In the dead silence, Fang Taiqing waved his hand. Before Fang Xingque could utter another word, he was taken away.
"Father, I'll go make the arrangements,” Fang Yuewei said anxiously.
"Alright.” Fang Taiqing nodded.
Fang Yuewei quickly went to deal with her younger brother's injuries and transform his lifebound beasts into lifebound spirits.
Fang Xingque sank into despair. His first thought was to beg his father for revenge, but the atmosphere in the secret room was gloomy and terrifying. Making a scene now would only be embarrassing, and Fang Taiqing wouldn’t give him the chance to do so.
In the secret room, Yi Xingyin quickly strode towards Fang Taiqing. Kneeling down and kowtowing, he said, "Sect Master, it’s all my fault.”
"What have you done?” Fang Taiqing asked.
There was a mistake during the Deepstar Battle that I supervised. Someone secretly handed Fang Xingque an eight star heavenly pattern tome, which is against the rules, causing this entire farce and resulting in his heavy injuries. This is all my fault, a breach of responsibility. Please punish me.”
Yi Xingyin was extremely nervous.
"It's but a trivial matter, palace lord. Why make such a fuss?” Fang Taiqing said gently as he touched the armrest.
"I can’t escape the crime of negligence. I’ll find the person who gave the heavenly pattern tome, punish him severely, and straighten things out,” said Yi Xingyin.
"It’s up to you. You may return.” Fang Taiqing waved his hand.
"Sect Master, do you want to punish Li Tianming? Although he faced peril from the heavenly pattern tome and only fought back in anger, the severity of his attack was uncalled for. He was too cruel to Xingque,” Yi Xingyin angrily accused.
"No, he’s the victim. What a joke it would be if he’s punished,” said Fang Taiqing.
"Alright. I’ll take my leave.” Nodding, Yi Xingyin left decisively.
Fang Taiqing curled his lips, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"He's quite interesting. He makes the first move, takes the blame, and forces you into playing the saint,” Judgment Hall’s palace lord, Fang Shenyu, sneered.
"Since Xingque wasn’t strong enough, he has to endure failure. I was careless to have done such a stupid thing,” said Fang Taiqing.
"Are we going to just forget it?”
"Lack of forbearance in small matters will upset great plans. It’s just a son. Everyone's the same, regardless of background or talent. Failure means starting from zero. There’s no point and no need for regret,” said Fang Taiqing.
"Then what's next?”
"Patience. We’ll calmly watch for change. Anyway, we aren’t the anxious ones,” said Fang Taiqing.
"Yes, the Archaic House of Xuanyuan is bound to Her Eminence, sharing life and death together. We don't have to be like this. We don’t have to worry if there’s any movement from the other eight divine realms.” Pausing, Fang Shenyu added, "But then again, your mother must be worried now that something happened to Xingque.”
"It doesn't matter, she’s considered half Xuanyuan.” Fang Taiqing smiled.
"Alright.” Fang Shenyu nodded, his eyes filled with admiration.
"Li Tianming...."
Narrowing his eyes, Fang Taiqing stared thoughtfully at the young man in the Starlord Formation.
...
Sterling House of Fang, Sterling Hall.
"Xingque, I sent the stillwater frost phoenix to Doctor Qin for treatment. Its wings are fine,” said Fang Yuewei.
"Sister, will father avenge me? Just because he’s a disciple of Her Eminence, he’s allowed to kill my lifebound beasts?! How can we hold our heads high if the Sterling House of Fang is bullied like this?” Fang Xingque lay in bed, bellowing his grievances.
"Stop talking, you’ll affect the formation of your lifebound spirits.” Fang Yuewei frowned.
"I don’t care! I’ve been beaten into this state and three of my lifebound beasts are dead! I'm crippled! Li Tianming must suffer a miserable death! Both Her Eminence and he should die together!” shouted Fang Xingque.
"Shut up!” Fang Yuewei slapped him across the face.
The slap sent his head spinning as he stood there stupefied.
"You dare hit me?! You bitch!" Fang Xingque's eyes widened incredulously.
"Fang Xingque, from now on you’re just a mediocre, useless man. Why can't I hit you? Before this, I didn’t have the right to teach you how to act like a proper human being. But now, you’d better behave and recognize reality,” Fang Yuewei said angrily.
"Reality?!” Feeling like he had been stabbed in the heart, Fang Xingque wailed miserably from the pain.
"What’s this on your body?” Fang Yuewei asked, touching the sword-shaped heavenly patterns.
"How the hell should I know?” Li Tianming did this to me. It actually blocks my powers, making it difficult for me to even move! I was going to ask Father to help me remove it, but you dragged me home!” cried Fang Xingque.
"Stop making such a fuss. When your lifebound spirits are ready, I’ll get the elders to look at it,” said Fang Yuewei.
"Get Grandma! Grandma is one of Her Eminence’s people. She’s definitely more important than Li Tianming. I want Grandma to help me kill him!” Fang Xingque shouted miserably.
"Shut up! She’s there to protect Her Eminence.”
"Well her beloved grandson is about to die. Fuck protecting Her Eminence!”
"What did you say?!”
"Humph!”
...
Outside the palace, a gray-haired Fang Xingying stood in the courtyard, listening to the screams in a daze.
"Have the Heavens opened their eyes?”
...
Deepstar Battlefield.
In the second half of the last day, the exciting battle continued. However, none of this had anything to do with Fang Xingque, who was once the most impressive. The hottest man right now was Tianming!
"Come on!”
A black thunder beast beneath him, a little phoenix on his shoulder, and the Grand-Orient Sword in his hand, Tianming swept through the crowd at a terrifying speed, striking them one by one.
