allendalepharm Chapter 83 Overturning the Heavens
Chapter 83 Overturning the Heavens
Chapter 83 Overturning the Heavens
"Hey! Everyone from Na Du Tong! And Feng Baobao too!"
A cheerful, laughing voice suddenly broke in. Feng Xingtong, with his signature sunny smile on his face, waved and walked closer, followed by his sister Feng Shayan, who had a cold and aloof demeanor and an unpleasant expression.
"Remember me? Feng Xingtong! The one who peed his pants from being scared by you at the World Alliance last time, didn't even dare to spar with you! Hahaha!"
Feng Shayan, who was standing beside him, rolled her eyes at him and snorted, "Hmph! How can you even say such a shameful thing, and look so smug about it!"
"Are you two the only contestants from Na Du Tong participating this time?" Feng Xing Tong's curious gaze swept over Zhang Chu Lan and Feng Bao Bao.
"Three." Lu Linglong stepped forward naturally from the side, a polite and appropriate smile on her face, and said clearly, "And me. I am Lu Linglong, nice to meet you."
"Hello, hello! I'm Feng Xingtong, and this is my older sister, Feng Shayan." Feng Xingtong immediately responded warmly, her gaze then catching sight of Wang Ye, who was standing to the side with his hands in his pockets, looking rather unserious. Her smile widened, and she raised her hand in greeting. "Daoist Wang Ye! Long time no see, you're here too!"
"Well, I was just killing time anyway, so I came over to join in the fun and enjoy the scenery." Wang Ye yawned and nodded lazily, which was his way of saying hello.
However, Feng Shayan's gaze was fixed on Feng Baobao almost from the very beginning. Her eyes were sharp as knives, and a fighting spirit and a certain indomitable will seemed to collide and float in the air.
Zhang Chulan keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere, leaned closer to Feng Xingtong, and asked in a low voice, "Hey, Xingtong, what's the grudge between your sister and Bao'er? Why do they act like fighting cocks the moment they meet—"
"Hehe—well," Feng Xingtong scratched her head, giving a slightly embarrassed dry laugh, "I'm not too sure about the specifics, but I think they sparred once before? Anyway, whenever the two of them meet, they easily—well, get into a competitive match."
He glossed over it, clearly not wanting to delve into his sister's "dark history."
He quickly clapped his hands, changing the subject, his tone becoming cheerful again: "Let's go! It's almost time, the contestants should go and gather at the front!"
As he spoke, he turned back and waved vigorously at Xu San and Xu Si, who were standing not far away, and shouted in a loud voice, "Brother Xu San!"
"Brother Xu! We're heading over now!"
"Alright! See you later!" Xu San and Xu Si replied with smiles.
As Feng Xingtong led the group toward the meeting point, she smiled at Zhang Chulan, whose expression was slightly tense, and said, "Relax, Chulan. My brother and I didn't come here for the Celestial Master position or the Tongtian Talisman—my father just became one of the Ten Elders, and the World Society has to send someone to show their support and make an appearance at such a rare grand occasion in the world of supernatural beings."
You are the real protagonist of this conference!
He lowered his voice slightly, a hint of mischief in his tone: "Right now, in the world of supernatural beings, your name is quite renowned. You've never even stepped foot inside Longhu Mountain, yet you're proficient in the Golden Light Mantra and even thunder magic secretly passed down by the Celestial Master's Mansion. You're also the grandson of the master of the 'Qi Body Source Flow' back then. Countless people are eager to test your mettle."
As they were talking, a group of young people dressed in traditional Taoist robes, with a refined and otherworldly air, passed by them without looking to the side, their steps steady.
Zhang Chulan took a second look out of curiosity.
"Those few who just passed by were disciples of the Shangqing Sect's Maoshan branch, specializing in talismans and rituals. Their methods are very orthodox, and they're not easy to deal with—" Feng Xingtong introduced them off as if reciting a familiar story, appearing every bit the knowledgeable person in the world of supernatural beings.
He pointed to a young man in a long gown, waving a folding fan, with a friendly smile not far away: "That guy who looks like he slipped out of Deyun Club is called Xiao Xiao. Don't be fooled by his always smiling, kind-hearted appearance. He's actually a wolf in sheep's clothing, and his breath-blowing skills are hard to guard against."
He then pointed to a short-haired, pretty girl who was holding a calculator and seemed to be doing something: "That girl is called Bai Shixue. She's a notorious money-grubber, and her talent is devouring others. If you happen to run into her, you might actually be able to 'buy' a way out and get her to go easy on you."
Then, his gaze fell on a bespectacled girl with an intellectual and calm demeanor: "This is Zhi Jinhua. Putting aside her abilities, she's really smart, with top-notch analytical and calculation skills—but personally, I don't really like girls who are too smart, it puts too much pressure on them."
He concluded, "Anyway, the people I just mentioned are all likely to be tough opponents for you. Keep that in mind."
Zhang Chulan chuckled twice and retorted, "Heh—you really are worrying about me a lot. We're not that close, are we?"
Feng Xingtong laughed and patted him on the shoulder: "Who asked my old man to specifically ask me to take care of you! He hasn't given up yet and is still thinking about bringing you into our World Society—of course," he winked mischievously, "it would be even better if I could also become his son-in-law."
Amidst the laughter, Feng Xingtong's gaze suddenly fixed on a certain spot ahead. The smile on her face faded slightly, her eyes became serious, and her tone became more solemn: "However, Chu Lan, to be honest, if you want to truly stand out from this selection, the biggest obstacle—is probably these three ahead of you."
Upon hearing this, everyone looked in the direction he indicated.
The crowd in the distance seemed to naturally separate, and three figures stood out like cranes among chickens, attracting particular attention.
Zhuge Qing, a man with flowing blue hair, handsome features, and a perpetually squinting eye with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, exuded a calm and leisurely demeanor, as if he possessed all the skills of a contemporary successor of the Wuhou School of Qimen Dunjia.
Dressed in pristine white, with an upright posture, clear and handsome features, and an aloof and pure temperament, Zhang Lingyu is a contemporary high-ranking master of the Celestial Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain and a direct disciple of the old Celestial Master.
