The drawing of lots was over.
Cui Bai swept his gaze over everyone and said flatly, "He Tao gets a bye. Everyone else will fight in pairs according to their lot numbers. It's getting late. You may begin."
Before his words had faded, Ji Han strode over with his fists clasped.
The corners of his mouth curled up. Though he was smiling, the smile was far from friendly. "Junior Brother Xu, shall we? Don't hold everyone up because of you and me." His tone was light, his eyes brimming with confidence.
He had lived on Upper Peak for two years. Though his ranking was not high, he believed he had every right to put on airs before a newcomer who had entered the sect only twenty days ago and lived at Number Ninety-Nine.
Xu Qing did not reply. He returned the salute with clasped fists and carried Frostspine Spear toward an open patch of ground.
Many people were curious about Xu Qing. Even though he and Ji Han ranked near the bottom among the crowd, their match was the one drawing the most attention.
Before long, the place where they stood had been surrounded by a loose circle.
At that moment, moonlight happened to spill over, illuminating the clearing as though it had been coated in silver frost.
Xu Qing stood in the center, Frostspine in hand. Under the moonlight, the silver spear reflected the moon's glow, as though he had been gilded in a layer of silver radiance, making his entire bearing stand out.
Ji Han was fairly handsome as well, yet standing opposite Xu Qing now, he somehow seemed eclipsed. It was not that his looks fell short, but rather the aura that permeated his whole person.
Before the fight had even begun, Ji Han had already noticed