Cloud Platform Tournament, Part Five

Qin Jiu felt a sharp pain all over his body, which made him open his eyes. He then realized that he was lying on the bed with his whole body wrapped in bandages. When he turned his head, he saw Xiao Ai lying beside him, her head tilted to one side on the bed. In her hand was a yellow robe, which he had clearly torn during the sword fight. The bloodstains had been washed off and it had been mended.

Just then, the sunset shone through the window frame, its golden light cascading down the girl's bangs like a thin veil, so beautiful that Qin Jiu was momentarily stunned.

Wow, her eyelashes are so long!

Suddenly, a mechanical bird hopped onto the pillow, exchanged a glance with Qin Jiu, and then pecked Xiao Ai on the forehead with a 'thud'.

"Ugh, um... you're awake..."

Xiao Ai groggily raised her head.

Qin Jiu looked as if he had been caught doing something wrong, and quickly turned his head away. However, this aggravated all the wounds on his body, causing him to hiss and gasp for breath in pain, his whole body convulsing.

"Sigh, you idiot, if you can't hold on, just surrender! Why are you being so stubborn? Don't you know that winning three sword duels is enough to pass the test? You've already helped Zhenri Palace seize a peak, so you can leave the arena now, right? What, did your master order you to hold on until the end to compete for the Sword Master title?"

Xiao Ai jumped up, used her hands to apply acupuncture to relieve Qin Jiu's pain, and then brought over a small alchemy furnace. She took out a medicinal pill that was steaming with Daoist energy with a Dao Breath, and applied it to the bandages all over Qin Jiu's body, warming the bleeding wounds. The medicinal energy and fragrance of the pill permeated the wounds, accelerating the healing process. The tingling sensation temporarily relieved the pain.

"Hey, Qin Jiu, don't be so naive. Even if those spoiled brats from aristocratic families are no match for you in a one-on-one fight, this kind of competition doesn't follow the rules. Didn't you see how you were overwhelmed and collapsed as soon as you came up in the final stage when they attacked you all at once?"

"And let me tell you, our Thirty-Six Peaks Songshan Inner Sect Competition is nothing! This is just a rehearsal for the upcoming Yuntai Peak Profound Sect Competition! We won't be facing these useless Songshan Inner Sect then, but the elites of the entire Profound Sect! Do you think you can survive by playing dead like this time?"

Qin Jiu watched Xiao Ai acting like a mother hen, nagging and busy treating his wounds and changing his dressings. He didn't say a word.

Firstly, he was in too much pain to speak, and secondly, Xiao Ai wasn't wrong.

Although he was able to fight and heal simultaneously with the Dustless Easy Qi Sword during the first two stages of the Songshan Inner Sect Competition, winning consecutive victories, when it came to the final battle for the title of First Sword Master, the other eight peak masters attacked him all at once, leaving him barely alive. In the end, he only managed to kill them by feigning death on the ground, secretly using his Blood Refining Technique his skills, and waiting for the other peak masters to fight to the death.

"Hey, why not just give up?"

Xiao Ai rushed in front of Qin Jiu, staring into his eyes, "Give up your qualification for the Cloud Platform Competition. You've already survived this ordeal. If you continue with this injury, you'll die."

No, that won't happen. When I fought bandits, my injuries were much worse than this. I just slept it off, so don't worry.

Qin Jiu wanted to say that, but when he managed to open his mouth, he couldn't breathe. He could only shake his head, which caused his wound to reopen, making him wince and gasp in pain.

Xiao Ai rubbed her temples helplessly.

"I knew you wouldn't agree. You men are all as stubborn as mules, always fighting and arguing, wanting to fight for everything. What's the point of risking your life to be number one? In the end, you still get beaten up like this, and I have to drag you back to treat you?"

So, you think Xiao Li will look at you any better if you win first place? What about your mother? Won't she be heartbroken if she sees you like this?

Sigh, I'm just an orphan, otherwise I wouldn't hang out with a bunch of self-important idiots.

Xiao Ai grumbled angrily, but her hands didn't stop. She took out some herbal powder, took out a pestle, and ground it into powder. She added some honey and stirred it into a ball, intending to feed it to Qin Jiu with her fingers. But when she saw that Qin Jiu was injured and couldn't even open his mouth, she frowned, thinking helplessly for a moment.

"Hey, you idiot, don't overthink it."

So the girl took a small bite of the dumpling, chewed it well in her mouth, climbed onto the bed, and leaned her head close to the boy, so close that her hair touched the corners of his eyes, her breath entered his mouth, and he could see the blush on her cheeks.

"Ah... open your mouth..."

Qin Jiu was shocked! He gripped the bedsheet tightly and gasped for breath!

"You idiot! You're making me so embarrassed... Close your eyes!"

