A Complete Humiliation

A Complete Humiliation . . .

Surrounded by a shimmering cocoon of runic light, Qin Wentian radiated an aura that seemed to transcend all worldly limitations. His presence alone had the power to send shivers down the spines of those who dared to stand against him.

In this pivotal moment, an unassuming young man had emerged as the most brilliant figure among the Cloud Prefecture's elite. He stood like an unwavering protagonist amidst a sea of supporting characters, issuing commands that brooked no disobedience. His words were a decree: stay away from the Nine Immortality Bell or face his merciless wrath.

Such audacity was rarely seen, even the mighty Jiangling King hesitated to exercise such authority. Yet, a third-level ascendant like Qin Wentian had done just that. His overwhelming suppression left the experts from the major powers speechless, unable to mount any retort in the face of such a resounding defeat.

"You're the one who killed Xuan Zhu!" A voice rang out, accusing Qin Wentian. The woman from the Purple Flame Sect fixed a fiery glare upon him, her eyes filled with certainty that he was responsible for Xuan Zhu's death. She recalled the bell's chime, the very sound that had struck her companion down in a sudden, fatal ambush.

"That bell chime that day was your doing. You used the bell's power to launch a sneak attack and assassinate Xuan Zhu!" The woman's voice dripped with accusation as she confronted Qin Wentian.

Qin Wentian, however, regarded her with a mere glance. His emotionless eyes, sharp as the finest blades, swept over her. In an instant, a bone-chilling dread gripped her entire being, seizing her soul with an icy terror.

"Who is he, and what need is there for me to resort to ambush to kill him? These so-called geniuses couldn't withstand a single blow. Your Xuan Zhu, from the Purple Flame Sect, was even weaker than them, a mere ant. He foolishly sought favor with the Seven Sword Sect, presuming to expel everyone from this place. Ludicrously, he met his demise with a single glance from me. Utterly pathetic."

With unruffled composure, Qin Wentian continued to stand, hands clasped behind his back, addressing the woman from the Purple Flame Sect. "Initially, I had no intention of crossing swords with you. However, you persist in needling me. Do you truly wish to court your own death?"

As the word "death" resonated, the woman's entire body quaked. Qin Wentian's eyes bore into her, exuding a force capable of piercing through the very depths of her soul. Her body trembled uncontrollably, her lips quivered, yet not a sound escaped them. She dared not utter a single word. It was abundantly clear to everyone that fear had taken root deep within her heart. In the face of Qin Wentian's overwhelming might, she had become too terrified to continue her verbal assault.

Qin Wentian's dominance remained unrivaled. Even in the presence of disciples from the Cloud Prefecture's pinnacle major powers, he exhibited no deference. His actions were a testament to his unwavering resolve, and none doubted that he would carry out his threats if pushed too far. As for the Purple Flame Sect, a mere faction from the Jiangling Country, he had already claimed one life from its ranks. The woman's fate mattered little to him, and she understood that she dared not provoke him any further. Should Qin Wentian's wrath be fully unleashed, her death would be inevitable.

The air was charged with awe and amazement as the bell chimes, now even louder than Cheron's, reverberated through the crowd. All eyes were on Qin Wentian, the unassuming young man who had been content to linger in the shadows. Little did they know that beneath his unassuming exterior lay a formidable force capable of sending shockwaves through the major powers' ranks.

"Those bell chimes, louder than Cheron's? It was him all along." Spectators couldn't contain their astonishment as they marveled at Qin Wentian. This unassuming youth had chosen to conceal his true strength, but when pushed to the brink by the haughty disciples of the major powers, he had unveiled his full power.

"Absolutely astonishing. Some speculated it was the Nine Immortality Bell's weapon spirit, but it was him all along. His strength surpasses even Cheron's, a feat none of the other major power disciples achieved. Those geniuses underestimated him, not realizing that this third-level ascendant could achieve what they could only dream of. Take Jiang Yan from the Jiang Clan, for example. He hails from a sacred institution specializing in weaponsmithing and divine inscriptions, with unparalleled expertise. Yet, he couldn't elicit such a response from the Nine Immortality Bell, merely coaxing a soft chime. The gap between him and this young man is staggering."

Whispers rippled through the crowd, their hushed conversations not escaping the sharp ears of the experts present. Jiang Yan, upon hearing their discussion, turned ashen. He had no defense against such an unvarnished assessment. The pointed gazes from his companions pierced through the crowd, their eyes sharp as forged blades.

Jiang Yan was bearing a particularly heavy load of humiliation. Unlike the experts from other powers who could console themselves with relative superiority, Jiang Yan, a heaven-chosen talent from a pinnacle major power renowned for weaponsmithing, was now undeniably beneath even Cheron of the Wondergate Immortal Manor. To make matters worse, he found himself bested by a relative unknown whose cultivation level was inferior to his own. The disdain he had once held for this unknown youth now felt like a bitter pill to swallow.

It was a face-smacking moment of epic proportions. Jiang Yan could sense the weight of countless eyes upon him, and his cheeks burned with shame.

"Did you know it was him all along?" Mu Yan, standing beside Cheron, inquired.

"Yes, I had a hunch that Qin Wentian was the one causing the Nine Immortality Bells to resonate," Cheron admitted. "Clearly, he outshines me in terms of expertise. The battle we just witnessed proved that the gap between us is substantial."

Cheron didn't shy away from acknowledging Qin Wentian's superiority. In fact, he had openly expressed his desire to befriend the talented youth earlier.

