Chapter 163: His Highness Competes
Translator: Misty Cloud Editor: Misty Cloud
The teacher watched the judges by his side nodding their heads, stood up, and coughed fiercely twice.
Following the sounds of those two dry coughs, the entire arena regained its quietness.
Teacher Ling Li scanned all around. After confirming everyone's silence, did he speak. "The academy's finals, Superior Compound versus Inferior Compound, first match, martial qi competition, starts now!"
After he finished speaking, the teacher returned to his original position.
Master Bai felt that he didn't even need to watch the first match. This was Yuan family's most outstanding genius. His martial qi's level was only slightly beneath Murong Chang Feng's. Even within the entire academy, one may not necessarily find many who could compare with his strength, much less trash from the Inferior Compound.
The match he's most concerned with was the second one in armaments, and it wasn't for any other reason except that armaments was unlike the other two matches. During the finals, a written exam was added.
He's afraid at that time, the duration would be too lengthy and the students over here might lose patience.
It's easy to understand. The outcome basically was already inevitable, yet they had to use their freetime to compete with this group of people who didn't even know what armaments were. They were really just wasting their time. They would be better off sleeping a bit more.
Master Bai shook his head, directly put away the purple ceramic teapot in his hand, and started to close his eyes to rest.
The spectators who saw him breathed a lengthy sigh. "Look at how relaxed Master Bai is, he doesn't even need to give any pointers and just allowed Young Master Yuan to directly go onstage. I reckon this time, there's no need to think about it, the champion will be the Superior Compound."
"That's for sure! In the previous two rounds, the sequence was divination, then martial qi. The Inferior Compound still was able to win, because martial qi was left for last, but it'll be different in the finals. Once they lose the first round, it'll be tantamount to losing half of the competition already."
"That's right, that person from the Inferior Compound, do you guys have inside information on him? What rank of a martial artist is he, yet so brazen, even already butt heads with Young Master Yuan before."
"I don't know any inside information, however, when I looked at the school records last time, he seemed to be earth rank."
"Ha ha ha, earth rank? Then it's going to be a tragedy for him. Young Master Yuan won't be lenient. However, speaking of this, in the preceding two rounds, the Inferior Compound won undefeated. It seems that person hasn't competed before."
"Doesn't matter if he's come out before, he's still going to be screwed, don't forget, that's Young Master Yuan."
Everybody's tongues were wagging, everyone taking delight in someone else's calamity as they laughed.
Yet when they encountered the figure approaching from behind, they couldn't help but swallow their saliva.
Baili Jia Jue slowly walked onstage, the outlines of his long robe, the meticulously faceted shoulders, his entire graceful body, tall and straight, standing beneath the golden evening light, so beautiful even the heaven and earth paled in comparison....
The people nearby automatically made way for him.
In his eyes, it's as if the many people weren't there, nor was there the existence of Yuan Ling Xuan. His gaze was as it's always been, unapproachable, cold and detached, noble, also a trace of something indecipherable.
Just from that, Yuan Ling Xuan fumed with anger between gritted teeth. He was arrogant by nature. All of those officials, big or small, which one of them didn't need to watch his mood to survive.
Even within White Academy, students from all four compounds must listen to his commands.
Yet this destitute pedantic guy dared to embarrass him!
Yuan Ling Xuan didn't believe at all that an earth ranked martial artist deserved his attention. If it weren't for the fact that this despicable guy was too arrogant, he wouldn't have even needed to appear onstage.
However!
He was absolutely willing to beat his opponent into a pulp!
Especially that arrogant face of his, he had to properly take care of it!
Yuan Ling Xuan strode a step forward, lifting his eyelids to glance sideways at Baili Jia Jue. "You now should know how big the disparity is between you and I. You dared to provoke me on the first day of school. I can't help but say that you're really not afraid of death. If I were you, I'd throw away the match right now, at least your life will be saved. Of course, if you kneel and beg this young master, I might actually leave half of your life intact."
After hearing these words, the first to react wasn't Baili Jia Jue, rather, it's the Seventh Prince sitting in the Superior Compound's alternate section.
The little person stood up all of a sudden. On his face was fear the end of the world's coming.
That guy dared to go as far as having Third Brother kneel to him.
Was that son from the Yuan family crazy!
This won't do. After the competition, he must sever his ties with the Superior Compound to avoid suffering collateral damage when Third Brother retaliated!
