I Pick up a Lost Godhood

Chapter 200 - 198: Participation is What Matters

"His body arched to shield Gao Dandan from the flames," Suo Ming said in a deep voice. At that moment, whether he delivered a savage beating or simply grabbed her, Gao Dandan would have been finished.

Whether it was his deep voice that startled her or something else, Gao Dandan gazed blankly at Suo Ming. A faint blush crept across her face as she gently closed her eyes. "I surrender."

Only then did Suo Ming stand up and calmly extinguish the flames.

Gao Dandan stood up, her feelings a complex mix. "You... doesn’t it hurt?"

A faint smile touched Suo Ming’s lips. "I practice the Holy Light Thorn Stream. There is no pain."

With that, he turned and walked back toward the Thunderlight Hall side, leaving Gao Dandan standing there in a daze.

First match: Thunderlight Hall wins.

The cheers this time were noticeably restrained. The Thunderlight Hall disciples weren’t celebrating with their usual fanfare. The fact that even the socially oblivious Suo Ming had held back was a clear indicator of the Flying Phoenix Hall’s powerful presence.

Jingg Yanyun couldn’t believe this was the standard of a Thunderlight Hall disciple. Calm, decisive, resilient, and almost flawless. ’Is this really the same Thunderlight Hall I remember?’

In comparison, the Gao Dandan she had taught seemed like a flower raised in a greenhouse. ’Dandan is usually quite a good kid,’ she thought, ’but comparisons really put things in perspective. It seems I’ll have to adjust my teaching methods.’

Jingg Yanyun doted on her disciples. She had focused mainly on strengthening their understanding of Sword Techniques and helping them develop their natural talents. In terms of real-world experience, however, they were clearly lacking.

"Dandan, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Shurou and her other sisters rushed to Gao Dandan’s side, looking her over from head to toe.

"That guy has no idea how to be gentle with a lady!"

Gao Dandan shook her head. "My skills just weren’t a match for his. He..."

Everyone immediately sensed something was amiss. A faint blush had appeared on Gao Dandan’s pale face.

The girls glanced at each other. ’No way... That works too?!’

Gao Dandan’s heart pounded. ’I’ve never met such a rugged man,’ she thought. ’The senior and junior brothers from the other halls are all so pretentious, either trying too hard to please me or acting aloof. But this man... he seemed fierce, yet he was actually gentle. And as for being tender to women? A fight should be fought with one’s full effort. There’s no room for pity.’

’That’s just how people are. Once you decide someone is good, everything about them seems good.’

"I’m sorry, Senior Sister, I..."

"As long as you’re not hurt, that’s what matters. Get some rest." Yang Ying smiled, choosing not to comment on the obvious.

Gao Dandan nodded and instinctively glanced over at the Thunderlight Hall disciples. Suo Ming, despite his victory, was just standing there silently. He showed no particular reaction and didn’t even look in her direction. Gao Dandan couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

"That Suo Ming is ruthless! If it were me, there’s no way I could have been so harsh!"

"Seriously! What a perfect chance to impress a girl, and he just threw it away. What an idiot!"

"Haha, give me a break! This is a battle for honor. If everyone fought like you—just to impress girls—Flying Phoenix Hall would be unbeatable."

"Heehee, and what of it? It’s an honor to die for a beautiful woman."

The group bantered back and forth. Clearly, this Hall Battle lacked the usual killing intent; even the spectators seemed relaxed.

"Fanghua, you’re up for the second match."

"Yes, Senior Sister."

Wan Fanghua walked onto the stage. She was a Pill Cultivator. Wang Meng glanced at Liuu Mei. "Senior Sister Liuu, this match is yours."

Liuu Mei froze, pointing at herself in disbelief. "Me?"

Wang Meng smiled. "That’s right."

Liuu Mei was both thrilled and terrified, her chest heaving dramatically. It was... quite a sight.

Liuu Mei was incredibly nervous. She’d never imagined a day would come when she would compete, let alone against Wan Fanghua of the Flying Phoenix Hall.

