Breakout Round

Cloud-Emerging Platform.

The day before yesterday, the arena had been packed shoulder to shoulder, while the spectator stands had been nearly empty. Today, it was exactly the opposite.

The eighteen arenas still stood tall. Behind each one, the stands were basically full, occupied by those who had been eliminated during the group stage.

Of the more than seventeen hundred contestants, only one hundred and eighty had made it into the breakout round.

A ninety-percent elimination rate was truly terrifying! Above the main arena, Xiao Qixiu still stood with a sword on his back. The chief referee pressed both hands downward, and the restless crowd immediately fell silent.

Calmly, he drew a sheet of paper from his robes and slowly read aloud, "Congratulations to you one hundred and eighty warriors for standing out from the group stage and entering the breakout round."

"This year's breakout round will still be held across eighteen arenas. The champions of each group will serve as arena holders, while opponents will be matched at random through a draw."

He took out a blue formation token and poured spiritual essence into it. The token trembled.

In an instant, a large light screen appeared above each of the eighteen arenas. The draws would be conducted through those screens.

Murmurs began to ripple through the stands. Xiao Qixiu motioned for silence; he still had more to say.

"This breakout round has only sixty-four spots. Before those spots are filled, anyone who wins three consecutive matches will successfully break through."

"Everyone has two chances to challenge, arena holders included."

"Of course, if you run into seeded contestants both times, then you may as well start preparing for next year's competition—or pack your bags and leave."

Xiao Qixiu chuckled, folded the paper, and tucked it back into his robes.

"Now, the matches begin!"

At his words, the spectators erupted.

Compared to the crushing pressure from before, those who had stepped down from the arenas were now brimming with excitement, cheering for the person they supported.

"Go, Eldest Senior Sister!"

"Senior Brother Chao, you have to take down Eldest Senior Sister this year and claim first place!"

"Xu Xiaoshou, hang in there!"

"Ahhh, Zhou Zuo! Clear the name of us trash! I love you!"

Zhou Zuo trembled on the arena. Even standing there made his legs shake. At last, he realized that this breakout round he had coasted into did not seem nearly as pleasant as he had imagined.

Looking around, he saw that those nearby were mostly at the eighth, ninth, or even tenth realm. What right did Zhou Zuo have, with his mere third-realm cultivation, to stand among such big shots?

"Senior Brother Liu, I'm a little nervous."

He tugged at Liu Zhen's sleeve, his teeth chattering as he encouraged himself with a self-mocking laugh. "With cultivation this low, I'm probably the first person in Tiansang Spirit Palace to dare stand here."

Liu Zhen took a deep breath. "Relax. You may be the first, but you definitely won't be the only one."

Zhou Zuo looked up.

Liu Zhen revealed his own sixth-realm cultivation and said slowly, "Me too."

Xu Xiaoshou could be said to be the most carefree of the three at the bottom of the cultivation ladder. After all, he did not rely on cultivation when fighting. He was willful like that! The roar from the stands was almost unbearably loud. Covering his ears, he could not take these crazed people anymore. Hang in there? Clear your name? Are you sure you aren't here to boo me?

Taking three steps in two, Xu Xiaoshou hurried toward Arena Eighteen to assume his position as arena holder and use the barrier to block out the noise. Then he suddenly caught sight of the information panel.

"Received encouragement. Passive Value +43."

"Received praise. Passive Value +14."

"Received mockery. Passive Value +8."

"..."

The notifications updated one after another. Though the Passive Value gained each time was not much, it was steady.

With a wooden sword on his back, Xu Xiaoshou's steps slowed of their own accord. He turned around and waved both hands.

"Thank you, everyone."

"Thank you all for your encouragement."

"I, Xu, will definitely do my best and live up to everyone's expectations. Please give me even more encouragement and support!"

"Love you all—heart gesture!"

The spectators froze.

Honestly, they had only cheered symbolically to avoid an awkward silence. Now that they had received such a greasy response, they felt like something was stuck in their hearts.

"Is Xu Xiaoshou sick in the head?!"

"Everyone else has entered their arenas already. Why is he still running around outside?"

"Look at that idiot expression on his face. Is this guy really an arena holder?"

"Now that you mention it, I've been wondering too. He's only at the sixth realm, two realms lower than me. How did he become an arena holder?"

As Xu Xiaoshou ran circles around the arena, he checked the information panel. The audience was simply too enthusiastic. One wave of his hand had instantly brought in quite a bit of Passive Value.

"Received mockery. Passive Value +223."

"Received mockery. Passive Value +146."

