The Eight Empresses Betrayed Me, Only to Deeply Regret It After Being Reborn

Chapter 17:

The competition was progressing in full swing.

“This generation has indeed produced some exceptional talents,” said Vice Sect Master Ji Changming, his tone filled with admiration.

“Indeed, especially those from Bailan Peak—it’s almost absurd,” another elder chimed in.

“With Yue Hongling, Chu Ling, and Lu Ye, Bai Shimei doesn’t just excel at cultivation; her ability to guide disciples is equally remarkable.”

“Looks like the battle for the championship is going to be a fierce one.”

“Not necessarily,” another elder said with a smirk.

“Oh? Why not?” Ji Changming asked, intrigued.

“They’re strong, no doubt about it. But their emotions run a bit too deep, don’t you think? Look at Chu Ling—her entire focus is on Lu Ye. If he weren’t keeping his distance, she’d likely already be clinging to him.”

Ji Changming fell silent.

“And Yue Hongling? In this short span, she’s glanced at Lu Ye no less than thirty times.”

Ji Changming… still silent.

“And as for Bai Shimei…”

“What about her?” Ji Changming asked, his brows furrowing.

“While she hasn’t looked at Lu Ye directly, you can see her head subtly tilting in his direction. Every time she almost turns to face him, she forcibly stops herself. That’s something I can’t quite understand.”

Ji Changming sighed deeply, scanning his surroundings as if to confirm something.

“Ji Shixiong, what are you looking for?” an elder asked.

“I’m just trying to figure out whether I’m still in the Dao Sect or if I’ve somehow wandered into the Sect of Harmonious Joy.”

The rounds continued, eliminating half the contestants after each. There was no break before the second round commenced.

Each time, Lu Ye, Chu Ling, and Yue Hongling stepped onto the stage, they dispatched their opponents with a single move. Their overwhelming strength left other contestants, even former favorites, eclipsed and stunned. Inwardly, many cursed them as freaks of nature.

After all, these were cultivators reborn as emperors. With unparalleled experience and mastery of techniques, they utterly crushed their contemporaries.

The third round brought even more thrilling battles, eliciting cheers and applause. Yue Hongling and Chu Ling’s matches, in particular, drew immense excitement. But when it was Lu Ye’s turn, the entire crowd would fall eerily silent, as though on cue.

Lu Ye remained indifferent to this reaction. His next opponent was a prodigy named Li Jiumin, the top disciple of Wen Dao Peak and a strong contender for the championship.

“I don’t believe you can defeat me with just one punch…” Li Jiumin began, but before he could finish, Lu Ye’s punch was already upon him.

The fist imprint, radiating immense power, approached with a speed that left no time for thought. Li Jiumin quickly formed hand seals, summoning a yellow shield engraved with intricate runes—the Turtle Spirit Shield, renowned for its exceptional defense.

But the moment the fist collided with the shield, cracks spread across it like a spiderweb. With a resounding shatter, the shield broke, and the force sent Li Jiumin flying off the stage.

The audience erupted into chaos.

Li Jiumin, a 4th stage Core Formation Realm cultivator and Wen Dao Peak’s prized disciple, had been defeated in a single blow. How could Lu Ye be this strong?

“This guy’s a monster—an absolute monster! I’m starting to understand why Chu Ling is so obsessed with him.”

“Forget obsessed! Lu Ye’s strength makes him stand out from every other disciple. No one can compete with him!”

“Bai Shimei’s teaching is incredible. I wonder if I can still switch to Bailan Peak?”

Lu Ye’s name now echoed throughout the competition, leaving a deep impression on everyone.

By the fourth round, only a dozen contestants remained, and matches progressed quickly. This time, Lu Ye was pitted against Yue Hongling.

The crowd buzzed with anticipation. 

Finally, two titans would clash. Both had won all their matches effortlessly, and their true strength remained a mystery. The audience could hardly wait to witness the showdown.

Yue Hongling’s brows furrowed. 

Facing Lu Ye? 

Ridiculous. 

She couldn’t possibly defeat him. Yet admitting defeat outright left a bitter taste. As a Yuan Dan cultivator, shouldn’t she at least give it a shot?

As previous matches wrapped up, anticipation grew. Chu Ling continued her streak of swift victories, demonstrating unparalleled strength.

Finally, it was time for Lu Ye and Yue Hongling to face off.

“Shixiong, please guide me. But let’s set one rule: no hitting the face,” Yue Hongling said playfully, standing across from Lu Ye. Her red battle dress accentuated her perfect figure, her long legs flawless and radiant.

Lu Ye smiled faintly and immediately threw a punch aimed squarely at her face.

“Hey! I said no hitting the face!” Yue Hongling cried out, her annoyance evident. But she didn’t back down. Activating her Eternal Reversal Sutra, she summoned her true essence, unleashing a punch of her own.

The clash was monumental. Yue Hongling’s punch carried the unstoppable courage of the Fearless Emperor’s Divine Fist, colliding head-on with Lu Ye’s fist imprint.

BOOM!

The impact shattered her attack instantly. The overwhelming force surged forward, striking Yue Hongling square in the face.

With a loud thud, Yue Hongling was sent flying. Her beautiful face, now adorned with a bright red blush, was a sight to behold. Blood dripped from her nose, and tears welled in her eyes.

“Damn you, Shixiong! You’ll pay for this!” she wailed.

Lu Ye ignored her outburst entirely. 

Was she even worthy of challenging him?

The audience gasped collectively. 

Seeing Yue Hongling’s pitiful state, many were left dumbfounded.

“Unbelievable! He really doesn’t hold back against women.”

“Maybe we’ve misunderstood Lu Ye. He doesn’t seem interested in these women at all. If he had even a shred of compassion, he wouldn’t have hit Yue Hongling like that.”

“You know what? That actually makes sense. If he’s only focused on the Dao and not on romance, these women chasing after him must be driving him crazy.”

“I’m starting to think Lu Ye’s actually the victim here.”

“Can you imagine not liking women, only the Dao, and having two women constantly hovering around you, trying to become your Dao companions? What would you do?”

“Well… if the women were Yue Hongling and Chu Ling, I’d be fine with it!”

“Get out of here!”

“I’m telling you, boys need to protect themselves when they’re out in the world!”

Lu Ye had no idea that his single punch had completely altered his reputation. Truly, sigma males are unparalleled.

Yue Hongling, gritting her teeth, returned to Bailan’s side, her face still flushed with embarrassment. Sun Ruowei watched, her mind spinning with thoughts.

“So Yue Hongling likes Lu Ye too?”

‘Bailan Peak, what secrets are you hiding?’ Sun Ruowei thought to herself. Yue Hongling seemed the easiest to approach, making her the perfect starting point for investigating the truth.