Qin Jiu quickly closed his eyes, feeling a warm, sticky, and slippery sensation slide across his lips. This was a novel experience the boy had never had before—a touch of warmth, a touch of softness, and a touch of...

Hmm... it smells a bit fishy... is it the smell of herbs... but why does it also taste a bit like brine...?

Qin Jiu couldn't help but secretly open her eyes.

Then I saw a giant catfish with bulging eyes and a bump on its forehead, flicking its tongue wildly at its face!

"Aaaaaah--!! Ugh ugh ugh!!! Ptooey ptooey ptooey!!!"

The boy's tender heart suffered a devastating blow! The damage was immense! He could never recover!

Even the Kun was startled!

This kid keeps licking things randomly and making noises; is he an idiot?

"The Demon Child is there!"

"Grab him!"

"Riding Waves and Splitting Waves Slash--!"

Qin Jiu wiped the fish drool off his face and got up, only to find himself on a mountaintop, on a fighting platform atop one of the nine peaks. The platform was surrounded by cliffs, with no way to retreat. Shi Kai threw him to a corner of the platform and stood in front, blocking the way. He stood in the center of the platform and brandished his long sword to repel the Hengshan disciples who were chasing after him.

However, many Hengshan disciples chased after them from the foot of the mountain, but only three of them were besieging Shi Kai at this moment. The others did not step onto the arena and could only glare angrily at Qin Jiu.

Qin Jiu had participated in the Inner Sect training of Songshan Mountain, so he knew very well that this meant the competition had now reached the second stage of the peak-seizing phase, and Shi Kai was probably going to be the peak master.

These nine peaks' arenas naturally have special rules and restrictions set up for sword duels. After all, it's a competition for sects to secure a spot. Some major sects, like Songshan and Hengshan, send dozens of people to participate in the Cloud Platform Grand Competition each time, all wanting to take on the challenge. Therefore, due to time constraints, each match isn't limited to one-on-one, but the number of people fighting on both sides must be equal...

Wait a minute! The number of people is equal? Then how come it's three against two?

Qin Jiu suddenly realized what was happening, turned around and glared at the fish beside him. How come this thing was on their side???

Kun glares, Kun spits!

Qin Jiu: "Ah! What did you spit in my mouth! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!"

"Enough! Shi Kai! That demon has awakened. Are you still going to protect him and become an enemy of Hengshan?!"

Chu Nanyi chased after them at a leisurely pace. Seeing that Shi Kai was still protecting Qin Jiu on his own, he became furious. When he saw a Hengshan disciple being swept away from the arena by a slash, he immediately leaped up and thrust his Autumn Forest Sword at Zanma Knife, striking the Zhanma Dao and causing Shi Kai to stagger back three steps, leaning on his sword and panting.

Qin Jiu also realized that Shi Kai had saved his life and that he was also about to collapse. He jumped out and stood shoulder to shoulder with Shi Kai, unleashing a Dustless Easy Qi Sword strike that forced back the Hengshan disciples who were trying to launch a sneak attack.

Shi Kai, carrying the person, had been chased up the mountain to defend the arena, and was also panting heavily. But being a body cultivator, he caught his breath, stood up, and smiled, "Senior Sister Chu, I really didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to fight fairly, since it was first come, first served. Please, everyone, do me a favor and let me and Brother Qin settle our score..."

Hengshan disciple A shouted, "Bullshit! Talking nonsense! What are you pretending for! I can clearly see you want to save him! Are you trying to curry favor with Songshan and join their ranks?"

The Hengshan disciple roared, "Do you really think we're blind and stupid?! Senior Sister Chu! How many Daoist Tradition in this world are suitable for female cultivators? You'll have to transfer to the Yellow Court Palace sooner or later! So, you're in charge of cleaning up Emei's sect, or what?!"

Shi Kai was speechless for a moment after being retorted, "No, I already said I only want to fight one match, can't you just let me finish this one quietly...?"

Chu Nanyi, however, made her decision first. She brandished the Autumn Forest Sword and said, "Shi Kai! Emei forbids fratricide, but you've gone too far! You've actually colluded with the Demonic Sect, betraying our Xuanmen! Today, as your senior sister, I will teach you a lesson on behalf of the sect!"

Shi Kai was getting a little anxious. "No! No! I didn't! You all saw that we didn't finish fighting, someone interfered! And I was being very careful the whole way, afraid of hurting you. How did that become betraying the Xuanmen?"

Hengshan Jia was so angry his nose almost twisted. "What!? You're afraid of hurting us?? What are you, a guy who didn't even pass the college entrance exam! You're afraid of hurting me??"

Shi Kai: "... But you guys seemed pretty weak just now..."

The Hengshan disciple was nearly driven mad with anger; he was speechless for a moment.

