Chapter 114: Broken Dao Heart

The Crimson-Robed Daoist's expression subtly changed upon hearing Gong Xiangyu's words, and he seemed to nod in satisfaction.

"What about you?" he then asked Chen Mobai, turning his head.

"Jumang Daoist Academy, I suppose."

"Oh, your tone suggests you chose it reluctantly. Why? Do the Four Great Daoist Academies hold no appeal for you?" The Crimson-Robed Daoist was somewhat surprised. He was quite interested in Chen Mobai, who was the only Qi Cultivation Level 7 in this round.

"I have a friend going to Jumang Daoist Academy, and I'm a bit worried about her being there alone," Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment, then chose a very simple and unpretentious reason.

As soon as he spoke, hundreds of students below the stage erupted in an uproar.

Gong Xiangyu, who had just loudly declared his lofty ambitions before the Golden Core Daoist, felt utterly defeated in that very moment.

It was common knowledge that Danxia City had a Heavenly Spiritual Root who was guaranteed admission to Jumang Daoist Academy this year.

"Old Chen is too romantic," Lu Hongsheng, who had specifically come to cheer for Chen Mobai, finally understood after hearing these words why Chen Mobai could win the favor of a Heavenly Spiritual Root. This level of awareness and understanding was something he could never learn in his lifetime.

To think of declaring one's feelings for a girlfriend on such a grand stage, in response to a Golden Core Daoist's question – Chen Mobai was absolutely the first person to do so since the founding of the Immortal Sect.

But they had no idea that Chen Mobai had no such intention. He simply couldn't think of a good enough reason. Saying it was for his parents' hopes or his relatives' expectations would have been too bland, and it would have seemed even more insignificant compared to Gong Xiangyu's soaring ambition of becoming a God Transformation cultivator. Chen Mobai had considered many reasons, but none felt like they could surpass Gong Xiangyu's grand aspiration of "achieving Dao Transformation." Since he was going to be overshadowed by Gong Xiangyu anyway, he might as well follow his heart and choose a reason he had once promised Qing Nü.

However, he was completely unaware that as soon as he offered this reason, Gong Xiangyu's Dao Heart nearly shattered. "This is too devastating!" Gong Xiangyu thought. "This fellow is so cunning; the fight hasn't even begun, yet he's already attacking my morale with his words." Gong Xiangyu cautioned himself to remain calm, and the method of Spirit Refinement slowly circulated, allowing his tumultuous emotions to subside and his mind to regain tranquility.

"Indeed, young man, are you aware that each Grotto-heaven and Blessed Land within the Four Great Daoist Academies only accepts one person at most? If you wish to go to Jumang Daoist Academy, your friend might not be able to." The Crimson-Robed Daoist suddenly said this, causing Chen Mobai to freeze in surprise. He truly hadn't known about this rule for the Four Great Daoist Academies' admissions.

Outside the arena, Shang Qing's lips twitched. She wanted to say that even if there was a conflict between the two, Jumang Daoist Academy would certainly choose Qing Nü over Chen Mobai, but with the Crimson-Robed Daoist present, she thought better of it and chose to remain silent.

"Then Butian Daoist Academy it is." Unable to go to Jumang Daoist Academy, Chen Mobai thought for a moment and chose another one.

"Why?" "Why are you asking so many 'whys'!" If the person in front of him hadn't been a Golden Core Daoist, Chen Mobai really wouldn't have wanted to answer.

"More than half of the masters of the Immortal Sect's Three Great Halls are from Butian Daoist Academy. I hope that in the future, I can take charge of the Immortal Sect, with billions of cultivators moving at my command. Going to Butian Daoist Academy makes this path the simplest to achieve."

Compared to Gong Xiangyu's "achieving Dao Transformation," Chen Mobai felt his desire to become the "Master of the Immortal Sect" was still a bit mundane.

