Chapter 304: My Queen
The way in which Evan had showed up abruptly was so peculiar and at the same, laughably stupid, that the over one hundred thousand audiences on site were dumbfounded.
Since he could fly in the sky, it was reasonable to believe that his strength was at least above the level of Illuminating Soul Realm. And being able to step into the level of Illuminating Soul Realm was adequate to show that his talents were by no means weak or limited. If so, the audience was bewildered as to why he acted like an idiot just now?
“Who is this idiot on earth?” Finally, one of the disciples couldn't help it and burst out due to strong confusion.
“Hush, keep it down. Don't call him names. Didn't you see Patrick was respectful to him just now? If my guess is right, he is the famous Evan Li. He is more powerful than Patrick!” another disciple scolded in a low voice.
“Isn't he supposed to be practicing martial arts in his secret chamber these days? What's he doing here? Has he finished practicing and come out already? Hang on. That might also mean that the All Peaks Competition's not finished yet?” the former disciple asked, now looking pretty excited.
After the disciples had witnessed that Zen had defeated Patrick, or rather, Patrick had admitted defeat, they had begun waiting for one of the elders to announce the rankings and changes of the entire Cloud Sect List. Not in their farthest dreams had they expected the famous Evan would show up abruptly at the end of the competition.
Now they became thrilled and began to look forward to the stunning competition which might take place between Zen and Evan if they agreed.
After all, a hundred thousand disciples of Cloud Sect had each spent a point, which equaled to two cubic crystals as well as the whole asset of an ordinary family in an ordinary county to come and watch the competition on site. They wouldn't have wanted it to end just like that!
Yet, seeing Evan's behavior which was much like a dumb person, the members of the audience were worried whether the competition would ever start or not.
“Hey, Patrick! Look at you so gloomy. You look like a dead fish. Did you just lose?” Evan asked with a stupid smile on his face. He always behaved like an arrogant sod and would have said anything he wanted to, completely ignorant of others' feelings.
Patrick was used to that. He simply nodded and replied, “My strength is not as good as that of Zen. So, my failure is just how it has to be.” Although he talked to Evan in a seemingly respectful way, he really did not want to say too many words to him anymore. Whenever and wherever Evan showed up, he sure also brought endless trouble with his stupid personality. It was infuriating.
Evan, though looking like an idiot, was not easy to be fooled around and obviously, wouldn't stop asking until he got a satisfying answer. He then went up and put his arm on Patrick's shoulder and asked, beaming, “What do you mean by 'just how it has to be'? I am sure that you are upset and don't want to accept it as the final result, right? I detect that the strength of your opponent over there is only at the second grade of nature level! Losing to him? Oh, Patrick, you humiliate me! You should be embarrassed too. Would you like me to win your honor back? I am telling you, I can beat the trash out of him just like that.”
“No, thank you. Evan, I attend the All Peaks Competition just for learning from other competitors, not to incur hatred…” Patrick replied quickly with a heavy face. Yes, he was right—he didn't know how to deal with Evan's unruly and teasing manner.
“I think it's still necessary for me to win your honor back! Let's just say that's the way 'it has to be', shall we? As for the reward, I will not ask for too much. How about printing several books about the basic Buddhist cultivation methods you have figured out and giving them to me as a reward, deal?” Evan burst out in laughter on hearing his own words.
'What the heck?' Patrick roared silently deep inside. Yet, he just refused calmly, “No, thank you. Evan, I still have some other business to handle right now...”
Just as Evan and Patrick were having the conversation, the elder who was in charge of announcing the rankings asked him, “Evan, did you make another breakthrough during the practice in your secret chamber?”
“Yes, and I made three breakthroughs in a row, jumping from the third grade to the sixth grade of Illuminating Soul Realm straight.” Evan replied, stretching and yawning. It was almost as if improving his level was as simple and natural as eating and sleeping. He was an arrogant yet powerful personality indeed.
There were some ancient treasures, such as super well-refined pills, which could help warriors in making quick breakthroughs in the Illuminating Soul Realm. However, this kind of well-refined pills was very rare in the Eastern Region. Most of the pills refined by Eastern Region alchemists were aimed for nature creatures.
Besides, Evan had a solid foundation, and obviously, he didn't need to rely on well-refined pills. He relied entirely on his own ability to make three breakthroughs in a row, which substantially showed that his talent was really appalling.