There was another one, equally tall and handsome, with a gentle demeanor that exuded a composure and maturity far beyond his years. His aura was harmonious and restrained, like a deep pool of still water, without any ripples, yet giving people a sense of unfathomable depth. This was Lu Lin, a young talent from the world's number one Xuanmen sect, the "Three True Methods," and the most promising member of the Lu family in this generation.
The presence of these three people seemed to naturally create an invisible aura, attracting all eyes to them.
Wang Ye sighed softly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, landing thoughtfully on Zhuge Qing, whose flowing blue hair and ever-smiling eyes squinted in the distance.
Feng Baobao stared intently at Zhang Lingyu, who was dressed in white and looked otherworldly, and muttered emotionlessly, "I've run into that white-haired brat again—"
Lu Linglong called softly to the steady and upright figure, "Cousin Lu Lin!"
Lu Lin, who was not far away, turned her head upon hearing the sound. When her gaze fell on Lu Linglong, she was clearly taken aback, obviously not expecting to see her here.
His brows furrowed slightly, his gaze quickly sweeping over Zhang Chulan and Feng Baobao, who were dressed in the uniforms of Na Du Tong beside her. His tone unconsciously deepened: "Linglong? What are you doing here?"
"You... have been practicing cultivation?"
Lu Linglong blinked, avoiding the main point, and vaguely laughed, "Well—just some random practice, to keep fit. I heard there was something interesting here, so I came with a friend to check it out."
At this moment, Zhuge Qing and Zhang Lingyu, who were not far away, also noticed the commotion and slowly walked closer.
Zhuge Qing maintained his composed smile, looking at Lu Linglong with a hint of curiosity, and asked Lu Lin, "Brother Lu, who is this?"
"My cousin, Lu Linglong," Lu Lin replied briefly, but her expression did not relax; instead, it became even more serious.
He nodded slightly to Zhuge Qing and Zhang Lingyu, and said apologetically, "Excuse me, gentlemen."
He then turned to Lu Linglong, his tone becoming authoritative and carrying the authority of an elder brother: "Linglong, stop fooling around here."
Come with me to see Great-Grandpa.
"But—the competition is about to start—" Lu Linglong tried to struggle, pointing to the center of the field where a crowd had already begun to gather.
Seeing this, Feng Xingtong interjected at the opportune moment, his tone tinged with an awkward smile: "Um—Senior Brother Lu, if you're referring to Old Master Lu, perhaps we don't need to go looking for him specifically—"
'
He pointed towards the entrance passage behind the crowd, "They're already here."
Upon hearing this, everyone turned around and saw a group of people approaching together.
Leading the group was Zhang Zhiwei, the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, with several imposing old men beside him—a number of the Ten Elders were prominently featured!
Lu Jin, dressed in a plain white Taoist robe, walked calmly among them.
This group of people, some with an air of otherworldly grace and others with a commanding presence, immediately drew everyone's attention upon their appearance, and the previously noisy venue quickly quieted down.
Zhang Zhiwei walked to the high platform set up in front of the venue. The light slowly swept over the young and handsome men gathered below, and his voice clearly reached every corner: "Everyone—I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
With a smile, he continued, "Besides the routine sacrificial rites, this Luo Tian Grand Ceremony has always been an opportunity for us practitioners to exchange ideas, verify our knowledge, and share what we have to offer. Of course, you young people are full of vigor and have come from afar, so you're not here to sit around and discuss metaphysics like us old folks—"
He stroked his long, snow-white beard, a hint of reminiscence and understanding flashing in his eyes. "I was once your age too, and I understand that competitive spirit."
His tone suddenly rose, his voice thickening, and an invisible, exhilarating aura emanated from him: "So, since everyone wants to exchange skills and test their knowledge—then this old man won't waste any more time. Let's begin!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several disciples of Longhu Mountain, dressed in neat Taoist robes, carried forward several heavy wooden boxes with bright yellow talismans attached and placed them steadily in an open area in the center of the field.
"Please come forward one by one in the order of your registration and draw your own slip of paper."
Upon hearing this, the contestants began to line up in order, reaching into the narrow opening of the box, each taking a neatly folded piece of paper.
After everyone had drawn their slips, Zhang Zhiwei spoke again, explaining the rules: "Everyone, unfold your slips and look at what's written on them. Due to limited space, we'll be doing this in batches. The Heavenly Stems written on them—甲, 乙, 丙, 丁—represent the order in which you'll enter the competition."
He paused slightly to make sure everyone heard him clearly: "The character below the Heavenly Stem, and its corresponding animal, each combination of character and animal, will be given to four people. Those who get the exact same combination will be opponents in the same round, and all four will enter the arena to compete together—"
"Only one person out of the four who can defeat the other three, or who survives to the end, will be qualified to enter the next round of selection."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chulan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly unfolded his note and stared intently at it—Yi Baihu.
He immediately turned to look at his companion.
The slip of paper that Feng Baobao unfolded was written with "Jia" (甲) meaning deer, Lu Linglong's was "Yi" (乙) meaning green snake, and Wang Ye's was "Bing" (丙) meaning black tortoise.
After quickly confirming with each other, the group breathed a sigh of relief and their faces showed expressions of joy.
"Thank goodness," Lu Linglong patted her chest lightly and whispered, "we didn't run into each other in the first round, otherwise it would have been troublesome."
"What's the trouble?" Lu Lin's voice suddenly rang out again from the side. He hadn't left yet, still standing not far from Lu Linglong.
"Cousin, haven't you gone to prepare for the competition yet?" Lu Linglong was taken aback, not expecting him to still be here.
Lu Lin's brows remained furrowed as she looked at her cousin, who seemed not to fully grasp the danger of the competition. Her tone was serious and low: "Linglong, this is a formal contest between extraordinary individuals, not child's play. Those people on the field, for advancement, for fame, or for rewards, may not know their own strength. You—"
He paused, seemingly considering his words, before finally saying directly, "If you are truly interested in the 'Tongtian Lu,' I will ask my great-grandfather to pass it on to you after the competition is over. There's no need for you to take the risk yourself."
The voice wasn't loud, but it made Zhang Chulan, Feng Xingtong, and the others who were listening intently nearby secretly gasp and exchange subtle glances.