"So, in his heart, Qing Nü's status is even higher than that of the Master of the Immortal Sect!" Below the stage, Lu Hongsheng once again felt his own understanding was inferior. Looking at Chen Mobai, if these words were attributed to any girl, knowing that her place in a man's heart was even higher than the Master of the Immortal Sect, she would probably be so thrilled she'd faint.

Gong Xiangyu felt his painstakingly mended Dao Heart crack open again. He felt it was impossible for him to ever snatch Qing Nü away from Chen Mobai. This man's strategy of undermining morale was too insidious and venomous.

"Hahaha, an interesting young man." The Crimson-Robed Daoist finally stopped asking questions. He laughed heartily, then flew up, leaving the stage to Chen Mobai and Gong Xiangyu.

"This person's scores are too low; it would be difficult for our academy to accept him," the Butian Daoist Academy representative in the white suit quietly said, bowing his head slightly after the Crimson-Robed Daoist returned.

"I know, I won't interfere." The Crimson-Robed Daoist's words made the Butian Daoist Academy representative sigh in relief. He had been worried that this Golden Core Daoist, valuing talent, would want to secure Chen Mobai's admission to Butian Daoist Academy.

Golden Core Daoists of the Immortal Sect possessed a very special privilege: they could unconditionally guarantee one student's admission to one of the Four Great Daoist Academies. This privilege could only be used once in a lifetime. As the Crimson-Robed Daoist was still young and had no descendants, he had kept this privilege unused.

Upon hearing his words, Lan Haitian and Shang Qing also breathed a sigh of relief. If the Crimson-Robed Daoist had insisted on using his privilege, even a Heavenly Spiritual Root would not have been able to secure that academy admission slot. Among the academies, Kunpeng Daoist Academy, being the most renowned, was always the first choice for Golden Core Daoists to place students. Shang Qing, in particular, feared losing the Heavenly Spiritual Root they had secured due to such a dramatic turn of events, only for it to be snatched up by one of the other three Great Daoist Academies. After the Crimson-Robed Daoist made his stance clear, all three of them relaxed and confidently turned their attention to the sparring match.

Meanwhile, the representatives of the Ten Great Academies began to whisper among themselves, discussing what conditions they should offer to recruit Chen Mobai once he was eliminated.

"It has begun." Gong Xiangyu clenched his right fist, and air currents swirled around him. A faint, scaly phantom, resembling a snake's body yet also a dragon's tail, accompanied his movement, forcefully slamming into Chen Mobai.

Chen Mobai activated a Wood Shield Talisman, but the moment the green shield appeared, it was shattered into countless splinters by the terrifying force of the punch. Amidst the dust, faint serpentine shadows, like flickering tongues, emerged, carrying a terrifying, tearing power that pierced into Chen Mobai's neck.

"Spirit Control Art!" Lan Haitian's eyes gleamed as he witnessed this scene. Kunpeng Daoist Academy had a hidden reputation as the foremost academy in the world, not only for its Six Control Scriptures but also because its founding ancestor, after his passing, left behind a giant Kun spiritual beast of the God Transformation level to guard it. Kunpeng Daoist Academy was also the Immortal Sect's premier beast-taming lineage. This Gong Xiangyu truly had a resolute heart for cultivation; he had actually cultivated the Spirit Control Art, which was the most difficult path in beast taming but also promised the greatest future achievements.

"This spirit beast, which is compatible with his divine sense, should be at the second tier. If he can form a Golden Core in the future, he might even exhibit the appearance of a transforming dragon," the Crimson-Robed Daoist commented. Lan Haitian nodded slightly. Having originally held some hope for Chen Mobai, he now knew, after witnessing Gong Xiangyu's Spirit Control Art, that this match was likely unwinnable for Chen Mobai.

*Whirl!* Just then, a strange sound of rippling water emerged. Chen Mobai's figure reappeared from the dust. Around his neck, a swirling current had mysteriously appeared, like a soft water shield. Through its continuous rotation and dissipation, it completely neutralized the terrifying punch from Gong Xiangyu, a blow several times stronger than what a human body could withstand.