novelraw Chapter 108: The First Qingyun Sect City Witch Hunt Finals
Chapter 108: The First Qingyun Sect City Witch Hunt Finals
"The sect's grand examination, huh."
Bai Mei propped her chin on her hand, sinking into deep thought.
She was naturally extremely familiar with the sect's grand examination, having experienced it countless times.
Back in the sect, she had also looked forward to the Azure Cloud Sect's grand examination many times.
However, back then, the Azure Cloud Sect was still a small faction with few members. Even by the time she left, there were only about four or five people.
Holding a grand examination would undoubtedly have seemed rather pathetic.
But times were different now. Not to mention the branch sects in other cities, just the Azure Cloud Sect headquarters in Beihai alone, excluding the seven core disciples and honorary core disciples, had over twenty Magical Girls as inner sect disciples.
There were also dozens of outer sect disciples, some from Beihai and others stationed in other cities.
Add to that the Magical Girls with affiliated status.
If a grand competition were to be held, there would absolutely be enough participants.Regarding the grand competition, what Bai Mei loved most was actually the plot in "Slaying Demons."
The protagonist, as the weakest junior brother of the Great Bamboo Peak, was brought along to make up the numbers but repeatedly defeated opponents with "luck" and magical treasures, advancing all the way to the semifinals. In the end, he lost to his future wife because he held back.
That feeling of seeming somewhat capable yet actually not being truly capable, stumbling and fumbling one's way to the semifinals to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other genuinely talented disciples—that sense of humility had always fascinated Bai Mei immensely.
If possible, she hoped her students could replicate that.
Of course, it was just a hope.
Because this grand competition wasn't an ordinary disciple sparring match at all, but a competition within a competition within a competition.
Disciples below the sect's core disciple rank were participating in the All-Sect City Witch Hunt Finals, divided into two tiers, with participation areas also restricted...
Those not in Beihai locally could only participate in the secondary East China Outer Hundred Cities League, while disciples in Beihai could participate in the primary event presided over by core disciples—the Beihai Hunt Duel Points Invitational Tournament.
The team with the highest points in the All-Sect City Witch Hunt Finals would be the champion, earning the title of 【Azure Cloud Sect's Glorious Demon-Slaying Supreme Hunt Champion】 and substantial rewards.
Additionally, points rankings would also yield corresponding benefits.
During these days, Qianjing and Shui Ling had actually worked hard enough. To bring Ruo Yun back, they had trained much more desperately than before, mastering almost all of the Azure Cloud Sect's basic courses.
They had never progressed this fast before.
Could it be... this was also within Master's calculations...
Probably not.
After dismissing the thought, Bai Mei sighed as she observed Qianjing and Shui Ling training in the courtyard with her Mind's Eye.
She had the sect's weakest disciples, two of them. The problem was, if they participated in the grand competition, could these two really make a stunning debut relying on luck or something?
Like reaching the semifinals of the Outer Cities League or something...
"You two."
Bai Mei asked lightly, "Do you want to participate in the West Wind Minor Competition?"
"Huh? Is there really a minor competition?" Shui Ling was full of curiosity. "How does it work?"
Qianjing said even more seriously, "I want to participate! I want to become stronger!"
"Good ambition."
Bai Mei praised them, then said, "The rules for this sect grand competition are quite complex. Simply put, initially, you'll compete in dealing with those miscellaneous Witch Association members who have infiltrated the city."
"Oh, that's just what we do every day. Easy peasy."
"Ultimately, it will probably involve challenging the Sect Master."
After these words, the entire courtyard fell into a deathly silence. Only a gust of wind blew through, causing a few yellow leaves to fall from the small tree in the yard.
This courtyard was originally chosen for her by Lady Bingtang. It had many rooms. Since it was fully paid for and gifted to Bai Mei, she had rented it out for a long time to earn some pocket money.
Located in a bustling part of the city, the tenants were mostly office workers. At this hour, they had all gone to their companies, which was when the two girls came over to train.
Bai Mei tilted her head, gently brushing away a leaf that had drifted onto her shoulder. The leaf was neatly sliced by her fingertip. "What's wrong?"
Shui Ling stammered, "Although... although I really want to get stronger, Teacher, fighting the Sect Master... that... that wouldn't make us stronger at all, right?"
"Yeah, yeah." Qianjing also nodded immediately. "Why do we have to fight the Sect Master at the end? We wouldn't last a single hit, would we?"
