Myriad Expectations
Dongfang Changao naturally recognized Yue Qianchou and turned to look up at the sect leader upstairs. Feng Xiangtian shouted down, "Yue Qianchou, don't you know where you are? Is this a place you can just wander around in? This time, I'll forgive you for what you did because you were unaware of the situation. But if you dare to do it again, I won't let you off easily!" Yue Qianchou bowed repeatedly in thanks.
"Chang Ao, continue!"
Dongfang Changao nodded, turned around and gave Yue Qianchou a deep look. His eyes swept around the surroundings, and he said in a deep voice, "Yue Qianchou of the Alchemy Pavilion has drawn a white lot and will advance to the next round of the lottery competition unconditionally. Disciples who drew lots number one to ten, please stay and compete. Other disciples, please disperse for now."
Upon hearing this, Yue Qianchou breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, and jogged back to the crowd at the Alchemy Pavilion.
Seeing him like this made many people burst into laughter! Gu Qingyun, standing in the crowd at the Cultivation Pavilion, shook his head helplessly, neither laughing nor crying. Xiao Wanqing, mingling in the crowd at Myriad Fragrance Garden, slumped weakly onto Kou Xuehua's shoulder, giggling incessantly. The other girls also smiled, unable to contain themselves. It was a pity that Furong didn't like overly lively places and didn't come this time; otherwise, who knows what she would think if she saw him.
"You... sigh! I really don't know what to say to you." Yang Qian looked at Yue Qianchou smile. Yue Qianchou cupped his hands to the disciples of the Alchemy Pavilion and said, "I really didn't mean to. I'm so sorry for making a fool of myself." The crowd gave him a knowing smile.
After the onlookers laughed, they were greatly disappointed. They had come here today mainly to confront Yue Qianchou, but who knew that he would encounter such a one in a thousand chance? Who could they complain to about this?
The plaza was large enough to be divided into ten sections, each overseen by one of the ten elders, and a competition between ten pairs of disciples began. The earlier joke was temporarily set aside, and everyone's attention was focused on the competition.
Swords transformed into streaks of light, crisscrossing everywhere. Figures flashed and shouted, and for a moment the entire square resounded with the sounds of metal clashing and striking each other.
After the competition, most of the ten losing disciples were injured, some even seriously wounded and carried away. Those close to Yue Qianchou couldn't help but worry about him. This competition allowed for death and injury, the purpose of which was naturally to bring out the best in each participant. Judging from the competition just now, many people had held back, perhaps because they were disciples of the same lineage and couldn't kill him, otherwise they would have trouble explaining themselves back home. But for Yue Qianchou, things probably wouldn't be so good.
Most of the disciples who signed up for the competition were at the late Core Formation stage, and were also elites among the disciples of the same level in the Cultivation Pavilion. Imagine if they were significantly inferior in cultivation, they would already be at a great disadvantage. Although they were all at the Core Formation stage, Yue Qianchou's cultivation was two levels lower than theirs. If the opponents did not show any mercy, Yue Qianchou's situation would be unimaginable.
Yue Qianchou also noticed that in the competition, those with similar cultivation levels fought more fiercely, each wanting to win and often aiming to kill the other. As a result, once a winner was decided, one side was either killed or severely injured. Unlike those with large differences in cultivation levels, the higher-level cultivator could easily win and naturally control the force of their attacks. If the competition continued in this manner, several people would inevitably die.
Sure enough, in the second match, one disciple had his head sliced off by his opponent. The smell of blood seemed to spur the disciples into a frenzy, and the fighting became increasingly intense, with both sides often going for the kill.
Yang Qian glanced at Yue Qianchou with concern, only to see that Yue Qianchou's eyes were slightly narrowed, and he didn't know what Yue Qianchou was thinking.
With a dead body on the field, Feng Xiangtian, standing in the Cultivation Pavilion, frowned and called Guan Wei Wu over, saying, "Weiwu, although you forcibly raised Yue Qianchou's cultivation to the Core Formation stage using pills, he's still somewhat behind the other disciples. His talent in alchemy is truly rare, and if anything unexpected happens, it will be a great loss to Fu Xian Island. What I mean is, why don't you let him reconsider? If it really doesn't work out... let him concede on the field! Didn't he draw a blank lot this round? Or it's not too late to have him withdraw from the competition now."
The elders standing nearby thought about it and agreed with the sect leader. While Yue Qianchou 'Yue Qianchou alchemy was a secret to others, most of them upstairs had witnessed it firsthand. His talent was undeniable; if something went wrong, it would be a great loss to Fu Xian Island. They all nodded in agreement with the sect leader's opinion. Guan Wei Wu, however, was taken aback and said, "Senior brother, wouldn't that be a huge disgrace to our Alchemy Pavilion?"
"Sect Leader, I think there's no need for that." Fei Denan walked over, frowning. "What's the use of refining pills so well? If he runs away in the face of a competition among fellow disciples, he'll never be able to hold his head up high on Fu Xian Island for the rest of his life. Unless he leaves Fu Xian Island." In Fei Denan's mind, he didn't want his daughter to be with a good-for-nothing.
"Yes! Yes!" Guan Wei Wu echoed. Feng Xiangtian nodded slightly, his attention returning to the competition arena. The elders also fell silent.
Nearly a thousand people fought nearly fifty matches, and a whole day passed just like that. As a result, most of the losers were injured, and more than ten disciples even lost their lives. Yue Qianchou sat cross-legged on the ground and watched the entire competition from beginning to end without saying a word. Whenever he saw someone ruthlessly killing their opponent, his eyes would unconsciously narrow, and he would firmly remember the person's face.
There were no matches that night, as all the competitions were held during the day. After the event, the disciples from each branch quickly rushed back, making sure to finish any tasks that night, as Yue Qianchou couldn't escape tomorrow's matches. Since the 493 disciples who won today, plus Yue Qianchou who had already advanced, would make an even number, resulting in 247 matches, there wouldn't be any odd-numbered draws tomorrow. Tomorrow was truly a day everyone was looking forward to!
The next day, the crowd remained as large as ever, with all eyes still fixed on Yue Qianchou was drawing lots. Yue Qianchou picked up a lot, glanced at it, and then clutched it tightly in his palm, a smile playing on his lips. He was lucky; it was a round number, 200. He just didn't know who his opponent would be.
Back in the Alchemy Pavilion, Yang Qian asked knowingly, "Did you finish drawing the pills?" Yue Qianchou nodded. Seeing the worry in his eyes, he couldn't help but smile slightly. Was there really anything to worry about? When he was cultivating in Utopia, he often dragged those three late-stage Nascent Soul Company Commander over for sparring. That wasn't child's play; it was real combat. Why would he be afraid of these late Core Formation stage disciples?
Yue Qianchou watched the competition calmly. When he discovered that the disciple who had already killed someone yesterday had once again ruthlessly killed an opponent, Yue Qianchou's eyes narrowed into slits, and a cold glint flashed within them.
The onlookers watched match after match, but Yue Qianchou still hadn't appeared, and they were all getting impatient, wondering what number he had drawn. When Dongfang Changao announced the start of the twentieth match of the day, Yue Qianchou suddenly stood up and slowly walked towards the center of the arena. Yang Qian, standing beside him, let out a soft "Ah," and instantly, like a stone thrown into still water, all heads turned and turned, their eyes fixed on the figure slowly walking towards the center...
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