"I'm here!"
With a cute rebuke, a figure enveloped in red light leaped onto the arena. As the red light dispersed, the person revealed was Du Lingdai from Miao Yun Ge.
"The arena challenge officially begins!" With the announcement, protective shields around the arena rose, preventing onlookers from accidental injuries.
Gu Yao and his companions were surrounded by a group of female students. Jiang Yan was nonchalant, while Tian Fei Rong and the chubby guy were a bit uneasy, but they wouldn't leave just because of discomfort. They were there to cheer for Du Lingdai.
In an instant, the two on the stage—one carrying a black heavy sword and the other wielding a fiery red whip—engaged in a fierce battle. It was evident that neither held back.
"Big Brother Ye, who do you think has the upper hand?"
"In Gu Yao's eyes, the two have similar cultivation levels, and perhaps the difference lies in their battle experience. On the surface, it seems that Wumeng has the upper hand, but observing Du Lingdai's sharp moves, as the whip lashes out, a flame sweeps across, leaving scorched marks on the platform. If this were to land on a person, it would undoubtedly cause burns."
After observing for a while, Chi Changye commented, "The two have similar strengths; it depends on who has more hidden cards. Hard to say."
Jiang Yan chimed in, "Wumeng recently closed up for a while, catching up in cultivation with Sister Du. But judging by Wumeng's confident demeanor, maybe, as Chi Changye said, he has some hidden cards. Until those cards are fully revealed, the outcome of this arena battle is uncertain."
A loud explosion echoed from the stage. The two figures at the center quickly separated, glaring at each other with uneven breaths, validating Chi Changye and Jiang Yan's statements. The two were evenly matched, and predicting the winner was challenging.
Wumeng suddenly burst into laughter, producing a jade bottle from his storage bag, pouring out a red pill, and tossing it into his mouth. Instantly, his aura surged. Someone shouted, "Uh-oh, it's the Profound Burst Pill that temporarily enhances cultivation! Where did Wumeng get the Profound Burst Pill!"
"Not good, his cultivation has risen to the ninth level of Qi Refining. What now? Can Sister Du still beat him? This guy really came prepared!"
Wumeng laughed triumphantly, extremely arrogant.
Du Lingdai clenched her teeth, then took out a fiery red bead, suspended it above her, releasing a scorching light. Slowly, it descended and gradually merged into Du Lingdai's body. Meanwhile, her facial muscles twitched, displaying extreme pain, accompanied by gasps from the surrounding onlookers.
Jiang Yan explained, "This is the Fire Spirit Bead, aiding fire cultivators in a temporary power boost. However, due to the forceful enhancement, it will inevitably cause damage to the meridians, with more significant after-effects than the Profound Burst Pill. If one is naturally a fire spirit, there wouldn't be such negative consequences."
Gu Yao discerned that the Fire Spirit Bead was indeed a precious item, specifically suitable for fire cultivators.
With a loud bang, Du Lingdai transformed into a fiery figure. Obviously, Wumeng hadn't expected Du Lingdai to possess such a treasure and use it regardless of consequences. With a fierce expression, he swung his heavy sword towards Du Lingdai, prompting curses from the onlookers. However, there was no room for courtesy or retreat on the arena, and some...
"Only victory and defeat remain."
Du Lingdai's recently closed eyes suddenly opened, and she swung her whip to meet Wumeng's attack. A fire python, several times thicker than before, shot out from the whip, colliding with Wumeng's assault.
"Bang!"
The powerful airflow nearly overturned the entire arena. Simultaneously, both figures flew backward. Du Lingdai spat out blood, quickly turning into nothingness in the flames. In comparison, Wumeng had only a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, which he casually wiped away. He then sinisterly walked towards Du Lingdai.
"We concede! We concede this match!" Thao Yue immediately shouted, looking at Du Lingdai, who still refused to admit defeat and struggled to get up for another round.
"Mysterious Cloud Pavilion concedes; this round goes to the Viper Gang!" The referee promptly declared the result. If Wumeng continued attacking, he would face punishment from the law enforcement hall. Therefore, Wumeng had to restrain himself, though a trace of unwillingness was evident on his face.
The protective shield withdrew, and Thao Yue quickly took some female disciples to assist Du Lingdai off the stage. They fed her healing pills. Even the gentle movement caused Du Lingdai to show signs of pain on her face. It was clear her meridians suffered significant damage.
"Anyone else from Mysterious Cloud Pavilion refuses to accept? Come, step forward!" Wumeng arrogantly shouted on the stage, and his Viper Gang companions echoed with insults.
"I'll go." Even though she knew the odds were slim, Thao Yue had no choice but to step forward.
"I'll go!" A cold, stern voice echoed in the crowd, drawing everyone's attention. The four figures of Gu Yao emerged, with Chi Changye leading, followed closely by Jiang Yan.
"You..." Thao Yue hadn't expected this voice to belong to Chi Changye, who was supposed to be Gu Yao's attendant.