If they didn’t look for him, he would go to them! He wandered among the crowd, one against a hundred, at least twenty of which were disciples from the Heaven Branch. Tianming picked on the disciples of the Sterling House of Fang, who were mostly empyrean saints. Wherever the Grand-Orient Sword aimed, a hundred and fifty strands of tribulation sword ki violently exploded, sparking an Astral Formation. Tianming's score soared.
"Ahh!"
Before the disciples of the Sterling House of Fang could catch up to Tianming, they were defeated. It was a walk in the park for him. Meow Meow alone dispersed the crowd. They darted east, then moved west, without so much as touching a hair on Tianming’s head.
"Don’t bother chasing him. Attack Xuanyuan Muxue.”
"I give up. Li Tianming is a beast!”
So what if he dazzled? None of them could catch him!
As time went by, there were fewer and fewer people on the Deepstar Battlefield.
"Trying to run? You’re all my points. None of you can escape!”
While they went to deal with Xuanyuan Muxue, Tianming picked up a bargain in the outer circle.
"Don't go too far!”
"Off with you!” Tianming’s dark arm hit a disciple on the face.
The Astral Formation had taken shape. The current battlefield was simply a stage for Tianming and Xuanyuan Muxue. One relied on speed, while the other relied on strength. Soon, there were fewer people who hoped to obtain their points.
"Li Tianming and Xuanyuan Muxue are both qualified for the Deepstar Pool quota.”
"To be honest, Fang Xingque really didn’t deserve it. He has poor character, threatens others with his status and identity, and even violates the rules. What a joke he is!”
"I’m certainly convinced that these two deserve the quota.”
Only by relying on strength to win would one be respected.
"But why does it look as if Li Tianming wants to help Jian Lingchen get a spot in the Deepstar Pool?”
"You’re right. He already has nine thousand points. At his pace, he can leave.”
Many among the audience assumed the two would come to a battle.
"I hope not. Xuanyuan Muxue is more talented. She’s fought alone from the very start and has a tough personality. I think she deserves the Deepstar Pool spot more than Jian Lingchen.”
"That's right, Jian Lingchen actually needs women to protect him. He’s clearly a weakling.”
"Let's see what Tianming thinks. After all, Jian Lingchen bet on the right man.”
"Anyway, I’m convinced by Xuanyuan Muxue. She’s truly open and candid. She helped Li Tianming stop Fang Chenyun and the others as well.”
Time passed as a heated discussion broke out amongst the audience, the end of the Deepstar Battle drawing closer and closer. In the blink of an eye, there was only half an hour left.
Amidst the roar of thunder, Astral Formations were present wherever Tianming went. The decrease in opponents only made it more convenient for him. Closer to the end, the others ran, no longer hoping for easy points.
Tianming looked around. As far as he could see, there were only a dozen people left. He looked up at the leaderboard.
First place: Li Tianming, 11,800 points. Second place: Xuanyuan Muxue, 4500 points. Third place: Jian Lingchen, 3001 points. Fourth place: Jian Nishang, 180 points.
There were only twenty people left on the leaderboard. The only uncertainty remaining was who would acquire the spot for the Deepstar Pool, Xuanyuan Muxue or Jian Lingchen?
In that instant, the audience turned their attention to them. Tianming, Jian Lingchen, Jian Nishang and Jian Yini stood before Xuanyuan Muxue. Two of Jian Lingchen's godsisters were already out.
"Li Tianming is clearly courting death. There’s a fair chance he’ll lose his points!”
"Yes. Although he defeated Fang Xingque, Xuanyuan Muxue is really strong. No one can stop the inevitability of death.”
"Let’s keep watching!”
"I think Li Tianming should stop. Jian Lingchen can’t compete with Xuanyuan Muxue.”
"That’s right!”
As the audience was discussing amongst themselves, Tianming pointed his sword at Xuanyuan Muxue.
"One on one?” Xuanyuan Muxue smiled faintly, like an avalanche of ice and snow.
"No, a team battle,” laughed Tianming.
...
Sterling House of Fang, Sterling Hall.
"Your lifebound spirits are ready. Stay here, I'll look for grandma,” said Fang Yuewei.
"Go! Hurry up!” Fang Xingque said impatiently. "By the way, get grandma to check what sort of heavenly patterns these are. They actually managed to seal my strength!”
"Alright.” Fang Yuewei stared helplessly at her younger brother.
"For the time being, don't use life tribulation energy to attack the seal. I think it’s very violent. If you mess around with it, you might lose your life!” warned Fang Yuewei.
"Hurry up! You’re so longwinded!” Rolling his eyes, Fang Xingque added, "Remember to ask Grandma to find me a tribulation pattern spirit herb that can regrow my arm. I think she has one.”
"Alright.”
With that, Fang Yuewei left. The hall was silent once more.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside.
"You’re back? So fast?” Fang Xingque struggled to stand up.
Someone appeared at the door. It was a man with messy, gray hair that looked like it hadn't been washed for a long time.
"Fang Xingying, what are you doing here? Are you here to laugh at me? Fuck off! Get out of here, you mournful dog!” Fang Xingque was extremely sensitive and irritable today.
"Xingque,” shouted Fang Xingying. Legs trembling, he walked up to Fang Xingque and burst into tears.
"What are you doing, you lowly bastard!” Eyes narrowed, Fang Xingque suddenly felt a chill creep up his spine.
"Your strength is currently sealed, isn’t it?” Fang Xingying sounded hoarse, his eyes bloodshot.
"That’s none of your business! Fuck off! Somebody? Anybody!?” Fang Xingque shouted, his expression changing drastically.
"I... I...."
Pulling out his sword, Fang Xingying placed it against his lips and licked it. When the blade sliced his tongue, he resembled a bloodthirsty demon.
"I’d like to chop you into a meat patty,” he laughed.