I AM NOT WILLING

I AM NOT WILLING...

Qin Wentian fixed his gaze on the middle-aged man, who remained impassive, as if the recent events were of no concern to him. But there was no doubt that, for the sake of the Nine Mystical Palace's interests, Luo Qianqiu had to emerge as the Jun Lin Banquet champion. Any deviation from that outcome was unacceptable.

The spectators were stupefied. How could Qin Wentian have fallen so effortlessly? Was he destined to be inferior to Luo Qianqiu? Back when Qin Wentian had triumphed over Luo Qianqiu, his aura had inspired many to bet boldly on his victory, driven purely by anticipation.

Now, reality shattered their dreams. Qin Wentian hadn't even withstood a single blow from Luo Qianqiu? It was a bitter pill to swallow for the spectators, who had placed their hopes on him.

Even those from the Emperor Star Academy, the Divine Weapon Pavilion, and the Mo Clan were flabbergasted. Their faces bore expressions of incredulity. Among the Emperor Star Academy attendees, Ren Qianxing couldn't help but sigh inwardly. He had a hunch about what the Nine Mystical Palace had offered Qin Wentian. They wouldn't allow Luo Qianqiu to lose, so they must have tempted Qin Wentian with exceptional incentives to make him forfeit the battle.

Considering the power displayed in Qin Wentian's halberd strike, there was only one plausible explanation: he had chosen to concede intentionally.

Ren Qianxing felt a heavy burden on his heart. He had once placed great hopes on Luo Qianqiu's father, only to see him turn into a ruthless and deceitful figure. If Qin Wentian now chose the same path, it would shatter Ren Qianxing's heart.

"Is that the best you can do?" Luo Qianqiu taunted as he approached Qin Wentian, surrounded by crackling lightning. At this moment, he seemed like an unbeatable force.

Qin Wentian struggled to stand upright, his gaze locked onto his opponent. Somehow, his arterial pathways felt constricted, preventing his Astral Energy from flowing freely. He was in no condition to fight back. What infuriated him even more was that he couldn't expose the Nine Mystical Palace's treachery. Revealing their actions would likely bring dire consequences, considering their immense influence over Chu.

No one could truly grasp the emotions raging within Qin Wentian: sorrow, pain, inner conflict, and despair.

Luo Qianqiu unleashed another devastating attack, his lightning and thunder-infused palms aiming to bury Qin Wentian where he stood. Qin Wentian struggled to defend himself, but the force of the attack sent him flying through the air, crashing to the ground. He coughed up blood, his face drained of color.

Fan Le, who had initially been relaxed, now wore an anxious expression. His winnings in Yuan Meteor Stones meant nothing to him in the face of Qin Wentian's suffering. He couldn't bear to see his friend humiliated like this.

Luo Huan, Mu Rou, Mo Qingcheng, and Mustang were all in shock, unable to accept what was unfolding.

"As I suspected, utterly useless," sneered Qiu Mo from the Emperor Star Academy, his sarcasm cutting through the tension. Old Gu shot him an icy glare, silencing him, but Qiu Mo seethed inwardly. Qin Wentian's rise in importance had surpassed even his own, a Yuanfu Realm student and the 4th-ranked among Chu's 10 prodigies.

"Qin Wentian," his name hung heavily in the air, a testament to the despair that gripped those who had once placed their hopes on him.

In the midst of this struggle, a voice whispered into Qin Wentian's ears, a voice meant only for him.

"Just concede, and I'll ensure that Luo Qianqiu can't harm you. If you yield, not only will Qianqiu spare you, but I will compensate you handsomely."

The middle-aged man's face remained placid, showing no sign of distress or urgency.

Qin Wentian seethed inwardly. They were attempting to coerce him into surrendering? Did this mean that if he refused, Luo Qianqiu might actually try to kill him on the spot? The thought filled him with anger. He had a strong suspicion that even if the Nine Mystical Palace reneged on their deal and Luo Qianqiu did take his life, no one would dare challenge him. With the Nine Mystical Palace and Royal Clan backing him, Luo Qianqiu was untouchable.

He glanced toward the spectators' stand, seeing the complex emotions on Mustang's face, the pain etched on Ren Qianxing's features, Mo Qingcheng's concern, Luo Huan's anxiety, and the mix of sadness and worry on the faces of Qin Yao and Fatty Fan Le. In the crowd, he detected disappointment and dejection as well.

For the first time, Qin Wentian realized the depth of concern so many people felt for him. Among them were elders, friends, family, and even strangers who simply wanted to support him. A year ago, he had arrived in Sky Harmony City alone, facing danger from all directions. But today, seeing the genuine concern of so many, he felt a warmth and joy deep within.

It was this very joy that steeled his resolve. He couldn't bear to let down the people who cared about him. He refused to see their expressions of dejection, and he certainly wouldn't allow himself to become a puppet of the Nine Mystical Palace, dancing to their tune.

If the Nine Mystical Palace truly valued his talent, they could have approached him differently. Instead, their actions felt more like humiliation than respect. Qin Wentian wasn't ready to lose in such a manner.

