Chapter 154 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 154: Match 1
Translator: Lynn
The black dragon emitted a cloud of obsidian light, swiftly disintegrating into countless specks of light that dispersed into each letter talisman.
Xu Ziqing peered at his talisman and found an additional line of small characters.
“Thirty-ninth performance, eighty-sixth place, opponent: Xiao Shengfeng, Zhang Cheng.”
After reading it, he handed the letter talisman to Yun Lie. “Shixiong, have a look.”
Master Qiu He inquired, “Where is Ziqing?”
It took some time for everyone to learn about Xu Ziqing’s opponent. With over 300 martial arts arenas, each hosting hundreds of cultivators in combat, it would be a while before Xu Ziqing’s match actually took place.
Qiu Ze and the others also discovered their respective opponents, and luck appeared to favor them as they weren’t pitted against each other, likely due to the vast number of participants.
Soon, in every martial arts arena, contestants were made aware of their opponents, sparking contemplation in each participant’s heart.
The black dragon in the sky roared, then withdrew, ascending above the head of the overseer.
The punishment officer continued, “Regarding the rules of this competition, the one who knocks down their opponent is the victor, as is the one whose adversary admits defeat. If the loser persists in fighting after defeat is clear, life or death consequences will be of no concern. However, if the loser willingly concedes, the winner is declared. And if someone still insists on fighting even when victory is secured, they will be sent to Si Xingfeng and judged by the Xing Hall.”
These words stirred an uproar among the audience.
Those who hadn’t taken part in the Sect’s Grand Competition yet muttered secretly, while the participants remained composed.
Xu Ziqing expressed surprise, “So, it’s possible for higher-ranked participants to kill their opponents during the competition?”
The sect’s laws typically prohibited the killing of fellow disciples, but during the Sect’s Grand Competition, these rules were evidently relaxed.
Luo Yao and his companions were no strangers to the Sect’s Grand Competition. Yue Jun explained, “Friend Xu might not know, during the year of the Sect’s Grand Competition, when many disciples compete, the upper hand is constrained by the no-killing rule. However, sometimes the loser is reluctant to concede, which can be unfair to the victor. Hence, this rule exists. If someone cheats and refuses to admit defeat and subsequently dies at the hands of the winner, it’s not considered unjust.”
“I understand now,” Xu Ziqing nodded suddenly. “Viewed in this light, the competition is indeed fair.”
Yue Jun and the others exchanged glances and smiled, but they didn’t elaborate further.
Fairness is one thing, but it’s relative fairness.
During the Sect’s Grand Competition, casualties occurred frequently. Some participants played tricks and refused to admit defeat, while others held deep grudges and were willing to take extreme measures when facing rivals. There were also cases where winners used their superior cultivation to manipulate their opponents, making it impossible for them to admit defeat. However, the sect’s rules were comprehensive, and no matter how you looked at it, it was a challenging situation to manage.
In the martial arts arena, the action began.
A dragon’s roar echoed, and cultivators quickly occupied the 300 martial arts stages. In pairs, they showcased their magical abilities.
The scene exploded with colors as real energy surged on the stages, creating a turbulent atmosphere that dazzled the onlookers.
Xu Ziqing’s gaze shifted to a nearby martial arts arena, where two female cultivators faced off. Flying swords danced in the air, colorful silks billowed, and their combat was intense.
Among immortal cultivators, most female practitioners who excelled were quite formidable, often displaying more ambition and ruthlessness than their male counterparts in combat.
A yellow-robed nun raised her delicate finger, and her flying sword shot through the air, piercing the shoulder of a purple-robed nun. Swiftly, she soared into the sky, extended her legs sideways, and sent the purple-robed nun crashing off the stage.
In the blink of an eye, the victor was clear.
In another martial arts arena, a young cultivator with a warm smile faced off against a black-clad female cultivator. The young cultivator seemed somewhat hesitant, delaying his attacks by a couple of moments. However, the black-clad female cultivator showed no mercy. With a palm strike that combined palm force and real energy, she sent the young cultivator tumbling off the martial arts platform.
This was a costly mistake, as it meant missing a rare opportunity in this once-in-fifty-year event.
