"Whoosh—"
As the Tongtian Peak elder on the arena announced the next matchups, the Qingyun Disciples throughout the plaza immediately erupted into commotion.
Countless Qingyun Disciples began discussing among themselves.
One after another, they gathered around the arena, hoping to find the best possible spot to watch.
At the same time,
all manner of noisy voices rang out.
"They're here!"
"The real show is finally starting!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
"I heard Junior Brother Wang Quan of Grand Bamboo Peak is also at the Ninth Layer of Jade Purity. I wonder who is stronger, him or Senior Brother Qi Hao?"
"Is there even a need to ask?"
"Senior Brother Qi Hao reached the Peak of Ninth Layer of Jade Purity Realm decades ago... What does Junior Brother Wang Quan have to compare with him?!"
All sorts of discussions rose from the crowd.
Many Qingyun Disciples eagerly debated the matter.
Some admired Qi Hao, while others believed Wang Quan Yan had a better chance of winning, but...
Compared to Wang Quan Yan,
Qi Hao clearly had more supporters!
After all,
Qi Hao's age was right there.
A venerable old man nearing a hundred deserved a little preferential treatment, after all...
At this moment,
everyone's attention had been drawn over.
The aloof maiden had just stepped down from the arena when she heard the discussions around her.
For a moment,
she frowned in displeasure.
To be honest, she did not know why she felt displeased.
Was it because she had heard them talking about Wang Quan Yan?
Lu Xueqi did not know.
She chose to follow her heart.
Since she was unhappy,
then so be it.
"Whoosh!"
The aloof maiden lowered her gaze slightly.
She looked at Wang Quan Yan in the distance, an indescribable emotion flickering in her eyes. So...
Would he win?
On the High Platform,
the Peak Masters also turned their gazes over.
A trace of surprise showed in their eyes. Clearly, none of them had expected Qi Hao and Wang Quan Yan to meet in the round of sixteen-to-eight?
What a coincidence!
Tian Buyi's gaze flickered slightly.
He glanced at Cangsong in the distance, though no one knew what he was thinking...
According to the usual rules,
disciples with high cultivation would not meet so early.
At the very least, they would only face one another in the eight-to-four matches. Yet now, Wang Quan Yan and Qi Hao, two favorites to win the championship, had encountered each other in the sixteen-to-eight round...
It was hard to imagine there was no inside manipulation involved?!
Tian Buyi opened his mouth.
In the end, however, he said nothing.
Because even he could no longer understand Cangsong's attitude.
If one said Cangsong treated Wang Quan Yan poorly, he had given him the Dragon Slayer Sword. But if one said he treated Wang Quan Yan well...
Then why had he rigged things so Qi Hao and Wang Quan Yan would meet so early?!
What exactly was Cangsong thinking?
Tian Buyi frowned and remained silent.
At this moment,
Cangsong slowly opened his eyes.
That was right. He had indeed secretly rigged things to make Qi Hao and Wang Quan Yan meet early. He already wanted to put an end to this farce ahead of schedule...
No matter what,
this farce was Qi Hao's fault.
Since he had done wrong,
then he should accept the punishment himself!
Cangsong stared coldly at Qi Hao in the distance.
He had already made up his mind. Whether Qi Hao was beaten to death or crippled in a moment!
He would not interfere!
After all—
Wang Quan Yan was Senior Brother Wan's inheritor!
Daoist Cangsong's heart stirred slightly.
In his view,
Wang Quan Yan was simply too similar to Senior Brother Wan.
He had inherited Ghost Slaying God, become the master of the Dragon Slayer Sword, and even had his fiancée stolen from him. Was he not a replica of Senior Brother Wan?
Senior Brother Wan had also been peerlessly brilliant in those days. He mastered Ghost Slaying God, wielded the Dragon Slayer Sword, and in the end, the Su Ru he loved had been taken away by Tian Buyi.
The two had gone through lives that were far too alike!
"So—"
"Senior Brother Wan, are you still alive?"
Cangsong murmured silently to himself.
"Whoosh!"
True Person Dao Xuan glanced faintly at Cangsong.
He knew perfectly well about Daoist Cangsong's little schemes, and he also knew that the other man had secretly manipulated the matchups. Yet he did not step in to stop him...
After all,
Cangsong had helped him greatly over the years.
A little favoritism within reasonable limits?
True Person Dao Xuan was still willing to indulge him.
Besides,
True Person Dao Xuan also knew Wang Quan Yan's strength.
He roughly understood Cangsong's intentions as well. Perhaps he wanted Qi Hao to encounter Wang Quan Yan sooner, so Wang Quan Yan could vent his anger?!
In any case,
judging by Wang Quan Yan's current strength,
Qi Hao was definitely no match for him.
For that very reason,
True Person Dao Xuan did not interfere.
Moreover,
he also wanted Wang Quan Yan to end this farce as soon as possible. Since Qi Hao bore the greatest blame in this matter, then let him receive a bit of punishment...
The same old saying.
Geniuses? They always had certain privileges!
"Clang!"
As the Bronze Bell on the arena was struck,
the Tongtian Peak elder formally called out the contestants' names, signaling that both sides could take the stage.
At that moment,
the atmosphere was instantly pushed to its peak.
The disciples of Qingyun Sect's Seven Peaks all turned their gazes toward Grand Bamboo Peak and Dragon Head Peak.
"Whoosh!"
Qi Hao was the first to emerge from the crowd.
Dressed in flowing white robes, he looked exceptionally refined. The moment he appeared, he drew countless eyes, and it was no wonder so many people in Qingyun Sect held him in such high regard...
At the same time,
Wang Quan Yan also stepped out from the crowd.
The youth's azure Daoist robes fluttered freely in the wind. Two divine swords hung at his waist—one called Dragon Slayer, the other Wang Quan.
The youth stood tall and straight, his black hair falling over his shoulders. His face was handsome, with sword-like brows and starry eyes. Though everyone around him pointed and whispered, he showed not the slightest concern!
Because
he knew in his heart
that it was time for this farce to end.
After today's battle, the name "Wang Quan Yan" would become completely famous!
"Whoosh!"
The youth's figure flashed.
He instantly appeared upon the arena. His gaze was calm as he looked at Qi Hao before him, without the slightest emotional ripple in his eyes, as though he did not take him seriously at all...
Because
Qi Hao was unworthy.
"Junior Brother Wang Quan, I never expected us to meet in this round."
Qi Hao said in a refined and easygoing manner.
His expression looked exceedingly gentle, but upon closer inspection, the delight in his eyes could still be seen...
Qi Hao had already planned everything out.
He intended to publicly declare his feelings before the battle, make it clear that he liked Tian Ling'er, then defeat Wang Quan Yan in front of everyone and use his strength to make himself rightful and legitimate.
But—
Would that really work?
Actually, it would.
However,
the prerequisite was that Qi Hao could truly defeat Wang Quan Yan.
As long as he could defeat Wang Quan Yan, then this entire chain of plans would succeed!
It had to be said,
Qi Hao was rather skilled at scheming.
After all,
he was an old thing who had lived for more than a hundred years.
It was only natural for him to understand such schemes.
But,
no matter how many tricks one had up one's sleeve,
before absolute strength, everything was empty!
Let any demons and monsters come—I would cut them down with one sword!
Before you continue