Jiang Lin Steals the Show
While Qin Chuan was provoking Jiang Lin on the stage, Jin Pang and Wang Sang below seemed to be in sync with him, stirring up trouble of their own.
The two spoke loudly about how pale he was, calling him a damned eunuch and a man-woman, and saying how very, very pale he was.
With the two of them leading the way, and the formation competition being a little dull because ordinary disciples couldn't understand it at all, the others also began gossiping about the melodramatic affairs of Pei Xuan and his two fellow disciples.
Qin Chuan's participation in the formation competition had also prompted many disciples to call their friends over. The second-generation cultivators who had stripped Jiang Lin bare back then had come too. They had been involved, so they talked about the incident at even greater length, focusing especially on Jiang Lin. After all, he was the only one of the naked protagonists present that day.
Someone even called out, "I was in seclusion that day and didn't see it. Was Jiang Lin really that pale?"
"Of course he was. Really pale, even paler than a female cultivator, and he was also very... hehehe." That was followed by the lewd laughter of male cultivators and the embarrassed curses of female cultivators.
The crowd's gazes drifted toward Jiang Lin, some overtly, some not. A few even stole glances at Yun Yao on the high platform. After all, Yun Yao, his master, seemed to have an even better figure. They wondered whether Yun Yao was the same as Jiang Lin...
Jiang Lin was already about to explode with rage on the stage, and Yun Yao's expression wasn't much better. A disciple's disgrace was his master's disgrace. He shot to his feet and shouted, "Quiet, all of you! Do not disturb the formation competition."
The sect master had spoken, and the grand elder spoke up as well. "If you want to gossip, do it when you get back. Do not disturb the formation competition."
"Yes, disciple understands," Wang Sang replied loudly to the grand elder, and the chatter below died down.
Only teasing gazes continued to fall on Jiang Lin, as though trying to see through his clothes and find out just what... Jiang Lin did have a good figure, though. He was a male supporting character, after all.
The silence was even more terrifying than the gossip. Those gazes were invisible knives, and Jiang Lin completely lost control. The second round required the contestants to set up two fourth-grade formations, one for defense and one for attack.
This time, Chu Ling'er emerged first. When she saw that no one else was outside, a smile spread across her face. Chu Lanqiu, on the high platform, smiled faintly as well, proud of her daughter.
More than ten breaths later, Jiang Lin emerged, while Qin Chuan came out only after another ten-odd breaths.
In the end, only Qin Chuan and the other two succeeded in setting up two fourth-grade formations that passed the tests.
"We need a third round. Since there are three of them, why not draw lots?" Chu Lanqiu ordered the elder presiding over the arena to have Qin Chuan and the other two draw lots.
The male supporting character Jiang Lin had to show off, so he certainly couldn't get a bye. Qin Chuan's luck was sure to be better than that of the proud little firecracker Chu Ling'er. In the end, Qin Chuan got the bye, and Chu Ling'er faced Jiang Lin.
"Go, third senior brother!!!" Gu Xiran the groundhog shrieked again.
Qin Chuan picked at his ear, unable to resist muttering to himself, The heroine sure has a good set of lungs. Even if she didn't cultivate, she could go to the mortal world and be a rooster, waking people up in the morning, and she'd never have to worry about food or drink.
He wasn't the main attraction in the next match. As he walked down, he wondered what formation he should use to deal with Jiang Lin later. He was determined to win the formation competition.
The reward for first place in the formation competition was a formation grandmaster's insights gathered over a lifetime, as well as a jade slip recording a damaged ancient formation. Qin Chuan was very interested in that damaged ancient formation.
As he stepped down from the stage, Jin Pang and Gu Hao came over, while Wang Sang had already gone off to act seductive around Chu Qiulan. Oh, no, that wasn't right-to display his charm.
"Brother Qin, getting a bye gives you the perfect chance to see what Jiang Lin can do. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be imperiled in a hundred battles. Then it'll be easier for you to win." Jin Pang didn't understand formations, but he firmly believed Qin Chuan could defeat Jiang Lin.
