The Prodigies War

In the sect’s great hall, Supreme Elder Qing Geng, Sect Leader Fu Yunzi and numerous other elders stood gathered, their expressions dark and grim. Not far away, Qing Heng sat cross-legged, his face ashen and his aura weak and unstable.

“It’s only a minor injury,” Qing Heng said with a faint smile, waving dismissively. “Why are you all so concerned?”

Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, a violent fit of coughing seized him and a thin line of blood traced down from the corner of his lips.

“You call this minor?” Qing Geng snapped, teeth clenched. “Your very foundation has been shaken!”

His eyes burned with fury. “Tian Ruojing went too far. This grievance cannot be left unsettled!”

Qing Heng gently raised a hand. “Do not speak in anger. At the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly, our duel was fair. I lost...and that is all. There is no one else to blame.”

After a pause, his voice grew heavier. “Moreover...Tian Ruojing has already been chosen by an Immortal figure from the Immortal Pavilion. In ten years’ time, she will formally become an elder of the Immortal Pavilion and cultivate within its secret realm. With her current standing, even the Crimson Serpent Immortal Sect must show her deference.”

A trace of bitterness surfaced in his eyes. “We... cannot afford to make her our enemy.”

At those words, everyone’s expressions shifted uncertainly. The hall fell into a heavy silence. At this year’s Hundred Sects Grand Assembly, an Immortal figure from the Immortal Pavilion, one of the four great dao lineages, had also appeared in person.

In the end, ten supreme Emperor Ancestors were personally selected by that Immortal figure. It was promised that in ten years’ time, they would be taken in as elders of the Immortal Pavilion and permitted to cultivate within its secret realms.

Among these ten was Tian Ruojing, a supreme elder of the Tianling Sect! Everyone understood what that meant. From this moment onward, Tian Ruojing’s status was no longer the same. She had risen to the heavens in a single step.

After all, the Immortal Pavilion was one of the four great dao lineages in the Dao Derivation Zone, a transcendent, supreme power before which even the twelve first tier forces of the world were compelled to bow their heads. Compared to such a colossus, second tier sects like the Tianwu and Tianling Sects were scarcely worth mentioning.

In ten years, Tian Ruojing would formally become an elder of the Immortal Pavilion. Her status would rise so high that even a first tier force like the Crimson Serpent Immortal Sect would have no choice but to lower its head in deference before her!

Under such circumstances, if the Tianwu Sect dared to regard Tian Ruojing as an enemy, the Crimson Serpent Immortal Sect alone would likely move at once to wipe them out. The Immortal Pavilion would not even need to intervene!

Everyone in the hall understood this perfectly well. However, that understanding did nothing to dispel the heavy gloom pressing against their hearts and the stifled resentment with nowhere to vent.

Just then, a figure entered the hall. It was Lin Xun. As soon as he appeared, the elders’ expressions darkened further and suppressed anger flickered in their eyes.

“Qing Feng,” Qing Geng barked. “Look at what you’ve brought upon Senior Brother Qing Heng!”

This was Lin Xun’s first time meeting Qing Geng in person, but from Qing Feng’s memories he already knew him well. Qing Geng possessed a fierce and domineering temperament. He had always regarded Qing Feng as the sect’s disgrace, rebuking and berating him countless times.

“I brought this upon Senior Brother?” Lin Xun frowned, his gaze sweeping across the hall. The atmosphere felt heavy and oppressive. A faint chill settled in his heart. Qing Heng’s injuries were likely far more serious than he had let on.

“If you hadn’t been chasing after Tian Ruojing,” Qing Geng said sharply, “Would Senior Brother have sought her out for a duel at the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly?”

Sect Leader Fu Yunzi and the other elders wore equally grim expressions.

“Qing Geng,” Qing Heng said quietly from where he sat, “how can you blame Junior Brother? He knew nothing of my decision.”

