Chapter 178

Chapter 178: First Round of the Disciple Matches

Feng He Yun and the other two followed close behind.

Ye Huai noticed several figures cutting quickly through the crowd, his eyes flickering as he exchanged a look with Song Wei Yan and the other two; the four of them moved at once.

They blocked the approaching Feng He Yun and his group.

Eight people stood facing one another.

On one side were Shen Sang Ruo’s current sect mates; on the other were her former Senior Brothers. The gap between them felt like a line dividing two different worlds.

Ye Huai’s four stood like a solid wall, shielding Shen Sang Ruo behind them.

Lu Shi Qing’s gaze turned vicious, he barked: “Move aside!”

Ye Huai did not budge; his face grew colder as he said in an icy voice: “If you truly care about her, then don’t make trouble right now.”

Lu Shi Qing ground his teeth and stared at Ye Huai, he snapped: “Who do you think you are?”

Song Wei Yan dropped his usual lazy act and answered evenly: “We are her Senior Brothers and Senior Sister. Who do you think we are?”

Feng He Yun’s eyes were full of hostility, he sneered: “Cut the act. We’ve been her Senior Brothers for years! You’re not qualified to stop us!”

Ye Huai glanced at the tokens in their hands and noted they were in the same group, he said coolly: “Qualified or not, the arena will make it clear.”

Feng He Yun’s eyes flashed fiercely, he laughed low: “Fine, good. Then we’ll settle it on the platform!” [He would never lose to this annoying ice face.]

Lu Shi Qing still wanted to force his way through, but Wen Xuan grabbed his arm and shook his head, he said softly: “Don’t make Little Ruo feel torn.”

They still had many chances to seek out Shen Sang Ruo; there was no need to rush and make her feel worse about them.

Seeing the sadness in Wen Xuan’s eyes, Lu Shi Qing slowly unclenched his tight fist.

Su Xi Yu snorted, she said: “At least you still have a bit of conscience.”

Just then Bai Mu Mu hurried over, trying hard to keep her face calm, she said: “Senior Brothers, the first round of the Disciple individual matches is about to start. We should head back and get ready.”

Feng He Yun shot Ye Huai a vicious glare, then he and his companions turned and left.

Over by Shen Sang Ruo, people from each sect also scattered to prepare for the coming Disciple matches.

The Elder matches had taken the whole morning; the first round of the individual matches would run in the afternoon.

Tomorrow morning and afternoon would be the second and third rounds.

These two days of individual matches would only decide the top two in each group; on the third day, the finals for all three groups would be held together.

From their earlier talk, Shen Sang Ruo had roughly learned how Mei Mei and the others were grouped.

The ones about to take part in the first round were: Ye Huai, Feng He Yun, Fang Yu, Zhu Hua Qiao, and Chen Zhou Xing.

Among them, only Fang Yu was Mid Golden Core; the others were all Late Golden Core.

The group lists were posted on the display panels. Aside from those four Late Golden Core contenders, Shen Sang Ruo saw no one else with a real shot at first place.

True Lord Gu Ci announced the start of the first round.

Like the Elder matches, lots were drawn and several bouts ran at the same time.

After a round of cheers and encouragement, Ye Huai, Nether Shadow Sword in hand, walked to his platform.

He placed his token into the stone slot beside the entrance. A line of words projected into the air: Ninghua Sect Ye Huai.

Once the information was confirmed, the gate let him pass onto the stage.

His first opponent was the Young Sect Master of a sect that ranked 263rd last time, at Mid Golden Core.

Three moves in Ye Huai’s hands, and the man was knocked off the platform.

Over on Feng He Yun’s side, his opponent was also from a sect around 250th. His sword rose and fell, and the fight ended in three moves as well.

Their platforms were not far apart; they could see each other.

They had not drawn each other, but both were Sword Cultivators, and every move felt like a hidden contest.

If one finished in three moves, the other refused to use a fourth.

Cold gleams and sword shadows kept flashing across the stages as both tried to eliminate their opponents faster.

