"Stop speaking!"

Zhan Qingfeng's voice was low and hollow. With this shout, the corridor fell silent, leaving only the labored breaths of those present.

After a long pause, Zhan Qingfeng murmured slowly: "If we manage to escape this time... if our clan's plan succeeds and the Miaos are ultimately destroyed... I will compete fairly with you..."

"Competition? What competition?"

Zhan Yushu seemed to have forgotten his earlier resentment. His voice suddenly took on a perverse tone as he said, "Elder Brother, don't tell me you still believe that woman is some kind of goddess... The Miaos' downfall is inevitable; Mi Xiao miao will inevitably fall into our hands. What's the point for us brothers to compete? If it's just a lowly woman, why not share her between us?"

"Share her?"

The moment Zhan Qingfeng heard those words, he wanted to curse angrily. Yet strangely, after the three syllables left his lips, an unprecedented twisted pleasure surged through him—along with excitement. It was as if... he actually looked forward to it.

This absurd thought suddenly left him speechless. Seeing his silence, Zhan Yushu knew he had tacitly agreed and became excited, immediately beginning to discuss how they would later abuse the first beauty of Huanshu Pavilion.

"Let's not talk about such things... Our greatest enemy remains that boy. We should analyze Mo Junye properly."

Zhan Qingfeng's voice wavered, weak with reluctance, yet laced with a hesitant desire. But Zhan Yushu fell silent...

Jing Moxie had already pinpointed their exact location. Upon hearing these plans to defile Mi Xiao miao, an indescribable anger surged in his heart—almost prompting him to kill them immediately. However, when he suddenly heard them mention himself, he paused and thought: Killing them would be effortless. Let's hear what they have to say about me first.

"Right, you mentioned earlier that Mo Junye is strange. What exactly is strange about him? What specific abnormalities are there?"

Zhan Yushu finally brought up the topic again in a relaxed tone, obviously rejuvenated by his previous outburst... though it was all pretense.

"Mo Junye, eighteen years old. From impoverished origins with unknown parents. It's said that as a child he ate some kind of divine treasure in the mountains and thus maintained his Qingling body type until now. Originally apprenticed to an obscure Dixin cultivator. Later discovered by Cao Guofeng in Xingchen City through sheer chance. His talent caused a battle between Huanshu Pavilion and the Three Sacred Lands, though other incidents led to his disappearance. Just as Cao Guofeng was returning to Huanshu Pavilion, he found Mo Junye critically wounded. The enemy used him as bait trying to ambush seven sacred emperors. Only after Cao Guofeng's bloody battle did they manage to rescue this man back to Hui Miao Huanshu Pavilion. Then the Pavilion Master saved his life using the Seven-color Sacred Fruit..."

Zhan Qingfeng was reciting the records about Mo Junye, who possessed the elusive Qingling body type within Huanshu Pavilion.

"Yes indeed, exactly as described. But what's strange about it?" Zhan Yushu shouted loudly.

"What do you mean 'exactly'? Think carefully... When this boy competed with us earlier, how could he possibly look like an impoverished rustic in terms of both his skills with literature and art, or even his demeanor and expressions?"

These past few days, Zhan Qingfeng had been haunted by that scene. Through persistent contemplation, he finally uncovered something.

"This doesn't necessarily prove anything," said Zhan Yushu, "Maybe he learned it all from his master."

"His teacher was just a Dixin cultivator!"

Zhan Qingfeng snorted: "Even if his cultivation were divine, how much could such an individual truly teach? Yushu, we grew up in the Zhan family estate. We began learning these things before even speaking properly. Self, would you say your skills surpass Mo Junye's? Is there any aspect where you can match him?"

"That's nothing special. He has that Qingling body type! Naturally his talent is higher," said Zhan Yushu dismissively.

"Though the Qingling body type is a legendary rarity for cultivating Qi, it doesn't make one omnipotent! Even according to ancient records about the Nine's first prodigy, he paled in comparison with Mo Junye's multifaceted talents!"

Zhan Qingfeng spoke coldly: "But what age was that Nine prodigy at? And yet Mo Junye is only eighteen years old—already transcending the realm of talent. He's a complete genius!"

"So you're saying... Elder Brother, are you actually questioning his identity?" Zhan Yushu asked suspiciously.

"Hehe... It isn't just my suspicion."

Zhan Qingfeng laughed coldly: "Many people in Huanshu Pavilion have doubted this 'Qingling body type's' true origins. I'm even convinced many have already sent out agents to investigate..."

