Chapter 4
Cheng Jin enthusiastically dragged Shen Zhouxing to the martial arts arena, excitedly telling her that there was something new about this year’s competition. Disciples from the neighboring Jueying Sect’s inner sect would also be participating in the later matches against the inner sect disciples.
Shen Zhouxing knew about the Jueying Sect. The male lead was its young master. A thousand years ago, the founders of the Jiuxiao Sect and the Jueying Sect had been senior brother and junior sister, and the two sects had maintained a close relationship throughout the years. By this point, the male and female leads should already be fairly familiar with each other.
Shen Zhouxing remembered that Ye Lan would eventually face the male lead in a spectacular match. From then on, the two would develop a deep appreciation for each other.
There were four fighting platforms in the arena. At one end, a flight of steps led upward to what were clearly seats reserved for the higher-ups, with spectator stands surrounding the area. At the other end was the passageway through which the outer sect disciples entered. In the middle of the passage stood an ancient-looking stone pillar with a palm-sized indentation in its center.
Before taking their seats, every outer sect disciple had to undergo a spiritual energy test at the arena entrance.
When it was Cheng Jin’s turn, she placed her palm against the indentation and channeled her spiritual energy into it. The moment her energy entered, the stone pillar lit up a deep green.
The people behind Shen Zhouxing couldn’t help exclaiming in surprise. This girl was so young, yet she had already reached the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage, just one step away from Foundation Establishment.
Those who recognized Cheng Jin began praising her, saying that she had joined the sect less than a month ago and had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining. It seemed the Jiuxiao Sect was about to produce another genius.
Only then did Shen Zhouxing realize just how impressive Cheng Jin was, and she couldn’t help admiring her.
Next, it was her turn. She placed her hand inside the indentation, and the stone pillar emitted a faint green glow.
“Who would’ve thought Shen Zhouxing could actually make some progress? It’s been eighteen years, hasn’t it? She’s finally reached the early Qi Refining stage.”
…
Although Shen Zhouxing hadn’t expected everyone to praise her the way they had praised Cheng Jin, she could certainly do without this kind of compliment…
“Well, well, isn’t this our useless outer sect cripple, Shen Zhouxing?”
An obnoxious voice came from behind her.
“Li Xiang!” Before Shen Zhouxing could react, Cheng Jin had already jumped forward. Shen Zhouxing hurriedly held her back.
“If you’re done with the test, get out of the way! A good dog knows better than to block the road!” Li Xiang cut in line while driving the two of them aside.
“This young master won’t bother dealing with you today. We’ll settle things in the arena! Once! And! For! All!” Li Xiang declared provocatively, emphasizing each word. As soon as he finished speaking, he pressed his palm against the pillar, which lit up with a pure blue radiance.
“Li Xiang has actually reached the middle Foundation Establishment stage!”
“Elder Li thinks so highly of him. He must have been feeding him all sorts of precious treasures, right? Who knows, perhaps Elder Li even gave him some powerful magical artifact so he could take first place in today’s competition.”
“Don’t get so arrogant! I’ll definitely…” Before Cheng Jin could finish, Shen Zhouxing grabbed her and dragged her inside.
Fighting someone at a higher cultivation realm? What kind of joke was that? Cheng Jin wasn’t the female lead! Of course it would be best if she never had to face him!
After they took their seats, Cheng Jin immediately located Li Xiang. She hurriedly shook Shen Zhouxing’s arm. Following Cheng Jin’s murderous glare, Shen Zhouxing looked in his direction, then helplessly patted her shoulder to calm her down.
“Don’t worry. If I face him today, I’ll definitely beat the living daylights out of him!” Cheng Jin declared viciously.
“All right, all right. I believe you, I believe you!” Shen Zhouxing had heard this more than anything else over the past two days. Although she said she believed her, she still hoped this fearless young calf wouldn’t have its wings broken before it even had a chance to fly.
At that moment, someone on the raised platform began announcing the competition rules.
Only the higher-ups knew who would be fighting whom, and the matchups would be announced on the spot.
The competition followed a single-elimination format. Once a contestant lost, they would be eliminated, until the top ten were determined. After that, those ten would compete against the inner sect disciples. Once the competition concluded, the various senior figures could begin selecting disciples who caught their eye.
Cheng Jin pointed out one person after another, explaining who they were, what abilities they possessed, and what weaknesses they had. She was terrified that Shen Zhouxing might end up facing one of them without knowing how to respond.
Shen Zhouxing wasn’t really listening. She hadn’t slept well last night. Every time she turned over, her bed creaked incessantly, making her increasingly irritated. Once she had enough money, she was definitely replacing it!
Wait, no. Once she left the mountain, she wouldn’t need that bed anymore. She might as well put up with it for now.
“Shen Zhouxing, look! It’s Eldest Senior Sister!”
Cheng Jin interrupted Shen Zhouxing’s daydreaming. Looking over again, Shen Zhouxing indeed saw Ye Lan standing beside the acting sect master.
Sigh, what a feast for the eyes.