He exhaled softly. “All of you may withdraw. I wish to speak with Junior Brother Qing Feng alone.”

“Withdraw?” Qing Geng’s face flushed with fury. “At a time like this, you still protect him? Tian Ruojing has already gained the Immortal Pavilion’s recognition. If Qing Feng isn’t disciplined, what kind of disaster will he invite when he goes running off to the Immortal Pavilion to pester her again? When that happens, will you still be able to shield him, Senior Brother?”

“Withdraw.” Qing Heng lifted his gaze and looked at Qing Geng.

Qing Geng’s expression flickered darkly. After a long moment, he snorted coldly and turned away, sleeves whipping through the air as he stormed out. Before leaving, he shot Lin Xun a vicious glare, his eyes filled with disdain and icy contempt.

Seeing this, Sect Leader Fu Yunzi and the other elders also withdrew one after another. Soon, only Qing Heng and Lin Xun remained in the hall.

“Senior Brother...was it Tian Ruojing who wounded you?”

Lin Xun stepped forward. With a single glance, he could already tell that Qing Heng’s condition was dire. His aura was in disarray, and his breathing was unstable. If Lin Xun’s judgment was correct, Qing Heng had not merely suffered serious injuries, but even his dao foundation had likely been shaken!

A cold unease crept into his heart. From Qing Feng’s memories, he knew clearly that, within the entire Tianwu Sect, Qing Heng was the only one who had ever truly treated him well.

No matter how many laughable things Qing Feng had done over the years, Qing Heng had always stood quietly behind him, using his own strength to protect and defend his junior brother.

Now, seeing Qing Heng so gravely injured, and it was most likely connected to Tian Ruojing, a surge of anger rose within Lin Xun.

Was it not enough that she had ruined Qing Feng’s cultivation? Does she now intend to destroy Qing Heng as well?

“She was involved.” Qing Heng gestured for Lin Xun to sit. A wry smile curbed his lips. “I had hoped to take advantage of the Hundred Sects Grand Assembly to teach her a lesson. Instead...I was the one who ended up being taught.”

Lin Xun’s thoughts churned. So it was true. Qing Heng had sought that duel to vent his junior brother’s grievance and had been wounded because of it.

While the world mocked Qing Feng as the sect’s disgrace, Qing Heng, a supreme grand elder of the Tianwu Sect, had been willing to risk even his own foundation to help him reclaim a shred of dignity.

Warmth rose in Lin Xun’s chest. What a good senior brother!

“Enough of that,” Qing Heng said with a faint sigh. “It’s been a long time since we brothers have truly spoken. Let’s have a proper talk today.”

As he spoke, he took out a jar of fine wine and drank deeply before continuing, “Junior Brother...do you remember when we first entered the Tianwu Sect?”

His gaze drifted, distant with memory. “Back then, nine of us were accepted as disciples. Because of my poor background, I was often ostracized and excluded. Only you treated me as a friend. You never cared where I came from.”

He gave a faint, self-mocking laugh. “You didn’t know...Back then, on the surface, I appeared proud and self-assured. But inside, I was consumed by inferiority. I felt inferior in every way and often pitied myself.

“I still remember Senior Brother Chang. Once, he humiliated me in front of everyone. He stepped on my face and mocked me, saying that someone born as low as I was, even if granted the chance to cultivate and seek the dao, was destined to accomplish nothing...destined to spend my life trampled beneath his feet.”

At this point, Qing Heng lifted his gaze to Lin Xun. “Do you know how I felt that day? I was so ashamed...so furious. My heart was like cold ashes. I even thought of ending my life.”

His voice grew heavier.

“And then you appeared. You rushed forward like a fool and fought him as though your life meant nothing. Even when you were beaten until you coughed blood, you refused to step back. You stood there, shielding me. I can still remember the blood from your mouth dripping down onto my face...”

Qing Heng drew a slow breath and took another drink. “That was the day I swore I would protect you for the rest of my life, even if it cost me my own.”

