Chapter Ten: Shamelessness

"How could our Sword Sect have such a shameless wretch?"

Ye Liuguang’s face was etched with disbelief. His voice broke the silence, giving words to the doubt shared by everyone present.

"The rules of the match do not forbid the use of weapons."

Di Yuan, possessing a broader perspective and deeper experience, quickly recovered from his shock. He offered a thin, smiling rebuttal to Ye Liuguang: "Lin Fei has always had a carefree temperament. I shall discipline him properly when we return; I hope you will forgive this, Junior Brother."

Ye Liuguang was about to retort when his eyes suddenly widened in astonishment. "Wait, Lin Fei? You mean the Lin Fei who has been stuck at the first level of Qi Refining all this time?"

Di Yuan had never found the name so pleasing to his ears. He nodded in confirmation: "The very same."

On the arena, Lin Fei watched as the disciples from Tengyun Peak carried Zhang Lie away. His tone was earnest and direct: "Hurry it up, please. I’m in a rush."

This nonchalant attitude triggered another wave of uproar and indignation among the crowd. Someone even couldn't help but mutter under their breath: *This guy, he used a brick to ambush someone once, and he still has the nerve to be this arrogant?*

Before long, a tall, burly man was essentially pushed onto the arena by the disciples of Tengyun Peak.

"Entry-level disciple, Lu Fan." The fatty looked at the brick in Lin Fei’s hand, unable to stop himself from swallowing hard, clearly showing signs of fear.

"Sixth level of Qi Refining." Lin Fei glanced at him casually, showing little surprise.

That Zhang Lie should have been one of the top talents among the entry-level disciples; if it were easy to find an even stronger opponent, then the talent of this generation of Sword Sect disciples would be truly terrifying.

Lin Fei looked up, sizing up the fatty who stood two heads taller than him. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then tightened his grip on the brick and walked slowly toward Lu Fan.

Witnessing Lin Fei’s approach, Lu Fan instinctively hunched over, adopting a cautious, defensive posture.

His fellow disciples had already warned him that this Lin Fei had only managed to knock out Zhang Lie by relying on underhanded tricks. He thought to himself that as long as he stayed vigilant against that brick, his chances of winning would increase significantly.

However, Lu Fan felt a lingering sense of unease. Zhang Lie was only a step away from the ninth level of Qi Refining—how could he have been so easily defeated by a mere brick?

It was like a fairy tale. He resolved to remain on high alert, determined not to give Lin Fei any opportunity.

Lin Fei stopped right in front of Lu Fan, not hurried in the slightest. He pointed a finger and said calmly: "Look, there is someone behind you."

"Pah!" Lu Fan remained unmoved, though a chorus of angry jeers erupted from the crowd below.

"Shameless!"
"Trying that trick again?"
"Don't think you can fool us again!"

Lu Fan kept his eyes locked on the brick in Lin Fei’s hand and said sternly: "I won't fall for your trap."

Lin Fei smiled slightly and nodded: "Not bad. You’re smarter than that idiot from before."

But then, his tone shifted: "However, you seem to have overlooked one thing."

"Aside from being wary of the brick, the most critical thing you should have done is keep your distance from me."

With a soft sound, Lin Fei lifted his hand with effortless grace. The brick sliced through the air, heading toward Lu Fan’s head.

His movement was natural and fluid, as simple as a mundane chore, devoid of any martial intensity.

The onlookers watching this scene saw nothing extraordinary; even the speed of the strike seemed unremarkable, appearing almost sluggish.

Yet, in Lu Fan's eyes, every one of Lin Fei’s movements had become uncanny.

He only saw his opponent lift a hand, yet it felt as though all time for reaction had been skipped. The brick landed on his head, silent and swift.

With a loud "thud," Lu Fan stood no chance of resistance. His eyes rolled back, his body stumbled a few steps, and he collapsed heavily to the ground, losing consciousness.

Lin Fei’s voice rang out again, calm and indifferent: "Next."

This time, the surroundings fell into a profound silence. Not a sound remained.

Unlike the shock and stupor of the other watching disciples, Ye Liuguang’s expression grew increasingly grave. He spoke with uncertainty: "That movement just now..."

Di Yuan, no longer as composed as before, nodded seriously: "It truly resembles the opening stance of our Sword Sect's entry-level swordsmanship."

The two exchanged a look.

Di Yuan pondered, his voice tinged with doubt: "It should have been mentioned in the introductory practice manual, even if only in a cursory explanation."

Ye Liuguang shook his head slightly, his tone indifferent: "Do you think he would ever bother to flip through those basic things?"

"Perhaps when he had nothing else to do..." Di Yuan stopped, finding the idea ridiculous himself, and shook his head with a bitter smile. "No, he probably wouldn't even look at them."

"It is certainly becoming more and more interesting." A sharp light flashed in Ye Liuguang’s eyes. "However, whether he is hiding his true strength or just bluffing, the truth will soon come to light. These are not things we need to worry about."

Having said this, Ye Liuguang turned his gaze toward the towering pavilion in the plaza.

The elders and deacons of the Thirteen Peaks were supposed to be overseeing this assessment, yet they had been nowhere to be seen.

Why?

Because they were all inside that very pavilion.

...

Lin Fei stood on the arena, brick in hand, scanning the crowd below. His presence was overwhelming, like an invincible general looking down upon the world.

The disciples of Tengyun Peak below the stage gazed at the brick in Lin Fei’s hand, a trace of fear creeping into their eyes.

Winning or losing might not be terrifying, but the dull thud of that brick connecting with a skull was enough to make one’s skin crawl.

No one wanted to suffer that sudden, inexplicable blow.

"How tedious."

A crisp, clear voice came from behind the crowd, cutting through the noise and standing out distinctly.

A youth with handsome features and an air of innate arrogance stepped calmly out of the crowd, ignoring the gazes fixed upon him. He walked with a steady gait, step by step, onto the arena.

Beyond his proud expression, the wooden sword strapped to his back was equally eye-catching, a feature that could not be ignored.

"I am Fang Zhenghua," the youth announced, his tone carrying a confidence that could not be taken lightly.

Lin Fei simply responded with a faint: "Oh."

Fang Zhenghua did not seem satisfied with Lin Fei’s reaction. He continued: "I am different from the others."

Lin Fei thought to himself, *What is so different? Is he at the ninth level of Qi Refining?*

Outwardly, however, he remained calm: "Oh."

Seeing Lin Fei’s cold reaction, Fang Zhenghua let out a soft snort. He pressed his fingers together and shouted in a deep voice: "Rise!"

At his command, the peach-wood sword on his back seemed to gain a life of its own. Without the aid of the wind, it began to spin nimbly in the air.

"A bit interesting," Lin Fei remarked, his eyebrows lifting with a flicker of genuine interest.

He then lifted his right hand, bent his knee, exerted force, and hurled the brick in his hand with all his might.

The brick traced a straight red line through the air, aimed directly at Fang Zhenghua.

"Another ambush!"
"How shameless!"

Hisses and angry curses erupted from the crowd at once.