Third Brother had never been the kind of person who's done after he beat up someone.
After he's done beating him up, he's gonna follow up with one of his most painful attacks!
For example, have him completely strip naked and dance the frog dance.
Oh god!
He really didn't want to think about it!
Little Seventh Prince wrapped his hands around his bald head and shook it back and forth, his little body almost couldn't stand firmly, his pair of cheeks was actually bulging cutely.
One had no choice but to say that this Yuan Ling Xuan was too dumb!
Really was especially dumb!
Nangong Lie also thought this as he slowly broke into a smile, both ice-cold and pensive.
Let's first not count the fire qilin. That guy's immeasurable martial qi alone was more than enough to beat up ten Yuan Ling Xuan's.
Heh...how's Third Prince going to respond?
Nangong Lie turned his head around, and looked at the side of Baili Jia Jue's face becoming colder.
Yuan Ling Xuan's still fearlessly chirping and babbling over there.
Not until he'd flaunt just about everything did Baili Jia Jue slowly open his mouth and only said three words. "Who are you?"
Who are you, who are you, who are you...
Yuan Ling Xuan's face started to crack...
"Pfff!"
Wei Wei, who heard everything from beginning to end, couldn't control herself, as she buried her face in her belly and laughed.
Instant kill, absolutely an instant kill! action
At a time when you hate a person, detest him so much your head's going to explode, your target only responded with 'who are you'.
That kind of feeling could not be described in words. Just watching Yuan Ling Xuan's face paled into white, then darkening from white into black, then returning again into white, was already so very marvelous.
Yet Baili Jia Jue was as before, appeared as if the matter was of no concern to himself, the side of his face was so clean, it's almost impossible to see his pores.
Yuan Ling Xuan was thoroughly enraged!
His left-hand tightly clenched then turned upwards, a swish sound crisply echoed!
The long whip in his hand made a swish sound as it took shape. Sharp thorns covered the whip's body, radiating a yellow light.
"My god, gold rank! This is the first time I've seen a gold rank from the legends!"
"Don't tell me this is a gift an heir of one of the four great clan's born with! Too incredible!"
Hearing the two words, gold rank, Master Tu Lao turned towards the stage and took a look. That's no doubt gold rank. Even though its radiance was still very weak, however, that kind of sharpness wasn't something anyone was capable of resisting. It seemed that this time, the Inferior Compound, a dark horse that performed beyond everyone's expectations, was bound to suffer defeat.
Yuan Ling Xuan relished soaking up the sighs and laments bubbling forth from all sides, the corners of his mouth perked up as he laughed evilly, pleased with himself. "What now? Want to beg for mercy?"
Everyone turned their heads to look at Baili Jia Jue. Ordinarily, under these circumstances, competitors would give up on the match. After all, the opponent was actually gold ranked!
Facing such ardent gazes, Baili Jia Jue naturally didn't disappoint. His left hand straightened his sleeves, as he leisurely glanced sideways. "Beg for mercy? Are you talking about yourself?"
It's precisely this attitude, that made the pit of Yuan Ling Xuan's stomach flare up. His palm moved, only the whip suddenly coming to life could be seen as it transformed into a long black snake. Its sharp tip was even hissing and spitting a snake tongue!
Without exception, everyone in the audience were overwhelmed with shock. How high must his martial qi be, to be able to transform an armament's appearance, undulating as if alive. How was this a martial qi competition. It's practically a bloodbath!
At this very moment, there was only one thought in everyone's mind, and that was that Baili Jia Jue was going to die!
Chapter 164: Incomparably Dashing
Translator: Misty Cloud Editor: Misty Cloud
A long snake entering the heavens, in the blink of an eye, changed into a python, its ferocious mouth of a predator, dove down from the sky!
The speed of that kind of attack was incredibly fast, its aura impressive, simply the same as sending its victim straight to hell!
Not to mention an earth rank martial artist, even an equivalent gold rank, facing such a huge python, would run nonstop!
Baili Jia Jue's entire head was buried in the python's mouth, and looked as if the python's fangs was going to rip his head apart!
Just when everyone was just about frightened out of their wits, Baili Jia Jue slowly opened his eyes. The originally black colored pupils seemed to pass through layers of pure, layers of clean golden light, aimed at the huge serpent's eyes!
