This Time, I Really Didn't Cheat!

The next morning, a large crowd of spectators gathered again in front of the ring, eagerly anticipating today's match.

According to the expected schedule, the Top 8 Competition will be completed this morning, the semifinals will be decided in the afternoon, and the final three will be determined by the last four matches in the evening, thus determining the ownership of the Gathering Spirit Shares!

A match takes at most the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and the Top 8 Competition can be completed in an hour or two. The players from the previous matches have already started warming up, and they are all eager to start.

But just then, the host Lin Xiaomo, walked onto the stage, followed by a disciple carrying a ballot box.

"Good morning, fellow Martial World practitioners! Today, we will compete in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals to determine the final three!"

"However, I bet you all did a lot of research on today's opponents last night, right?" The girl gave a sly smile. "Many viewers even predicted the final rankings based on the strength of the contestants."

"But Xiaomo thinks that if everything is predictable, it will be too boring. So, we've decided to redraw the opponents for the quarterfinals!"

Redraw?

Upon hearing this, both the audience and the competitors looked towards the field in surprise. This meant that the original schedule had been completely disrupted, and last night's preparations and predictions were of little use.

"Also, I have some regrettable news to share," Xiao Mo announced loudly. "Due to the severe injuries sustained yesterday, the Azure Mountain Sect Headmaster Yu, who participated in the competition, has not fully recovered even after a night of recuperation and is no longer suitable for the competition. Therefore, Headmaster Yu has forfeited his spot. Currently, there are only fifteen participants in the Top 8 Competition, and there will be one bye spot, which will also be decided by drawing lots!"

"It seems they've run away!"

Moreover, it is indeed a bit unbelievable to draw such a low-probability event twice in a row.

"If that's what you mean... I think calling him ' Senior Brother Luo' a few times wouldn't really matter..."

"You guys think... it wouldn't be...?"

"Hey? Who just said they were going to do a spiral poop upside down?"

"It looks like Chao Tianxiang, eh? Where is he?"

Another bye?

As they were talking, the contestants began to draw their lots. Following the order of yesterday's competition, Luo Jun was the third to draw.

Let's just pick a normal opponent for the Top 8 Competition and fight them using the Hundred Rivers Sect fighting style. Winning would be great, but even if we don't win, it'll still show everyone our skills...

Not only her, but the audience also gasped in surprise, especially the members of the Hundred Rivers Sect, who were all dumbfounded.

Thinking of this, Luo Jun reached into the ballot box and pulled out a slip of paper.

"Impossible, impossible! Yesterday was already incredibly lucky, there's no way we'd get a bye again today!"

Almost all the disciples of the Hundred Rivers Sect looked at Luo Jun on the stage, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts.

No writing yet? Luo Jun flipped it over... Still no writing?

"Wow, Young Hero Luo has drawn a bye again!" Lin Xiaomo shouted excitedly. "This is simply divine luck! He hasn't even played a single match and he's already secured a spot in the quarterfinals!"

To be honest, when Luo Jun heard Xiao Mo announce that there was another bye spot, Luo Jun really considered using the Dice of Heavenly Secrets. But then he thought about it again, he wasn't here to win the championship, so there was no need to go that far. Besides, even if he really drew a bye, the Senior Brother and sisters in the audience would definitely not accept it, so it would only scare them and wouldn't make any difference.

"Exactly! If he gets a bye again, I'll perform a handstand spiral pooping act in public!"

The first two drew opponents, and when it was Luo Jun's turn, there were eleven spots left in the ballot box besides himself.

"It's alright, we'll remember this and find a way to make him pay!"

The audience was in complete chaos, and Luo Jun on stage was also somewhat bewildered...

I really didn't cheat this time!

But since he'd drawn it, it must be fate. Luo Jun chuckled and stepped off the stage, "Stop yelling, come on, call me Senior Brother Luo!"

The students looked at each other, and finally Zhao Jian spoke up, saying, "Isn't this the same as yesterday? It doesn't count!"

"Yeah, yeah!" someone started, and everyone immediately chimed in, "It's just a bye, there's no challenge at all, it doesn't show your ability! How can anyone be convinced?"

"Not convinced?" Luo Jun raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you try drawing two byes in a row and see what happens?"

"I do admire your luck..." Zhao Jian said, pursing his lips. "But I definitely won't accept calling you ' Senior Brother ' based on that alone."

"Yeah, yeah!" the others chimed in.

