NOVPUB``` 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓅𝓾𝒷.𝒸ℴ𝓂
"This time, the six sects have sent out a total of sixty disciples. Based on the draw, they will select their opponents," the Third Elder said slowly, "The matches will be one-on-one, a single victory determining the outcome. The rule is that from sixty, we go to thirty, and from thirty to fifteen.
When we reach fifteen, one person will draw a bye, and the other fourteen will compete.
As for who will draw the bye, that will be a matter of luck.
From fifteen to eight, for those remaining eight, we will determine their next opponents based on the duration of each match. The disciple who defeats their opponent in the shortest time will get to pick their next challenger.
Do you understand?"
"Understood," the disciples from the six major sects replied vigorously in their separate teams.
"Today, here, we have gathered the majority of the powers from the entire Extreme West Region. Gaining fame here means you will become famous across the entire Extreme West Region," the Third Elder’s gaze swept over all the young faces present, his voice filled with Spiritual Energy, thunderously stating, "Bring out your full strength, the result of your decades of cultivation effort.
Today, right here, in front of your Sect Master, under the watchful eyes of so many, make everyone remember your names."
The Third Elder’s words stirred the assembled youths, their excitement visible as even their complexions turned a shade redder.
It was as if their hearts were filled with unreleased passion, suddenly making them feel as if they bore vast gorges in their chests, their spirits soaring to the sky,
With one goal clear in their minds, "To rise to fame and make a name for oneself."
"It’s great to be young, a few words can get them all fired up," Xu Zimei, observing the youths nearby, remarked, "The martial stage is already set up, all roles are ready to enter the scene in turn."
Standing beside Xu Zimei, Baili Xiao was dressed in white at the forefront of the line, her gaze fixed from the beginning to the end on the young man directly opposite her from the Yin-Yang Sect.
Chu Yang, wearing a robe representing the union of black and white, stared back at Baili Xiao with just as much intensity.
With their eyes locked across the space between them, traces of tears glistened in Baili Xiao’s eyes as she murmured to herself, "Big brother Chu Yang."
She hadn’t expected that the ordinary youth from that small mountain village had gone through so much hardship, achieving what he had without the help of resources or connections.
Becoming the Saint Heir of the Yin-Yang Sect, Baili Xiao felt a sense of pride deep inside—proud of Chu Yang, and proud of herself as well.
"Quite touching indeed," Xu Zimei chuckled, watching Baili Xiao’s expression, "Tell me, if I were to crush his head like a watermelon, would you be heartbroken?"
"You dare to kill someone during the six-sect tournament?" Baili Xiao turned her head and asked indifferently.
"Accidents happen quite often, you know," Xu Zimei replied with a smile, "Of course, if you start weeping and begging now, I might make his death look a little more dignified."
"You better take care of yourself first. Don’t fail to get past the first round," Baili Xiao replied disdainfully.
"No need for your concern," Xu Zimei’s smile turned wicked, "I plan to dismember him piece by piece right in front of you."
Baili Xiao frowned deeply, snorted coldly, and paid Xu Zimei no more attention.
When the tournament began, the disciples below the stage erupted into an overwhelming chorus of cheers.
Being the home ground of the True Martial Holy Sect, naturally, their side’s cheers were louder, almost drowning out the supporting yells from the other sects.
The vibrant voices melded together, the space itself trembling with their resounding echoes.
In these cheers, those supporting Baili Xiao were naturally the loudest.
With her beauty, talent in cultivation, and being the heiress of the Empress, she was the dream of many disciples.
Amongst this clamor, Xu Zimei faintly heard cheers for himself as well.
"Xu Zimei, I want to bear your monkeys."
```
His expression darkened, if it had been a woman’s voice, it might have been okay, but these voices were particularly rough and masculine, and he had no idea where these men had sprung up from.
Afterward, everyone began to draw lots, with a total of thirty numbers divided into two groups. Disciples who drew the same number would face off against each other.
Xu Zimei looked at the number he had drawn and saw it was number seven.
Once the groups were formed, Xu Zimei stepped onto the platform designated for number seven.
His opponent, dressed in a black robe, was a disciple from the Purgatory Holy Sect.
That disciple glanced at Xu Zimei and chuckled, "The son of the True Martial Holy Sect’s Deputy Sect Master, wouldn’t my reputation soar if I eliminated you in the first round?
No sooner had the disciple’s words fallen, than a "clang" of a drawn blade rang out. He didn’t even catch the shadow of the blade before he felt a stinging pain on his neck.
The disciple’s pupils constricted sharply; he reached down to touch his neck and saw the skin on the outside of his neck had been lightly cut.
"You’re quite lucky, I didn’t miss," Xu Zimei said with a light chuckle. "By the way, what did you just say? I didn’t catch it."
"Hehe," the disciple forced out a dry laugh, "The wind today is certainly boisterous."
Saying so, he walked down from the platform, his heart thumping uncontrollably; he had just skirted the edge of death.
Down in the spectator stands, Yan Hong, the Sect Leader of the Purgatory Holy Sect, chuckled lightly, "Sect Master Xu, your son is quite powerful, eh? He resolved the fight with our sect’s disciple with a single Draw Blade Technique."
"It’s just one match, it doesn’t signify much," Xu Qingshan said with a light chuckle, shaking his head.
After Xu Zimei defeated his opponent, he stepped down from the platform to watch the other contestants’ bouts.
Because after the top eight, the disciple with the shortest duration in their duel had the right to choose their own opponent, so many were trying to resolve the fight as quickly as possible.
Chu Yang held the Wandering Dragon Sword in his hand. With a single stroke, a mix of Yin and Yang Qi spread. Yin and Yang Qi represent the way of opposites and the way of change.
When the Yin and the Yang—two different and opposing extremities—exploded before his eyes, the disciple was blasted off the platform.
Xu Zimei’s eyes lit up; Yin and Yang Qi, and not the acquired Yin and Yang, but the most primal innate Yin and Yang.
This was a crucial item for constructing his own life’s world. Xu Zimei felt a sense of love and hate between him and Chu Yang.
"I was already planning to kill him, but before he dies, the guy has prepared such a big surprise for me."
Xu Zimei originally intended to look for the legendary Forgotten Dust Pearl and extract the innate Yin and Yang Qi inside it to construct his life’s world.
Now it looked like although he had taken away Chu Yang’s World Pearl from his previous life, Chu Yang’s aura of fortune seemed to have found the Forgotten Dust Pearl again.
"What a treasure," Xu Zimei muttered to himself, making him now a bit reluctant to kill, wouldn’t it be better to keep and nurture him?
But, fearing that protraction might lead to complications, he didn’t want the roles of hunter and prey to be reversed.
......
With the end of the first round, thirty disciples were eliminated.
The remaining thirty disciples drew lots again, and Xu Zimei drew number twelve.
When he stepped onto the platform, he saw a young man in a golden robe, with a sword in his embrace, already waiting for him.
"Isn’t that Lin Yifei from the Cloud Sky Sword Forest?" a disciple exclaimed in surprise from below.