Back in Jiangming City, that magical power that blanketed the entire city, the technique so precise it skewered every Disaster Beast in every corner—both the control and the sheer power were maxed out.
Previously, thinking the sect grand competition was an internal disciple competition, they had been somewhat interested, wanting to see the other powerful Magical Girls in the sect and test their efforts of late.
But upon hearing it was the Sect Master, all thoughts were immediately dismissed.
To be honest, useless little Magical Girls like them didn't have the guts to challenge someone so far above their level. They just didn't have the capability...
Especially Qianjing, who had personally witnessed how the Sect Master skewered all those Disaster Beasts. On one hand, she was very admiring, recognizing the formidable depth and heritage of the sect she had joined.
On the other hand, she was actually somewhat fearful.
After all, that method was truly terrifying. Later, Qianjing often had nightmares about the Sect Master accidentally skewering her too, turning her into a kebab.
Although Qianjing was confident in her crystal defense, facing the Sect Master, she always felt it would be shattered...
Bai Mei smiled. "Forget it. I didn't have high hopes for you two anyway."
"Then why did you mention it..."
"I just hope you can strive for inner sect disciple positions in a branch sect sooner. In the future, you might be able to participate in the sect's grand examination, compete for a Beihai inner sect spot, make a name for yourselves. Then I'd have face in front of my master."
"Teacher, you care about face too?"
"Who doesn't hope for praise from their elders, Shui Ling?"
"That's true too. Teacher is actually only about high school age..."
Only then did Shui Ling and Qianjing realize that although they had always regarded Bai Mei as a teacher and elder...
Bai Mei's age wasn't actually much older than theirs...
Naturally unaware of what her students were thinking, Bai Mei just sighed inwardly, lamenting that she couldn't participate in the grand competition.
She silently wished for a properly organized sect grand competition in the future.
Her master had specifically told her earlier that, as the chief core disciple, she was not allowed to participate in this sect grand examination.
Otherwise, Bai Mei really wanted to sneak up behind her teacher and give him a sword strike.
Stay humble and avoid impatience.
After all, Bai Mei, styled Ningbing.
She felt somewhat regretful that she couldn't replicate that sword strike, but she also somewhat guessed that since they had already crossed swords in Jiangming City, her master probably felt there was no need to test her strength again.
Actually, her Sword Energy had improved again these past few days. She wanted to show her master.
However, her master planned to test her separately later, which was also a privilege. They could talk about it another time.
She hoped the other core disciple junior sisters would strive hard and deliver a rebellious strike of disciple love to their master.
As the two disciples continued training, while Bai Mei was meditating and concentrating her energy, she received another message from the Disaster Control Bureau.
The last remaining student was naturally acting as an inside agent at the Bureau.
Whenever the Disaster Control Bureau had news about Disaster Beasts or the Witch Association, it would be promptly relayed to Bai Mei.
"More Witch Association members are coming to challenge."
She, as a core disciple, was aware of what the Witch Association had been up to lately.
Jiangming City, as a three-star challenge target for the Witch Association, had recently attracted many Witch Association members targeting the Azure Cloud Sect here.
No matter. She would handle it.
After receiving the specific location information from there, Bai Mei took out a seed and softly recited her transformation phrase:
"Sword opens the gate."
Pure, transparent magical power erupted from her body. The commotion wasn't big, not even scattering the fallen leaves around.
Since she originally wore white clothes, her transformed state remained simple white Magical Outfit, making it easy to miss that she was transformed.
It also had a certain chance of misleading enemies.
Her Mind's Eye, originally confined to the courtyard, rapidly expanded. Then, using the power of a Magical Girl, she extended the expanded Mind's Eye all the way to the corners at the city's edge.
"Four people. One Complete Witch. The remaining three are ordinary Witch Association members using corrupted magic power."
After confirming the four individuals' information, Bai Mei brought her two fingers together like a sword, pointing distantly at that Complete Witch.
"One sword."
A magnificent, clear Sword Energy flashed like lightning across the city's sky, piercing through layer upon layer of obstacles, accurately striking the Complete Witch's head!
The Sword Energy pierced through the blood cross mark on the Complete Witch's forehead that resembled a target, dragging her body backward.
Finally, it nailed her firmly to the wall!
"Sufficient."
After saying this, she covered her mouth and coughed a few times, a bright red trickle appearing at the corner of her mouth.
"Since it's the sect's grand examination, our branch sect can't fall behind. If we're not going to Beihai, let's participate in the Hundred Cities League. Judging by Beihai's movements, more points might flow over."