Then he sighed. "It's a pity you can't cut Jiang Lin's dick off in the formation competition like in the martial competition. Otherwise, I'd go borrow that vicious dog and let the three fellow disciples share the blessing."
"Senior brother Jin, you're so kind." Gu Hao chuckled and unconsciously bent forward, protecting his precious treasure.
"Why not borrow that dog first, just in case..." Qin Chuan gave Jin Pang a knowing look.
"Then I'll go right now. Wait for me." Jin Pang left without looking back, heading straight for his destination. He had long since asked Wang Sang whom he'd borrowed the dog from.
"Brother Qin, might I invite you to my cave abode for a chat after the formation competition?" Gu Hao extended the invitation again.
"It's an honor to be invited, brother Gu." Qin Chuan agreed without hesitation, then turned his attention back to the arena.
Having received a satisfactory answer, Gu Hao said no more and quietly watched Chu Ling'er and Jiang Lin's match on the stage.
Chu Ling'er treated everyone with the same pride. Unless someone thoroughly defeated her in formations, there was no way she would concede to them.
"Jiang Lin, let's begin. I'll defeat you first, then Qin Chuan, and take first place in the formation competition."
Jiang Lin merely smiled disdainfully. He could now just barely set up a fifth-grade formation, so he didn't take Chu Ling'er seriously at all. He said slowly, "Junior sister Ling'er, how about you defend and I attack?"
Defensive formations were easier to set up than offensive ones, and an offensive formation had to be much more powerful to break through a defensive formation of the same grade. Jiang Lin's proposal gave Chu Ling'er the advantage.
"No need to go easy on me. You defend and I'll attack." Chu Ling'er didn't bother refusing further and immediately began setting up a formation.
"Then I won't hold back." Jiang Lin didn't concern himself with being gentlemanly either. He wanted to deal with Chu Ling'er quickly, then give Qin Chuan a proper lesson.
On the platform, Chu Qiulan frowned slightly at Chu Ling'er's overconfidence. Yun Yao spoke up to smooth things over for Jiang Lin. "My unworthy disciple doesn't know any better. Once the formation competition is over, I'll be sure to discipline him properly."
Chu Lanqiu said nothing and watched the match on the stage in silence. In truth, she knew that even if Chu Ling'er focused on defense, she couldn't defeat Jiang Lin.
Still, she held out some hope. Chu Xing had personally guided Chu Ling'er over the past few days; perhaps she had made a breakthrough.
But her hopes were soon dashed. Chu Ling'er set up a fourth-grade offensive formation: the Wind and Fire Two Instruments Formation.
Founded on wind and fire and activated by spirit stones, it sent raging flames and fierce gales against the Five Elements Mutual Generation Formation Jiang Lin had set up.
The Five Elements Mutual Generation Formation was founded on the five elements, whose transformations were unpredictable. Its countless variations could easily fend off Chu Ling'er's attacks.
Seeing that the Wind and Fire Two Instruments Formation was useless, Chu Ling'er switched to another formation. But it was no use. She switched to yet another, and it still didn't work.
Formation after formation proved useless. In half an hour, Chu Ling'er set up seven or eight fourth-grade formations, and her soul power was nearly exhausted. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and her face was deathly pale. If she kept going, she might damage her foundation.
Chu Ling'er still wanted to set up another formation, but Chu Lanqiu intervened, whisking her to her side. "Ling'er has lost. Elder Meng, announce Jiang Lin's victory."
"Mother..." Chu Ling'er refused to accept it.
"Jiang Lin can already just barely set up a fifth-grade formation. You're no match for him." Chu Lanqiu's voice turned stern.
Hearing that Jiang Lin could already just barely set up a fifth-grade formation, Chu Ling'er lost heart. She obediently lowered her head and said in a muffled voice, "Mother, I understand."