AGM 142 – I want you to lose
His hair was as dark as black ink. Blood dyed the ancient halberd red.
Qin Wentian stood there, akin to an ancient war god. Last year’s youth no longer existed after the transformation. His battle intent rose without limits, exploding forwards with no reservations.
At this moment, the crowd could sense that Luo Qianqiu was no longer that confident in himself. After personally witnessing Qin Wentian crushing Sikong Mingyue, they could faintly sense that perhaps Qin Wentian did indeed have the power to defeat Luo Qianqiu and contend for the position of the first ranker.
In this instant, they had already forgotten about their bets. Their eyes were filled with intense anticipation for this Heavenly-defying young genius who had just risen, waiting for him to accomplish this final ‘twist’ of fate. If he was successful, this incident would be a legend that would persist for a thousand years.
Would Qin Wentian truly be able to defeat Luo Qianqiu?
Luo Qianqiu took a step forward in the face of Qin Wentian’s ancient halberd. His battle intent similarly soared to the skies.
“Take a break for four hours.”
Just before their two auras collided, the indifferent-sounding voice belonging to the aged figure standing beside Chu Tianjiao drifted out.
What the f***! This caused the countenances of the spectators to turned dumbfounded, as dissatisfaction and anger was apparent in the air. Since both Qin Wentian and Luo Qianqiu were ready to battle, why would they still need to take a break?
What the hell was going on?
However, no matter how dissatisfied they were, the decision still lied with the aged figure. They had no choice but to wait for those four hours to be up.
Qin Wentian furrowed his brows as he shifted his gaze to that aged figure. Why?
“The two of you should rest now so you can fight with all your might later.” The aged figure forcefully continued, leaving Luo Qianqiu and Qin Wentian no choice but to nod their heads. Since the judge had already spoken, there was no choice but to wait it out.
“I’m sure all of you spectators should be tired now. Why not take a rest first and enjoy the show later?” Chu Tianjiao laughed as he addressed the crowd.
Although the spectators were extremely unwilling, they could only smile forcefully as they continued chatting with each other.
Luo Qianqiu left the platform after being seemingly summoned by someone.
“Qin Wentian, do you mind coming over here for a chat?”
At this moment, the sound of a voice drifted out. The gazes of the crowd shifted over, focusing on a person standing next to Chu TIanjiao.
This person was precisely the middle-aged man of few words. The instant he spoke, his words caused the pupils of the crowd to narrow in bewilderment. He wanted Qin Wentian to go over for a chat?
The spectators who had authority and status all knew the origin of this man. As he invited Qin Wentian over, the hearts of many in the crowd, especially those from the Ye and Ou Clan, started palpitating wildly in panic.
Indeed, with Qin Wentian’s talent, he would definitely be noticed in the Jun Lin Banquet. After all, he was the one who defeated Sikong Mingyue.
Even if they had enmity with Qin Wentian, they could not fail to recognize his talent. If they were in the same shoes as the Nine Mystical Palace, they would also want to recruit Qin Wentian.
Qin Wentian kept his ancient halberd as his seething blood gradually grew calm. After his fetters were unsealed, in the face of boundless agony bore by his unshakable determination, he was now currently capable of controlling the power of his Bloodline Limit.
Jumping across the platforms, Qin Wentian appeared in front of the middle-aged man. The youths standing nearby all looked at him with a glint of sharpness in their eyes.
These youths should have also originated from the same place as Luo Qianqiu. Their strength was formidable, without a doubt.
“Let’s go to the back and drink a few cups.” The middle-aged man turned as he led Qin Wentian to the space behind Chu Tianjiao, where there were already banquet tables set up.
After they sat down, attendants poured out cups of wine for them. The middle-aged man raised his cup and smiled. “Amazing talent. Are you interested in joining our Nine Mystical Palace?”
Qin Wentian froze. Indeed, this person was from the Nine Mystical Palace.
The Nine Mystical Palace was the power behind Chu and was thus unoffendable. If he joined the Nine Mystical Palace, it would mean that Qin Wentian’s future path would be smooth and unobstructed
However, the conversation with Mustang earlier caused a barrier to appear in his heart.
It was as though the Nine Mystical Palace had a vested interest in the Heavenly Star Pavilion of the Emperor Star Academy. If he agreed to join the Nine Mystical Palace, the Nine Mystical Palace would make him stand in opposition to the Emperor Star Academy. This was something that he was unwilling to do.
“Senior, what about the competition of this year’s Jun Lin Banquet?” Qin Wentian inquired. He wanted to be certain that Luo Qianqiu’s mission was to enter the Heavenly Star Pavilion, related to the Nine Mystical Palace.
“I want you to lose.” The middle-aged man laughed as he raised his cup to Qin Wentian, his voice sounding exceptionally calm as though he was talking about something of no importance.
However, Qin Wentian’s pupils narrowed. Looking at how the other party was smiling, he felt a coldness invading his heart.
I want you to lose!
Five simple words, yet the meaning contained within them was very clear. Qin Wentian already had his answer.
Despite the recognition of his talent, the Nine Mystical Palace still wanted Qin Wentian to lose.
