As soon as Su Lingxi's voice faded, waves of discussion erupted all around.
Back then, Yuan Shu had secured her spot as a core disciple of Qingyun Peak by throwing around the Yuan family's money, which had long sparked dissatisfaction in the hearts of many.
Not to mention, she had made absolutely no progress over the years, becoming the absolute worst among the core disciples.
Now, with Su Lingxi at Qingyun Peak serving as a stark contrast, it made her look even more like a useless piece of trash.
Speaking of the sect competition a month from now, the crowd grew even more indignant, casting looks of disdain and contempt upon her.
Meanwhile, Su Lingxi, who had suddenly brought up the sect rule of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm within ten years, spread her hands in a display of utter helplessness.
Yet, the gaze she directed at Yuan Shu carried a hint of disdain and mockery.
Even the junior disciples who had just been standing next to Yuan Shu stepped back in disgust.
Yuan Shu originally hadn't planned to pay any attention to Su Lingxi. Everyone has their own destiny; if she had the capability to find Zhai Shuo, that was her own skill.
And right now, she had other, far more important things to do!
But she couldn't ignore the fact that Su Lingxi called out to stop her and deliberately brought up the ten-year Foundation Establishment rule, inciting the surrounding disciples to verbally attack her.
Meeting everyone's jealous and scornful gazes, Yuan Shu curled her lips into a smile and spoke lazily, Junior Sister, you actually got that right. I will definitely reach the Foundation Establishment realm within a month.
Her voice wasn't loud, but her enunciation was clear, allowing everyone present to hear her perfectly.
Including Su Lingxi.
Su Lingxi froze slightly, truly not expecting Yuan Shu to say such a thing.
However, before she could even speak, the others around them who heard this couldn't hold back anymore.
Hahahaha, I'm dying of laughter! Yuan Shu said she's going to reach Foundation Establishment in a month? Is she daydreaming?
Exactly! A lowly disciple at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Condensation like her? Let alone a month, even if you gave her a year, with her aptitude, she could never reach Foundation Establishment!
Yeah, who doesn't know that with her kind of talent, staying in Qi Condensation for ten years, she'll probably never break through to Foundation Establishment in her entire life. How dare she boast like that?
She must be crazy, or there's something wrong with her head. Has she gone stupid?
...
Roars of laughter, even louder than the previous discussions, rang out.
Su Lingxi couldn't help but chuckle a couple of times as well, her gaze toward Yuan Shu showing undisguised contempt.
Yuan Shu reached up and dug at her ear, deciding to cut the crap and get straight to the point. How about this? During the sect competition a month from now, isn't there a sparring match between the disciples of the various peaks?
Su Lingxi, let's have a match then. If you lose, give me that sword of yours.
Su Lingxi followed Yuan Shu's gaze downward and saw the spirit sword in her hand that Yuan Shu was pointing at.
The spirit sword was named Lingxi. She had acquired it by chance during a recent trial in a secret realm.
Lingxi's appearance wasn't flashy; both the blade and the scabbard were covered in a layer of dull gray rust.
But it was incredibly sharp, truly capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud!
Because of this, Su Lingxi treasured it greatly and kept it by her side constantly.
Hearing Yuan Shu suddenly demand it by name, Su Lingxi frowned, a flash of displeasure crossing her face.
Seeing this, the junior brother behind her immediately spoke up on her behalf.
Why should she give it to you? Who do you think you are?
Yeah, asking for someone else's spirit sword? How shameless!
At Qingyun Peak, Su Lingxi would often give out small magical artifacts to this person or low-tier pills to that person, successfully winning over many hearts.
She didn't even need to open her mouth to hurl insults; others would gladly do it for her.
If Senior Sister Su loses, you want her spirit sword. But what will you give if you lose?
Exactly, what will you give if you lose?
Yuan Shu snorted lightly and waved her hand with a breezy nonchalance. If I lose, I'll... give her ten million spirit stones.
There was a moment of dead silence at the scene.
After a long pause, several gasps of shock erupted.
What did you say?!
Everyone around widened their eyes, staring at Yuan Shu in absolute disbelief.
Y-y-you, are you joking? Ten million spirit stones? Are you serious?
Hurry up and tell us, are you serious or not?
Someone urged Yuan Shu to answer.
One must know that Ji Yunzhao had spent years coaxing and deceiving her, and even he had only managed to get a hundred and fifty thousand spirit stones out of her.
Ten million spirit stones was enough to cover the annual expenses of several small sects combined!
And Yuan Shu just blurted it out like that?
Was she really that rich?
Su Lingxi's eyes also widened in horror and shock.
A single Soul-Bewitching Peony had cost one million low-grade spirit stones, completely draining all the spirit stones she had painstakingly saved up and borrowed.
And that Soul-Bewitching Peony was nothing compared to the Purple Mansion Spirit Ginseng; trying to resell it would be extremely difficult.
She had even gone to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to make a scene over it, trying to get a refund, but had been kicked out every time.
She was currently up to her neck in debt and was truly desperate for money!
She never expected Yuan Shu to propose such a condition for their match!
In that moment, jealousy caused the twisted psychology hidden deep within Su Lingxi's heart to warp even further.
Why could Yuan Shu so casually offer ten million spirit stones?
Why was it so unfair?
Why weren't those ten million spirit stones hers?
Of course it's true. Yuan Shu crossed her arms over her chest, a highly punchable smirk curling on her lips. My family might not have much else, but we have plenty of money.
It's just ten million spirit stones. Converted, it's only a hundred thousand mid-grade spirit stones. It's nothing.
Gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred shot toward Yuan Shu in unison, looking as if they wanted to gouge a few spirit stone-sized holes into her flesh.
So many spirit stones, and they weren't theirs?
Comparing oneself to others really was maddening!
Senior Sister Su, agree to it! Agree to it!
A low-level Qi Condensation trash actually dares to provoke you like this! Agree to it, beat the living daylights out of her, and take those spirit stones!
Yeah, it'll piss her off to death!
...
The crowd clamored over one another, urging Su Lingxi to accept.
They all treated Yuan Shu as the villain, wishing Su Lingxi would make a move right then and there to tear apart Yuan Shu's smug face.
Su Lingxi took a deep breath, recovering from her shock, and clenched her fists with a slightly anxious heart.
Since Seventh Senior Sister is so confident, it wouldn't be right for me to spoil your fun. I accept this duel!
Alright! Slap Yuan Shu's face hard when the time comes, and let her see clearly the difference between a genius and a mediocre fool!
Don't think you're so great just because you have some filthy money. Talent is something spirit stones can't buy!
Exactly! Slap her face! Slap her face!
As soon as Su Lingxi finished speaking, many others in the surroundings chimed in with their agreement.
Yuan Shu's lips curled up. Words alone are no proof. How about we make an oath?
Su Lingxi was just about to speak when a hearty laugh suddenly rang out from behind her.
Hahaha, hahaha, Peak Master Lu, this core disciple of yours is quite interesting. A mere eighth-level Qi Condensation cultivator actually has the confidence to defeat a twelfth-level Qi Condensation cultivator within a month?
The crowd parted to make a path as Qingyun Peak Master Lu Guichen and Lingyun Peak Master Shen Jingyuan walked over from the pavilion in the back.
Two pairs of eyes landed on Yuan Shu.
Lu Guichen glanced at Yuan Shu and snorted lightly, his tone laced with disdain.
Just overestimating her own capabilities. A disciple who hasn't even broken through to Foundation Establishment after ten years on the mountain might just be kicked out of the sect after the grand competition.