"The night is darkest before dawn," he remembered Uncle Black's words. As he pictured his uncle's weathered face, he felt a rush of emotions.

Luo Qianqiu reappeared in front of Qin Wentian, his presence exuding violence. He emitted a terrifying pressure.

"There will be no more miracles. I want you to die," Luo Qianqiu declared with unwavering determination. This time, he intended to eliminate Qin Wentian without any room for survival.

As lightning energy crackled in his palm, a tempest of wind and thunder surrounded Luo Qianqiu. He stared intently at Qin Wentian, who bowed his head, resembling a hunter locking onto his prey.

"From this moment onward, there will be no Qin Wentian in Chu Country," Luo Qianqiu coldly stated.

"I can't lose here," Qin Wentian muttered, raising his head and unleashing his Great Dream Astral Soul. His eyes emanated potent dream waves, causing not just Luo Qianqiu but also Qin Wentian himself to freeze in place. Even the wind that ruffled their clothes couldn't move their statuesque forms.

The spectators were perplexed, witnessing this unexpected turn of events. Qin Wentian's Astral Soul had the power to hypnotize and induce a dream-like state.

"Did they stop moving?"

"Have they entered a shared dream?"

The audience was astonished as the ranking battle took an entirely unforeseen twist. In reality, Luo Qianqiu had indeed entered Qin Wentian's dreamscape. They now stood together on a vast, desolate landscape, the only two figures in this dream world.

In this moment, a dangerous aura surged forth from Qin Wentian's being. Inside this dreamscape, he was a god. His eyes locked coldly onto Luo Qianqiu as his aura intensified to an unimaginable level.

"An illusion?" Luo Qianqiu squinted and shut his eyes, summoning his willpower to break free. He knew this was a dreamscape created by Qin Wentian and not reality. No matter how formidable Qin Wentian appeared here, it was all just a mirage.

"What does it matter?" Qin Wentian retorted, striding forward. His imposing aura exploded as he swung his ancient halberd. The surrounding Qi of Heaven and Earth swirled frenziedly, condensing into a luminous stream of light.

Though Luo Qianqiu recognized it as an illusion, it felt terrifyingly real. He had no choice but to defend himself, hoping to counter Qin Wentian's assault. The stream of light pierced through his defenses, drawing first blood.

With an ugly expression, Luo Qianqiu retreated. "Despicable! Can you only defeat me in a dream?"

"Despicable?" Qin Wentian retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Before the battle, your Nine Mystical Palace drugged me, blocking my arterial pathways. I had no way to fight back, which led to me being dominated by you. Do you truly believe your strength alone was enough? How laughable. Furthermore, is creating a dreamscape not part of my strength? I'm nothing like the conniving individuals of the Nine Mystical Palace. To achieve your goals, you're willing to employ any tactics, no matter how underhanded."

Luo Qianqiu frowned, accusing, "You're lying."

"Hmph," Qin Wentian scoffed, unwilling to explain further. His overwhelming aura surged once again. In this dreamscape, escape was impossible for Luo Qianqiu, no matter how strong his will.

Inside the dreamscape, Luo Qianqiu's body was bathed in crimson. Qin Wentian approached slowly, looking down at him from a superior position. Outside, spectators observed both contestants standing motionless. Well, correction: Luo Qianqiu seemed to be retreating, but they couldn't comprehend the experience.

"It seems they're inside a dreamscape," Ren Qianxing's eyes gleamed. Qin Wentian wasn't conceding or intentionally losing; Ren Qianxing had made the right judgment. If that was the case, had the Nine Mystical Palace orchestrated something earlier?

Ren Qianxing shot a sharp look in the direction of the Nine Mystical Palace, finding the middle-aged man's expression almost panicked.

"NO!" A furious roar shook the heavens as a potent aura erupted from Luo Qianqiu's body. Regaining his senses, he stared at Qin Wentian, howling in anger, "Regardless of how strong you are in your dreamscape, you'll still die today."

Countless lightning bolts transformed into dragons and snakes, dancing in the air. Luo Qianqiu's killing intent surged wildly.

"Too late," Qin Wentian declared. His blood seethed, his hair turning blacker than the night, his presence that of a king ruling over all.

From within Qin Wentian's body, sounds of crashing waves echoed. His blood and the Astral Energy in his arterial pathways roared in unison, an unstoppable force.

"SHATTER!" Qin Wentian roared, facing the heavens as his long hair billowed in the wind. The deafening clamor from his body seemed to echo like a tsunami. Qin Wentian was undergoing a transformation, as the seven circular arterial pathways in his body squirmed, expanded, shattered, and reformed into eight new circular Stellar Meridian pathways.

This breakthrough eradicated the remnants of the Nine Mystical Palace's sabotage, freeing his Astral Energy to flow unimpeded. Qin Wentian's aura soared relentlessly.

He was now at the 8th level of Arterial Circulation!

Qin Wentian refused to let others control his destiny with underhanded schemes. His unshakeable spirit remained intact, his determination stronger than ever.

Today, the top position would be his!