The marble under his feet, unable to resist this intense force, already split open into veins after veins of cracks!
The huge serpent's fangs eventually completely enclosed him and thoroughly swallowed Baili Jia Jue into its stomach!
Yuan Ling Xuan complacently smiled, however...in the next second, his pair of eyes that always looked down on people continuously flickered violently.
Because of that rising smoke within the ruins, the one cowering backwards unexpectedly wasn't Baili Jia Jue, but rather that armament he was so proud of? !
How's this possible? !
What the hell did that guy do!
Silence, dead silence!
The entire audience was stupefied. Their gaping mouths were bigger than a chicken egg. The expression on their faces was exceedingly incredulous. After a short period of time, gasping breaths, similar to a windmill, sounded out.
Shocked as they faced the scene before them. Unprecedented amazement flashed in their eyes!
The originally wildly oppressive python surprisingly lost its recent viciousness, curled up as if in surrender into a little black snake, continually sliding backwards, even a bit like it's begging for mercy.
However, the young man ignored all of this, and only slowly walked forward, a dark robe covering that tall and graceful silhouette, his pure white fur hunting cloak fluttered, leaking an ice-cold aura of death.
The expression on his face was just the same as before, apathetic. The evil residing at the corner of his mouth was mixed with a kind of unhurried gracefulness, as if the rise and fall of the world of humans was but merely a twinkling of an eye for him.
The snake's shadow retreated, only a section of an armament was left underfoot.
Yuan Ling Xuan distressfully cupped those metal pieces in his hands, was going to say something, but discovered that his right hand unexpectedly couldn't be lifted!
Creak...the black sole of a shoe pressed on the ground.
Yuan Ling Xuan finally realized that the opponent didn't merely destroy his beloved armament. What's scarier was that his right hand simply could no longer move!
Could it be he's also someone from one of the four great clans!
That can't be!
He's seen everyone from the four great clans, the only one within who's above him was Murong Chang Feng.
Moreover, the person before him, simply had never appeared at any of the four great clans' meetings before!
Then who in the world was he!
Was there someone in Dragon War Empire who's even stronger than the four great clans!
"Despicable!" As if he wanted to vomit up the shock from his heart, Yuan Ling Xuan violently howled, his final note then trembled in a way that was impossible to conceal as a smell emerged from his throat, followed by a mouthful of blood overflowing out of the corners of his mouth, no longer able to be contained, due to an undefinable martial qi that hit him from the stage!
His whole body flew horizontally towards Master Bai's direction. The outcome of this battle was determined!
Master Bai subconsciously wanted to extend his hand to support him, but the palm of his hand immediately became numb, and an unspoken astonishment erupted on his face.
This was...residual qi.
A residual qi that even he couldn't repel!
How's that possible!
Everyone was in an uproar! action
Almost everyone stood up!
This even included Master Tu Lao sitting at the judging panel's section!
"Genius, he's absolutely a genius! Did you see that!"
The people holding their breaths also could no longer control their emotions stirring up and the arena immediately got caught up in an indescribable excitement.
It's precisely because Baili Jia Jue had never participated in any prior martial qi tests before that this kind of effect, where people gasped in amazement, resulted today!
Everyone who said they doubted Baili Jia Jue's ability prior to the competition, now found themselves shaken such that even their blood vessels heated up.
Just as Master Tu Lao had said, this was absolutely a genius!
The faces of people within the Superior and Fine Compounds were so unsightly, their complexion somewhat turned purple, as if they'd been slapped in front of everybody.
The Good Compound, instead, were always clapping, because ever since the first round of competition, they'd been thoroughly subdued by the Inferior Compound, and even said they'd follow after the Inferior Compound in the future, aiming to get along with them. Several students even ran to ask Nangong Lie if they'd accept younger brothers!
Nangong Lie blew at his hair and was going to decline.
But Wei Wei then smiled lightly and uttered one word. "Sure."
Tusu Feng listened to the voices rising like the tides around him while he gently sipped a mouthful of tea in a refined manner, but his eyes shone faintly.
This was Baili Jia Jue.
An invincible god in those days.
For so many years, he lost his qi, and locked himself up in his palace. He didn't even move his finger once, to the extent that everyone had forgotten, after he made a move, how frightening it was!
At a not so distant place, a human figure was watching this scene. The paper in his hand shredded into fragments falling layer upon layers into the ground, as the pupils of his eyes constricted then enlarged repeatedly while he spoke. "Elder Huan, this...this!"
