Chapter 12

A wave of murmurs swept through the disciples of Qing Jing Peak.

Disciples from other peaks, unfamiliar with Qing Jing’s internal affairs, assumed Shen Qingqiu must have sent forth a secret, peerless genius—some prodigy they’d never heard of—to face this ancient-looking demon elder who appeared centuries old. They were merely puzzled why such a talent had remained unknown and looked so young. But those from Qing Jing Peak itself knew exactly what Luo Binghe was capable of.

Ming Fan’s face turned ashen. “Shizun… sending this… sending Junior Brother Luo… isn’t that unsuitable?”

Shen Qingqiu replied coolly, “Oh? Then you go?”

Ming Fan shook his head vigorously. While he had no desire to fight and was quite happy to let Luo Binghe take a beating, the honor of their sect was at stake! To let demons storm their mountain, take their plaque, and then lose the duel… Cang Qiong Mountain would be humiliated, and Qing Jing Peak would bear the greatest shame!

Ning Yingying was so frantic tears welled in her eyes. She clung to Luo Binghe’s arm, stamping her foot. “No, no, no!” Luo Binghe had almost no real combat experience. That demon elder was covered in poisonous spikes, and his warhammer had to weigh several hundred pounds. He’d be beaten to death!

Do you think I want to send him? I have no choice!

“I said he goes, so he goes,” Shen Qingqiu stated, his voice leaving no room for argument. “Do you question your master’s decision? Yingying, let him go.”

Seeing her master’s stern expression, Ning Yingying knew it was hopeless.

Luo Binghe patted her hand reassuringly. Though pale, his voice was firm. “Do not worry, Senior Sister. Though I am weak, since Shizun has chosen me, I will fight with everything I have. Even if it costs my life, I will not disgrace our sect.”

Ning Yingying wiped her tears and released his arm. Seeming unable to bear watching her beloved get pummeled, she stamped her foot a few more times before fleeing with a sob.

Shen Qingqiu was delighted. Good, she ran! Now that plot twist she causes later won’t happen!

The onlookers saw a youth of upright bearing and decent foundation, but clearly a young disciple with shallow cultivation. In contrast, the demon elder stood like a mountain of muscle, his hulking frame radiating oppressive, dark demonic energy beside Luo Binghe’s still-developing form. Doubts arose. Some guessed he might be concealing his strength. But when the fight began, all were speechless.

Concealing strength? He was genuinely outmatched!

This wasn’t a duel—it was a one-sided beating.

From the moment he entered the arena, Luo Binghe found no opening to strike. The demon elder wielded his massive hammer with terrifying force, the weapon whistling through the air. Though Luo Binghe dodged desperately and sought any gap, the hammer still found him, blow after brutal blow.

Not only were the Cang Qiong disciples stunned into silence, even the demons watched with pity. This is too cruel…

Someone whispered, “He’s definitely going to lose… why continue?”

The Great Hammer Elder—no, the Sky Hammer Elder—threw back his head and laughed, his voice booming. “Well said! Little whelp, admit defeat now, and this old man might spare your life.”

Shen Qingqiu’s voice, calm and clear, cut through. “He will win.”

Of course he will. The cheat-protagonist always wins. He just wins… a little painfully.

His words, neither loud nor soft, carried perfectly to the center of the arena.

Luo Binghe, reeling from a heavy blow, blood clogging his chest, heard that unwavering statement. Somehow, he swallowed the blood back down.

Will I… win?

Did Shizun truly believe I could win, and that’s why he gave me this chance?

The demons roared with laughter, jeering for him to surrender.

But Luo Binghe defied them. With each injury, his mind grew calmer, the taunts fading into background noise. His footwork grew lighter, more fluid. Nine out of ten of the Sky Hammer Elder’s mighty swings now whistled through empty air.

The only parts of the elder not covered in poisonous spike-armor were his face and fists. This was not good news. It meant those areas were trained to perfection, needing no external protection.

Yet, it also meant they were likely the only weak points.

Luo Binghe slowed his breathing, focusing his senses.

Shizun picking me seemed like setting me up for failure. But look at it another way—if I lose, the disgrace falls not just on me, but on our entire sect, and especially on Shizun himself for choosing me.

Shizun… truly believes I can win. That’s why he chose me!

Fueled by this monumental misinterpretation, Luo Binghe’s determination solidified.

No one had ever trusted him like this.

For the sake of that bold faith, he had to win, and show them all!

The warhammer descended again with a crushing whoosh. Luo Binghe’s pupils contracted. Power gathered in his palm, qi condensing into a technique!

Everyone was now captivated by this relentless youth. Though he’d found no opening to counter, he had never given up, never surrendered. And now, the moment for retaliation had finally arrived. Luo Binghe seized the tail of that opportunity with flawless precision.

After nearly half an hour of stalemate, the third duel finally reached its conclusion.

A result no one but Shen Qingqiu had foreseen.

The Sky Hammer Elder, with a century of cultivation and a body clad in venomous spikes, had been defeated by a fifteen-year-old boy!

