The Gambit of Time

A cloying, sweet warmth surged into Qing You’s throat, immediately bringing with it a profound realization.

Despite her meticulous planning, the intricate layers of her scheme, and even her calculated move to use Qiu Yue as a trump card, she never anticipated being outmaneuvered so abruptly.

Nor had she foreseen such ruthless self-harm, enduring the heart-rending, bone-piercing agony of severed meridians as if it were nothing.

‘Hah… excellent… truly excellent…’

Such an exceptional disciple did not stir any hatred within Qing You towards Lin Mo; rather, it ignited a profound admiration.

What she regretted most was her past failure to bring Lin Mo under her own wing, inadvertently allowing Mu Qingli to claim such a prodigious talent, all for the sake of a petty jibe.

‘This time, I concede defeat, Lin Wan’er.’

Qing You’s gaze lingered on Lin Mo, but upon catching sight of Mu Qingli sitting silently behind him, a surge of fury ignited within her.

‘Why… why does this person get all the good fortune?’

Yet, to passively await defeat was never Qing You’s way.

Just as she gathered her thoughts anew, preparing to speak—

He bowed deeply once more to Xian Chengyue, his posture exceedingly humble, his voice imbued with the frailty and exhaustion of a severely wounded person: “However, if I failed to understand Elder Qing You, then my previous conjectures about her disciple would be as stated, painting you, Grand Elder, as a truly heinous individual.”

At that moment, Lin Mo’s tone shifted abruptly, astonishing everyone present.

Mu Qingli was practically jolted from her seat by his words, and Xian Chengyue stared at the young man before him, utterly bewildered, unable to fathom his true intentions.

‘You need not fear that old hag Qing You; with your master and the Pavilion Master present, she would not dare to lay a hand on you!’

Indeed, with these two formidable figures present, Lin Mo could feel utterly at ease.

The problem, however, was that Lin Mo knew his decision to confront them head-on relied entirely on mere speculation.

Under scrutiny, his claims would crumble, and countless points could be easily refuted.

The only reason those present hadn’t reacted yet was that he had, like a bomb-thrower, unleashed explosive revelations one after another, seizing the moment of their stunned silence to subtly guide the conversation in his desired direction.

Yet, he couldn’t push her to the point of desperation, lest she lash out recklessly.

So, what was the safest course of action?

To attribute everything to Qiu Yue’s audacious self-will.

Whether Qing You would accept this narrative remained unknown to Lin Mo.

Regardless, events had reached this juncture, and he could only adapt as circumstances demanded.

Indeed, everything was now a matter of improvisation.

“Master,” Lin Mo’s voice softened suddenly as he turned to Mu Qingli, “You once advised your disciple that while Elder Qing You’s conduct may be stringent, she genuinely regards the sect’s foundation as her very lifeblood. The flaws of this technique, she understood better than anyone. It was precisely because she could not bear to see you, Master, drained of your life force by this treacherous inheritance that she acted as she did.”

Lin Mo’s impassioned words caused Mu Qingli’s pupils to constrict sharply!

‘When had she ever uttered such words? What she had actually said was that Qing You, that old woman, desired to usurp the Sect Master’s position and destroy all of her master’s life’s work!’

Qing You, too, was utterly bewildered, her breath catching in her throat.

‘She knew Mu Qingli would never say such a thing. She simply couldn’t fathom what Lin Mo was truly trying to achieve.’

‘One moment he was condemning her to the pillar of shame for treason, and the next he was twisting truth into falsehoods, singing her praises?’

Only a faint flicker of understanding crossed Xian Chengyue’s lips.

