novelraw Chapter 254 - 122: The Tournament in Progress
Chapter 254 - 122: The Tournament in Progress
The sound of weapons clashing on the stage was heard intermittently, yet the crowd couldn’t see their figures, only the large pits forming on the ground constantly.Jun Wu remained calm from start to finish, but it was different for Qin Yang.
As time passed, his expression became increasingly serious, cold sweat began to appear on his forehead, and his speed slowed down noticeably, showing that he was already struggling.
At this moment, Qin Yang’s feelings were not good. At first, when he learned that his opponent was Jun Wu, he was somewhat worried. After all, Jun Wu was famous, but he was also confident in himself, as their strength wasn’t vastly different. However, after they started fighting, he realized he was wrong.
Jun Wu seemed like a mountain, standing firm no matter how hard he tried, simply unmovable, which made him increasingly tense. Moreover, as time passed, his stamina and the spiritual power within him were depleting rapidly, and with the added mental pressure, his speed naturally slowed down.
The fight lasted for about a quarter of an hour, and then Qin Yang was kicked off the stage by Jun Wu, thus ending the match!
The seventeenth group matches quickly concluded, and finally, Gu Qingqing and her group all advanced, along with Yun Ran who had a bye. Remarkably, none in their group was eliminated.
The remaining eighteen people would be divided into nine groups for the next matches. As with yesterday, all participants could rest for a day and continue the competition tomorrow.
When drawing lots, Gu Qingqing and the others were lucky not to draw each other.
This time, Gu Qingqing drew a direct disciple of a hall master from the White Tiger Sacred Land named He Huan. She was a woman, around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, an exquisite beauty, and her weapon was the same as Yun Ran’s, a whip.
Jun Wu drew Lan Shaojun, the direct disciple of the Wuyou Sect Leader, with cultivation also at the ninth rank.
Yue Zhao drew Lin Tianqi, the direct disciple of the Yunlan Sacred Land Sect Leader, and Nan Hua drew Han Yichen, the direct disciple of the White Tiger Sacred Land Sect Leader. Mu Chen drew Jiang Feiyun, the direct disciple of the Li Huan Palace Leader. Zhuo Tingqiu drew Shui Qianxi, the direct disciple of the Xuanyun Sect Leader, and Yun Ran drew Wang Chuanfeng, the direct disciple of the White Tiger Sacred Land Leader.
After resting for a night, everyone arrived at the Cloud Ascension Platform early the next day.
This time, the first two platforms needed to host two matches, while the remaining platforms needed only one. After the morning matches, the next round would follow immediately.
Gu Qingqing was on platform four for the first match. After she and He Huan stood on the platform, they both began observing each other.
"I know you, I even specifically watched your match yesterday. I hope you will give it your all in the future," He Huan said solemnly to Gu Qingqing after the referee announced their identities.
Although surprised, Gu Qingqing did not refuse, "I will, hope you do the same."
He Huan nodded, directly taking a ready stance.
At the referee’s signal, they both moved simultaneously. He Huan soared into the air, her whip lashed out towards Gu Qingqing, and if caught by it, Gu Qingqing would likely be severely injured.
Fortunately, Gu Qingqing was not caught off guard, and her Mixed Immortal Silk flew out from her sleeve, directly striking He Huan’s whip aside, then traveling straight towards He Huan’s face. He Huan instantly sidestepped, watching the white silk fly past her eyes and could even feel the spiritual power emanating from it.
She turned back, her whip once again lashing towards Gu Qingqing.
Gu Qingqing used the Mixed Immortal Silk like a whip, lashing towards He Huan’s face just as she did.
In the air, the white Mixed Immortal Silk and the silver whip danced up and down, waves of spiritual power striking the platform, promptly creating cracks that appeared somewhat terrifying.
Both of their moves were sharp and swift in execution, exchanging blows at a rapid speed, their bodies ascending and descending, leaving trails of afterimages in the air, mesmerizing the onlookers.
Although He Huan had watched Gu Qingqing’s match, Gu Qingqing hadn’t gone all out in that fight, leading to He Huan underestimating her. It was only when truly facing Gu Qingqing that she realized, despite her young age, Gu Qingqing’s strength was not lacking at all.
"Pop!"
The Mixed Immortal Silk struck He Huan’s arm, sending a jolt of pain through her arm. She frowned and her whip lashed towards Gu Qingqing’s arm, only to be struck aside by the Mixed Immortal Silk mid-way. Gu Qingqing could always quickly discern He Huan’s attack point, waiting to intercept and disrupt her assault.
This made He Huan feel a bit frustrated. No matter where she aimed to hit Gu Qingqing, it was always blocked, rendering her unable to injure Gu Qingqing. Conversely, she had been struck several times by Gu Qingqing, making her slightly anxious.
This was precisely the effect Gu Qingqing desired. Unbeknownst to He Huan, Gu Qingqing had been gradually leading her towards the edge of the platform. As He Huan got emotionally swayed by Gu Qingqing’s tactics, she inched closer to the platform’s edge, while Gu Qingqing was biding her time, looking for an opportunity.
