Delaying the rescue of the Spiritual Root?
Who will take responsibility?
Fan Qingshanâs eyes were glacial as he fumed. Though he was verbally blaming Duanmu Rong, his words were clearly aimed at Qin Feng.
Instantly, all eyes in the main hall fell upon Qin Feng.
Qin Fengâs expression was calm, his messy black hair stirring slightly, a cold light in his eyes. He knew Fan Qingshan was targeting Zuo Song; he was just being dragged into it because of his association with the man.
âBut an unstoppable rage is already welling up inside me!â
Zuo Song erupted in fury and was about to speak, but Qin Feng stopped him.
A cold smirk touched Qin Fengâs lips. He raised his head, shot a frosty glare at the scowling Fan Qingshan, and then turned to Zuo Song.
"Chairman Zuo, you donât have to say a thing. Iâll withdraw. To be honest, even if this Master Fan hadnât spoken up, I was going to back out anyway. Otherwise, when he inevitably fails, heâll have nowhere to vent his anger, and Iâll probably become his punching bag!"
Hearing this, Zuo Songâs expression shifted from anger to delight. He boomed with laughter, "Well said! That does sound like a certain someoneâs style!"
A sinister chill flashed in Fan Qingshanâs eyes. His glacial gaze landed on Qin Feng as he roared, his voice dangerously low, "What an arrogant punk with no respect for your betters. You dare speak to me like that?"
Pinned by Fan Qingshanâs glare, Qin Feng suddenly felt an immense pressure bear down on him. Under its weight, his bones began to let out a series of whining CRACKS and POPS.
âThe Sea of Reincarnation Realm is too powerful!â
A single glance was enough to kill an expert of the Martial Arts Tenth Realm!
Seeing this, Zuo Song flew into a rage. "This is outrageous, Fan Qingshan!" he roared. "Picking on someone so much weaker than you! Have you no shame?!"
In the next instant, Zuo Songâs figure flickered, and he appeared in front of Qin Feng, shielding him from the crushing pressure.
His face grim, a cold glint flashed in Fan Qingshanâs eyes. "Zuo Song, get out of my way!"
Zuo Song bellowed, "If you dare touch a single hair on this kidâs head today, Iâll personally crush you to death!"
A terrifying aura erupted from Zuo Song. The unrestrained presence of a Nirvana Realm Giant exploded forth, pressing down on Fan Qingshan.
Zuo Song was simply overwhelming him with his higher Cultivation!
An absolute display of dominance!
Livid, Fan Qingshan hissed, "Zuo Song, you dare use your Cultivation to suppress me?"
Zuo Song sneered. "You were just trying to use your Mystic Master grade to pressure me. So what if I do the same to you? Donât piss me off today! If you do, Iâll crush you like an ant!"
A surging wave of power crashed down on Fan Qingshan, and his face turned deathly pale.
He might be a Fourth Grade Xuan Master, a grade higher than Zuo Song, but his Cultivation was only at the Sea Reincarnation Realm Peak.
Although the Sea Reincarnation Realm Peak was said to be only a Half-Step away from the level of a Giant, there was a vast, unbridgeable chasm between it and a true Giant of the Nirvana Realm!
Watching this unfold, a bitter smile touched Elder Qingmuâs lips. Both Fan Qingshan and Zuo Song were Mystic Masters invited by the All Stars Academy.
The future Chairman of the All Stars Academyâs Mystic Master Guild would be chosen from one of them.
He couldnât afford to offend either one.
âThis Master Fan, honestly... Why did he have to pick a fight with Zuo Song for no good reason? Zuo Song is a Giant who reached the Nirvana Realm through the path of Ancient Array Maps. Even I canât beat him, so what makes a Sea of Reincarnation Realm cultivator like you think you can challenge him?!â
Grumbling internally, Elder Qingmuâs form flickered, and he appeared between the two men.
An aura as gentle as a spring breeze silently diffused the tense, sword-drawn atmosphere.
"Masters, this is merely a war of words. Thereâs no need for anger!"
Qingmu did his best to smooth things over, a smile fixed on his face.
