Chapter 89: Yao Xi’s Struggle…

Li Xiaoyao didn’t bother to hide his feelings. He was clearly dissatisfied with Ye Chen. His swordsmanship talent was top-tier, and he had once been a hope for his family, expected to become the direct disciple of the Sword Peak’s master.

Yet, when the time came, Gu Yunyun had not even spared him a glance. Instead, she turned around and chose this “simp” fool as her direct disciple. How could Li Xiaoyao accept this in his heart? Not to mention, among the female disciples of this generation, Yao Xi stood out the most.

Li Xiaoyao had even thought about discussing the possibility of taking Yao Xi as his Dao partner once he reached Foundation Establishment. But now, Ye Chen had stolen his position as the direct disciple and, to make matters worse, had the audacity to flirt with the woman Li Xiaoyao was interested in, laughing and chatting with her in the sect every few days.

Now that the opportunity had presented itself, Li Xiaoyao was determined to ridicule Ye Chen and take the chance to educate Yao Xi. She was someone he had his eye on as a Dao partner. How could she waste her time with another man over petty, external matters? If her reputation were to suffer, what qualifications would she have to be his Dao partner?

…

Yao Xi, who had already turned to leave the stage, furrowed her brows when she heard Li Xiaoyao’s words.

“You, Li Xiaoyao, have the Li family, a Foundation Establishment family, supporting you. You lack nothing—resources, cultivation materials, everything you could possibly want. But now you’re telling me not to care about external things?”

It was easy for him to speak so confidently. If Li Xiaoyao had severed all ties with the Li family, Yao Xi might have believed his words. Moreover, although the battle was ongoing, Yao Xi had seen everything happening below the stage.

Before, Yao Xi had also thought that Ye Chen was a man who would fall in love with anyone and everyone—a person who was not a good match. But what had just occurred had shown her how deeply Ye Chen loved those he cared for. It wasn’t that Ye Chen was fickle; it was simply that he had been disappointed too many times and had, in the end, fallen out of love.

Yao Xi even felt a pang of guilt for her previous cold attitude toward Ye Chen for not giving her a defensive magic tool. Ye Chen had given her so much without complaint, and yet here she was, treating him with the same harshness as someone like Sun Ruoxin—someone who only took and never gave. Even if she didn’t love Ye Chen, Yao Xi had no intention of hurting him further.

So, at that moment, she halted her steps and turned around. “Junior Brother Ye is my friend, not some unimportant person as Senior Brother Li claimed!”

With those words, she calmly descended the stage.

Yao Xi’s words undoubtedly took the disciples by surprise. The eldest senior sister was actually speaking up for Ye Chen, this so-called “simp”? Her previous attitude had been so cold.

Everyone had assumed that it was just Ye Chen’s one-sided affection. But now, to hear her defend him like this…

On the stage, Li Xiaoyao, who had held himself so high above the others, looked utterly pale at Yao Xi’s response.

Yao Xi had actually spoken up for Ye Chen. What had Ye Chen done? He had only given her some gifts, nothing more. What good were those gifts? They were nothing but trivial, insignificant things. Would he really give her something truly valuable—something that could alter her path? For instance, would he give her the spot in the Five Elements Cave?

…

Yao Xi walked down from the stage and approached Ye Chen.

“Junior Brother Ye, I lost. If you have no other matters, would you walk with me for a while?”

Her mood was indeed rather low. This year, she wouldn’t receive the Five Elements Cave spot, and next year wouldn’t be any easier either.

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Several disciples at the eighth level of Qi Refining were on the verge of breaking through to the ninth level this year. Many of them had influential family backing. Thus, the competition she would face would still be fierce.

Even if she earned the spot next year, she would still be a year behind. Securing first place in the next Sect Tournament and obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill was uncertain.

One misstep could slow down an entire year. Many talented cultivators had seen their potential wasted in the face of repeated failures. So, she decided to take a walk with Ye Chen. Perhaps it would help ease her troubled heart.

And, it would also serve as an apology for the coldness she had shown him earlier. If Ye Chen were a scumbag, Yao Xi would have no qualms about deceiving him. She wouldn’t feel burdened by any guilt.

But now that she had realized Ye Chen was a deeply devoted man, Yao Xi felt the need to explain things to him. The truth was, they weren’t suited for each other. That way, she wouldn’t keep delaying his future.