Chapter 85: Tears and Laughter

Beneath the dueling platform, as the outcome was revealed, those disciples who had wagered a fortune of spirit stones on Quan Ruixin instantly looked as if they were about to cry. Meanwhile, those who had only bet for fun, not caring about victory or defeat, or who had taken a lucky chance on Tian Ming, were cheering and jumping with joy. They had not held out much hope, but in the end, Tian Ming truly won the duel.

“How is that possible? What just happened?”

“My three thousand spirit stones—that was my entire fortune!”

“He cheated! This was definitely cheating!!”

...

“Cheated, my foot! Didn’t you see Tian Ming reach the tenth rank of the Spirit Void realm with his final sword?” a sharp-eyed disciple quickly retorted.

“I can’t believe he actually won. I’ve struck gold, haha...”

“Tian Ming! Tian Ming!!”

“Tian Ming...!” The victorious disciples shouted his name in waves.

In an instant, the entire Heavenly Martial Arena was filled with two diametrically opposed moods...

“…Truly terrifying!”

Sitting disheveled on the ground, Quan Ruixin stared in shock and horror at Tian Ming, who had just leaped down from the platform, unable to recover his wits for a long time. He had assumed that, relying on his rare Heaven-rank elemental technique, he might be able to put up a fight. Yet Tian Ming had never once used his full strength throughout the battle, even though he’d fallen slightly behind.

But in this land where strength reigns supreme, the world only remembers the glorious victors!

Meanwhile, the seven or eight people lurking in the corner, who had been lying in wait, saw Tian Ming win so easily and heard the thunderous voices supporting him. They immediately abandoned whatever plans they’d had, exchanged wary glances, and quietly slipped away from the rear of the arena.

“At least my efforts weren’t in vain.” Seeing several familiar figures depart, Quan Ruixin felt a measure of relief in his heart.

Because he was facing the back of the arena, he had a clear view of everything happening there. To be honest, he’d been rather worried earlier, but now the weight on his heart was finally lifted...

Just as Quan Ruixin was lost in thought, Tian Ming, stepping heavily amidst the admiring gazes of the onlookers, walked up to him.

“You did it, Brother Tian!” Heng Cheng smiled as he walked up beside Tian Ming.

At these words, Tian Ming turned and nodded with a smile, then fixed his gaze once more on Quan Ruixin. “So? Do you still think I was boasting?”

Seeing this, Heng Cheng also looked toward Quan Ruixin. The onlooking disciples—whether from the outer or inner sect—seeing that the excitement was over, drifted toward other dueling platforms to continue their boisterous atmosphere, as if nothing had changed.

Hearing Tian Ming’s voice, Quan Ruixin looked up somewhat embarrassed.

“…Though I don’t know why you hide your true cultivation, at the same level, you could never defeat me. However, I quite appreciate your humility, so I take back what I said earlier. You, Tian Ming, are indeed qualified!” After a moment’s contemplation, Quan Ruixin nodded affirmatively at Tian Ming.

Quan Ruixin knew that Tian Ming’s final sword, though it knocked him off the stage, had been deliberately restrained at the last moment; otherwise, he would have been killed instantly. Of course, Tian Ming had held back, but so had Quan Ruixin.

After all, this was only a sparring match—no lives should be lost!

“The feeling is mutual!” Tian Ming replied with a modest shake of his head and a smile.

For such a trivial matter, both seemed to tacitly agree not to mention it again.

Heng Cheng...

However, Heng Cheng, standing to the side, seemed rather confused and stood dazed on the spot. Not being a party to the duel, he couldn’t quite grasp the subtle exchanges. When he saw Tian Ming and Quan Ruixin heading over to the betting table, he hurried after them, not wanting to miss out.

...

As soon as Tian Ming and Quan Ruixin stepped into the crowd around the betting table, they saw a bright red board. When Tian Ming read the names on it, he was completely stunned. “We’ve struck it rich...”

“Congratulations to ‘Quan Ruixin’ for winning the day’s highest bet—one million spirit stones!”

“Congratulations to ‘Li Heng’ for winning second place—nine hundred and ten thousand spirit stones!”

“Congratulations to ‘Tian Ming’ for winning third place—eight hundred and eighty thousand spirit stones!”

...

Quan Ruixin, catching on quickly, saw Tian Ming and Heng Cheng standing there in a daze and couldn’t help but stifle his laughter.

“Congratulations!” Quan Ruixin said, barely suppressing his amusement.

Seeing Tian Ming so astonished, Quan Ruixin finally found a chance to mock him in his heart.

“…Li Heng?”

Lost in his joy, Tian Ming didn’t notice Quan Ruixin’s strange expression and ignored his words. When his gaze fell on the second name on the red board, it took him a while to recall that this was the same Li Heng he had tricked in the fourth trial of the Celestial Pool Secret Realm. He hadn’t expected Li Heng to recoup his losses so quickly—truly, what goes around comes around. With a wry shake of his head, Tian Ming resigned himself to the ways of the world.

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations, congratulations…”

As Tian Ming and his companions approached, all the disciples, whether inner or outer sect, who had been lining up, turned to congratulate them, making way for a broad path.

Seeing this, Tian Ming and the others nodded in gratitude, not daring to appear aloof.

“Gentlemen, you must be today’s men of the hour—Tian Ming and Quan Ruixin?” Just then, a young man dressed in the inner sect’s attire strode out. His steps were steady, his features sharp, and his eyes were a pure, unfathomable black, as if they were the abyss at the end of the universe—staring into them too long gave one the illusion of being drawn in.

While Quan Ruixin was sizing up the newcomer in curiosity, Tian Ming stepped forward with a smile. “That’s right. Why don’t I hazard a guess at your identity?”

“Oh?” The black-eyed young man looked at Tian Ming in surprise, his gaze tinged with anticipation.

“Your surname is Li,” Tian Ming said. The young man’s surprise deepened. “Given name Heng. You were in the fourth trial of the Celestial Pool Secret Realm...”

“Enough!” Before Tian Ming could finish, the black-eyed youth hastily cut him off.

“Senior Brother Li Heng, am I right?” Tian Ming asked with a mysterious smile.

Now, not only was Heng Cheng baffled, but Quan Ruixin also looked on in confusion, silent and at a loss.

“You…” Li Heng seemed about to speak, but then, as if realizing something, fell silent and nodded. Such a humiliating episode was not something he wished to revisit—especially not in front of so many junior disciples. Quietly, he slipped past Tian Ming and his companions, all his former confidence evaporated.

The surrounding disciples, as well as Heng Cheng and Quan Ruixin, looked at one another in bewilderment, as if standing beneath a tree of confusion.

“This fellow is quite interesting!” Tian Ming chuckled to himself, paying no heed to Quan Ruixin and Heng Cheng. He understood well enough why Li Heng had suddenly left—it was simply a matter of pride. After all, Tian Ming had his own pride too, and there was nothing contemptible about that.