Chapter 196 - The Scum Is Playful

"S-second young master Chen – " Xi Ming called before his pupils shrank when he saw Cheng Sheng's sword flew towards him! He immediately drew his sword to block, only for him to flow out of the pond because of the impact. His eyes widened as he immediately flipped in the air and landed on his feet. "Second young master Chen - !" he called but when he turned, he saw Cheng Sheng already walking away, and his sword flew back to its scabbard. "…" what was that?! He thought with his face covered in dark lines. Then, he noticed something floating in the pond where he was standing earlier. 

In the Righteous Alliance. 

"Wah! It was too close!" the audience exclaimed when they saw Xi Ming's impostor was floating in the pond. Half of its body was in the water while its other half was on the rubble. There was no blood that spilled, and then the body slowly disappeared. 

"Xi Ming's impostor almost drowned Xi Ming!" they exclaimed. "If Cheng Sheng didn't force him out of the pond to not alert the impostor, Xi Ming would've died!" they said.

Fei Huang sighed in relief and he glanced at Xie Lan. He thought Xie Lan would gloat again but he noticed Xie Lan had been silent since earlier. … was it his impostor that's present today and not himself? Fei Huang thought before he turned his attention to the competition. 

Inside the secret realm, Feng Hua Palace. 

It's not as if Xi Ming is blind nor stupid. He can understand Cheng Sheng's intention. To not alert the impostor, he forced him out with killing intent. It's either to die in the impostor's hands or be harmed in Cheng Sheng's hands. 

He immediately ran after Cheng Sheng and saw him walking outside the courtyard. Cheng Sheng's clothes are already dry and clean but his hair remained wet. Cheng Sheng couldn't use a Cleaning Talisman on his hair. 

"Second young master Chen!" Xi Ming called as he followed behind him, matching his pace. "Thank you for earlier." He told him. 

"You thank me for killing 'you'?" Cheng Sheng said. He's referring to the impostor. Seeing Xi Ming didn't speak, he spoke. "You following me… are you not afraid I may be an impostor instead?" he asked. 

"… no." Xi Ming answered. No one would act like the way you do. He thought when he remembered the ground near the pond had cracked earlier. 

Cheng Sheng's brows just raised but he didn't speak further. "Da shixiong…" he muttered. 

As if he was heard, Fei Yin appeared! "Cheng-shidi." Fei Yin called and saw Cheng Sheng was with Xi Ming. His eyes immediately narrowed. 

Xi Ming's eyes widened and he looked at Cheng Sheng. However, Cheng Sheng just walked towards Fei Yin, only for Cheng Sheng to pass by Fei Yin!

"Wha – " he said and immediately drew his sword when he saw Cheng Sheng signaled him after he stood behind Fei Yin. He immediately lunged at Fei Yin while Fei Yin attacked him! 

"Sorry, young master Xi." Cheng Sheng said as he yawned while Xi Ming and 'Fei Yin' fought. "I can't bear to hurt my da shixiong, even if it's his impostor. Since you're already here, I'll leave him to you." He explained before he waved at Xi Ming. "They're easy to kill since they cannot use qi. If you want for more explanation, just find me later. See ya." He told him and then left. 

Xi Ming who was left behind. "…" how the hell did he do it? He thought, referring to Cheng Sheng summoning an impostor. Fortunately, he has the best temper since he learned from Fei Lin, or else he would have already exploded just now like Kang Ce after Cheng Sheng had used him as a meat shield. 

Kang Ce who was shot1 even if he's not around. "…" why me? 

Back to the Righteous Alliance, everyone who saw Cheng Sheng used Xi Ming to deal with the impostor he himself called. "…" even at this moment he still didn't forget to pit someone. Cheng Sheng, you're such a talent! They thought, didn't know whether to laugh or cry but knew they feel pity for Xi Ming. 

"W-w-wow… Cheng-shixiong knew how to summon an impostor?" You Rou said as she forced a smile while she coldly sweated. The evidence of Cheng Sheng being a scum is now clear as a day. Before, they could mask Cheng Sheng's wrongdoings by his kind intentions. But, now… 

"Y-y-yes! Cheng-shixiong must know the condition set for an impostor to appear! Thus, he showed us a demonstration! Hahahaha…" Lei Ling said as he shallowly laughed. 