"Received mockery. Passive Value +343."

Look at that. Though it had turned into mockery, the values were enormous. Xu Xiaoshou felt even better.

Good, excellent mockery!

Those capable, mock me a few more times. Let the storm rage even fiercer! In only a short while, the Passive Value in his mind had surpassed four digits again. He could earn a living just by waving his hands, without even having to get beaten up. It was simply too wonderful! In Arena Eighteen, the referee paced back and forth.

"Why hasn't this guy come yet?"

He remembered how Xu Xiaoshou had clamped his legs together last time and wondered whether the boy had another urgent matter. He decided to go out and take a look.

After the previous match, he had gone back and reflected on his experience. He felt that Xu Xiaoshou had provoked him too easily, causing him to lose his composure.

For a referee, that was extremely irrational and unprofessional.

He had adjusted his mindset and returned to the stillness of an ancient well, ready to face the breakout round.

Yet the moment he stepped out of the arena and looked, his mentality exploded again.

What was this brat doing?

The other arenas were all preparing to draw lots, yet this fellow still had not come in to compete. As a dignified arena holder, he was running laps around Cloud-Emerging Platform while waving at people? The referee was completely stunned.

Last time, he had been angered during the match. This time, before the match had even begun, he felt his lungs about to burst from rage.

"Xu! Little! Suffer!"

Xu Xiaoshou turned back in bewilderment and saw the referee gritting his teeth, trying his best to wave at him with a friendly expression.

"Uh, has the match started already?" Xu Xiaoshou walked over to the referee. "Wasn't there half an incense stick's time to regulate our breathing?"

Heh, you know the rules quite well, don't you! The referee's face darkened. "You were regulating your breathing?"

"Yeah!"

Xu Xiaoshou nodded seriously. "I was warming up by running. I need to get my body moving first so I'll have the strength to fight later."

The referee shuddered all over, then let out a long breath. "Get in!"

He did not want to say a single extra word to this brat. Turning, he left.

Xu Xiaoshou found it strange, but he could only follow him into the arena. Sure enough, the moment he entered, the information panel quieted down.

What a pity about all that Passive Value!

Xu Xiaoshou summed it up. It seemed that to gain Passive Value, he had to be close enough to directly sense other people's emotions, words, and actions.

If they were separated by a barrier, or if someone merely cursed him silently from afar, he would gain nothing.

"Received curse. Passive Value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

Could you be any more obvious? There are only the two of us here, Referee!

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself as the light screen above the arena began to flicker.

His name on the left remained fixed, while the right side flashed. Before long, it settled.

"Di Xin'er!"

A graceful young woman answered the call and stepped onto the arena. A blue spiritual sword rested on her back, and her cultivation was at the eighth realm. Yet as she approached, bitterness flickered in her beautiful eyes.

She did not want to fight Xu Xiaoshou. This guy specialized in body cultivation and was savage beyond measure. If possible, she would rather wait for a sword cultivator to exchange pointers with.

Even if she lost, she could still gain some experience!

But she had no choice now. After stepping onto the arena, she gave a slight bow. "Greetings, Senior Brother Xu."

She had entered the Spirit Palace two years ago and was younger than Xu Xiaoshou, so naturally she had to address him as Senior Brother.

"Not good, not good!"

Seeing the way she had approached, Xu Xiaoshou immediately sensed trouble. Could this girl be thinking of conceding? Even if you're carrying a sword and might cut me, I don't mind at all. As long as there's Passive Value to earn, it's fine.

But what's with that expression? You're at the eighth realm, your cultivation is even higher than mine—have some confidence, will you? Xu Xiaoshou feared that once the referee announced the start, this girl would change her tune and concede. He quickly cut in before she could speak. "To fear before battle is the greatest taboo when facing an enemy; to flee without fighting is the shame of a spirit cultivator; to surrender with clasped hands is a stain upon one's life!"

Di Xin'er was startled. She had indeed considered such a thing, but remembering that she only had two chances to fight, she had fallen into hesitation.

Hearing Xu Xiaoshou's words now, she immediately accepted reality and decided to have a proper battle.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu. Xin'er has learned much!"

"Received gratitude. Passive Value +1."

Xu Xiaoshou grinned, wearing the expression of one pleased that a child could be taught.

Before the battle had even begun, he had already scored an opening success. That was a good omen.

The referee, however, gained a somewhat better impression of him. He had not expected this troublesome Xu Xiaoshou to say something like that. It truly did not fit him at all!

With a wave of his hand, he declared, "The match begins!"