Chapter 121: You Are Blocking My Way

The crowd was astonished to find that in the great hall, Yan Yuhai’s sword had snapped in two. Blue, toxic sludge coated the floor, corroding the ground, yet Chu Youcai stood completely unharmed.

Yan Yuhai, burning with rage, attempted to rise, only to feel a sharp tightness in his chest. Upon noticing the imprint of a sword hilt on his torso, he realized that Chu Youcai had held back. With a look of utter defeat, he ignored Chu Youcai, walked back to his seat, and lowered his head, falling into a sullen silence.

The onlookers were stunned. Yan Yuhai had unleashed his poison, yet it had missed Chu Youcai? And Yan Yuhai had been thrown aside by him?

Whispers rippled through the crowd: "That looks like the special mist from Penglai Island, the Mist-Image Crystal Ore! I never imagined those two young women would gift such a treasure to Chu Youcai!"

"It is said that this crystal ore has a unique ability. Once deployed, the user sees everything clearly through an infinite expanse of fog. I don't know how it works, but without such a treasure, Chu Youcai would have lost long ago!"

"Chu Youcai is incredibly lucky! To think it was such a celestial artifact!"

"No wonder! Yan Yuhai’s cultivation is far superior to Chu Youcai’s, yet he lost. What a stroke of bad luck!"

At that moment, the crowd looked at Chu Youcai with even greater disdain. They had not expected him to win this battle through such blind luck.

Chu Youcai descended from the dais. Xiangyu and Jiangxue looked on with relief; they had not expected his victory to be so easy, and they felt a sense of pride that the crystal ore they had gifted had proven useful. Chu Youcai gave Chu Zhaoyun a thumbs-up, signaling that the gift had been excellent. Chu Zhaoyun offered a gentle smile. Chu Youcai was now in the final four, alongside Chu Yuwang, Yan Yudong, and the Seventh Young Master. If Chu Youcai could draw the Seventh Young Master, he might have a chance to win and secure second place.

Meanwhile, Chu Yuwang watched with cold, disappointed eyes. He had personally groomed Yan Yuhai, yet Chu Youcai had emerged as a dark horse, eliminating him. The thought that Chu Youcai had succeeded purely by luck left him feeling deeply unbalanced. Although he had cultivated ten years of Taoist power, it had been forced through the blood of many, destabilizing his foundations and muddying his spirit—a fact he failed to realize.

Elsewhere, the other battles concluded. The Sixth Young Master, Yan Yudong, won again, though his body was suffering. His right eye felt as if countless ants were crawling within it. His only thought was to return to his room to meditate and seek guidance from the high monk of the Buddhist school. When the monk had taught him the *Sutra of Radiance* yesterday, he had pressed a palm to Yan Yudong's back, greatly easing the pain.

Hurrying off the stage, Yan Yudong’s eyes lit up when he saw the monk waiting for him. "Master, why have you come?"

The monk replied, "Sent by the Prince, I am here specifically to provide treatment. Do not be anxious, Sixth Young Master."

Hearing this, Yan Yudong glanced toward the Prince, his heart warming; his father had not changed, and his protective instincts remained strong. He sat down as the monk recited the *Sutra of Radiance* behind him, attempting to cleanse his mind as soft light permeated his body. However, he realized with despair that the monk’s chanting had little effect this time. His eye remained agonizingly painful and itchy, making him long to claw at it. He forced his hands to stop; if he scratched, he would surely destroy his sight. He was at a loss—if the monk could not help him, what was he to do?

A new round of drawing lots began. Chu Yuwang stood and walked into the hall. Glancing at Yan Yudong, a smug, sinister smile played on his lips; it seemed luck was on his side. With Yan Yudong injured, he was effectively out of the running. The first-place position was his! Thinking of the cursed artifact and the reward from the Goddess Nüyi, he felt a surge of triumph. After all his striving, all his ruthless methods and bloodshed, he was finally reaping the rewards. He envisioned a future where he stood in his father’s place, doing as he pleased, unrestrained by anyone.

He drew the number three. As he stepped down, he blocked Chu Youcai’s path. Chu Youcai, unfazed, looked at him calmly. "What does Second Brother want?"

Seeing Chu Youcai’s indifference, Chu Yuwang’s anger flared. He lowered his voice. "Are you still refusing to admit defeat?"

Jiangxue’s gaze turned icy as she stepped in front of Chu Youcai. "Second Young Master, you are in my way." Her look was one of supreme arrogance and cold detachment, causing Chu Yuwang to tremble. He instinctively stepped aside.

Jiangxue took Xiangyu’s hand, bowed slightly to Chu Youcai, and walked toward the dais, standing behind the Goddess Nüyi with an expression as cold as frost. It seemed as if nothing in heaven or earth could shake her—except when her gaze fell upon Chu Youcai, softening with tenderness.

The scene left the crowd stunned and speechless. Chu Yuwang felt an unbearable sense of frustration. His pride had been crushed, and he burned with the urge to seize Jiangxue and Xiangyu, to break them and force them to acknowledge his power. Yet, he dared not move. He could only glare at Chu Youcai.

Chu Youcai ascended the dais with ease. He drew a lot, glanced at it, and couldn't help but chuckle. The crowd, seeing his smile, assumed he had drawn the best lot. "What kind of luck does this guy have today!" they cursed.

But then, they were shocked to see that Chu Youcai’s number four had drawn number one: Yan Yudong.

The crowd erupted in delight. "He’s up against the Sixth Young Master! I thought he had sheer dumb luck again!"

"With his cultivation, he’s no match for the Sixth Young Master. He’ll lose in two rounds!"

"I bet one round!"

"Either way, Chu Youcai is finished!"

"Yes, he deserves it! All that luck has finally run out!"

"But look at the Sixth Young Master—he’s in such pain, his mind isn't on the fight. Will he forfeit?"

The crowd cast worried glances at Yan Yudong. Yan Yudong, however, was oblivious to their opinions, his heart heavy with despair. Even the *Sutra of Radiance* was useless. As the membrane over his right eye grew, even clutching his cursed artifact, the *Pearl of the Red Serpent*, could not calm his inner trembling.

"I will surely lose this fight. Chu Yuwang has broken through ten years of cultivation, and I can barely see. Why bother? I might as well forfeit."

As he raged inwardly, a subordinate handed him a letter.

"Get out! Can’t you see the state I’m in?" Yan Yudong roared.

The subordinate whispered, "The Eldest Madam sent this. She says it is effective for your condition!"