Chapter 104: Yan Feifan Reaches the Peak—Brother Lu, I’m Not Useless Anymore!!

Words : 1493 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Ceremonial cannons roared, the ground trembled, and a towering mountain erupted from the flat earth, soaring hundreds of meters into the sky. A single commanding voice ignited the atmosphere. A single battle set the blood of every investigator on fire. At this moment, everyone felt their fighting spirit surge in response to Lu Ding’s shout. Whether from Yunhai, Yaodu, or Qingsheng— Whether male or female— Whether nervous, fearful, uncertain, or simply here to go through the motions for an average ranking and some experience— It all disappeared. With one fight and one command, only one thought remained in everyone’s mind: CHARGE!!! Charge toward their best possible result!!! One after another, figures shot forward like they had planned it in advance, racing past Lu Ding and heading straight for the towering peak. This was the first trial of the Three-District Combat Examination— Climbing the Mountain, Testing the Heart. This was no ordinary mountain—it was a magical artifact powered by a powerhouse’s secret technique. The sheer steepness was just a minor obstacle. Once a person began to climb, they would be besieged by illusions—visions designed to hinder their path, disrupt their will, and test their focus. Power, fame, beauty, wealth, family—every temptation imaginable. Moral dilemmas, right versus wrong. Whether pursuing enlightenment or simply upholding their duty, everyone in life was climbing a mountain. One misstep, and they would plummet into the abyss. Resting was allowed. Stopping was not. Time moved forward, and the moment someone paused, others would surpass them. A Historic Atmosphere As the energy in the air exploded to an all-time high, it surpassed anything seen in previous years. Never before had any year-one combat trial reached this level of intensity. The leaders of the other two districts, who had been feeling a little annoyed earlier, now found their expressions shifting. On one hand, they were pleased—this was the first time their rookie investigators had shown such determination. On the other hand, they were frustrated as hell. Damn it! That old bastard Chu is still watching. Can’t let him see us flinch. “Hey, Old Chu,” the leader of Yaodu 749 spoke up, trying to sound casual. “Mind loaning Lu Ding to me for a while? I think our branch could use someone like him. He’s not exactly your typical genius, you know?” He clicked his tongue, his expression wrinkling in frustration as he struggled to put it into words. “He’s just... he’s just...” “Unique.” A seasoned female investigator behind him covered her mouth and laughed softly. “Leader, the term you’re looking for is charismatic.” “Yes! Charismatic.” The Qingsheng leader leaned in, adding his thoughts. “He’s arrogant—but never condescending.” He paused, as if considering something. “Maybe it’s just my imagination, but I feel like when he faces an enemy, he doesn’t care whether they’re strong or weak.” “He looks down on all of them.” As the words left his mouth, he nearly laughed himself. Equal-opportunity disdain for all enemies. Most people would be offended by being looked down upon. But if everyone was looked down upon, then... It wasn’t personal. If none of them could beat Lu Ding, then logically, among themselves, they were still on equal footing. Flawless logic loop. “But when he makes a move, he’s ruthless. Efficient. His thought process is... different. Rational. Legal. Just... not exactly compliant.” The Yaodu leader nodded in agreement. Both men recognized that someone like Lu Ding could set the pace, pushing others to grow faster. You wouldn’t see him grow, because his growth had no process. Every day, he started anew. So when people lost to him, they wouldn’t waste time trying to catch up to him. Instead, everyone would just focus on surpassing each other. To outsiders, it might seem like they had given up on competing. But behind the scenes? They were grinding harder than ever. They were competing harder than ever. Because they had been inspired. On the Mountain Take Xue Ning, Wen Ruchu, and Yan Feifan, for example. Their talent was already remarkable. Yan Feifan’s might have been slightly weaker, but that hardly mattered here—this test wasn’t about strength or talent. After Lu Ding’s influence, this Climbing the Mountain, Testing the Heart trial became absurdly easy for them. Xue Ning’s Trial His illusion? An old friend, twisted