Chapter 9: Provocation

He decided he’d better focus on his upcoming match and find out who his opponent would be.

When the list was posted, Lin Hao was momentarily taken aback.

Bai Shili?

He’d only just heard of this name recently—Liu Baxian had mentioned a few notable figures in the competition at dinner, and Bai Shili was among them.

Because Bai Shili often secluded himself for cultivation, many of the outer disciples had nearly forgotten about this troublemaker’s existence. It wasn’t until the internal tournament began anew that people remembered him.

Moreover, Bai Shili was the only contestant in the preliminaries to have killed his opponent outright, drawing the sect’s attention. The elders were all discussing whether someone so ruthless and cruel should remain within the Purewind Sect.

Lin Hao’s strength, on the other hand, was widely recognized. In the preliminaries, he’d left quite a shadow over the other outer disciples gearing up for the sect’s selection matches.

Now, many were secretly delighted. With these two powerhouses colliding, even the victor would likely be battered and bruised—an outcome beneficial to the rest of the cultivators.

But for Lin Hao himself… his feelings were complicated.

He recalled Liu Baxian’s appraisal of Bai Shili that day—

“Bai Shili, his appearance befits his name: genteel and elegant, nothing about him suggests a cultivator, but his heart is as venomous as a viper’s. Face him, and you might not even know how you died. His talent isn’t particularly high, but he compensates with diligence and ruthlessness. He’ll wound himself severely if it means bringing down someone stronger—a truly troublesome opponent.”

Lin Hao didn’t even have to ponder why his luck was so terrible, running into such formidable foes twice.

His gaze swept the crowd until he found that pair of vicious eyes.

Staring back at him, Zhou Yichen didn’t avert his gaze.

At last, Zhou Yichen couldn’t hold back. He pushed through the crowd and stopped in front of Lin Hao.

“Quite a stroke of luck, running into the eleventh place from the last sect selection tournament,” said Zhou Yichen, a head shorter than Lin Hao but still projecting an air of nonchalance.

“Eleventh? I wouldn’t know. I only ever remember who came first.” Lin Hao’s lips curled slightly. “Didn’t the last one go easy on you enough? Which lackey have you got lined up to throw the match this time?”

Zhou Yichen’s face darkened. Though his match-fixing was an open secret, few dared speak of it, given Elder Zhou’s backing. Most referees simply turned a blind eye. Only Lin Hao had the nerve to say it outright in public.

“I suppose your opponent must have asked you to throw the match as well?” Zhou Yichen laughed twice, attempting to brush aside Lin Hao’s accusation. Lin Hao only shrugged in reply. “Just don’t start whining about your bad luck when you lose this time.”

“Oh? I think those words are better saved for yourself.” Lin Hao shot Zhou Yichen an indifferent glance. “With your measly skills, you’ve barely scraped by this far. I’d wager no one will be bribed to lose for you in the next rounds. If you lose, don’t go crying to your father to arrange a comeback bracket for you!”

Provocation!

This was outright provocation!

Faced with Lin Hao’s brazen arrogance, Zhou Yichen’s face was livid. Fortunately, the match was about to begin and the referee was already calling Lin Hao’s name, forcing Zhou Yichen to withdraw.

“Such a limited vocabulary, yet he dares argue with me…” Lin Hao couldn’t fathom where Zhou Yichen found such courage. Shaking his head, he stepped onto the arena.

Despite being an outer disciple, Zhou Yichen shamelessly stood beside Elder Zhou. Anyone could see there was something fishy between them.

“I heard you frightened that cultivator Yun Fei unconscious? Quite impressive.” Bai Shili had a talisman hidden in his sleeve, a gift from Zhou Yichen. With such a trump card, he felt no anxiety.

“Likewise. I hear you’re the only one in the preliminaries who killed his opponent.” Lin Hao smiled pleasantly, the picture of good temper.

“Hmph.” Bai Shili snorted, looking at Lin Hao with contempt. “It was nothing but scaring a mere ant. What’s there to boast about?”

A commotion swept the disciples below the stage at Bai Shili’s arrogant words.

Yun Fei was at least in the Foundation Establishment stage! Yet Bai Shili dismissed him as an ant—such confidence!

The match hadn’t even started, and already many disciples were anxiously rooting for Lin Hao.

Lin Hao had won himself a loyal following among the outer disciples, and his outstanding performance in the preliminaries, coupled with his meteoric progress, made it hard for anyone to bear the thought of such a genius meeting his end so soon.

As for Bai Shili, although powerful, he was infamous for his arrogance and cruelty. Outside the sect, few would mourn his loss—none except perhaps Zhou Yichen.

Lin Hao, meanwhile, remained utterly at ease, even wearing a faint smile.