Listen to that tone!
One of the Eight Extraordinary Skills, the "Tongtian Lu" which countless people dream of and are even willing to go to great lengths to obtain, is passed down in the mouths of the Three True Methods as if it could be obtained at will, like an ordinary object.
This confidence, this "not caring" attitude, truly befits the number one mystical sect in the world.
Lu Linglong was both amused and exasperated, knowing her cousin was just worried and confused. She quickly waved her hand, "Don't worry, cousin, I know how it is. I'm just here to see what it's like and join in the fun. If I'm really in the ring and things don't look good, I'll definitely admit defeat immediately. Surely no one will keep chasing after me after I've already given up, right?"
As soon as she finished speaking, a Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain gathered his strength and announced loudly, "Those who drew the 'A' character, please proceed to the entrance of your corresponding area immediately! Area 'A', enter!"
Lu Lin glanced at the slip of paper in his hand; it was the "A" mark, but his competition venue was elsewhere.
He gave Lu Linglong a deep look, his eyes filled with concern, admonition, and a hint of helplessness: "Be careful and act within your limits. I'll be back after the competition."
Having said that, he didn't linger any longer and turned to leave in a hurry. He was carrying the clear entrustment of his great-grandfather Lu Jin on this trip, and needed to stop that high-ranking disciple of the Celestial Master, Zhang Lingyu, if necessary during the competition.
Everyone stayed in the stands with a wide view, and their eyes were all focused on the "Jiahualu" field where Feng Baobao was.
"Hey, aren't you going to watch your sister's match?" Zhang Chulan nudged Feng Xingtong, who was engrossed in watching, with his elbow. Feng Shayan's match was on another court.
Feng Xingtong chuckled, her eyes still fixed on the arena: "There's nothing to see on my older sister's side, I'd rather see the baby's side!"
His eyes sparkled, filled with undisguised interest and anticipation. "You know, baby—she always manages to bring some unexpected 'surprises.'"
"I said, you little brat—" Zhang Chulan drawled, a mocking expression on his face, his eyes darting back and forth between Feng Xingtong and Feng Baobao in the arena, "It wouldn't be—hmm?"
Lu Linglong and Wang Ye, who were standing nearby, immediately perked up their ears, their faces filled with gossipy expressions that said, "Tell me quickly!" Even the usually lazy Taoist priest Wang Ye turned slightly to the side.
Feng Xingtong simply smiled mysteriously, without giving a direct answer, and cleverly changed the subject.
However, when he saw the three opponents competing against Feng Baobao, he frowned slightly: "Baobao's opponents—how come they are the three of them?"
"Hmm? What's the problem?" Zhang Chulan also looked into the arena.
"This is a bit unexpected." Feng Xingtong stroked her chin, her tone tinged with uncertainty. "Although I knew Bao Bao was very strong, this time, she might really be facing some—well, some unusual trouble."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Lu Linglong curiously peeked into the arena at the three sleazy-looking young men, arms around each other, laughing and joking. "Are those three guys who look like street thugs really strong?"
"Hey! Well, in terms of individual skill alone, they're not weak for their age, but that's not the point," Feng Xingtong lowered her voice, pointing to the arena, "The key is that the three of them are a rock-solid team!"
"See those three? They're known as the 'Little Peach Garden of Tianjin'—Liu Fang, Guan Ling'er, and Zhang Cai! They were childhood friends, practically inseparable, and even sharing a pair of pants was too much for them. Later, they became disciples together, and then—well—they were all expelled from the sect for being too much trouble, or rather, they couldn't take it anymore."
"You wouldn't call them heinous villains, murderers, or arsonists," Feng Xingtong said, pursing her lips. "But they've certainly done their fair share of petty theft, provoking trouble, and causing a ruckus everywhere! In the Tianjin area's circle of eccentrics, they're notoriously difficult and slippery bad boys, a real headache for anyone."
"Huh?!" Lu Linglong's eyes widened in surprise, her pink lips slightly parted. "The three of them went on stage together to face Bao'er alone? This—isn't this cheating? Isn't the rule a four-person free-for-all?"
"They shouldn't be cheating, right?" Feng Xingtong wasn't quite sure what was going on either, but added, "These three have been working together since they were little, and their combined skills are really difficult to deal with. They have perfect teamwork, and they know what the other is going to do with just a glance. Ordinary superhumans, even if they are slightly stronger, are easily worn down by their shameless and well-coordinated fighting style. They are very difficult to deal with."
At this moment, the three "Little Peach Garden" members in the audience were joking and praising each other in their signature Tianjin dialect, which drew speechless and disgusted looks from the onlookers.
Zhang Cai flicked a tuft of blond hair he'd deliberately left out on his forehead, beaming with pride: "What's this called? This is fate! Even God brought the three of us brothers together, so there's nothing more to say, it's destiny!"
Liu Fang haphazardly cupped his hands towards the surrounding stands, grinning broadly: "Ladies and gentlemen, sisters and cousins! Some of you recognize us three brothers, some don't! Let's get this straight, we three brothers didn't cheat! It's purely fate arranged by God!"
Guan Ling'er grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "Let's call this fate! Or we could call it Little Peach Garden! Haha!"
"I want to see which unlucky guy—cough, which lucky friend—is going to be our opponent today!"
The Longhu Mountain disciple in charge of refereeing glanced at them expressionlessly and announced loudly: "All contestants are present for the 'Jiahualu' arena! Rules reiterated: Anyone who loses consciousness or voluntarily surrenders is eliminated! Anyone who intentionally injures or kills another is eliminated and will be severely punished by the disciplinary authorities! The one who eliminates the remaining three in the arena is the winner! The matches begin!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Baobao slowly walked into the center of the venue from the opposite entrance.
The oversized NTD uniform jacket looked somewhat loose on her, making her figure appear even thinner.
She kept her head down, the brim of her baseball cap pulled low, covering most of her face, revealing only a clean-cut chin.
"Oh my! What a lovely little girl!" Liu Fang's eyes lit up, his tone instantly becoming flirtatious as he rubbed his hands together and chuckled, "Don't be afraid, little sister, your brothers will be very gentle—I promise—"
Before he could even utter the words "I love you," Feng Baobao walked up to him unhurriedly and then looked up.
