Chapter 334: It looks like I have to eliminate you twice (1)
Amidst the confused gazes of the cultivators, Steward Cai began to speak: “Everyone, I apologize! I’ll have to waste a bit more of your time. Just now, JuLing Sect reported to this steward that they are forfeiting the third round of matches and have returned their sign plate to me.”
After explaining the situation, Steward Cai displayed the sign plate. The serial number on it was “Ten”.
“What? Forfeit? Can you forfeit the Evergreen Convention matches?”
“Of course, you can forfeit. This is clearly stated in the rules. Is this your first time participating? Such situations are not uncommon in the past.”
“But… but this qualification was hard-earned, why would they give it up?”
“Are you silly! If you draw an opponent you can’t possibly defeat and can’t trick anyone into swapping the sign, then you can only forfeit. Otherwise, if the Immortal Seed gets crippled, that sect will have no future.”
“Makes sense!”
…
The cultivators below discussed in low voices.
“Hmph! I knew those good-for-nothings from JuLing Sect would forfeit.”
Within the Jinliu Sect’s team, a burly young man with bulging muscles and a sturdy build sneered. This person was Jin Hu, the top Immortal Seed of Jinliu Sect, who had eliminated Cheng Hong Ling six years ago.
“That’s only natural. Once they drew us, it was a dead end for them. It’s impossible to swap the sign, and no sect present is willing to face Jinliu Sect. If they forcefully go on stage to compete, it would be like throwing an egg at a rock.”
An equally tall elder beside him smiled confidently.
“Elder Jin, does this mean our next round is equivalent to a bye?”
A fair-skinned Immortal Seed curiously asked.
“You could say that, but we still need to see the results!”
Elder Jin casually replied.
“What results?”
The Immortal Seed pressed on curiously.
Just then, Steward Cai’s voice could be heard: “As everyone knows, according to the rules of the Evergreen Convention, if anyone forfeits, the sign plate in their possession becomes ownerless. Any sect present has the right to apply to this steward for its ownership. So, I’d like to ask everyone, which sect is willing to take this sign plate!”
“See? This is the result that needs to be waited for.”
Elder Jin continued speaking.
“There’s such a rule?”
The Immortal Seed looked surprised.
“What are you worried about? I don’t believe anyone dares to take this sign plate. By now, all the sects should know that whoever takes this sign plate will have to face us, Jinliu Sect, in the next round!”
Jin Hu glanced impatiently at the Immortal Seed.
“Senior Brother Jin is right.”
The Immortal Seed quickly flattered him.
…
Meanwhile, the surrounding discussions also confirmed Jin Hu’s thoughts!
“How could anyone take it? Once you get that sign plate, doesn’t that mean you’ll have to face two sects in this round?”
“Indeed, but as the saying goes, fortune favors the bold. If you can defeat two sects, it means you’ll get double the rewards. I think many powerful sects would be very interested.”
“The opponent for this ‘Ten’ is ‘Nine’. Who is ‘Nine’?”
“Isn’t ‘Nine’ Jinliu Sect?”
“What? Jinliu Sect? Then no one will want this sign plate. No sect present can claim to defeat them easily. If the Immortal Seed gets injured, it will affect the next match, making it not worth the loss.”
…
Upon learning that the opponent for this sign plate was Jinliu Sect, all the cultivators suppressed their impulses.
“What? No one is willing to take it? I’ll remind all fellow Daoists again, although getting this sign plate means facing two sects this round, it also means that if you can defeat both, you will receive double rewards. You all need to think carefully.”
Steward Cai kindly reminded them.
The sects below looked at each other, none willing to take the risk. Jinliu Sect had two Xian Miaos in the Huashen Realm, and Jin Hu, in particular, had reached the third layer of the Huashen Realm. Moreover, he possessed extremely powerful techniques and magic treasures, making him a force that ordinary cultivators could not defeat.
“What? No one wants it? Then this sign plate goes to this Young Master.”
Just then, Lü Er’s familiar voice rang out, and he appeared on the stage like a ghost.
“Give me the sign plate. I was just worried about not having an opportunity to please my concubine again, and now I didn’t expect a punching bag to be delivered so quickly.”
Lü Er reached out to claim it.
“What? The dignified Jinliu Sect is just a tool to please a concubine in this guy’s eyes?”
The cultivators below were utterly astonished.
“Punching bag? Do you know who you’ll be facing if you take that sign plate? It’s us, Jinliu Sect! The third largest immortal sect in Xihui Dynasty!”
Jin Hu, who was below the stage, finally couldn’t stand it and loudly questioned.
