Chapter 61

Chapter 61: The Great Purge

In the South Sea island forest’s middle ring, a young man in a blue brocade robe stared at the head placed before him. His gaze was so cold it could freeze blood.

After a long moment, he tugged at the corner of his lips and forced out a laugh that carried no humor.

“Good. Very good.”

Beside him stood a round-faced youth with a harmless look and calm eyes. He said nothing, only watched.

Behind them, the Red-Robed Girl stepped forward and leaned close, whispering into the round-faced youth’s ear.

His expression darkened slightly. He was about to speak when Jia Lan lifted a hand.

A streak of spiritual light shot from his palm.

The head—still wide-eyed in death—was struck and exploded, blood and? flesh bursting outward in a crimson rain. It splattered across Jia Lan’s sleeves and the earth at his feet, painting his smile more and more bloodthirsty.

He inhaled once, slowly, as if forcing himself back into control. Then he turned to the round-faced youth, polite on the surface, probing underneath. “I planned to spare her, but it seems there’s no need. Brother Zhao wouldn’t pity her just because we’re all from the Noble Houses, would you?”

The round-faced youth was the first-ranked Newcomer King of this year: Zhao Ji Xing.

His face didn’t match the ferocity of his reputation. Anyone who mistook that gentleness for weakness deserved what would happen next.

To sit firmly at the top among heavenly prodigies, Zhao Ji Xing’s strength and methods were enough that even someone as arrogant and narrow-minded as Jia Lan had to lower his head around him.

Zhao Ji Xing clasped his hands behind his back and smiled. “Of course not. It’s just that the Red-Robed Girl brought news: Qu Shu and Ming Yue have already escaped our encirclement.”

When Jia Lan heard those names, the last shred of caution in him was swept away. He flicked his sleeve as if brushing dust from his pride. “Hmph! What can those two strays do? I’ve already entered Enlightenment great perfection. The three of us badly wounded them before this. Let them run.”

As he spoke, Jia Lan’s gaze slid toward a patch of darkness nearby. His voice softened, almost deferential, though his eyes stayed sharp. “Brother Ji, Lin Zhao has shown herself this time. You can finally go all out, right?”

The dead corner of shadow stirred.

A stunningly beautiful boy stepped out, dressed in red brocade. His thin lips were blood-red; his phoenix eyes half-lidded, lazy and mad in a way that made the heart seize. A great saber rested on his shoulder like an extension of his body.

Ji Xiao’s smile was wicked. “Lin Zhao is yours. Capture her alive and give her to me.”

He patted the saber and laughed softly, as if savoring a private flavor. “My blade has wanted to drink her blood for a long time.”

—

Under the tallest ancient tree in the middle ring, two battered groups finally met.

Lin Zhao arrived first with Lu Yuan and the others. The moment she saw Qu Shu and Ming Yue, her gaze sharpened—then sank.

Seven or eight people remained at their sides, faces pale, bloodstains dried dark on sleeves and collars.

Lin Zhao stepped forward. “What happened?”

Ming Yue caught her hand, grip tight. “Jia Lan, Zhao Ji Xing, and Ji Xiao joined forces. Along with nearly a third of the newcomers under them, they’ve started targeting everyone else. Including us.”

Qu Shu stood silent, eyes scanning Lin Zhao from head to toe as if making sure she was truly unharmed. Only after that did he speak, voice low. “Everyone on our side is out except these.”

Cold spread through Lin Zhao’s chest like ice water.

She pulled ten Returning Spirit Pills from her Spatial Ring and pressed them out, one to each person. When Qu Shu and Ming Yue tried to refuse, she cut them off. “You were targeted partly because of me. Don’t be polite.”

Qu Shu’s mouth tightened. “Even without you, they wouldn’t have let us go.” He paused, then added, “Three days ago, the academy posted a new rule on Heavenlink Mirror. They canceled the old system from past years—different belt colors based on rank. Now it’s points. If someone reaches four hundred personal points, they can get a Green Belt above the Yellow Belt.”

