Chapter 497: Favoritism and Shifting the Blame

At that moment, all the information she had on Lu Chao flashed through Qian Ya’s mind.

It was the information she had gleaned from the group of Maze Madmen.

Connecting this to what the “three Miracles of the Nether Spring” had said, Qian Ya suddenly realized the truth. This Young Master Lu, who seemingly had no background, was most likely one of the Miracles of the Nether Spring himself.

She thought back to her many negotiations with Lu Chao, his temperament, and the attitude he had always stressed… ‘Of course. I have to teach my second junior brother a lesson now and give Lu Chao a proper resolution.’

In short, Lu Chao was the key to whether they would get a chance to fight a third match.

Xiao Ru, of course, couldn’t be bothered with the Qianjian Sect’s messy affairs. She sized Lu Chao up from head to toe, then sneered, “Not just anyone can call themselves a Miracle of the Nether Spring. What proof do you have?”

A flash of displeasure crossed her eyes. It was mainly because Lu Chao had just interrupted her announcement, challenging her authority.

Of course, it was also because Master Tian had just jumped out and started yelling at her.

At Xiao Ru’s words, everyone in the crowd stared intently at Lu Chao…

With a faint smile, Lu Chao pointed at Chi Xingxun and the other two. “The way these three ‘Miracles’ are looking at me like they want to eat me alive—isn’t that proof enough?” he said with a laugh. “Young City Lord Red Sword, we meet again.”

Chi Xingxun’s fist clenched tightly for a moment before he immediately relaxed it. “Who are you?” he said, feigning calmness. “I don’t know you.”

He deliberately claimed not to know him to deny Lu Chao the chance to become a Miracle of the Nether Spring.

‘Of course not. Otherwise, Lu Chao would also gain the attention of the Green Bone Palace, and that was absolutely unacceptable.’

Meanwhile, Chi Xingxun was screaming inwardly, ‘Why is Lu Chao still alive?’

Lu Chao smiled lightly. “Oh? You don’t know me now? So, you’re not planning to get revenge for me twisting off all your fingers?”

Those words nearly made Chi Xingxun’s True Qi erupt in fury…

But he forcefully suppressed his anger and said in a low voice, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His reaction all but confirmed for everyone present that Lu Chao was the fourth Miracle of the Nether Spring.

But Senior Brother Feng immediately darted out and said to Lu Chao, “Kid, falsely claiming to be a Miracle of the Nether Spring is a death sentence.”

His Shengting Sect was determined to support the Thunderbolt Sect and see the Qianjian Sect destroyed, so of course, he couldn’t let the Qianjian Sect get another 500 points.

Lu Chao ignored him and turned to Lu Dingtian. “And you? What do you have to say?”

In response, Lu Dingtian wanted to roar, “Unfilial son!” but he gritted his teeth and said, “Young man, I do not know you.”

His expression was just as obvious, and everyone present could see through his lie.

But the final decision still rested in Xiao Ru’s hands. Chi Xingxun and the others adamantly denied knowing Lu Chao, and if Xiao Ru decided she didn’t want a fourth Miracle of the Nether Spring, there was nothing the Qianjian Sect could do…

Qian Ya stared at Xiao Ru, her whole body trembling. Qian Zeng, Master Tian, and the others were the same.

Then, Xiao Ru slowly spoke, “Kid, you’ve got some nerve, daring to falsely claim to be a Miracle of the Nether Spring. The punishment is death.”

As soon as she spoke, the members of the Qianjian Sect felt the world spin. ‘She’s really showing favoritism!’

The members of the Shengting Sect and Thunderbolt Sect, however, chuckled softly. ‘Lord Xiao really dislikes this kid in black.’

Now things were getting interesting.

But unlike the members of the Qianjian Sect, Lu Chao, though a little surprised by Xiao Ru’s blatant favoritism, quickly regained his composure.

He chuckled softly. “Lord Xiao, if you kill me, there will be one less Miracle of the Nether Spring. If the Green Bone Palace investigates this later, you could be in a lot of trouble… Is it really worth the risk for such a small display of favoritism?”

