On the high platform atop Zhongtian Peak.
The Saint Sect’s Grandmaster sat at the upper seat, softly inquiring, “Disciple Wuya, do we have a chance this time?”
“Fear not, Senior Brother, I arranged for them to stay at Nameless Peak last night,” said Elder Wuya, the Supreme Elder, a faint smile appearing on his face.
“Hmm…” Hearing this, the Sect Leader nodded in satisfaction, “Then I shall personally welcome them, to show our respect for the Jiuxiao Sect.”
…
Elder Wuya followed closely beside his senior brother. For this Strongest Prodigy Battle, the Saint Sect must win. Although the sect’s current generation of prodigies wasn’t as strong as the previous one, victory wasn’t solely determined by strength. Sometimes, strategy was needed too.
By placing the Jiuxiao Sect at Nameless Peak, wouldn’t that young Lin Fan give them a warm reception?
“Brother Yi Chu, did you rest well last night?” The Sect Leader approached personally, and naturally, Liang Yichu treated him with great respect.
“Thank you for the Sect Leader’s concern, everything was fine last night,” Liang Yichu replied, though he was slightly puzzled by some disciples’ listless condition, unsure what had happened.
But it didn’t matter much. As long as his personal disciples were fine and could win first place in the Prodigy Contest, everything was acceptable.
…
Lin Fan stood among the prodigy disciples, waiting for the commencement of the Strongest Prodigy Battle. This competition was of great importance to both sects. Though initially a tradition established by ancestors of the two sects, it had now become a contest between the disciples of the two sects.
“Dong…”
At that moment, a drum sounded, and Elder Wuya stood high on the platform, announcing, “The 1000th Strongest Prodigy Battle officially begins. The rules are as follows: ten disciples from the Saint Sect and ten from the Jiuxiao Sect will draw lots. The first from the Saint Sect will fight the first from the Jiuxiao Sect. Friendship comes first, competition second. No killing is allowed. The final victor will be recognized as the strongest prodigy by both sects. Now, let the lot-drawing begin.”
“Senior, let’s go draw the lots,” Zong Hentian stood up and said.
“Alright.”
In the center of the arena stood two sealed boxes. Disciples from both sects stepped forward to draw their numbers.
At the moment Lin Fan stepped onto the stage, he waved toward the Saint Sect disciples.
“Senior will surely win…”
“Senior will surely win…”
At that moment, Zhang Erdog took the lead, standing on the viewing platform, waving a flag and shouting. Ever since yesterday, Zhang Erdog had followed the Sect Leader’s orders to make a large banner.
Especially since this was the Saint Sect’s home ground, they must overwhelm the opponent in terms of morale, making them feel fear.
As Zhang Erdog led the way, the outer sect disciples who admired Lin Fan began cheering one after another. Across Zhongtian Peak, the sound of cheering for Lin Fan spread.
In the hearts of these outer sect disciples, Lin Fan was their most admired figure. Naturally, they all wished for their sect to win this Strongest Prodigy Battle.
On the high platform, the Sect Leader’s face showed a faint smile, clearly pleased with the scene.
“Brother Yi, do you see how energetic the Saint Sect disciples are?” Elder Wuya, the Supreme Elder, smiled and asked.
Liang Yichu glanced at Wuya but said nothing, “They’re okay.”
Of course, Liang Yichu wouldn’t admit it, but he made a mental note of this scene. When the next Strongest Prodigy Battle was held at Jiuxiao Sect’s territory, he would definitely show them the enthusiasm of Jiuxiao’s disciples.
The Jiuxiao Sect disciples standing at the lot-drawing stage listened to the continuous cheers, their hearts slightly stirred.
It was truly shocking.
From deep within, they began to feel nervous.
The disciples from both sects started drawing their numbers and then lined up in rows. A regular elder stepped forward to record the numbers.
“Senior, what number did you get?” Zong Hentian looked at his own number and asked.
“Number ten,” Lin Fan replied after glancing at his number.
“I wonder what number that Xinfeng from Jiuxiao drew,” Zong Hentian said slightly nervously.
Once the elder had recorded all the numbers, Lin Fan glanced and saw that Xinfeng had drawn number one. It seemed he wouldn’t be facing him directly.
“The competition begins.”
“Jiuxiao Sect’s number one, Xinfeng, versus Saint Sect’s number one, Qiu Tianran.”
On the Saint Sect’s side.
“Brother, good luck,” Zong Hentian patted Qiu Tianran’s shoulder and said.
“Alright,” Qiu Tianran nodded, took a deep breath, and then leapt onto the stage.
On Jiuxiao Sect’s side, things were much quieter. Xinfeng stepped onto the stage expressionlessly. His only opponent was Lin Fan; as for others, he didn’t even consider them worth his attention.
The disciples on the viewing platform cheered for their sect’s seniors.
“I don’t want to hurt you. Surrender now,” Xinfeng stood on the stage, saying indifferently.
“Senior Xinfeng, I know I’m no match for you, but to retreat without fighting is impossible,” Qiu Tianran replied.
Xinfeng snorted coldly, saying nothing more.
“Begin the match…”
At the regular elder’s command, the first match officially started.
“Senior, I’ll have to offend you,” At that moment, Qiu Tianran’s aura surged. A long halberd appeared from the void, gripped tightly in his hand.
The disciples in the audience seats gasped in astonishment at the sight before them.
“Tianran is indeed quite impressive,” Elder Wuya observed the scene below and nodded approvingly.
“But not enough,” Liang Yichu smiled.
Although this Saint Sect disciple was strong, compared to his own disciple, the gap was still too great.
“Hmph,” Elder Wuya snorted, thinking this old fellow was still trying to act superior.
“Nine Dragon Annihilation!”
At that moment, Qiu Tianran roared, golden light bursting from his body. Nine golden dragons shot forth, coiling around the halberd, tearing through layers of虚空, rushing toward Xinfeng.
Standing still with his hands behind his back, Xinfeng remained calm. He slightly raised his hand and extended one finger.
“Break.”
In an instant, space seemed to freeze.
When Qiu Tianran’s halberd touched Xinfeng’s finger, it abruptly halted, then seemed to suffer an unbearable force, gradually disintegrating.
The nine golden dragons coiled around the halberd let out a mournful cry before vanishing into nothingness.
A black light flashed.
Qiu Tianran felt as if his heart had stopped beating. When he regained his senses, he found a finger pressed against his forehead.
At that moment, a chill ran through Qiu Tianran’s heart, surrounded by the aura of death.
“You have lost,” Xinfeng withdrew his finger, turning his back to say.
Qiu Tianran stood there silently, finally lowering his head and bowing, “Thank you, Senior, for sparing my life.”
The Saint Sect disciples on the audience seats were stunned into silence. They hadn’t expected the first match to end in defeat.
In an instant—truly, in an instant—there wasn’t even time to react.
In contrast, the Jiuxiao Sect side erupted in cheers. Those cheers were like a heavy hammer, mercilessly shattering the Saint Sect disciples’ excited hearts into pieces.
“Brother Wuya, what do you think? One finger breaking ten thousand techniques—the ultimate realm of sword cultivation,” Liang Yichu smiled and said.
“Hmph…” Elder Wuya turned his head away, unwilling to answer, and shot the other a disdainful glance.
“First match, Jiuxiao Sect’s Xinfeng wins.”
“Second match, Jiuxiao Sect’s number two, Feng Xiaoling, versus Saint Sect’s number two, Zong Hentian.”
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