Chapter 488: Your Protagonist Halo Is Out Working Before It's Even Grown Up...

The minor incident during the sect competition quickly blew over. Because of it, Qi Suian’s Tang’s Candy Shop became famous in an instant.

In any case, all nine major sects now knew such a shop existed. Many disciples even planned to check it out before heading back.

A shop so highly recommended by the champion of the sect competition had to have something special about it.

The first three rounds of the competition might have had some fluff, but for the final two, you needed real strength, even if the winner was predetermined.

And Zuo Fan’s victory was an absolute landslide; few could last more than three moves against him.

Among the disciples of his generation, he was absurdly strong.

Then, the festival began.

The glamorized Sect Leader of the Yanghuang Sect, Xu Ziyang, made his entrance. Nine lifelike, ferocious, and majestic Red Dragons forged from flame coiled around him. Behind each Red Dragon’s head floated a great sun.

This was one of the Yanghuang Sect’s two great Sect’s Spiritual Techniques, the Nine Fire True Yang Red Dragon Skill.

At the same time, a burly and majestic Celestial God Dharma Aspect followed behind Xu Ziyang.

This was the Yang Flame Spirit, which had been designed to take the form of a Dharma Aspect.

The technique and the spirit combined to give Xu Ziyang the imposing air of a true powerhouse.

‘This certainly satisfied Xu Ziyang’s vanity.’

The festival proceeded smoothly, with no clichéd, dramatic incidents interrupting it.

After all, the Yanghuang Sect was the number one sect under the heavens. With so many other sects in attendance, only someone with a death wish would be foolish enough to cause trouble now.

Did people really think the Yanghuang Sect became number one by appointment? No, they earned that title through sheer power.

Furthermore, security and defenses were at their absolute peak for this critical event. Any incident would be snuffed out instantly.

After the ceremony came the banquet.

There were also other recreational activities planned for later.

People had traveled from far and wide; the sect naturally wouldn’t send them away immediately after the ceremony.

They had to be treated with proper hospitality.

Everyone attending the ceremony was given a seat at the banquet, and Qi Suian, of course, was no exception.

Once seated, Qi Suian didn’t say a word. He just lowered his head and dug in.

The others were different, busy clinking glasses and expanding their networks. Not that anyone looked down on him for it.

At most, he earned a glance or two, but nobody truly paid him any mind.

‘What if the man just doesn’t need to network?’

“Mister, you really just came here to eat, huh?” Zuo Fan said, having finally escaped his social obligations. He looked up and immediately spotted Qi Suian wandering around with a plate, sampling everything in sight.

“What else would I be here for? Do I have anything to talk about with them?” Qi Suian said after swallowing a piece of meat. “We’re not friends or family. I just sell candy; there are no benefits for me in schmoozing.”

‘Makes sense.’ Zuo Fan thought back to when he was just a bottom-ranked disciple; no one paid him any attention then.

Now that he’d found success overnight, suddenly he was surrounded by “good people.”

“I’m full. I’m heading back. You?” Qi Suian said, casually setting his plate down on a table.

Zuo Fan’s arrival had drawn a lot of attention, and ‘I have no desire to get tangled up in all this politicking.’

With his ability to read people and sense emotions, navigating these social complexities would actually be quite simple for Qi Suian.

But since he saw no value in it, he couldn’t be bothered.

He wasn’t even willing to put on an act.

Seeing Qi Suian leave, Zuo Fan decided to follow.

He wasn’t very good at this sort of thing either.

No one stopped the two from leaving, and they quickly departed from the banquet hall.

On the way, seeing that no one was around, Zuo Fan finally voiced his concerns. “Mister, about those two Spiritual Techniques you gave me…”

“Just some minor Spiritual Techniques passed down in my family. Nothing special,” Qi Suian said leisurely.

“But… I have a feeling they’re not ordinary.” Zuo Fan hesitated before asking, “The Sect Leader’s Nine Flames True Red Dragon Technique doesn’t even seem as profound as this Innate Li Fire Sword Technique.”

“You’re mistaken,” Qi Suian continued. “How can you compare yourself to your Sect Leader? I think you need to be a bit more grounded.”

‘Truth be told, Zuo Fan wasn’t wrong.’

‘It’s just that Qi Suian couldn’t tell him the truth. He had to let Zuo Fan figure it out for himself.’

“You’re right, but…” Zuo Fan still sounded uncertain.

Qi Suian cut him off. “Forget your Sect Leader for a moment. Yanghuang Zhenren was a prodigy of unparalleled genius. How could you possibly compare yourself to the founding ancestor?”

‘That’s a good point.’ Mentioning Yanghuang Zhenren immediately shut Zuo Fan down.

The two soon returned to their quarters. They were temporary, but Shen Chen was already there, having clearly been waiting for some time.

His gaze passed right over Qi Suian and landed on Zuo Fan.

“I can’t accept that you beat me. You’re just a Spirit Master from the lower courtyards.”

“What right do you have to be compared to me?” Shen Chen’s tone was filled with resentment.

He could accept losing to someone else from a distinguished background. But to lose to someone with no status, no standing, who used to be at the bottom of the pack? How could he possibly accept that?

The first-place prize alone was enough to make him burn with envy. For it to be snatched away by someone like *this* was a complete slap in the face.

Most importantly, he had already boasted to everyone that he would be the champion. For some nobody to just swoop in and steal it… what was he supposed to do about his reputation?

