Chapter 155 - Arc 11: The Sects Grand Competition | Chapter 155: Match 2

Chapter 155 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 155: Match 2

Translator: Lynn

Yue Jun returned from his victory with renewed determination, proudly displaying his letter talisman adorned with the word “win,” securing his direct promotion to the next round.

Qiu Ze and the others offered their heartfelt congratulations. Yue Jun’s strong start filled them, ordinary inner sect disciples who had previously faced early eliminations, with newfound confidence.

The first match had set an optimistic tone. After a brief interval, it was Long Xuan’s turn to compete.

He had chosen to master the “Bafeng Saber Technique,” a mid-level human-class skill. However, he infused it with his fervent spirit, infusing the saber techniques with fiery power.

Long Xuan’s opponent was a female cultivator, relatively inexperienced and unaffiliated with any notable master.

But when it came to showcasing his swordsmanship, Long Xuan discarded any previous leniency he held toward female cultivators. His prowess was undeniable.

Unfortunately, his opponent had drawn a challenging match. She initially employed the “Flying Willow Sword Technique,” a graceful and agile technique known for its nimbleness. However, her approach, which might have worked against others, faltered when faced with Long Xuan’s relentless assault. In less than a stick of incense’s time, Long Xuan’s powerful swordplay overwhelmed her, knocking her onto the martial arts stage.

Following Long Xuan’s victory, it was Qiu Ze’s turn.

Qiu Ze, who often appeared unassuming, practiced the “Overturning Palm.” Every time he unleashed this technique, a torrent of earth-yellow palm prints would fill the sky, ensnaring his opponents.

His adversary wielded a pair of massive sledgehammers, boasting incredible strength. Unfortunately, his formidable power could not match Long Xuan’s combination of strength and agility. The relentless barrage of palm prints consumed his stamina until he had no choice but to admit defeat.

Their consecutive victories boosted morale, even drawing a genuine smile from Luo Yao.

The thought of impressing others with their performance in the grand competition filled their hearts with determination. Perhaps they would catch the eye of Golden Core cultivators watching the event, potentially leading to apprenticeships or mentorship. Each disciple was eager to excel and give their best performance in the upcoming rounds.

Maybe Luo Yao had been deeply involved in a long battle on the martial arts stage near Luo Yao’s. Though he had performed before Xu Ziqing, it was now Xu Ziqing’s turn to step onto the stage.

The recent fight on the Yanwutai Match had just ended, and one participant had been forcefully thrown off. Now, a tall male cultivator confidently walked onto the stage.

This person was Xu Ziqing’s opponent, Zhang Cheng from Xiaosheng Peak.

One might debate whether Xu Ziqing’s luck leaned toward the fortunate or the unfortunate. His first opponent happened to be someone who had once shared the same master.

When it was his turn to step onto the stage, Xu Ziqing felt a flutter of nervousness. It was his inaugural experience in such a grand competition. His gaze instinctively sought out Yun Lie, whose immovable presence resembled a tranquil mountain. Instantly, his anxiety waned. His initial fear centered around losing the opening bout, but if he could hold his own even slightly against Momo, he would emerge victorious in spirit.

With this resolve, Xu Ziqing’s demeanor grew composed, and a chill permeated his aura.

Years of relentless training had forged his confidence.

On the martial arts stage, Xu Ziqing, dressed in a serene blue cassock, wore a gentle and refined smile on his lips.

Facing him was an imposing figure, an eight-foot-tall man with a shaven head, clutching a magic subduing pestle. His eyes exuded a hint of ferocity, akin to the Buddha glaring at King Kong, wordlessly asserting his tremendous authority.

Xu Ziqing performed a slight salute and, with a graceful flick of his wrist, gripped the thousand-year-old steel-wooden sword.

Zhang Cheng’s eyes resembled copper bells, his demeanor unwavering. The subduing magic pestle swung toward Xu Ziqing’s head without a word, imposing and formidable.

“Qiang Qiang—”

A swift blue blur passed by. The steel-wooden sword and the subduing demon pestle did not clash directly, but merely brushed against each other lightly. Like a spectral serpent, Xu Ziqing vanished from Zhang Cheng’s field of vision.