As predicted, Liu Mingyan and Sha Hualing were drawn to Luo Binghe. Four beautiful eyes turned his way, their gazes lingering on his figure, reluctant to look away.

[Gained attention of Liu Mingyan & Sha Hualing; Fame earned in Cang Qiong Mountain’s Demon Invasion Battle; Protagonist Satisfaction +500.]

Shen Qingqiu was furious.

Unfair! You deduct 1000 but only add 500? Black-hearted, biased system!

But it didn’t matter. For now, everyone was thinking the same thing.

Luo Binghe… what a formidable rising star!

Shen Qingqiu… how unfathomably profound!

Sha Hualing, having stewed in silence, finally forced out a sentence. “Cang Qiong Mountain is indeed rich in talent, with young heroes emerging constantly. Ling’er… is deeply impressed.”

Shen Qingqiu waved a hand. “You flatter us. Since the duel has concluded, might the Young Lady withdraw your clansmen? I fear Cang Qiong Mountain is presently too occupied to properly host distant guests.”

The subtext… no, there was no subtext. It was a blatant, direct dismissal.

Sha Hualing, with no outlet for her fury, twisted the red gauze of her dress between her fingers before suddenly erupting.

Her hand shot out, delivering a sharp, stinging slap to the Sky Hammer Elder’s face. “To lose so disgracefully to such a young disciple of Senior Shen!” she shrilled. “You have shamed the entire demon race!”

Pitifully bound by the demon realm’s strict hierarchy and Sha Hualing’s noble status as a Saintess, the elder dared not resist. He merely bowed, muttering, “This subordinate is incompetent. I beg for the Saintess’s punishment!”

Shen Qingqiu had seen enough. “Young Lady Sha, if you wish to discipline your subordinates, please do so elsewhere. Qiong Ding Peak is not your domain for displaying authority.”

Having vented her rage with the slap, Sha Hualing turned back, a sweet smile plastered on her face. “Senior Shen is right. Ling’er was merely so disappointed, seeing the brilliant youths under your command and then looking at my own useless trash, that I lost control for a moment. Please do not laugh at me.”

She turned her icy glare back to the elder. “For the One-Armed Elder to lose against Senior Shen was expected. But for you to also lose the duel… I need not say more. You know what to do.”

The meaning of “you know what to do” was chillingly clear to Sky Hammer.

His heart sank. He’d thought everyone on Qiong Ding Peak besides Shen Qingqiu were mere children with shallow cultivation—an easy victory to earn merit before the new Saintess. Instead, he’d suffered a crushing defeat and now faced execution. His gaze fell upon Luo Binghe, surrounded by concerned disciples, being fussed over. Malice bloomed in his heart.

He wouldn’t dare touch Shen Qingqiu. But this little brat who’d caused his ruin? He’d drag him down to death with him!

Shen Qingqiu had been watching every demon’s movement and expression intently. He didn’t miss the flash of venom in Sky Hammer’s eyes. But demons were a decisive breed. No hesitation—the thought formed one second, action followed the next. The elder lunged, his hammer swinging as he charged like a flying iron mountain!

Massive and fast, he closed the distance. Luo Binghe, injured and sluggish, seemed certain to be crushed. Then came a cold snort from Shen Qingqiu. His figure blurred, appearing before the elder in a flash. The tip of his fan tapped lightly against the back of the demon’s knee.

The Sky Hammer Elder knelt.

He truly knelt—his whole body crashing to the ground, unconscious. Shen Qingqiu casually caught the falling hammer, hefting it in one hand. Indeed, quite heavy. But a man of his refined bearing holding a brutish warhammer was an unsightly image. He immediately flung it toward the demon contingent. It landed among them with a deafening clang, embedding itself in the ground, its weight and impact terrifying.

Shen Qingqiu offered a thin, humorless smile. “Trying to silence a witness? My disciples are not yours to bully.”

As he declared this with righteous authority, not only were the demons left speechless, but Shen Qingqiu himself felt a flush of secret shame heat his own old face.

Master Shen, wasn't it you who sent your own disciple out to be beaten in the first place!

Luo Binghe stared at the green-robed figure shielding him, forgetting even to give thanks. He only knew one thing: his master had saved him once again.

His master was always like this. Harsh on the surface, yet always stepping in front of him at the most critical moment.

Shen Qingqiu glanced back at him. "Are you hurt?"

A little guilt-ridden attempt to earn some goodwill points…

"Disciple is fine!" Luo Binghe said quickly. "Thank you, Shizun, for saving me."

Ah, this kid, so earnest and trusting. It made the heat of secret shame flare even hotter on Shen Qingqiu's old face. He hurriedly turned back to Sha Hualing. "Young Lady Sha, you should keep a tighter leash on your own subordinates. If you cannot bear to lose, why bother setting the terms for a three-duel contest in the first place?"

Sha Hualing hadn't anticipated that earlier scene either and felt a flicker of embarrassment. She was just about to offer some polite platitudes when, at that precise moment, a sudden mutation occurred.

The Heavenly Hammer Elder, who had been lying motionless and seemingly dead on the ground, suddenly sprang up with a violent lunge, making one last, desperate charge straight for Luo Binghe!