Deliberate Target

Deliberate Target

On the stone stage, Qin Wentian sat cross-legged, the gazes of his fellow elites focused squarely on him. Qiu Mo's words had ignited a curiosity within them – could it be that the rumored heaven-defying painting was truly the creation of Qin Wentian himself?

If he could indeed inscribe 3rd level Divine Imprints at the tender age of 17, what incredible stroke of fortune had led him to such a feat?

"Qin Wentian harbors many mysteries," whispered more than one spectator, their thoughts revolving around him.

Under the weight of those inquisitive gazes, a simmering anger brewed in Qin Wentian's chest. His fury was justified, and he knew it.

Today marked his first encounter with Qiu Mo. If Qiu Mo had simply questioned his qualifications, he might have been able to tolerate it. But Qiu Mo's underlying malice, concealed beneath a facade of benevolent words and gentle smiles, was unmistakable. What was Qiu Mo's hidden agenda?

Qin Wentian met Qiu Mo's calm gaze and forcefully suppressed his emotions. He responded, "I must respectfully disagree with Senior Brother's words."

"Oh?" Qiu Mo chuckled, his tone dripping with condescension. "Is Junior Brother Qin suggesting that you prefer to rely on luck rather than your own efforts in cultivation?"

"Luck, Senior Brother, is a capricious mistress," Qin Wentian replied with a smile. "It comes and goes as it pleases. But can't it also be seen as a form of strength? Consider this, Senior Brother: if there were a 4th level Divine Weapon or a heavenly-ranked innate technique lying right in front of you, would you not seize the opportunity?"

"I certainly would," Qiu Mo conceded.

"Ah, but doesn't that contradict the philosophy you expounded earlier?" Qin Wentian queried. "Why seek external fortune when one can rely on their own abilities, Senior Brother?"

Qiu Mo regarded Qin Wentian with a thinly veiled contempt. "Your arguments are nothing but sophistry, utter nonsense."

"Sophistry?" Qin Wentian pressed on, unruffled. "The path of cultivation is fraught with peril. Those who stand at its pinnacle have all weathered countless life-and-death trials. Without luck, how could they have transformed danger into safety, extricating themselves from dire situations? How could they have consistently acquired superior cultivation techniques and innate arts? Even those at the zenith, in addition to their innate talent and hard work, require a modicum of good fortune. Wouldn't you agree, Senior Brother?"

"Indeed," Qiu Mo agreed with a sly grin. "Fortuitous events, my dear Junior Brother, are merely secondary. The crux lies in relying on oneself. Why such haste in your defense?"

Qin Wentian's response was poised, and he continued with equanimity. His words initiated a subtle shift in the atmosphere on the stone stage.

Spectators couldn't help but sense that Qiu Mo had directed his words intentionally at Qin Wentian. Although Qiu Mo was a senior and ranked 4th among the Royal Capital's 10 prodigies, his aim was palpable. Yet, Qin Wentian calmly employed an example involving Chu Tianjiao to counter Qiu Mo directly.

"How preposterous! Do you honestly believe you can compare yourself to the 3rd Prince?" A sharp voice cut through the conversation. Qin Wentian turned to see that the speaker was none other than the youth standing beside Qiu Mo—Jiang Xiu. Though also among the Royal Capital's 10 prodigies, he ranked last. He held deep respect for those ranked above him, especially Chu Tianjiao, who was 2nd.

Qin Wentian's use of Chu Tianjiao as a reference implied equality, a notion that rankled Jiang Xiu.

Today, Qin Wentian had come to observe the exchange of knowledge among the academy's senior elites. Yet, Qiu Mo had singled him out as a target. As a fiery youth, how could Qin Wentian not feel provoked by these repeated jabs?

He scoffed and replied, "And why not?"

"Chu Tianjiao attained the Yuanfu stage a year ago. And you? What's your cultivation level?" Jiang Xiu scrutinized Qin Wentian, his gaze icy.

"In just a year at the academy, I've risen from the 6th level of Arterial Circulation, surpassing even the 7th-level sophomore Yanaro," Qin Wentian retorted. "How many youths under 20 in Chu can inscribe 3rd level Divine Inscriptions like me? Why wouldn't I be comparable to him? Though I may not be his equal now, it doesn't mean I won't surpass him in the future."

Qin Wentian's pride swelled, and he met Jiang Xiu's gaze with an unyielding stare. "By your logic, weaker individuals should never aspire to surpass the strong. Do you believe that those of lesser strength should only compare themselves to the even weaker? It's quite laughable. If one lacks the courage to challenge those stronger, how can they ever improve? Perhaps that's why you rank last among the 10 prodigies."

"Insolent!" Jiang Xiu's temper flared, and he roared angrily, his eyes gleaming with a cold intensity. Qin Wentian's words had been impolite, a stinging slap to Jiang Xiu's face. As a member of the 10 prodigies, he was accustomed to admiration and respect within the academy. But now, in front of a multitude of students, Qin Wentian, a newcomer, had subjected him to this humiliating exchange, leaving him utterly disgraced.