Meanwhile, Lei Qing and Zuo Zhe who remained silent. "…" we can't justify his crimes anymore. 

"What do you think, elder Pai? Elder Su?" Zheng Fu Gong said as he looked at Pai Lie and Su Yuan. 

"…" don't you dare to use us to divert Fei Huang's attention! Pai Lie and Su Yuan thought as they glanced at Fei Huang whose face darkened while he glared at Xie Lan who maintained his blank face as he seriously looked at the Cleansing Stone projecting the competition. Sect leader Xie, you can't fool us with your righteous appearance! They thought. 

However, Xie Lan is really serious this time. He can't take lightly his disciples' life like in the previous stages. Every time his disciples appear, his heart would jump to his throat. He's afraid they'd be confused by the maze and hurt each other. 

He remembered when he, Fan Wen, Chen Jing, Wu Fan, Ming Ye and Luo Shi joined the Intersect Competition when they were still studying in the Shanliangde Sect. It was a pity that none of them had reached the Spring of Life during the fourth stage, making Fei Xin – Fei Huang's elder brother and the sect leader at that time, become mad and feel humiliated. They were the most promising generation of disciples, yet they failed to win the competition.

"This is the extent of the stray dogs' talent, sect leader." Xi Peng said as he stoked Fei Xin's anger. 

As what Xi Peng wanted, the prideful Fei Xin became angrier. He banished the two elders that are their shifu. Fan Wen's matter at that time also came to light, and he took Fan Wen away after bidding goodbye to their shifu who went to seclusion. Chen Jing and Wu Fan also returned to the Youxiwang Sect, taking along Luo Shi and Ming Ye who were referred to as 'stray dogs', together with Xie Lan and Fan Wen, for being orphaned children that grew up in the streets and raised by a nameless beggar. This is the reason why Xie Lan and Fan Wen had affinity with Ming Ye and Luo Shi. 

The Shanliangde Sect regained their glory when Fei Lin and Xi Ling entered the Intersect Competition and reached the Spring of Life, becoming Nascent Soul Stage when they came out of the secret realm. They then became the elders of the Shanliangde Sect. 

In the previous Intersect Competition, the Zunjingde Sect, Youxiwang Sect and Qianxu Sect gained their prestige, too. Qian Tian had also reached the Spring of Life and became as Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, but was only recently became instated as an elder of their sect. The Zunjingde Sect and the Youxiwang Sect also had a fair share of their disciples becoming Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, adding more elders to their sect. 

Xie Lan took a deep breath. This generation of disciples are more promising than the previous ones. They can figure out the impostors' tricks that were deceiving their mind unlike the previous generations who only knew how to fight them and waste their breath and energy. Even Cheng Sheng, he seemed to discover how do the impostors appear. 

It seemed as if something lit up in his mind. "I get it." He said. 

"Huh?" they turned to him. 

"Develop a calm mind and they won't appear." Xie Lan said as he looked at Cheng Sheng freely wandering around the countless courtyards of the palace. "If you'd panic – " he said and looked at Kang Ce who was being chased by 'Li Tian' and 'Feng Mo'. " – they will... they will appear." He said. 

"Sect leader Xie, you mean…" 

"The first stage tests one's patience. The second stage tests one's strength. The third stage tests one's mind. And the fourth stage –" Xie Lan said. " – tests one's heart1." He told them. 

Fei Huang nodded. "One had to be patient to reach the top of the canyon, as well as patient with their creations. The more hasty you are, the more the mistakes you'll make resulting in failure." He said as they remembered the first stage of the competition – the preliminary stage, the martial arts test and the alchemy test. 

"One has to have strength to deal with his opponent." Qian Shan said as he smiled. He's referring to the second stage. 

"One has to devise tactics to survive for seven days." Jing Rui said. He's referring to the third stage. 

Zheng Fu Gong nodded. "Obtaining these three and combining it with courage, you will pass the test." He said as they looked at the Cleansing Stone projecting the contestants inside the secret realm.