“Fellow disciples!” Lin Mo’s voice suddenly soared, each word resonating like a falling jade, “Grand Elder Qing You deeply understands that the Bright Jade Profound Yin is a double-edged sword! It is our sect’s spiritual inheritance, yet it is also a steel blade poised at the Sect Master’s very lifeblood! Grand Elder Qing You and my master were once as close as sisters; how could she bear to see the Sect Master wither away, upholding this inheritance? And how could she tolerate sect disciples wasting their talent and lives on this flawed cultivation method? Thus, she chose to bear the infamy, secretly maneuvering, even resorting to using Qiu Yue’s hand to help me cleanse myself of the Bright Jade Profound Yin! Alas, this time, Grand Elder Qing You misjudged her instrument, unaware of Qiu Yue’s cruel heart and her audacious decision to plot my demise! This is what led to the current predicament!”

Lin Mo’s voice rose again, “But what she could never have anticipated was that my master had long ago purged these flaws, thus granting me the ability, even with this damaged body, to narrowly escape Qiu Yue’s treacherous scheme!”

Lin Mo’s eyes now blazed with a fierce, spreading fire.

Turning once more to Xian Chengyue, he declared: “Your disciple understands that the path of cultivation demands one prove oneself through personal strength. I do not fear challenges. However, I now require time to heal my wounds, to restore my vitality, and to solidify my foundation! Once my cultivation is stable, your disciple is willing, openly and honorably, before the entire sect, to demonstrate whether the Bright Jade Profound Yin still possesses flaws! I will prove whether I am worthy of the Bright Jade Profound Yin, and whether I can bear the weighty responsibility of its inheritance! I humbly implore Pavilion Master Xian and Grand Elder Qing You to grant your disciple and my master this opportunity to prove ourselves!”

These words offered Qing You a clear path to retreat gracefully, preserving her reputation, and forcibly severing her ties with Qiu Yue.

With this, Qing You found herself stripped of any further means to interfere, leaving the decision solely to Lin Mo and Qiu Yue.

Should Qiu Yue lose, Qing You would have no further justification or method to reclaim Lin Mo for herself, forced instead to watch Mu Qingli squander such an exceptional disciple.

Beyond these immediate gains, Lin Mo’s core objective was, at this very moment, laid bare and practically shouting its presence.

To gain time!

Although Lin Mo had fundamentally achieved Foundation Establishment, he had yet to complete the crucial step of spiritual energy imbuement.

His current Profound Ice and Frigid powers were merely byproducts of the Bright Jade Profound Yin.

Understandably, since his Foundation Establishment, he had continuously concealed his true strength, attempting to deceive Qiu Yue, yet his cultivation realm had remained unstable.

Furthermore, his speech was delivered with such righteous conviction, shaping him into the image of an upright disciple—one who, despite severe injuries, yearned to prove his worth through strength, disdained external assistance, and scorned underhanded schemes.

Now, Qiu Yue’s attempts to spread rumors and paint Lin Mo as utterly wicked had been nullified.

Qing You’s prior intent to bring him under her wing under the guise of ‘guiding and correcting his character’ had vanished.

While she hadn’t been checkmated, Lin Mo had effectively kicked her from her position as a ‘player on the board’.

‘Tsk…’

‘Qiu Yue’s desire for him only intensified.’

‘Yet, alas…’

Qing You’s heart was adrift in a haze of uncertainty.

Meanwhile, a subtle glint of admiration flickered in the depths of Xian Chengyue’s eyes.

‘This young man is not only ruthless enough, but he also understands compromise, knows how to build momentum, and masterfully manipulates rules and human nature!’

His plea was logical, righteous, and honorable, leaving both Qing You and Qiu Yue utterly speechless.

The disciples below began to murmur amongst themselves, a newfound respect for Lin Mo’s ‘backbone’ stirring within them.

Indeed, such an audacious challenge naturally evoked sympathy, especially when presented with such principle and responsibility.

Just then, Mu Qingli also came to her senses.

Her clear, cold voice rang out precisely at that moment, echoing distinctly like pearls clattering onto a jade plate: “Arena Master, my disciple’s request this time is indeed reasonable. Since the origins of today’s incident are complex and far-reaching, perhaps it would be best to postpone this mixed martial arts competition. This would allow Wan’er to heal his injuries and ensure that certain ill-intentioned individuals have no further pretexts to exploit.”