"Impudent? Impudent how?" Qin Wentian challenged. "Shouldn't those who tread the path of cultivation possess unwavering will and determination, striving to be the strongest? As Emperor Star Academy students, who among us would willingly stand in the shadow of others? Today, Senior Qiu Mo can 'educate' me so freely because he's stronger than I am."

His words resonated with the crowd below the stone stage. Qin Wentian's sharp retort was like a needle piercing the collective conscience. The truth was apparent: Qiu Mo could speak this way to him simply because he held a higher rank among the 10 prodigies and boasted a cultivation level superior to Qin Wentian's 6th level of Arterial Circulation.

As Qin Wentian had pointed out, if Qiu Mo were dealing with Chu Tianjiao, he wouldn't dare to adopt this condescending tone. The only reason he felt emboldened to lecture Qin Wentian in such a manner was that he was currently the stronger of the two.

However, if Qiu Mo's intentions were benign and he sought merely to offer guidance, there would be no reason for Qin Wentian to take offense. It was clear that Qiu Mo had intentionally singled him out, harboring ill intent.

The atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, and Qiu Mo hesitated under the weight of Qin Wentian's biting words.

Eventually, it was Qiu Mo who broke the silence.

Wearing a strained smile, he unleashed intermittent bursts of pressure. His body gradually ascended into the air, exuding a formidable Yuan Energy.

Qiu Mo, sitting cross-legged in mid-air, caused the spectators' hearts to pound.

"He's reached the Yuanfu Realm!"

"Senior Brother Qiu Mo has stepped into Yuanfu. What incredible power!"

Last year, Qiu Mo held the 4th rank among the 10 prodigies, with Immortal Drunken Wine at 3rd. Now that Immortal Drunken Wine hadn't yet attained the Yuanfu Realm, Qiu Mo was poised to claim that coveted spot this year.

The crowd erupted into discussion, still in awe of the revelation.

Progressing from Arterial Circulation to Yuanfu marked a transcendent leap across realms. Many prodigies would require considerable time to bridge this gap.

Moreover, several talents who had excelled in Arterial Circulation found themselves ordinary once they ascended to Yuanfu. The chasm between realms was insurmountable.

From this perspective, Qiu Mo's admonishment to Qin Wentian had some merit. The world abounded with fallen geniuses.

Now that Qiu Mo had attained Yuanfu, he had undoubtedly earned the right to lecture Qin Wentian. His achievement bridged the gap, proving his credentials.

As the 4th-ranked prodigy among the 10, his rise in power was inevitable. The gap between him and those who remained at lower cultivation levels would only widen. Since Immortal Drunken Wine had yet to attain Yuanfu, their distance would stretch even further.

Qiu Mo's ascension to the Yuanfu Realm meant he would no longer be eligible for the year-end Jun Lin Banquet. The banquet, while prestigious, paled in importance compared to achieving Yuanfu status. It was an exclusive showdown among the continent's mightiest elites, with only a handful reaping its rewards. Advancing to Yuanfu was a surer path to power.

If Qiu Mo had remained at the peak of Arterial Circulation, he wasn't confident he would rank among the top few at the banquet. Given the opportunity to advance, he chose not to suppress it, unsure when such an opportunity would arise again.

"You're right, I do have the qualifications to advise you, simply because I'm stronger than you," Qiu Mo declared, his arrogance on full display.

"Junior Brother Qin, to think you'd be so easily provoked by mere words, you're too impatient," Qiu Mo continued. "Nevertheless, there's truth in what I said. Countless geniuses have fallen. Even at Emperor Star Academy, many fail to graduate because they can't break through to Yuanfu. Your cultivation path has been unusually smooth, but I assure you, stepping into Yuanfu typically takes five or six years. By the time you achieve it, the gap between you and those who reached it earlier will have grown significantly. How will you compare then?"

Qiu Mo's tone resembled an elder scolding a stubborn child. Having reached Yuanfu, he unconsciously regarded himself as a supreme being, superior to his fellow students.

"If Senior Brother's advice is genuine, I will heed it willingly," Qin Wentian responded. "However, your tone suggests you've already judged my achievements as mere results of luck and have labeled me a fallen genius. It's as if you're cursing my future."

Qin Wentian's gaze locked onto Qiu Mo. "While I haven't been cultivating for long, I won't claim to have achieved anything significant. I'm taking each step on my cultivation path with determination. Despite my fortuitous encounters, my martial heart and intent remain steadfast."

"What you say is true, Senior Brother. Achieving Yuanfu undoubtedly grants you the right to advise me," Qin Wentian continued. "But isn't your attitude a bit too overbearing for someone who's just entered Yuanfu? Anyone listening might think you're the sole Yuanfu-level cultivator in Emperor Star Academy."

Qin Wentian's calm voice dripped with provocation, and the crowd fell into a hushed silence. His words clashed with Qiu Mo's, each retort sharpening the tension between them.