Chapter 587

Chapter 587: Unexpected Ending

By now, nearly everyone believed Li Qingshi was doomed to lose, as the Abbot Mountain faction likely wouldn’t bestow him with treasures of such caliber. Yet after his initial shock, Li Qingshi’s eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. He shouted, "Junior Sister Mo! Stop and hear me out!"

"At this point, what more is there to say?" Mo Lanyun replied coldly. "Have you finally decided to surrender?"

"Wrong! Dead wrong!" Li Qingshi gritted his teeth. "On the contrary—it’s *you* who should surrender!"

"What?" Mo Lanyun laughed mockingly. "Li Qingshi, have you gone mad? Victory is already in my grasp. Why would I yield?"

"Because I hold your Dragon Turtle’s life in my hands!" Li Qingshi snarled. "You know the Dragon Binding Chain—an ancient torture device created to imprison the Dragon Clan. To prevent escapes, it bears special restrictions. Activate them, and the chain self-detonates, unleashing power lethal even to Ninth-Rank Great Dragon Demons, let alone some Eighth-rank Dragon Turtle! Still think you shouldn’t surrender?"

Mo Lanyun’s face flushed crimson. "How dare you stoop so low? Threatening my mount when you can’t win fairly?"

"The Celestial Platform Competition is about seizing one’s Dao path," Li Qingshi said flatly. "In the cultivation world, all means are justified to reach immortality. This method may lack honor, but for my Dao, I’ll use it. Forgive me."

"Forgive you? Never!" Mo Lanyun’s voice trembled with rage. "Harm my Dragon Turtle, and I’ll shred you to pieces!"

"Do it," Li Qingshi shrugged. "I’ll slay the turtle first, then myself. Your sect will revive me anyway—one life for another. I’m prepared."

"You—!" Mo Lanyun sputtered, at a loss.

*If people aren’t afraid of death, how can you threaten them with it?*

Faced with someone willing to perish just to destroy her Dragon Turtle, Mo Lanyun was helpless. An ordinary Eighth-rank mount? The wealthy Mo Sect could replace such trifles easily. But this Dragon Turtle—a rare Divine Beast descendant—was irreplaceable. Such creatures emerged only once every ten millennia.

Rarity alone made this Eighth-rank Dragon Turtle rival a Peak Eighth-Rank treasure’s value. More crucially, its water-element lineage perfectly complemented Mo Lanyun’s cultivation. As she grew stronger, so would it. With its noble bloodline, it might even ascend with her to the Immortal Realm!

To Mo Lanyun, this wasn’t merely a mount—it was a lifelong partner. Its worth dwarfed any competition prize. Li Qingshi knew this, hence his ruthless gambit.

Now Mo Lanyun faced an impossible choice: kill Li Qingshi and lose her priceless companion, or surrender and swallow her pride.

Spectators buzzed excitedly. "Who expected this twist? The semifinals alone delivered such drama!"

"First everyone backed Mo Lanyun, then she abandoned her best tactic. When Li Qingshi seemed victorious, she unveiled a Peak Eighth-Rank treasure! Just as we thought it settled, he pulls this stunt! When was the last time we saw such a duel?"

"Don’t count him victorious yet. That girl’s pride is wounded—she might act rashly!"

"Relax. She might rage, but her grandfather—Mo Sect’s Old Fox—won’t let her throw everything away."

As if summoned, Mo Qianxun frowned and called, "Lanyun. Withdraw. We concede."

"But Grandfather—!" Tears streamed down Mo Lanyun’s furious face.

Mo Qianxun’s heart ached, yet he maintained calm. "Would you sacrifice Little Turtle for pride? After all its loyal service?"

"Never! If I didn’t care, I’d have crushed Li Qingshi already!"

"Then why hesitate?" Mo Qianxun sighed. "Is that wretch’s life worth more than your companion’s?"

"Not at all!" Mo Lanyun declared with pride. "My little Turtle’s life is a hundred times more valuable than Li Qingshi’s!"

Li Qingshi’s face turned green with rage, but he swallowed his anger, knowing better than to provoke her further.

Having won the verbal battle, Mo Lanyun’s anger subsided as she regained perspective. She demanded bluntly, "Li Qingshi, you vile coward! Release my Dragon Turtle now! If it’s harmed in any way, I’ll storm Abbot Mountain myself to end you!"

"Does this mean you surrender?" Li Qingshi asked, relief washing over him as he ignored her insults. "Then announce it properly!"

"Hmph!" she scoffed. "I’m not as shameless as you! When I say I surrender, I mean it! Hear this everyone – I, Mo Lanyun, concede defeat!" Though she spoke defiantly, tears streamed down her cheeks.

The crowd stirred uncomfortably at the Young Girl’s distress. Mo Qianxun and Fang Lie burned with fury. "Don’t let that scoundrel die quickly," Mo Qianxun growled.

"The Past King Fist thirsts for action," Fang Lie said with deadly calm. "I’ll beat him to death before everyone’s eyes."

"Not enough!" Mo Qianxun thrust a ring into Fang Lie’s hand. "Use this."

Examining the seventh-rank treasure with his divine sense, Fang Lie frowned until old bird’s voice interrupted: "The Puppet That Dies in Place Divine Lightning Ring! Mo Qianxun means to ruin Li Qingshi completely."

"How?"

"Its Divine Light attacks the soul. Though weaker than the actual Puppet Lightning that destroys body and soul, it drains revival potential. One resurrection would cost him like five normal ones – turning Talents into mediocrity."

Fang Lie inhaled sharply. "Too harsh?"

"He’s from Neutral Sect yet uses underhanded tactics publicly," old bird countered. "This lesson breaks no rules."

When Fang Lie saw Mo Lanyun fleeing tearfully, his resolve hardened. "For bullying my fiancée, he’ll taste this Divine Light!"

During the break before finals, spectators debated the outcome, bets flying. Mo Qianxun wagered heavily on Fang Lie, then fretted: "You’ll win, right? Don’t lose my spirit pearls!"

"Since when does a Semi-Immortal fret over mere millions?"

"Millions?!" Mo Qianxun sputtered. "These are large spirit pearls! One equals ten thousand mediums – a billion small pearls! You call that ‘mere’?"