Chapter 97: Chapter 95: A Name Made in a Duel

The familiar person was, of course, the Demon Cultivator.

Fa Wuling smiled and said, "Golden Core Master, is that your disciple behind you?"

"Hahaha!" Jin Zhentu laughed. "Yes, he is. Zhining, pay your respects to the seniors."

Song Zhining quickly stepped forward, clasping his hands and bowing to Ouyang Mingming, Fa Wuling, and the others. "Greetings, Seniors."

"This disciple is quite good. His Talent for Alchemy is excellent, and his Cultivation is also improving quickly."

"It’s just a pity he has no Spirit Root. That’s certainly a problem."

Jin Zhentu sighed. His own disciple was exceptional at everything, but without a Spirit Root, his future was uncertain.

"It’s just a lack of a Spirit Root. Doesn’t Elder Qianqiu also lack one? He still reached the Nascent Soul realm."

"How can they be the same? Sigh..."

Jin Zhentu shook his head and left, taking his seat in the Elders’ section.

"Linlin, remember to take Su Qing to draw lots."

"Okay." Liu Linlin nodded.

...

So, she pulled Su Qing over to the lot-drawing area.

There were no fewer than several hundred disciples participating. It was indeed a large crowd.

"Junior Brother, over here."

At the lot-drawing area, Liu Linlin demonstrated, drawing number 132.

Su Qing tried as well, drawing number 59.

Liu Linlin explained, "Junior Brother, these numbers determine the order of the matches. Each number corresponds to a pair of opponents."

"In the arena, the fights are generally non-lethal martial contests."

"If you want to fight to the death, you have to apply for a deathmatch, and both opponents must agree."

"However, the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sect doesn’t support deathmatches, so even if you win, you won’t receive any reward."

After Liu Linlin finished her explanation, she pulled Su Qing into a small room in a tall building next to one of the arenas.

It was only a few square meters.

But it had a large window with a clear view of the events unfolding in the arena outside.

However, you needed to show a True Disciple’s identification token to enter.

Only True Disciples could enter this room.

Su Qing and Liu Linlin sat down. Liu Linlin continued, "Everyone’s fighting style is different. You can gain combat experience just by watching."

Su Qing nodded.

Both combatants for Match #1 began to fight.

However, one side was being completely crushed. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

One was at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, and the other was at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level. Both were Outer Disciples.

.....

Su Qing found it boring. Most of the time, the vast difference in strength between the two combatants led to a one-sided match.

This meant that the competition also relied heavily on luck.

"Combatants for Match #59, please prepare."

...

After hearing the announcement, Su Qing stopped watching the fight in the arena and turned to say something to Liu Linlin.

He didn’t expect that as soon as he turned his head, their eyes would meet.

Liu Linlin’s face instantly turned bright red. It was just a glance at a handsome guy, but she was still very easily flustered.

Su Qing’s lips twitched. ’Well now, Senior Sister, you have good taste. You know I’m better to look at than the fight in the arena, huh?’

’I really didn’t think you had ideas about me.’

Liu Linlin was extremely embarrassed now. She turned her head away, not looking at Su Qing, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.

"Senior Sister, I have to go down now."

"Junior Brother, be careful," Liu Linlin said softly.

Her voice was so quiet it was as if she was afraid he’d actually hear her.

"I will."

Su Qing walked to the edge of the arena.

He was ready.

’It’s just a fight, isn’t it? Simple.’

"Will the combatants for Match #59, Wei Qianqiu and Su Qing, please come to the stage."

Hearing the name Wei Qianqiu, many in the audience perked up. This was someone from the Celestial Pride List.

The Body Refining Demon.

As for Su Qing, no one had any impression of him.

...

"Junior Sister Ouyang, it looks like your precious disciple might not even get the Hundred Spirit Stones," Fa Wuling said with a smile.

This wasn’t sarcasm; he simply didn’t think highly of Su Qing.

How long had Su Qing been at the Ten Thousand Tribulations Sect?

How could he possibly be a match for Wei Qianqiu, ranked 89th on the Celestial Pride List?

"Hehehe~" Ouyang Mingming laughed. "It seems my disciple has run into a strong opponent right from the start."

"But this is also a good chance for you all to see what my disciple is made of, isn’t it?"

"Junior Sister Ouyang, you’re surprisingly confident. It seems I’ll have to take a good look at what your disciple can do." Fa Wuling sat up straight, watching the two below as they came onto the stage to introduce themselves.

...