“Your words are certainly arrogant, but… your strength clearly doesn’t entitle you to it any longer!”

As Lin Hao finished speaking, a massive fire python unfurled from his back. Its single eye was as large as Bai Shili’s entire head!

Yet even when faced with this monstrous serpent, Bai Shili showed no sign of panic.

“Very well, then allow me to see whether your fire python is mightier, or my leech surpasses it!”

With that, an enormous water leech emerged behind him. By its nature, the water leech was a creature of insatiable devouring—even Bai Shili dared not let it coil around him as Lin Hao’s python did.

“He’s actually mastered the water leech!”

The spectators buzzed with gossip. The leech was notorious among water-attribute cultivators, all of whom knew its fearsome power. Yet none dared practice it, for the water leech was a venomous creature, cultivated by draining the very essence of its master.

Liu Baxian’s expression turned grim.

Since the last selection tournament, Bai Shili had scarcely left his quarters except to buy necessities. Thus, Liu Baxian’s understanding of Bai Shili was limited to his past performance.

He could hardly believe anyone in the Purewind Sect would dare cultivate the water leech. As a water cultivator himself, Liu Baxian knew just how tough Lin Hao’s battle would be.

Water already countered fire, and now, against Bai Shili’s leech, Lin Hao’s python was at a disadvantage. The fire python’s strength was tied to its master’s cultivation; a Foundation Establishment python would outstrip one at the Qi Condensation level.

The water leech, however, was different. It drew power directly from its master—if Bai Shili was at Foundation Establishment, so was his leech. If it faced a weaker opponent, it would be overwhelming; if the opponent was stronger, the leech would drain Bai Shili’s power to match, until it was strong enough to defeat its foe.

Absorbing power was one thing, but as long as Bai Shili retained spiritual energy, the leech would never fall. And once it defeated its opponent, their strength would be completely devoured, some of which would return to Bai Shili.

Facing the water leech was a battle to the death.

Bai Shili had recognized Lin Hao’s strength since the preliminaries. Against such an opponent, he knew he had to win—if Lin Hao were allowed to grow, it would spell his own doom.

But Bai Shili’s goal was not merely to defeat Lin Hao, but to kill him.

On stage, the colossal leech engulfed the fire python’s head, and a dense, greyish mist began to seep from Bai Shili, filling the onlookers with unease.

Lin Hao gritted his teeth. He might not practice water arts, but he too knew the terror of the water leech.

At that moment, he silently gave thanks to the system—absorbing power was something he could do as well!

Provided, of course, Bai Shili’s level wasn’t higher than his own…

Since Bai Shili had unleashed the water leech, which drew its strength from its master, Lin Hao only needed to wait until the leech drained Bai Shili to his own level—at which point he could turn the tables and absorb Bai Shili’s power himself!

Resolving on this plan, Lin Hao released a pale red aura, enveloping himself. It consumed minimal spiritual energy but offered strong protection.

“What… what is he doing?!” Seeing Lin Hao’s actions, Liu Xiaoxi stamped her foot in exasperation. “I can’t believe Bai Shili’s so ruthless! Lin Hao ought to fight back with his fire python!”

Others echoed her concerns, fearing Lin Hao was in real danger this time; Bai Shili’s murderous intent was obvious, and once Lin Hao fell behind, there would be no coming back.

None of them knew Lin Hao harbored a hidden devouring ability. Though Liu Baxian looked worried, he reassured her, “Don’t fret, Xiaoxi. Lin Hao won’t let himself be outmatched—he must have a trick up his sleeve.”

“It’s outrageous! That someone in the Purewind Sect would dare cultivate a water leech! Such a person has no place in the arena!” Liu Xiaoxi continued to protest on Lin Hao’s behalf.

“What’s wrong with cultivating the water leech? Are there noble or base techniques? So long as you win, that’s all that matters,” retorted a disciple known for currying favor with Bai Shili.

“Be that as it may…” Liu Xiaoxi was at a loss for words and fell silent.

“This Bai Shili really is something!” Even the usually composed Zhou Yichen, standing atop the observation platform, was surprised. He’d thought Bai Shili’s killing on stage was ruthless enough, but he was even more merciless toward Lin Hao—not only seeking to kill him, but to take his power as well!

A sense of foreboding swept over Zhou Yichen.

“This is bad! Father, if Bai Shili devours Lin Hao’s power, he’ll be the champion of this selection tournament for sure!”

Hearing no reply, Zhou Yichen turned to find Elder Zhou’s face equally grave.

“Neither Bai Shili nor Lin Hao will be easy to deal with, no matter which of them remains…” Elder Zhou sighed. “Once Bai Shili kills Lin Hao, I’ll simply invoke my authority as an elder to ban practitioners of the water leech from future competitions.”