Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

While Li Guanlong was squaring off with the "mathematical genius," the team from the Greater-Yin Cult was facing a crisis in a distant location.

Aside from the Mount Shu Sect, the only other sect in the Divine Nine that had historically performed poorly in the Assembly of Immortal Sects was the Greater-Yin Cult.

The performance of the teams during the assembly generally reflected the actual strength level of the sect. While some teams might achieve surprising results in a few assemblies, it was the long-term performance of the teams sent by the sect that ultimately determined their actual strength.

Given the long-term performance of the teams from all participating sects, these two sects were currently considered the weakest.

However, the Greater-Yin Cult was not at risk of being expelled from the Divine Nine, so the disciples of this generation were not under too much pressure.

Upon entering the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams, the Greater-Yin Cult's team had been moving cautiously and steadily, collecting soul crystals bit by bit. Every move they made was very steady.

However, as the competition progressed to its later stages, the stronger teams started to make their moves, and the competition became more intense. Just yesterday, they faced a team from the Sword-Hanging Kingdom and lost two members.

Now, only Luo Xiaoyong and a female disciple remained.

Both were dressed in black, and Luo Xiaoyong had a particularly refined appearance, which made the female disciple seem less striking by comparison.

"We still need quite a few soul crystals to advance to the next round, and at this point, the other teams have started forming alliances. It's going to be tough to secure more," Luo Xiaoyong said thoughtfully. "However, the fierce competition in this Hundred Sect Competition means there's a chance that only ten teams will remain."

"Right, we should just try to protect the soul crystals we already have," the female disciple agreed.

Just as their conversation ended, a figure descended from the sky, locking onto their hiding spot among the trees with a surge of qi.

Looks like we can't hide anymore, Luo Xiaoyong thought. When he realized that they had been detected, he stepped out from the woods, deciding not to hide anymore

The person who appeared was a young man in a coarse linen robe, carrying a sword on his back. He had plain features and a slightly disheveled appearance.

"Sword Sect?" Luo Xiaoyong asked, instantly sensing the aura of the Dao of the Sword from the young man.

The aura radiating from the young man felt even purer than that of the disciples from the Sword-Hanging Kingdom, which was why Luo Xiaoyong knew that he had to be a disciple of the Endless Sword Sect.

"Sword Sect, Xu Hu," the man replied coldly.

"The Endless Sword Sect must have gathered quite a few soul crystals by now, right?" Luo Xiaoyong asked tentatively.

"..."

Unexpectedly, Xu Hu fell silent for a moment before answering truthfully, "Not a single one."

Luo Xiaoyong blinked, then quickly turned and shouted, "Run!"

This guy looked absurdly strong and it wouldn't benefit them if they tried to fight him. Only a fool would choose to fight. At his command, the two members of the Greater-Yin Cult quickly turned and ran.

But with a flick of his fingers, Xu Hu's sword shot from its sheath, and in an instant, he was already behind them, riding the sword light at a speed that would make even Chu Liang marvel...

Now that was skill.

The moment Luo Xiaoyong turned back, he felt the crushing pressure of the sword qi behind him and quickly realized that it was impossible for him to escape. He shouted, "You go first!"

In most teams, soul crystals weren't carried by the strongest member due to the high risk they faced. Instead, they were usually entrusted to an ordinary disciple, who would hide and escape when danger arose.

The Greater-Yin Cult used this strategy as well.

However, they had clearly underestimated Xu Hu.

With a single gesture in mid-air, he came to a halt while his sword surged forward, multiplying into ten, then a hundred, a thousand, and finally ten thousand...

With a thunderous roar, ten thousand swords filled the sky!

He casually unleashed the Ten Thousand Swords Seal, and each wave of sword qi crashed together like a turbulent storm!

Luo Xiaoyong changed his hand seals, and in an instant, an icy aura enveloped him, freezing and blocking the Ten Thousand Swords Seal.

But Xu Hu fixed his gaze on the fleeing female disciple's back, then suddenly opened his mouth and spat out a sharp glint!

Whoosh—

It was a small, icy sword light, unleashed at such speed that Luo Xiaoyong's divine sense could barely catch it. Instantly, the icy sword light pierced a female disciple's back.

With a soft tearing sound, a shower of soul crystals scattered through the air.

Luo Xiaoyong was enraged, forming a hand seal and unleashing the Lunar Deity's Finger forward!

Poof—

Xu Hu was suddenly forced to emit a cloud of crimson-gold qi, his face turning deathly pale as his body temperature plummeted to freezing levels.

What Luo Xiaoyong had just done was expel all yang energy from him, leaving only the yin energy behind.

With all his yang energy expelled, Xu Hu couldn't activate his cultivation energy, regardless of how powerful he was. Yet he displayed no panic; instead, his eyes flashed with divine light, and that small life-bound sword shot toward Luo Xiaoyong once more.

Luo Xiaoyong didn't turn around. In an instant, he encased himself in a block of Mysterious Ice.

Sizzle.