“Well, good to hear that! However, since you have reached the sixth grade of Illuminating Soul Realm, I am sorry to tell you that you will be removed from the Cloud Sect List according to established conventions. Now, I will announce the final rankings of the All Peaks Competition,” the elder said in a happy tone.
According to the established conventions of Cloud Sect, the strength level required for the All Peaks Competition and Cloud Sect List was capped, and the strongest participants were not allowed to be beyond the third grade of Illuminating Soul Realm. Anyone who was able to train beyond this level would be automatically removed from the List and disqualified to attend any of the related competitions.
With his earlier strength level, he did have the qualification to participate in the All Peaks Competition. But that was a little while ago. When he had walked out from his secret chamber, his strength had leapt directly from the third grade of Illuminating Soul Realm to the sixth grade. This was not only beyond the capped requirement, but also very slightly weaker than the topmost grade of Illuminating Soul Realm. That was to say, it wasn't going to be a long time before his realm became comparable to the saints, or even the elders with relatively weaker strength.
What was more, it was well known that Evan had a solid foundation. This was unlike many saints and elders in the Cloud Sect who were unable to make breakthroughs after a particular level, and therefore had to achieve their current strength only with the aid of well-refined pills. In terms of real strength, he might not be too far from them.
Under the above situation, it was obviously not fair to allow Evan to attend the All Peaks Competition.
“No! Elder Ge! No matter if I am alive or dead, I will always be Cloud Sect's disciple. Why do you want to remove me from the List? Please! I really want to attend this year's All Peaks Competition and I really have to! Although I have made breakthroughs, my name is still on this year's list of All Peaks Competition Participants, right?” Evan argued strongly, trying to convince Elder Ge and the others.
Elder Ge also hesitated at the moment. Evan's case was really special. He was indeed registered on the list of eligible disciples to participate in this year's Competition, but he had been practicing in his secret chamber and had showed up only at the end of the competition.
“Just allow him to fight! There's nothing special about it! Isn't it just one more match?” one disciple bellowed.
“We want to see it! Evan is also Cloud Sect's disciple. Why can't he attend the All Peaks Competition?” one more disciple bellowed, rather unwilling to lose such a good opportunity to watch another wonderful match.
“Yeah. Seconded! Why can't he be allowed? It doesn't make any difference to have one more match!” another disciple added loudly.
At this crucial moment, several disciples began to kick up a fuss about it.
From their points of view, if they could watch one more match, especially the one between Evan Li and Zen Luo, it would have been a great bonus for them! After all, they had each spent a point on the All Peaks Competition, and although Evan really looked like an idiot, it could not be denied that he was really powerful.
Immediately, a hundred thousand disciples of Cloud Sect got thrilled and began to chant, spontaneously and repeatedly, “One more fight!”. Looking down at the enthusiastic audiences, Elder Ge gradually wavered, but there were still some thoughts in his mind that held him back. Of course, Zen had already created so many miracles. But since he and Evan were not at all at the same level of strength, Zen had no chance of winning this competition, which meant it would not be a fair competition. In fact, he had half a belief that Evan was trying to bully Zen.
While seeing so many people were supporting him, Evan stared at Zen arrogantly, as if he were looking at a little weak sheep. He impatiently said again, “Elder Ge, look at that! Everyone is waiting for this fight. I think you should make the decision as soon as possible!”
Just then, things took a dramatic turn!
Yan, who had been standing outside the battle ring, suddenly walked inside and yelled furiously, “Evan Li!”
When Evan heard his name called out, his eyebrows narrowed. He had heard this voice before. Suddenly, he remembered exactly who would make such a voice and his face changed abruptly. A bitter expression appeared on his face. He asked in a trembling voice, “You, you are…”
“You dare call me directly by my name and defile it with your vile tongue?” Yan cut in immediately, walking two steps closer to him and staring at him with her clear and beautiful eyes.
'Well,“ Evan tried to reply with an awkward look on his face. He shook his head immediately after thinking about it for a second. ”No. I don't dare to do that!"
Yan was wearing a veil. But the others could see that she had raised her eyebrows. Meanwhile, she asked proudly with a smile in her eyes, “Then what is it that you call me?”