My god, did Dragon War Empire still have this kind of genius?
Why's he not in their Battle Spirit Forces!
Based on logic, a rank like this, couldn't have been ignored!
Huan Ming Xuan stroked his shining white beard, his long sleeves floating in the air, like an immortal. "And now, do you still feel that these people from the Inferior Compound still don't have the qualifications to replace those students from the Superior Compound and enter our Battle Spirit Forces?"
The human figure was choked by Huan Ming Xiang's words and breathed a very long sigh, however, he was still very prudent in his reasoning. "This only demonstrated clearly that he can, I still haven't witnessed the other people's ability."
"Then let's continue to watch." Huan Ming Xiang stood steadily, but his heart was somewhat apprehensive. If that girl competed in martial qi, he wouldn't have been worried at all, however, armaments...truly's not something ordinary people could play with, especially since after this match, the Superior Compound would very likely change their competitor. If this was the case, the person she'd face would be Murong Chang Feng.
Besides the prestigious armament family's Young Master Wu Shuang.
This person, Murong Chang Feng, was presently the greatest genius in armaments that they've found.
It could be seen how strong he was.
What's more, he's Master Tu Lao's official disciple.
Huan Ming Xiang almost suspected that this match in the competition might result in a one-sided victory.
Yet Wei Wei herself wasn't the least bit worried, as she directly walked towards Baili Jia Jue, her demeanor was unusually elegant, like she was leisurely rambling through a garden, only stopping when she stood in front of Baili Jia Jue's ice-cold face, lifted an empty palm holding it up high...
Baili Jia Jue also curved his thin lips, and lifted his left hand.
Slap!
A dashing high five sounded.
The two people's bodies unexpectedly gave off an identical languidness. For a split second, it almost made people feel that the two were well-matched as they stood there together.
"Good, change place with me. I'm going onstage." Wei Wei smoothed her sleeve, her smiling expression tinged with a hint of evil...
Chapter 165: Helian Wei Wei Came Onstage
Translator: Misty Cloud Editor: Misty Cloud
On the one hand, people were still stunned into silence by the last duel, unable to extricate themselves.
On the other hand, Wei Wei already lightly leapt and arrived on stage.
The teacher standing by the side stared blankly and seemed as if his senses had barely returned to him after the last competition. He panicked and in a great rush, readjusted his glasses. In a clear voice, he declared. "The competition's first duel, the Inferior Compound is victorious! The second duel is in armaments. Will the student representing the Superior Compound prepare to go onstage."
"Right now, the pressure's on the Superior Compound." The human figure stood up and turned towards Master Bai's direction and took a look, then sat down again, his face unflustered. "This duel is crucial in regards to the entire competition. Even if they've previously already chosen a strong candidate to face their opponent, they'll still change their candidate. Those new students from the Superior Compound, obviously suffered a blow from the previous match just now and are panicking somewhat. The higher they stand, the harder they'll fall. For so many years now, they haven't lost before. What happened this time, indeed was a big blow. However, it doesn't matter, every team has a linchpin. The linchpin of the Superior Compound's team is none other than Murong Chang Feng. That one with the last name Bai will certainly send Murong Chang Feng out, not merely because they need to win, but more importantly, to raise the Superior Compound's morale again. Otherwise, if they don't win beautifully enough in this match, it'll probably negatively influence the divination competitor. Because no matter how outstanding the student is, when truly fighting onstage, the lead person going on stage, whether they can or can not hold on to the stage, is also very important."
This person's analysis was right on.
Just as the teacher finished talking, Master Bai stood up. "Chief judge, my compound requests a change of competitor."
During any competition, each compound only had one chance to change competitor.
That's why unlike the Inferior Compound, the other compounds all prepared students as alternates, so that they could adjust to the circumstances during the competition and replace their competitor at the right time.
This is within everyone's expectations.
Sure enough, Master Bai sent Murong Chang Feng to go up.
The side of Murong Chang Feng's handsome face seemed to be not concerned in the least, as he removed the weights bands on his wrists. HIs demeanor was so outstanding that it made many people from the Superior Compound also feel their blood heating up!
"Did you see that! Lord Murong unexpectedly is wearing a weights bands on his wrists. This means that when he was competing against the Fine Compound, he was wearing the weights bands!"