It was not only a duel between Ye Huai and Feng He Yun; it became a shouting match between Song Wei Yan and Luo Chu. The two hollered until their throats were dry, as if competing over whose voice was louder.

Song Wei Yan waved his arms at the top of his lungs, he yelled: “Nice one, Big Senior Brother! Yes, yes, that strike!”

Shen Sang Ruo quietly covered her ears.

Luo Chu stamped his foot and cupped his hands around his mouth, he shouted: “Big Senior Brother, hurry! He’s about to finish his opponent over there!”

Driven mad by Luo Chu’s screeching, Feng He Yun snapped: “Stop shouting!”

Ye Huai, however, was not affected by Song Wei Yan; he performed as usual.

Ye Huai’s Nether Shadow Sword Method was swift and fierce; Feng He Yun’s Flowing Cloud Sword Method was graceful and free. Each had strengths. Seen on their own, neither was inferior to the other.

With both going all out, they quickly drew the attention of most of the spectators.

A spectator sighed in awe, he said: “I’ve long heard of Senior Brother Feng’s Flowing Cloud Sword Method. Seeing it now, it truly lives up to its name!”

Another nudged his friend, he said: “He’s Master Ling Xiao’s Chief Disciple. What did you expect?”

A third pointed toward Ye Huai, he said: “That Ye Huai from Ninghua Sect is great too. If I’m not mistaken, he’s Immortal Lord Chang Li’s Chief Disciple as well, right?”

Someone chuckled at the thought, he said: “Ah, fate. Will those two end up fighting as fiercely as Master Ling Xiao and Immortal Lord Chang Li did back then?”

Another clasped his hands and muttered like a prayer, he said: “Please, let them face each other.”

They were all the sort who loved to watch a scene blow up.

Sadly, the two never met.

Instead, on another platform, Zhu Hua Qiao and Chen Zhou Xing drew each other early.

Someone jumped to his feet, he cried: “The Young Sect Masters of the Artifact Forging Sect and the Alchemy Sect drew the same match!”

Another slapped his thigh in excitement, he said: “A duel between the previous fifth and sixth sects’ Young Heirs. This will be great!”

The cultivators cheered and hurried over, deciding to leave Ye Huai and Feng He Yun for later and watch this bout first.

Shen Sang Ruo looked that way too. From how they had acted before, she had noticed those two got along very well.

She was curious how they would handle this match.

On stage, the pair faced each other with serious looks, totally different from before.

The tense atmosphere spread, making the crowd hold their breath.

Chen Zhou Xing let out a tragic sigh, he said: “Looks like one of us will have to bow out early today.”

Zhu Hua Qiao tightened her grip and stood firm, she said: “Enough with the nonsense, let’s begin. Today it’s either you die or I live!”

What? Life and death? Another pair who would not stop until one of them fell?

The onlookers straightened up, ready for a show.

Shen Sang Ruo, however, felt something was off.

Both fighters shouted and charged at each other: “Ah!” “Ha!” The crowd’s hearts leaped into their throats as they held their breath.

Yet the next scene was this: Zhu Hua Qiao “forcefully” shoved Chen Zhou Xing on the shoulder, she declared: “Go die, you!”

Chen Zhou Xing stared in disbelief, he blurted: “You actually dared to push me?!”

He puffed his cheeks and raised his fists in a cute little pose, he chirped: “I’ll hit your chest with my tiny fists!”

Seeing Chen Zhou Xing’s slightly cutesy tiny fists, the crowd rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were seeing things.

The two on stage did not even use Spiritual Power; “perfunctory” was written across their foreheads.

Shen Sang Ruo fell silent: [I knew it.] [Yes, this was typical of the Artifact Forging Sect and the Alchemy Sect.]

In the preparation area, Sect Master Liang Yue and Sect Master Zhong Chuan both covered their faces, and each pointed at the other’s side, they groaned: “Your Young Sect Master.”

It was so embarrassing.