Beneath the baseball cap, a face with little expression, eyes so clean they were almost empty, yet clearly recognizable, instantly came into view of the three from Xiaotaoyuan without any obstruction.
"Bao--Sister Bao'er?!!"
The three from Xiaotaoyuan cried out in unison, like three roosters whose necks had been grabbed at the same time!
The smiles, smugness, and flippancy on his face froze instantly, then shattered and melted away like ice crystals under the scorching sun, transforming into a complex expression that mixed extreme fear, disbelief, and conditioned reflexive flattery.
Guan Ling'er's voice changed, trembling with tears: "Sister Bao'er! Am I dreaming?! You've come too?! Are you... on a secret visit?"
Feng Baobao loosely crossed her arms, tilted her head, and seemed to think seriously for a moment before answering in her flat tone: "Me? I'll come and beat you up—"
She paused, as if suddenly remembering something, and asked in a flat tone, "By the way, speaking of which, who are you three? You look somewhat familiar."
"Oh my! My dear sister! You have such a bad memory!" Liu Fang quickly took a small step forward, almost pointing to himself, his face full of a fawning smile. "Me! Liu Fang! Last year, in Tianjin, by the Haihe River—"
"Guan Ling'er!" Guan Ling'er quickly gave her name.
"And me, Zhang Cai! Sister Bao'er!" Zhang Cai quickly added, afraid of being left out, "Have you forgotten? Last year, a few of us brothers caused a bit of a stir, we made a bit too much noise, and accidentally alerted the ordinary people in the neighborhood—"
Liu Fang picked up the thread, his tone filled with lingering fear and exaggerated flattery: "That was all because we were young and ignorant! We only realized later that the company had good intentions! In order for us lost sheep to grow up and get on the right path! You and Brother Xu went to great lengths, in the middle of the night, to do something for us naughty kids—what was it called again?"
Yes! "Education of Love"! Profound! So profound!
"At first we were defiant, thinking that with the three of us working together, who could we be afraid of?" Guan Ling'er shrank back, as if recalling some unbearable past, her voice lowering, "But later—they didn't even give us a chance to back down and admit our mistakes—"
Feng Baobao blinked, her long eyelashes fluttering, as if she had finally unearthed some vague impression from some corner of her memory: "Oh—it seems, I kind of remember."
She nodded and said in a factual tone, "I remember, Xu Si locked you all in a shipping container and then threw you out into the Haihe River. He said that according to the ocean currents and wind direction at the time, you might drift towards Japan."
Liu Fang slapped his thigh, his face contorted in a mournful expression, and exclaimed dramatically, "We barely escaped halfway here, risking our lives, and then we swam back! Sister Bao'er! We can't bear to leave our motherland, and we can't bear to part with your and Fourth Brother's earnest teachings!"
"Pfft—Hahahaha!"
In the stands, Feng Xingtong was the first to lose control. Pointing at the three clowns in the arena, he burst into exaggerated laughter, laughing so hard he almost rolled onto the ground.
"Hahaha! My God! Who found these three clowns to participate in the competition?! I'm dying of laughter! I'm crying!" Lu Linglong also covered her face, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably, her clear laughter unstoppable.
Zhang Chulan's face darkened. He helplessly rubbed his forehead and muttered to himself, "I actually worried about this guy—I really am a complete idiot!"
The referee, a disciple of Longhu Mountain, couldn't help but twitch his lips several times while trying to maintain a serious expression. He raised his voice and shouted, "Hey! Little Peach Garden! Are you still going to fight or not? This is a competition arena, not a place for you to catch up and chat!"
The other contestants waiting to go on stage were also getting impatient and started grumbling: "Exactly! Three grown men trembling in front of a little girl, how embarrassing!"
"Stop arguing! If you're not going to fight, just admit defeat and get out here! We're waiting to use the venue!"
"A waste of time!"
Upon hearing this, Guan Ling'er abruptly turned her head, glared at the one who was cheering the loudest, and shouted back at an even louder voice: "Hit me? Hit me? Hit me! This is my sister! How could I lay a hand on her! If you want to hit her so badly, come down here! Let's have a little practice!"
I'll beat you up!
After shouting, he turned to the referee and immediately put on an almost fawning smile, the speed of his change of expression astonishing. "Master Dao! Master Dao! We concede! We concede willingly, sincerely, and wholeheartedly! Bao'er won this match!"
The referee, expressionless, took a deep breath and announced loudly: "The winner of the 'Jiahualu' game is Feng Baobao!"
Liu Fang rubbed his hands together, following closely behind Feng Baobao who was turning to leave, and asked cautiously, "Sister Baobao, um—how is our fourth brother—is he alright? Is he in great health?"
Feng Baobao didn't turn her head, her steps never faltering: "Whether it's good or not, go see for yourself. He's here too, outside."
"Really!" The three girls from Xiaotaoyuan's eyes lit up immediately. They exchanged glances and said in unison, their tone carrying a strange mix of "closeness" and "nostalgia": "We miss Fourth Brother so much! We have to go and pay our respects to him later!"
On the other side of the field, Lu Lin quickly defeated her opponent with an almost overwhelming advantage.
He didn't even use much of his true "Ascension to Immortality" technique; relying solely on his solid foundation and exquisite fist and footwork, he knocked his formidable opponents out of the ring one after another, cleanly and decisively.
After the referee announced the result, he didn't have time to exchange pleasantries with the other winners and immediately rushed back to the stands where Lu Linglong was.
Seeing her cousin still standing there, chatting and laughing with a few people around her, seemingly with no intention of going on stage, Lu Lin's tense nerves finally relaxed a little.
Immediately afterward, the announcement of "Jiahualu Stadium, winner Feng Baobao" rang out, and his gaze was drawn to the figure of a girl in a loose-fitting NTT uniform who was calmly walking out of the stadium.
"Oh right, cousin, I haven't formally introduced you yet." Lu Linglong noticed the gaze directed at her by Lu Lin, pointed to the group of people walking over, and enthusiastically acted as the introducer, "The one who just won is Feng Baobao from our North China region, Sister Baochui."
