The Grand Competition Begins

The woman paid no attention to their exchange, offering a faint smile before speaking: "So you're Gu Qingzhou. No wonder Little Jingjing can't stop thinking about you..."

"Oh, Second Elder..."

Hearing this, Guo Jingjing let out an "ah" as if embarrassed, stealing a glance at Gu Qingzhou before greeting him: "We meet again, little handsome."

"Yeah, what a coincidence, we meet again..." Hearing that deep male voice, Gu Qingzhou forced a smile and nodded, then closed his eyes in agony.

"Haha..."

Beside him, Mo Shang and Liu Ruyan barely held back, covering their mouths to stifle laughter. Though a bit rude, they really couldn't help it.

Their behavior naturally drew Gu Qingzhou's ire. He turned and glared at them: "What are you laughing at!"

"I thought of something happy..."

Mo Shang forced down his laughter as he spoke. He didn't want to laugh, but the other's expression was just too hilarious.

"What happy thing?" Gu Qingzhou glared at Mo Shang and pressed again.

"Uh, Shuyu said she likes me. Yeah, that's it..." Mo Shang looked left and right, then repeated.

"Say something we don't know, alright! Damn it, what if I'm a little jealous..." Hearing this, Gu Qingzhou couldn't help but break down, grinding his teeth.

"Little handsome, don't be jealous. I can like you too, you know..."

And just then, Guo Jingjing sidled up to Gu Qingzhou, gently breathed a puff of air, and murmured.

"Stay away from me!"

Gu Qingzhou's hair stood on end. With a jolt, he abruptly leaped back.

"Don't be shy, little handsome. Isn't big sister pretty?" Guo Jingjing wasn't bothered at all and chased after him.

It was the same old game of cat and mouse. No matter how Gu Qingzhou ran, Guo Jingjing stuck close behind him...

"Youth is wonderful—so full of energy..." Sword Thirteen watched this scene without stopping it, chuckling in admiration.

"Just like us back in the day..." The Ten Thousand Flowers Sect elder beside him also smiled.

"Everyone, today's Cang Domain Sect Tournament officially begins!"

As the two were horsing around, an old man with white hair and beard stood up on the high platform, his voice like a bell, drowning out the crowd's noise.

"Draw lots and take the stage. Winner advances, loser is eliminated."

As the old man's words fell, spiritual light flickered in the air, and numerous glowing clusters appeared.

Seeing this, the disciples of each sect wasted no time, raising their hands to pull the light clusters toward them and begin drawing.

Mo Shang was no exception. He lightly raised his hand and drew a light cluster into his palm.

As the light faded, a bamboo slip appeared in his hand, inscribed with the words: "Ring One, First Match."

"Shuyu, what did you get?" Mo Shang asked Jiang Shuyu beside him.

"Ring Two, Second Match." Jiang Shuyu didn't hide it, smiling as she showed Mo Shang her slip.

"Ring One, First Match: Mo Shang of Falling Cloud Sect versus Luo Wu of Celestial Image Sect."

As they spoke, the old man's voice rang out again.

Hearing it was Celestial Image Sect, Sword Thirteen raised an eyebrow, then looked at Mo Shang and warned: "Celestial Image Sect specializes in body refinement. Be careful—don't let him get close."

"I understand."

Mo Shang nodded, then looked at Jiang Shuyu and smiled slightly: "I'm going up first."

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"Mm, be careful..." Jiang Shuyu's eyes carried a trace of worry as she nodded and urged.

"Alright."

Mo Shang acknowledged, then with a flicker of his form, he soared like a startled swan across the sky, landing lightly on Ring One.

Across the ring, Luo Wu of Celestial Image Sect leaped up right after him. The man was burly, with bulging muscles, but his face didn't carry the expected ferocity—instead, it wore a simple grin that clashed with his build.

Looking at the other's robust physique, then at his own relatively slender frame, Mo Shang suddenly asked:

"A fist as big as a sandbag, big guy—how'd you train that?"

Hearing Mo Shang's words, Luo Wu scratched his head and said: "I'm not really sure. I just punch the mountain every day, and it turned out like this..."

"Damn, this guy's a beast too." Hearing this, Mo Shang used his system to check the other's traits...

Blue Trait: Heaven Rewards Diligence

Effect: Your effort is directly proportional to your gains.

White Trait: Big Dummy

Description: You possess unparalleled strength, but at what cost? So hard to guess...

White Trait: Innocent Heart

Description: Pure and innocent.

Just as Mo Shang was examining the other party's status panel, the elder on the high platform saw that both were in position and wasted no further time. He raised a hand and swept it down, his voice low and deep:

"First match of Ring One, Mo Shang of Falling Cloud Sect versus Luo Wu of Celestial Image Sect, begin!"

"Be careful. I'm about to strike." Luo Wu spoke up.

"Alright. Come at me."

Mo Shang snapped back to reality and responded with a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Even though this was their first meeting, the other party actually warned him to be careful—truly worthy of the Innocent Heart trait holder...

As Mo Shang's words fell, Luo Wu's foot slammed down hard, and the stone floor of the ring exploded with a thunderous crack!

He didn't use a shred of spiritual energy. Relying solely on the terrifying power bursting from his leg muscles, he charged at Mo Shang like a rampaging primordial beast.

His fist howled through the air, smashing it with a muffled thunderclap. The sheer physical strength startled the watching disciples.

"What terrifying force. No wonder he's a body cultivator."

"Body cultivator? Just a slightly tougher glass cannon. Not as good as a sword cultivator."

"Bro, are you serious? That arrogant?"

"When it comes to real strength, it's us sword cultivators. We hold the sun and moon, pluck the stars. There's no one like me in this world. Innate sword heart, clear and bright. Heaven and earth, all things can become swords. Through countless tribulations, the cosmos itself is a sword. Ten thousand swords return to one, One Sword Opens Heaven's Gate. Offense and defense in one, slaying all demons under heaven. Like a demon-subduing lord descending from the sky, truly a divine being among mortals. Majestic, supreme divine might, unmatched in the world, undefeated in a hundred battles, standing proudly above all!!!"

"Damn, I can't take it anymore. Brothers, jump him!"

"So you're the one calling yourself a sword cultivator, huh? Take this first—Skyfall!"

Facing the incoming fist, Mo Shang's expression remained calm. For some reason, he felt the other's attack was a bit slow...

With a light shift of his steps, Mo Shang's figure moved like willow catkins in the wind, dodging gracefully within Luo Wu's storm of wild punches.

Every one of Luo Wu's fists struck empty air. Where they hit the ring, craters spread and gravel flew, yet they didn't even graze a corner of Mo Shang's robe.

"Ha!"

Seeing this, Luo Wu held nothing back. With a fierce shout, his muscles bulged another size, his skin taking on a faint, ancient bronze sheen. Both fists shot out simultaneously, a rain of fist seals sealing off all of Mo Shang's escape routes.