Chapter 205: Chapter 123: A Stunning Glance, Shaking Qinghe Once More

"An instant kill with a single glance. I’d heard of it before, but hearing about it and seeing it for yourself... the feeling is completely different," Ji Qinghui exclaimed, sitting up straighter.

Ji Qingkang, seated below, nodded in profound agreement. "Indeed. That technique is almost miraculous. If I didn’t know the inside story, even I would think he’s qualified to contend for the top spot in Qinghe Prefecture City."

To instantly kill Wu Chuan of the Water Nether Sect with a single sweep of his gaze—the swift conclusion of the duel left both Ji Qinghui and Ji Qingkang in a state of shock.

But they quickly shook their heads. Their expressions held no worry, but rather a calm sense of understanding.

Zhong Ming was Ji Qingyue’s man, making him their rival. Yet, upon seeing Zhong Ming’s immense strength, the two weren’t the least bit anxious. Clearly, they didn’t believe he could make it to the end. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The reason they thought so was because...

Ji Chengping’s cold, disdainful snort came right on cue. "Hmph. It’s nothing more than some unorthodox special ability. Once that move is countered, he’s a toothless tiger—utterly defenseless!"

...

In the minds of ordinary people, if even a casual glance from Zhong Ming was so powerful, he must be absolutely unstoppable when he actually drew his sword to fight.

That was why the crowd on the Crescent Lake Shore was so shocked and awestruck by Zhong Ming’s performance.

Some people even believed Zhong Ming had the power to fight someone at the Foundation Establishment realm.

But Ji Qinghui, Ji Qingkang, and Ji Chengping were different.

Tipped off by disciples from the Major Sects, they knew Zhong Ming’s "true nature"—that he was a "specialized" type of Cultivator.

He possessed only this one peerless technique. Once it was countered, his frail body and meager Magical Power meant he might not even be able to defeat a normal cultivator in the late stage of Qi Cultivation.

Believing this, they naturally didn’t think highly of Zhong Ming’s prospects.

"Someone who relies on a single Divine Technique is just too easy to counter!" Ji Qinghui’s tone was utterly confident as he gently waved his folding fan.

...

While they were shaking their heads in pity, on the other side, the True Inheritance disciples of the Major Sects who had realized Zhong Ming’s situation also sat back down.

’Phew, thank goodness. He only has that one move. Once it’s countered, this will all be over.’

With that in mind, these Major Sects no longer had any intention of intervening, let alone uniting against a common enemy.

Instead, thinking they could seize this opportunity to oust the Void Moon Sect, they became even more proactive, instructing their subordinates to continue spreading rumors around the Crescent Lake Shore—rumors that the Void Moon Sect was inferior to Zhong Ming, sowing discord between them.

"Is that all they’ve got?!"

"He got taken out with a single glance? The disciple the Void Moon Sect sent is pathetic, isn’t he?"

"Are they really a Major Sect?"

"I misunderstood them before. I thought they were too cowardly to fight Zhong Ming, but now I see they just know their own limitations. These guys really can’t beat him!"

The swirling rumors caused some people to give the Void Moon Sect strange looks, but others shook their heads and retorted:

"Is it possible that the Void Moon Sect isn’t weak, but that Zhong Ming is just that strong?"

"Exactly. It’s no disgrace to lose to someone like Zhong Ming."

Zhong Ming’s victory in the duel had been too easy, the impression it left too stunning—like a Deity, seated high in the clouds, who had instantly killed a late-stage Qi Cultivation practitioner with a single, lazy glance. A man like that had already established considerable prestige among ordinary Cultivators.

Most importantly, the Cultivators on the Crescent Lake Shore—unlike Ji Qinghui, Ji Qingkang, and the disciples of the Major Sects—didn’t know that Zhong Ming was "hollow on the inside."

This led them to see a certain beauty in his strength, and this power, in turn, compelled some to speak up in his defense.

Unfortunately, while their words held some truth, their voices were too small and carried too little weight. Ultimately, they couldn’t stand against the tide of public opinion being driven by the five Major Sects.

Besides, the rumors spread by the other five sects were directed at the Void Moon Sect, not Zhong Ming. This meant that those who admired him felt no urgent need to rush to anyone’s defense.

As a result, not even three minutes after the first duel had ended, the entire Crescent Lake Shore was rife with suspicion toward the Void Moon Sect.

This, in turn, caused Zhu Junfeng’s expression to darken, and he began to grow restless.

’I have to send someone up there, and they can’t afford to be crushed... Otherwise, the Void Moon Sect’s reputation in the Qinghe Commandery Mansion will be completely ruined.’

He had an idea, but as he glanced around, he realized it would be incredibly difficult to implement.

He could send people, yes, but aside from himself and Lin Kong, he couldn’t guarantee that anyone else wouldn’t be instantly killed by that one glance.

But the two of them couldn’t make a move lightly. As True Inheritance disciples, if they were to fight, it would no longer be a matter of avoiding a crushing defeat; they would be absolutely required to win.

However, although they had analyzed Zhong Ming’s "flaw" and knew he only had one move, masters of a single, perfect technique were not at all uncommon in the Cultivation Realm.

To ensure victory, he had to probe the limits and weaknesses of Zhong Ming’s "lethal gaze."

’Who should I send next? Junior Brother Cheng? No, he’s not even a match for Wu Chuan...’

"Senior Brother!" Just as Zhu Junfeng was furrowing his brow, pondering how to overcome their current predicament, a shout suddenly came from outside.

"Senior Brother Zhu, there’s someone outside who says he can handle Zhong Ming! He says he can at least counter his Pupil Technique and test out his other abilities."

At these words, Zhu Junfeng’s eyes lit up. "Let him in."

At Zhu Junfeng’s command, a somewhat gloomy-looking man shrouded in a black robe quickly entered from outside.