Novel Full Chapter 461 The Provocation of Yuan Jie
Chapter 461 The Provocation of Yuan Jie
"Young Master Bai, you didn't know?"
Yun Qingmei asked confusedly.
She thought for sure that the reason why Bai Zihan was here was because he heard that his servant was fighting against one of the seniors.
But looking at his reaction, it was for certain that it wasn't the case.
Bai Zihan was surprised when he heard that.
"Lin Xuan... fighting?"
He repeated, brows knitting slightly.
Beside him, Kong Zhanhong also stiffened.
"Fighting?" he echoed. "With whom?"
Bai Zihan's gaze snapped back to Yun Qingmei.
"Tell me more!"
***
After the former Sect Leader stepped down, Lin Xuan's existence had quickly become a thorn in the side of the new leadership.
His past was impossible to ignore-he had once been a serious candidate for the position of next Sect Leader, personally nurtured and favored by the former Sect Leader himself.
That background, once a mark of prestige, had turned into a liability the moment Han Sha took power.
The new Sect Leader and his faction had never trusted Lin Xuan. At first, their actions were subtle.
His cultivation resources were reduced little by little-pills became scarce and access to key cultivation grounds was quietly restricted.
Then came the privileges. Rights he had enjoyed for years were suddenly deemed inappropriate, revoked under various justifications.
It should have worked.
But it didn't.
Despite the suppression, Lin Xuan's cultivation speed never slowed-not even slightly.
Well, it was because more than the Heaven Sword Sect, the Bai Clan was also helping him, including providing him with Cultivation pills.
So there was no way those things would have a huge impact on him.
That alone was enough to make the ruling faction uneasy. Their pressure escalated, and eventually, they resolved to deal with him once and for all.
Yuan Jie-Han Shenwu's lackey-had deliberately insulted and provoked Lin Xuan.
Of course, being a handyman previously, he was used to it and didn't even get angry.
Yuan Jie also realized that, but he had no intention of giving up.
If personal insult wouldn't have any effect, then there was someone else who Lin Xuan revered more than anyone.
He began insulting Bai Zihan and even called him a helpless cripple who he would take care of if he ever showed up before him.
Lin Xuan had endured the loss of resources, the restrictions, and the humiliation in silence. But that insult crossed a line he refused to tolerate.
His temper flared.
The challenge was issued.
And Yuan Jie accepted without hesitation.
There was also a bet between the two.
If Yuan Jie wins, Lin Xuan would serve Han Shenwu as his servant; and if Lin Xuan wins, he would grovel and beg for forgiveness before Bai Zihan.
"This is how this fight came to be!"
By the time Yun Qingmei finished explaining, they had reached the fighting arena and were seated where a lot of eyes were directed in their direction.
"Tsk! How could you not know about this?"
Fei Ling asked, a bit angrily at Bai Zihan.
After all, as Lin Xuan's senior sister from Misty Moon Peak, she knew very well about his loyalty to Bai Zihan and how he would talk about him in admiration.
Well, she didn't believe most of what Lin Xuan said, as she personally knew Bai Zihan's real face, but she didn't say much considering Bai Zihan had helped him before he joined the sect as a disciple.
Bai Zihan's thoughts shifted as the pieces finally aligned.
So that was why Yuan Jie had not been by Han Shenwu's side earlier.
Han Shenwu's most loyal lackey had been absent not because he had been tasked with something else entirely.
Lin Xuan!
Bai Zihan's gaze flicked briefly toward the arena, then inward.
Han Shenwu himself likely hadn't even thought much about it anymore.
Han Shenwu likely saw him as bigger trouble than Lin Xuan, and perhaps Lin
Xuan being targeted might even be because of him.
Anyway, it seemed that he believed Yuan Jie could win against Lin Xuan.
The situation on the surface, however, looked painfully clear.
Yuan Jie stood at the Soul Formation Realm-his cultivation solid, aura stable,
and foundation built through years of sect missions and bloodshed.
He was not a pampered genius, but a veteran disciple who had clawed his way
upward.
Experience favored him.
While Lin Xuan was in the lower realm, at Nascent Soul.
To most onlookers, the outcome seemed obvious.
Whispers rippled through the arena stands, eyes filled with anticipation.
Fei Ling's tension was evident, her arms crossed tightly as she stared toward
the arena. Unlike her, however, Bai Zihan felt none of that unease.
Not even a trace.
He leaned back slightly, posture relaxed, eyes calm.
To him, this scene felt... familiar.
A public stage.
An opponent who looked overwhelming on paper.
Bai Zihan exhaled slowly.
Others saw a doomed fight.
He saw this as an opportunity for Lin Xuan.
A moment tailor-made for someone like Lin Xuan to tear apart expectations-
to show everyone who he was.
This wasn't a trap. It was a spotlight meant for Heaven Chosen.
And when the curtain rose, Bai Zihan was certain of one thing-
Everyone here was about to be reminded exactly who Lin Xuan was.
"Young Master Bai, shouldn't you stop the fight?"
Yun Qingmei asked worriedly.
"Why should I?"
"Eh? Wouldn't Lin Xuan be forced to become Han Shenwu's lackey if Yuan Jie
wins?"
Yun Qingmei asked.
