Just as the various sect teams were urgently deliberating over their candidates and the atmosphere grew tense, Bu Qingwei on the high platform seemed to suddenly recall something. He let out a soft "Oh" and added at a leisurely pace:
"Right, there are two more details that I must clarify for everyone."
All eyes were once again focused on him.
"First, the order of crossing the bridge will be determined by the rankings from the first round of the team battles," Bu Qingwei said in a flat tone. "That is to say, the Five Elements Dao Sect may choose and step onto the Heart-Probing Bridge first."
As soon as these words were spoken, the disciples of the Five Elements Dao Sect, the Hehuan Sect, and the Water Moon Sect immediately showed looks of joy!
To be able to enter the bridge first meant they could seize the initiative and accumulate advantages at the initial stages. This was a tangible benefit brought by their performance in the first round.
However, before their smiles could fully broaden, Bu Qingwei's next words caused the hearts of everyone in the Five Elements Dao Sect to sink abruptly.
"Second, to increase the variables of the competition and add to the fun of the strategy, each sect must undergo a round of mutual exclusion draws." Bu Qingwei flipped his hand, and a lot tube covered in profound runes appeared. "One person from each sect shall come forward and draw a jade token. On the token will be the name of another sect. Once the draw is complete, the drawing party may designate two disciples from the sect they drew to be forbidden from participating in this round's team battle."
"What?! Banning two people?!"
"This... isn't this extremely targeted?"
A clamor immediately broke out below the stage! The faces of the top-ranking sects, in particular, turned ugly. This rule was clearly meant to balance the advantage of entering the bridge first, but more ruthlessly, it gave other sects the opportunity to directly weaken the lineups of their strong enemies!
In the Five Elements Dao Sect's camp, the atmosphere froze instantly.
They had only seven disciples in total on this trip. Selecting five to compete already required careful consideration. Now, if two were targeted and banned, it would be almost equivalent to losing nearly half of their combat power!
Moreover, as the first-place finishers, they were bound to be the target of all arrows. The possibility of being singled out was extremely high!
Duan Xianxing stamped his feet in frustration, cursing under his breath, "It must be those guys from the Sword Heart Sect and the Wuji Sect pulling strings! Seeing us take first place, they're trying every way they can to trip us up!"
Mu Wenyan's gaze was solemn as he said in a heavy voice, "Quiet! These are the rules; speaking more is useless. We must simply deal with it cautiously."
Feng Qingping looked at Li Nanzhu with concern. Li Nanzhu's face was also tense; the situation she feared most was happening.
If she were forbidden from competing...
Bu Qingwei acted as if he didn't see the commotion below. He said indifferently, "The rules are the rules. Now, let the drawing begin. Following the ranking order, the Five Elements Dao Sect will draw first."
Everyone's gaze centered on the Five Elements Dao Sect.
Mu Wenyan exchanged looks with the others and nodded slightly. Li Nanzhu understood, took a deep breath, and stepped toward the high platform under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Her mind raced, silently praying that she would draw the Sword Heart Sect or someone with whom they had a deep grudge. After all, if the other side drew them, they would certainly go for the throat and ban their people.
Arriving before the lot tube, Li Nanzhu reached in and pulled out a jade token. Looking closely, three words were clearly written on it—Wuji Sect!
"Wuji Sect?" Li Nanzhu was momentarily stunned, then the corners of her mouth curled into a half-smile. She looked toward the Wuji Sect and thought to herself, "Oh, an old rival."
In the Wuji Sect's camp, the expressions of Ji Yanzhi and the others turned incredibly unsightly!
Being drawn by the Five Elements Dao Sect meant they certainly wouldn't have it easy!
As the chief, it was almost a certainty that Ji Yanzhi would be banned. This was equivalent to directly removing their strongest combatant!
"The Five Elements Dao Sect has drawn the Wuji Sect," Bu Qingwei announced calmly. "Li Nanzhu, representing the Five Elements Dao Sect, decide which two disciples from the Wuji Sect shall be forbidden from competing. You have ten breaths to decide."