Xian Chengyue nodded subtly, her gaze sweeping across the entire arena before finally settling on Qing You, her eyes carrying a final warning.

Then, she announced in a clear voice: “Lin Wan’er is severely injured. For the sake of fairness, and for the future tranquility of the Hall of Clarity, this Pavilion Master hereby declares: the final mixed martial arts competition will be postponed!”

She paused briefly, her gaze once again sweeping over Qing You and Qiu Yue, as if branding them.

“As for the specific duration… Lin Wan’er, how much time do you require to fully recover and be capable of facing this battle?” This question was directed at Lin Mo, but even more so, it was a clear ultimatum for Qing You, ensuring she understood the precise timeframe.

Lin Mo’s thoughts raced.

Too little time would be insufficient for him to stabilize his Foundation Establishment realm and complete his imbuement; too much time, however, would invite complications and unforeseen troubles.

He pondered for a moment, then decisively declared:

“Your disciple… humbly requests a period of half a month!”

“Very well! It is decided!” Xian Chengyue immediately affirmed, striking the table decisively.

“In fifteen days, the Martial Practice Arena will reopen!”

Her words struck like a final gavel, definitively sealing the outcome.

Lin Mo bowed deeply.

In the instant his head was lowered, no one saw the flicker of profound relief in his eyes.

Time, finally secured!

He straightened, his gaze calmly sweeping over the dejected Qiu Yue.

The other woman slowly raised her face, beautiful still despite being smeared with blood.

In the depths of her cerulean pupils, despair and agony swirled… Lin Mo understood every emotion in her eyes.

He stepped forward, leaning down, a complex glint in his eyes.

Reaching out, he brushed Qiu Yue’s cheek, and in a voice only they could hear, he whispered, “Qiu Yue, why are you still feigning? Did you think I wouldn’t know? You regained your senses halfway through, didn’t you?”

Qiu Yue trembled.

Her vacant gaze instantly sharpened, regaining its fierce light as her madness and obsession rekindled with a vengeance.

“Oh, you truly are becoming more and more exceptional. You saw through that? My little Momo is growing so capable, aren’t they? You can even momentarily stun me into a daze now.”

No ripples stirred within Lin Mo’s heart; only a cold, unwavering resolve remained.

Lin Mo knew that for someone like Qiu Yue, the power of words had long since lost its efficacy.

Her obsession was twisted and profound, like maggots gnawing at bone.

But it didn’t matter; Qiu Yue would soon face her reckoning.

After all, she wouldn’t be so easily forgiven for plotting against a disciple.

He hoped the punishment from the Xuan Nv Sect would be severe.

Though Qiu Yue wouldn’t die, she should at least be punished for a long time, ensuring they would never meet again—

The firmament abruptly darkened!

The sea of clouds, spanning a hundred li, wildly recoiled, transforming into colossal, sky-obscuring Xuanqing lightning claws that slammed towards the Hall of Clarity!

The entire floating island swayed violently, bobbing up and down like a small boat caught in raging waves!

Thousands of disciples were flung to the ground by the gale-force winds.

“CRACKLE—”

The sect-protecting formation atop the Hall of Clarity’s dome instantly erupted with spiderweb cracks.

Amidst the flickering of countless runes, a figure wreathed in purple lightning tore through the void to arrive!

Her ink-black robes, embroidered with patterns, billowed like karmic flames.

Adorned with a jade crown and golden hairpins from which blood-red pearl-like ornaments dangled, a resplendent woman stepped through the air from the center.

Each step she took made space itself tremble; her mere passage was enough to turn the heavens upside down.

“Well, well, Xuan Nv Sect!” A thunderous roar of fury shook the disciples, causing blood to seep from their ears and noses!

“You dare to abduct my beloved daughter—”

She hovered beneath the rent sky, her chilling gaze, like a tangible blade, scraped across the ground.

“Who gave you the audacity?!”