Shooting a cold glare at Fan Qingshan, Zuo Song withdrew his aura. Elder Qingmu was from the Star Sect, and it wouldnât do to offend him.
However, as he retracted his aura, Zuo Song deliberately pulled a little trick.
His entire aura vanished in a flash!
The sudden change in force sent Fan Qingshan stumbling forward. He crashed into a pillar of the Divine Hall with a loud BANG, leaving him with disheveled hair and looking utterly pathetic.
Hair completely disheveled, Fan Qingshan scrambled up from the floor. His eyes were bloodshot and manic as he glared at the portly old man and roared, "Zuo Song!"
Elder Qingmuâs expression soured. He looked at Zuo Song with some displeasure; after all, Fan Qingshan was supposed to be leading the effort to restore the Spiritual Root.
If Fan Qingshan were to quit and the Spiritual Root were to wither, he, too, would find it difficult to escape the consequences.
"Master Fan, please calm down. If this is the case, we will simply find another Martial Artist who has cultivated the Little Cloud Rain Technique to the 9th Layer!"
Elder Qingmu glanced indifferently at the black-robed youth.
"Qin Feng, you may leave."
Zuo Songâs expression changed. "Elder Qingmu, isnât this a bit too unfair?!"
Elder Qingmuâs face was a mask of indifference. "Elder Zuo, please, put the fate of the Spiritual Root first!"
Fan Qingshan got to his feet, all traces of his earlier embarrassment gone. He looked at Zuo Song, a sinister coldness in his eyes.
A flicker of anger crossed Zuo Songâs eyes. His gaze swept over Elder Qingmu and Fan Qingshan before he let out a cold laugh. "Fine. The Spiritual Root is whatâs important. In that case, Qingmu, you and this Fan fellow can get on with saving it. I just hope you donât come crawling back to me, Zuo Song, when itâs too late!"
Hearing this, Fan Qingshan sneered mockingly. "A mere Third-grade Xuan Master, and you talk so big! Donât you worry, I will save the Spiritual Root myself. You want to leave? Be my guest!"
"In that case, letâs go, kid. Weâll just sit back and see what brilliant methods this Master Fan has for saving the Spiritual Root!"
Zuo Song called out to Qin Feng, and the two walked out of the hall.
Qingmu opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated. His gaze fell upon the exceptionally smug Fan Qingshan, and after a moment, he simply shook his head.
âI can only hope this Master Fan is able to save the Spiritual Root, otherwise...â Sighing internally, Qingmu suddenly wasnât sure if he had made the right choice between Fan Qingshan and Zuo Song.
Long Ling and the others, who had witnessed the entire dispute, watched the black-robed youth leave and then looked at one another in dismay.
Duanmu Rongâs lip twitched. âWhat a shame,â he thought to himself. âI saw Qin Feng as a rising star and wanted to do him a favor, give him a boost. Who knew this Master Fan would be so utterly unreasonable!â
âOh well. It must be Destiny!â
Duanmu Rong quietly slipped out of the Medicine King Hall to resume his search for a Martial Artist who had cultivated the Little Cloud Rain Technique to the 9th Layer or higher.
...
After leaving the Medicine King Hall, Qin Feng did not immediately depart from the Seven-Star Platform.
Zuo Song led him to a side hall.
Both of their faces were grim, simmering with frustration.
It was just too infuriating!
After a long moment, Qin Feng spoke. "Old Zuo, donât worry. That Fan Qingshan wonât necessarily be able to condense the Celestial One True Water."
Zuo Song shook his head. "As much as I hate to admit it, that Fan Qingshan does have some skill. The realm of a Fourth Grade Xuan Master is indeed much higher than my Third-grade. Iâm self-aware enough to know that!"
Zuo Song clearly didnât put much stock in Qin Fengâs words.
This was only natural. Qin Feng was merely a First-Grade Xuan Master.
Qin Feng shook his head. Seeing that Zuo Song didnât believe him, he said no more.
Zuo Song sighed. "Itâs just a shame about the chairmanship of the All Stars Academyâs Mystic Master Guild. Once Fan Qingshan saves that Spiritual Root, Iâm afraid the contest between us will be over."