Chapter 496: I, Too, Am a Miracle

Everything was up to Xiao Ru.

And Xiao Ru had just blurted it out, setting the point value on a whim.

Only now, upon reflection, did she realize what she’d done. But she simply shot the members of the Qianjian Sect a cold smirk and said coolly, “Five hundred points each for emerging from the Nether Spring Illusion Array sane—an unprecedented feat. Is that really so many?”

As her voice fell, the faces of the Qianjian Sect members turned even paler.

The smiles on the faces of everyone from the Shengting Sect and the Thunderbolt Sect grew wider, and the other Sects that held grudges against the Qianjian Sect all laughed as well.

“The points are set. And a decision I, Xiao Ru, have made cannot be changed.”

Seeing that the Qianjian Sect members were about to protest, Xiao Ru cut them off sharply. “The Thunderbolt Sect now has 2,952 points, and will be directly promoted to… a Four Moon Sect.”

At her words, every member of the Qianjian Sect clenched their fists…

Suddenly… THUD!

Master Tian couldn’t hold back any longer and rushed out from the ranks, shouting, “I object! During the first trial, we suffered a collective Qi deviation! During the second, we were attacked by men in black! Otherwise, there’s no way we’d have so few points!”

As he spoke, he pointed a trembling finger at the Shengting Sect and the Thunderbolt Sect…

“Lord Xiao, it must have been their doing! They’re the ones who sabotaged us in secret!”

“I implore you, Lord Xiao, to investigate this thoroughly!”

In his agitation and grief, Master Tian had roared out his suspicions without a shred of evidence.

However… BOOM!

The Sect Leader of the Shengting Sect unleashed a blast of True Qi and spoke coldly to Qian Ya’s father…

“Sect Leader Qian Zeng, are your people spouting malicious slander?”

“I demand a reasonable explanation. Otherwise, this is an insult, defamation, and a direct challenge to our Shengting Sect.”

Qian Ya’s father, Qian Zeng, had a face so livid it was practically contorted with rage. He was rendered speechless.

In contrast, Sect Leader Shengting and his people stood with their heads held high and chests puffed out. They were already the number one Sect in Rising Moon City, and now that they had found three of the Miracles of the Nether Spring, including Chi Xingxun, their future was set to soar to new heights.

Crushing the Qianjian Sect would be all too easy.

At the same time, Senior Brother Feng of the Shengting Sect looked at Qian Ya and said, “Senior Sister Qian, please control your people. Such words should not be spoken carelessly.”

The corner of his mouth tugged upward as he gave Qian Ya a look brimming with desire.

Qian Ya did not reply.

Qian Zeng, however, gritted his teeth. The very survival of the Qianjian Sect was at stake. He had no choice but to turn to Xiao Ru and prepare to speak…

But before he could utter a word, Xiao Ru suddenly waved her hand… SLAP!

A sharp crack echoed as the agitated Master Tian was sent flying by a powerful blast of Xiao Ru’s True Qi, landing hard among the members of the Qianjian Sect.

Then, Xiao Ru slowly withdrew her hand and spoke icily…

“If you have no evidence, don’t speak nonsense. Consider this a small lesson.”

“The Thunderbolt Sect found two of the beings known as the Miracles of the Nether Spring. They deserve to become a Four Moon Sect.”

“Now, I formally announce…”

To display her authority, Xiao Ru deliberately paused, slowly sweeping her gaze over the entire crowd. She intentionally fixed her eyes on Qian Zeng, giving him a look that was cold, indifferent, and utterly domineering.

Her gaze forcefully choked back the words Qian Zeng had been about to say.

At that moment, the entire Qianjian Sect was plunged into extreme bitterness and panic. Every face was a mask of misery.

A cold, self-satisfied sneer touched Xiao Ru’s lips. “I declare the Qianjian Sect demoted to a Three…”

“Wait…”

Suddenly, a voice from within the Qianjian Sect’s ranks cut off Xiao Ru’s announcement.

Qian Zeng froze, a look of pure terror on his face. ‘Which disciple is brazen enough to interrupt Xiao Ru at a time like this?’