"Shui Ling, Qianjing, the remaining Witch Association members are your trial. Go."
Especially Qianjing, who had personally witnessed how the Sect Master skewered all those Disaster Beasts. On one hand, she was very admiring, recognizing the formidable foundation of the sect she had joined.
With that, Shui Ling, who had tucked one arm into her clothes, pushed Qianjing, who was sitting in a wheelchair, out the door with her free hand.
Without a doubt, they were advancing along their teacher's path.
With the imagery of heaven-crippled and earth-deficient, they empty-proved 【Body Transformed into Sword】!
This was their determination to win Ruo Yun back!
As the two rushed towards the Witch Association members pushing the wheelchair, sharp Sword Energy rose from their bodies!
......
"Damn, can this Azure Cloud Sect challenge really be completed?"
"Isn't this challenge level set based on Twins' experience?"
"I'm just saying, is there a possibility that Twins was just lucky?"
"Then do you want to go test her yourself?"
"Better not..."
At the edge of Hulin City, Xilan, who was investigating the surrounding situation of Hulin City while watching the live streams in her crystal, silently closed another stream.
The team heading to Jiangming City's three-star challenge area, with a Complete Witch as the core, had their stream cut off before they even saw anyone.
Such was the power of the Azure Cloud Sect's core disciples.
Taking a deep breath, Xilan looked around. The remaining few people also had grave expressions.
Actually, many Witch Association members weren't actively seeking challenges; most had no choice.
Either they couldn't make it elsewhere and could only come here to try their luck. If they obtained a spot to enter the Heart Image Remnant, even if they didn't want to go in, selling the spot to someone else would make them rich.
Some were forced by their superiors to come seize spots. Another part was simply curious or wanted to challenge themselves.
The people around her were mostly forced to come challenge here.
Xilan was different. She was a Complete Witch dispatched to support East China.
Her destination was Beihai, to support the new East China director, Jiang the Demon Butcher.
Before coming, her superior repeatedly warned her that the situation in East China was unpredictable now, especially Beihai, which was very dangerous. She must be extremely careful and prioritize self-preservation if in danger.
Her superior always cared about her, which Xilan knew, but she scoffed at it.
Xilan was different from other Witch Association members. She even looked down on other Complete Witches.
Including Twins.
They were just a bunch of little girls without any sense of conviction.
Xilan was different. She had actively joined the Witch Association with lofty goals and pursuits.
To change this world.
Although she hadn't figured out exactly how to change the world yet, starting by taking down the Disaster Control Bureau was definitely correct.
The current world's rules were anchored by the Disaster Control Bureau. So first, destroy the Disaster Control Bureau, then slowly think about how to establish new rules to make the world better...
Therefore, she had absolute loyalty to the Witch Association, because only the Witch Association could change this world!
Self-preservation?
Those two words didn't exist in her dictionary.
If she could eradicate the Azure Cloud Sect, what did it matter to pay with her life?
For the Witch Association, she would go through fire and water without hesitation!
"Huh? No disciples here?"
A Magical Girl wearing light green Magical Outfit appeared in the sky at some point.
She even had a hood covering her face. The Magic Wand in her hand looked like a rabbit plushie, which she held.
The Witch Association members who had been resting were all stunned.
Then someone immediately charged forward. Polluted Magic condensed on the controlled blade in their hand, stabbing straight at the Magical Girl's face.
The Magical Girl didn't move at all, just slightly raised her head.
A gentle breeze brushed past. The Witch Association member's arm holding the blade flew off!
Their body stood before the Magical Girl, suddenly motionless.
The green Magical Girl slightly raised her head, revealing only a pair of pupils like dandelions.
Filled with icy killing intent.
"Witch Association, deserves death."
As the Magical Girl walked past the Witch Association member whose hand had already been severed, that person's head slowly slid off their neck.
Blood gushed forth!
"Run!"
"It's a core disciple!"
The other Witch Association members who had been mixed together immediately scattered and fled!
They never expected to encounter a core disciple in Hulin City!
The reason Jiangming City was listed as a three-star challenge area was because a core disciple was stationed there.
Whether a core disciple was stationed or not had a huge impact on the challenge level designation of an area!
This popular challenge project actually distinguished two concepts in detail—Wanted Star Rating and Challenge Level.
Initially, there was only the Challenge Level, with a total of five stars.