"Who is that?" Onlookers and many Viper Gang members asked.
"Aren't those four the new students who offended the Viper Gang?"
"The one walking in front isn't a student; he's the attendant brought in by the new students. When did attendants become so powerful? Dare to challenge on the stage?"
"What do these four have that made Sister Du and Sister Thao risk their lives for them?"
Just now, Du Lingdai clearly showed a determination to fight at all costs, even if it meant severe injuries to herself. Some Mysterious Cloud Pavilion female students who didn't know the inside story felt it wasn't worth it.
"Didn't you see that Brother Jiang is with them? It seems they have a good relationship with Brother Jiang. Their identities are getting more mysterious."
"I'll go." Chi Changye affirmed, and Thao Yue was just a step away from losing. Chi Changye wasn't fighting for Mysterious Cloud Pavilion and Thao Yue but for Gu Yao and the four of them.
Thao Yue shifted his gaze to Gu Yao, who smiled and said, "We caused trouble for the senior sisters earlier. This matter originated from us, and we shouldn't retreat."
"Okay, but Mysterious Cloud Pavilion's sisters are not easy to bully. You still have the protection of Mysterious Cloud Pavilion." Thao Yue compromised.
"Good." Gu Yao nodded slightly. Cooperation would continue. After all, there were only four of them. Relying on Chi Changye alone wasn't enough.
At this moment, Gu Yao deeply realized how crucial it was to improve one's cultivation. If others dared to come and provoke them, the four of them should charge forward together and defeat them thoroughly.
Chi Changye glanced at Gu Yao, then leaped onto the stage. His appearance and demeanor received cheers, but after seeing his identity token, there was a chorus of boos. How could he be an attendant?
Wumeng also noticed, giving a thumbs down mockingly. "So, you few who only knew how to hide behind women, letting women step forward for you, soft eggs, pretty boys. You're not hiding anymore? Let me teach you what a real man is!"
"Pah! Just because you've practiced a bit more than others over the years doesn't mean you represent men. You're simply a disgrace among men!"
Chi Changye remained expressionless, his eyes showing no ripples. Trying to humiliate Chi Changye with words? Obviously, it had no effect.
The protective shield of the stage rose again. Just as it closed, Wumeng suddenly rushed towards Chi Changye, the heavy sword aimed directly at Chi Changye's heart. Mysterious Cloud Pavilion's people exclaimed, and in the next moment, the sword should have struck the center of Chi Changye's chest. However, the figure that had been pierced suddenly turned into ripples and dissipated, appearing again behind Wumeng.
In other words, the one pierced earlier was just an afterimage. Chi Changye's speed was so fast that it deceived Wumeng's eyes. Seeing this scene, the Viper Gang members no longer had a triumphant expression. In the eyes of Thao Yue and others, hope emerged unexpectedly. They hadn't expected a turn of events here. Who exactly was this Chi Changye, or rather, did the person he followed, Gu Yao, have an even more significant background?
As the afterimage disappeared, Wumeng realized he had been fooled. He hurriedly turned back, and Chi Changye was standing behind him, holding the sword in his arms, not having drawn it out. He still maintained the posture, in stark contrast to the frustrated Wumeng.Chí Chángyè, still looking coldly at Wū Měng, felt increasingly humiliated. With a loud roar, Wū Měng continued his attack on Chí Chángyè, refusing to believe his misfortune.
Chí Chángyè dodged again, but this time, in addition to his body moving, his hand also moved, so fast that it blurred. A scream echoed as a heavy thud followed; everyone looked to see Chí Chángyè using a sheathed sword to strike Wū Měng's wrist. His sword fell, leaving Wū Měng in disbelief.
Chí Chángyè swiftly moved again, kicking Wū Měng out. If not for the protective barrier, he would have been knocked off the platform. Chí Chángyè approached, and with his unsheathed sword pointing at Wū Měng's throat, he hadn't even drawn the sword.
"Gulp," many involuntarily swallowed. Wū Měng, still under the effects of the Xuan Explosion Pill, hadn't recovered, yet Chí Chángyè effortlessly defeated him without unsheathing his sword.
This realization made them exclaim once again, too frightening.
Tao Yue, Du Lingdai, and others were ecstatic. Jiang Yan's eyes showed a hint of surprise, unable to gauge Chí Chángyè's depth. Even though his cultivation hadn't reached Foundation Establishment, the aura he exuded surpassed that of Foundation Establishment cultivators. It was strange.
"Do you surrender?" Chí Chángyè asked coldly.
At this moment, Wū Měng's aura gradually subsided. Aware of his situation, he knew there was no possibility of a counterattack. Reluctantly, he admitted defeat, saying, "I surrender! May I ask who you are? Teach me so that Wū Měng can remember."
Chí Chángyè sheathed his sword and replied coldly, "I am the follower of the new student, Gu Yao." Wū Měng spat out blood, defeated by an unknown individual?