Without almost any hesitation, Li Nanzhu spoke clearly, "On behalf of the Five Elements Dao Sect, I forbid the Wuji Sect disciples—Ji Yanzhi and Mu Zeting—from participating in this round!"
Ji Yanzhi was their chief, and Mu Zeting was also a core direct disciple. By banning these two, the Wuji Sect's combat power dropped by half!
Ji Yanzhi was relatively calm, as the result was within his expectations. However, when Mu Zeting heard he was forbidden from competing, he was so angry that smoke practically came out of his ears, and he nearly burst into curses.
It wasn't like there weren't direct disciples stronger than him. Why ban him? This was clearly a blatant personal attack!
Seeing this, Li Nanzhu nearly laughed out loud.
I just love the way you look when you can't stand me but can't do anything about it!
Next, the drawing continued.
The Hehuan Sect drew the Beast Taming Sect and banned two of their main forces.
The Water Moon Sect drew the Xuan Tian Sect and also made targeted exclusions.
Soon, it was the turn of the fourth-ranked Sword Heart Sect to draw.
The one the Sword Heart Sect sent up to draw was none other than Cang Dongqing!
She walked onto the high platform expressionlessly, reached into the lot tube, and pulled out a jade token. When she saw the words on the token, the corners of her cold lips twitched upward almost imperceptibly.
She held up the jade token, her voice ringing clearly throughout the venue:
"Sword Heart Sect draws—Five Elements Dao Sect!"
"Whoa—!"
A low exclamation immediately rippled through the crowd. The two most antagonistic sects had been paired up!
Hearts tightened among the Five Elements Dao Sect members. The worst-case scenario had occurred!
Being drawn by the Sword Heart Sect meant the other side would never show mercy!
The disciples of other sects had varied expressions—some gloated, some sympathized, while others remained indifferent.
Looking at Cang Dongqing, Li Nanzhu's heart actually grew calm.
She wasn't surprised by this result.
As the heroine, it was almost a predestined event for Cang Dongqing to draw the Five Elements Dao Sect. She only cared about who Cang Dongqing would ban now.
Would she... ban her?
"On behalf of the Sword Heart Sect, I forbid the Five Elements Dao Sect disciples—Mu Wenyan and Feng Qingping—from participating in this round!"
Mu Wenyan and Feng Qingping?
This result left everyone stunned!
On the Five Elements Dao Sect's side, Li Nanzhu's eyes widened. Her face was full of disbelief, and she even blinked subconsciously, wondering if she had misheard!
How could it be... Eldest Senior Brother and Fifth Senior Sister?
She had clearly felt that from the moment of the draw until the announcement, Cang Dongqing's gaze had been fixed on her seventy to eighty percent of the time.
The hostility and chill in those eyes were almost undisguised. Li Nanzhu had been nearly certain that she would be the one banned!
But why... at the final moment, had Cang Dongqing changed her target?
Banning Eldest Senior Brother Mu Wenyan and Fifth Senior Sister Feng Qingping?
However, the ones most surprised and confused were likely the Sword Heart Sect's own people!
Within the Sword Heart Sect team, looks of obvious shock and doubt appeared on the faces of Li Nanyi, Qu Chen, and others. Someone even subconsciously looked at Cang Dongqing, their lips moving as if they wanted to say something, but they forced themselves to hold it back.
This was completely different from what they had discussed beforehand!
Before the draw, the Sword Heart Sect had quickly reached a consensus: if they drew the Five Elements Dao Sect, the primary target was to ban their core combatant, the Nascent Soul stage Mu Wenyan, and the second target was that crafty, trouble-making Li Nanzhu!
By removing the strongest force and the most uncontrollable variable, the threat from the Five Elements Dao Sect would be greatly reduced.
But Little Junior Sister... why the sudden change of heart?
Why?
Rate on N.U.