Qin Jiu sneered, "Brother Shi, I have a suggestion. Since we're going to have to compete anyway, why don't we join forces for now, fight until the third round, wipe out all these troublemakers, and then when it's just the two of us left, we can have a fair fight, how about that?"

Hengshan Yi was furious, "You dare call me a fly! You insult my sect! Die--!"

Shi Kai was also getting angry. "You'll die if I curse a fly?? You're all more annoying than flies! Fine! Let's kill the flies first!"

The opposing side had also been unable to hold back any longer, so the two sides immediately started fighting. Chu Nanyi was ruthless and didn't say much. He took the lead and thrust his sword, using the superior swordsmanship of Emei, and single-handedly held off Shi Kai.

Shi Kai clearly didn't want to hurt the Xuanmen people, and he dared not hurt his senior sister from Emei. He fought timidly, holding back his moves, and only halfway through each strike. He was far less decisive and efficient than when he fought Qin Jiu. He couldn't just use the back of his knife to send his senior sister flying like others.

Meanwhile, the two Hengshan disciples, A and B, began to besiege Qin Jiu again. Although they were indeed wary of Qin Jiu, he had also exhausted his strength after repeated battles, and frankly speaking, he only had a couple of moves left. These two Hengshan disciples had, after all, passed the college entrance examination and had some skills, so they used their abilities to the fullest.

Of course, they were also self-aware enough to know to play to their strengths and avoid their weaknesses. They wouldn't rush up to Qin Jiu's face to take his Sword Light and sword energy. Now, instead of being unable to avoid him on the mountain path, they were on an open and flat arena. So, the two of them spread out and flanked each other from the left and right, throwing out a bunch of magical Magic Treasure as knives, spears, and clubs to attack, while also throwing out a bunch of talisman flags and fireballs to unleash a barrage of water, fire, wind, and thunder spells.

Although Qin Jiu Cultivation Method to replenish his qi and blood, his qi and blood had not yet recovered. Moreover, he knew that even if he won quickly and killed one of them, it would be useless. Didn't he see that there were still many Hengshan disciples waiting to jump up and join the gang attack? Therefore, he was not in a hurry to fight. Instead, he temporarily retreated and dodged, taking the time to adjust his breathing and heal his injuries while trying to drag the Hengshan disciples to the other side of the arena, away from Shi Kai, so as to prevent these despicable flies from Hengshan from suddenly launching a sneak attack.

However, the disciples of Hengshan are by no means to be underestimated. Even if not everyone has profound internal strength or top-level secret techniques, those who have cultivated to the Golden Core realm and are considered proper Xuanmen practitioners all have considerable experience in life-and-death battles!

At this moment, the combined attacks of the two men from Hengshan, using magical artifacts, talismans, and Daoist incantations, seemed at first glance to be nothing more than ordinary Magic Treasure and Daoist incantations, not at all Nascent Soul Stage level. However, Qin Jiu's current state of near-death meant that even a piece of trash magic weapon couldn't withstand the impact. As he dodged left and right, Qin Jiu struggled more and more, and the situation became increasingly dangerous. He realized that he had been too overconfident and had been caught in the trap!

Yes, we've entered the formation. This dazzling barrage of Magic Treasure isn't just random throwing; it's a formation. It's actually a method for capturing demons and wild beasts, and for dealing with martial artists and rogue cultivators who don't recognize formations. What seems like simple, random throwing of magical weapons and techniques actually has specific trajectories, rhythms, and gaps. For example, if a flying knife comes from the right, a person will naturally dodge to the left. If there's a rock protruding from the ground, they'll jump to avoid it, and then a sneak attack from behind would leave an ordinary person with a slim chance of survival.

A similar tactic is to disregard the damage from a few hits, instead forcing the target to dodge in a specific direction, silently setting up a trap, then suddenly closing it in, shrinking the range of the attack until there is no way to avoid it, thus killing the target!

Of course, this kind of battle formation is very difficult. If only one person is setting up the formation, firstly, the consumption of Divine Sense will be considerable, and with so many magic treasures and techniques, it is inevitable that one will be flustered and unable to attend to everything.

If multiple people are involved in the formation, it can alleviate the consumption of their mental and magical energy. Of course, without a considerable level of skill in formations and good teamwork, weaknesses will still be created, giving the opponent a chance to counterattack.

However, this pair of nameless extras from Hengshan were actually quite skilled. Although they didn't have any special moves like the Jade Balance Sword Qi or the Heavenly Pillar Sword Technique, and their Shangqing Protective Qi seemed insufficient, only at a level where they had just started practicing for self-defense, their teamwork was flawless. They showered out handfuls of magical treasures and talismans, causing Qin Jiu to become complacent. He not only had no chance to catch his breath and recover, but he could only run away with his head in his hands, getting caught in the formation and beaten wildly. If it weren't for the fact that he could still protect himself with the Great Songyang True Qi and barely hold on for a few more hits, he would probably have been beaten into mincemeat!

