In the crowd...
The one thousand people participating in the second round of the Celestial Nether Tower trial all stared intently at Hong Yu, their gazes filled with envy and jealousy.
So were happy, so were worried, and naturally, so were filled with hatred.
Feng Xue Xin and the other experts of the Wind and Snow Association were genuinely happy for Hong Yu. Although the rules prevented them from gathering, they each found their own way—be it hand gestures, mouthing words, or using Secret Transmission—to convey their congratulations.
Hong Yu smiled lightly, nodding in response to each of them.
His gaze swept over Hong Renjie and Guo Fei.
Guo Fei's expression was ugly, his eyes flashing with a cold, harsh light. Seemingly having made a decision, he gave an imperceptible nod to an Outer Disciple in the Audience Seats.
That person stood up and left.
The entire process was extrely swift and secretive; it seed no one noticed.
However, what no one discovered was that a black-and-white Little Beast had quietly vanished into the crowd...
Hong Renjie let out a soft, cold snort. His gaze, fixed on Hong Yu, was a mixture of complex emotions, but it was dominated by a cold and vicious malice.
His trembling hands clenched and unclenched. In his mind, his thoughts were like a sharp Long Saber as he muttered to himself, 'Hong Yu, oh, Hong Yu, I never thought you'd actually pass the Heart Path. It looks like those wavering Elders in the sect are going to switch sides now! But it doesn't matter. Soon, I will let everyone know who the true number one genius is!'
He slowly closed his eyes.
A silent, innate confidence radiated from him.
...
Li Tie finally appeared on the Cyan Nether Main Peak. He surveyed the disciples before him, his gaze lingering on Hong Yu for a mont before he announced in a booming voice, "Congratulations, you have finally completed the Celestial Nether Tower trial. Many among you have shown astonishing and brilliant talent, much to the Sword Sect's satisfaction."
At this, Li Tie gave Hong Yu a deep look.
This caused the expressions of both Hong Renjie and Guo Fei to darken several shades.
However, no one said much, quietly waiting for Li Tie to announce the next piece of news.
Li Tie pondered for a mont, then said, "The first two rounds of this promotion tournant have concluded successfully. According to the rules, out of you one thousand participants, we will eliminate nine hundred and eighty based on your point rankings. The remaining twenty of you will be eligible to participate in the final round: the True Disciple challenge!"
"Next, I shall announce your rankings after the first two rounds. Hong Yu..."
Li Tie recited the nas, one by one.
After the first two rounds, Hong Yu, who had heroically taken first place in both, deservedly claid the top spot.
Following him were Hong Renjie, Feng Xue Xin, Guo Fei, Ling Tian, Hong Gang, and so on.
Li Tie only announced the top twenty nas, then said calmly, "The third round is the True Disciple Challenge, a competition conducted through challenges. Your points will be reset to zero. In this final round, each of you will have three opportunities to challenge others. If you initiate a challenge and win, you get three points. If you fail, three points will be deducted, and those three points will be awarded to the person you challenged."
"Anyone who accumulates a total deduction of six points will be eliminated."
Li Tie looked at the crowd and shouted, "Now, the True Disciple Challenge officially begins! Let's welco the first challenger, the twentieth-ranked Li Jincheng!"
Li Jincheng, forrly ranked thirtieth on the Celestial List, had now successfully broken into the top twenty.
"Elder Li, I request a challenge against Senior Brother Hong Renjie!"
Li Jincheng said.
Everyone was stunned, unable to understand the motive behind Li Jincheng's move.
Hong Renjie's power was beyond doubt. Forget Li Jincheng; even if Feng Xue Xin, the number one True Disciple, were to challenge him, the outco would be a fifty-fifty toss-up. What made Li Jincheng think he stood a chance?
Only Hong Yu narrowed his eyes, a few suspicions forming in his mind.
Li Tie frowned and looked at Hong Renjie. "Hong Renjie, do you accept Li Jincheng's challenge?"
Hong Renjie smiled faintly. "Naturally, I agree!"
"In that case, both of you, ascend the stage!"
The two walked onto the arena stage, one after the other.
Hong Renjie stood with his hands behind his back and said lightly, "You may make the first move."
Li Jincheng nodded. "Senior Brother Hong, please grant your guidance!"
Just when everyone thought Li Jincheng was about to unleash so powerful ultimate move, they saw him rely perform a symbolic Mortal Level Lower Grade Martial Skill. He condensed a rolling boulder and sent it crushing toward Hong Renjie. Hong Renjie gave a soft, cold snort and threw a punch.
"BAM!"
The boulder shattered, and the punch ca to a halt right in front of Li Jincheng's face.
Another inch forward and it would have heavily injured Li Jincheng.
A line of cold sweat trickled down Li Jincheng's forehead. He took a few steps back, cupped his fists toward Hong Renjie, and said respectfully, "Thank you for your rcy, Senior Brother Hong. I have lost!"
"Mm, you did very well."
Hong Renjie gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
This scene allowed the still-confused crowd to catch a whiff of conspiracy.
Hong Yu's brow furrowed. 'Li Jincheng definitely challenged Hong Renjie on purpose. That Hong Renjie is as insidious as I thought! Among the top twenty, more than ten are experts from their Heaven and Earth Alliance. If each of them challenges him once, he can easily rack up over thirty points. Add his own three challenge opportunities, and he can easily get into the top two.'
'I hope he isn't shaless enough to order his underlings not to challenge . Otherwise, I'll have no choice but to take the initiative.'
Hong Yu clenched his fists.
