Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 182 In one move, it’s over! Contest for [2 more updates]

Chapter 182: 182 In one move, it’s over! Contest for [2 more updates]

In Yunjing, these centuries-old families that have been passed down for generations had inherited a practice from 300 years ago: each family was equipped with an Elders Council.

Those who wanted to become elders relied on their strength; everything had to be settled with fists.

The position of an elder was not easy to hold, as one had to constantly beware of challenges from newcomers. Once defeated in a challenge, one would have to step down from the position of elder.

However, inner strength was indeed linked to the time spent cultivating it, so, under normal circumstances, older practitioners typically had higher martial cultivation than the younger ones.

Within the Elders Council, the Fourth Elder was ranked fourth. There were three other elders above him, so he never worried about being replaced.

Only, he had grown old, and indeed his martial cultivation could no longer advance. These past few years he had been living off dividends and retiring.

But how could all of his inner strength have disappeared?!

What kind of bizarre technique was this?

A tremendous fear exploded in the heart of the Fourth Elder, and he tried to gather his inner strength continuously, but his limbs were limp and powerless, utterly unable to muster any force.

He looked up in panic, yet he still couldn’t see where the person had come from.

At that moment, the wind also stopped, leaving only leaves scattered on the ground.

But the Fourth Elder wasn’t foolish; he hadn’t failed to hear the words just said—

"You say, how would I replace you?"

Yan Tingfeng!

The pupils of the Fourth Elder shrank sharply. It must be this man who looks as if he had albinism!

But now was not the time to assign blame, but to figure out what he should do?

With his inner strength dispersed, he was no better than a disabled person. If someone were to challenge him at this time, he would certainly be rolled down from his position as an elder!

"Someone come!" The Fourth Elder suppressed his panic and made a decisive call to the guards, "I have suddenly gained enlightenment and need to go into seclusion for a while. Do not allow anyone to disturb me."

"Yes, Fourth Elder." The guard saluted and was about to leave when a voice sounded.

It was Xiang Shaoyu: "Fourth Elder, father and the Great Elder have both returned. Come with me to see them."

"Your elder... "

"It will only take a few minutes to meet, it won’t delay your seclusion," Xiang Shaoyu said.

Without a reason to refuse, the Fourth Elder could only follow Xiang Shaoyu, trying his best to conceal the turmoil in his heart.

However, all his efforts were transparent in front of Patriarch Xiang and the Great Elder.

The Great Elder suddenly looked at the Fourth Elder: "Old Four, where has your cultivation gone?"

"What?" Xiang Shaoyu was also full of surprise and doubt.

"Patriarch, Great Elder, I deeply suspect that this Yan Tingfeng is from the Demon Sect. My inner strength hasn’t disappeared, it must have been devoured by him!" The voice of the Fourth Elder became shrill, "The Demon Sect has actually been passed down. It must be eradicated!"

"Fourth Elder, do you think we’re still in the era of the Jianghu Martial World strife three hundred years ago?" Xiang Shaoyu sneered, "Beiming Sect is the Beiming Sect. What Demon Sect?"

"The Beiming Sect is essentially the Demon Sect. What’s wrong with what your elder said?" The Fourth Elder’s anger burned like a raging fire, "Only the Beiming Arts are so treacherous and despicable. Righteous people will never use it, Patriarch, you must investigate thoroughly!"

"Enough!" Patriarch Xiang shouted, "Fourth Elder, there is no sign of any external force invading your body. You’d better think carefully about whether there was an error in your practice that led to the dispersal of inner strength."

However, the Great Elder, stroking his beard and shaking his head, said, "But what Old Four said makes sense. According to the records in the Scripture Pavilion, the Beiming Great Method of the Beiming Sect can indeed absorb other people’s cultivation."

"Great Elder, that’s a realm that one can only reach at the Ninth Layer," Xiang Shaoyu said. "Let alone that we haven’t even found any traces of the tradition of the Penglai and Beiming Sects, even if there were, no one could cultivate to the Ninth Layer."

Time was a constraint that lay before them, unless one was the Supreme Martial Arts Master who could unify the Jianghu thousands of years ago.

"Indeed, Shaoyu is right," the Great Elder said indifferently. "Old Four, you can leave the Elders Council now. Tomorrow we will elect a new elder."

"Big brother!" The Fourth Elder’s eyes almost burst with anger, "I have been framed!"

But the Great Elder paid no heed to his roar, turning away and leaving.

Soon a guard approached, taking the distraught Fourth Elder away.

"This Yan Tingfeng, what kind of background does he have?" Patriarch Xiang asked, "Isn’t he a Rong Family member?"

"I don’t know," Xiang Shaoyu shook his head. "But it was indeed Rong Qi who introduced me to him. He’s a very decent person, really magnanimous!"

Patriarch Xiang had also heard from Xiang Shaoyu about how Yan Tingfeng had used a dragon-shaped ornament in exchange for some armor shards, and he nodded, "Then we should treat our friend well, don’t mistreat him."

**

Elsewhere, at Yunjing Central Hospital.