This is Senior Brother Wang Ye from Wudang, a friend of Fourth Brother—?
She looked around, somewhat puzzled. "Where's Senior Brother Wang Ye? He was just here a moment ago."
Wang had quietly left the stands without saying goodbye to Ling Heren, and disappeared into the crowd.
However, there was no need for Lu Linglong to introduce Wang Ye in detail.
As a direct disciple of the Wudang sect leader, Lu Lin knew them by heart. Even if these core disciples of major sects didn't have deep personal relationships, they all knew each other's artistic names, appearances, and general cultivation paths to some extent.
"This is Feng Xingtong of the World Society, the young master of the Feng Society," Lu Linglong continued to introduce.
"Hello, hello, Senior Brother Lu Lin, it's been a long time since I've studied under you!" Feng Xingtong greeted him with a bright smile, cupping his hands in a respectful gesture.
Lu Lin nodded slightly to him, her attitude not particularly warm, but her manners were impeccable.
"As for this one—" Lu Linglong patted Zhang Chulan, who was trying hard to put on a standard "innocent and harmless" smile, her tone slightly mischievous, "That's right, he's the protagonist who's been causing such a stir in the world of supernatural beings lately," Zhang Chulan. Chulan, this is my cousin, Lu Lin.
"Hehehe, Brother Lu, hello! I've been honored to meet you, Brother Lu, with your great skills. Today I finally meet you, and you are indeed dignified and imposing. Your skills are truly well-deserved!"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, young master Zhang Chulan!" Zhang Chulan immediately stepped forward, beaming.
Lu Lin nodded as a greeting, and the external light lingered on Zhang Chulan for less than a second before moving away.
His attention was mostly focused on Feng Baobao, who had silently approached and was looking up at them.
"Linglong," Lu Lin spoke again, turning her gaze to Feng Baobao, "and who is this?"
"My colleague from the North China region, Feng Baobao," Lu Linglong repeated the introduction, her tone casual.
Lu Lin looked at Feng Baobao, her expression calm: "Hello."
Feng Baobao stopped and looked up at him. Her face was expressionless; she simply nodded and replied in her signature flat and even tone, "Oh, hello to you too."
After a brief exchange, neither of them spoke again. Lu Lin was reserved by nature and not good at small talk with unfamiliar people. Feng Baobao, on the other hand, had no intention of initiating a conversation at all. The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
"White Tiger, Green Snake—Relevant contestants, please proceed to your respective venues immediately! The venues for White Tiger and Green Snake are now open for contestants to prepare!"
The loud and clear calls from the disciples of Longhu Mountain broke the brief silence and drew everyone's attention.
"It's our turn!" Zhang Chulan immediately looked down to confirm that the note he was clutching tightly in his hand was indeed "Yi Baihu".
"The Green Serpent—it's me." Lu Linglong waved the note in her hand, the handwriting on it clear.
Lu Lin's brows furrowed again almost reflexively, and her heart, which had just settled, jumped again.
Looking at Lu Linglong's face, still tinged with excitement and eagerness, he couldn't help but admonish her again: "Linglong, I'll tell you one more time, arena battles are no ordinary games, not something you can just play around with. Those up there might use any underhanded tactics to win; swords have no eyes, and qi is hard to control. You've only just begun learning the art—"
"Don't worry, cousin," Lu Linglong interrupted him, her face still bearing a relaxed smile, but her eyes held a more serious and determined look than when they were chatting casually before. "I know what's important."
Lu Lin looked at her, her lips moved as if she wanted to say "beggar," but in the end it turned into a sigh that was almost impossible to hear.
He understood this woman's true nature. She seemed obedient and compliant, and could be fooled if she wanted to. But once she truly took something to heart and made up her mind, the stubbornness and tenacity inherent in the Lu family would be revealed, and no one could pull her back.
"The areas for the White Tiger and the Green Snake are adjacent," Feng Xingtong pointed to the clearly demarcated area not far away. "Let's go over there together, so we can look out for each other."
Soon, the group moved to a more open space.
The area was temporarily divided into four square arenas of similar size, separated from each other by a red line.
Two of the arenas already had wooden signs hanging beside them that read "Yi Baihu" and "Yi Qingshe," which shone brightly in the afternoon sun.
A few people were already scattered around the arena. Some were contestants waiting to go on stage, doing their final warm-up exercises or taking deep breaths; others were fellow students, relatives, friends, or simply spectators watching the excitement, chatting in hushed tones. The outside light occasionally swept across the empty arena, and the air was filled with an atmosphere that was a mixture of anticipation, tension, and eagerness to try.
Lu Linglong stood at the entrance of the "Yi Qing Snake" arena.
Her rivals in the three arts have also been removed from their positions.
Besides Hu Jie from Dongxiangzhuang, whose attire was somewhat flamboyant and whose eyes darted around, there was another person dressed fashionably...
A young woman with beautiful chestnut-brown wavy hair chewing gum, and a burly, muscular man with a sleeveless suit and arms crossed.
Almost simultaneously, the three people's gazes were focused on Lu Linglong, who was in the last spot in Ruichang. Seeing that she was the youngest, with a beautiful face, a clean temperament, and even a bit of an innocent "student air," their eyes involuntarily revealed a hint of indifference and relaxation.
Especially the burly man in the formal suit, whose lips even curled into a knowing smile.
He recognized Hu Jie; the two had a brief encounter not long ago, during which Hu Jie was almost completely overwhelmed and unable to fight back.
As for the chestnut-haired woman, she didn't seem like a tough nut to crack.
In his view, the key to this competition was to guard against the other two temporarily taking action against him, the "strongest one".
As for the seemingly most "harmless" little girl, she will most likely be the first to be eliminated.
Lu Lin stood in the spectator area adjacent to the "Azure Serpent" arena, leaning slightly forward. The external light, like that of a hawk, locked onto the blind spots in the arena, and she subconsciously softened her breathing. She was prepared to intervene immediately if anything went wrong.
After giving Zhang Chulan a "good luck" gesture, Feng Xingtong nimbly squeezed next to Lu Lin. Wen Xu was also very interested in the competition involving Lu Linglong.