Graceful and noble, like a clear breeze beneath a bright moon.
That was the only description Shen Zhouxing could think of.
“Who’s that person?” Following Cheng Jin’s question, Shen Zhouxing looked over and saw a handsome young man standing properly on the acting sect master’s other side, answering her questions.
“That’s Xiao Jing, the young master of the Jueying Sect. He fell ill a few years ago, and now that he’s recovered this year, he’s come to visit the Jiuxiao Sect,” someone nearby recognized him and explained.
Judging from how warmly the acting sect master was treating him, she clearly thought highly of the male lead too.
Xiao Jing and Ye Lan stood on either side of the acting sect master. What a perfect pair of handsome young talents.
Well, they were the male and female leads, after all. That was only natural. But as Shen Zhouxing thought about it, something seemed off. After pondering for a while, she realized that the two barely interacted. The male lead was busy answering his Master’s questions, while Ji Yun looked at him almost as though he were her own child. Yet Ye Lan, standing nearby, didn’t even spare him a glance.
As she thought about this, Shen Zhouxing began admiring Ye Lan again. Sigh, she really was a sight for sore eyes!
“First match!” Someone began announcing the contestants. The voice, amplified by spiritual energy, drowned out the noise throughout the arena and interrupted Shen Zhouxing’s thoughts.
Oh, whatever. Maybe they couldn’t interact much because this was a formal occasion.
“Cheng Jin! Versus! Guo Rong!”
Cheng Jin immediately let out a miserable wail. Everyone else assumed she was upset because she had to compete first or because she’d been matched against an opponent she didn’t want to face.
But Shen Zhouxing knew she was wailing because she hadn’t been matched against Li Xiang.
“Good luck! You can do it!” Shen Zhouxing patted Cheng Jin’s shoulder and encouraged her loudly.
Cheng Jin nodded, used her lightness skill, and landed in the middle of the fighting platform.
“Oh, what an impressive Shadowless Step.”
Someone exclaimed in admiration.
Shen Zhouxing had only seen three people use lightness skills: Cheng Jin, Sun Benzhi, and Ye Lan.
Sun Benzhi could appear right in front of her in the blink of an eye, while Ye Lan could disappear in an instant as though performing a magic trick. By comparison, Cheng Jin’s movements merely seemed fast and graceful.
Therefore, Shen Zhouxing had no idea how impressive Cheng Jin’s lightness skill actually was. But since someone had praised it, it must be pretty good.
Thinking this, Shen Zhouxing relaxed a little. It seemed Cheng Jin really was capable!
Sure enough, Cheng Jin’s opponent was only at the middle Qi Refining stage. In fewer than five moves, Cheng Jin had seized control of her opponent’s vital point and secured victory without even drawing a weapon.
“Excellent!” The spectators erupted in cheers.
Shen Zhouxing barely paid attention to the subsequent matches. Cheng Jin, on the other hand, watched with great enthusiasm, constantly sharing the insights she gained from observing the fights.
Shen Zhouxing responded halfheartedly, looking as though she was about to yawn.
Then she heard, “Eighth match! Shen Zhouxing! Versus! Li Xiang!”
Huh??? How did I end up facing him?
Cheng Jin reacted as though a formidable enemy had appeared. She hurriedly looked at Shen Zhouxing, then toward Li Xiang, who was wearing a smug, villainous grin!
Shen Zhouxing remembered how Li Xiang had emphasized every word when he declared that they would settle things in the arena. So this was what he’d been waiting for!
“He must have begged Li Qingshan to manipulate the matchups! How could it possibly be such a coincidence?!” Cheng Jin said through gritted teeth. Yet Shen Zhouxing simply stood up with a relaxed expression and walked toward the platform without a trace of fear.
“Remember, his weakness is his lower body! His lower body!” Cheng Jin hurriedly reminded her, afraid that this daydreamer hadn’t taken her earlier advice to heart.
Shen Zhouxing made an OK gesture. When she glanced back and saw Cheng Jin looking momentarily stunned, Cheng Jin continued shouting at the top of her lungs, “His! Lower! Body!”
“I know, I know! You’ve told me so many times my ears are getting calluses!” Shen Zhouxing replied helplessly.
After his name was announced, Li Xiang leaped lightly onto the fighting platform. Shen Zhouxing, by contrast, remained perfectly composed as she strolled leisurely toward it.
Then Shen Zhouxing placed both hands on the edge and actually climbed onto the platform!
Her actions sent the entire audience into fits of laughter. Those who knew about the conflict between the two couldn’t help sighing.
Although the competition explicitly prohibited killing opponents, that was the only restriction. As long as no one died, injuries were permitted. This disciple with defective spiritual roots was in for a terrible time.
After climbing onto the platform, Shen Zhouxing raised her head and looked toward Cheng Jin, only to see her shouting with a ferocious expression, “Shen Zhouxing, you can do it!”
Shen Zhouxing was speechless. Did this girl seriously have no idea how weak she was?
At that moment, Shen Zhouxing sensed another gaze directed at her from the opposite side. Following its source, she unexpectedly met Ye Lan’s eyes.
