Chapter 2 The Next Day
The next day, Xu Yi's expression was as usual as she headed to the competition arena with the disciples of Xuanji Sect.
Along the way, Elder Qingfeng cast several scrutinizing glances at her, but ultimately found no anomaly on Xu Yi's face. He couldn't help but sigh at his ancestor's astonishing growth; he could no longer see through her.
"Ancestor, today the top ten disciples of the Nascent Soul stage will be chosen. We've all placed our bets, you must win!"
Pu Tao walked beside Xu Yi, her face full of anticipation.
Xu Yi's eyes lit up, "Who is the bookie?"
"The wealthiest establishment on the Kyushu Continent, Jubao Lou."
"How does the betting work? Who did you bet on?" Xu Yi asked with great interest.
Pu Tao said seriously, "Ancestor, we only bet on you."
Xu Yi chuckled, "Good Pu Tao, you have so much faith in me."
"You misunderstand, Ancestor. It's because your odds are the highest. Senior Brother Ning and Senior Brother Lu have very low odds, so we wouldn't earn much money."
Because Xu Yi had intentionally held back in the previous two rounds, many people assumed her reaching the third round was purely due to luck. Therefore, they didn't believe she could enter the top ten, naturally leading to higher odds.
Xu Yi: ...
After a moment of silence, she patted her storage ring and asked in a low voice, "Is it still possible for me to bet on myself?"
Pu Tao shook her head.
Xu Yi lamented, having missed another opportunity to earn money.
"Next time there's such a good thing, be sure to call me."
As Xu Yi walked towards the competition stage, she didn't forget to give Pu Tao a few more instructions.
Lu Zaiye, who had overheard their conversation the entire time: ...
His little Ancestor's nature of 'plucking feathers from a passing goose' truly hadn't changed at all.
As soon as Xu Yi waved goodbye to the disciples of Xuanji Sect, she turned and stepped onto the competition stage. Looking at her opponent for the third round, she was left speechless.
Indeed, she just didn't get along with Xuanqing Sect.
Jin Biao also froze for a moment, then greeted Xu Yi with a wry smile, "Senior Sister Xu, I truly didn't expect my opponent to be you. It seems I'll have to stop at the third round this time."
Xu Yi looked at him, then at True Person Qinglian below the stage, who was glaring at her, and could only respond with a slightly awkward smile.
"Senior Sister Xu..."
Jin Biao remembered the two fellow disciples, a senior brother and sister, who Xu Yi had defeated earlier. He was about to tell Xu Yi not to hold back, that he wanted to know the exact difference between them.
Unexpectedly, Xu Yi interrupted him and gave him a meaningful look, "Don't worry, I understand."
With that, the chastisement ruler in her hand swung towards Jin Biao. A surging spiritual energy swept towards him like a river.
Jin Biao dared not be distracted, raising his saber to block. The saber light flashed like lightning, directly splitting the spiritual energy apart!
Xu Yi's toes touched the ground, and she closed in, another ruler descending from above with a piercing whistle.
Jin Biao's eyes blazed with fighting spirit. All his previous thoughts were driven from his mind; now, only one thought remained.
That was – to fight!
With cold light flashing, Xu Yi and Jin Biao turned into two afterimages colliding in the air.
Their battle was fierce, yet the cultivators watching in the arena did not pay them much attention.
At this moment, all their attention was focused on another competition stage, where Bei Xinghan of Xuanqing Sect stood against Ning Xiuzhu of Xuanji Sect.
The two favorites for the championship were meeting in the third round, meaning only one of them could enter the top ten.
One was the foremost disciple under the Sect Master of Xuanqing Sect, a genius sword cultivator.
The other was Ning Xiuzhu, known as the Gentleman Bamboo on the Kyushu Continent.
Who among the two was superior was something all cultivators desperately wished to know.
Ning Xiuzhu was refined and elegant, standing tall. Clad in a green robe, he was like a bamboo shoot on the competition stage.
