Xu Qing raised his eyes to Zhang Guan.
Zhang Guan looked down at him, contempt curling his lips, his eyes making no attempt to hide his meaning: I'm blatantly setting you up. What can you do about it?
Xu Qing said nothing and raised no objection. He merely added this debt to his mental ledger.
The drawing of lots soon ended.
Five received byes; ten would fight.
He Tao stepped out of the Lu Family's ranks, and Xu Qing emerged from the Lu Family crowd.
He Tao practiced the Five Tigers Soul-Ending Saber. His saber was already drawn, its edge gleaming with a bone-piercing chill. As he watched Xu Qing, his gaze was colder still.
Xu Qing neither spoke nor asked questions. He simply stood opposite He Tao and slowly raised his spear point, aiming it at his throat.
Before either moved, their auras had already begun to clash.
Just as outside Gloommoon Valley, everyone's attention was once again drawn to Xu Qing.
"He Tao is more than a whole league above Ji Han. Xu Qing's in trouble this time." Song Xiaoye, the Song Family's foremost outer sect disciple, shook his head slightly.
Lu Tong smiled faintly without saying more.
Cui Bai, Chen Jing, and Han Xiang watched with impassive eyes. Zhang Guan was already settling in to enjoy the show.
Among the Outer Sect Seven Sons, only Lu Ya's gaze darkened slightly.
The others wore differing expressions, but most agreed with Song Xiaoye. Xu Qing would probably lose to He Tao.
"Outside Gloommoon Valley, I wanted to experience your spear techniques, junior brother. Unfortunately, I never got the chance." He Tao spoke first, his voice slightly cold. "Now we've drawn each other. It seems heaven intends to grant my wish."
"Whether the outcome will grant your wish is another