Too Pretentious

"One month has passed."

"Feng Qianyue, give up already!"

Beside the altar, the disciples of the Moonlit Sect had been sitting cross-legged outside ever since Yi Feng entered the inheritance. As the one-month deadline arrived, Bai Ji opened his eyes, his face filled with a cold sneer.

Feng Qianyue remained silent, her expression visibly grim.

She knew all too well—after a month with no movement, the chances of success were slim.

"Hmph, it's only been a month. Don't celebrate too soon, Bai Ji," Feng Qianyue stayed quiet, but Feng Lingbei couldn't hold back, standing up to retort.

"Shut your mouth."

Bai Ji shot Feng Lingbei a frigid glare, his overwhelming pressure bearing down. "You have no right to speak here. Keep quiet."

"You—"

Feng Lingbei gritted his teeth, growling, "Then let's see who has the last laugh."

"Hahaha, 'last laugh'? Don’t you realize we’re already at the end?" Bai Ji sneered.

"Enough."

Seeing Feng Lingbei about to speak again, Feng Qianyue swiftly stopped him.

"Learn from your sister. Stop being so reckless. Look at how gracefully she accepts defeat, while you’re nothing but a noisy joke," Bai Ji mocked mercilessly, ignoring Feng Lingbei’s furious glare as he turned his attention to Feng Qianyue.

"Well then, Feng Qianyue, time to honor your promise, no?" he pressed eagerly.

At his words, Feng Qianyue’s face turned as pale as paper.

Her teeth clenched her crimson lips, her heart brimming with unwillingness.

Securing the next island lord position had been her father’s dying wish. Was there truly no hope left?

"What, Feng Qianyue? Are you trying to go back on your word?"

When she remained silent, Bai Ji pressed harder. "Remember, those were your own words—no one forced you. You said it in front of the master and all the elders at the Moonlit Tower."

The pressure made Feng Qianyue bite down harder.

But she knew—no matter how unwilling, words once spoken could not be taken back.

Taking a deep breath, she was about to relinquish her claim to the island lord position—

But before she could speak, the altar, silent for a month, suddenly stirred.

Golden light erupted, rippling with strange fluctuations.

Sensing the movement, Feng Qianyue whipped her head around.

At the same time, the others present snapped their eyes open, rising to their feet in shock, their gazes fixed on the altar.

As for Bai Ji, his triumphant expression froze, replaced by disbelief.

"Impossible. Impossible. Absolutely impossible."

He muttered frantically, his eyes bulging as he stared unblinkingly at the altar.

The altar’s fluctuations grew stronger, its golden radiance blooming like a lotus.

Once their eyes adjusted to the brilliance, a shadowy figure emerged within the light.

At the sight, everyone gasped, their faces filled with awe.

Feng Qianyue covered her lips with trembling fingers.

After enduring Bai Ji’s torment, seeing this scene overwhelmed her—tears spilled down her cheeks.

Meanwhile, the figure’s appearance shattered Bai Ji’s last shred of hope.

Staggering back, his legs gave way, his entire demeanor collapsing into despair.

The figure stepping out of the altar was none other than Yi Feng.

As the light faded and the altar stilled, Yi Feng walked out slowly.

Feng Lingbei and Feng Qianyue rushed to him first, followed closely by the other Moonlit Island disciples, including Xu Zhu.

But before anyone could speak, they noticed Yi Feng’s expression—his head hung low, his face dark.

He said nothing.

His mood was clearly at its lowest.

Seeing this, Feng Qianyue’s heart sank. Feng Lingbei clamped his mouth shut, his face twisting with dread.

But Bai Ji’s hollow eyes suddenly widened.

His smugness flared back to life.

Hah!

Who said returning from the inheritance meant success?

Couldn’t he have just wandered the outer gates like past disciples and come back empty-handed?

If so, nothing had changed.

Feng Qianyue would still have to forfeit her claim to the island lord position. Whether Yi Feng lived or died was irrelevant to him.

Feng Qianyue bit her lip, fists clenched.

Her emotions had been tossed between extremes today.

Given Yi Feng’s expression, she already suspected the worst—but she had to hear it for herself.

"So… the inheritance…?" she asked softly.

"Ah."

Her question earned a sigh from Yi Feng.

Just as she feared.

Failure.

Her head drooped in defeat.

But then—

"Succeeded."

"Eh… what?"

Her head jerked back up, staring at Yi Feng in shock.

Beside her, Bai Ji’s triumphant smirk froze again. His entire body locked in stunned silence.

Even Xu Zhu and the others stood motionless.

"Senior, you mean… you successfully inherited it?" Feng Qianyue asked, barely believing her ears.

"Yeah."

Yi Feng sighed again.

"S-succeeded?"

She couldn’t process the words, her voice trembling.

Joy surged through her, tears welling once more.

Today had been an emotional rollercoaster—soaring highs and crushing lows.

"Senior, congratulations! Truly incredible!"

"Our Moonlit Island’s deathly inheritance, untouched since its founding, has finally been claimed!"

The disciples, including Xu Zhu, quickly recovered and began offering their praises.

But inwardly, they cursed—

If he’d succeeded, why the sigh?! They’d thought he’d failed!

This guy really knew how to put on a show.