Chapter Fifty-Five: Did You Really Think Senior Brother Wang Lacks Cunning?

Sole Will Sect, the First Mountain of the Southern Bank.

Witnessing the scene before them, countless onlookers could not help but sigh in amazement.

Who could have imagined that Xu Ke, notorious for his ferocity, would be utterly defeated despite using every trick at his disposal?

And Wang Ran, whom no one had held in high regard, revealed overwhelming strength, crushing his way forward like a raging storm.

Xu Ke’s robe was stained with blood, and he looked utterly wretched. Even kneeling before Wang Ran, his massive frame was still as tall as Wang Ran standing, yet he could not lift a single finger in resistance.

In contrast, the elegant youth before him stood calmly, a faint smile on his lips, his bearing as composed as ever. It was as if he had just returned from a leisurely outing, not a brutal battle.

Clearly, Wang Ran had not even revealed his full power; he still held cards in reserve.

But Xu Ke had exhausted every means at his disposal. Not only was he utterly drained, but Wang Ran’s heavy punch had left him gravely wounded—he was now powerless to resist.

Defeat…

Xu Ke was dazed, unable to believe what had happened, gasping for breath.

Wang Ran, however, gave him no time to react. With a flick of his palm, a dagger gleaming with cold light materialized in his hand.

“Haha, a bet is a bet, Xu Ke. Now, shall I take your left eye or your right?”

Wang Ran laughed, looking skyward. Though he posed the question, he did not wait for Xu Ke’s reply; the dagger in his hand flashed toward Xu Ke’s eye with blinding speed.

A clamor broke out among the disciples. None had expected Wang Ran to be so ruthless, to gouge out an eye without hesitation or mercy.

Many of the female disciples cried out in alarm and quickly turned away, afraid to see the bloody spectacle, while the little junior sister squeezed her bright eyes shut in fright.

As the dagger came ever closer, Xu Ke’s gigantic frame tensed like a drawn bow, his mind going utterly blank.

Though he was known as the Overbearing Elephant and famed for his savage might within the Sole Will Sect, in this moment he finally understood the meaning of fear.

Fear is instinctive—no matter how arrogant you’ve been, when death descends, it surges through your heart like a tidal wave.

Xu Ke had faced life-and-death struggles before, but even then, he’d never been this afraid. Death, after all, is but an instant—one’s head touching the earth, and it’s over.

At the brink of life and death, he did not fear; instead, his fighting spirit would ignite, giving him a sliver of hope.

But this was different. Now, powerless to resist, he awaited the cruel fate of having his eye gouged out.

The mere thought of the dagger swirling in his eye socket, leaving behind a dark, gaping hole, made his heart clench painfully.

True, cultivators could evolve and regenerate limbs, even seize another’s body to survive after destruction—but that was the realm of the truly powerful.

Xu Ke, however, was only at the Foundation Establishment stage. He was far from wielding such world-turning abilities. If he lost an eye today, he would be a one-eyed man for a long time to come.

Amidst the flashing blades and flying swords, as countless thoughts raced through Xu Ke’s mind, the chilling dagger reflected in his pupil grew ever larger—more terrifying still.

That instant seemed endless to Xu Ke. Just as his heart leapt to his throat, the expected pain did not come.

“Huff… huff…”

Xu Ke gulped down the air of the living, cold sweat pouring down his body as he gazed at the dagger’s tip mere hairs from his pupil.

But the dagger’s master simply twisted his wrist and withdrew the blade.

Wang Ran smiled coolly, looking down from above, and patted Xu Ke’s shoulder with gentle kindness. “Brother Xu, you are a pride of the Sole Will Sect, a pillar of the future. How could I truly harm you? As long as you don’t trouble me anymore, I’ll be content.”

Xu Ke was stunned. Looking at the youth before him—seemingly humble, yet radiating an imperial dominance—he felt not only gratitude for being spared, but a faint stir of awe.

“Xiaobai, let’s go.”

Wang Ran no longer spared him a glance. Calling to Zhao Xiaobai and the junior sister, he swept his sleeve and departed under the gaze of the crowd.

Xu Ke remained kneeling, dazed, lost in thought.

Around them, the disciples marveled in astonishment.

“Wang Ran actually let him go?”

“He toyed with Xu Ke as easily as if he were playing a tune—what an artful hand!”

“Unfathomable, truly unfathomable!”

“Those few laughs just now—so confident, so arrogant! Senior Brother Wang deserves to be the Sole Will Sect’s foremost genius!”

“Wow, how can Senior Brother Wang be so charming? It’s almost unbearable!”

Voices rose one after another. The inner and outer disciples, already awed by Wang Ran, were now utterly convinced by Xu Ke’s defeat, seeing Wang Ran as a figure of inscrutable power.

Only a few other prodigies flashed thoughtful glances at Xu Ke before quietly departing.

Elsewhere.

High in the sky, Wang Ran and his companions soared atop their swords, spiritual energy shielding them from the rushing wind.

Zhao Xiaobai tapped his folding fan, exclaiming, “Brother Wang, that was truly masterful. Your command of others is extraordinary.”

Wang Ran, standing on another great sword, glanced at him with a faint smile. He said nothing, but the meaning was clear.

The junior sister’s gaze flitted between the two, perplexed. Finally, she couldn’t help but ask, “Hey, what are you two smiling about? I don’t understand at all.”

Seeing her innocent expression, Zhao Xiaobai chuckled, “Junior Sister, clever as you are, you’re still a bit naïve. Do you really think your Senior Brother Wang is without cunning?”

She blinked, staring at Wang Ran’s back—grinning foolishly atop the sword, radiating pride—and felt even more confused.

Zhao Xiaobai sighed and patiently explained.

It turned out that Wang Ran’s wager with Xu Ke was no sudden impulse, but a carefully laid plan.

The three of them were new to the Hall of Enforcement, their foundation shallow. To establish themselves, they needed to build their own power as Ye Cang had. Xu Ke’s appearance was a golden opportunity; to others, he was a raging elephant, but to them, he was a fattened lamb.

If they could win Xu Ke to their side, they would possess the force needed to deter petty rivals and secure their place in the hall.

But Xu Ke was proud and ambitious—how could he willingly serve another? Otherwise, with his strength, the four great alliances would have vied to recruit him.

For such an arrogant genius, only extraordinary measures would suffice.

The battle on the Southern Bank presented the perfect opportunity. Wang Ran first proposed the wager with seeming casualness—and set the stakes high. The threat of having one’s eye gouged out would make even Xu Ke think twice.

Then, seeing Xu Ke hesitate, Wang Ran deliberately provoked him. With Xu Ke’s temperament, he could not back down.

At that moment, Wang Ran displayed overwhelming strength, giving Xu Ke no time to recover. He struck ruthlessly, feigning a move to gouge out both eyes.

Having suffered defeat and despair, Xu Ke was then shown Wang Ran’s merciless side, filling him with fear.

In that instant, regret surely bloomed in Xu Ke’s heart, for even the lowliest creature clings to life—who would truly wish to lose an eye?

At the very last moment, Wang Ran then withdrew his blade and spoke kindly—applying both pressure and favor. Gratitude would naturally arise in Xu Ke’s heart, leaving him with only one wish: to follow Wang Ran.

A slap, then a sweet date—simple, but the most effective way to win someone’s loyalty. Wang Ran’s approach was simply more “forceful” than most.

But the result was just as remarkable.

Meanwhile, as Wang Ran and the others departed, news of the battle spread among the disciples.

The Southern Bank battle—Xu Ke was defeated!

All who heard were astonished beyond belief.