Chapter 267 - Grade 6 District (1/2)

Chapter 267 Grade 6 District“It’s too late,” Xiao Chen replied bluntly, his eyes glowering coldly. He clenched his fist and snapped the jade note, crushing it into countless shards and splinters.

Wan Gufeng immediately turned berserk, his face filled with hatred and rage, “HOW DARE YOU! YOU FOOLISH PUP! I’LL REMEMBER THIS! I’LL HAVE YOUR SOUL REDUCED INTO BITS THAT YOU’LL NEVER…”

Before he could finish, he vanished.

Xiao Chen crumbled to the ground and fell on his back on top of the soft, fluffy grass. He heaved a long drag of breath, finally at ease. The remaining members of the Order of the Divine Fire, realizing their fate now that their leader had been conquered, quickly fled towards the southwest, looking pathetic and miserable.

“Qingluan,” Xiao Chen muttered softly.

Qingluan immediately understood her master’s wish. With a knowing glance at Ziyun’er, the two girls immediately warped into two bolts of light, one green and the other purple, which streaked into the forest in pursuit of the four remaining members of the Order of the Divine Fire contingent. It did not take long for Xiao Chen to hear their agonizing screams and the sound of steel upon flesh and bone. The two assassins had finished their errand.

Outside the Forest, Wan Gufeng’s body materialized at the conveyance magical formation just behind the Jade Terrace Mountain. There was a crowd there, anxious to have the first look at anyone who was being disqualified, and amongst them was an old man whose face turned ugly when he saw Wan Gufeng.

Most of the people watching Wan Gufeng were hardly surprised, as he was still under the guise of Wan Yanyan. But a cry rang suddenly, and the attention of the crowd immediately shifted back to the scoreboard. The contingent of the Order of the Divine Fire had vanished from the fourth place and was replaced by the name of the Jade Qing Sect. They had leaped six places in one go, having amassed more than two thousand and four hundred Hearts of the Illusory Moon now.

All eyes immediately wandered to the single lone person of Wan Gufeng who immediately looked at the scoreboard with disbelief. Incensed at his efforts being thwarted, he cast a scathing look at Perfected Immortal Qing Chen.

It would have been extremely rude and unseemly for a junior such as Wan Yanyan to look with such hate at a senior member of the magical society, even though he was actually Wan Gufeng in disguise. But no one dared to speak up against him. The mere animosity seeping from him was enough to discourage anyone away. Everyone could see that he was angry at being defeated by the Jade Qing Sect that had robbed his Order of the Divine Fire of all the Hearts of Illusory Moon.

A peal of hushed murmurs rose with excitement from the crowds. Zi Mo was at a side, sniggering to himself at Wan Gufeng’s misfortune.

Wan Gufeng could not take anymore. He tossed his sleeves and walked away, hoping to get away from as many eyes as possible to save himself from any more embarrassment. An old man ran to him, a staff of the Daoist League, “My friend! Why are you out here!? What has happened?!”

“It’s all because of that Xiao Chen!” Wan Gufeng spat venomously through gritted teeth.

“I’ve told you! I’ve warned you against angering him! He’s nothing but bad fortune!” The old man exclaimed with fright.

Wan Gufeng tossed his sleeves again, with grudge and contempt. “They surrounded me! I was alone against all of them! Moreover, the boy is skilled in strange and bizarre forms of magic! Somehow he managed to steal my jade note!”

“Oh my… B-but…” The old man shook his head, sympathetic for his friend’s plight, before he suddenly turned solemn and jittery, “B-but, did they discover your identity?”

“SO WHAT IF THEY DO!” Wan Gufeng growled, on the verge of erupting.

“Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!” The old man lamented and grumbled, “Oh Heavens! What am I to do! I do not want trouble, my friend! Especially if this matter reaches public eye!”

“I don’t care. And you, disqualify him. No matter how, I want to see his name removed!” Wan Gufeng hissed coldly.

“B-but…” The old man muttered anxiously, “I cannot do that! Even the Immortals’ League could do nothing to him! Moreover, the Leader of the Jade Qing Sect is the chief of the contestants from the East…”

“Hmph!” Wan Gufeng snorted, and began to leave. “That is your concern. Just make sure my will is done! Otherwise… You know what!”

Dusk was already upon them for those still inside the Forest of Illusory Moon. Having divided some portions of the freshly-plundered Hearts to other sects, Xiao Chen and his people recuperated in a cavernous cave chamber with the School of the Savage Flames and the Faith of the Lofty Clouds.

Finally being able to rest, they busied themselves with healing their wounds from the fight. When he was done, Qin Xinyan got up and strode over to Xiao Chen. “I believe I owe you a big favor, Brother Xiao.”

Xiao Chen looked up and met his eyes. “It’s nothing,” he replied, “But can you tell me why was the Order of the Divine Fire pursuing you?” It seemed that the Hearts of Illusory Moon was not the only thing Wan Gufeng wanted when they hunted for Qin Xinyan and his teammates.

“That’s because we’ve inadvertently offended them during the test of this Forest of Illusory Moon in the last tournament. The Order has been hungry for revenge ever since, especially since we all know how petty and spiteful they can be…” said a girl from the Faith of the Lofty Clouds.

Xiao Chen merely nodded. “So, I am now their latest addition to their list of enemies. But never mind, the Order is hardly the only enemy thirsty for vengeance.”

“I’d expect that the hunt for the remaining Hearts in the following days to be vicious and brutal. I’m thinking of returning back to the Grade 3 district. What about you, Brother Xiao? You’re thinking of entering the Grade 5 or Grade 6 district?” Qin Xinyan asked suddenly.

“Maybe. I’m still thinking about it,” Xiao Chen replied.

Qin Xinyan studied Xiao Chen with silence. Their levels of strength were almost on par when they were comrades in the excursion to the Wuwang Wind Cloud City. But in a span of merely a few moons, Xiao Chen had reached heights that he could only hope of catching on to. He sighed grimly. “So I think it’s farewell then, Brother Xiao. I’d hope we’ll meet again,” he said and led his people out the cave. But after just a few steps, he stopped and paused, as if there was something he wished to say. But a beat of hesitation passed, he decided against it and continued his way out.

Xiao Chen looked at him quietly, noticing the hesitant look on Qin Xinyan face. He seemed to have something to tell Xiao Chen, but had decided against it, especially realizing that there were many people watching them. Xiao Chen got up and whispered to him, “Is there something you wish to say?”

Qin Xinyan peered cautiously around and led him to an isolated corner. “Remember the time when we were at the Wuwang Wind Cloud City? We…” And he told him his suspicions.