Ye Lan was still standing perfectly straight, but was she… frowning as she looked at her?
“Have you finished looking around?! Can we start already?!” Li Xiang was practically itching to thoroughly torment this thorn in his side. A green glow had already begun emanating from his body.
Shen Zhouxing cast Li Xiang a disdainful glance, then turned toward him, cupped her fists, and bowed.
The match was about to begin.
Li Xiang rubbed his hands together eagerly and gathered his spiritual energy, preparing to attack. The moment Shen Zhouxing straightened up, he would strike!
Suddenly, the person opposite him took a deep breath and shouted at the top of her lungs:
“I SURRENDER!!!”
She wasn’t even planning to cultivate immortality, so why would she risk her life here?
The crowd erupted in uproar.
In the thousand years since the Jiuxiao Sect’s founding, there had never been a disciple who surrendered immediately after stepping onto the platform without even attempting to fight.
This was simply a disgrace to the dignity and spirit of an immortal sect!!!
The entire arena froze for a moment before a buzzing wave of discussion broke out.
Some said she was actually quite clever, while others cursed her for having no backbone.
Even some of the elders couldn’t bear watching and began discussing the matter quietly among themselves.
“Who recruited this disciple? Her cultivation is already pitifully low, but how can she be so lacking in ambition?”
“I heard Elder Miyou brought her back. She has defective spiritual roots!”
…
With her profound cultivation, Ji Yun could hear every word of the surrounding discussions. She glanced at Ye Lan, who was standing beside her.
This disciple of hers certainly seemed concerned about that girl. When the contestants were announced earlier, Ye Lan had frowned so deeply that Ji Yun could hardly describe it.
Only after Shen Zhouxing surrendered did Ye Lan’s expression finally relax somewhat, though a trace of complicated emotion soon appeared on her face.
It was rare to see so many expressions from her usually reserved disciple.
Ji Yun, however, had no intention of judging Shen Zhouxing for surrendering. After all, the sect rules didn’t prohibit disciples from conceding during a competition.
The disciple responsible for announcing the results exchanged a glance with Elder Zhang before declaring, “Eighth match! Li Xiang! Victory!”
Li Xiang nearly choked on his own breath.
He had intended to give this wretch a thorough beating, never imagining that she would surrender so decisively. Frustration and resentment churned in his chest.
Hearing the result, Shen Zhouxing didn’t even bother looking at Li Xiang before turning to leave.
“Surrendering! Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?!” Li Xiang called out, trying to provoke her.
Shen Zhouxing ignored him completely. She was already crouching down, preparing to jump off the platform.
“Fight me properly!” Li Xiang’s spoiled young master temper flared. He raised his hand, preparing to summon a branch and drag her back.
Just as the branch was about to touch Shen Zhouxing, a streak of spiritual energy flashed past with a white glow, deflecting it.
Shen Zhouxing didn’t notice a thing. After jumping down from the platform, she saw the surrounding spectators murmuring among themselves.
Only then did Shen Zhouxing turn around to look. Whoa, did Li Xiang actually dare attack someone in front of such a large crowd?
Cheng Jin had already been unable to remain seated. She leaped over to Shen Zhouxing and stood protectively in front of her, her expression guarded.
Nobody had clearly seen where that spiritual energy had come from. The outer sect disciples only saw the branch inexplicably veer off course. However, those seated on the elevated platform knew that the spiritual energy had come from the acting sect master’s direction. None of them dared say a word.
Of course, Ji Yun wasn’t the one who had released that spiritual energy. She glanced at the disciple beside her with great interest, only to find Ye Lan’s expression completely unchanged.
This disciple…
Ji Yun said nothing more. Instead, she turned and gave Li Qingshan a meaningful look. Upon seeing it, Li Qingshan hurriedly shouted at Li Xiang:
“What are you doing?! The match is over! Just because someone else has abandoned their pride doesn’t mean you should disgrace yourself too! Get down from there!”
That reprimand immediately extinguished Li Xiang’s fury. Only then did he realize that he’d lost his composure in front of everyone. He awkwardly acknowledged the order and stepped off the platform.
Seeing that Li Xiang had finally stopped causing trouble, Shen Zhouxing followed Cheng Jin back to their seats while listening to her furious curses.
“How could you just surrender like that?!” Cheng Jin had considered the possibility that Shen Zhouxing might concede, but she hadn’t expected her to surrender the moment the match began.
“He was still trying to sneak-attack me even after I surrendered! If I hadn’t surrendered, wouldn’t I have suffered even worse?!” Shen Zhouxing shrugged. It wasn’t as though she cared about her reputation in the cultivation world.
“That’s true. But I saw it clearly! It was the acting sect master who stopped him!” Cheng Jin told Shen Zhouxing somewhat smugly, since the people around them hadn’t even noticed that streak of spiritual energy.
“Huh?” Shen Zhouxing was surprised. Still, if someone openly attacked and injured a fellow disciple at such a major gathering, especially with members of another sect present, wouldn’t that be an enormous disgrace?
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