Chapter 86: Round 2 Begins!
[A/N: Has the story become less interesting? đ¤ I observed that some of you (though they might not even see this) have canceled their membership, even though I have increased the update pace and started writing longer chapters. I am confused. đ]
The next day, I woke up early at the first crack of dawn.
Yawn~ đŞ
I covered my mouth and stretched my limbs. It had been a long time since I had slept so deeply.
I looked outside the window, where two little sparrows chirped on a bare branch of the tree in my courtyard. The light from the rising sun fell on the canopy of skeletal branches, their once vibrant leaves long shed, now scattered across the ground in withered, brittle remnants of autumn. A cold breeze rustled through them, carrying the faint scent of winter's arrival.
Standing up, I walked toward the window. As I opened it, the gentle yet slightly cold winter breeze touched my facial features. My eyes blinked as I gazed at the clear skyâthere were no birds visible in the vast expanse.
"New day, new beginning," I muttered. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed my outer disciple robes were covered in dry bloodstains.
(A/N: The outer disciple robes of the Hidden Dragon Sect are dark gray with silver embroidery, symbolizing their status as the foundation of the sect. The robes are simple yet sturdy, designed for practicality rather than luxury, with the sect's emblem stitched onto the back.)
My jet-black hair was disheveled. Running my fingers through my silky strands, I checked my appearance in the mirror and commented, "I look really handsome and fresh in the morning. Even with my hair messed up, it has a feeling of defiance in it."
I touched my faceâit was paler than usual. Well, credit for that goes to the winter season. In summer, my skin becomes more humid.
"Well, time to get back to my usual appearance."
I took a quick bath. The cold temperature did not affect me since I had been regularly taking medicinal baths at night, when the winter temperatures were at their harshest. Now, morning baths hardly fazed me.
A low ponytail, tied at the nape of my neck with a simple dark ribbon or string, was my usual go-to hairstyle. It was commonly used and made it easier for me to blend in with the crowd. After bathing, I applied a bit of herbal hair gel (something used by ancient cultivators), making my hair settle in a relaxed, natural wayâneither too styled nor unkempt. After washing, I rubbed a light amount of herbal gel or scented oil into my hair, smoothing it down so it looked simple and well-kept but not extravagant.
"Master." Shadow Sentinel presented me with a new set of robes.
I draped the backup robe that I had asked Shadow Sentinel to bring me.
After nodding at him, I quickly got ready. Today was the day of the one-on-one duels. This was a great opportunity to observe many geniuses in battle, learn from their mistakes, and ensure that when my turn came, I wouldn't make the same errors as them.
Without saying anything else, I ran out of my residence. Shadow Sentinel hid itself in the voidâor quite literally, in the shadows, as its name implied. I would only notice it once we got closer. For now, Shadow Sentinel was simply fulfilling its duty of ensuring my safety.
Soon, we reached the massive colosseum where the matches were to be held.
Towering before me stood the Hidden Dragon Colosseum, an architectural marvel carved directly from the heart of the mountain itself. Its titanic stone walls, reinforced with ancient formations, stretched impossibly high, forming an unbreakable boundary that had withstood centuries of battle.
The arena within was a vast, open battlefieldâa sea of polished stone, scarred by countless duels, each crack a silent testament to past warriors who had fought for glory. Above, tiered seating rose in concentric layers, large enough to hold tens of thousands of spectators, from ordinary outer disciples to the sect's highest-ranking elders.
Enchanted banners fluttered with invisible energy, displaying the emblems of both the Hidden Dragon Sect and its vassal sects. At the highest point of the colosseum sat the Sect Master's Throne, shrouded in an aura of quiet dominance, overlooking all with an air of unquestionable authority.
Even from afar, I could feel the weight of history pressing upon meâthis was not just a battleground, but a place where legends were forged.
"With the weaker ones removed, the second round shall proceed with direct one-on-one combat. The remaining disciples shall be paired randomly, and each battle shall continue until one side admits defeat or is incapacitated. Killing is prohibited, but severe injuries are inevitable!"
Once again, the voice of the elder who had hosted Round 1 reverberated through the massive colosseum. But his voice was soon drowned out by the deafening cheers from the crowd. Imagine thousands, tens of thousands of people shouting at the same time! For a moment, even the mountain on which the colosseum was built trembled, with tiny and sometimes large boulders falling from the peak. Yet, these obstacles did nothing to quell the excitement of the audience.
A deep, thunderous rumble shook the air as a colossal boulder plummeted from the mountain peak, hurtling downward with terrifying momentum. The wind howled around it, a deafening roar building as it neared its target. ThenâBOOM! ⥠A blinding flash erupted as the boulder slammed into an invisible barrier, sending shockwaves rippling through the formation. A metallic hum resonated across the colosseum, vibrating through the very bones of those watching. Cracks of golden lightning raced across the shimmering surface of the barrier before it stabilized, leaving only a lingering low-pitched droneâlike a temple bell struck from the heavens. đĽ
One by one, the twenty winners of Round 1 walked out from the six massive gates built beneath the seating area. It seemed that the waiting area for participants was either underground or carved into the mountain itself.
Every one of them wore proud expressions, their backs straight like iron rods. Some waved at the audience, acknowledging the cheers for them, while others outright ignored the crowd. Yet, for some reason, the popularity of the aloof ones seemed higher than those who acknowledged the audience. đ¤
⨠Xue Lingxi ⨠Mei Xueyin ⨠Wei Rong ⨠Lan Rouyan ⨠Han Zemin ⨠Fang Xianwu ⨠Zhao Yunjie ⨠Shen Moyu ⨠Qin Lingshu ⨠Wu Fenghai ⨠Li Zhilan ⨠Gao Heng ⨠Yun Jiayi ⨠Duan Changsheng ⨠Jiang Xiaoyu ⨠Mo Kaifeng ⨠Xu Liang ⨠Huang Zhen ⨠Bai Rou ⨠Yu Shenyan
"Mei Xueyin!! You can do it! I believe in you!!" Wei Rong, sitting in the opposite stand from mine, cheered for his love. But Mei Xueyin did not even spare him a glance.
It seemed she had become completely immune to him. She likely no longer even saw Wei Rong as a human being. đ
"Xue Lingxi!" "Xue Lingxi!" "Xue Lingxi!"
When the chants for "Xue Lingxi!" erupted, I was surprised. I had no idea what had happened yesterday for so many disciples in the audience to suddenly become her fans. But considering her physique and her status as a reborn person, she might still have access to some of her past life's cultivation. That could explain why she had garnered such attention in just one day.
By the end of the cheers, I realized that the audience was divided into many sections. The majority was obviously with "Xue Lingxi!" Surprisingly, Mei Xueyin was slightly overshadowed by her best friend, Lan Rouyan, who had emerged as the dark horse. There were also some notable figures from the vassal sects. However, since I was unfamiliar with their appearances, I could not associate the names chanted with any particular person.