ON DECEMBER 22, 2021 BY MOONCHILDKHZ
A few minutes later.
More than 200 disciples entered the venue through four entrances, assembling into four different zones.
When they stopped and glanced at the stands, the crowd burst into cheers as the cultivators shouted at the names of their idols or whatnot.
Nowadays, of the outstanding disciples with some reputation, which one of them did not have fans?
“Ahem.”
Liyang’s city lord appeared at the center of the arena and the cheering subsided.
“On behalf of Liyang City, this City Lord welcomes the outstanding disciples of various sects to compete in the Sect Martial Arts Competition. I hope that in the following matches, the contestants can obtain good results, winning unsurpassed glory for their sect.”
After this speech, the city lord started to list out a few disciples.
“Earthly Saber Sect, Tang Bolan!”
“Here!”
“Dragon Moon Villa, Cheng Mianjin!”
“Here!”
“Iron Eagle Gang, Wang Situ!”
“Here!”
“Prosperous Cloth Sect, Zhou Mou!”
“Here!”
The Liyang City Lord called out name after name and there would be relatives, friends, or fans who would loudly cheer.
“Ironbone Sect, Tian Qi.”
“Here!”
Gah.
There was complete silence.
Then the crowd burst into laughter.
“Tian Qi? Is he the seventh oldest in the family, or is he some medicinal herb?” [1]
“Worthy of being a ninth-grade sect, even the disciples have trash names.”
Even the contestants on stand by casted scornful looks, wondering how he could live with such a common name.
Bearing the mockery and disdainful eyes, Tian Qi clenched his fists. He whispered, “Senior Brother, I want to punch someone.”
Li Qingyang murmured, “Endure it until the competition starts.”
“Hu!” Tian Qi breathed out, returning his mental state to normal. He looked up at the stands and found Jun Changxiao.
Sect Head, this Disciple will not disappoint you!
…
The roll-call continued.
When some well-known or elite disciples were named, it immediately caused discussion and praise.
“Ironbone Sect, Su Xiaomo!”
“Here!”
“Haha, his name isn’t that bad.”
“Pity he’s a bit short, he’s definitely cannon fodder.”
A person you like will look good no matter what. A person you dislike will similarly always look bad.
The observing crowd had this mentality.
They genuinely despised the Ironbone Sect and therefore associated it with shortcomings, no matter the angle.
The unnamed elder from the city gate was startled. “That boy wasn’t Li Qingyang?”
He and his disciple had always thought that Su Xiaomo was Qingyang City’s number one talent.
The man knit his brows. He is not Li Qingyang, but his footwork is so agile. It can’t be that the ninth-grade Ironbone Sect is filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers?”
“Ironbone Sect, Li Qingyang.”
“Here!”
The crown went silent.
Everyone looked at the tall and lithe figure of Li Qingyang. No matter how they looked, he had an extraordinary aura, worthy of being called Qingyang City’s number one talent!
Unfortunately, he was blind and joined the trash Ironbone Sect.
“Ah…” In the stands, a fat-eared elder shook his head. “Such a good seedling. If he joined my Great Red Gate, he would already be a Martial Apprentice by now.”
“He obviously had options, but he chose a ninth-grade sect. What a waste of good talent.”
“Other sects are ceaselessly supporting such talents, Sect Head Jun is proving unsatisfactory.”
No one laughed at Li Qingyang. They only pitied him, scorning the Ironbone Sect and Sect Head Jun for recruiting him.
Jun Changxiao listened to their words, but said nothing.
What was he supposed to do? Argue with them?
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There was no meaning in that. The best way to shut them up was through the disciples’ strengths.
…
Roll-continued.
When Xiao Zuiji’s name was called, the crowd became silent once again.
Many cultivators raised their heads, looking at an area of the stands on the eastern side. There sat several Xiao Family elders. What expressions were they making?
Kacha—
Great Elder Xiao’s teacup crumbled into dust. “A loser such as he should not appear here, should not come to disgrace us with his presence.”
Coincidentally, Jun Changxiao was sitting near the elders. He saw the old fogy’s vision gleam with anger and killing intent. He touched his nose, saying, “A person from the Xiao Family?”