“Don’t worry, as long as you are willing to join the Nine Mystical Palace, what you would obtained in rewards would far surpass what being the champion of the Jun Lin Banquet could bestow on you. You should clearly know what power the Nine Mystical Palace holds. Not only that, I truly admire you for your talent.” The middle-aged man continued smiling, “However, because of some other factors, you, have to lose your next battle. Luo Qianqiu must obtain the first ranking. As for the little misunderstandings between the two of you, I will step in to mediate.”
Qin Wentian went silent, feeling the pressure.
Naturally, he didn’t want to concede. The moment he stepped on the stage of Jun Lin Banquet, he had already told himself that he would contend for the top ranking. Even if it was difficult, he would accept it with no regrets. But to think that now, the Nine Mystical Palace actually told him to that they wanted him to lose?
He didn’t want to lose, moreover losing intentionally. But the pressure of the Nine Mystical Palace was like a huge mountain pressing down on his back.
“There’s still some time, do consider it carefully. What we can give you is something the Emperor Star Academy would never be able to give. Based on your talent, the correct choice is to join my Nine Mystical Palace.” The middle-aged man continued smiling as he departed, leaving Qin Wentian sitting there alone.
Although the smile on the middle age man’s countenance never wavered, Qin Wentian understood that nobody knew what malicious thoughts existed underneath that smiling facade.
Finishing the wine in his cup, Qin Wentian also departed from the area.
“Have you thought about it?” The middle-aged man inquired with a smile as Qin Wentian walked past him.
“I will think about it.” Qin Wentian didn’t directly agree or decline before returning to the platform. At this moment, several individuals in the crowd was silently speculating. What did the representatives from the Nine Mystical Palace talk to him about when he was called out earlier?
They should have wanted to recruit Qin Wentian to the Nine Mystical Palace, right? Since that was the case, did Qin Wentian agree to it?
Qin Wentian ignored the stares of the crowd and closed his eyes. Retrieving two Yuan Meteor Stones, he wanted to adjust his body to its optimal condition and soon entered into a state of Anatta.
Nobody could tell what he was thinking about, and other than Qin Wentian, no one else knew exactly what just transpired.
Time slowly flowed by, and the crowd got increasingly impatient.
Based on the latest payout rate computed by Drunken Wonder, Luo Qianqiu and Qin Wentian’s odds for obtaining the championship was 1:2.
After the new payout rates were out, countless people began to bet on Qin Wentian. They felt that the current Qin Wentian had a higher possibility of becoming the champion. The hopes they had on Qin Wentian was even greater and stronger compared to their belief in Luo Qianqiu.
Luo Qianqiu was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. From the start, he had already been determined to be the strongest contestant. However, Qin Wentian was a dark horse. With a cultivation base at the 7th level of Arterial Circulation, he slaughtered his way up here. Such a twist of fate caused many of the spectators’ hearts to palpitate with excitement. They wished that they would be like Qin Wentian, slaughtering the ranks one by one all the way until they reached the peak.
One could say that the bets laid on Qin Wentian was no longer purely because of the pursuit of profit, but because of their inner emotions, as well as a type of faith.
They hoped to see something different.
They also hoped that they would witness history being created. If Qin Wentian’s name shook the world a thousand years from now , this battle would become a fabled legend.
Four hours passed quickly, but they felt like an eternity to the spectators. It was as though several days had passed before the aged figure announced the start of the next battle.
At this moment, the entire space was silent as everyone quietly focused their attentions on the two silhouettes who were standing in opposition to each other. The last battle of the Jun Lin Banquet – Luo Qianqiu versus Qin Wentian. Would this battle be recorded in Chu’s annals of history?
Arcs of lightning could be seen flashing about Luo Qianqiu’s body, who appeared akin to a God of Lightning as he stood there motionless.
Qin Wentian had the ancient halberd in his hands, and his blood started to seeth again. Although his efforts to calm the power of his bloodline earlier left him somewhat exhausted, he still had enough energy for this one last battle.
As the Astral Energy in his body started to flow, at that very moment, Qin Wentian’s countenance turned exceptionally unsightly to behold!
“COME!” Luo Qianqiu roared. He swoop down on Qin Wentian, blasting out with his lightning palms. Qin Wentian went ashen as he struck out with his ancient halberd. The power was a far cry from back when he was fighting with Sikong Mingyue.
With a thunderous sound, Qin Wentian’s body was flung through the air before slamming onto the ground with a dull thud, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.
“This…”
All the spectators were dumbfounded. Qin Wentian actually lost by this much in merely the first exchange? Were the disparity between the two contestants really that great?
Many expressions of dejection and disappointment were apparent on their faces. Did they judge wrongly?
“Why?” Qin Wentian’s eyes were filled with boundless rage as he stared straight at the middle-aged man standing near the Azure Dragon Jade Emperor Seat.
He had only drunk a small cup of wine in these four hours.
At this moment, the Astral Energy in his body was running amok in havoc.
“I want you to lose.” As Qin Wentian thought back to that middle-aged man’s resolute and decisive voice, his heart became submerged with fury and hatred. The Nine Mystical Palace wanted him to lose!
TN Note:
Anatta – Buddhist concept of ‘no-self’