Chapter 242 | You Said You Only Wanted to Die

The competition continued. After another day, the list of the top twenty-five was finally decided.

At the same time, there would be a bye for this round, allowing one person to advance directly to the next.

During the drawing ceremony, the light screen flickered before finally settling—

"The bye goes to: Cang Dongqing of the Sword Heart Sect!"

An uproar immediately broke out from the sidelines.

"How is it her again!" Duan Xianxing curled his lip. "Is the Sword Heart Sect pulling some strings behind the scenes? After all, their other two direct disciples were eliminated. She’s the only one left to count on."

His thoughts mirrored those of the audience, who were already deep in discussion.

However, only Li Nanzhu knew that this was likely the power of the heroine's halo.

Li Nanzhu looked at Cang Dongqing in the distance, who happened to be looking back. Their eyes met, and a strange expression flashed through Cang Dongqing's eyes.

The list for the next round was quickly announced:

"Arena Seven: Duan Xianxing of the Five Elements Dao Sect versus Liu Qingyang of the Hehuan Sect!"

"Arena Nine: Feng Weilan of the Five Elements Dao Sect versus Zhou Ziling of the Shenmu Sect!"

"Arena Eleven: Li Nanzhu of the Five Elements Dao Sect versus Leng Ruxiang of the Mysterious Ice Valley!"

"Huh?" Duan Xianxing's eyes widened. "Liu Qingyang and I?"

Liu Qingyang also looked over with a helpless expression. The two made eye contact and sighed simultaneously.

...

"Arena Seven: Duan Xianxing of the Five Elements Dao Sect versus Liu Qingyang of the Hehuan Sect!"

Duan Xianxing walked lazily onto the arena. He nearly burst out laughing when he saw the familiar red-haired figure opposite him.

Liu Qingyang was still wearing his flamboyant red robes, though this time he had several exquisite artifact pouches at his waist and a uniquely shaped bronze ring on his wrist.

"Liu Qingyang," Duan Xianxing struggled to hold back a smile. "That outfit... are you going on a blind date?"

Liu Qingyang rolled his eyes. "What do you know? This is the Fire Spirit Ring I recently developed." He shook his wrist proudly. "It can boost the power of fire-attribute techniques by thirty percent."

The referee coughed. "You two, please save the reminiscing until after the match."

"Fellow Daoist Liu." Hearing this, Duan Xianxing had no choice but to lazily cup his hands in a perfunctory greeting.

"Fellow Daoist Duan." Liu Qingyang returned the gesture, equally distracted.

"Begin the match!"

At the referee's command, the two began their moves sluggishly. Duan Xianxing lazily swung out a burst of sword qi; the move was soft and weak, barely using any spiritual energy.

Liu Qingyang curled his lip and took a bronze bell from his waist. With a light shake, a tiny flame drifted out of the bell, floating slowly toward Duan Xianxing before extinguishing itself halfway.

"How have you been lately?" Duan Xianxing asked while swinging his sword.

"Not bad." Liu Qingyang sidestepped to avoid it. "I didn't get a chance to go into detail last time. Luckily you guys provided cover, or I would've been caught."

By now, the audience was in an uproar.

"Is... is this even a match?"

"I feel like I'm watching a circus act..."

The two continued to chat as they fought. Even the referee couldn't help but remind them, "Both of you, please take the match seriously!"

"We know, we know." Duan Xianxing waved his hand and turned back to Liu Qingyang. "By the way, that ore from the Forest of Demonic Beasts last time..."

"Oh, that!" Liu Qingyang perked up. "Let me tell you..."

A vein throbbed on the referee's forehead. "You two! Take the match seriously!"

"Alright, alright." Duan Xianxing stopped smiling and became a bit more focused. "Qingyang, I heard you've been refining new magic tools lately?"

Liu Qingyang's eyes lit up. "That's right! I just finished one..." He suddenly realized the setting and quickly lowered his voice. "I'll show it to you in private later."

They continued to exchange blows half-heartedly while chatting. Liu Qingyang occasionally displayed his newly refined artifacts, while Duan Xianxing offered his critiques.

The referee finally reached his breaking point. "If you two continue like this, you'll both be disqualified!"

"Fine, fine." Duan Xianxing casually popped a piece of candied fruit into his mouth. "Shall we get a bit serious?"

"Sure." Liu Qingyang smoothed his red hair. "But let's agree to pull our punches."

"Of course."

The two finally became a bit more earnest, though it still felt like play. Liu Qingyang's artifacts finally carried some spiritual energy, and Duan Xianxing's sword qi sped up, but anyone with a sharp eye could see they weren't even using thirty percent of their strength.

On the sidelines, Li Nanzhu frowned. Seeing that Feng Weilan's match was about to begin, she couldn't help but shout, "Seventh Senior Brother! If you don't fight seriously, I'll make you eat third senior brother's pills when you get down!"

These words were like a clap of thunder. Duan Xianxing's face instantly changed, and even Liu Qingyang was stunned.

The audience looked on in confusion, and even the sect leaders and elders watching from above were puzzled.

"Sorry, Brother Liu!" Duan Xianxing suddenly burst forward, his spiritual energy surging. "I'm getting serious!"

Before Liu Qingyang could react, Duan Xianxing's sword style shifted abruptly. Three bursts of sword qi struck like lightning.

He scrambled to dodge, only to find Duan Xianxing already behind him—exploiting the very weakness Liu Qingyang had revealed while they were fighting side by side in the Forest of Demonic Beasts!

"Wait! Brother Duan, you—"

Thump!

A powerful sidekick sent Liu Qingyang flying off the arena. The entire process took less than three breaths.

"Arena Seven, Duan Xianxing of the Five Elements Dao Sect is the winner!"

The referee's announcement rang out, and the audience erupted into a clamor.

This match was too ridiculous—the first half was like playing house, and the second half ended before they could even see anything!

Liu Qingyang climbed up, covered in dust, and pointed at Duan Xianxing in a rage. "You! You have no martial ethics!"

Duan Xianxing pressed his hands together in constant apology. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I was also forced to do it!" As he spoke, he glanced at Li Nanzhu on the sidelines with lingering fear. "Don't you know how terrifying my third senior brother's pills are?"

Liu Qingyang choked on his words, unable to offer a single retort. After all, he was also a victim of those pills.

He patted Duan Xianxing's shoulder with a complicated expression.

"You've had it rough."

"At least you understand me!" Duan Xianxing was almost moved to tears.

Liu Qingyang wanted to say more, but he suddenly saw his old man's warning gaze from the Water Moon Sect's seats. He had no choice but to shut his mouth grumpily and mutter as he hurried back to his sect's area.