Chapter 584

Chapter 584: Lanyun Faces Qingshi

Qing Feng took the wooden token and was shocked to discover it was a fake—merely ordinary blackwood. Furious, he crushed it instantly and cried, "How could you deceive me?"

Fang Lie shrugged helplessly. "No choice here. I couldn’t withstand a Peak Eighth-Rank treasure. Trickery was my only option. Lucky for me, you didn’t recognize the token—otherwise I’d have been doomed!"

Qing Feng nearly choked on his anger. "With the Bronze Chime Bells’ chaotic sound waves distorting everything, and your deliberate concealment, how could anyone but a god spot the fake?!"

"You surrendered without even confirming its authenticity?" Fang Lie pretended shock. "Senior Brother, did you mean to lose?"

"Lose on purpose? Ridiculous!" Qing Feng retorted, voice trembling.

Truthfully, Qing Feng wasn’t cowardly. Facing any other Ninth-Rank treasure, he’d have fought fiercely despite death—the Xuan Sect’s revival technique made mortality trivial. It’d be worth witnessing a Ninth-Rank treasure’s power.

But the Benevolence Token stole treasures without killing. Among Qing Feng’s possessions were supreme cultivation materials and irreplaceable sect treasures he’d rather die than lose.

How could he gamble recklessly? Surrender became his sole option.

Yet he’d never imagined Fang Lie—renowned for blunt honesty—would play such a dirty trick. Being publicly outwitted left Qing Feng burning with humiliation.

The crowd eagerly mocked the proud Xuan Sect, long dominant in the Celestial Platform Competition. Old grudges surfaced:

"Even the mighty Xuan Sect gets fooled!"

"Just a few words scared their leader? Pathetic!"

"That boy’s regret will haunt him—heart demons for sure!"

"Qing Feng’s still green, needs more tempering!"

The jeers pushed Qing Feng to the brink until Fang Lie intervened: "Senior Brother, it’s just a spar. I won through underhanded means because I couldn’t match you. This loss doesn’t define you."

Qing Feng inhaled deeply. "No excuses. Deception is valid warfare—you outplayed me. Congratulations." He flew into the Xuan Sect’s Flying Boat.

Before his Sect Leader, Qing Feng hung his head. "I’ve shamed our sect. Punish me, Master."

The Sect Leader chuckled. "Your concern for sect treasures led you astray—no shame there."

"But I’m a laughingstock! The sect’s honor—"

"Honor matters less than your Dao heart. Has this shaken your resolve?"

"Regret consumes me. Heart demons may form…"

"Natural, after such a reversal," the Sect Leader said. "But consider—Fang Lie’s fake token doesn’t mean he lacks the real one. He destroyed East Kunlun’s Sword Fortress with the Benevolence Token. Couldn’t he use it here too?"

Qing Feng jolted. "You mean… he still deceived me?"

"Likely," the Sect Leader nodded. "He hides his trump card, but its power’s undeniable."

Enlightened, Qing Feng messaged Fang Lie: "Truth now—can you summon the Benevolence Token whenever?"

Discussing the match with Mo Qianxun, Fang Lie paused. Recognizing Qing Feng’s inner turmoil, he replied: "Under certain conditions, yes. But it’s my greatest secret. Keep this between us, Senior Brother."

"Got it!" Qing Feng exhaled in relief, his face brightening.

If he’d fled from fear, he’d have blamed himself for ignorance. But if the enemy truly overpowered him and he’d wisely protected the Sect’s treasured item, he’d feel good and shed that guilt.

Mo Qianxun noticed Fang Lie’s silent communication and asked, "Who’s that?"

"Qing Feng," Fang Lie grinned. "He was spiraling. I calmed him by saying I could summon the Benevolence Token anytime. Worked like a charm."

"But you can’t actually do that, right?" Mo Qianxun probed carefully.

"Of course not," Fang Lie grumbled. "Even if I died in the Celestial Platform arena, that token wouldn’t lift a finger! Thanks to your meddling, I never joined the inner gate. No qualification, no control."

"Haha!" Mo Qianxun chuckled nervously, avoiding eye contact.

Mo Lanyun tilted her head. "Senior Brother, how’d you command the Benevolence Token to crush Sword Fortress then? Without that show, Qing Feng wouldn’t have believed you!"

"Special case," Fang Lie shrugged. "Sword Fortress stole Divine Marrow from Iron-Walled Jin City – once-in-millennia stuff. The token got furious on its own, practically dragged me into action. I didn’t use it – it used me as an excuse!"

"Oh you!" Mo Lanyun giggled. "Poor Qing Feng fell for it completely!"

"All’s fair in the Celestial Platform Competition," Fang Lie spread his hands. "We fight for Dao path. A little trickery’s expected."

Before Mo Lanyun could reply, impatient shouts erupted:

"Why aren’t Mo Lanyun and Li Qingshi fighting yet?"

"Quit stalling! Start the battle!"

"We want the finale!"

Mo Lanyun stood gracefully. "My turn. Save me a spot in the finals, Senior Brother."

"Counting on it," Fang Lie nodded.

Mo Qianxun beamed. "A Mo Sect final at the Celestial Platform Competition! Historic! Don’t disappoint me, Lanyun!"

"Relax, Grandfather." Mo Lanyun mounted her Dragon Turtle. "Li Qingshi’s no challenge."

Across the battlefield, Li Qingshi shuffled into position, a hundred miles apart.

"Greetings, Senior Brother." Mo Lanyun bowed properly – Abbot Mountain wasn’t evil faction, after all.

Li Qingshi returned the gesture. "Junior Sister Mo. Go easy on this old man, eh?"

"You jest!" Mo Lanyun smiled. "I’m the underdog here."

"Underdog?!" Li Qingshi threw up his hands. "Ever since Fang Lie joined you Mo Sect freaks, you’ve got lives to spare! Self-Detonation of Spiritual Roots? That’s cheating! I can handle your divine skills and treasures, but how do I counter suicide moves?"

Mo Lanyun smirked. "Scared, Senior Brother?"

"I’ll forfeit if you pull that stunt!" Li Qingshi snapped. "The mighty Mo Sect resorting to Outer Path tricks? Pathetic! Where’s the honor?"