"Is that the Five Elements Dao Sect?"
"I heard their sovereign is a Soul Transformation powerhouse!"
Suisui, perched on Li Nanzhu's shoulder, immediately perked up its skull. Its soul fire flickered warily as the little skeleton's bone claws tugged at her collar, pointing toward the flickering arena layout on the light screen.
A massive light screen hovered above the martial arts arena, displaying the match pairings for each arena in real-time.
Li Nanzhu looked up and saw Cang Dongqing's name hanging high at the top of Arena 1, surrounded by a golden glow—the sign of a seeded player.
Several other arenas also featured golden names, belonging to the direct disciples of the eight sects.
Scanning the area, she could see quite a few familiar names.
Le Changxi on Arena 2, Li Nanyi on Arena 3, Mu Zeting on Arena 4, and Liu Qingyang on Arena 5.
Since today's matches were all for the Foundation Establishment stage, only the names of Foundation Establishment disciples were displayed.
Perhaps because the Sword Heart Sect intended to put the Five Elements Dao Sect in the line of fire, the names of Li Nanzhu and her companions were actually within the top ten arenas as well.
Feng Weilan on Arena 6, Duan Xianxing on Arena 7, and Li Nanzhu on Arena 8.
"At least they have some conscience," Duan Xianxing curled his lip. "They didn't pit members of the same sect against each other."
"They still have to keep up appearances, after all," Feng Qingping said flatly.
"Alright, let's go draw lots first," Mu Wenyan's voice came from ahead. The bell at his waist let out a clear, crisp chime in the morning breeze.
Everyone followed their eldest senior brother toward the drawing station. Along the way, cultivators stepped aside to make a path, their inquisitive gazes following them like shadows.
A long line had already formed in front of the drawing station.
When the group from the Five Elements Dao Sect stood still, the cultivators in front and behind them instinctively retreated half a step. Although Feng Yi had not come in person, the reputation of a Soul Transformation powerhouse was enough to inspire awe.
The crystal ball in front of the drawing station shimmered with a faint light. Li Nanzhu pressed her hand onto it, and a streak of green light flew out, condensing into match information in the air:
"Arena 8, Match 3: Li Nanzhu vs. Zhao Yan of the Qingshan Sect—Foundation Establishment mid-stage."
Duan Xianxing drew Arena 7, Match 5, against a Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator. Feng Weilan was in Arena 6, Match 4, against a Foundation Establishment late-stage opponent.
"They're all Foundation Establishment mid-stage or higher," Jiang Yifan sneered. "They certainly know how to arrange things."
Mu Wenyan smiled and offered comfort. "It's fine. Just consider it practice. Besides, this way our times are staggered, and we can take turns watching each other's matches."
As they were speaking, a sudden burst of cheering erupted from Arena 1.
Everyone turned to look and saw Cang Dongqing had already gracefully ascended the stage. Her white dress fluttered in the morning breeze. Her opponent was a young man in brown martial robes who was nervously wiping his sword blade.
"The match begins!"
The brown-clad youth struck first, his sword moves exceedingly sharp.
Cang Dongqing, however, was in no rush. She remained on the defensive, maneuvering calmly. Only after they had exchanged more than twenty moves did her sword style suddenly shift, and she deftly flicked the other's weapon away.
"Good match," Cang Dongqing said, sheathing her sword and bowing. A gentle smile played on her lips. "Fellow Daoist's swordplay is very solid; I was just a bit luckier."
The youth's originally dejected expression instantly improved. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for the guidance, Fairy Cang."
A chorus of praise immediately rose from the sidelines:
"As expected of Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao's disciple!"
"Winning without arrogance—she truly has the demeanor of a great master!"
"I heard she has such strength despite only being at the Foundation Establishment mid-stage..."
Duan Xianxing curled his lip. "Hypocritical. She could have ended that in three moves, yet she insisted on dragging it out for so long."
"She's also hiding her true power," Li Nanzhu said softly.
In the original story, Cang Dongqing's sword was swift and decisive, never so sluggish.
