Feng Qingping's face darkened. "This is clearly intended to exhaust our combat strength."
A cold light flashed in Mu Wenyan's eyes. "It doesn't violate the rules, but..." He looked toward the Sword Heart Sect seats. "It truly is shameless enough."
In the Sword Heart Sect seating area, Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao was talking in low tones with several elders. Cang Dongqing sensed the gaze from the Five Elements Dao Sect and even blinked her eyes with a pretense of innocence.
"What do we do now?" Li Nanzhu asked worriedly. "Second Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Brother..."
Zhu Yinxi and Jiang Yifan exchanged a look. The latter said without hesitation, "I forfeit."
"Fourth Junior Brother..." Feng Qingping started to speak but stopped.
Jiang Yifan shook his head. "Wasn't this the tactic we arranged from the start? Moreover..." He paused before continuing, "I truly cannot defeat Second Senior Brother."
Upon hearing this, the jade flute spinning at Zhu Yinxi's fingertips came to a halt. "Thank you."
This scene fell into the eyes of the other sects, immediately causing a wave of whispers.
"The Five Elements Dao Sect is quite united..."
"Nonsense. If it were you, would you let a refinery master fight a music cultivator?"
The referee announced loudly, "Jiang Yifan of the Five Elements Dao Sect forfeits! Zhu Yinxi wins!"
At the Shenmu Sect seats, Lin Xiaowan stamped her feet in anger. "How shameless! The Sword Heart Sect is blatantly manipulating the competition!"
Beside her, Tao Ying hurriedly covered her mouth, fearing she might say something she shouldn't. She whispered, "But they didn't technically violate the rules..."
"Rules?" Shen Qingqiu sneered, but she also had reservations and lowered her voice. "Who doesn't know that the match tables are all controlled by the Sword Heart Sect behind the scenes?" She pointedly looked at the light screen. "Look at what kind of opponent they arranged for Pei Ji. Then look at what they arranged for the Five Elements Dao Sect? They're making their own people fight each other!"
The white-bearded old man from the Tianyan Sect stroked his beard. "Ling Xiao's move is ruthless enough." He looked at Yun Xuanji beside him. "Xuanji, do you see the trick here?"
Yun Xuanji looked thoughtful. "Master, do you mean... the points leaderboard?"
On the other side, at the Hehuan Sect, Rong Yuying lightly shook her round fan, a flash of coldness in her eyes.
"Senior Sister," Qinghe said softly, "the Sword Heart Sect is clearly setting a trap for the Five Elements Dao Sect."
Yu'er curled her lip. "Yeah, they're not even pretending anymore."
Su Zhunshu held onto Qinghe's arm. "Senior Sister, are we still going to cooperate with the Five Elements Dao Sect?"
Rong Yuying's round fan paused. "Of course." Her beautiful eyes shifted. "The more it is like this, the more we must show our stance."
She looked toward the Five Elements Dao Sect seats and happened to meet Li Nanzhu's worried gaze. Rong Yuying smiled slightly and silently mouthed the words, 'Don't worry.'
Meanwhile, Pei Ji's match had also begun.
Although Lin Xiuyuan of the Red Rock Sect was also at the late Golden Core stage, he was ultimately no match for Pei Ji. He couldn't even last a hundred moves under Pei Ji's sword before being defeated.
"Pei Ji of the Sword Heart Sect wins!"
The entire process was so fast it was astonishing. Pei Ji hadn't even used the full power of his sword qi, clearly preserving his strength.
"As expected..." Mu Wenyan narrowed his eyes. "They were prepared long ago."
Just as everyone thought the day's matches were over, a new announcement suddenly came from the referee's stand:
"After discussion, an additional match will be held today! We will proceed directly to the finals! Pei Ji of the Sword Heart Sect against Zhu Yinxi of the Five Elements Dao Sect. It will begin at the hour of Shen!"
The entire venue was in an uproar.
"What the hell?!" Duan Xianxing jumped up. "This isn't according to the rules! Pei Ji just finished a match!"
Feng Qingping's face looked grim. "They're trying to catch Second Senior Brother while he's unprepared..."
Li Nanzhu, holding Suisui, suddenly understood. "Eldest Senior Brother, this is an open scheme!"