When He Huan once again got angry after being disarmed by Gu Qingqing’s whip, and was about to act recklessly, Gu Qingqing seized the opportunity. The Mixed Immortal Silk directly wrapped around He Huan’s waist. With a tug, before He Huan could react, Gu Qingqing had already sent her off the platform.
According to the competition rules, a contestant is deemed to have lost if they leave the platform. Since He Huan ended up below the platform, she naturally lost.
"Miss He, I’ve won this round." Gu Qingqing stood on the platform, looking at a somewhat flustered He Huan below, and said politely.
He Huan looked at Gu Qingqing, feeling a bit frustrated, but realizing that she was initially no match for Gu Qingqing, she finally came to terms with it, "I hope we have the chance to spar again next time."
Gu Qingqing was somewhat surprised but found He Huan’s personality somewhat likable, so she nodded as an agreement.
He Huan turned to leave, and Gu Qingqing also stepped down from the platform.
Yun Ran’s match had also already finished. Yun Ran lost to Wang Chuanfeng, after all, Wang Chuanfeng was the direct disciple of the Sect Leader of the White Tiger Sacred Land, far stronger than Yun Ran. Losing to him, Yun Ran was not upset. The same went for Zhuo Tingqiu, who had joined a second-rate sect after arriving in the Sub-immortal Realm. Although he was also talented, the realm had many gifted people, and reaching this stage was not easy, so he wasn’t angry about losing.
As for Yue Zhao and the others, they naturally all won.
By noon, the nine people entering the next round had already all appeared.
Gu Qingqing, Yue Zhao, Nan Hua, Mu Chen, and Jun Wu naturally entered the next round, and Bai Shenghua, Bai Guanlin’s first disciple, and Wang Chuanfeng, the second disciple, also entered the next round, along with another direct disciple of Jun Yutian, Shen Qing, and Shui Qianxi from the Xuanyun Sect.
Besides Si Lin and Rong Ye, who couldn’t participate due to advancing to the Half-step Immortal Rank, the remaining participants basically represented the most powerful individuals of their age in the Righteous Path, like Yue Zhao and the others.
After the morning matches, there would be afternoon competitions, but before that, the contestants would need to draw lots again to determine their opponents. Due to there being nine participants this time, one would have a bye, directly entering the final match.
Gu Qingqing was very lucky to draw the bye ticket, which meant she could directly enter the final round, reducing her chances of facing Yue Zhao and the others.
The number of participants had decreased this time, and they weren’t as lucky as before, not drawing their own people. This time Yue Zhao drew Shui Qianxi, Nan Hua drew Bai Shenghua, and Mu Chen drew Jun Wu, while Wang Chuanfeng and Shen Qing became opponents.
After the draw results, Yue Zhao and the others didn’t look too well. Although they knew the further they went, the higher the chance of meeting each other, they all hoped it would happen as late as possible.
As for the parties involved, Jun Wu and Mu Chen were just surprised for a moment, then exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit excited.
"Speaking of which, I haven’t had a proper fight with Jun Wu yet; I didn’t expect to get the chance now. This is great," Mu Chen said, licking his lips with some excitement.
"I also wanted to spar with Brother Mu. Finally, there’s an opportunity." Jun Wu uncharacteristically said a few more words.
Seeing this, the others exchanged glances, somewhat speechless.
After a break of about an hour and a half, the afternoon matches began directly.
This time there were four groups, seven platforms, which were more than enough. The four groups’ competitions could be said to occur simultaneously. The other people were fine, but Gu Qingqing had a bit of a headache because she wanted to watch everyone’s match, but since they all took place at the same time, she could only choose one platform to watch.
In the end, Gu Qingqing chose the platform of Jun Wu and Mu Chen, mainly because she had never seen Mu Chen and Jun Wu fight before and was curious. Of course, she claimed she was worried about the safety of the two, but everyone else knew better without saying anything.
Si Lin was sent on a mission by Wen Guiyun, while Rong Ye, who hadn’t shown up earlier, came to the Cloud Ascension Platform after learning about the match between Mu Chen and Jun Wu, sitting beside Gu Qingqing to watch together.
"Although the fourth elder seems gentle and frail, like a sickly person, his Red Flame Spear is quite formidable; let alone Jun Wu, his scimitar skill is exceptional. Watching these two fight, tsk tsk, I have no idea who would win," Rong Ye commented as he handed snacks he brought to Gu Qingqing.
Gu Qingqing was shoving the snacks into her mouth, her eyes fixed on the platform, and nodded at Rong Ye’s words, "I also don’t know who will win, but this makes it more interesting."
Rong Ye nodded, joining Gu Qingqing in watching the match while eating.
On the platform, as soon as Mu Chen and Jun Wu stepped up, the tension was palpable. After the referee introduced the two, they exchanged usual courtesies, and when the referee announced the start of the match, they moved simultaneously.
The Red Flame Spear in Mu Chen’s hand swept across, sending a line of fire towards Jun Wu, while Jun Wu leaped into the air, his rotating scimitar lashed out, aimed at Mu Chen’s neck.
The Red Flame Spear blocked in front of his chest, the scimitar clashing against the spear, sending a spray of sparks before they separated. The floor beneath Mu Chen’s feet was left pitted and uneven.