Chapter Fifty-Five: Live-Streamed Showdown!

Everyone in the VIP lounge turned to look, their gazes laden with meaning, as countless divine techniques and secret arts were employed.
“No trace of spiritual energy? How can that be?”
The Duke’s eyes were as sharp as swords, piercing through the void—he saw everything with perfect clarity.
A single thought echoed in everyone’s mind:
“Zhou Tian seems… different now!”
“Look, there’s someone over there!”
Someone nudged their companion, and more and more people fixed their eyes on Zhou Tian.
The arena was its own independent space, naturally protected by spatial barriers, but such things were nothing before Zhou Tian’s [Teleportation] skill—they were mere child’s play!
Without the slightest pause, Zhou Tian passed straight through the outer barriers of the arena’s space, entering within. At that moment, Uncle Zhou was slowly guiding a violet orb of light to the ground; inside the light orb was Tian Ling.
“Young master!”
Uncle Zhou bowed his head slightly.
“Mm.”
Zhou Tian nodded, teleporting instantly to Tian Ling’s side. The violet sigil-shield vanished.
He caught Tian Ling as she was about to collapse. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth; her face was as pale as gold leaf. She looked up at Zhou Tian and, with difficulty, managed to speak.
“Zhou Tian…”
“Don’t speak…”
Zhou Tian produced a golden pill from his palm, its surface traced with intricate markings, and fragrant with a medicinal scent—this was the pill he had requested from Zhou Xunchuan upon arriving.
“Take this…”
Tian Ling’s brows drooped. She glanced at the pill pressed to her lips, parted her cherry lips, and her crystalline teeth took in the medicine.
The pill melted instantly. Tian Ling’s body began to glow, divine radiance surging within her, healing her wounds. She lay in Zhou Tian’s arms, eyes closed, focusing on her recovery.
“Uncle Zhou, begin,” Zhou Tian said, turning to him.

“Yes, young master.”
Uncle Zhou nodded, waving his hand. A rune shot forth, hovering before Zhou Tian’s mouth and forming a sigil array, which then vanished from sight.
“It’s done, young master. You may now speak, and everyone will hear you—including those watching the projection,” Uncle Zhou announced.
Zhou Tian nodded, took a deep breath, and began:
“To all the audience here, and to the people of Futian Prefecture watching this match via projection: first, I must apologize for disturbing your viewing experience!”
“Not bad… not bad… He knows to humble himself and apologize first, winning people over. This boy is much more astute than that blockhead Zhou Yi,” Chancellor Liu said with a smile, nodding in approval.
“Some of you may know me, others may not. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Zhou Tian, third son of King Qin of Tianqin. Of course, most of you know me as the ordinary man with no cultivation, a mere mortal without a single open meridian,” Zhou Tian said, with a self-deprecating chuckle.
Across Futian Prefecture, more and more people gathered beneath projection screens, ready to witness this rare spectacle.
At his words, many burst out laughing; indeed, the “famous King Qin’s son, incapable of cultivation,” had been a favorite topic for idle gossip for years.
“This is my fiancée, Tian Ling. Not long ago, His Majesty issued an imperial edict bestowing the marriage, as many of you already know.”
“What just happened was witnessed by all: on the surface, it seemed Tian Ling suffered mortal danger, and my people broke the rules to save her. But in truth, that is not the case!”
Zhou Tian’s voice deepened.
“Were this an ordinary match, nothing could have made me interfere. But some harbored sinister motives, seeking to murder my fiancée to exact vengeance on me, manipulating the people of Tianqin, and using a sacred artifact with a forbidden technique preset to sabotage the match—leading to the death of a promising young contestant!”
Inside the Great Luo Academy’s booth, everyone frowned. Zhou Tian’s speech was full of exaggeration and wild accusations—who wanted to kill his fiancée? In this venue, even if we wanted to, how could we? We all knew you’d intervene and disrupt the match, but only to get a little payback, not to take lives.
“Wasn’t Zhou Tian supposed to be a mortal? Why does he seem so different from the reports?” Iron Ox muttered, brow furrowed.
“Tianqin has countless hidden strengths, nothing surprising there. But why does he dare say such things before all of Futian Prefecture? Can he really control the outcome?” Zi Qing’s eyes, clear as a jade pond, glimmered with unease.
Across Futian Prefecture, people whispered and speculated. Zhou Tian’s speech was masterful—by including the common folk, he instantly made most people feel personally involved in the incident.

“I know it is hard for you to take my words alone as truth. Therefore, I invite those involved to come forth and confront me directly!”
Zhou Tian signaled to Uncle Zhou beside him. With a wave, a profound ripple spread, a spatial passage opened, and in the blink of an eye, the entire group from Great Luo Academy—who had just been in the VIP lounge—appeared on the arena stage.
The academy’s members, feeling the abrupt shift, wore expressions darker than storm clouds. To be dragged directly onto the stage was a blatant show of disregard!
“Gentlemen, is this scene not rather different from what you had envisioned?” Zhou Tian asked with a smile, addressing the group from Great Luo Academy.
“Princeling Zhou, what is the meaning of this? Do you take Great Luo Academy for nothing?” Scholar Li cursed inwardly, but as their students’ safety was paramount, he suppressed his anger and questioned Zhou Tian coldly.
“Scholar Li, I have always regarded Great Luo Academy as a sacred place of learning, worthy of respect. Yet your academy clearly does not return that respect,” Zhou Tian replied, thick-skinned as ever.
“Those behind you have meddled endlessly within my Tianqin Empire, inciting the people to turn against me, and have now caused the death of a promising youth through your scheming!”
Righteous and indignant, Zhou Tian stood firmly on the side of the people, roundly condemning the academy.
“Princeling Zhou, surely there is some misunderstanding? Our academy’s students are held to the highest standards; they would never do such things. Do not be swayed by the words of petty men and ruin the friendship between our houses,” Zi Qing stepped forward calmly, hinting that unless there was solid evidence, Zhou Tian should stop making wild accusations. Even if witnesses were brought forth, they would never admit to anything—they would simply be dismissed as slanderers.
Zhou Tian understood perfectly, but feigned ignorance. Reaching into his robe, he took out a rhombic jade slip and handed it to Uncle Zhou, who infused it with energy and projected its contents…
“They…”
“…for profit…”
“…murder…”
Scene after scene flashed by, each showing those connected with Great Luo Academy, all of whom had been apprehended—along with their loved ones. With nowhere to hide, they confessed everything, leaving no detail unspoken.