In the blink of an eye, the small sword had pierced his back, but due to the thickness of the Mysterious Ice, the three-cun-long blade couldn't penetrate any further. As it became embedded in the ice, the true form of the blade was revealed.

It looked like a tiny silver toy sword, suspended within the ice, appearing crystal clear.

With his body severely weakened and his weapons under control, Xu Hu appeared to be on the verge of defeat. But then, he quickly formed his fingers into a blade, slashed his left arm, and shouted, "Open!"

The moment Xu Hu slashed his arm, the small sword grew stronger. It began to glow with a red hue and, with a swift motion, shot through the Mysterious Ice, piercing Luo Xiaoyong along with it.

Boom.

Xu Hu crashed heavily to the ground, and the small sword returned to him. Instead of swallowing it back, he took out a gourd filled with liquid and placed the sword inside to nurture it.

After readjusting his breathing for a while to recover, he finally walked over and picked up the soul crystals scattered on the ground.

…

After that battle, Chu Liang and his group parted ways with the alliance led by the Celestial Pivot Pavilion.

Just because they had worked together didn't mean they would be allies.

At this point, both alliances still needed soul crystals. If they became allies, they would only become burdens to one another. Once the final day arrived, there was no guarantee that they wouldn't turn on each other.

The Competition of a Hundred Sects was approaching its final day. Teams with enough soul crystals would go into hiding, while those without would embark on a frantic hunt across the realm, making the situation even more unpredictable.

As evening approached, Monk Pushan unexpectedly detected someone with his Heavenly Eye.

It was a girl who was by herself.

As the entire group hurried over, Chu Liang realized that it was someone he knew.

The girl was wearing a white sword dress. She looked cute and pale, appearing frightened by the group of burly men around her, trembling as she clutched her sword tightly.

She looked as if she would burst into tears if something else popped out and frightened her.

It was Li Shiyi from the Endless Sword Sect.

"Miss Li?" Chu Liang said, looking at her in surprise. "Why are you wandering here alone?"

"I…" As soon as Li Shiyi saw Chu Liang, her lips quivered, and she couldn't hold back her tears any longer. "I got separated from my senior brothers!"

Chu Liang kindly comforted her before asking what had happened.

It turned out that, in addition to Li Shiyi, the Endless Sword Sect had also sent the three brothers of the Xu Family: Xu Long, Xu Hu, and Xu Bao.

Since they were young, these three brothers had been learning the art of the sword at the back of the mountain. Like Li Shiyi, they rarely descended from the mountain, which was why not many people knew of them. Nonetheless, all three were exceptionally talented.

However, there was one drawback. Though the three were triplets, they did not share a close bond. In fact, they consider each other as enemies or rivals.

As the heir of the Li family, Li Shiyi was expected to lead the team. However, since she was not strong enough, she struggled to hold her ground. Although the three brothers had promised her before entering the illusory realm that they would not fight, the moment they entered the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams, they began arguing over the camp location and travel direction.

In the end, all three of them decided to settle their dispute with a sword fight to determine who would be the eldest brother.

In the first few days within the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams, they spent their time in constant internal strife and sparring. Finally, by yesterday, Li Shiyi could no longer tolerate it and told the three to stop fighting and go their separate ways. If they continued wasting time like this, the Competition of a Hundred Sects would come to an end.

The three brothers quickly agreed, each forming their own separate team to see who could collect the most soul crystals. Whoever gathered the most would be the eldest brother.

But while the three rushed off to compete, poor Li Shiyi was left behind.

After days of watching them fight with each other, they finally stopped. But just as soon as they did, they all ran off, leaving her suddenly all alone.

She was alone and afraid. As nightfall approached, a sense of dread settled over her.

Fortunately, it was near the end of the Competition of a Hundred Sects. With fewer teams remaining, Li Shiyi had managed to wander this far, trembling in fear, without encountering any enemies.

"I told them I didn't want to come, but they made me… and now they won't even stay with me," she sobbed, hugging her knees.

"How pitiful..." Chu Liang remarked, feeling amused and sympathetic at the same time.

Li Shiyi rarely descended the mountain, and when she did, it was never a pleasant experience.

Chu Liang offered, "If you're scared, you can join us. No one would dare target you then. But just so you know, we're also short on soul crystals, so we don't have any extras to share."

"Can I? Oh, thank you so much!" She broke into a smile through her tears. "I don't need any soul crystals; I just want to stay with you all!"

Since she was just a lone, fragile girl without any extra soul crystals, the group decided to take her in.

Although it was nighttime and they normally wouldn't venture out, they were short on soul crystals and couldn't afford to be picky. They searched along the coast but couldn't find any of the remaining members from the alliance led by the imperial family. It seemed, as Ye Yongxing had said, that someone else had beaten them to it.

Before long, it was the next day, with the arrival of dawn.

Suddenly, the voice of Immortal Jiuyi echoed throughout the illusory realm.

"Fellow disciples of the immortal sects, today is the final day of the Competition of a Hundred Sects. Currently, there are... eleven teams left in the Divine Mirror of the Eight Trigrams."

GLTD Alternate Universe's Thoughts

Translator: GT