all earthly attachments and aiding her rise to the seat of Immortal Venerable.]
Fang Chen: “???”
Sever emotional ties?
Was this damn System out of its mind?!
What kind of ‘slay the husband to prove the Dao’ script was this?
At that moment, countless colorful curses rushed through Fang Chen’s mind.
She was fifteen years old!
To target a fifteen-year-old girl and break her heart… this System was a absolute monster!
Fang Chen instantly resolved never to have anything to do with Jiang Ningyi.
This tragic script would die right here at the stranger stage!
The System continued: [Jiang Ningyi’s ideal partner must know how to play the zither, be gentle, patient, understanding, and tolerant. Above all, he must be noble, pure, and untainted by mundane desires…]
[As for cultivation level, the proud Jiang Ningyi does not care, as she believes no one can surpass her. Rather than being protected by a Dao Companion, she prefers to protect her partner!]
[Skill required for Jiang Ningyi’s ideal partner detected: [Zither]. Automatically instilling skill for the Host.]
In an instant, vast knowledge of the zither flooded Fang Chen’s mind. His fingers twitched uncontrollably, and he felt that if a zither were placed before him right now, he could effortlessly play divine music.
Far from feeling pleased, Fang Chen felt only horror. This solidified his determination to stay as far away from Jiang Ningyi as possible.
There was no room to exploit a bug here.
The man Jiang Ningyi wanted had to play the zither, be gentle, patient, tolerant, and noble…
Yet the System only granted him the zither skill, which offered zero help to his cultivation level.
Only a fool would approach her to trigger a bug like this!
“Senior Brother Fang, what’s wrong?” Xiao Qing asked, startled by the strange expressions flickering across Fang Chen’s face.
“Nothing, I’m fine…” Fang Chen snapped back to reality, waving his hand dismissively. “Do you have a back door here?”
“Ah… no, I don’t. The only way out is through the front door,” Xiao Qing stammered.
Fang Chen thought for a moment. “In that case, I will head out with you. You go talk to Senior Sister Jiang, and I’ll take my leave.”
“Huh? Senior Brother, aren’t you going to greet her?” Xiao Qing asked, surprised.
“Greet her for what? I don’t have time. Let’s go, hurry.”
Fang Chen hurriedly pushed Xiao Qing out the door.
The moment the door opened, sensing someone standing off to one side, Fang Chen channeled his Spiritual Qi and sprinted in the opposite direction without looking back…
“Rumble!”
Fang Chen moved like a sudden gust of wind, kicking up a trail of dust that left Xiao Qing pale with shock.
Outside the house, a young woman in a water-blue dress stood quietly by the path. Her usually calm eyes reflected Fang Chen’s retreating figure, and an uncharacteristic flicker of surprise crossed her face…
To think someone in the outer sect could master the Gale Step to such a level. Who is he?