The very next moment, he reappeared before Zhang Cheng.

A dark jet of sword light pierced directly toward the space between Zhang Cheng’s eyebrows. Zhang Cheng was taken aback, taking three steps back as he hastily reversed his magic pestle to block it.

As Luo Yao and the others contemplated how they would fare against Xu Ziqing, they couldn’t help but grow more solemn. They recognized that they needed to redouble their efforts in cultivation.

However, their admiration for Xu Ziqing had no ulterior motives. They cherished their newfound friendship and held no other intentions.

After receiving congratulations from everyone, Xu Ziqing made his way to Yun Lie and took a seat beside him.

When Yun Lie looked at him, he saw the young man in azure robes gazing back with anticipation, causing him to pause momentarily.

Xu Ziqing was indeed quite nervous. Although he had won his first bout rather swiftly, he was uncertain if his victory had been graceful enough. He sought reassurance from his senior brother to put his mind at ease.

Yun Lie contemplated for a moment before asking, “How did you feel during the battle?”

Sitting up straight, Xu Ziqing replied, “It felt quite good.”

Yun Lie fell silent and then continued, “Please elaborate.”

Xu Ziqing then explained, “Daoist Zhang’s cultivation is at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage. Although he has potential, he’s still a bit short to progress further. My cultivation level is one stage higher than his, so I only used around forty percent of my strength. Initially, I ensnared him with Tibetan language techniques, but he managed to break free using his ‘Beast Roar’ skill. To seize the opportunity, I cleverly pressured him while his mind was still recovering, using the Chunyu swordsmanship to engage him, and I secured the victory with a single move.”

After a moment’s reflection, he added, “Interestingly, when I drew my sword today, I expected to feel nervous, but as soon as I initiated the battle, those nerves vanished. It’s as if my swordsmanship has become quite comprehensive.” He finished with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Yun Lie nodded approvingly and remarked, “You were confident in this battle. Well done.”

Xu Ziqing’s eyes lit up, and he asked, “Does that mean I met your expectations in this battle, Shixiong?”

Yun Lie gave a slight nod and replied, “This was only the first battle, and there will be many more to come. Don’t become complacent.”

Xu Ziqing composed himself and replied earnestly, “Yes, Yun Shixiong, I won’t take it lightly.”

Their conversation was filled with seriousness.

Observing this exchange, Luo Yao and the others found it quite intriguing.

They had only heard rumors about Master Yun’s ruthless nature, but witnessing his care for his junior, they realized that his relationship with Xu Ziqing was far different from what the rumors suggested, and it was characterized by a unique level of consideration.

If they were to share this insight with outsiders, it would likely leave those outsiders in fits of laughter.

Xu Ziqing, on the other hand, had truly amazed them. After stepping down from the martial arts stage, his first action was to seek approval from his senior brother and willingly accept his guidance. It was an endearing quality that they had never encountered before.

Such camaraderie was truly exceptional.

Yue Jun’s complexion took on a peculiar hue, and he couldn’t help but remark to Luo Yao, “Your new friend, it seems...” He hesitated momentarily, as if he had something to say but was holding back.

Luo Yao, baffled, inquired, “What’s the matter with Ziqing?”

Yue Jun shook his head, suppressing his thoughts, and said, “...No, perhaps I misunderstood.”

He cast a glance at Yue Jun, choosing not to delve further into the matter. However, Luo Yao wasn’t one to pry, and even though he was at the end of their group’s lineup, he was about to take the martial arts stage.

This time, Luo Yao’s opponent was also an ordinary disciple from the inner sect. Although Luo Yao’s innate talent wasn’t exceptional, he possessed a remarkable mastery of talismans. Moreover, all the talismans in his possession were personally crafted, making him particularly skilled in their manipulation.

Not long after the match began, a thunderous burst from one of Luo Yao’s talismans incapacitated most of his opponent’s true energy, and a subsequent gust of wind swept the opponent off the stage.

At this point, five competitors had played their matches, and none had suffered defeat. They had all advanced to the second round of the competition.

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