Upon hearing these words, Jing Moxie felt a jolt in his heart. He thought: My actions yesterday were indeed too ostentatious... A boy with the legendary Qingling body type who excels equally at literature, calligraphy, chess, painting—and even gambling—is bound to raise suspicions among those with eyes open...

But back then, the Zhan brothers had unleashed venomous strategies against him. If he had retreated, aside from severe consequences, it would have gone completely against his nature. The root cause? These two bastards created this mess!

"Not long ago, there were rumors about a miraculous genius in Xuanxuan Continent! This boy is only seventeen or eighteen years old yet has already dared to challenge the Three Sacred Lands multiple times. He dominates the entire Xuanxuan Continent and recently reclaimed Heaven's Punishment Forest by himself. The infamous death trap of Heaven's Punishment Forest became his private stronghold. Even more, just a few days ago he declared himself the Lord of Darkness, leading hundreds of saints and masters to battle against the Three Sacred Lands—and won decisively!"

Zhan Qingfeng's eyes gleamed with icy light: "It is said this seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth has already surpassed third-level sacred emperors! He personally killed Second-Level Saint Star Zhan Mubai from Duan Shihuang Palace when he unleashed forbidden techniques. And yet, the young man managed to escape unscathed!"

Zhan Yushu's lips felt dry as he licked them hesitantly: "Elder Brother, aren't you talking about that Jing Moxie?"

"Exactly! That's Jing Moxie," Zhan Qingfeng sneered. "At such a young age with such achievements—since ancient times only one person has matched this record. Even the Nine prodigy would have been far behind him at that age. This is truly unparalleled talent—one without equal in history!"

Zhan Yushu sighed dejectedly: "No matter how high his accomplishments, he's naturally earned them through ability... Why are you bringing up this person now? Elder Brother, I'm not being arrogant when I say we're no match for such a figure."

Though Zhan Yushu considered himself talented, compared to the monstrous "Lord of Darkness," he felt utterly insignificant. There was even no trace of jealousy left—only profound despair led him to speak these heartfelt words...

"You're right—it's an undeniable fact. But do you know that this Lord of Darkness Jing Moxie also possesses incredible talents beyond cultivation? Poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, literature, and every other art—all mastered!"

Zhan Qingfeng's eyes shone: "Just before, in the famous Xingchen City of Xuanxuan Continent, he disguised himself as Dongfang Dashu and composed on the spot that piece you always love listening to..."

"The Ballad of Laughter Across the World! So it was him who created this piece!" Zhan Yushu exclaimed with appreciation.

"And Mo Junye... his first appearance was also in Xingchen City!" said Zhan Qingfeng, slowly forming a line of reasoning through deduction: "Yushu, do you notice any similarities between this legendary prodigy—the Lord of Darkness—and our long-standing adversary—Mo Junye, the genius with the Qingling body type? If so, how much?"

Wisdom may sometimes overlook something obvious while foolishness may occasionally stumble upon it. Though Zhan Qingfeng wasn't exactly wise here, he was precisely right in this absurd speculation and coincidentally uncovered Jing Moxie's true identity!

"What? You're suspecting him to be... Impossible!" Zhan Yushu shouted anxiously, springing up.

"How is that impossible! I'm questioning his very identity!" Zhan Qingfeng interrupted harshly: "This Lord of Darkness might just be Mo Junye himself!"

"This... how can it possibly be true? These two are worlds apart—far too different!" said Zhan Yushu, eyes wide with disbelief.

"They say the Lord of Darkness at least possesses sacred emperor-level cultivation, maybe even higher! What is Mo Junye?"

"Such a gap is trivial," said Zhan Qingfeng calmly. "There are countless ways to conceal one's strength—both known and unknown. Methods to alter appearances are also numerous beyond count! Everyone knows how illusions work; it all depends on the trick itself."

After careful consideration, Zhan Qingfeng insisted: "I've thought about this thoroughly. Other than this seemingly impossible explanation, I simply cannot understand why such a divine genius appears twice in the same era!"

"Mo Junye... Lord of Darkness Jing Moxie..."

Zhan Yushu murmured these names, then suddenly shuddered violently as he realized something: "Of course! Mo Junye must be Jing Moxie! How could I have never noticed before? Elder Brother, let's compare the two names..."

"Mo Junye... Jing Moxie. Rearranging those three characters in any order will give you 'Mo Junye'!"

Zhan Yushu cried excitedly: "No wonder this Qingling-type cultivator was so incredible—it is him! Now all of his previous mysterious feats suddenly make perfect sense!"

(To be continued)