But soon, he discovered his suspicions had co true.
Among the experts of the Heaven and Earth Alliance, regardless of their strength, not a single one challenged Hong Yu.
They all had extrely clear objectives. First, they would challenge Hong Renjie and lose decisively. Then, they would challenge Hong Gang and lose again. Finally, they would challenge Feng Xue Xin. Every Heaven and Earth Alliance expert who challenged Feng Xue Xin went all out, doing their utmost to drain his stamina.
In contrast, Hong Renjie and Hong Gang watched from the sidelines, conserving their energy.
As for Hong Yu, he was completely ignored.
To this point, not a single person had challenged him.
When the challengers ranked twentieth to eleventh had finished, the scoreboard was displayed once again...
First Place: Hong Renjie, 21 points.
Second Place: Hong Gang, 21 points.
Third Place: Feng Xue Xin, 15 points.
Fourth Place: Guo Fei, 12 points.
Fifth Place: Ling Tian, 9 points.
...
Tenth Place: Hong Yu, 0 points!
Aside from those who had already used their challenges and lost all three, everyone else had managed to score at least so points. Only Hong Yu had yet to be challenged by anyone, leaving him at the bottom of the top ten.
Ling Tian finished another challenge match, his points rising to 12. He walked over to Hong Yu's side and said, furious, "That Hong Renjie is so shaless, ordering people not to challenge you. At this rate, even if you challenge three people and win all three matches, you'll only get 9 points. You won't even make it into the top five True Disciples..."
Tie Shou, ranked seventh with 6 points, also frowned and said with great displeasure, "Hong Renjie is famous for his viciousness; he'll stop at nothing to achieve his goals. Junior Brother Hong, your situation doesn't look good if this continues!"
Hong Yu smiled faintly. "No rush. I still have ti."
Seeing this, the two exchanged a look.
Only Feng Xue Xin, in the distance, yawned and glanced between Hong Yu and Hong Renjie. 'What's the deal with these two? They're both disciples of the Hong Family from Shishui City, so how did things get so tense between them? Ugh, I don't get it, I just don't get it. The world is too complicated. It's better to just focus on eating!'
The thought of food imdiately whetted his appetite. He furtively took out a piece of roasted at from his Storage Ring, hid behind the crowd, and squatted in a corner to start gnawing on it.
At the sa ti...
It was finally Hong Gang's turn. He stood on the arena stage like a sharp sword and shouted, "Feng Xue Xin, get up here and fight!"
The sound of "CHOMP, CHOMP" ca from behind the crowd!
Li Tie: "..."
Hong Gang: "..."
Everyone: "..."
Hong Gang took a deep breath and raised his voice several notches. "Feng Xue Xin, get up here and fight!"
"CHOMP, CHOMP!"
The corner of Hong Gang's eye twitched. His face was ashen, and his whole body trembled slightly. His anger soared to the heavens as a ray of sword light instantly condensed and shot out. The crowd automatically parted. The sword light flashed past and struck the half-eaten trotter in Feng Xue Xin's hand.
"PFFT!"
The roasted trotter snapped into two pieces.
Feng Xue Xin froze for a second, staring at the remaining half of the trotter in his hand. His lazy expression gradually turned serious. His carefree, wandering pupils slowly focused and narrowed into slits.
Slowly turning to face Hong Gang, Feng Xue Xin's voice was no longer lazy. "Did... you do this?"
"..."
Hong Gang's heart skipped a beat. Feng Xue Xin's cold, sharp gaze made him feel a pang of fear, but it was instantly replaced by annoyance. He snorted coldly, "So what if I did?"
"Good. Very good! The thing I hate most in this world is people who waste food. I will avenge this roasted trotter!"
Seeing Feng Xue Xin's dead-serious expression, the crowd was once again speechless.
They had heard of avenging one's family and avenging one's friends...
But who had ever heard of avenging a roasted trotter?
Yet, as Feng Xue Xin said this, he was completely serious. A golden Long Spear appeared in his hand. A layer of golden armor surrounded his body as Flowing Light flashed. He thrust his spear. The attack was like that of a god, vast and mighty. A thirty-ter-long Spear Aura instantly arrived, surrounded by spiraling ripples.
The energy surged, and a deafening "RUMBLE, RUMBLE" like thunder filled the air.
Hong Gang's expression changed drastically. He raised his longsword, which let out a cry that soared to the sky, and condensed an even larger, more solid Sword Aura to slash down.
However, when his Sword Aura collided with the Long Spear, the spiraling ripples on the spear's shaft surged forward, grinding the Sword Aura into fragnts like a at grinder.
"BOOM!"
The spear strike, as unstoppable as splitting bamboo, slamd into Hong Gang.
Hong Gang spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward like a falling star before tumbling off the arena stage.
"..."
A silence like the dead of night fell over the area, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Hong Gang's strength was not to be underestimated, but even so, he was instantly defeated by a single blow from Feng Xue Xin?
In that mont, the way everyone looked at Feng Xue Xin underwent a world-shaking change.
This number one True Disciple had always appeared unassuming, but in reality, he was the truly terrifying one!
Hong Yu was naturally stunned by Feng Xue Xin's imnse power, but more than that, he was repeating a warning to himself over and over in his mind: 'No matter what, I must never, ever offend a foodie! This foodie is simply savage, and a foodie whose al has been interrupted is beyond terrifying!'
"PHEW!"
Letting out a breath, Hong Yu's gaze hardened as he looked toward Li Tie...
'It's my turn to take the initiative!'
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