Pay-to-Win Cultivation: I Get 10,000x Returns Chapter 94

Zhang Xian managed to endure for another several minutes, playing the part of a cornered animal to perfection.

He burned a Wind Talisman to retreat to the very edge of the arena, letting out a heavy, staged sigh. "Forget it."

To the spectators, that sigh was the white flag of surrender. The crowd beneath the stage erupted instantly in a cacophony of jeers.

"Senior Brother Lu, finish him!"

"Don't give the scoundrel a chance to concede!"

"Whip him! Get revenge for every man in the Demon Exorcism Association!"

"Junior Brother, just go lie down for half a month!"

A predatory smile curled Lu Rending's lips. The tree-branch shadows surged wildly, lashing toward Zhang Xian like a venomous dragon erupting from its cave.

Thud!

A dull, heavy sound echoed, and a thousand pairs of eyes widened in disbelief. Those branches—powerful enough to shred a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator—were stopped dead three feet in front of Zhang Xian by a shimmering barrier of spiritual light.

"Impossible!" Lu Rending’s smile froze.

The stands fell into a deathly silence. Everyone held their breath as the air grew heavy with a sudden, sharp pressure.

Then, an even more shocking sight unfolded. An emerald-green longsword appeared in Zhang Xian’s hand, its blade pulsing with a heart-stopping, frigid gleam.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the sword light shot forth like a white rainbow piercing the sun.

Pfft!

Lu Rending's protective spiritual light shattered like wet paper. His entire body was launched backward by the sheer momentum of the strike, crashing heavily outside the arena like a kite with a snapped string.

A suffocating stillness enveloped the platform.

"D-did I see that right?"

"Senior Brother Lu... was one-shotted?"

"How is this possible!? I’m reporting this! That thief Zhang is cheating! He must be using some demonic technique!" an outraged disciple screamed.

The referee's voice trembled slightly. "Number thirty-two... wins."

As a peak Golden Core elder, his eyes were fixed solely on the weapon in Zhang Xian's hand. While the average disciple couldn't tell, he knew immediately: that was a Spirit Treasure.

Only a Spirit Treasure possessed that kind of speed and the raw power to utterly ignore the defense of a top-grade magical instrument.

Moreover, Zhang Xian likely had more than one. The barrier that had blocked Lu Rending’s Green Tide Life and Death Art was almost certainly a defensive Spirit Treasure as well.

The referee himself didn't own a Spirit Treasure; even Vice Sect Leader Wang Ya didn't have one. This False Core disciple was walking around with at least two? The world had gone mad.

Zhang Xian walked slowly to the edge of the stage, looking down at the unconscious Lu Rending. He murmured softly, "Sorry, Senior Brother Lu. It looks like you'll be the one lying down for half a month."

The stands exploded into a chaotic uproar of confusion and fury.

"How arrogant!"

"Senior Brother Lu was just careless!"

"Nonsense! Which of you could have survived that sword strike?"

"In three days, the champion of Group A will face the champion of Group B," the referee elder announced, his voice struggling to be heard over the noise.

Spirit Sword Peak, Evening.

Zhang Xian sat on a stone stool in the courtyard, sighing softly. "It’s still too early."

He had intended to hide his true strength until the final showdown—a little "surprise" for Nangong Yao.

Unfortunately, Lu Rending was the real deal, not a fraud like Zhao Chengyue. The Green Tide Life and Death Art was formidable enough that Zhang Xian couldn't win without dipping into his trump cards.

Now the entire Yunmiao Sect knew he possessed a heavy treasure. His future opponents would be on high guard, making it much harder to catch them off-balance.

"Brother!"

Lin Yinyin’s voice drifted in from the gate, vibrating with unbridled excitement. Zhang Xian stood up just as she rushed into his arms, tilting her small face up to his.

"Congratulations, Brother, on taking first place in Group A!"

"Master swept Group Wu, and I managed to snag first in Group Ji!" she chirped. "Spirit Sword Peak took three of the eight brackets. Master is glowing."

"That’s good. We’ll fight all the way to the top and represent the sect together."

Lin Yinyin stuck out her tongue, her expression suddenly sagging. "But I’ve hit my limit! In three days, I have to face Master. It’s a death sentence!"

Zhang Xian ruffled her soft hair, his eyes full of affection. "How old are you? The next tournament will be your stage. By then, you'll be cutting through the competition with ease."

"Hmph!"

Lin Yinyin wrinkled her nose, stood on her tiptoes, and planted a loud, wet kiss on his cheek. "It’s all because you supported me, Brother. Otherwise, I’d still be stuck in the mines."

Zhang Xian laughed and pulled her closer. Her warm, soft lips eventually met his, carrying a familiar, sweet fragrance.

"Brother..." Lin Yinyin murmured as they pulled apart, her eyes shimmering. "Let's go soak in the backyard hot spring, okay? It’s been so long since we soaked alone."

Zhang Xian looked at her moist, cherry-red lips, his Adam's apple bobbing. He tapped her nose playfully. "The competition is in a few days. Be serious."

"Huh?" Lin Yinyin tilted her head. This wasn't her brother’s usual style at all.

"Since when do you care so much about winning or losing?" she blinked. "Even the championship reward shouldn't matter to a rich guy like you, right?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"By the way," Zhang Xian said, pivoting the conversation. "My opponent in three days is Song Fei, the senior sister of Cloud Breaking Peak. You took classes there for a while, didn't you? I heard you two are quite close?"

Lin Yinyin immediately went on high alert. "What? Brother, what are you planning?" She eyed him suspiciously, her gaze scanning his face for any sign of a scheme.

"Ahem. I'm just wondering... what’s she like?"

"Brother, you're too greedy!" Lin Yinyin’s face puffed up with jealous rage. "So that's it! You don't want to soak with me because you're busy trying to hook up with another female cultivator!"

She looked pained. "I’ll help you woo Master, okay? Just stop reaching your devil's claws toward everyone else! You need to keep a low profile, or the men in this sect who want to chop you up will circle the main peak three times!"

"Little girl, what are you thinking? I want to offer her some... benefits. To have her go easy on me."

"You want to cheat?!"

Lin Yinyin perked up instantly, leaning in close. "Senior Sister Song is a fifth-level Golden Core sword cultivator. Beating her fairly would be a nightmare for you..."

"But even if you win this," she whispered, "you eventually have to face Master. And Master definitely won't help you cheat."

Zhang Xian smiled mysteriously. "I have my plans. Can you put me in touch with her?"

"Fine." Lin Yinyin pouted, reluctantly pulling out her communication jade slip. "I'll send her a message. How much are you offering?"

Zhang Xian thought for a moment. He couldn't go too high, or he'd attract unwanted greed. "One hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones."

Lin Yinyin nodded. It was a staggering sum for most. A moment after she sent the text, the jade glowed. She made a bitter face.

"Senior Sister Song scolded you." She put on a stern, righteous face to imitate her friend: "Don't even think about it! I, Song Fei, am not that kind of woman!"

Zhang Xian tapped the table. "Tell her I’ll add another hundred thousand... and I’ll throw in an Immortal Ascension Herb."

"On it!"

A short while later, the jade slip glowed again. Lin Yinyin’s eyes went wide.

"She agreed! She even asked if you want to rehearse the fight beforehand so it looks more realistic."

"Senior Sister Song is a true professional," Zhang Xian said, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

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