Reborn As A Villainous Cannon Fodder

Chapter 490: Ch 490 – Let’s End This Here

“Afraid…?”

When he heard Wen Ruxiu’s taunting voice, Yino’s body trembled slightly, and the cold smile at the corner of his lips became even harder to suppress.

If it weren’t for Jing Chen’s lingering fear subtly influencing him, he would have long dropped the act and gone down to teach the other a lesson.

No matter how overpowered the Crown Prince of the Divine Abyss Gate was, could he possibly outmatch the buff from four golden collectibles and nine purple ones?

“Yino, be careful…”

At this critical moment, Ruoning couldn’t help but tug at Yino’s sleeve.

Part of it was genuine concern for Yino, but more so, it was the psychological effect subtly brought on by the fear in Dia’s soul.

“Fine, I accept this challenge.”

Feeling the young lady’s concern behind him, Yino publicly accepted the duel.

[Don’t worry, this is just a dream, not reality.]

[Give me the collectibles. I’ll go down and play with him.]

Yino transmitted his thoughts to Ruoning through their spiritual connection.

As the two chief disciples agreed to the wager, the many Liuli Sect disciples present were stirred by the atmosphere, cheering on their senior brother.

Jing Chen and Dia were both well-regarded figures in the Liuli Sect, respected for their strength and character, so they naturally enjoyed popularity among the younger disciples.

However…

After Yino accepted the duel, many elders on the high platform, even the Sect Master and the red-robed young lady wearing the spirit hawk mask, couldn’t help but glance back at Yino.

Yino could sense the distrust in their eyes, some were worried and doubtful, others were gloating…

“Miss Xinyao, in your opinion, what are my chances of winning?”

Even at this critical moment, Yino couldn’t resist testing the waters.

As the chief disciple, he stood right beside the Sect Master, while the red-robed young lady guarded the other side. It wasn’t difficult for Yino to strike up a conversation with her. By specifically addressing her as “Miss Xinyao,” he aimed to gauge her reaction.

Beneath the hawk mask, the young lady’s eyes flickered slightly, but she showed no particular reaction.

Just as Yino shrugged, feeling he’d drawn a blank, she nodded subtly and unexpectedly remarked, “Your chances are no more than ten percent.”

“?!”

Yino’s eyes widened instantly.

What shocked him wasn’t his lack of chances, but that the red-robed young lady showed no confusion at being called Miss Xinyao.

Without a doubt, this all but confirmed her identity as Xinyao.

So Auntie really is the Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master…

But if she’s just the Hundred Spirits Pavilion Master, I’d already guessed that. Now it seems she’s also closely connected to National Advisor Changli?

Does that mean my ancient phoenix bloodline is also linked to lady Changli?

Insane…

What if my mysterious, never-seen mother is Changli? Then I’d be set! Why bother cultivating painstakingly in the martial world? I could just go to the Dragon Palace, cling to the National Advisor’s coattails, and become a prince living the easy life!

Though the red-robed young lady’s reply was brief, the implications for Yino were anything but small.

Compared to the current unrecognized duel, Yino now felt a growing excitement thinking about his illustrious background in the real world.

“Madman…”

The red-robed young lady frowned slightly, her pale golden eyes filled with disgust, as if looking at a pervert who was inexplicably staring at her face with a foolish grin.

Snapped out of it by her scolding, Yino blinked and took a deep breath.

“Even Miss Xinyao doesn’t have much faith in me…”

“Fine, let’s wait and see then.”

Yino was in a good mood now.

He didn’t care about Xinyao’s disdain. After all, his current identity was Jing Chen, why bother over it?

…

Amid the banter, Yino jumped down from the high platform under everyone’s watchful eyes.

He stepped forward, stopping before Wen Ruxiu.

The collision of spiritual energy between the two chief disciples of major immortal sects made the very floor of the Liuli Divine Hall tremble faintly.

Yino had to admit, Wen Ruxiu’s strength was somewhat frightening.

Strangely, he couldn’t see through the other’s cultivation level.

Based on the original work, Wen Ruxiu was at the Tribulation Crossing stage when he first appeared, but that was during the later parts of the story when power levels had inflated. In this ancient history within the Liuli Illusion Realm, as a young disciple, Wen Ruxiu should at most be at the Emptiness Refining stage.

Otherwise…

Could he possibly be even more monstrous than Yuyan at the same age?

“Immortal sect duels prioritize friendship over victory.”

“Heh…”

“Next, I hope Brother will go easy on me, as the host.”

In the center of the divine hall, Wen Ruxiu stood on the red carpet, extending a hand toward Yino with his trademark insincere smile.

This hand wasn’t meant for a handshake but followed an immortal sect’s courtesy gesture.

Yino narrowed his cold eyes, feeling the mounting pressure within, and responded by placing his left hand behind his back and extending his right in polite acknowledgment.

Boom!!!

In the midst of their exchange, the extravagantly dressed young man in dark golden robes suddenly exerted force. Vast demonic energy scattered his high ponytail, and a dark divine staff materialized in his hand, its tip blazing with black flames.

Yino could feel the other’s pressure rising sharply.

In contrast, Jing Chen’s soul was rapidly turning fearful and uneasy.

“Take this!”

Wen Ruxiu swung the staff, shouting loudly, but instead of using it as a magical tool to cast spells as Yino remembered, he charged forward like he was brandishing a stick, sonic rings bursting forth with his movement.

Such an abstract fighting style only made Yino feel more uneasy.

He drew his sword to meet the attack. Staff and sword clashed, but the moment their energies collided, Yino suddenly felt a heart-rending shock travel from his arm to his chest.

Whoosh!!!

A gale howled, and Yino nearly gritted his teeth to dust.

Damn, are all mages melee fighters these days?

In their first exchange, neither held back, it was a pure contest of cultivation strength between sword and staff.

As a sword cultivator, close combat was Yino’s forte. With his long sword against a staff, he refused to admit defeat.

He continuously gathered spiritual energy, and the numerous collectibles he’d just retrieved from Ruoning began to exert their power. Who would have thought that what Yino assumed would be a warm-up would turn into a peak-level showdown from the very first clash!

“Unexpectedly, Brother is also hiding such depth…”