Chapter 21: Can a Story-Driven Boss Be Defeated Through Skill Alone?
“Preposterous!” Liang Xiaolong stomped his feet in frustration, his face flushed red, yet he was powerless to do anything. The question had not specified the method; the candidate had broken through this stage using this approach—something he had never anticipated.
“I told you, Xiaolong, this guy is no ordinary fool,” Elder San said, sipping his tea as he observed the live broadcast through his divine vision.
“But... this fellow’s cunning has also dug a trap for himself. Cleverness has backfired,” Liang Xiaolong said with a look of deep dissatisfaction. “If he skips the mutual acquaintance phase, the junior sister’s favor toward him would be almost zero; she would never grant him the Great Thousand Sect’s clearance seal!”
“After all, passing this stage still depends on the junior sister’s choice. She wouldn’t let such a sly character through so easily.”
Elder San’s eyebrows twitched slightly. “That’s true. If he skips stages, Feng Chen, that rigid child, certainly won’t let him pass smoothly.”
“In the end, this guy must make up for what he missed earlier. This time, he definitely won’t stray from my plan!” Liang Xiaolong said, staring at the live feed.
...
“Senior Feng Chen... since we have uncovered your identity, does that mean we’ve passed?” Qin Xi asked, bowing respectfully.
“Who said that just because you’ve seen through me, I will stamp your clearance?” Feng Chen chuckled lightly. “Since you used such underhanded tricks to see through me, I certainly won’t let you pass easily.”
“Wait... what underhanded tricks? Isn’t this the standard answer? Isn’t this stage about observing and interpreting others?” Qin Xi felt he had done quite well.
“No, no, my divination is the standard answer. This stage clearly tests whether we have practical skills!” Bu Weiwei objected, unconvinced.
...
Feng Chen fell silent for a moment, uncertain whether to reveal what this stage truly tested. Finally, she waved her hand. “Go back. Until you figure out how to pass this stage, I won’t stamp your clearance.”
“Then I shall take my leave first,” Qin Xi said.
Seeing the invitation to leave, Qin Xi, along with Bu Weiwei and Jiang Baiqiu, departed without hesitation.
After leaving the Elysium Tower, Bu Weiwei felt somewhat downcast, her voice lacking its previous vigor. “So... what exactly does she mean? We found her, yet she refuses to give us the seal?”
Qin Xi had remained silent since stepping out. After walking for a while, he suddenly stopped and turned, asking, “What cultivation level did that Feng Chen have?”
“Huh? Didn’t the scroll say Foundation Establishment stage?” Bu Weiwei paused. “The scroll deliberately states that level, probably to tell us not to rely on brute force.”
Foundation Establishment is divided into early, middle, and late stages, as well as Great Perfection. Everything is steady and controlled. Let’s assume this Feng Chen is at the peak of Foundation Establishment.
...
“Do we have any means to affect a Foundation Establishment cultivator?” Qin Xi looked up thoughtfully.
“I! I!” Jiang Baiqiu waved her hand eagerly. “I can!”
“You’re not going to use spirit stones, are you?”
“No need! What use are spirit stones against a mere Foundation Establishment stage?” Jiang Baiqiu patted her chest confidently. “You should know I’m a scholar—”
She was about to explain but was cut off by Qin Xi’s sharp glare.
“As long as my finger touches her forehead, I can directly access her sea of consciousness, rendering her dazed for ten breaths!”
“Ten breaths?!” Bu Weiwei was stunned. That’s a Foundation Establishment powerhouse! To cause such a cultivator to fall into a ten-breath stupor—it must be an extraordinary skill.
But...
“Our cultivation gap is still too large. Even if this Foundation Establishment master stood still for us to attack, we, not even at the Qi Refining stage, probably can’t even pull a single hair from her head,” Bu Weiwei’s spirits, which had just lifted, sank again. “Besides, that requires physical contact... and as Foundation Establishment cultivators can fly and casually handle heavy objects, we might be defeated before we even get close.”
“That’s enough,” Qin Xi nodded.
“What? Enough of what?” Bu Weiwei asked.
“Ten breaths are enough.” Qin Xi suddenly laughed heartily three times. “I understand what the question setter means!”
“Victory of the weak over the strong, fighting beyond one’s level, and winning by numbers... The Great Thousand Sect is testing our ability to unite and overcome the enemy through strategy!” Qin Xi glanced back at the Elysium Tower. “It must be so. Otherwise, why send only one Foundation Establishment cultivator?”
“No, what do you mean ‘only’? You’re just a mortal, not even having drawn Qi into your body!” Bu Weiwei felt something was wrong with Qin Xi’s overconfidence. “A Foundation Establishment cultivator can fly, effortlessly wielding objects weighing a thousand pounds as if they were fruit. How could we possibly win?”
But Qin Xi ignored Bu Weiwei, walking on and nodding occasionally.
Bu Weiwei pointed at Qin Xi and whispered to Jiang Baiqiu, “Is he... crazy?”
“Hmph, a mere Foundation Establishment stage is naturally no match for me! Once I get serious, even a Golden Core or Foundation Establishment cultivator is no big deal!” Jiang Baiqiu laughed heartily, hands on her hips.
Bu Weiwei felt that both of them were mentally off.
Yet Jiang Baiqiu suddenly turned serious and said to Bu Weiwei, “Confidence! Confidence! Think about it—if a Foundation Establishment cultivator challenged you in divination, would you be afraid before the battle?”
“Of course not. Our Bu family village fears no one in this!” Bu Weiwei replied firmly, feeling this was true confidence.
“Exactly! Qin Xi and I share this mindset. When it comes to trickery, neither of us fears anyone!”
Bu Weiwei had a lingering feeling these two were somewhat unscrupulous...
But...
That was exactly what she wanted!
Who cared about fairness if it meant winning?
Hehe, she was determined to pass!
...
The Seven-Star Formation puzzle was not difficult. One day after Qin Xi’s group left the Elysium Tower, no fewer than five teams arrived at the tower.
Though the tower was easy to find, the disciples of the Great Thousand Sect struggled to decipher it. These five teams exhausted themselves, faces pale as if drained of life, yet found no clue.
Thus, all participants were stuck at this stage.
Seeing this, Liang Xiaolong felt a harvest of joy.
“We must crush the arrogance of these prodigies, let them know the Great Thousand Sect cares not for their talent or background! If they’re dragons, they must coil; if tigers, they must crouch!”
Elder San looked at his proud disciple with a hint of helplessness. “We’re the Great Thousand Sect, not the Great Thousand Gang.”
“Master, you don’t understand. Among those who passed the spiritual root test are many high-ranking officials’ descendants, including the son of the Grand Tutor of the Qi Kingdom. Rumor has it the Second Prince of Qi, of perfect age to participate, might be among them.”
“These nobles are arrogant and reckless, lacking brains. If they’re stuck here, it means they’re unworthy of the Great Thousand Sect!”
Though blunt, Elder San agreed with his disciple.
If these nobles tried to force their way through, Feng Chen would not be a pushover. Without Qi Refining cultivators, these hundreds of ordinary people combined couldn’t defeat her.
If they called upon family elders or bodyguards, Elder San was watching.
In other words, the answer Liang Xiaolong proposed was truly the only way to pass.
However...
Elder San’s divine vision seemed to have spotted something interesting.
“Hey, disciple, look at this Qin Xi. What is he doing?”