At his words, Xiao Ru froze. ‘He’s right, it really isn’t necessary…’

The Green Bone Palace would undoubtedly take this matter very seriously from top to bottom, and they would certainly investigate it thoroughly.

“I’m also somewhat famous on the other side of the Nether Spring Mountain Range.”

“Meaning, plenty of people in the Azure Flame Domain recognize me. The Green Bone Palace could find out everything with a simple investigation.”

“For example…”

After a brief pause, Lu Chao suddenly turned to the group of Maze Madmen and asked, “What is my name?”

The moment these Maze Madmen saw Lu Chao, they were instantly triggered, and one by one, they began to roar, “Lu Chao! Lu Chao…!”

Hearing the name, the other Maze Madmen seemed to be triggered as well.

They all shouted in unison, “Lu Chao, you’ve doomed us!”

Lu Chao’s eyes narrowed slightly as he smiled and asked the madmen again, “And what is my relationship with this old fellow here?”

The “old fellow” he was pointing to was, of course, Lu Dingtian.

As soon as he finished speaking, one of the Maze Madmen began to roar, “Lu Chao! As the adopted son of Marshal Lu Dingtian, even if Marshal Lu kills you, it’s what you deserve! How dare you resist? You deserve to die a thousand deaths!”

These madmen were Lu Dingtian’s most loyal subordinates, some even his relatives. Even in their madness, they still spoke up for him.

Then, the other madmen joined in, all roaring wildly. Their shouts made Lu Dingtian’s face flush red and caused Chi Xingxun to slap his thigh in frustration. He had forgotten about these Maze Madmen—they saw red with hatred the moment they laid eyes on Lu Chao.

Finally, Lu Chao looked back at Xiao Ru. “Lord Xiao,” he asked, “See? The investigation is complete, isn’t it?”

This was the evidence. This was the proof.

Xiao Ru’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. It was now undeniable that the young man before her was also a Miracle of the Nether Spring.

Then, Lu Chao suddenly spoke again…

“It’s just… so strange.”

“Why would Young City Lord Chi Xingxun and this so-called adoptive father of mine try to deceive you, Lord Xiao, by claiming they don’t know me?”

Instantly, the expressions on Chi Xingxun and Lu Dingtian’s faces changed drastically, their recent smugness replaced by a deathly pallor.

At that moment, Chi Yuan jumped out…

“Lord Xiao, it’s not that our Young City Lord intended to deceive you! It’s that this man has committed countless evil deeds. He is a sinister and vicious person.”

“Our Young City Lord simply couldn’t bear the thought of him also becoming the fourth Miracle of the Nether Spring.”

At this point, Chi Yuan had no choice but to admit the truth and try to explain things to Xiao Ru on Chi Xingxun’s behalf.

Lu Dingtian also knelt heavily before Xiao Ru…

“Lord Xiao, I was wrong…”

“This man is indeed one of those who came out of the Nether Spring Mountain Range sane. He is my adopted son, but he feels no gratitude for the care I gave him.”

“He even wants to kill me!”

He was turning the tables with a false accusation, painting Lu Chao as a disloyal and unfilial traitor.

Chi Xingxun also knelt heavily. “Lord Xiao, it’s all my fault. This man twisted off all my fingers for no reason. I just couldn’t bear to see him be valued as a Miracle of the Nether Spring…”

They admitted everything, apologized for everything, and pinned a grave accusation on Lu Chao.

But Lu Chao couldn’t be bothered to argue. He simply said in a deep voice, “Lord Xiao, can you add five hundred points for the Qianjian Sect now?”

The members of the Qianjian Sect shuddered violently.

They looked up with hopeful eyes, yet they were also worried, afraid that Xiao Ru would refuse.

And so, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, and with clear evidence presented…

Xiao Ru, of course, no longer dared to claim Lu Chao wasn’t a Miracle of the Nether Spring. After staring coldly at him, she nodded indifferently. “Since you were found by the Qianjian Sect, then add five hundred points for them.”

At her words, the members of the Qianjian Sect nearly collapsed to the ground, their faces finally breaking into joyous smiles.