"Celestial Pride List, Wei Qianqiu." Wei Qianqiu introduced himself with a customary clasp of his hands.

Wei Qianqiu didn’t recognize his opponent’s face; he probably wasn’t an old disciple.

"The Celestial Pride List? That Su Qing guy is so unlucky, running into someone from the List right at the start. He’ll have to just forfeit, right?"

"Good thing my luck was better. At least I can exchange a couple of moves with my opponent. I’ve never heard the name Su Qing before; he must be a new disciple. His luck is just terrible."

The audience below broke into discussion.

...

"Su Qing." Su Qing didn’t add any other introduction, simply returning the gesture with a clasp of his hands.

Following the Steward Elder’s command, Wei Qianqiu didn’t hold back, immediately using his Three Shadows Step.

He used a Body Technique right from the start.

He instantly transformed into three figures, rapidly closing in on Su Qing.

’A Step Technique?’

Su Qing remained vigilant, his mind calm, as he sensed the aura within the three shadows.

He threw a punch.

Wei Qianqiu hadn’t expected Su Qing to be so bold as to fight him bare-handed.

He met Su Qing’s punch with one of his own, already imagining the sight of Su Qing’s arm breaking on impact.

BANG!

As their fists collided, Wei Qianqiu was sent flying backward, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Only Su Qing remained standing firmly in place.

—

"What!"

The crowd was filled with confusion.

Even Ouyang Mingming, in the Elders’ section, was completely baffled.

’Is my disciple’s Physique really that strong?’

’Didn’t I test it before?’

Ouyang Mingming’s mind was in turmoil. ’Was I just too worried about Su Qing back then?’ Ouyang Mingming recalled the scene from her memory.

The more she thought about it, the more the details from back then seemed off.

...

"He actually took Wei Qianqiu’s punch head-on, but I’ve never seen this guy before."

"I’m dumbfounded, too. Am I dreaming?"

"Who on earth is this Su Qing?"

The crowd was full of questions about just who the Su Qing on stage was.

However, after being knocked back, Wei Qianqiu had no intention of giving up.

"Very good, Su Qing! I’ll remember your name!"

A Magical Artifact appeared on Wei Qianqiu’s hand. It had many sharp points and looked very dangerous.

Wei Qianqiu was getting serious now. He wanted to savor this battle with the unknown disciple.

"Flying Heaven Step!"

"White Tiger Blood Evil Fist."

Wei Qianqiu used his currently strongest Step Technique, the Flying Heaven Step.

Its name implied that the Step Technique was so fast it was like flying, and in reality, that was true.

The White Tiger Blood Evil Fist was even more formidable.

The wind from the fist shook the surroundings.

Within the wind from his fist was the roar of a tiger, as if a white tiger wreathed in Blood Evil Qi was pouncing on him.

Su Qing also felt it was very powerful; the Step Technique alone was impressive.

Su Qing no longer held back his Physique.

A five-colored light began to glow faintly in his eyes.

In Su Qing’s eyes, this guy was still too slow.

As the fist approached, Su Qing extended his left hand, pressing outward from the inside of his opponent’s fist to avoid the Magical Artifact. His right fist then struck Wei Qianqiu’s abdomen.

THUD~

The punch landed squarely.

The fierce momentum vanished, and only a single figure was left flying out of the arena.

Now, only one person remained on the stage: Su Qing.

The surrounding audience fell completely silent.

"Match #59, Su Qing wins!" The Steward Elder knew the winner was a True Disciple, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

As the Steward Elder’s voice rang out, the Outer and Inner Sect Disciples all desperately wanted to know who on earth Su Qing was.

"Who is that Su Qing on the stage? I want a full report in three minutes!"

"Su Qing... Who exactly is this Su Qing?"

...

Disciples from the Holy Pill Hall had already rushed to find Wei Qianqiu, who had been knocked out of the arena.

Wei Qianqiu was curled up on the ground, rolling in pain with a trickle of blood at the corner of his mouth. Body Refinement Cultivators truly were different; despite being knocked back more than twenty meters by Su Qing, his injuries didn’t seem too severe.

A disciple from the Holy Pill Hall came over and fed him a healing Elixir.

Only then did Wei Qianqiu feel much better, managing to struggle to his feet.

He asked a disciple from the Holy Pill Hall standing nearby, "That Su Qing, do you know him?"

The disciple from the Holy Pill Hall shook his head. "Wei Tianjiao, we don’t know him."

That’s right, they hadn’t known him before.

But they certainly knew him now.

...