Two cultivators on a martial arts stage appeared evenly matched, but there was a clear difference in their styles. One seemed younger and more open, while the other exuded a crafty and experienced aura. Initially, the younger one dominated the fight, but in a split second, the wily and experienced cultivator seized an opportunity, exploiting a flaw in the younger cultivator’s defense and promptly tossed him off the stage.
This demonstrated that even when cultivators have similar levels of power, one must remain vigilant at all times. Otherwise, they risk defeat.
Although Xu Ziqing felt surprise internally, he didn’t reveal it on his face. In this Sect’s Grand Competition, if fellow sect members could be ruthless towards each other, he knew he couldn’t afford to be merciful either. Otherwise, he would likely meet the same fate.
After observing for a while, Xu Ziqing didn’t remain idle. Whenever he saw a new technique, he practiced it in his mind using his Four Seasons Swordsmanship. He contemplated how to counter it if he encountered a similar move during the competition, ensuring he had a reasonable chance of victory.
On the other side, Luo Yao and his companions were engrossed in watching the matches. The last time they participated in the Sect’s Grand Competition, they had only recently established their foundations and barely made it into the event. Unfortunately, they were defeated in the first round. Fortunately, their opponents were merciful, sparing them from irreparable harm. Otherwise, they would have been ordinary inner sect disciples, and their immortal paths would have ended prematurely.
But this time was different. After fifty years of rigorous practice, they had made significant advancements in their cultivation and learned numerous techniques. Except for Luo Yao, who had recently reached the middle stage of foundation establishment, the other three were already at the peak of the middle stage. If luck was on their side, they might break through to the late stage during this Sect’s Grand Competition. Their eagerness was palpable.
However, the most attentive observers weren’t the participants but the eight female cultivators. They had been accepted as registered disciples by Master Qiu He due to good fortune, but their cultivation levels were relatively weak. Catching up quickly was challenging, even with consistent effort.
Therefore, they had always taken great care not to provoke Master Qiu He’s anger, fearing they might be sent back to the outer sect, which they found unbearable. Now that this great opportunity had arisen, they were intensely focused on absorbing the techniques and experiences of the combatants to enhance their own cultivation.
When they encountered something they couldn’t comprehend, the eight female cultivators hesitated to disturb their master or approach their aloof senior brother. Although the second senior brother had a mild temperament, he was often in the company of their senior senior brother and wasn’t easily approached. Eventually, one of the female cultivators mustered the courage to strike up a conversation with Qiu Ze and the others. The four of them had a kind disposition and, seeing the female cultivators’ eagerness to learn, offered guidance.
Unbeknownst to them, this interaction brought the four closer to everyone on Xiaozhu Peak, bridging gaps invisibly.
After a wait that stretched on for over half an hour, it was finally someone’s turn to step into the arena.
The one entering the stage was Yue Jun, positioned at the 32nd Martial Arts Stage, holding the 42nd rank. His opponent was an ordinary inner sect disciple.
The matches on this particular martial arts stage were known for their straightforwardness. When it was his turn, Yue Jun wasted no time. He addressed everyone on the high platform, saying, “I’ll go first, everyone.” With those words, he leaped into the air, transforming into a streak of golden light that soared through the air and landed squarely on the 32nd Martial Arts Stage.
Yue Jun’s opponent, Liao Hengwei, was adorned in a resplendent golden outfit reminiscent of a four-clawed green dragon. It radiated brilliance under the multitude of lights, nearly obscuring his face.
Clutching a golden whip and sporting a regal crown atop his head, he exuded an air of superiority, looking down upon all in his presence.
Yue Jun raised an eyebrow, deftly turning his wrist to reveal a black fan in his palm. He lightly waved the fan, creating the illusion of a dark wind. His demeanor was akin to that of a charismatic figure in chaotic times. Yet, the sharp edge of the black fan gave him an undertone of menace beneath his elegant facade. His style bore some resemblance to Luo Yao’s, but lacked his straightforwardness, bordering on cynicism when he waved her fan.
Liao Hengwei appeared to take offense at Yue Jun’s nonchalance and adopted an arrogant tone, declaring, “If you plead for mercy, young man, This Wang may pardon your disrespect.” As he spoke, an exceedingly noble and oppressive force emanated from him, enveloping Yue Jun. It felt as though countless voices were exerting pressure.
“You have dared to blaspheme the emperor and should face execution!”
“The sanctity of the imperial authority must not be violated! You are a sinner! Kneel!”
