After they finished saluting Bei Yingluo, the eight cultivators from various factions looked to her for instructions. She was younger and weaker than all of them but they now saw her as their leader. She was a disciple of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Her status was enough to garner respect.
Her wealth was also frightening. She owned a spatial bag and could throw around red spiritual crystals like it was candy. These two things were hallmarks of immortal lords, not a young woman at early levels of the Mind Focusing Realm. They wouldn't dare to offend her now.
"Miss Bei, what are your plans?" Chang Bo asked, taking charge as her primary subordinate.
He was tall with a striking, memorable face. His cultivation was among the best so nobody else bothered to fight with him for this position
"Let's strike while the iron is hot!" She said and pointed toward the group of disciples from the Tower of Swords, "Take them out!"
"Great idea, let's go!" Kang Ni said.
He was the utter opposite of Chang Bo, short with plain, forgettable features. Due to this, his forte was being loud and energetic.
They headed towards the side of the arena with the Tower of Swords disciples. Outside of Chang Bo and Kang Ni, the rest of Bei Yingluo's group consisted of two other men and four women. Their ages were all in the mid to late twenties and their cultivation was not lower than the 9th Level of the Mind Focusing Realm. To have survived the chaotic battle until now, they were all experienced fighters.
"You can't do this!" One of the Tower of Swords people shouted.
"Judge! Judge! Do something!" Another voice bellowed furiously.
The judges around the arena looked around at each other, each hoping the other would do something. They were all members of the Eastern Sword Alliance. But their own people had grouped together first to bully others during what was supposed to be a free-for-all battle. It would be hypocrisy to the extreme if they were to say anything now when the eyes of the subcontinent were on them.
Ignoring all the noise, Bei Yingluo and her cadre surrounded the three disciples from the Tower of Swords. They had an overwhelming advantage, being nine people against three. With this advantage, they quickly managed to corner the three against the barrier without even drawing their swords.
At this, the one named Kang Ni laughed mockingly, "So, do you want to give up peacefully... or do you want us to make your lives difficult?"
The disciples of the Tower of Swords glared at them defiantly for a moment before giving up and leaving the fighting area through the barrier. They were overwhelmed by numbers and chose to lose with dignity rather than be beaten into submission.
Bei Yingluo's group turned around and faced the disciples of the Four Greats. This time, it was nine to six. If one disregarded Bei Yingluo's strength, it was still eight to six. This was not impossible odds depending on circumstances and how well individuals worked together or interfered with each other.
"Same goes for you!" Kang Ni said, brandishing his sword towards their opponents, "Give up now or we will make you wish you had!"
"Hahaha, nonsense! Who are you to say that? Loser or winner has yet to be decided!" Someone retorted.
"Yeah, that's right. Bring it on!"
Although they sounded brave, doubt was visible on a few faces.
"Miss Bei, how should we proceed?" Chang Bo asked, "Six is more troublesome than three but not by much. There are disciples from each of the Four Greats. We can use this against them if we divide and conquer."
Bei Yingluo nodded, "Good idea, I will leave it to you."
Chang Bo saluted and started barking out orders.
Their group split into two. One had four people and directly engaged four opponents in one-on-one duels. The other five, including Bei Yingluo, circled two disciples from the Mount Yun Sect. These two shouted insults at their enemies as well as their allies for not coming to their aid. They were eventually silenced and the same process repeated itself. Two more disciples of Mount Huang Sect fell, followed by two more.
The rout was complete. the biggest sword sects of the subcontinent suffered joint humiliation at the hands of Bei Yingluo and Ten Thousand Flower Valley. Although those sects were undoubtably furious, other sects and participants of the convocation were not. These smaller or lesser sects had always been bullied by the Tower of Swords and the big four. They were glad to finally get a taste of delicious payback.
Nine contestants remained as the battlefield shrank further. They stood around, unsure of what to do after defeating their opponents. This was still supposed to be a free-for-all battle and only three people could be the ultimate winners.
Bei Yingluo saw the situation for what it was. She was still the weakest out of all those that remained. She doubted she could buy her way to the top three. Red spiritual crystal was precious but an opportunity to enter the Forest of Swords was another entirely. One could always be obtained with enough money while the other was possibly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
She stepped away from Chang Bo and raised her pudao, "Our alliance ends here. Thank you all for your help. Regardless of who ends up the victors today, I hope that each of us will hold no resentment towards each other."
The others looked at each other and then at her. There was a long, awkward pause where nobody wanted to be the first one to break the bond of cooperation.
"Miss Bei," Chang Bo said, his voice strong but respectful, "I don't want to fight you. I don't think the others want to fight you either. None of us would be standing here right now had you not united us all. As such, I believe that we should all let Miss Bei have one of the winner slots, what do you all think?"
"I agree!" Kang Ni said.
"So do I!" Added another.
And soon, the rest joined in.
"Looks like we are all in agreement." Chang Bo said.
"But... what about the rest of you? It's not fair for you." She tried to argue though her tone wasn't convincing.
"Hahaha, don't worry about us. We have eight of us left, right? Perfect numbers for a mini tournament. Let's randomly draw lots and fight each other. The two people who are victorious at the end take the two remaining winner slots. How about it?"
Everyone agreed readily.
Bei Yingluo stepped back and let them fight it out. They drew lots for their opponents in the first round. After they finished fighting, the four losers stepped off the stage while the four remaining drew lots again for one more round. After that, only two people were left along with Bei Yingluo, Chang Bo and a heroic-looking woman by the name of Chu Weifeng.
As the judges declared the three of them the winners of the Mind Focusing Realm battle challenge, they met up with the other members of their impromptu group who were still waiting for them. Bei Yingluo kept her promise and distributed one kilogram of red spiritual crystal to each of them.
"Thank you, everyone." Bei Yingluo said earnestly. "Although we were merely drawn together by chance and circumstance, I hope that this alliance of necessity can turn into friendship in the future."
"Well said!"
"Well said!"
Chu Weifeng saluted her, "Miss Bei is young in age but wise in years. I, Chu Weifeng of the Red Peak School, accept this friendship with honor."
"I as well!"
"Me too!"
Bei Yingluo, feeling moved, reached into her spatial bag and retrieved a bag of small stones engraved with distinctive writing. She gave one to each person, saying, "This is the token of my Bei Clan, an official branch sect of Ten Thousand Flower Valley. If you ever wish to visit my Dragon Flower Province or Thousand Flower City, just show this token and you will receive eminent treatment."
After doing so, she bid goodbye to these newfound friends and returned to her master.
---
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