Chapter 216: Utter Humiliation

“What… what happened?”

The sudden and unexpected change on the field shocked everyone in the Lingwu Sect.

At first, they saw Bai Huaiyu actually unleashing the Starry Void Cloud Sword, densely surrounding Fang Cun with sword points. It looked like Second Young Master Fang was about to suffer a terrible loss. The Lingwu Sect Leader and the Elders grew deeply worried, even considering stepping in to help Second Young Master Fang, fearing he might face such public humiliation that he would forever harbor resentment against their Lingwu Sect…

Yet, deep down, a selfish hope lingered.

After all, the Starry Void Cloud Sword was a signature technique of the Lingwu Sect.

And Second Young Master Fang, during this period… journeying to Leshui, traveling to Yun Huan, mastering the Leshui Method in a single month, Plucking Flowers as Swords to defeat Yun Huan… his innate talent was terrifyingly high, his renown terrifyingly great. If someone defeated Second Young Master Fang using Lingwu Sect’s techniques now, it would surely make their sect renowned throughout the entire Qingjiang region, drawing the gazes of all Qi Refiners there.

Who knows if Young Master Bai purposefully chose to use the Starry Void Cloud Sword now for exactly that reason.

However, the seemingly inevitable defeat of Second Young Master Fang took an unexpected turn.

Just as the countless sword glares whistled towards Fang Cun, imminent points about to touch him, Fang Cun also formed a hand seal.

No one recognized that particular seal technique.

They only saw apparitions of demonic gods suddenly manifesting above Fang Cun’s head. Then, Bai Huaiyu, high in the air, mere moments from apprehending Fang Cun, suddenly faltered violently. It was as if he saw something terrifying. He screamed incoherently, retreating backwards like he had seen a ghost, his Magical Power instantly thrown into chaos.

As his power scattered, the sword intent aimed at Fang Cun quickly vanished.

But that wasn’t all. Young Master Bai Huaiyu was still screaming in terror, “What… what was that?”

“Don’t… don’t come near me…”

“Rip…”

While scrambling and struggling backward, he suddenly waved his hand wildly, tearing his own robe to shreds. Like a madman, he alternately clutched at his chest as if stabbed by a sword, and grabbed at his neck as though his head was about to roll off. He kept stumbling forward, seemingly begging something, “Give… give back my heart…”

He struggled, roared, pleaded, wailed…

As if countless invisible enemies surrounded him, subjecting him to tortures where cries to the heavens went unanswered, pleas to the earth unheeded.

“What… what in the world is happening?”

“It seems… it seems like his soul was snatched, he fell into an illusion…”

“Wha… what kind of illusion could push a Condensed Radiance Realm cultivator to such a state?”

The Sect Leader and Elders of the Lingwu Sect gasped, their breaths catching in their throats. Staring at Fang Cun in the distance, their eyes were filled with utter shock. They naturally understood that the battle between the Condensed Radiance Realm cultivator and the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator was already over. What was almost impossible to grasp was that it had ended in only three moves. Three divine abilities, and Bai Huaiyu, a Condensed Radiance Realm cultivator, was defeated…

Not just defeated, but utterly, devastatingly crushed!

He seemed on the brink of being driven completely mad…

“Oh no…”

One of the Elders rushed towards the air but stopped abruptly, then turned to look hesitantly at Fang Cun.

Seeing that Fang Cun made no further move, they continued rushing towards the maddened Young Master Bai in the sky. They didn’t know what kind of divine ability had ensnared him, but they had to stop him. By this time, Young Master Bai was hysterically beating his own head and chest, drawing blood from his mouth, likely cracking his bones, with no signs of awakening.

They feared if they didn’t intervene, he might literally beat himself to death.

Even if he didn’t do that, how could he possibly live after this…

The esteemed Young Master Bai had utterly stripped himself bare and was now running laps stark naked above the Lingwu Sect…

His reputation was utterly destroyed…

If he woke up later and learned of this shameful display, how could he possibly face anyone?

Everyone knew Young Master Bai valued his face above all else!

…

As these thoughts flashed, they reached Bai Huaiyu. Flustered, they interwove their Magical Power into a soft, billowing net, attempting to restrain him. But being bound only made Bai Huaiyu thrash more violently, delirious and terrified, as if the soft restraints were actually searing red-hot chains…

Horrifyingly, livid burn marks, shaped like chains, began to appear on his exposed skin.

The panicked Elders tried several methods to awaken him – splashing water, slapping his face, pinching his philtrum (the groove above his lip)…

None of it worked. Bai Huaiyu only grew wilder, struggling with all his might!

The sensation of a completely naked man thrashing desperately in their collective hold was rather… unsettling.

“What do we do?”

The Elders cried out desperately, “Can we knock him out?”

“His consciousness is already wildly disturbed! Knocking him out now might permanently damage his Innate Qi!”

The Elders wailed, feeling utterly helpless.