Lin Zhao froze.

There were only a little over a thousand people in the whole tournament. To reach four hundred personal points by taking them from others, you’d have to eliminate nearly a third of the participants.

“And from what you’re saying,” Lin Zhao said slowly, “those three want to do it.”

Qu Shu didn’t deny it.

“How can they possibly get enough?” Lin Zhao’s eyes narrowed. “They already have a third of the newcomers under them.”

A Penglai disciple beside Qu Shu answered bitterly, pride scraped thin by fear and loss. “They found some Spirit Cores and spirit herbs. Once they eliminate us, it’ll be enough.”

Penglai disciples were proud; they never bothered to band together. The Moon Inviting Sect was the same. Who would have thought the very arrogance that made them leaders would push their people into a dead end?

Lin Zhao’s voice went colder. “So they plan to eat everyone except their own teams.”

A maiden beside Ming Yue swallowed hard. Her eyes were red-rimmed—not from tears alone, but from days of panic and watching sisters get eliminated one after another. She nodded. “Yes. They call it the Great Purge.”

Lin Zhao patted her shoulder, silent for a beat, then looked to Qu Shu and Ming Yue.

“You two interested in pulling a big job with me?”

Before Qu Shu could answer, a voice exploded inside his Sea of Consciousness, shrill with excitement. “Say yes! Say yes! Say yes! Aaaaah! My female lead lord, beat those bad guys who bully host to death!”

Ming Yue tilted her head, calm as ever. “Sister, what do you want Little Yue to do?”

Lin Zhao didn’t blink. “How far has their Great Purge gone?”

Qu Shu ignored the System’s wailing. “They’ve eliminated about one-sixth of the disciples.”

Lin Zhao’s lips curved. “So there are still about half left.” She lifted her chin, eyes bright with a dangerous spark. “What if we gather them and counter-purge instead?”

The remaining disciples were prey right now—frightened, scattered, hiding in hollows and thickets.

But if prey gathered into a pack…

The maiden beside Ming Yue looked tempted, then her face dimmed. “They won’t agree. Their side has three Newcomer Kings. Ours has two. And the Penglai Holy Son and the Moon Inviting Sect Young Sect Master won’t step up to coordinate everyone.”

Otherwise, even if they couldn’t face the three head-on, it wouldn’t have gotten this bad.

“And Qu Shu and I aren’t Zhao Ji Xing’s match,” Ming Yue added. Her tone was steady, but the fact itself sat like a stone. “They know that. They won’t risk joining.”

Lin Zhao said, “Two against three? What if you add me?”

“You?” A youth beside Qu Shu—an Enlightenment seventh-level cultivator—looked torn between gratitude and disbelief. He tried to soften the blow, but the truth came out anyway. “Miss Lin, you’re only at Enlightenment sixth level. I’m seventh, and I couldn’t even take one move from Jia Lan.”

Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow. “Then try taking one move from me.”

Humiliation flashed across his face. His pride flared hot. “Miss Lin, I know you have a record of fighting above your level back in Foundation Establishment, but Enlightenment isn’t the same!”

Lin Zhao’s smile stayed calm. She lifted the Bone Sword. “Do you dare, or not?”

“Fine!” he snapped, drawing his sword. Enlightenment seventh-level pressure surged outward. “Let me see how you dare stand shoulder to shoulder with the Five Newcomer Kings!”

Lin Zhao lifted the Bone Sword. Frost glimmered at its tip, scattering like cold starlight through winter pines. The glimmer spun, gathering chill—yet at its heart, an azure fire lotus bloomed, heat coiling like it could burn the void. Ice flowed around flame; light coiled between them, bursting into brilliant radiance.

Thousand Spirit Blossom.

The moment the technique surged, the youth’s scalp went numb. A premonition stabbed through him: if he took this head-on, he’d be crippled even if he didn’t die.

This qi foundation… this control…

How could it belong to someone at Enlightenment sixth level?

“I concede!” he blurted.