Mu Wenyan nodded slowly. "Whether we win or lose, we lose out."
If he wins, the Sword Heart Sect will say Pei Ji wasn't in top condition because he just finished a match; if he loses, the Five Elements Dao Sect will lose face even more.
Zhu Yinxi lightly caressed his jade flute, a flash of coldness in his eyes. "No matter... I'll go."
Li Nanzhu suddenly pressed down on Zhu Yinxi's sleeve. "Don't be in a hurry, Second Senior Brother." A look of reflection flashed in her eyes. "You can go, but it can't be fought like this."
Feng Qingping raised an eyebrow. "It seems Little Junior Sister and I are thinking of the same thing."
"Since we're going to fight, we must put all the conditions on the table." Li Nanzhu looked toward the referee's stand. "We must find a way to make Pei Ji prove publicly that he is in perfect condition."
Mu Wenyan nodded slightly. "Correct. But as for how to make him prove it... we'll probably have to think of a way."
Duan Xianxing immediately volunteered, "I'll go over to the Sword Heart Sect side and probe them!" After saying that, he vanished in a flash.
...
At the Sword Heart Sect seats, Duan Xianxing walked over ostentatiously and happened to bump into Cang Dongqing, who was about to leave.
"Oh, Junior Sister Cang!" Duan Xianxing cupped his hands exaggeratedly. "What a coincidence?"
A flash of vigilance crossed Cang Dongqing's eyes, but she still wore her signature gentle smile. "Does Senior Brother Duan have some business?"
"Nothing major." Duan Xianxing scratched his head. "I just wanted to ask how Senior Brother Pei Ji's condition is? After all, he just finished a match..."
Cang Dongqing lightly caressed the beads on her wrist. "As for Second Senior Brother's situation... Dongqing isn't very clear either." She gave a helpless smile. "After all, I am not Second Senior Brother."
As she spoke, she seemed to suddenly realize something and exclaimed, "Senior Brother Duan, you're not here to scout for information, are you?"
"How could that be!" Duan Xianxing's eyes widened exaggeratedly. "I'm just concerned about Senior Brother Pei Ji!" He stepped closer and lowered his voice. "After all, if Senior Brother Pei Ji is well, I'll be happy too, right? But I heard Senior Brother Pei Ji was injured by a magic tool from the Water Moon Sect?"
After saying that, he put on a worried expression again. "Is it serious? I was planning to ask Senior Brother Pei Ji for advice on swordplay."
Cang Dongqing's expression changed slightly. "Who did Senior Brother Duan hear such nonsense from?"
"Oh, just someone..." Duan Xianxing's eyes rolled. "By the way, Junior Sister Cang, I heard you have a lot of research into melody? Our Second Senior Brother recently composed a new piece..."
Cang Dongqing's eyes flickered, knowing Duan Xianxing was changing the subject, but she still followed his words. "Senior Brother Zhu can also compose music?"
"Of course!" Duan Xianxing said with high spirits. "Second Senior Brother's flute skills are really pleasant to listen to..." He suddenly covered his mouth. "No, no, Eldest Senior Brother won't let me talk about it everywhere."
A flash of curiosity appeared in Cang Dongqing's eyes, and she hesitated before speaking. "But earlier, when Senior Brother Zhu was on the stage..."
Duan Xianxing looked left and right, then leaned in mysteriously. "Hey, wasn't that all just a tactic? Don't tell me you didn't see through it?"
Cang Dongqing's fingertips trembled as she nodded slightly. "Of course... it's just that Dongqing didn't expect Senior Brother Duan to tell me directly..."
As she spoke, she raised her eyes again, looking at Duan Xianxing with a face full of admiration. "Senior Brother Duan... you wouldn't lie to Dongqing, right?"
"Yeah!" Duan Xianxing felt a momentary daze. For a moment, the Cang Dongqing before him actually gave him the feeling of facing his Little Junior Sister.
"How could I lie to you! Everything I say is guaranteed to be true!" He suddenly slapped his forehead. "Eh, I still have business with Senior Brother Pei Ji, I'm leaving first."
Watching Duan Xianxing's back as he hurriedly left, Cang Dongqing looked thoughtful.
She lightly caressed her beads and turned to walk in another direction...
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