But because the mortality rate for three-star Challenge Level was too high, to reduce difficulty and mortality and encourage more people to visit Beihai,
the legendary Perfect Witch Twins, the only one who had completed a five-star challenge, proposed the concept of Wanted Star Rating.
This linked the Azure Cloud Sect's pursuit star rating to the composition of the pursuers, thus dividing it into six star ratings. Although only one star more than the Challenge Level, it greatly reduced the completion difficulty.
At the one and two-star stages, the division between Wanted Star Rating and Challenge Level was roughly similar.
One-star Wanted involved Azure Cloud Sect laborers and affiliated personnel.
Two-star Wanted involved branch sect outer sect disciples.
From three stars onward, it became different. Three-star Wanted pursuit was handled by branch sect inner sect disciples and Beihai's outer sect disciples.
Four stars was the domain of Azure Cloud Sect inner sect disciples.
Five stars, core disciple level intervention.
Legend had it the Azure Cloud Sect had seven core disciples, each terrifyingly powerful.
Therefore, any area with a core disciple was actually considered a three-star challenge.
Comparing this, you realize how treacherous and unbalanced the Challenge Level was.
What you thought was a three-star challenge, just mid-level difficulty, was actually almost the highest difficulty under the Wanted Star Rating system!
If you don't die from that, who will? So sneaky.
A bunch of people even wanted to find out which bastard initially set up the Challenge Level classification. What a piece of crap!
If not for Lady Twins stepping in, everyone would still be in the dark.
However, dividing it this way only made the challenging Witch Association members more cautious about Jiangming and Beihai, not reducing the danger level much.
Because the Witch Association also didn't know where these seven core disciples were. So the danger of challenging in East China lay precisely here.
Even if you just wanted to challenge a one-star Wanted, who knew if a five-star core disciple was hiding there...
Fortunately, this time the Witch Association members banding together were numerous enough. After scattering and fleeing, even a core disciple would find it difficult to capture them all at once.
Xilan followed a team of four as they fled all the way to a nearby construction site that had stopped work.
There were cover and hiding spots everywhere here.
"Huh? Seems like a Seedling-level Magical Girl?"
After things calmed down a bit, one member asked curiously.
A Magical Girl who could control wind.
According to previously streamed intelligence, one of the seven core disciples, Dandelion, had a Complete Witch die by her hand.
As long as you survived her pursuit, it counted as successfully completing a three-star challenge.
However, the sense of pressure didn't seem that strong.
While hiding in the abandoned construction site, the Magical Girl was wandering outside searching. For some reason, she didn't seem to have discovered them.
One Witch Association member, panting, whispered, "Something's off. Why is it only Seedling level? Intel error?"
"But just now, A-Cha and the others were directly killed."
"Maybe it was a sneak attack..."
"How long are we hiding here?"
"What if it's a trap..."
Chattering away, they couldn't reach a unified decision for a while.
Then a member with a violent, reckless temper said fiercely, "Seedling Magical Girls, I've killed plenty! Let me handle it!"
With that, she actually charged out from behind cover in the construction site, rushing straight at the Magical Girl!
The others were all shocked. One cautious member immediately said, "Let's run!"
Everyone understood tacitly. With this idiot attracting attention upfront, if not now, when?
With the whole process being live-streamed, as long as they escaped, the three-star challenge would be considered successful!
"Playing mysterious, die for me... Ah!"
Sure enough, that Witch Association member who charged up didn't even get to finish her second sentence.
Her body was torn to pieces by the gale.
The attack was invisible, even imperceptible.
Just a gust of wind passed, and the body split apart.
The other Witch Association members were so terrified their livers and gallbladders felt like bursting. They didn't dare delay half a moment, running desperately in four different directions without looking back.
Yet that hooded core disciple just waved her hand. Three tornadoes simultaneously shot towards three directions.
She herself chased the remaining one.
Soon, the abandoned construction site fell quiet.
Until the wind faded into the distance. After a good while, an ordinary crane suddenly moved.
Xilan's body gradually separated from the crane.
Her ability to evade Dandelion just now was because Xilan had merged her entire body with this inconspicuous crane on the construction site.
This was her ability—to assimilate herself with objects, completely merging into them.
For a short time, even her Polluted Magic would disappear.
This ability had helped her escape countless dangerous situations!
Looking up again at her companions elsewhere, Xilan couldn't help but shake her head.
They couldn't escape.
From the first moment she saw the other party, Xilan knew—they couldn't escape.