“If you can’t accept it, go talk to the Sect Leader. Don’t come to me,” Zuo Fan said, utterly baffled by Shen Chen’s logic.

‘It’s not like I cheated or launched a sneak attack. I beat you fair and square to win the championship.’

‘Besides, what’s the use of coming to me now with your complaints?’

“There’s no need to bother the Sect Leader over such a trivial matter.”

“All you have to do is publicly admit that your skills are inferior to mine, and then give me the first-place prize,” Shen Chen said.

Hearing this, even Qi Suian was stunned.

“‘So, he fights his way to first place, only to get the resources of a runner-up?'” Qi Suian was dumbfounded. He couldn’t begin to fathom the guy’s thought process.

Shen Chen looked at Qi Suian like he was an idiot. “Dream on. That’s my compensation.”

At those words, Zuo Fan’s expression darkened.

He might be carefree, but that didn’t mean he’d just stand there and take it when someone came knocking on his door to bully him.

“Get out. I’m going to report this matter to Stone Peak Master and let him grant me justice.”

“You may have a distinguished background, but I am a disciple of Azure Flame Peak and the champion of this competition. In terms of status, I’m no less than you now.” Zuo Fan had no intention of trying to de-escalate the situation anymore.

He had been willing to take a step back, hoping the other party would do the same. It’s better to resolve grievances than create new ones, after all. As fellow disciples of the Yanghuang Sect, they were bound to run into each other sooner or later.

But his willingness to concede had only made the other party bolder.

This infuriated him.

So he dropped all pretenses and lashed out.

‘As for retaliation? The potential and talent I’ve displayed far surpass his. From the moment I won the championship, I became one of the Yanghuang Sect’s rising stars.’

‘It’s magnanimous enough for me not to retaliate against him. If he dares to come after me, then he shouldn’t blame me for being ruthless.’

Shen Chen was furious when he heard this.

“You stole my championship and you’re still this arrogant? Just you wait!” Being cursed out by Zuo Fan like that, Shen Chen completely lost his composure.

He then stormed off, muttering curses under his breath.

“His… mental fortitude is that weak? How did he even manage to cultivate to his current level?” Qi Suian commented wryly.

“I’ve asked around. This Shen Chen comes from an extraordinary background, has great talent, and has always had ample resources.”

“So his path has been completely smooth. He’s never experienced a single setback.”

“In fact, even the first-place prize this time… was essentially reserved for him.”

“I just happened to snatch it away from him.”

“If it weren’t for the two Spiritual Techniques you gave me, Mister, I truly wouldn’t have been his match,” Zuo Fan said with a helpless sigh.

The more Qi Suian heard, the more something felt off. “That doesn’t add up. If he comes from a distinguished family, he should know better than to act like this.”

‘Great families don’t raise such fools.’

Then Qi Suian began to review the data. He suspected Shen Chen’s intelligence had been debuffed.

It certainly wasn’t Qi Suian’s own protagonist aura at work; he’d had no interaction with Shen Chen.

Therefore, the prime suspect was the burgeoning protagonist aura around Zuo Fan.

After he won the championship, the development of his protagonist aura had accelerated significantly.

A quick check confirmed it.

It wasn’t just an intelligence debuff; there was also a ‘taunt’ aura involved.

Otherwise, why would he be fixated on Zuo Fan, snapping at him like a mad dog?

“I wouldn’t know about that. I’m not from a great family,” Zuo Fan said, spreading his hands to show he had no solution.

“But I’m sure of one thing: I’m in for some trouble.”

“Mister, you’d better watch out for yourself. I’m worried that dimwit Shen Chen might come after you.”

“I’ll do my best to deal with him so that he doesn’t involve you, Mister.”

Zuo Fan was determined to protect Qi Suian. His debt of gratitude to the man was immense.

“It’s fine. I don’t think he’d dare,” Qi Suian said bluntly.

The moment Shen Chen even thought about targeting him, Qi Suian would know.

Never mind taking action—Qi Suian could snuff him out while he was still in the planning stages.

He was trying to live a quiet life and cultivate his temperament, but that was contingent on people not provoking him. If someone truly crossed him… forget a single Shen Chen, he would wipe out the entire Yanghuang Sect from top to bottom.

He was on a vegetarian diet now, but that didn’t mean he’d be one forever. He was simply tired of rich feasts and was cleansing his palate.

“With a brain like his? I think he’d dare,” Zuo Fan disagreed.

If Shen Chen had seemed rational, Zuo Fan wouldn’t be worried. But the guy was clearly unhinged; there was no way he would act normally.

“True, his head isn’t screwed on right. But it’s fine, I’m on good terms with Stone Peak Master.”

“No matter how distinguished Shen Chen’s background is, can he really compare to Stone Peak Master?” Qi Suian was completely unconcerned.

“He certainly can’t compare to a Peak Master. But the Peak Master is a busy man; I doubt he can look after you at all times, Mister.”

“So I’m thinking… instead of waiting to be attacked, why not take the initiative?” As Zuo Fan talked it over with Qi Suian, he realized there was no need to wait for his opponent to act. He could seize the advantage by striking first.

“Mister, you rest here. I’m going out for a bit.”

“The banquet probably hasn’t ended yet. This is the perfect time to settle this.”

Without waiting for Qi Suian to respond, Zuo Fan rushed off toward the banquet hall.