CHAPTER 14: THE PRICE OF POWER (18+)

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The Price of Power

Pain real pain. Watching Lingxi suffer under Ye Wuhen’s abuse, her anguished expression was like a sharp blade stabbing straight into my heart. Every faint sob, every hopeless tremble, struck my heart like a heavy hammer, the pain spreading through my whole body.

I knew I had those unspeakable fetishes, but never at the cost of Lingxi’s suffering. That, I could never accept. The thought of her being so forced, so humiliated, made the anger and pain inside me intertwine and grow fiercer. As Lingxi’s Daoist robe was torn and her body exposed, my ring sent out threads of green energy, nourishing my wounded body. Over time, the energy surged stronger and stronger, and by now my strength had recovered by seventy or eighty percent. Despite the storm in my heart, reason kept pulling me back I knew that even at my peak, I couldn’t save Lingxi from Ye Wuhen. I could only keep telling myself to stay calm; acting rashly would only make things worse.

I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, full of self-loathing. Other transmigrators always have clever, cool heads, always able to come up with brilliant solutions at critical moments. But me? I was just an ordinary person. At this crucial moment, I was so powerless, forced to watch Lingxi suffer. The helplessness nearly crushed me. All around the arena, jeers and taunts stabbed at me like needles.

Their twisted faces spat out such cold, hateful mockery, as if Lingxi’s pain was just a joke to them.

Rage burned in my chest, nearly consuming me.

They weren’t worthy of being called human, they didn’t understand what Lingxi was enduring, nor her inner torment and despair. They all deserved to die!

Every one of those who laughed should pay for their cruelty. I glared at them, cursing them over and over in my heart. As my anger nearly overwhelmed my reason, a flash of inspiration struck my mind.

Without hesitation, I activated "Azure Rainbow." In an instant, a torrent of power erupted from within, turning into a blinding flash that crashed into those gloating, gawking bastards.

Where the light swept, wind roared and blood mist flew.

I vented all my fury, making them pay a terrible price for their cold and hateful behavior.

My endless rage, unleashed through "Azure Rainbow," swept through them like a storm. Those of low cultivation were instantly smashed to pieces, turning into clouds of blood mist that filled the arena with a choking stench of blood.

Only a few at the Golden Core realm barely survived the impact, but were sent flying like broken kites, crashing far from the stage, coughing blood, their faces full of terror and panic no longer the ugly sneers from before.

I don’t know how much time passed. I only remember launching charge after charge dozens, maybe hundreds driven by anger, heedless of exhaustion.

Gradually, I felt my strength waning, my body heavier, nearly spent.

At that moment, it was as if an invisible hand appeared out of nowhere, forcibly stopping me, making me unable to move.

The roaring wind faded, and then a cold voice rang out: "Enough." The voice echoed through the now-silent arena, filled with unquestionable authority.

There were now fewer than twenty contestants left on the field.

When I emerged from that bloody chaos, I looked like a demon crawling from hell.

My body was covered in the flesh and blood of the dead, wet chunks and dark red stains sliding down my clothes, pooling at my feet.

At that moment, I stared hard at Ye Wuhen. His face was full of unwillingness, but at last, he reluctantly let go of Lingxi.

Lingxi’s thin, trembling figure came into view, clutching her tattered robe, eyes brimming with tears and a hint of relief at surviving. She ran toward me with all her remaining strength, her messy hair flying in the wind. I opened my arms to catch her, and Lingxi, ignoring my blood and wounds, hugged me tightly. We embraced, and I whispered in her ear:

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here."

...

I carefully lifted Lingxi’s trembling body and carried her off the stage. She shook in my arms I could feel her lingering fear.

At that moment, Daoist Qingxuan broke free from a Longevity Sect elder holding order below the stage, rushing over to us. He took off his robe and covered Lingxi, his eyes bloodshot and red, cursing Ye Wuhen on stage with every foul word he could muster, his anger at Ye Wuhen’s evil completely overriding his concern for image or status he just wanted justice for Lingxi.

But if cursing worked, things like this would never happen. In this world, it’s always about who has the bigger fist.

I handed Lingxi to Daoist Qingxuan, then glared at Ye Wuhen this debt would be settled, sooner or later.

Amid the chaos and noise, Longevity Sect elder Zhao Xuanfeng’s cold, detached voice cut through like an icy command: "Enough. Now that twenty winners have been decided, the victors will draw lots to determine the one-on-one matches to select the top ten sects." His tone was utterly flat, as if the recent storm was a trivial matter, indifferent to the crowd’s emotions, mechanically pushing the tournament forward, as if all the world’s grudges and hatreds meant nothing only the process and result of the contest mattered.

I slowly raised my eyes, looking at the remaining contestants. Covered in blood and gore, I looked like a demon from a blood-soaked hell truly terrifying.

Those I looked at turned pale, their bodies shaking uncontrollably, legs trembling.

They stammered, voices full of fear: "I... I forfeit." Their voices were so weak they might blow away in the wind. None of them cared about victory anymore they just wanted to get away from me, terrified of ending up like those I’d smashed to pieces.

One after another, more forfeited.

Some were pale, some avoided my gaze, but under the threat of my bloody presence, they gave up without hesitation.

Soon, ten had forfeited. Such a dramatic turn was completely unexpected.