Feng Baobao stood quietly a little further away, the outside light calmly sweeping across the two adjacent areas, seemingly paying attention to the dynamics on both sides at the same time.
"All contestants from the Yi Baihu and Yi Qingshe arenas, Ruichang!" the referee urged loudly again.
Lu Linglong took a deep breath, temporarily blocking out all the noise from the Leaf Realm, and stepped steadily into the area marked in the center of the "Yi Qing Snake" arena.
The afternoon sun shone down on her without any obstruction, making the fine downy hairs on her fair cheeks clearly visible, and Xメ's eyelashes cast faint shadows under her eyelids.
She stood there, tall and straight, but because of her age and appearance, she still looked like a blind girl from next door who had mistakenly entered the arena, completely out of place with the tense atmosphere of the competition around her.
Hu Jie grinned, a strange smile tinged with an inexplicable air of excitement. He clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking crisply.
The stylish chestnut-haired woman raised an eyebrow and slowly pulled out a pair of gleaming steel knuckle dusters from the pocket of her tight pants. She carefully put them on one finger at a time, her movements unhurried.
The burly man in the suit merely adjusted his stance slightly, his feet neither too far to the sides, his muscular physique becoming even more defined, like a tiger poised to pounce.
The referee's sharp gaze swept over the four people in the arena before he confirmed, "The rules are final. The one who loses consciousness or voluntarily surrenders loses. Intentional injury or death is strictly prohibited and will be severely punished. The one remaining standing advances to the next round. The competition begins!"
"Hehe, just right, two men and two women, a pretty even number." The burly man in the suit spoke first, his voice booming with a confident air of dominance. "How about we split into groups first? Men against men, women against women, each group decides its own winner, and then we can have a final showdown? That way, no one will say we're bullying the women."
"Good idea," the chestnut-haired woman said, twirling her wrist with brass knuckles, making a slight metallic scraping sound. Her tone was playful and teasing. "Sounds fair and gentlemanly."
This suggestion was advantageous to her, as she could deal with Lu Linglong, who seemed the "weakest," first, and conserve her energy to deal with the potentially stronger man in the suit.
The two instantly reached a tacit understanding.
The chestnut-haired woman shone the sunlight on Lu Linglong, a cold smile curving her lips: "Little blind girl, seeing how delicate your skin is, I don't want to hurt you. It's not too late to admit defeat and leave now, is it? When things get serious later, my brass knuckles won't be so easily damaged."
Her aura, carrying a palpable sense of oppression, surged toward Lu Linglong. Wen Xu was a skilled fighter with extensive practical experience.
Lu Linglong could sense that her opponent's lower body was extremely stable, and his Qi was condensed, leaning towards the path of hard martial arts training. He would definitely be fierce in close combat.
Lu Linglong did not answer, but her eyes calmed down. She stood with her feet slightly apart, her center of gravity slightly lowered, and she raised her hands from her sides, one in front and one behind, assuming a seemingly simple but profound defensive stance.
She neither recklessly attacked nor panicked and retreated, but simply stood firmly in place, as if rooted to the earth.
"Oh no," Feng Xingtong whispered to Lu Lin from the spectator area, "It's Hu Jie from Dongxiangzhuang, and that woman too—"
Judging from her demeanor, she seems to be from the "Seeking Truth Society." Those families within the Seeking Truth Society—the Yanwu Hall, the Self-Accumulating Beggars' Sect—are most skilled in close-quarters combat and external martial arts. Linglong Yanzi doesn't seem to follow the forceful approach; now I'm at a loss.
The Seeking Truth Society is an alliance of officials formed by merging four small but distinctive schools: Yanwu Hall, Zixumen, Yiqilu, and Huangmen Sancai. Its disciples are known for their solid foundation in external martial arts and their fierce close-combat skills.
As for Dongxiangzhuang, it can be considered a small-scale clan of extraordinary people. Hu Jie's father, Hu Lin, is quite famous locally, but its overall strength is far from comparable to the Qiuzhen Society.
However, what happened next in the "Green Serpent" arena almost made Feng Xingtong's jaw drop, and also made Lu Lin's pupils suddenly contract!
In the arena, Hu Jie, who was supposed to be fighting the burly man in tight-fitting clothes, suddenly had an extremely strange look in his eyes after the referee announced the start of the match, filled with mania and greed.
He completely disregarded the so-called "group" tacit understanding and instead launched an attack without warning!
The outer label indicates that He Xu is the chestnut-haired woman closest to him!
"Bang!"
A muffled thud!
Hu Jie was incredibly fast, his figure flashing like a ghost to the side of the chestnut-haired woman, and he punched her hard in the ribs!
Caught off guard, the chestnut-haired woman only had time to slightly turn her body. Her brass knuckles failed to keep up with the blocking action. She was hit as if by a speeding truck, letting out a miserable groan, spitting out blood, and her body flew out of control, crashing heavily into the reinforced stone wall at the edge of the arena. She slowly slid down, already unconscious.
The change happened so fast that the burly man in the dress didn't even have time to react.
Hu Jie struck successfully and, without pausing, stomped his foot so hard that the ground cracked, and he charged towards the last remaining burly man in a straw hat like a cannonball!
"Hu Jie! Are you crazy?!" The burly man in the dress was both shocked and furious, and hastily raised his arms to block.
The power and speed that Hu Jie is displaying now are completely different from when he fought Ye Qian!
Those eyes were bloodshot, revealing a kind of inhuman madness.
"Snap!"
A sickening cracking sound rang out!
The burly man in the suit, whose arms were said to be as strong as steel, was deformed by Hu Jie's heavy punch!
The excruciating pain caused him to let out a roar of agony.
Hu Jie pressed his advantage, his other hand flashing out like an iron clamp, grabbing the big man's throat and lifting his burly body off the ground!
"Ugh—hoh—" The burly man in the dress turned red in the face, his eyes bulged out, and he struggled in vain with his limbs, but could not break free from the iron-like fingers.
"Hehehe—what a pity—" Hu Jie leaned closer to the burly man's face, contorted with suffocation, his voice hoarse, carrying a chilling excitement, "The rules don't allow killing—if only I could just turn you into my food directly—"
Almost in the blink of an eye, the two artists, who were considered quite strong by Feng Xingtong and should have been Lu Linglong and Xi Ya's opponents, were defeated one after another by the seemingly crazed Hu Jie with overwhelming force and were eliminated!