The Xiao Family’s great elder seemed to have detected him, turning his head to look.
The two people’s gaze clashed in mid-air.
Jun Changxiao’s smile was very polite as he pointed to the other man, formed a finger-pistol, and aimed it at his own head with a pah.
This was a warning — do not show killing intent, otherwise this Lord will shoot you dead.
What a pity though, the great elder did not understand. Seeing Jun Changxiao’s strange gestures, he was disdainful. No wonder they’re willing to take in losers and the like. It’s actually because the sect leader has mental problems.
…
After the roll-call, more than 200 disciples had arrived. Liyang City’s city lord did not wait for the ink to dry, immediately announcing the rules of the competition.
The rules were simple.
The more than 200 disciples would be divided up into groups. A ballot would be used to draw opponents, where the winner continued and the loser was eliminated.
In order to avoid disciples of the same sect from meeting, the disciples would be arranged in different zones when drawing lots.
For example, Lu Qianqian and company were sorted into Zones A, B, C, and D.
Before separating, Li Qingyang was dignified as he gave a short speech. “Senior Sister and junior brothers, Sect Head is watching us. We cannot disappoint him.”
“Tch.”
Lu Qianqian walked into Zone A.
“Senior Brother, we understand!” Su Xiaomo and Tian Qi puffed out their chests, striding into their own zones.
Xiao Zuiji remained motionless, looking up into the stands. He found Sect Head Jun and they shared a glance. Xiao Zuiji’s eyes filled with determination.
At that moment, excluding Lu Qianqian for personality reasons, the other four disciples felt their blood boiling. They deeply understood: they were here to fight for the sect!
Jun Changxiao sat in the stands, leaning forward so that his chin rested on his hands.
Good luck, my disciples.
…
Once all the participants sorted themselves into the right zones, the lots were drawn, each match announced by the zone official in the presence of everyone.
“First round, Ironbone School’s Tian Qi versus Great Red Gate’s Sun Kai!”
“Aiya.” The fat-eared eder from the Great Red Gate turned around with a smile, “Sect Head Jun, it actually happened, my disciple has unfortunately met with yours in the first round.”
The surrounding cultivators were envious.
If it was their own sect’s disciples, that would basically be a free admission into the second round.
Jun Changxiao did not respond.
The drawing of lots continued and soon everyone was matched up.
Besides Li Qingyang’s, the opponents of Su Xiaomo and the others were all smiling, like they had already entered the second round.
“The first round begins, I ask the participants to head onstage!”
Tian Qi and Sun Kai stepped onto the stage and cupped their hands, following proper etiquette.
The first round of the Sect Martial Arts Competition was officially beginning.
“That disciple from the Great Red Gate is probably at Twelfth Stage Meridian Opening. It won’t be an insta-kill, right?”
“There’s so many Tenth Stage Meridian Opening participants, but his first opponent is in the Twelfth Stage. His luck is so bad.”
“Hahaha. For that guy, isn’t every opponent a bad match-up?”
The cultivators discussed in private, the laughter unceasing.
The Great Red Gate’s elder was all smiles. “Sect Head Jun, my disciple has an irritable temperament. If he is a little tactless and injures your disciple, please forgive us.”
“Uh-huh.”
Jun Changxiao made a noise of understanding.
“Begin!”
The referee’s voice sounded.
As soon as he finished speaking, Tian Qi darted forward like an arrow, rushing to throw a fist directly into Sun Kai’s abdomen, punching the boy right off the stage.
This Great Red Gate disciple’s temperament was indeed a little bit irritable, but between the time the referee began the match and the moment he got punched, he didn’t even have the time think vicious thoughts. Before he knew it, he was laying on the floor outside of the ring.
The fat-eared elder’s smile solidified, his eyes wide in shock.
Jun Changxiao indifferently commented, “How lame.”
On the stage, Tian Qi retracted his fist and scratched his head. “I didn’t control my strength, accidentally hitting the person out of the ring.”
[1] name is literally 田七 (Tian Qi), 田 for ‘field’ and 七 for ‘seven’