Professor Xue looked resentfully at the now empty fruit basket Professor Foo had finished eating, feeling too weak to hit him.

Professor Foo picked up another peach, grinning and showing off with a wide mouth.

Just then, the door was pushed open, and Ye Wanlan walked in.

Professor Xue immediately leaned back on the bed, ""

"Professor Xue, I’ve secured a compensation of eight million for you," Ye Wanlan approached, holding out a bank card, "It has all been deposited onto this card, which can serve as research funding."

"What? Eight million?" Professor Xue’s voice shot up sharply, "How did you secure it? Did the Xiang Family really pay?"

Ye Wanlan was very succinct in her response, "I used my mouth to secure it."

Professor Xue: "..."

Why didn’t he have such persuasive skills?

"How could the Xiang Family give both the compensation and the dagger?" Professor Xue muttered, "This doesn’t fit their usual way of doing things."

"It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fit," Ye Wanlan said nonchalantly, "I can help them establish a new way of doing things."

Professor Xue gleefully accepted the bank card, "Old Foo, now that I’ve got this additional research funding, I’ll start the research before you. Don’t be too jealous now."

Professor Foo: "..."

He would definitely not be jealous!

"Knock, knock, knock."

The door to the ward was knocked on once again as Yan Tingfeng walked in, accompanied by Bing He and Tie Ma, carrying two large boxes of health supplements.

"Hey hey, stop giving me gifts!" Professor Xue exclaimed in distress, "At this time, any gifts you bring will just end up in Old Foo’s stomach."

"These are just material possessions, not very valuable," Yan Tingfeng said with a faint smile, "Both professors have made substantial contributions to Shenzhou’s archaeological endeavors, it’s only right for me to give a little more."

Ye Wanlan turned her head, "Have you resolved the matter?"

She certainly knew that Yan Tingfeng didn’t leave without reason but had gone to attend to something important.

"Yeah, it’s settled now; without inner strength, he can no longer be this elder," Tingfeng said lightly, "Miss Ye taught me the principle of ’winning without a fight,’ which is a very good lesson."

"Winning without a fight is indeed very good," Ye Wanlan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile laced with deep meaning, "Young Master Yan seems to understand quite a lot."

The fastest way to bring down an elder was to dissipate his inner strength.

This technique was not unique to the Beiming Sect; Mount Penglai also had similar methods and arts.

But combined with the previous incident in Wanta Country, she could now be sure that Yan Tingfeng was indeed an inheritor of the Beiming Sect, and a core one at that.

Upon hearing this, Yan Tingfeng turned his head slightly, "Isn’t Miss Ye similar?"

Professor Xue felt very confused, "What kind of riddles are you two speaking in? What’s this about inner strength and winning without a fight? Is there a new martial arts novel or TV show?"

Outsiders could only see the Xiang Family’s power and wealth; they weren’t aware that the true heritage of Shenzhou’s martial arts had indeed been passed down.

"Professor, it’s nothing; we were just joking around," Ye Wanlan smiled, "I plan to stay in Yunjing for another day. I’ll leave after tomorrow’s auction event; it might be a long time before I come to Yunjing again."

"No problem, I can visit you in Jiangcheng," Professor Xue said cheerfully, "The bureau granted me leave to rest for a while."

Ye Wanlan nodded and continued chatting about history with Professor Xue before leaving.

**

This auction was not open to the public, only inviting a few major families and influential powers of Yunjing.

Ye Wanlan held an admission ticket given to her by Curator Xiang, located in Zone D.

After a while, Yan Tingfeng arrived, followed by Rong Yu, Xiang Yuefeng, and Xiang Shaoyu.

Ye Wanlan was somewhat surprised, "Why are you all here too?"

"Ah, I’m just a free agent; the Rong Family’s affairs are not my responsibility," Rong Yu said casually, "Moreover, my parents aren’t interested in the auction, and my elder brother, like the Supreme Elder, only likes to look at the stars. Our family’s box has been empty for years on end."

Xiang Yuefeng was concise, "Wherever Miss Ye is, that’s where my home is!"

Xiang Shaoyu: "..."

Crazy.

"Miss Ye mentioned yesterday that she intended to bid on the Withered Wood Dragon Chant Zither, and I just couldn’t be at ease," Xiang Shaoyu explained, "If there really is a competition, the Lin Family Main House might not even let Miss Ye leave the auction house. It’s safer to have an extra person in the box."

"Thanks," Ye Wanlan said with a faint smile, "But I’ve already made my preparations."

Because of Lin Weilan, a clash with the Lin Family Main House was inevitable sooner or later.

It was better to face them sooner to gather more intelligence.

Just then, a voice resonated throughout the venue.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you know, this Withered Wood Dragon Chant Zither is a treasure of Heavenly Sound Sect. Our Lin Family has been searching for this artifact for many years and is finally able to see it. Please show some consideration at this auction and allow the Lin Family to successfully bid for this item."

Anyone who competes with the Lin Family for the Withered Wood Dragon Chant Zither today is going against the entire Lin Family and Lin Shiyuan!