In the room, only Hu Jie and Lu Linglong, who had been standing still the whole time and seemed "terrified" and did not make any move, were left.
"Linglong! Surrender! Surrender immediately!" Lu Lin could no longer hold back and shouted sharply.
He could clearly see that Hu Jie's current state was extremely abnormal. His Qi was violent and chaotic, his eyes were crazed, and his attacks were ruthless and merciless. He had lost his rationality and was definitely not in a normal state for a competition!
It's too dangerous to let Linglong face such an opponent!
"Why did you admit defeat?" Feng Baobao, who was standing to the side, suddenly turned around and asked in her flat tone, with a hint of doubt on her face.
Lu Lin frowned, about to explain Hu Jie's unusual behavior.
Before he could speak, Feng Baobao turned back to look at the arena and added in a calm but firm tone, "Lu Linglong is going to win."
As if to prove her words—
In the arena, Hu Jie, who had just choked the burly man in the dress unconscious and tossed him onto the field like a tattered sack, slowly turned around, his bloodshot eyes fixed on Lu Linglong, who stood alone in the center of the field.
He grinned, revealing a twisted and greedy smile, and made a strange hoarse sound from his throat as he approached step by step.
"Little girl—it's been so long since I've had you—your...wake up—you smell so good—"
He suddenly accelerated, creating a foul gust of wind, and charged straight at Lu Linglong like a mad bull. His right fist was clenched, gathering violent and chaotic Qi, and he slammed it straight at Lu Linglong's face!
If that punch lands, the consequences will be unimaginable!
However, Lu Linglong made a move.
Just as Hu Jie's fist was about to strike, she nimbly slid half a step to the side and back, her movements simple and fluid, like a willow swaying in the wind, perfectly avoiding the sharpness of that fierce blow.
Hu Jie's fist grazed her hair, and the resulting gust of wind made the stray hairs on her forehead flutter backward.
At the same time, Lu Linglong's right hand, which had been loosely clenched, had quietly tightened its grip without her noticing.
She didn't choose any fancy moves, nor did she activate any magic spells.
The moment Hu Jie's full-force strike missed and his center gate opened slightly, her seemingly slender right fist, like a fully drawn bowstring, suddenly released, spinning out from her waist with a short, muffled whistling sound!
This punch was timed perfectly, precisely at the moment when Hu Jie's old strength was exhausted, his new strength had not yet been generated, and his defense was at its weakest!
"Bang""
A heavy, muffled thud, like the beating of a drum!
Lu Linglong's fist landed squarely on Hu Jie's unsuspecting abdomen!
Time seemed to freeze for a moment.
Until Lu Linglong exerted her strength.
A single mat opens up the sky!
Hu Jie's frantic expression suddenly froze, his eyes bulged out, and his eyeballs instantly filled with terrifying blood vessels!
He opened his mouth wide, but could not utter a sound; only a strange "ho" sound was squeezed out from deep in his throat.
The immense impact caused Qiang Cheng's body to fold up like a shrimp, with his feet even leaving the ground.
"No—it's impossible—" he managed to squeeze out the words through clenched teeth, his face filled with disbelief, horror, and pain.
The next moment, as if all his strength had been drained, he fell straight backward and crashed heavily onto the hard ground with a "thud." His body curled up, and he groaned in pain. He struggled a few times, but he could no longer stand up on his own.
The entire room was completely silent.
The onlookers stared in disbelief at the scene. Hu Jie, who had been so fierce and domineering just moments before, instantly eliminating two skilled fighters, was now utterly and cleanly knocked down by a single punch from that seemingly harmless little girl, whom many had overlooked. He was completely incapacitated.
After a brief silence, low gasps and whispers spread like a tide across the stands.
"The winner of the Yiqing Snake Arena is Lu Linglong!" The referee, having regained his senses, announced the result loudly, his gaze towards Lu Linglong carrying a hint of surprise.
Lu Linglong slowly withdrew her fist, gently exhaled, and showed little joy of victory on her face. Instead, she frowned slightly and glanced at Hu Jie, who was writhing in pain on the ground.
She could sense an unusually chaotic and malevolent force emanating from Hu Jie's body.
She could have pulled it out directly, but fearing it would affect the other party's inheritance, she didn't interfere.
Lu Linglong turned around and walked towards the sidelines.
The sunlight fell on her calm face again, making it seem as if the earth-shattering punch from before was just an illusion.
Lu Lin, who was in the spectator area, finally loosened her clenched fist, and her palms were already covered with a thin layer of sweat.
He watched the blind man approaching him, his eyes filled with a mixture of shock, fear, and doubt.
"Linglong, which sect do you belong to?" Lu Lin asked.
Lu Linglong relayed the words she had used to deceive Wang Ye verbatim. Clearly, Lu Lin didn't believe her either. However, given the current situation, he couldn't ask further questions and planned to wait until he took Lu Linglong to see Lu Jin.
Feng Xingtong rubbed her eyes hard, seemingly unable to believe what she was seeing, and murmured, "I—was I seeing things? Linglong Gaozi—one punch—my god!"
"Hehe, actually I'm pretty strong!" Lu Linglong said.
Feng Baobao remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly, as if the lightning-fast, unexpected outcome of the match was entirely within her expectations.
Her external light had already calmly shifted back to the adjacent "Yi Baihu" arena, where Zhang Chulan's "performance" had just begun.
"All contestants in the White Tiger Arena, please return to the arena immediately! This is a final ultimatum!" The Longhu Mountain disciple responsible for maintaining order on the sidelines raised his voice, his tone clearly showing his impatience.
"Hmph! That Zhang Chulan, he's putting on such a big act, yet he hasn't shown up yet! Could it be that he's deserting at the last minute, too cowardly to come?" In the center of the arena, a burly man with a bare upper body and a bulging, iron-tower-like build crossed his arms and snorted impatiently.