After all, this was Young Master Bai, one of the earliest among the younger generation to break through to the Condensed Radiance Realm. If they injured his Innate Qi, it would be like destroying an Immortal Seedling. Even if they meant well, how could their Lingwu Sect possibly withstand the Bai Family’s wrath afterwards?

In their desperation, some cast pleading looks towards Second Young Master Fang.

“Quite effective!”

Meanwhile, hovering in mid-air, Fang Cun slowly lowered the lotus hand sign from his chest. Observing Young Master Bai’s maddened state, his face remained impassive, though he nodded slightly with satisfaction at the effect of his divine ability.

Perhaps this technique shouldn’t be called the ‘Hundred Flowers Fragrant Realm’ anymore.

This divine ability was born from his merging of several methods within the Divine Nether Scriptures, using the framework of the Hundred Flowers Fragrant Realm and rebuilding it from the ground up. When he activated it, the target plunged into a hellish landscape, suffering tortures inflicted by demonic gods. The version used by the Yun Huan Sect, however, plunged the target into a heavenly paradise filled with all manner of beautiful scenes and fantastical dreams.

Recalling the original Hundred Flowers Fragrant Realm invoked by the Yun Huan Sect made Fang Cun shudder involuntarily.

He forcefully pushed aside those images, thinking his own version was far more merciful compared to the original Yun Huan Sect technique…

…

The effect has been achieved. The Lingwu Sect should no longer dare obstruct Yu Qingli.

He noticed the Lingwu Elders casting urgent, beseeching gazes his way. An idea formed in his mind. He could release the technique… but before doing so, he deliberately retrieved a white pill from his waist pouch and flicked it towards them.

“A Treasure Pill!”

An Elder caught the pill, sniffed it, and his eyes lit up with joy. He hastily pushed the pill into Young Master Bai’s mouth.

Surely this is the antidote? It makes sense that Second Young Master’s soul-entrapping technique would use strange toxins or cursed insects.

How else could a Foundation Establishment cultivator reduce a Condensed Radiance expert to this state without external aids?

Indeed, the “antidote” proved miraculously effective!

As Young Master Bai swallowed the pill, a faint smile touched Fang Cun’s mind. He withdrew the technique.

In the eyes of the onlookers, Young Master Bai became still the moment he swallowed the Treasure Pill.

A long moment later, he slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from a dream. His gaze darted across the faces of the Lingwu Elders surrounding him, filled with worry. Then it shifted to Fang Cun in the distance. Then it swept across the countless Lingwu Sect disciples on the mountainsides, staring at him in stunned disbelief. Finally, it dropped… to his own utterly naked body. The Elders’ worried expressions swiftly morphed into profound pity.

Young Master Bai himself seemed to freeze. After an agonizingly long silence, a look that almost bordered on tears of despair crossed his face. He glared fiercely at Fang Cun with every ounce of his will.

“You…!”

He roared with all his remaining strength, but only managed this single syllable before his eyes rolled back and he collapsed in darkness.

…Passing out was really the only option left. What else could he do?

…

“Ah…”

At this moment, countless eyes throughout the Yun Huan Sect—if mentioned, Lingwu is the setting—were fixed on the scene in the air, filled with astonishment.

It was almost unbelievable. Second Young Master Fang had defeated the famously talented Young Master Bai publicly… in only three divine moves! Especially the sight of Bai Huaiyu reduced to such frantic madness after being subdued evoked a strange blend of terror… but everyone had to admit, beyond the horror, recalling that scene… it also held a faint, peculiar thrill.

Foundation defeating Condensed Radiance! Divine techniques shattering the mind!

Earlier, Fang Cun had already built a formidable reputation at the Leshui Sect with his talent. At the Yun Huan Sect, he pushed that renown even higher. Yet only now, after witnessing this battle themselves, did they finally grasp the true substance beneath Second Young Master Fang’s famed reputation.

This climactic duel, however, had absorbed so much attention that the disciples blocking Yu Qingli’s path noticeably thinned.

Even those few disciples still positioned before them were significantly distracted by the battle raging overhead.

Even He Zhenzhang and Meng Qing’er had momentarily been drawn away, turning to watch the duel between Fang Cun and Young Master Bai, an indelible shadow imprinted on their minds. Within the Lingwu Sect mountains, it seemed only Yu Qingli and one other remained entirely undistracted. One was urgently pushing towards the Tranquil Valley; the other was solely focused on him…

By now, Yu Qingli was less than one hundred feet away from the Tranquil Valley’s quiet courtyard.

Only a handful of Lingwu Sect disciples still stood feebly in his path. Even these few had already sensed the shift; with the Sect Leader and Elders showing no intention of stopping the interloper, there really was no need for them to intercept. Providing token resistance, they quickly stepped aside, clearing the way.

Now, nothing but open space stood between Yu Qingli and the tranquil little courtyard hidden within the valley.

No one barred his path now. Without hesitation this time, he walked straight to the courtyard gate and pushed it open.

On a distant peak, Elder Xue’s face darkened. The moment Yu Qingli stepped into the courtyard, Elder Xue’s pupils contracted sharply.