LIGHTNOVELSTORY chapter 40
Chapter 40: The First Match is Mine
The competition among the top sixteen officially started today.
Today’s excitement far exceeded yesterday’s elimination rounds, as many people were looking forward to the main event.
The competition site was filled with the sound of drums and gongs, creating a festive atmosphere.
Unlike yesterday, the top sixteen matches used only one arena.
The audience didn’t need to sit far away; they could get closer to the arena because the formation on this arena was dozens of times stronger than yesterday’s.
With just a foundation-building cultivation level, it was impossible to break the formation.
Some ordinary people with no special matters to attend to were also curious to watch this grand event among cultivators.
Ordinary people didn’t know much about cultivators, mostly thinking they could ride clouds and control the seas.
“Mom, what are they doing?” a child asked, pointing at the arena.
The child’s mother patted the child’s head, “These are immortals competing.”
“They haven’t reached the level of immortals yet, at most they are just ordinary cultivators,” another person said knowingly.
Before the competition started, the venue was filled with similar conversations, making it very lively.
But the white-bearded old man who should have been at the highest seat in the audience was not there.
He was currently in the Qing Shan Sect, looking indifferently at Wan Zhu, “What is going on?”
When the white-bearded old man saw He Youzhou’s figure again today, he realized something was wrong.
“He advanced.” Wan Zhu explained helplessly.
“Why did he advance? Didn’t you say you arranged a suitable opponent for him?” The old man with white beard asked, his eyes devoid of any smile.
He had planned to kill He Youzhou at the right moment, but now, where was his chance?
He Youzhou was no longer just a contestant; he was in the top sixteen.
“I didn’t expect him to have such strength without relying on that sword. It seems he is one of those cultivators who have been stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage for a long time.” Wan Zhu said in a deep voice, admitting his miscalculation.
“But the remaining ones are all prodigies. He has no chance.” Wan Zhu added.
“So what if he has no chance? What if he loses today?” The old man’s tone was still full of displeasure, no longer pretending to be kind and benevolent.
“It’s too late, it’s already too late.” He said angrily.
He was eager to get the sword in He Youzhou’s hand, but time was passing day by day.
“Do you know what it means to delay and cause changes?” The old man with white beard extended his hand, which contained great power despite its withered appearance.
He was very worried that over time, He Youzhou would notice the problem, or that the elders of other sects would detect it.
To confirm Wan Zhu’s words, he had specially investigated He Youzhou’s sword.
After all, just by looking at it, the sword seemed no different from an ordinary iron sword on the street.
Then he found that his divine sense was actually cut off by that iron sword, making him unqualified to investigate further.
The sword’s reaction made the old man with white beard certain that it was no ordinary object.
It was because he was convinced that Wan Zhu’s words were true that he was so eager.
The power so close at hand made him drool with desire. He didn’t want to wait even an hour if he had the chance.
If it weren’t for the fear of being besieged by the elders of other sects, he would have directly killed He Youzhou and taken the sword.
In the early Nascent Soul stage, he couldn’t contend with so many elders from other sects at the same time.
If his strength had improved a bit, he wouldn’t need to reason with anyone. At this moment, he was more frustrated than ever by his lack of cultivation.
“Since you told me about this, I’ll let you go, Elder Wan.” The old man with white beard slowly withdrew his hand that was about to be placed on Wan Zhu’s head.
“Thank you for your forgiveness, Sect Master.” A drop of cold sweat slid down Wan Zhu’s thin face.
He could feel the old man with white beard’s hypocrisy more clearly than ever.
“Since we can’t rush, let’s wait slowly.” The old man with white beard resumed his kind and amiable appearance.
If He Youzhou still won today, then tomorrow. If he won again tomorrow, then they would act after he took the championship.
As long as they knew where he was, there would be opportunities.
“Don’t you agree, Wan Zhu, Elder Wan?” The old man with white beard suddenly asked Wan Zhu a question.
Even though Wan Zhu didn’t know what the old man with white beard meant, he still respectfully said, “Yes.”
Everything within the Qingshan Sect was unknown to outsiders.
People still care about the competition itself.
Today, at the edge of the arena, the participants can move around freely.
Only when called to the stage do they need to step up. At other times, they can rest or watch the matches.
Youlan and He Youzhou stood very close to the arena, waiting for the first match to begin.
“Master, if I encounter you, should I just surrender?” Youlan said with a smile.
If she won her match, she might have to face her master.
Her master losing? Youlan had never even considered that possibility.
Yesterday, she realized that her master was just playing around, not even using ten percent of his power—not to mention his personal sword.
“Hmm?” He Youzhou looked at Youlan in confusion, “Why surrender?”
“Because I don’t think it’s necessary to fight,” Youlan replied.
“As you like,” He Youzhou tilted his head and said, “But it would look too fake.”
“Pfft, if I suddenly want to fight you with all my strength, I hope you won’t get angry,” Youlan laughed, her eyebrows curving into a beautiful crescent.
“By the way, why isn’t Senior Sister here to watch your match?” She noticed that Zhishi, who should have been present, was nowhere to be seen and was puzzled.
Anyone could be uninterested in her master’s match, but it was impossible for Senior Sister to be uninterested.
If possible, she suspected that Senior Sister would bring a banner to support her master.
“Zhishi? Maybe the taste in Baicheng is too strong for her,” He Youzhou answered vaguely.
But Youlan roughly understood what He Youzhou meant, “No wonder Senior Sister didn’t come.”
“By the way, Master, do you know who the first match is?” she asked.
“Me,” He Youzhou raised his eyelids and said.
“Eh?” Youlan was stunned for a moment.
“Now, the Baicheng Newcomer Competition’s qualifying matches officially begin!” the referee on the stage suddenly shouted.
“The first match! He Youzhou of Tianyan Sect versus Xiao Yang of Changge Sect!”
As the words fell, two spirit beasts carried a long cloth across the sky, with the names of the two opponents clearly written on it.
At the same time, the symbols on the stage lit up one by one, and the entire formation began to operate with a roar.
In that instant, a barely visible wall of spiritual energy enveloped the stage.
“Now, contestants, please step onto the stage!!!”