The Tournament Begins

The woman paid no attention to the conversation between the two just now. She smiled faintly, then said, "You must be Gu Qingzhou. No wonder Jingjing can't stop thinking about you..."

"Ah, Second Elder..."

Hearing this, Guo Jingjing let out a little yelp, seeming somewhat embarrassed. She stole a glance at Gu Qingzhou, then greeted him, "Fancy seeing you again, handsome..."

"Yeah, what a coincidence, seeing you again..." Hearing that deep male voice, Gu Qingzhou forced a smile and nodded, then closed his eyes, his face contorted in pain.

"Haha..."

Nearby, Mo Shang and Liu Ruyan could barely hold it in. They covered their mouths, but laughter still escaped. It might have been rude, but they genuinely couldn't keep a straight face.

Their behavior naturally displeased Gu Qingzhou. He turned and glared at them. "What are you laughing at!"

"I thought of something happy..."

Mo Shang spoke, suppressing a laugh. He didn't want to laugh either, but the look on the other man's face was just too funny.

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

"Uh, Shuyu said she likes me. Yeah, that's what it was..." Mo Shang glanced around, then said it again.

"Could you say something we don't already know? Damn it, why am I kind of jealous..." Hearing that, Gu Qingzhou couldn't help losing his composure. He gritted his teeth.

"Handsome, don't be jealous. I can like you too..."

Just then, Guo Jingjing moved close to Gu Qingzhou, gently blew a breath at him, and drawled.

"Don't come any closer!"

Every hair on Gu Qingzhou's body stood on end. He jolted and hastily put some distance between them.

"Don't be shy, handsome. Isn't your big sister pretty?" Seeing this, Guo Jingjing didn't mind in the slightest and chased after him.

It was the same old game of cat and mouse. No matter how Gu Qingzhou ran, Guo Jingjing stayed right on his heels...

"Young people have it good. So full of energy..." Seeing this, Sword Thirteen didn't stop them. He smiled and sighed.

"They're just like we were back in the day..." Beside him, the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect elder smiled too.

"Everyone, today's Cang Domain sect tournament officially begins!"

As the two of them horsed around, an old man with white hair and beard rose on the high platform. His voice boomed over the hubbub.

"Draw lots and take the stage. Winners advance; losers are eliminated."

As soon as the old man finished speaking, spiritual light shimmered in midair, and numerous glowing orbs appeared.

Seeing this, the disciples from the various sects didn't hesitate. They all raised their hands, drew the orbs toward them, and began picking.

Mo Shang was no exception. He raised his hand slightly and drew one of the glowing orbs into his palm.

As the light faded, a bamboo slip appeared in his hand, engraved with the words "Arena No. 1, Match One."

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

"Arena No. 2, Match Two." Jiang Shuyu didn't hide it. She smiled and showed Mo Shang her bamboo slip.

"Arena No. 1, Match One: Mo Shang of the Falling Cloud Sect versus Luo Wu of the Celestial Image Sect."

As the two spoke, the old man's voice rang out across the arena again.

Hearing it was the Celestial Image Sect, Sword Thirteen raised his eyebrows slightly, then turned to Mo Shang and cautioned him, "The Celestial Image Sect is known for body cultivation. Be careful, and don't let him get close."

"Got it."

Mo Shang nodded, then turned to Jiang Shuyu and smiled. "I'll head up first."

A hint of worry showed in Jiang Shuyu's eyes. She nodded and cautioned him, "Mm. Be careful..."

"Okay."

Mo Shang answered, then sprang into the air. Like a startled swan skimming the sky, he drifted lightly down onto Arena No. 1.

Across the arena, Luo Wu of the Celestial Image Sect leaped onto the platform right after him. The man was powerfully built, his muscles knotted all over, but his face wasn't as fierce as one might expect. Instead, he wore a silly grin that seemed completely at odds with his physique.

Looking at the other man's sturdy build, then at his own somewhat slender frame, Mo Shang suddenly asked, "With fists as big as sandbags, big guy, how'd you get so strong?"

Luo Wu scratched his head at Mo Shang's question, then said, "I'm not really sure. I punch mountains every day, and then I just ended up like this..."

"Good grief, this guy's a real tough one too." Hearing that, Mo Shang checked the traits on the other man with his system...

[Blue Trait: Heaven Rewards Diligence]

[Effect: Your efforts are directly proportional to your gains.]

[White Trait: Big Dummy]

[Description: You possess unrivaled strength, but at what cost? That's a tough one to guess...]

[White Trait: Innocent Heart]

[Description: Pure and innocent.]

While Mo Shang checked the other man's traits, the old man on the high platform saw that both fighters were in position. He didn't waste any more time, but raised a hand and declared solemnly:

"Arena No. 1, Match One: Mo Shang of the Falling Cloud Sect versus Luo Wu of the Celestial Image Sect. Begin!"

"Be careful. I'm about to attack," Luo Wu said.

"Okay, come on."

Mo Shang came back to himself and answered with a helpless laugh.

They had only just met, yet the other man was warning him to be careful. He truly lived up to his Innocent Heart trait...

As soon as Mo Shang finished speaking, Luo Wu stamped down hard. The stone tiles of the arena exploded!

He didn't use any spiritual power. Relying solely on the terrifying strength bursting from his leg muscles, he charged at Mo Shang like a savage beast thundering across the wilderness.

His fists howled through the air, pounding out muffled booms like thunder. The sheer power of his body left the watching disciples stunned.

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

"Body cultivator? They're just fragile glass cannons with better physiques. Not as good as sword cultivators."

"You serious, bro? You're really that full of yourself?"

"If we're talking real strength, then it's got to be us sword cultivators: holding the sun and moon in our hands, plucking stars from the heavens; there's no one else like us under the sky. Our innate sword hearts are clear, and all things under heaven can become swords. Through countless tribulations, the cosmos itself becomes our blade. All swords return to one; one sword opens Heaven's Gate. We're masters of offense and defense, cutting down every demon under heaven. Like a demon-slaying lord descended from the sky, a god of war among mortals—mighty and awe-inspiring, peerless in all the world, undefeated in a hundred battles, standing proud above all!!!"

"Holy crap, I can't take it anymore, guys, get him!"

"So you're the sword cultivator, huh? Take this! Skyfall!"

Facing the incoming fist, Mo Shang remained calm. For some reason, he felt like the other man's attacks were a little slow...

With a light step, Mo Shang's figure drifted like willow fluff in the wind, calmly dodging amid Luo Wu's frenzied barrage of fists.

Every one of Luo Wu's blows struck empty air. When they crashed into the arena, they left craters everywhere and sent broken stones flying, yet they never even touched the hem of Mo Shang's robe.

"Hah!"

Seeing this, Luo Wu stopped holding back. He roared, and the muscles throughout his body swelled another size, his skin taking on a faint bronze sheen. He drove both fists forward, a sky full of fist shadows sealing off every avenue of escape for Mo Shang.