“Third? So what if it’s first? In my eyes, it’s still a tool to please a concubine! As long as you face me, I’ll help you all quit the addiction of cultivation!”
Lü Er glanced contemptuously at Jin Hu.
“You…”
Jin Hu was choked speechless for a moment.
“Since no one else is interested in this sign plate, it belongs to Lü Er.”
Steward Cai was about to hand the sign plate over to Lü Er.
“Wait! Who says no one else is interested in this sign plate?”
Qi Huang’s clear voice rang out, and she unhurriedly walked onto the stage.
…
“Isn’t that Cheng Hong Ling’s clone?”
“If not her, then who? She’s actually interested in this sign plate!”
“Has this woman gone mad? She’s actually rushing to find Jinliu Sect. After all, six years ago, she was eliminated by Jin Hu, the top Immortal Seed of Jinliu Sect, in her first participation in the Evergreen Convention.”
“I had the fortune to witness that battle! Jin Hu had already half-entered the Huashen Realm back then, so he easily eliminated the early Guiyi Realm Cheng Hong Ling.”
“If that’s the case, why is she still voluntarily walking into the trap?”
“I think she wants revenge! This Cheng Hong Ling has astonishing talent, and her current cultivation level has reached the second layer of the Huashen Realm!”
“What? In six years, her cultivation has increased by almost a whole major realm?”
“What’s the point? Jin Hu is already in the third layer of the Huashen Realm. At this stage of cultivation, even a single layer difference is like heaven and earth!”
“Is that so? Don’t forget that Hai Zhi Sect, which was tragically eliminated by her in the previous round, also had a third-layer Huashen Realm outside helper.”
“Jin Hu is different. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be the third Immortal Seed of Xihui Dynasty.”
…
The cultivators from various sects below started to chatter again.
Even the Jinliu Sect, as the party involved, could no longer remain calm.
“Isn’t that woman Cheng Hong Ling?”
“To be precise, it’s Cheng Hong Ling’s clone, Qi Huang, that Imperial Concubine with the low bloodline.”
“Why would she actively choose us as opponents? Isn’t this like looking for death with a lantern in a latrine?”
“Don’t you remember? Six years ago, when she participated in the Evergreen Convention for the first time, she was eventually eliminated by Senior Brother Jin Hu, which caused quite a stir. She’s clearly seeking revenge.”
…
The disciples of Jinliu Sect were not fools and quickly guessed Qi Huang’s intentions.
“Son, this yellow-haired girl seems to have come with ill intentions! She’s clearly trying to regain her honor.”
Elder Jin said to Jin Hu beside him.
“Regain honor? Does she have the ability?”
Jin Hu curled his lips.
“That being said, if she manages to get that sign plate, no matter whether we win or lose in the next round, we’ll lose face.”
Elder Jin reminded him.
“Why?”
Jin Hu was a little confused.
“Think about it. If Qi Huang gets that sign plate, then in the next round, she will face two sects, including us. Hong Hua Sect originally drew the ‘Seven’ sign, so they will first contend with ‘Eight’, and then compete with our ‘Nine’. If we win, people will surely say it was a battle of attrition. If we lose, it’s even worse, as we will be ridiculed by all sects for being unable to win even with superior numbers.”
Elder Jin explained.
“That’s right. Similar situations have happened before. The sects chosen like us did not gain a good reputation whether they won or lost.”
An older disciple beside him agreed.
“Then what should we do?”
Jin Hu asked after a moment of thought.
“There is only one way now, and that is to compete and prevent Qi Huang from getting the ‘Ten’ sign.”
Elder Jin said with a determined look.
…
At this moment, Qi Huang had already walked onto the stage and was standing opposite Lü Er with composure.
“What? Hong Hua Sect is also interested in this sign plate?”
Steward Cai asked in disbelief.
Lü Er also showed a look of surprise, but then it turned into curiosity.
“Yes! Is it not allowed? Steward Cai just said that any sect can apply to obtain this sign plate.”
Qi Huang countered easily.
“Yes, yes, yes! Of course, it’s allowed!”
Steward Cai’s old face showed a look of extreme delight. He was already troubled by how to eliminate this yellow-haired girl, and unexpectedly, she would take the initiative to court death. Let alone Jinliu Sect, but Lü Er alone was not someone to be trifled with.
“However, the Evergreen Convention also stipulates that if more than one sect is interested in this ownerless sign plate, then the competitors must compete to争夺 its ownership. Therefore, I cannot give it to you directly.”
Steward Cai changed his tone and said.
“So, does Steward Cai mean that as long as I defeat this fellow, I can get this sign plate?”
Qi Huang looked at Lü Er, the corners of her rosy lips slightly raised, with a hint of mischief.