She was certain that Bai Zihan would stop this nonsense match once he came
to know about it.
"Well that is if he wins. I don't think that is possible though."
Bai Zihan said calmly.
Kong Zhanhong nodded beside him.
"Qingmei, what do you expect from this heartless man? He probably would
abandon Lin Xuan as soon as he loses!"
Fei Ling scoffed.
***
A low murmur swept through the arena.
Moments later, two figures stepped onto the dueling platform from opposite
ends.
Lin Xuan emerged first.
There was no killing intent leaking from him, no visible agitation-only a quiet steadiness, like a sword resting in its sheath.
Bai Zihan exhaled slowly.
Others saw a doomed fight.
He saw this as an opportunity for Lin Xuan.
A moment tailor-made for someone like Lin Xuan to tear apart expectations-
to show everyone who he was.
This wasn't a trap. It was a spotlight meant for Heaven Chosen.
And when the curtain rose, Bai Zihan was certain of one thing- Everyone here was about to be reminded exactly who Lin Xuan was.
"Young Master Bai, shouldn't you stop the fight?"
Yun Qingmei asked worriedly.
"Why should I?" "Eh? Wouldn't Lin Xuan be forced to become Han Shenwu's lackey if Yuan Jie
wins?"
Yun Qingmei asked.
She was certain that Bai Zihan would stop this nonsense match once he came
to know about it.
"Well that is if he wins. I don't think that is possible though."
Bai Zihan said calmly.
Kong Zhanhong nodded beside him.
"Qingmei, what do you expect from this heartless man? He probably would
abandon Lin Xuan as soon as he loses!"
Fei Ling scoffed.
***
A low murmur swept through the arena.
Moments later, two figures stepped onto the dueling platform from opposite
ends.
Lin Xuan emerged first.
There was no killing intent leaking from him, no visible agitation-only a quiet steadiness, like a sword resting in its sheath.
Across from him, Yuan Jie strode onto the arena with heavy steps.
His presence was immediately oppressive.
Soul Formation Realm.
His qi rolled outward in waves, deliberately unrestrained, pressing down on the
platform like a warning.
Scars lined his hands and forearms-marks earned from countless sect
missions and brutal encounters.
The contrast between the two was stark.
One looked plain.
The other looked dominant.
An elder descended onto the arena platform, robes fluttering as he landed
between them.
He swept his gaze across both disciples before speaking, his voice amplified by spiritual qi and echoing throughout the arena.
"This is an official sect duel. The terms have been verified and recorded."
"If Yuan Jie wins, Lin Xuan will enter the service of Han Shenwu as a personal
subordinate."
A ripple ran through the crowd.
The elder continued without pause.
"If Lin Xuan wins, Yuan Jie will kneel, grovel, and beg forgiveness before Bai
Zihan-publicly."
That time, the reaction was louder.
Some scoffed. Some smirked. Some glanced instinctively toward Bai Zihan's
seating area.
The elder's gaze hardened.
"No outside interference will be tolerated. The duel will end upon concession
or incapacitation."
Lin Xuan's hand rested calmly on the hilt at his waist.
Yuan Jie's lips curled into a cruel grin.
He turned his head slightly, eyes flicking toward Lin Xuan with open contempt.
"So you really came," Yuan Jie said, voice carrying easily across the platform. "I
thought you might finally learn to stay in your hole." Lin Xuan didn't respond.
That only amused Yuan Jie more.
"Don't look at me like that," Yuan Jie continued. "You should be grateful. Once
this is over, you'll finally have a master who knows how to use you properly."
His grin widened.
"I'm doing you a favor!"
A faint metallic sound rang out as Yuan Jie slowly drew his sword.
Lin Xuan finally moved.
With a smooth, unhurried motion, he drew his own sword.
The air around Lin Xuan sharpened.
The elder stepped back.
"Begin!"
Yuan Jie moved first.
He exploded forward, Soul Formation qi surging violently as he swung his
sword in a powerful, descending arc.
The blade howled through the air, carrying overwhelming force meant to crush
rather than cut.
Lin Xuan stepped aside.
The sword passed where his head had been a heartbeat earlier, slamming into
the arena floor and carving a deep groove into the stone.
Before Yuan Jie could recover, Lin Xuan's sword flicked out.
A clean, precise slash.
Steel met steel.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the two blades collided.
Yuan Jie's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Oh?"
Lin Xuan slid back a step, dispersing the impact cleanly through his stance.
The second exchange came immediately after.
Yuan Jie pressed forward, his attacks heavy and relentless, sword strikes
layered with brute force and experience.
Each swing carried enough power to overwhelm a Nascent Soul cultivator
outright.
Yet Lin Xuan met every strike.
Sometimes he parried. Sometimes he redirected.
Sometimes he avoided entirely, his movements economical, efficient-almost
indifferent.
From the stands, confusion began to replace confidence.
This wasn't how it was supposed to look.
Up above, Bai Zihan watched silently.
His posture remained relaxed, eyes calm, but there was a faint glint of
amusement deep within them.
As swords clashed again and again, a simple truth began to surface-one that
only a few perceptive eyes caught early.
Lin Xuan wasn't struggling.
He was testing.
And once he was done-
The real fight would begin!