"OMG! When he faced the Fine Compound, the speed with which he assembled the armaments was already so fast, I really can't imagine, after he takes off the weights band, what it's going to be like!"
Murong Chang Feng had already found these kinds of exclamations and comments of admiration to be commonplace, the arrogance on his face was obvious, even if he's better at covering it up, the corners of his mouth still leaked a trace of complacency.
Master Bai stroked his beard and recovered his calmness from before. He believed that as long as Murong Chang Feng was there, they would never lose!
In the last duel, they merely didn't know their opponent enough.
In this duel, they could even be said to 'know yourself, know your enemy'. Their opponent was infamous throughout the capitol, not only as a trash, but as someone spoiled, unbridled, rude, and arrogant. With regards to Murong Chang Feng, she's also like vine smitten with him, tangling him, unwilling to let go.
This kind of person could be handled by any random person from their Superior Compound!
It's just that, just like what the human figure was saying, this time, Master Bai brought out Murong Chang Feng not merely to have him win. What's most important was that he took back the stage!
"Right now, I'll declare the rules for the second duel." The teacher slowly scanned the people beneath the stage. After they'd all settled down, he then continued. "Unlike the first two matches, this second duel is divided into two parts, the first part is the written exam. The rules are very simple. In here, Master Tu Lao prepared for you guys the same armament components. You guys think about what kind of armaments will best make use of the components. You only need to formulate two kinds of high grade armaments to win. The time given is half of an incense stick. If within this time, a competitor fails to come up with two high grade armaments, they will directly lose. In other words, they're disqualified from continuing to compete. If both people are able to design two grade armaments, then the one with the better quality will win."
After he finished saying this, the teacher retreated to the side.
On the wood stage, two stone pillars slowly rose. On each stone pillar the same armament components were arranged. However, what made people feel to be the most difficult was that those components were scattered and were unremarkable. To turn these armament components into one good armament was already very difficult, yet right now, they were surprisingly asked to come up with at least two sets of plans. How deserving of Master Tu Lao, even able to come up with such a tricky theme!
Everyone thought this, as one after another, they turned and glanced towards Master Tu Lao's seat, but only saw that he show any change in state of mind. Even though it's not that far from here to the competition stage. However, his cataracts prevented him from seeing the features of the person on the stage clearly. He only stroked his beard and his pair of smiling eyes gave off a mysterious feeling.
"This year, students from the Inferior Compound is actually worth paying attention to, hehe, really didn't foresee that the one onstage surprisingly is a girl. It seems that this duel is getting more and more interesting."
The referee sitting by his side glanced at him and grinned. "Tu Lao, ah, I say, this eyesight of yours is getting worse and worse. Isn't that the Helian family's Miss Good-for-nothing. Don't you recognize her?"
"How would he recognize her. Currently, imprinted in his heart is only that genius he met at Phoenix Tower. He doesn't even care about his own disciple, why would he care about someone who can't be reached using eight bamboo poles (their disparity is too great)."
Tu Lao put down the teacup in his hand. "You guys can stop teasing me. This year, the Inferior Compound truly is exceptional."
"This, I admit." Another master's expression was conspicuously moved. "That student who just finished his martial qi duel can even directly enter the Superior Compound. Speaking of which, what in the world's his background. How come I've never heard of him?"
Tu Lao also felt puzzled in exactly same way. However, he personally wasn't very interested in martial qi geniuses. What he'd most like to see during the armaments duel this time was for a dark-horse to kill the competition.
"Look, you guys! Lord Murong already started writing!"
It's unknown who spoke among the crowd.
Everybody retracted their gazes, the expression in their eyes brimming with astonishment. "So fast?"
"Alright." Murong Chang Feng merely used a few minutes and already put aside the writing brush in his hand, passing his rolled-up answers to the teacher by his side. "Will the teacher please have the masters take a look, these are my answers."
The teacher received the fine writing paper and originally was going to give it to Tu Lao. However, Tu Lao smiled gently and waved his hand to signal the teacher to give it to another master.
"He deserves to be your disciple, within such a short time, he already drew up three plans." The master who received the fine writing paper eyes were full of admiration as he shook his head. "Doesn't this settle the win."
Facing this kind of outcome, Tu Lao wasn't surprised as the corners of his mouth curved up. This disciple of his' ability was something he already knew about, and indeed not bad.....