A bitter smile touched his lips. “But I never imagined you would be entangled by Tian Ruojing. I wanted to help you...but I could do nothing...”

Lin Xun listened quietly. Memories of Qing Feng’s youth surged within him like rising tides, stirring his heart. After a long moment, he finally spoke, “Senior Brother, you’ve already done more for me than I deserve. I remember it all.”

He paused. “As for Tian Ruojing...one day, I will settle that matter myself.”

Qing Heng’s gaze suddenly sharpened. “Junior Brother...tell me honestly. The grievous damage to your dao foundation all those years ago...was it because of that woman?”

Lin Xun stiffened. For a brief moment, he did not answer. Then he said quietly, “Senior Brother...that’s all in the past.”

Qing Heng’s expression grew complicated. “As I suspected. Back then, you were already at the Cyclic Derivation Stage, while Tian Ruojing was only at the Heaven Ascension Stage. When you entered that secret realm together, it was you who emerged with a damaged dao foundation. How could that not be suspicious?”

He lifted the wine jar and took another long drink, then laughed softly at himself. “And now look at us. Both of our dao foundations have been wounded...all because of Tian Ruojing. We truly are brothers in misfortune...hahaha...”

The laughter echoed faintly through the hall, tinged with an indescribable desolation and bitterness.

“Senior Brother, don’t lose heart,” Lin Xun said gently. “In my view, your dao injuries can be healed and you will advance further on your path.”

Qing Heng let out a quiet chuckle. “A dao injury suffered at the hands of a supreme Emperor Ancestor is not so easily mended. Don’t trouble yourself over my affairs.”

Lin Xun fell silent for a moment before asking, “Senior Brother, what was the true purpose of this Hundred Sects Grand Assembly?”

In Qing Feng’s memory, there had been no mention of it at all.

Qing Heng replied casually, “First, the Immortal Pavilion intends to select individuals with the potential to attain immortality. Second, it is related to the hunt for Dao Derivers.”

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Dao Derivers...”

Qing Heng exhaled slowly. “Throughout history, many Dao Derivers have appeared in our Dao Derivation Zone. At the beginning, each of them was incomparably weak. But as time passed, their cultivation would undergo astonishing transformation, advancing by leaps and bounds. Most ultimately proved the dao and transcended into immortality. Each one became a legend without equal...”

He paused briefly before continuing, “This time, Zhu Cheng, the number one figure of the Immortal Pavilion, together with six other Heavenly Mandate Apostles, has ordered the extermination of a Dao Deriver named Lin Xun. At this Hundred Sects Grand Assembly, the Immortal Pavilion’s representative issued an even harsher decree: any sect found concealing information will face total annihilation.”

Hearing this, a faint curve touched Lin Xun’s lips. The harsher the threats, the more it indicated that Heavenly Mandate Apostles had uncovered nothing related to him so far!

After speaking for some time, Qing Heng’s fatigue became increasingly apparent. Seeing the weariness etched between his brows, Lin Xun rose and quietly took his leave. Back in his own residence, he reclined alone in a rocking chair. Scenes from his conversation with Qing Heng replayed in his mind. A cold glint slowly surfaced in his eyes.

Tian Ruoling? The Immortal Pavilion? Heavenly Mandate Apostles? What are they to me, Lin Xun? If a bond of kindness is formed, it must be repaid. If bitter fruit grows, it must be severed at the root.

......

News of Supreme Elder Qing Heng’s injury quickly spread throughout the Tianwu Sect, sending shockwaves through the entire sect. Anger and resentment brewed in everyone’s hearts.

That very day, Sect Leader Fu Yunzi issued a strict decree: no one was permitted to go to the Tianling Sect to provoke them without authorization. Anyone found doing so would be expelled from the sect.

The order only deepened the sense of grievance within the Tianwu Sect. Everyone understood what it meant. The sect intended to endure in silence, to swallow the humiliation and make concessions.

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