Chapter 179

Chapter 179: Why Are You Still Not Making a Move?
Three days later.

Yu Zhao and Bu Yan met on a small path in Wen Ding Pavilion and walked together toward the Martial Practice Field.

On the way, many cultivators saw the two of them and quickly moved aside, staying far away.

Yu Zhao was puzzled: “Why are they avoiding us?”

Bu Yan only smiled without speaking.

Suspicion rose in Yu Zhao’s heart.

Bu Yan’s cultivation was not yet deep enough. The quieter he was, the more likely it was that he had done something behind the scenes.

Sure enough, when she arrived at the Martial Practice Field, Yao Wu Jiran over, face full of excitement, pointing at Bu Yan as she talked.

“Monk Bu Yan, I really underestimated you. I did not expect someone who looks so gentle to be so good at cursing people! Teach me how to curse. I also want to be like you, cursing everyone in the world without meeting a match!”

Yu Zhao looked over at Bu Yan.

He immediately looked away, guilty.

“Yu Zhao, you still do not know, right? Here is what happened, blah blah blah…”

In short, while Yu Zhao was resting and meditating in her room, Bu Yan had been running all over under the banner of spreading the Buddhist Dharma, and, as expected, he had run into Yao Ji and Ten-Thousand-Slayer again in Flameblaze City.

The two had originally wanted to apologize to Bu Yan and make peace. But somehow they said the wrong thing again and made Monk Bu Yan angry, and the two sides launched into a fierce shouting match.

It just so happened that yesterday Yao Wu Jihad been wandering around Flameblaze City with nothing to do and had watched the entire argument from beginning to end. She had enjoyed it so much that she clapped and cheered.

“Ha ha ha, right, Yu Zhao, you will never guess what nickname they gave Bu Yan!” Yao Wu Jisuddenly thought of something, laughing so hard her whole body shook.

Yu Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. She had just wanted to stop her when she heard Yao Wu Jishout loudly: “They called him a foul-mouthed bald donkey, ha ha ha ha, it is killing me, foul-mouthed—mm… mmm!”

Yu Zhao clapped a hand over Yao Wuji’s mouth and gave Bu Yan an awkward smile.

“Sorry, sorry.”

Bu Yan ground his teeth: “It is… fine.”

Even though he said that, his hand quietly moved toward his sleeve.

There was no way Yu Zhao would let him take out his wooden fish ritual block. She was trying to think of a way to change the subject when she saw, not far away, Si Tu Xuan in a splendid robe, staring straight at them with bright eyes.

Yu Zhao’s eyes lit up: “Fellow Daoist Si Tu!”

The big stone in Si Tu Xuan’s heart finally fell to the ground. Keeping his face calm, he answered, and his legs carried him forward uncontrollably, faster and faster.

Seeing Si Tu Xuan, Bu Yan became even angrier. He had not forgotten how Si Tu Xuan had once called him “Fellow Daoist” instead of “Monk.”

Luckily, Si Tu Xuan’s mind was clear today: “Fellow Daoist Yu, Monk Bu Yan, and this is…”

Only then did Yu Zhao realize her hand was still pressed over Yao Wuji’s mouth. She quickly moved it away and introduced: “This is Yao Wuji.”

“Daoist Friend Yao,” said Si Tu Xuan.

At this moment Yao Wu Jialso realized that what she had just done was a bit rude. Yesterday she had seen with her own eyes how sharp Bu Yan’s mouth could be, and she did not want him pointing at her nose and cursing her.

She shot Yu Zhao a grateful look and then turned to look at Si Tu Xuan.

“You are the Young Family Master of the Si Tu Clan?”

“I am.”

Yao Wuji’s red lips curved slightly: “Then you better be careful. I will not go easy on you just because you know Yu Zhao. I am set on taking second place in the Individual Competition!”

Si Tu Xuan paused. The casual look in his eyes was gone, replaced by a natural pride and confidence.

“People of my Si Tu Clan can afford to win and lose. If you can beat me with real skill, then come at me as you like!”

Their gazes clashed like metal striking stone, sparks flying.

So Bu Yan forgot all about taking out his wooden fish ritual block and instead watched the two of them release their battle intent, looking like someone who loved watching a good show.

Yu Zhao only felt a headache coming on.

She had wanted Si Tu Xuan to come over and calm things down, but now he and Yao Wu Jiwere facing off instead.

Still, Yu Zhao was curious to see who was stronger, Yao Wu Jior Si Tu Xuan.

One stick of incense later.

Yu Zhao, Yao Wuji, and Si Tu Xuan stood in the center of the Martial Practice Field, with a wide space left open around them.

Yao Ji and Ten-Thousand-Slayer each took a spot at the edge, doing their best to stay as far from Yu Zhao as possible.

After the first round of elimination, only five thousand people were left on the Martial Practice Field. Most of the eliminated cultivators had not left and were now standing at the edges, watching from afar.

Elder Ji Dao and the other elders walked up onto the high platform and announced the rules of the competition.

The rules for the second round were also very simple. The elders of Wen Ding Pavilion would throw one thousand number plates into the Martial Practice Field. Whoever got a plate would advance to the third round’s one-on-one duels.

Unlike the first two rounds, the third round would be held at the same time as the Sect Grand Tournament. That meant the cultivators who took part could show themselves in front of the top Grand Adepts in the entire cultivation world. For many people, this was a rare chance, so everyone was going all out, ready to do anything to fight for a plate.

The mood on the field instantly became heavy and tense.

Elder Ji Dao’s gaze swept over the young cultivators on the Martial Practice Field, all of them full of ambition. In his heart, he let out a sigh.

To be honest, for most cultivators, quitting early was the best choice. The longer they stayed, the more dangerous it became.

Especially in the third round’s one-on-one duels, it was almost a fight for one’s life. Very few cultivators could walk off the dueling platform without any injuries.

Everyone understood this, but no one was willing to back down.

Elder Ji Dao calmed his feelings, then flicked his sleeve. Countless points of light flew out, drifting down.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

The sound of air being split rang out again and again.

Countless figures shot up from the ground at the same time, reaching for the light points in the air.

In one corner, Yao Ji glanced warily in Yu Zhao’s direction and threw out the feather fan in her hand.

The feather fan spun several times in the air and suddenly turned into a white phoenix. It cried out toward the sky and shot straight at the points of light.

In another corner.

Ten-Thousand-Slayer stared at one of the light points, forming hand seals again and again as he muttered under his breath.

A few breaths later, the light point he had locked on to seemed to receive some strange summons and flew straight toward him.

While everyone was showing off their divine abilities and using all their skills, Yu Zhao looked at the two companions beside her, who had not reacted at all, and asked curiously: “Why are you still not making a move?”

Yao Wu Jishot back: “You have not moved either.”

She had seen that Yu Zhao had not moved and thought that was what a real expert did, so she had held herself back and waited too.

Yu Zhao blinked innocently, opened her palm, and revealed a white jade plate.

“Because I already got one.”

Yao Wu Jiand Si Tu Xuan widened their eyes at the same time.

Yu Zhao had clearly been standing right next to them, yet they had no idea when she had made a move. That was way too scary!

“If you keep hesitating, all the plates will be gone,” Yu Zhao reminded them.

They looked up again. Sure enough, very few points of light were left in the air.

Only then did the two of them panic.

One of them threw out a chain made of spider silk, and the other picked up a long spear and charged straight into the fray.

Not long after.

The two of them returned, each holding a point of light.

After a while longer.

The last point of light in the air disappeared.

All one thousand plates had found their owners.

“The second round of the competition is over. The third round will be held at Wen Ding Pavilion ten days from now. Please remember this.”