“Umm... I...” Evan replied hesitantly, even more embarrassed. “In front of so many people, I would rather not say it out since it would be…” It looked like Yan had caught on to his Achilles' heel. He no longer seemed confident and proud.
“Really? Did you forget your vows?” Yan reminded him coldly.
Evan was now full of deep regrets inside. He thought to himself bitterly, 'Earlier, as soon as I walked out of my secret chamber, I was surprised to hear that a super genius from Cloud Sect has emerged at the All Peaks Competition. I decided to rush to the site and check him out. I wanted to see who this genius was and to have a go at him. When I arrived here, Patrick has already been defeated. This seemingly genius disciple whose strength is only at the second grade of the nature level has managed to defeat Patrick. I was really interested in fighting with him. It would have been so great. Never have I ever expected to meet Yan in person here. Isn't she supposed to be locked up in Hell Mountain right now? If I had known she was here, I wouldn't have come here today. Honestly, I am really not interested in All Peaks Competition's reward, and even if I defeated Zen with my current strength, I guess the head of Cloud Sect wouldn't give me any reward!'
At the same time, when hearing Yan mention his vows, Evan suddenly became dejected, like an eggplant that had experienced cold frost, and finally dropped his head, saying reluctantly in a low voice, “My queen!”
“Well, that's my good boy!” Yan remarked, laughing out with great satisfaction.
Seeing such a scene, Zen found him speechless. What had just happened? And how had it happened? When did his sister become a queen? Why would he call Yan his queen? And as soon as Yan had asked him to call her that, Evan had obeyed. How come he, with his level of strength was so obedient to Yan's orders?
The disciples who were watching the scene were also completely stunned on hearing it.
Did Evan just call the veiled woman his queen?
He was acting like an idiot, but he was probably the strongest disciple of the Cloud Sect right now. How come he called the woman his queen? She was probably below him in strength. Who was this masked woman on earth? Wasn't she said to be Zen's girl?
Soon, all sorts of guesses about the woman's identity spread over among the audience. Some said she was Kenneth's daughter, while some said she was Yan. Anyway, almost all sorts of speculations were thrown about.
“Do you have to fight with Zen?” Yan asked one more question.
Evan was at a loss since he didn't know how to answer her question. Earlier, he was eager to fight with Zen and beat him up, but now, Yan had showed up unexpectedly and had made him call her queen in public, he was really not in the mood anymore.
When she could not hear any reply from him, Yan proposed slowly, “If you really want to defeat Zen and prove your strength, it is still feasible. Now that you are at the sixth grade of Illuminating Soul Realm, the competition between you and Zen will be quite unfair. Even if you win, you will still be accused of bullying him, and you will not have much fun. Why don't you just compete against him in swordplay? I mean, both of you don't use your life vitality, making it a pure swordplay competition.”
When hearing Yan's proposal, Elder Ge's eyes lit up and widened in joy. Immediately, he seconded the idea briskly, “That's an excellent proposal. Evan, you are also good at swordplay. It would be fair for you two to compete with each other in pure swordplay.”
In fact, Elder Ge had witnessed Zen's basic swordplay. As someone whose strength was not top among the elders, he still had a decent ranking and knew a thing or two. Thus, it was easy for him to know that Zen's swordplay was really formidable. Therefore, he supported Yan's proposal. Apparently, he was also trying to set up a trap for Evan.
Patrick, standing next to Elder Ge, also had a secret smile inside. He had competed against Zen, so he obviously knew what was going on. 'This time, I believe that Evan definitely will fall into a well-set trap as he has never had the chance to figure out the real strength of Zen's swordplay before. It's true that Evan can beat Zen if they use their real strength to compete. However, in terms of pure swordplay? Hahaha…Evan, you are staring complete failure in the face, ' he thought happily and stealthily.
“Compete in pure swordplay?” Evan replied carelessly, rubbing his nose. “I, Evan, have never been afraid of anyone in pure swordplay! All right! This final match will be a competition of our swordsmanship skills only!”
Previously, as Yan had seen Zen condense his sword spirit, she speculated that Zen's attainments in swordsmanship were certainly not low, but she had not seen the formidable powers that lay behind that talent. The reason she had put forward such a proposal was that she simply didn't want to see Evan defeat Zen with a dominating advantage and strength in the competition.
What she didn't know was that she had inadvertently set up a trap for Evan, just as what she had done years ago to defeat and tease him.