Could it be that I am the cruel villain?

Before his eyes turned black, upon hearing the news, someone couldn't help but feel a bit suffocated, his legs went weak, almost falling to the ground.

A large hand directly grasped the man's sturdy and powerful arm. Perhaps it was a bodily instinct, as his muscles instantly tensed upon being touched, even Gu Miyun couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.

"What a strong physique, I almost couldn't hold on. It seems what Grandpa said is indeed correct."

Unlike Gu Miyun's calm demeanor, Jiang Feng almost couldn't catch his breath all at once. Originally, he wanted to burst out cursing but held it back forcefully.

I fight the Chief of Purple Cloud Palace? I fight Gu Miyun? Is this for real?

"I, I'm a bit dizzy, anemic, cold, suddenly feeling unwell, old injuries resurfacing."

"Dreams make life wonderful, Senior Brother Gu, let's not harm the camaraderie between us brothers, how about this, go back and tell Sect Master, I surrender."

"How can I fight, how to fight! Black curtain, I report! There's a black curtain!"

Still couldn't hold it back.

It was almost like squeezing out these two sentences from between his teeth. He originally thought his future was bright because Yun Xiyin was already ranked quite high among the participating third-generation disciples, belonging to those whose overall strength could squeeze into the top four.

The number of Nascent Soul stage third-generation disciples within the mountain gate is quite sizable, but most of them have exceeded the age for participating in the Nine Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, as per the rule of under fifty years old. Those over age may participate and spar with younger disciples, but not for ranking.

Within the entire mountain gate, only three individuals under fifty have cultivated beyond the Nascent Soul stage. Previously, when Jiang Feng was risking his life with Xuan Yinzi, Xuan Yinzi mentioned that among his peers in Purple Cloud Palace, only Chen, Wei, and Gu could be put forth, these three being Chen Shan, Wei Jie, and Gu Miyun.

The three are respectively the chief disciples of Qingxia Peak, Zhu Mingfeng, and Dragon Head Peak, also the only three young disciples to reach Nascent Soul stage before fifty, among whom Chen Shan is slightly older, already over forty, while the other two are around thirty-five.

Originally, Jiang Feng's top ten spot was firmly secured, considering after surpassing Yun Xiyin, his future was bright. As long as he doesn't encounter Nascent Soul stage, he can steadily clinch it, as none among Core Formation level masters should pose a significant threat compared to Yun Xiyin and Xuan Yinzi.

Then...

Then he was hit with the big one.

Looking at Jiang Feng's full of seniority expression, Gu Miyun wasn't in a hurry, he completely understood the other's feelings, after all, he won Yun Shishu's precious disciple, and now turned to face himself, the luck is indeed quite bad.

However, he still began to explain.

"Ah, Brother Jiang, what you said is wrong. Such a thing as a black curtain doesn't exist."

"Brother Jiang, think about it, you were plotted against by Xuan Xiaozi a few days ago, didn't you rest well afterwards? Later, when deciding the victory of the martial arts tournament, it was naturally judged that you won, not only that, but you got a bye for two rounds, which is already considered generous treatment."

"But the issue is, precisely because of these two byes, the ranking and grouping of other disciples had long been concluded, hence your martial arts contest with Gu was arranged for the final day, coincidentally, Gu was also arranged on the final day."

"Thus, the clash between us was purely due to luck, not a shred of clandestine manipulation."

Heart-stopping.

Now he understood why Gu Miyun took the initiative to come to him.

"...Have you come to deliver my death sentence?"

He raised an eyelid, listless.

There aren't many who can utterly dispirit Jiang Feng. Honestly, even against a low-grade Nascent Soul expert, he can at least struggle a bit in their hands, but when you place him against an intermediate-grade Nascent Soul, how can he fight!

Looking at the young man's lethargic appearance, the chief disciple also felt a bit embarrassed, for considering Jiang Feng's strength, he indeed could steadily advance to the top ten, yet sometimes luck is something... you can't help.

He witnessed personally the Peak Masters drawing lots without any shady dealings, until when the top ten were drawn and neither his nor Jiang Feng's name appeared, he knew this young man's luck was truly dire.

But in order to enjoy a satisfying battle in a few days and earnestly face off with this chief disciple of Swordmaster Peak, he still had to find a way to motivate Jiang Feng.

Thus, he began speaking.

"Brother Jiang, don't always complain."

"When we two brothers fight, you may not lose, if you adopt such a mentality, Gu will win without a fight? To ensure fairness, due to the vast realm difference, the sect elders unanimously decided that I shall not use Magic Treasures for this Nine Peaks Martial Arts."

"If unable to use Magic Treasures, Brother Jiang still can't defeat Gu, perhaps more introspection is needed..."

Before the words were finished, someone almost jumped up like a cat whose tail was stepped on!

Almost swung a punch directly.

"Find my own problem, am I supposed to?"

"Isn't your inability at this age to cultivate to the Mahayana Realm a problem to find yourself for?"

"Outer sect disciples haven't fully vanquished Xuanyin Sect, isn't that a problem to find themselves for?"

"Qi Refining disciples haven't gained the qualification to participate in Phoenix Heavenly Cave, isn't that a problem to find themselves for?"

"You were born with innate deficiency incompatible Five Elements unable to cultivate, aren't you a mere wooden block needing introspection?"

"Why was your first sect field task to defeat a Demon Clan's Demon Monarch? Why did you have to go out and risk life against Xuanyin Sect elders on the first day of joining a sect? Why did Xuan Yinzi fail to successfully single-kill both me and my senior sister? Why do you have to face the Evil Cultivation Army before condensing True Qi? Why was your Chuunin exam task to defeat Uchiha Madara? All needing introspection, aren't they!"