The Pinnacle of Shamelessness

“These five high-grade spirit stones, I’ll gladly take them. Rest assured, after this duel, I’ll make sure to ‘take good care’ of that fat pig, Chen Keshai.”

The glowing white kite floated above Jue Ya’s shoulder as he sneered, pulling out a pair of silver knuckle dusters from his spatial ring. With a powerful stomp, the ground beneath him cracked like a spiderweb as he lunged at Qin Gou like a hunting leopard.

Qin Gou held his short black staff steady, pointing it at Jue Ya. In an instant, Jue Ya’s body seemed to split into two, each half attacking Qin Gou from both sides with fists like a torrential storm.

The arena was filled with the shadows of the staff as Qin Gou’s movements became ghostly, dodging and weaving through the onslaught. His staff danced like a storm, leaving no opening, as he faced both Jue Ya and his clone simultaneously.

Jue Ya’s clone wasn’t just an illusion—it was a real, deadly entity capable of lethal attacks. Meanwhile, the glowing white kite continued to hover above Jue Ya’s shoulder, its purpose unclear.

“Illusory Sea Tides: Still Water Reflects the Mirror.”

An invisible ripple spread through the air. Though Jue Ya’s clone was indistinguishable from the real one, only the true body could be affected by the illusion.

Both versions of Jue Ya momentarily froze, their movements halting as they stood still on the dueling platform.

Without Jue Ya’s spiritual energy to sustain it, the clone vanished instantly. Qin Gou’s staff shot toward Jue Ya’s head, aiming for a decisive blow.

“Clang!”

The previously dormant kite suddenly glowed brightly, shielding Jue Ya just in time to block the strike. Seeing Jue Ya’s eyes twitch as he began to break free from the illusion, Qin Gou kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him flying.

Mid-air, Jue Ya regained his senses, twisting to stabilize himself and landing precariously at the edge of the platform.

“You weakling, I underestimated you. Mastering illusions at the Weapon Refining Realm—impressive,” Jue Ya growled, clutching his chest, his face twisted in anger.

“Your spiritual tool surprised me more. Despite being a prototype, it can protect its master automatically. Without it, Senior Brother Jue Ya wouldn’t be speaking right now,” Qin Gou said, glancing at the now-flattened kite floating above Jue Ya’s shoulder.

“You’ve really pissed me off,” Jue Ya snarled, his eyes filled with malice. “My spiritual tool is unique. In its prototype form, it has almost no offensive power. You must be wondering how someone with a ‘useless prototype’ like me holds such a position among the senior disciples.”

“Ah, sorry,” Qin Gou interrupted, scratching his nose awkwardly. “I’ve only been here a week. I’d never even heard of Senior Brother Jue Ya before today. My bad, please don’t take offense.”

Jue Ya froze, his prepared speech caught in his throat.

The awkward silence lasted about ten seconds before Jue Ya cleared his throat. “As I was saying, among the senior disciples, I’m known as the ‘White Reaper’!”

“What did I say?” Qin Gou looked genuinely confused.

It was as if Jue Ya was having a conversation with a version of Qin Gou from another dimension. Gritting his teeth, Jue Ya continued, “Because, as a cultivator, no matter how great your techniques, you ultimately rely on your brain!”

“Jue Ya’s about to get serious,” a female disciple whispered to Gu Feiyan.

As if to prove her point, Jue Ya grabbed the kite on his shoulder and, to everyone’s shock, tore it to shreds.

“Aside from me, it would take a full-force attack from a Hidden Artifact Realm cultivator to penetrate my spiritual tool. A true master knows how to maximize their tool’s potential!”

The shredded kite turned into white sand, swirling around Jue Ya to form an impenetrable shield. The gaps between the fragments were barely visible, creating a nearly seamless defense.

If the tool’s defensive capabilities were as strong as Jue Ya claimed, he was practically invincible within the Weapon Refining Realm.

Jue Ya smirked arrogantly at Qin Gou. “You think mastering illusions makes you unbeatable? Let me show you what it means to dominate your peers!”

“That’s it?” Qin Gou raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.

“Come here, I’ll show you something amazing,” Qin Gou taunted, beckoning with a finger.

“You brat, I’ll smash that smug face of yours!” Jue Ya roared, charging forward.

Qin Gou stood his ground, pulling a small jar of wine from his spatial ring and splashing it directly at Jue Ya. The liquid drenched Jue Ya, leaving him soaked.

The fragrant wine dripped from Jue Ya’s hair and face. Wiping his face angrily, he glared at Qin Gou. “You… insult me?”

Qin Gou waved dismissively. “Senior Brother Jue Ya, you’re too naive. You claim your tool is invincible unless faced with a Hidden Artifact Realm cultivator? Nonsense. Your prototype may be impressive, but it’s still just paper. And what happens to paper when it gets wet? Even a three-year-old knows the answer.”

Jue Ya stared at Qin Gou as if he were an idiot. The audience, too, was caught between laughter and disbelief.

“Are you stupid?” Jue Ya sneered. “Applying mundane logic to my spiritual tool? You’re a joke.”

But before he could finish, a green droplet hidden among the spilled wine activated. It pierced through Jue Ya’s chest, then shot back for a second strike, leaving two bloody holes before returning to Qin Gou’s palm.

Jue Ya coughed up blood as the white shield around him shattered and disappeared.

“Qin Gou wins!” the steward declared, raising his hand.

Qin Gou sighed, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed skyward at a 45-degree angle. His voice was filled with melancholy. “Senior Brother Jue Ya was right. As cultivators, we must use our brains. True mastery lies in maximizing our abilities.”

“You… shameless scoundrel!” Jue Ya staggered back, clutching his wound. He pulled out medicinal powder from his spatial ring, his face twisted in rage. “You used underhanded tricks to win! Steward, I demand justice!”

Qin Gou looked at him with pity, his expression serene and detached. “Naive. In the demonic path, we don’t sweat the small stuff. Know this.”

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.