"Haha, you're not too far behind in this aspect. At the very least, you're light-years ahead of Jiang Yan," Mu Yan chimed in, laughing heartily without any concern for volume. His words struck like arrows, piercing Jiang Yan's heart and leaving a searing wound.

"Jiang Yan?" Cheron cast a deliberate glance toward Jiang Yan, a hint of sarcasm playing on his lips. He continued in an indifferent tone, "It wasn't long ago that Jiang Yan humiliated Qin Wentian. Looking back, it's almost comical. He was practically begging for humiliation."

"Cheron, you can just shut your mouth!" Jiang Yan's roar reverberated through the tense atmosphere. Humiliation and frustration gnawed at him, and Cheron showed no mercy in exploiting that vulnerability.

Cheron, however, had no intention of holding back. He launched his counterattack with cutting words, "Why should I? You made your arrogance known to all. Weren't you flaunting your heaven-chosen status from a sacred Cloud Prefecture institution specializing in weaponsmithing? Didn't you declare that Qin Wentian wasn't even worth conversing with, let alone sharing the same tier? You even went as far as suggesting he deserved death for daring to approach you. And yet, now that Brother Wentian stands before you, you lack the courage to face him. If I were in your shoes, I'd hurry back to my clan and embrace a long period of seclusion. I wouldn't step a foot outside lest I become the laughingstock of the world."

Cheron folded his arms across his chest, a smirk on his face that fueled Jiang Yan's burning anger.

"That's enough. Leave. You're just inviting more humiliation by staying," Mu Yan declared coldly, ending the confrontation.

Zurius seethed with reluctance. His eyes remained locked on Qin Wentian as he warned, "You may stand on equal footing with us, thanks to your borrowed power from the Nine Immortality Bells. But remember, external power is still external. Unless you plan to remain here forever, your life will ultimately fall into my hands."

With that parting shot, Zurius turned and made his exit.

"The Nine Immortality Bells may manifest a spirit, but Driftsnow City harbors its own mysteries. You're still green," Shu Luyao commented with a hint of condescension before leaving as well.

Nion, nursing her injuries, cast a glare filled with resentment at Qin Wentian before departing.

Jiang Yan, Pei Xiao, and the others left, their hearts brimming with hatred. In a matter of moments, the area fell back into silence. Onlookers now regarded Qin Wentian with newfound awe. He had established an innate connection with the Nine Immortality Bells, and the resounding chimes he elicited exceeded even Cheron's. It led them to wonder if he held the key to unraveling the ancient bells' enigmatic secrets.

"Brother Tianwen, you're incredible!" Cheron and Mu Yan approached, the former offering a thumbs-up in admiration. The ease with which Qin Wentian manipulated the runic inscriptions had left Cheron awestruck, as he was acutely aware of the gap between their abilities. Qin Wentian had a lead of at least five years, and Cheron doubted he could ever catch up.

"You're absolutely amazing, though you've made a few enemies today," Mu Yan chimed in.

"I had no choice. You all saw their behavior at the banquet. These people... if I didn't stand up to them, it would be like handing them my life on a silver platter," Qin Wentian replied.

"Haha, it's not a big deal. With the Nine Immortality Bell's power at your disposal, you have nothing to fear from them. As for those geniuses facing setbacks outside, let's see how they beg their clans and sects for help. Their clan members will likely despise them forever. Just be cautious and, if you leave this area, try to stick close to us," Mu Yan cautioned.

"Understood. I'd like to stay here a bit longer, to fully comprehend this bell before proceeding to the other eight locations to establish connections with them," Qin Wentian said with a smile.

"In that case, we'll keep you company. Despite your ability to harness the bells' power, we can't predict what tricks they might resort to against you," Cheron admitted. He understood the value of safety over arrogance. Qin Wentian accepted their offer, recognizing the genuine concern in their actions.

...

Back at the Driftsnow Inn's rooftop, the banquet carried on amid the picturesque snowfall. Laughter and conversation filled the air as guests relished their wine and delicacies. Yet, at the table where Pei Yu sat behind Pei Tianyuan, her head remained bowed in silent discontent.

Pei Tianyuan's voice was tinged with impatience as he muttered to his companions, "It's about time those fellows returned. Disciplining a mere third-level ascendant actually wasted so much time."

He couldn't help but wear a wry smile. "I think they will return soon. That young brat clearly doesn't know his place. With Cheron and Mu Yan holding them off, it's only natural the others would take longer."

The group of elite cultivators gathered in the luxurious chamber exchanged knowing glances. It was common for these young prodigies to vie for supremacy and display their dominance. They were, after all, disciples from influential powers of the Cloud Prefecture.

The Driftsnow City Lord, the host of the banquet, chuckled heartily. "Ah, the spirited youth. They love their rivalries. But even if it was just a minor confrontation, they should have returned by now."

Cloud Tower Tower Lord, Ji Kong, joined the conversation with an air of nonchalance. "Indeed, it's a trivial matter. However, that brat was excessively headstrong, unaware of his place. Such individuals often meet an early demise despite their remarkable talents."

As the elders discussed the situation, Pei Yu, seated behind Pei Tianyuan, couldn't contain her frustration. She raised her head, her expression sour, but in this esteemed company, she lacked the standing to voice her concerns.

Pei Tianyuan continued to survey the horizon, his brows furrowing in confusion. Something wasn't right. The returning group of geniuses appeared battered and disheveled, their once-pristine attire now in tatters. Nion, from the Seven Sword Sect, seemed to bear the brunt of the turmoil, her aura fluctuating wildly as if she had suffered severe injuries. Could it be that Cheron and Mu Yan were so overpowering? Had these two young men successfully fended off the entire group of geniuses?