Chapter 7 Should we show mercy when we can? But I won't let you off the hook! Kneel down!
"It's no trouble at all."
Ning Rongrong stood up with a smile and rushed towards the Soul Testing Pillar. Before she even arrived, Ye Tianchen could smell a faint fragrance of orchids.
When Ning Rongrong stood beside him, no more than an arm's length away, the fragrance of orchids became even stronger.
With a gentle smile, Ning Rongrong raised her hand and placed it on the Soul Testing Pillar. The dazzling white light began to flash once again. After a moment, the white light condensed, and the huge number "twenty-nine" appeared in everyone's eyes once more.
The noise grew louder once again, but this time, the object of discussion and attention was no longer Ning Rongrong, the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but Ye Tianchen, who stood silently beside her.
"Princess Ning's test results are exactly the same as before, which proves that the Soul Testing Pillar is working properly. That useless... no, Ye Tianchen really increased his soul power by seven levels in just one year?!"
"Yu Tianfei increased his soul power by two levels in a year, Princess Ning increased her soul power by three levels in a year, and Ye Tianchen... increased his soul power by seven levels in a year. Doesn't that mean his talent is even more terrifying than Yu Tianfei's and Princess Ning's?!"
"That's not entirely true, but if Ye Tianchen can maintain this level of performance, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family will likely have another genius!"
...
"Ye Tianchen's martial soul is the same as Xiao Gang's. Since Ye Tianchen can do it, can't Xiao Gang...?"
In the stands, Yu Yuanzhen had straightened his back without anyone noticing, and his hands, which were naturally resting on the armrests, unconsciously clenched. The veins that bulged out like dragons throbbed violently, just like the pounding of his heart. His gaze, which was fixed on Ye Tianchen, had also become fervent without him realizing it.
Noticing the eager gazes behind him, Ye Tianchen frowned slightly and subtly took half a step toward Ning Rongrong.
Ye Tianchen's actions naturally did not escape Ning Rongrong's notice. Sensing that the distance between the two was closing, Ning Rongrong's heartbeat still slowed down a beat due to her preconceived notions.
To divert attention, Ning Rongrong turned her gaze to the square, taking in everyone's expressions. Seeing their incredulous looks, Ning Rongrong felt a mix of smug satisfaction and the pride of someone in the know.
"If you knew that my cloud-nurtured object didn't take a year, but only one night to increase its soul power by seven levels, wouldn't you be astonished?"
At that moment, she suddenly felt that the "seven billion" gold soul coins she had spent were absolutely worth it.
"Elder, is there anything unusual about the result?"
Ye Tianchen looked at the elder in charge of the test and bowed.
"No abnormalities found. Congratulations on passing the test."
The elder nodded, his gaze towards Ye Tianchen still carrying a lingering sense of disbelief.
"Since there's nothing unusual, Yu Tianfei, shouldn't we honor our bet?"
Ye Tianchen jumped off the soul-testing platform, and the crowd automatically parted. Under everyone's gaze, Ye Tianchen walked step by step toward Yu Tianfei.
Yu Tianfei never expected that Ye Tianchen, the family's recognized good-for-nothing, would actually have a day when he could turn the tables. He also never imagined that he would be at a disadvantage when facing Ye Tianchen.
"Ye Tianchen, one should be lenient when one can."
Yu Tianfei clenched his teeth, almost squeezing out the words through gritted teeth.
"I never thought you'd say those words, but I'm not going to let you get away with it."
Ye Tianchen looked down at Yu Tianfei, letting out a soft chuckle. At this moment, the balance of power shifted.
"You!"
Being stared at like this by Ye Tianchen, whom he had once regarded as trash, a strong anger swept over Yu Tianfei's entire body, and his face turned from red to white, and then from white to green.
He could feel the change in the gazes around him—those eyes that were once filled with awe were now mixed with doubt and a hint of... schadenfreude?
"A bet's a bet, now it's your turn to kneel."
Ye Tianchen's voice was calm and unhurried, but every word struck Yu Tianfei's heart like a heavy hammer.
All eyes were focused on Yu Tianfei, the newly crowned number one genius of the family, who was indeed in a sorry state.
He felt his knees go weak, his throat dry, as if something was stuck in his chest, making it hard for him to breathe.
"I....."
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a complete sound.
Kneel down? Kneel down before this piece of trash he's always trampled underfoot? How could he possibly do that!
"What? You don't want to kneel? Then forget it."
Yu Tianfei subconsciously wanted to nod in agreement, but suddenly felt the gaze coming from the stands. That gaze was as heavy as lead, making it hard for him to breathe.
With outsiders present, he was no longer representing himself, but the entire Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family. The meaning in Yu Yuanzhen's eyes was also very clear: if he did not fulfill the bet, then Yu Yuanzhen would fulfill the bet for him.
Cold sweat trickled down Yu Tianfei's forehead. He could feel Yu Yuanzhen's threatening gaze and the gloating around him. He felt like a fish on a chopping board, completely at their mercy.
"I..."
He clenched his teeth, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
"I'm willing to bet...and I accept the loss!"
These four words seemed to have taken all of Yu Tianfei's strength, and he slammed them down with a thud.
Yu Tianfei knelt on the bluestone slabs of the square, his knees touching the ground.
In that instant, time seemed to stand still.
Everyone held their breath, watching this scene in disbelief, seemingly never expecting that Yu Tianfei would actually kneel down to Ye Tianchen, the family's acknowledged good-for-nothing.
Yu Tianfei lowered his head, his fingernails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping from between his fingers.
He could hear his own heart pounding like a drum, and feel hundreds of gazes piercing his back like needles.
Shame, anger, resentment, fear... a variety of emotions churned within him.
Why! Why was this good-for-nothing able to break through to level ten in soul power? Has his talent been restored?! Why today of all days? Or is Ye Tianchen deliberately targeting me?! But Ning Rongrong was the one who brought up the bet. Does she know Ye Tianchen?!
The thought struck him like lightning, and Yu Tianfei abruptly looked up at Ning Rongrong.
The girl in the white dress only gave a faint smile, but it inexplicably sent a chill down Yu Tianfei's spine.
"Sorry."
Yu Tianfei uttered these three words with difficulty, each word like a knife, slicing through his pride and self-esteem.
Ye Tianchen stepped forward and extended his hand.
"Don't be shy, the ground is cold, get up quickly."
This seemingly friendly gesture was full of irony in Yu Tianfei's eyes.
He avoided Ye Tianchen's outstretched hand and stood up on his own.
The dust on the moon-white brocade robe at the knees was particularly noticeable.
"Although I don't know how you got involved with Ning Rongrong, don't be smug. We have a long way to go, let's take it slow."
Yu Tianfei lowered his voice, making sure only Ye Tianchen could hear him.
"Of course," Ye Tianchen replied, his voice equally low. "You don't think that kneeling like this will wipe the slate clean between us, do you?"
"Snort!"
Yu Tianfei snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Along the way, he could clearly sense the changes in the gazes of the people around him.
Those once awe-inspiring gazes now appear complex and subtle.
Some people sympathized with him, some gloated, and some even began to reassess the value of this "number one genius." Even Yu Tianhu and Yu Tianlong, who used to be inseparable from him, no longer followed him as closely as usual.
[end of the chapter]