Suisui also pulled out the memory stone they had prepared beforehand. Only then did they notice that every time Cang Dongqing struck, she would deliberately slow down by half a beat. Her gaze occasionally drifted toward the high platform where Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao was seated.
"Is she doing that for Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao's benefit?" Feng Qingping mused.
Mu Wenyan suddenly spoke up. "Arena 2 is about to begin."
The group moved over and saw Le Changxi of the Sword Heart Sect had already taken the stage. This genius of the Le family had discarded his usual elegant image, opening with a thunderous three-hit combo. Within five moves, he forced his opponent off the arena.
"Now that's a normal performance," Duan Xianxing muttered. "What's the point of pretending..."
Just then, cheers erupted from Arena 3 as well. Li Nanyi was even more dramatic, sending his opponent's weapon flying with a single strike, winning cleanly and decisively.
"It seems only Cang Dongqing is holding back," Jiang Yifan pondered. "What is she planning?"
Li Nanzhu shook her head. These events weren't mentioned in the original story at all. Since she hadn't had much contact with Cang Dongqing yet, she couldn't guess the other's thoughts.
"Arena 6, Feng Weilan of the Five Elements Dao Sect, prepare!" The deacon elder's voice interrupted her train of thought.
Feng Weilan straightened his robes. "I'm going to get ready."
The group watched him leave and continued observing the other arenas. Mu Zeting was in the middle of a hard-fought battle in Arena 4. His opponent was a burly man wielding twin hammers, and the two were locked in a stalemate.
"Tsk, tsk. How is it that he hasn't improved at all since the last time we met?" Duan Xianxing shook his head. "He can't even take down a nobody."
Liu Qingyang on Arena 5, however, performed excellently. After unleashing a series of fierce techniques, he secured victory within ten moves.
By this time, the group had already moved to Arena 6.
A crowd had already gathered here—after all, this was the first disciple from the Five Elements Dao Sect to fight.
Feng Weilan stood calmly on the stage. His opponent was a man with a face full of arrogance.
"The match begins!"
The man struck first, his long sword creating a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air. Feng Weilan didn't even draw his blade; he simply dodged to the side with a light step, and a streak of green light suddenly flew from his sleeve.
Smack!
The green light accurately struck the other's wrist. The man cried out in pain as his sword hit the ground. Before he could even react, Feng Weilan was already in close, a finger pressed lightly against his throat.
"Do you forfeit?"
The man's face turned ashen. "...I forfeit."
"Arena 6, Feng Weilan wins!"
The sidelines erupted in an uproar. No one expected a disciple from the Five Elements Dao Sect to win so easily, especially without even drawing his blade.
Amidst the chatter, Feng Weilan stepped down from the stage with an indifferent expression. When he returned to his companions, he only said two words: "Very weak."
Duan Xianxing laughed loudly. "Sixth Senior Brother is mighty!"
Soon, it was Duan Xianxing's turn. As soon as the youth stepped onto the stage, he drew the gazes of many female cultivators. He was naturally handsome, and today he had specially worn the sect's disciple uniform embroidered with thunder patterns, making him look even more spirited.
"The match begins!"
Duan Xianxing's opponent was a disciple wielding a long spear. Duan Xianxing, however, stood there with a grin, not moving an inch. It wasn't until the spear tip was three inches from his face that he suddenly pointed his fingers like a sword, and a burst of purple lightning erupted!
Boom!
The long spear was instantly snapped in two. The disciple was sent reeling seven steps back by the aftershock, landing hard on his backside.
"Thank you for the match!" Duan Xianxing cupped his hands, a smug grin still on his face.
"Arena 7, Duan Xianxing wins!"
Bursts of screams erupted from the female cultivators in the audience. Duan Xianxing waved at them triumphantly, only to be yanked down from the stage by Feng Qingping. "Show some restraint!"
Finally, the deacon elder's voice came from Arena 8: "Match 3, Li Nanzhu of the Five Elements Dao Sect, prepare!"
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