Xilan could sense Magical Girls' magic power and the flow direction of their magic power.
The control was too precise, that opponent!
Such a degree of precise control, and a Magical Girl controlling wind at that.
Once locked on, as long as there was wind, she could find them no matter what!
Impossible to escape.
As Xilan got down from the crane, she felt her legs go a bit weak.
Must avoid core disciples.
Their aura was far too dangerous!
In North China, even Blooming Magical Girls hadn't given her this much pressure!
Taking out her crystal, she opened the live stream interface.
As she expected, the streams of those four Witch Association members were now empty.
All deceased.
Xilan didn't dare use Polluted Magic, just started running on foot towards the distance, while again browsing streams on her crystal ball.
Other places were the same.
Many Witch Association members just wanted to challenge one-star, looking for outer sect laborers and affiliated personnel to earn some contribution points.
The result was, as soon as they made a move, a bunch of Azure Cloud Sect inner sect disciples, even core disciple Magical Girls, popped out from who knows where.
One-star turned to three-star, then to five-star...
This Azure Cloud Sect was like a hornet's nest now.
Poke it, and a bunch swarmed out, then ran people over like a concrete mixer truck.
Completely different from the Magical Girls she had encountered in other regions!
Those Witch Association members earlier were the same. They originally just wanted to challenge two-star, but a core disciple popped out, automatically upgrading it.
And there was nowhere to complain about game challenge imbalance...
But anyway, Xilan wasn't here to challenge. She was here to support East China's Jiang the Demon Butcher. Those earlier were just done along the way.
If they died, they died...
Jiang the Demon Butcher wasn't having it easy either. In this damned place, he could actually maintain the Witch Association.
Others were just here to challenge, but he had been developing the Witch Association here all along with Chilian, Captain, and others.
To the extent that now, under the pressure of the Disaster Control Bureau and the Azure Cloud Sect, they could still barely survive!
Such persistent loyalty, how could it not move people?
Xilan always respected and had a favorable impression of such loyal Witch Association members. This was also why she was willing to come to such a dangerous place to support.
The Witch Association lacked such down-to-earth, hardworking, and loyal talents!
Silently, cautiously, Xilan avoided all Magical Girls, passed through Hulin City, and headed towards Beihai.
Although Beihai was now considered a demon lair, a four-star challenge where almost anyone who went died.
But Xilan believed that since Jiang the Demon Butcher could gain a foothold in Beihai, he must have found a loophole, a way to survive safely under the Azure Cloud Sect's nose.
There was an opportunity to exploit!
After spending two days running from Hulin City to Beihai, Xilan was even somewhat excited.
"Jiang the Demon Butcher! I'm here!"
She fantasized about the two of them slowly corroding the Azure Cloud Sect from the shadows, corrupting those Magical Girls, making them fall, gradually taking control of all of Beihai and East China!
Thinking of the current wretched state and difficult situation, her emotions inevitably began to soar.
However, before she could get close to Beihai, she saw from afar a masked youth appearing above Beihai.
Comparing him with the photo, it was indeed that Jiang the Demon Butcher who contacted her superior!
Why was he in the sky, so conspicuous...
"Azure Cloud Sect!"
A mighty voice spread out, seemingly echoing throughout Beihai!
The youth stood proudly, hands behind his back. "The Witch Association's East China director is here! Come out and face your death!"
Xilan's mouth hung open, staring dumbfounded as the youth loudly proclaimed. Beihai seemed to fall silent for a moment.
Then, a Magical Girl flew up from the city.
For a good while, only this one appeared!
Xilan's eyes flashed.
So that's it! Beihai didn't have many Magical Girls left now!
Indeed, right now, Magical Girls from the Azure Cloud Sect were hunting down Witch Association members coming to challenge all over East China.
As the demon lair, Beihai actually had fewer Magical Girls!
That's why Jiang the Demon Butcher dared to be so bold. Indeed, those who could survive in the Beihai demon lair always had more courage and vision!
"I'll help you!"
She laughed loudly and was about to fly forward.
The next second, hundreds of Magical Girls densely flew out from Beihai!
Then, everyone was attracted by this loud shout, turning their gaze towards Xilan.
Including that masked youth.
Xilan came to an emergency stop in the distance, kneeling in mid-air.
Clasping her hands in front of her, she kept nodding and bowing with an awkward smile, backing away. "Sorry, sorry, wrong person, wrong place. You all continue, you all continue..."