“Beg for mercy! Plead for forgiveness, and your innocence may be spared! Refusal to beg will lead to your demise!”
These voices swarmed around Yue Jun, attempting to force him into a kneeling position and eliciting a plea for mercy.
Such an aura was exceptionally rare in a contest of this level.
Yue Jun had just taken his place on the martial arts stage, and luck had not favored him with an ordinary opponent but a rather peculiar one.
From the high platform, Xu Ziqing watched in amazement. If he hadn’t misinterpreted it, when Liao Hengwei exerted his coercion, a faint green dragon materialized behind him. Could it be a dragon spirit? Curiosity brimming, he turned to Yun Lie and inquired, “Yun Shixiong, do you have any insights into this?”
Yun Lie’s eyes seemed closed, yet he cast a sidelong glance at Liao Hengwei after hearing the question. His response was measured, “He hails from the royal family, hence naturally possesses Dragon Qi.”
Xu Ziqing was aware of this fact. He had heard Yun Lie speak of how the emperor was considered the celestial son, acting as the earthly agent of heaven. Cultivators followed the path of seeking enlightenment against the heavenly order. They mustn’t meddle in the affairs of earthly royalty to avoid offending the heavens and incurring dire consequences.
For this reason, members of the royal family seldom pursued immortality. The dominant presence of dragon energy in their bodies obstructed the cultivation of spiritual roots, ensuring that the emperor and cultivators remained separate entities.
But the enigma lay in the fact that Liao Hengwei, a royal-blooded individual with dragon aura, should have no spiritual roots. Regardless of his country of origin in the human realm, why would he have chosen to enter the Wuling Immortal Gate?
This strange occurrence piqued Xu Ziqing’s curiosity, prompting him to inquire further.
Yun Lie began to explain, “The royal family’s inability to develop spiritual roots is due to the suppression of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth by the dragon energy. In the small world, where spiritual energy is scarce, dragon energy prevails over spiritual energy. Dragon energy is dominant and suppresses spiritual roots. It’s a complex interplay, where the fate of the human realm is closely interwoven with that of cultivators, becoming an integral part of the heavenly design.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ziqing said, somewhat bewildered, “So, in larger realms, can princes and princesses cultivate immortality? Could the Ninety Fifth Lord cultivate immortality?”
Yun Lie shook his head with a gentle sway. “The Ninety Fifth Lord is someone who gathers dragon energy, so immortality cultivation is out of the question for him. However, once he abdicates, he could.”
The intricacies of the matter remained shrouded in mystery, and Yun Lie chose not to elaborate further.
Recognizing the complexity of the subject, Xu Ziqing opted not to delve deeper. He redirected his attention to the martial arts stage.
As the two conversed, the battle on the stage grew increasingly intense.
Liao Hengwei’s golden dragon whip twisted into a coiled dragon, encircling his slender waist. The dragon’s maw melded with his clenched fist as he launched a series of “imperial dragon strikes” against Yue Jun.
Yue Jun adeptly wielded his Xuantian fan, the black aura gleaming. He deflected each of the “imperial dragon strikes” with ease, reducing the Huanglong Jin to tatters.
Despite their fierce duel, it seemed that Liao Hengwei’s imperial aura failed to subdue Yue Jun. In fact, he even managed a smile amidst the exchange. “Daoist Liao, if you were truly the Ninety Fifth Honor, your imperial aura might be worth some attention. At present, your dragon spirit of the same level can’t lay a finger on me!”
This mockery was a blow to Liao Hengwei’s arrogance. His attacks became more aggressive and rapid, while his expression soured.
As the fight continued, Liao Hengwei’s inexperience became increasingly evident. He lost his initial tactical approach and was goaded into acting recklessly. With Yue Jun seizing the opportunity, he disarmed him of the Golden Dragon Whip and disrupted the Dragon Strength entirely.
Yue Jun pressed the advantage, relentlessly pursuing his opponent. Before Liao Hengwei could regain his composure, he forced him off the martial arts stage. He stumbled several steps backward before collapsing to the ground, his face a mask of defeat.
In this round, victory belonged to Yue Jun.
Translator’s Notes:
This chapter is roughly edited, I’m not in a fit condition and my nephew is running around… Can’t focus. Please inform me if you find this chapter’s hard to read. I’ll edit them tomorrow
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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