At this moment, Shi Kai was also in danger! Because he suddenly couldn't fight anymore!

A martial arts prodigy like him, who has honed his skills in the waves since childhood without a single day of rest, possesses exceptional comprehension, and has inherited all the family's martial arts Martial God, is already half a step into the Martial God realm at such a young age. Even if he were to fight Qin Jiu in a fierce battle, involving climbing mountains, seizing peaks, and engaging in chaotic combat, he would not be exhausted. But the problem is, Shi Kai has no room for holding back.

His opponent, Chu Nanyi, was a genuine Emei disciple, and even the top disciple of the Nan generation in the Outer Sect. His Autumn Forest Sword was not something that the Shi Family's Zanma Knife could withstand.

Moreover, the technique she cultivated was not the outdated and slow-progressing Qiankun Wuji Golden Core Cultivation Method of the Emei East Academy, but the secret manual of the Emei South Academy, the Lingyun Gong, a true transmission from the Cangyun Ancestor.

This <Lingyun Gong> belongs to the secret teachings of Emei, one of the four academies' unique skills, and one of the three skills and one method. Anything produced by Emei is bound to be of high quality, and to be on par with the <Heavenly Silkworm Skill>, this skill is naturally the most superior Xuanmen Qi-refining Cultivation Method. Its characteristic is that regardless of one's aptitude or physical constitution, the nine energies of Taiji can be refined into Lingyun Lingxiao True Qi.

As a Lingyun Lingxiao True Qi has various enhancements and wonderful uses, naturally making it comparable to the protective True Qi of other sects. Moreover, Emei's characteristic is that all its Cultivation Method have detailed cultivation guides. Although the difficulty is still not reduced, the inheritance and guidance of the Cultivation Method are complete, making it the clearest method of cultivation for Xuanmen disciples. As long as they cultivate step by step, they will not go wrong.

Moreover, other secret techniques of Emei, such as the "Puyun Gaixue Style" and the "Chuanxue Piaoyun Palm," can all benefit from this skill, so there is no need to waste time practicing other Cultivation Method, and they are not inferior in actual combat.

That's how Emei is. The more effort you put in, the more skill you have. The lower and upper limits are both fixed, as steady as a rock. Therefore, Chu Nanyi wouldn't unleash his full power just because his opponent was a demon prince and he wanted to uphold the righteous path and eliminate demons, nor would he hold back just because his opponent was a fellow disciple and he was mindful of camaraderie.

On the contrary, Shi Kai, although his Shi Family sword technique is powerful, has not yet truly reached the level of Martial God, where he can control it at will. If he wants to defeat someone like Chu Nanyi, who has a solid foundation, it will be impossible for him to do so easily; he must use his full strength.

But as I said before, Shi Kai has been studying martial arts in Emei for over ten years. As a fellow disciple, he knows exactly how skilled Chu Nanyi is. She's definitely a little bit weaker than Qin Jiu at her peak. Shi Kai hasn't found a worthy opponent in all these years, and he's afraid that if they really go all out, he might lose control and Chu Nanyi might not be able to handle it. If he accidentally cuts his senior sister in two, that would be a huge problem!

As a result, Qin Jiu and Shi Kai were both caught in a fierce battle!

But don't forget! It's three against three now!

Kun! Inhale like a whirlwind!

In an instant, all sorts of trash—lightning, fire, ice spikes, swords, spears, clubs—were sucked into the Kun's mouth!

Hengshan A and B, "???" * 2

Kun! Storm! Pshaw!

Kun spat out a barrage of attacks like machine gun fire! Various magical treasures, mixed with saliva, burst forth! The Hengshan disciples, both top and bottom, were caught off guard! Although they were protected by Shangqing True Qi, they were still brutally beaten by the barrage of magical treasures! They were covered in fishy smell and fell off the stage!

Chu Nanyi was also greatly alarmed and quickly created distance, wildly brandishing the Autumn Forest Sword and using the Lingyun Qi to protect herself, afraid of getting spit on her.

"What a vile monster!"

Kun arched forward, shielding its two underlings behind it, flapped its fins, and glared at the group of stunned Hengshan disciples opposite it, "Hmph!"

Then he turned and glanced sideways at Shi Kai, "Pah!"

Shi Kai, quick-witted and agile, caught the spitting saliva... Oh? It looks like Changchun Pill, wait? It's even a Nine-Turn Pill...

Shi Kai: "... What exactly is this?"

Qin Jiu, "You're asking me? Who am I supposed to ask...?"

Kun, "Pah!"

Qin Jiu, "Ugh! Cough cough cough! You big-headed fish, if you spit in my mouth again, I'll beat you up! Ugh, so disgusting! Ptooey ptooey ptooey!"