into a monster. He thrust his spear forward without hesitation. “You’ve become a monster. I won’t let you suffer!” Wen Ruchu’s Trial Her illusion? Her parents, hostage to demons. She stepped forward in silence—then suddenly erupted, slicing off their heads with a single strike. “Has no one ever told you? Talk too much, and you miss your chance.” Yan Feifan’s Trial He had been with Lu Ding the longest. So naturally— He went berserk. This test wasn’t about proving anything, but given equal talent, this was the kind of person 749 valued most. Their dazzling performances immediately caught the attention of several leaders, their gazes full of appreciation. If only they could steal these promising Yunhai 749 investigators for themselves. But first— Lu Ding. After all, he was the reason they had changed. And how did they know that? Come on. Lu Ding had beaten the crap out of their best talents. If they didn’t figure it out by now, they might as well quit their jobs. Back at the Viewing Platform Lu Ding returned to his seat. Meanwhile, the unconscious Xu Zui was carried back as well—looking absolutely wrecked. He wouldn’t be waking up anytime soon. The Qi Sword Sect Master sat frozen, his expression as solid as ice. From the moment Xu Zui was sealed by Lu Ding’s Dark Death Black Coffin... His expression hadn’t changed. That was his strongest disciple. Divine Palace Fourth Layer... lost to Linghai. Why? How? Losing was one thing. Getting instantly one-shot in front of everyone? That was a humiliation. As he struggled with his thoughts, he suddenly felt something watching him. Instinctively, he turned. A small, elderly man beside Lu Ding was staring at him. The man’s body was still, but his head had twisted at an unnatural angle to lock eyes with him. Fierce like an eagle. Sharp like a wolf. At that moment, he finally understood the true meaning of the phrase "predatory gaze." His spine tingled in fear. But he didn’t dare look away. Deng Lao raised his hand. His thumb and forefinger slid apart— A silent gesture. But somehow, it carried an undeniable message. The man forced a smile onto his face. Compliance test: Passed. ✅ Seeing this, Deng Lao finally turned his head back slowly, his expression returning to its usual kind and gentle smile. I let you make a move, and now you’re still not satisfied? Do you think I’ve given you too much face? Deng Lao didn’t know whether the Qi Sword Sect would stir up trouble over today’s events, but there was no harm in knocking them down a peg just in case. Bad seeds should be plucked out early. If you couldn’t tell from the outside, then you squeeze it a little. Don’t wait until it rots the whole batch—by then, it’ll be too late. “Getting old...” He sighed, feeling his age creeping up on him. He wasn’t the same as before. The furnace may have gone out, but the embers still burned. Hearing this, Lu Ding tilted his head slightly and replied, “Don’t lament the setting sun—for the sky still burns with its glow.” “Hahahahahahaha...” Deng Lao’s laughter was smooth, yet carried remarkable depth and power. Nearby, Bai Hemen scribbled furiously with one hand, holding paper in the other. He had heard everything, loud and clear. On the Trial Mountain Suddenly, a lone figure weaved through the illusions, reaching the summit. With a swift motion, he yanked out the victory flag, raising it high. His gaze swept the area before he shouted at the top of his lungs: “BROTHER LU!! I’M NOT USELESS ANYMORE!!!” At that moment, Yan Feifan’s eyes turned red. His mind flashed back to the day he first met Lu Ding. He had been driving that day, muttering words of self-doubt— "Really, Brother Lu? I think I’m pretty useless... Can’t fight, can’t scout, can’t do anything right... Even during the entrance test, I just found a loophole to pass." Everyone said he was weak, talentless, and worthless. Couldn’t even swim. Only Lu Ding ever called him smart. He had been told not to fight, and in every battle since, he never truly fought head-on. Whenever someone bullied him, Lu Ding would step in without hesitation. Yan Feifan knew the rumors outside. People called him Lu Ding’s dog. Said he followed him everywhere. But here, on Heart Trial Mountain, where only the heart was judged—not strength, not talent— He wasn’t here to prove anything. He just wanted to say— "Even if I’m a dog—at least I live more like a human than you do!"

Chapter 104: Yan Feifan Reaches the Peak—Brother Lu, I’m Not Useless Anymore!!

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