‘That’s a fatal offense! A Three Moon Sect is still a Three Moon Sect. At least we’d be able to eke out a meager existence.’

At the same time, the other members of the Qianjian Sect all turned toward the source of the voice, especially Qian Ya and the Second Senior Brother. ‘Master Tian was just struck down by Xiao Ru. This is absolutely not the time to be stepping forward.’

But when all the Qianjian Sect members saw who had actually spoken up and interrupted Xiao Ru, they were all stunned.

The Second Senior Brother’s face filled with rage. He glared and couldn’t help but curse, “You brat! What are you shouting for all of a sudden?”

At that moment, Xiao Ru’s voice turned frigid with anger. “Qianjian Sect! Someone among you still dares to interrupt me?”

Killing intent practically radiated from her.

THUD…

Hearing this, the Second Senior Brother spun around and dropped to his knees with a thud. He addressed Xiao Ru, “Lord Xiao, the one who interrupted you is not a member of our Qianjian Sect! Please, don’t blame us, Lord Xiao! We’ll kill him right now!”

After speaking, the Second Senior Brother turned back and frantically gestured with his eyes to the other Qianjian Sect disciples.

In an instant… THUMP THUMP THUMP!

A small group of Qianjian Sect disciples moved to surround the person who had interrupted Xiao Ru’s announcement.

And that person was, of course, Lu Chao.

Lu Chao, however, ignored everyone around him. Under the gazes of all the Qianjian Sect disciples, he said with a light chuckle, “Lord Xiao, I didn’t mean to interrupt you. It’s just that… I, too, am a Miracle of the Nether Spring.”

His voice burst forth from within the circle of Qianjian Sect disciples surrounding him.

When his words fell, the entire audience was dumbstruck.

At the same time, Chi Xingxun’s expression changed, and Lu Dingtian’s changed even more drastically. Of course, they would never forget that voice.

Xiao Ru was also taken aback, unable to process it for a moment.

Lu Chao continued, “I also walked out of the Nether Spring Mountain Range alive and sane.”

This time, his voice was crystal clear.

The meaning behind his words was also crystal clear, striking everyone’s ears with great force. But the Qianjian Sect disciples were still in a daze, until Qian Ya finally reacted and shouted, “All of you, get out of the way! Let Young Master Lu through!”

Because of the Second Senior Brother’s order, a number of Qianjian Sect disciples were still surrounding Lu Chao.

But following Qian Ya’s command, the crowd of Qianjian Sect disciples finally parted.

Lu Chao stepped out from the formation of Qianjian Sect disciples. He walked forward, step by step, to face Xiao Ru, while also glancing at Chi Xingxun, Lu Dingtian, and their companion…

In that instant, the three of them clenched their fists violently, their eyes blazing with fire.

Just like that, Lu Chao walked over to the Second Senior Brother, who was still kneeling before Xiao Ru. He then looked at Xiao Ru and said, “Lord Xiao, just like those three, I am also a Miracle of the Nether Spring. And I was found by the Qianjian Sect…”

“If one Miracle of the Nether Spring is worth 500 points, then the Qianjian Sect should also be awarded 500 points.”

“Of course, this person next to me just claimed I’m not part of the Qianjian Sect and even wanted to kill me…”

“So I suppose I don’t have to be the one the Qianjian Sect found. It makes no difference to me.”

The “person next to him” was, of course, the Second Senior Brother.

At Lu Chao’s words, the Second Senior Brother subconsciously looked up, dumbfounded.

Not far away, Qian Ya was trembling violently. In a sudden flash, she appeared before the Second Senior Brother and… SLAP!

A vicious slap landed squarely on the Second Senior Brother’s face, knocking him to the ground on the spot.

Immediately after, Qian Ya performed a deep, formal bow to Lu Chao and said, “Young Master Lu, you *are* the one we found. Please, pay no mind to my Second Junior Brother’s nonsense. I have already punished him.”

As she spoke, Qian Ya’s entire body trembled. She was on the verge of kneeling to Lu Chao herself.