Bei Xinghan, on the other hand, was exceptionally handsome. Though expressionless, his aura was imposing.
The two of them standing on the stage was a feast for the eyes.
From the direction of Xuanqing Sect.
Chen Tao, watching the two equally matched opponents, couldn't help but mutter, "This Ning Xiuzhu seems quite formidable. I wonder if Senior Brother Bei can defeat him."
Wang Yi'an's expression was solemn; he evidently harbored the same doubt.
In fact, before encountering Xu Yi, he didn't believe anyone could defeat Senior Brother Bei.
But now, he could no longer blindly trust Senior Brother Bei. Moreover, his opponent was also from Xuanji Sect.
The people from Xuanji Sect were all rather troublesome.
While both were worrying, Long Haotian chuckled, "Bei Xinghan will definitely win. Do you think everyone is like Xu Yi?"
Apart from Xu Yi, Bei Xinghan was the most monstrously talented person he had ever seen. Only Xu Yi could contend with him.
Others could not.
Chen Tao and Wang Yi'an glanced at him with surprise, then nodded solemnly, focusing their attention on the two who had already begun their exchange on the stage.
Ning Xiuzhu's magical artifact was a Ten Thousand Year Heavenly Green Bamboo, capable of both offense and defense. When it clashed with the Frost Sword, it produced a metallic sound.
He felt the immense force transmitted from the Heavenly Green Bamboo, his arm slightly numb, yet his heart was startled.
Ning Xiuzhu had heard of Bei Xinghan's name long ago. In this battle today, Bei Xinghan was even more formidable than he had imagined.
This time, he might also have to stop here.
A thought flashed through Ning Xiuzhu's mind. He had no time to ponder it, as Bei Xinghan's Frost Sword was sweeping towards him again.
The sharp sword light caused the space to distort.
After blocking this sword strike, Ning Xiuzhu involuntarily retreated several steps, a flush of abnormal color appearing on his face.
"Senior Brother Ning is injured!"
"That Bei Xinghan is too strong!"
"Senior Brother Ning hasn't lost yet!"
The disciples of Xuanji Sect held their breath, nervously watching Ning Xiuzhu's figure.
"It's time to end this."
Bei Xinghan whispered. A strange light suddenly appeared on his indifferent face, startling Ning Xiuzhu.
Bei Xinghan's figure flickered, his wrist turning rapidly. A world-destroying power was brewing within him.
Ning Xiuzhu narrowed his eyes, knowing he couldn't let Bei Xinghan continue. He quickly formed hand seals and pressed them onto the Heavenly Green Bamboo. A green phantom quickly enveloped the bamboo.
"Go!"
Ning Xiuzhu raised his hand and pushed. The Heavenly Green Bamboo shot towards Bei Xinghan like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
Due to the large amount of spiritual energy extracted, Ning Xiuzhu's lips were somewhat pale, yet his eyes brightly gazed forward.
*Zheng!*
The sound of a sword chime echoed.
The last thing Ning Xiuzhu saw before losing consciousness was an overwhelming wave of sword light.
The crowd below the stage widened their eyes, all looking at Bei Xinghan in astonishment.
So this was his true strength.
On the competition stage, Ning Xiuzhu was no longer visible, only scattered stones, cut into pieces by sword qi, remained.
The elder from Wanfo Sect, before he could announce the result of the match, rushed forward to check Ning Xiuzhu's injuries.
The disciples of Xuanji Sect also crowded around, calling Ning Xiuzhu's name.
"Quick, carry him away!" the elder of Wanfo Sect said with a grave expression, shouting loudly.
Ning Xiuzhu appeared outwardly unharmed, but his body was already permeated with sword qi.
This sword qi was violently clashing within his body, and would soon injure his meridians and dantian. Someone must be found to remove the sword qi from his body as soon as possible, otherwise, he might suffer hidden injuries and be unable to advance further in the future.