"How could that be!" A young man standing nearby—Xiao Huohuo—dressed in stylish sportswear, with brightly dyed hair, and a somewhat handsome face that somehow evoked a sense of volatile temper, immediately retorted, "That's the legendary heir to the Qi Source Stream! Zhang Chulan! How could he be afraid to come with such a powerful figure?"
"Speaking of which," another man, dressed in a plain shirt with a rather incongruous white scarf wrapped around his neck, and possessing a slightly refined air, pushed up his glasses, his gaze behind the lenses thoughtful, "Does anyone know what kind of cultivation technique this Body Source Flow is? Why has it caused such a stir in the world of supernatural beings, drawing so much discussion?"
"I don't know," the burly man said in a deep voice, "but there is one thing that the three of us have reached a consensus on, right?"
""
"Self-restraint," the elegant man in the scarf smiled slightly, but his smile lacked warmth. "The three of us will fight, and Zhang Chulan will be eliminated first! As for what happens next, that's up to each of us."
"They're here!" Xiao Huohuo suddenly exclaimed in a low voice, pointing to the entrance of the arena.
As the light dimmed at the entrance, a figure wearing a worn-out black hooded cloak with tattered edges slowly strolled in.
The figure kept its head down, its cloak pulled low, and its steps were unhurried, giving it a mysterious air.
"Pfft—" Lu Linglong, who had just returned to the spectator area from next door, happened to catch this scene and couldn't help but laugh. "That Chu Lan guy—is he playing a trick?"
In the arena, the cloaked figure walked to the center and finally stopped.
Under the watchful eyes of the three men, some wary, some eager, and some disdainful, he slowly raised his hands and, with an extremely dramatic movement, suddenly flung open his hood!
Zhang Chulan's face, which had a somewhat delicate appearance but was now deliberately made serious and profound, was exposed to the sunlight and the gaze of everyone.
He looked up sharply, his eyes gleaming as he gazed at the sky. He clenched his right fist and pounded it heavily against his left chest. With a voice filled with passion and desolation, he shouted loudly, "Thirty years in the East! Thirty years in the West!"
He abruptly lowered his head, the external light piercing through the void, gazing in a direction that didn't exist. His voice suddenly rose, filled with grief and indignation: "Grandpa—!"
"Back then, the extraordinary men of the world wronged you! Today! Your grandson has come to settle scores with them!!!"
He practically roared out the last three words, his voice echoing throughout the arena. His cloak moved without wind, though he was actually subtly agitating it with his own Qi. Combined with his solemn expression, he truly embodied the image of a noble orphan returning from a blood feud, burdened with deep-seated hatred and a blood feud.
A low commotion and whispers arose from the crowd watching on the sidelines.
"As expected of the successor of the Qi Body Source Stream!" The elegant man in the scarf nodded slightly, the external light behind the mirror shimmering, his tone probing, "This aura—it's truly extraordinary!"
"What does 'Gai Yao' mean?" The burly man scratched his head, looking completely bewildered. "Gai Yao, the extraordinary man of the world, has a grandfather? Who's his grandfather?"
"I don't know," Xiao Huohuo stroked his chin, "but it sounds like—a really powerful old grudge from the Beggar King!"
In the arena, the burly man shook his head, banishing the incomprehensible lines from his mind. He stepped forward, pointed at Zhang Chulan, and boomed, "Zhang Chulan! Enough with the nonsense! The entire world of supernatural beings is buzzing about your family's Qi Source Flow! The three of us have been wanting to see it for ourselves today! Don't blame us for ganging up on you! Blame yourself for being too arrogant right now!"
Zhang Chulan slowly turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the three of them with disdain, a wicked and arrogant smile curving his lips.
"Are you bullying me?"
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
He burst into laughter, his laughter unrestrained and exuberant, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.
Xiao Huohuo felt a chill run down her spine from his laughter, but managed to force herself to shout, "What...what's so funny about a beggar!"
Zhang Chulan's laughter abruptly stopped, his gaze suddenly sharpening into a cold, piercing light. He scanned the three as if they were insects, each word uttered with utter contempt: "Those ants who intend to win by numbers—do they even deserve to make me use my Qi Source Flow?"
"Beggars?!" The burly man roared in fury, his jaw tightening instantly. "You dare call us ants?!"
"That's right! You are nothing but ants!" Zhang Chulan stood with his hands behind his back, chin slightly raised, his tone resolute, filled with arrogance and pity. "A bunch of pathetic worms who know they will never reach the realm of the strong! So they can only huddle together like cowards, relying on their weak and laughable strength to barely survive in this world, hoping to catch a glimpse of the true strong!"
He suddenly spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire sky, his voice rising to its peak, carrying an air of arrogance and haughtiness that resounded throughout the arena: "I never expected! My first battle, Zhang Chulan's, would be against trash like you! It's truly—disgusting!"
He abruptly withdrew his arm, pointing his halberd at the three men. A beam of light pierced through them, gazing into the distant void: "One worthy of my personal annihilation, Zhang Chulan."
"It should be the Wind Chasing Society of the Heavenly Alliance!"
"It must be those high and mighty Ten Elders!"
"It should be all the top experts in the world!"
Finally, he took a deep breath, mustered all his strength, and roared out the long-awaited, earth-shattering line: "I, Zhang Chulan, will take them down!"
"It's this heaven!!!"
The sound waves rolled and echoed faintly in the valleys of Longhu Mountain.
The entire place was deathly silent.
The burly man, Xiao Huohuo, and the refined man in the scarf stood there dumbfounded, seemingly stunned by this sudden...
The idiom, brimming with explosive, adolescent angst, left him stunned.
The audience in the surrounding stands were mostly stunned, and it took them a while to react.
Lu Linglong, who was in the spectator area next door, was already doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach, and tears were almost streaming down her face.
Feng Xingtong tried her best to suppress her laughter, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Only Lu Lin frowned even more deeply, looking at Zhang Chulan, who seemed completely absorbed in his own world, with a complex expression in her eyes, and whispered, "What is this guy doing?"
In the arena, Zhang Chulan maintained his "pointing at the heavens" pose, inwardly groaning: Damn it, wasn't that a bit too much? The atmosphere should be enough, right? Next—
I found this point very interesting, so I wrote it down. Please be gentle with your criticism.
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