"What, you really insist on making it to the top four?" Luo Jun glanced at Tie Jingang: "Teacher Tie, isn't this a bit too much to ask?"

Tie Jingang also sighed, "Indeed, after two rounds of elimination, the remaining fighters are no ordinary experts... It's really unrealistic to let Luo Jun win."

"Alright then, in the next round of the semifinals, if you can last even one minute on stage, you'll pass! I'll do everything I can to get you a spot in the Exchange Training." With that, Tie Jingang looked at the other students. "When the time comes, you'll all be calling Senior Brother Senior Brother,' no cheating allowed, understand?"

"That works!" the others chimed in. "It's a deal!"

"Alright, it's settled this time!" Luo Jun pointed at them. "If any of you try to renege on your promises later, I'll have my Martial Uncle turn you all into Chao Tianxiang!"

While the students were making a fuss, the match had already begun on the stage.

It has to be said that the Top 8 Competition were more exciting than the round of sixteen. There were no weaklings who made it to this round. Their figures moved so fast that the ten-zhang square arena was not even enough to show their skills. Moreover, almost every time a match ended, the disciples of Medicine King Valley had to come up and repair the arena.

Medicine King Valley had anticipated the possibility of damage, so the arena was paved with Ocean Crossing Wood, a type of wood unique to the Martial World. Its quality surpasses that of ordinary steel, yet its density is only slightly heavier than ordinary wood. Its dense texture makes it resistant to water and fire. Many buildings at the Ningdong Academy were also constructed using this type of wood.

This type of wood originates from the Southeastern Islands. It is said that the earliest trees were found on the beaches of the Central Plains after drifting across the ocean in their entirety. Although it has been introduced to the Central Plains, it is not widely cultivated and is very expensive. It is the highest grade material for shipbuilding in the Martial World world.

In short, this arena, made of Ocean Crossing Wood, can basically be seen as being welded together from several layers of steel plates. Even so, it was still worn out by these contestants, which shows how intense the battle was!

As for the members of the Hundred Rivers Sect, their opponents changed due to the redrawn lots, and their luck was extremely bad...

Lu Fei's opponent is Duan Feibai from the Sword Saint Sect, the number one seed!

To be honest, Lu Fei's cultivation was solid, his swordsmanship was superb, and he was Martial Combat Faction. Even in the Martial World world, he would be considered a good fighter among the younger generation. However, he was far inferior to Duan Feibai.

This disciple of the Sword Saint Sect is in his thirties, just entering the golden age of Cultivators. He is physically strong and full of vitality. Although he has not yet reached the Peak, he is not far from it. Just as Tie Jingang said, even if he personally goes on the field, his chances of winning are probably not high.

Faced with such a master, Lu Fei only withstood three sword strikes before surrendering...

The difference in skill was immediately apparent when their weapons clashed. Lu Fei's last two sword strikes were partly due to his youthful impetuosity and a touch of Qi Ingestion, and partly because the other side was giving him face and not wanting him to lose too badly. If it had been Death Omen, it would probably have been over in a single move.

After Lu Fei, Lao Miao Miao also stopped in the round of 16, and her opponent was Qi Feng from Heaven's Gate.

Good heavens, both of the top contenders have been encountered by the Hundred Rivers Sect. Qi Feng's weapon is a folding fan, which looks a size larger than ordinary folding fans. It is made of fine steel, and the edges can extend to form blades that are exceptionally sharp. The fan surface is woven from Ice Silkworm Silk, making it impervious to swords and spears, as well as water and fire.

However, when facing Lao Miao Miao, he didn't even unfold his folding fan. With light and agile steps, he dodged the invisible hand and came close. He then used his fan to lightly lift Lao Miao Miao's chin, a rather ambiguous and provocative gesture.

Lao Miao Miao angrily shook her head, but knowing she was no match for her opponent, she suppressed the urge to fight to the You Die, I Live and conceded defeat, stepping off the stage.

Compared to his two Senior Brother and sisters, Lei Tianyang was much luckier. His opponent was Sha Tianyi, Lao Miao Miao was originally supposed to face. This guy was a master of martial arts, impervious to swords and spears, but he couldn't withstand high voltage electricity. He was struck by a bolt of lightning from Third Young Master Lei, which made his hair stand on end. If it weren't for his strong Root Bone, he probably would have died on the spot.

In the end, after a morning of competition, only two freshmen from the Hundred Rivers Sect made it into the top eight.

This is truly a cruel twist of fate.

(End of this chapter)