Wan Fanghua was in charge of the Flying Phoenix Pavilion, while Liuu Mei managed the Thunderlight Pavilion. The gap between them was immense. To one day stand on the same stage and fight as equals was something Liuu Mei had never dared to imagine. She was only here to fill a spot on the roster.

"Go for it, darling!"

Down below, Zhang Xiaojiang waved his chubby fists, which helped calm Liuu Mei’s nerves slightly.

Wan Fanghua clearly sensed her opponent’s nervousness. She offered a small smile. "Senior Sister Liuu, please."

Liuu Mei was taken aback, feeling quite flattered. Although she was slightly older than Wan Fanghua, age meant little in the Holy Hall. This was a sign of genuine respect from her opponent.

"Senior Sister Wan, please."

A duel between a Pill Cultivator and a Technique Cultivator was essentially a contest of Magic Techniques. But even with her special training, Liuu Mei had never been truly tested in battle. To be blunt, she was still at the level of the old Thunderlight Hall—in other words, she couldn’t withstand a single blow.

But Wan Fanghua was courteous. She played along, exchanging a volley of Talismans to give Liuu Mei some breathing room. She even allowed Liuu Mei to demonstrate her Hundred Talisman Butterfly Stream before quickly dismantling it.

Wan Fanghua won the match with ease. It was less of a Hall Battle and more of a sparring session. Not only was the gap in their strength enormous, but the fight had also been quite educational.

Losing was expected, but for Liuu Mei, it was a monumental life experience. It was her first time fighting in such an important venue, and against such a powerful opponent. She knew Wan Fanghua had gone easy on her, and she was grateful. At the same time, her heart ached as she looked at Zhang Xiaopang. As a mere spectator, she’d never truly understood how he and the others managed to defeat one powerful opponent after another. Only now, having experienced it firsthand, did she realize just how difficult it truly was.

When she first got on stage, she’d felt like she was suffocating. If Wan Fanghua had attacked right away, Liuu Mei would have been utterly humiliated. But now, even in defeat, she had managed to put on a respectable performance.

Liuu Mei silently made a resolution. After the tournament, she would train harder. She couldn’t keep coasting along like this anymore.

And so, Thunderlight Hall and Flying Phoenix Hall were tied, one to one.

Back with her group, Wan Fanghua simply smiled at Yang Ying. Honestly, there was nothing to celebrate; her opponent had been far too weak.

The third match pitted Youn Yuqing of Flying Phoenix Hall against Zhou Qian of Thunderlight Hall. The fight was spectacular. Zhou Qian was already among the top-tier disciples of Thunderlight Hall, but his talent and strength were even greater than he had realized. Once he had his awakening, especially after committing to a do-or-die mentality, the confidence and power he exuded grew ever more domineering. Youn Yuqing was no slouch, but Zhou Qian was more reckless, more willing to risk everything. After a grueling battle, Zhou Qian emerged the narrow victor.

The Zhou Qian of today was looking more and more like a top-tier Technique Cultivator. His use of the Bursting Fire Talisman had reached a state of perfection. Thunderlight Hall had secured a precious victory.

Two to one. Thunderlight Hall had pushed Flying Phoenix Hall to the brink.

This was perhaps the very reason Flying Phoenix Hall could never advance further. Their female disciples were of high quality and considerable strength, but they couldn’t fight with the same life-or-death desperation as the male cultivators. People like Zhou Qian, when pushed into a corner, were capable of anything.

You had to be willing to risk it all, and the disciples of Flying Phoenix Hall just weren’t. It was hardly their fault. As the only elite hall composed entirely of Female Cultivators, they were showered with affection from all sides. Their ambitions were lofty, but deep down, they didn’t demand as much of themselves. Thunderlight Hall was different. They had gotten this far by fighting with absolute desperation, risking life and limb—the kind of people who would dare to pull an emperor from his horse.

All eyes were on Flying Phoenix Hall. At a time like this, could Yang Ying still remain seated?