A brutal tournament ended in a way that was almost absurd, and I was the one who forced it off course, making the outcome nothing like anyone had expected.

Zhao Xuanfeng’s cold voice rang out again: "The eliminated sects have ten days join one of the ten victorious sects or the imperial court. If not, the Longevity Sect will visit you in person bear the consequences." His words were like a cold wind blowing through the hearts of the losers, full of hard, irresistible pressure, making the atmosphere even heavier. The eliminated sects looked at each other, eyes full of worry and fear, but soon those feelings turned to hatred.

Dozens of hateful stares shot at me, as if I was the one who ruined their sects’ futures. This sudden, terrible result was all my fault.

This grudge was no small matter.

In one stroke, I’d offended nearly a hundred sects. But in my rage, I hadn’t cared about the consequences. Still, I had no regrets.

With a heavy heart, I stepped down from the stage, every step feeling heavier.

Just then, Mother’s familiar, anxious voice sounded in my mind, full of concern: "Son... son... can you hear me?"

"Mom... I hear you."

"Oh, you scared me to death! When I saw you get knocked down, I kept calling you you scared me so much."

Maybe I’d been too tense, too focused, to hear her before. "Mom... I’m fine, just tired. I almost couldn’t protect her..."

"Oh, silly boy, you nearly killed me with worry. If anything happened to you, how could I live in this world?"

I felt lost. I’d looked like a god of slaughter just now, but I knew that before the real big shots, I was still an ant. How could I protect Mother and Lingxi in this world?

"It’s alright... Mom."

I was about to comfort her when Zhao Xuanfeng’s voice interrupted, snapping me out of it. He called out:

"As the top ten sects have been decided, these ten will now form an alliance. The leaders will draw lots and then compete for five elder seats in the alliance."

The crowd erupted in shocked discussion. No one had heard of forming an alliance, much less competing for elder seats. This sudden change was totally unexpected, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, sending waves of confusion and doubt through everyone.

Ten top sects, five elder seats what about the rest? They’d have to submit, and even if they didn’t, who could stand against the mighty Longevity Sect?

At this moment, all these cultivators were like pawns in the hands of those above, or rather, actors for their amusement.

"Son, they had me draw lots I just finished," Mother’s voice came, like a thunderclap in my ear, making me break out in a cold sweat.

My heart dropped. Panic surged Mother was being dragged into this dangerous intrigue, and if anything happened, I couldn’t protect her. I was desperate to reply, but she continued: "The opponent is... the Longevity Sect."

"What?"

"Yes, the Longevity Sect."

"Mom, listen to me when you get on stage, just say you forfeit. Don’t fight."

"Oh... are you worried about me?"

"Yes, this world is too dangerous. We’re too weak, and you probably can’t fight at all..."

"Alright, don’t worry. When it’s my turn, I’ll forfeit."

Phew... I just hoped nothing else went wrong. Damn, was coming to this tournament even the right choice?

Dragging my exhausted body, I found a place to sit below the stage, feeling all my strength drained, every muscle aching, utterly spent.

My eyelids grew heavy, and I soon drifted off.

Luckily, Daoist Qingxuan stayed by my side, his familiar presence giving me some peace.

I don’t know how long I slept, but suddenly the noise of fighting woke me.

I opened my eyes, looking anxiously at the stage thankfully, Mother wasn’t there, and I relaxed a little.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to sit up, but a wave of stabbing pain washed over me, sweat breaking out on my forehead, my body trembling uncontrollably. I had to give up and just lean back, panting, waiting for the pain to subside.

"Master Lin." Lingxi’s gentle voice sounded in my ear. Seeing me struggle, she quickly reached out to help.

I shook my head with a bitter smile. "I’m in too much pain I probably can’t get up for now. Don’t bother." I leaned back, trying to ease the pain, but it wouldn’t go away.

Then I felt a cool touch Lingxi’s soft hand on mine.

Her little hand was cool, soothing my pain. Her fair face blushed, eyes downcast, long lashes trembling as she gathered her courage to place her hand on mine, now too shy to look at me. Her bashful cuteness was especially moving.

As the tournament’s dust settled, the noise faded.

Just then, Mother’s voice came, tense and serious: "Son, it’s my turn..." The words hit me like a hammer, my heart tightening with fresh worry. I forced myself to look at the stage. "Mom, forfeit say it now."

Before she could reply, a figure appeared out of nowhere, standing straight in the center of the stage, exuding a strange aura. The suddenness made everyone stare at him he was slim but upright, strikingly handsome, like an actor playing Erlang Shen, with heroic brows and eyes.

"Wow, so handsome."

Mother’s lovestruck voice echoed in my mind. That actor as Erlang Shen was her idol. I quickly reminded her, "Mom, don’t forget to forfeit." But she replied, "No, no, I want to get closer and see, then forfeit." I was both anxious and helpless: "No, Mom..." I couldn’t tell if I was more upset by her sudden fangirl moment or by my own pain, my body trembling uncontrollably, full of worry and exasperation.

Lingxi, seeing me shiver, thought I was cold and hugged me tight. But she’d forgotten her Daoist robe was long since torn, and she was wearing Daoist Qingxuan’s robe. As she hugged me, her bare, soft breasts pressed against me, and even through the clothes, I could feel their warmth and the bell on one of her nipples.

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