Chapter 20

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Chapter 20: Cheating

Everyone gazed silently at the mountaintop, utterly awestruck by Jun Ruolan’s display. Yet bitter resignation filled their hearts—none could replicate her sheer power-driven ascent.

"Why aren’t you moving, Ye Yun?" Duan Chenfeng turned with mockery in his eyes.

After Jun Ruolan’s triumph, the churning white clouds and whirlpools along the cliff face vanished. Panicked disciples scrambled upward, fearing the vortex’s return. Only three remained at the cliff’s base: Duan Chenfeng, Ye Yun, and Qu Yiping—the red-graded spiritual vein holder.

Ye Yun’s face betrayed nothing at Duan Chenfeng’s taunt, though inwardly he scoffed. The trial’s design couldn’t be so simplistic. Even the pill light scattering from the summit’s stone tablet radiated danger. Mindless climbers would pay dearly.

A quick scan confirmed his suspicion—not one disciple showed progress. Higher sections grew glass-smooth. Those copying Ye Yun’s blood-softening trick now smeared crimson in vain against unyielding stone.

Under the empty blue sky, they resembled frogs trapped in an ancient well. The moss-slick walls defied brute force.

"Deaf again?" Duan Chenfeng studied Ye Yun’s silence. "Share ideas. We might find hope."

Ye Yun stiffened. Had Duan Chenfeng noticed something? Collaboration might help.

"Your thoughts?" He kept his tone neutral.

"Duan Senior Brother, any advice?" Qu Yiping approached, icy politeness masking his glare.

"Who’s this? Since when do strays bark at me?" Duan Chenfeng’s contempt dripped.

Qu Yiping’s brow twitched, his smile unwavering. This fool wasn’t worth monitoring.

"Three clear minds could solve this," he pressed. "Why waste pride?"

"Linger all you want," Duan Chenfeng chuckled. "We’ll rest here. Shout if you find anything."

"Then we act separately." Qu Yiping turned away sharply.

Only when the man retreated did Ye Yun murmur, "You’ve discovered something."

"Spiritual Spring Wall." Duan Chenfeng’s smirk widened. "Outer shell’s solid, but hollow pockets hide beneath. Break through—find footholds."

Ye Yun blinked. Since when did this oaf possess such insight? Then he caught the naked triumph in Duan Chenfeng’s eyes.

Cheating.

Elder Lan’s tip-off.

"Hence chasing Qu Yiping away." Ye Yun matched his hushed tone. "Fewer witnesses protect Elder Lan."

"Ants eventually solve puzzles." Duan Chenfeng shrugged. "We’ll conserve strength."

Ye Yun inhaled deeply. This man reeked of future disaster—best kept at arm’s length.

But now, cooperating with this person seemed like the best way to pass the trial.

"Since you already know the secret of this cliff wall, why work with me?" Ye Yun asked cautiously, unaffected by the alchemy pill’s aura from above. His brows furrowed slightly as he stared at Duan Chenfeng.

"You’ll see soon enough," Duan Chenfeng answered, stroking his chin.

Watching Duan Chenfeng’s evasive manner, Ye Yun arched an eyebrow but remained silent, patiently observing.

About half an hour later, someone started knocking on the cliff wall.

Desperate people followed suit without thinking.

"Found it! This part’s hollow!"

A voice suddenly shouted from the left, trembling with excitement.

Everyone instantly swarmed toward the spot. A servant disciple stood tapping the cliff wall with stone fragments.

The clear hollow echo proved an empty space existed within.

"Let me!"

Qu Yiping shoved through the crowd. After two light knocks, he suddenly slammed his fist against the wall.

Boom!

His punch blasted a one-foot-wide hole through the solid cliff wall.

Ye Yun’s brows knitted tightly – Qu Yiping’s spiritual power appeared equal to his own.

"Split up and find more! One hole’s not enough!" Qu Yiping shouted fervently.

Disciples scrambled excitedly. If one foothold existed, more must follow upward. Finding several would let them all reach the stone tablet atop the cliff.

Soon three more hollow spots were found, each three zhang apart.

"Watch this."

Duan Chenfeng stayed rooted, glancing smugly at Ye Yun.

Qu Yiping leaped upward.

In one bound, he reached another hollow spot three zhang higher. Another punch created a second opening where he landed.

"Simple enough," Qu Yiping thought, earlier anxiety fading. Climbing step-by-step like this, he’d reach the top within two hours.

He jumped another three zhang and tapped above the second hole. Finding another hollow point, he smashed through it.

Qu Yiping laughed triumphantly, pushing off the hole’s edge to ascend again.

But as his laughter echoed, torrential spiritual power erupted from the hole.

The blast struck him mid-air.

Qu Yiping screamed, plummeting to crash against the ground in a cloud of dust.