Chapter 114: Advancing to the Top Four of the Group

Chapter 114: Advancing to the Top Four of the Group

What Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t understand was why someone like Ming Yang—a powerhouse wholly devoted to the Sword Dao—would suddenly begin courting Princess Lanfei, even showing signs of pursuing her.

This was highly unusual.

For a practitioner of the Supreme Sword Dao, the heart should hold only the sword—no room for women, no place for love.

Since ancient times, those who succeeded in mastering the Supreme Sword Dao were invariably those who severed all emotions and attachments, capable of cutting away all worldly bonds with a single stroke of their blade.

"Swish!"

A small stone, wrapped in Profound Qi, flew into the stone hut from outside.

Ning Xiaochuan moved like lightning, catching the stone between his fingers. His voice was low and guarded as he demanded, "Who's there?"

He rushed outside, but the person had already vanished.

His gaze fell upon the stone in his hand. It carried a faint, delicate fragrance, and two lines of elegant script were carved into its surface—clearly the work of a woman.

The message read:

"Ming Yang is a member of Dark Emperor City, a disciple of the Necropolis Lord. His pursuit of Princess Lanfei is the will of the Necropolis Lord—Ghost Manor."

When Ning Xiaochuan saw the final words, "Ghost Manor," his heart trembled slightly. He immediately crushed the stone into powder.

"So Ming Yang is the Necropolis Lord’s disciple. That means he must be the First Leader of Dark Emperor City, the one who has never shown his face."

"But who sent me this stone? Ghost Manor was just established. In the Emperor's Ruins, the only ones who know of its existence are me and Murong Wushuang. The writing on this stone was carved by a woman, so it couldn’t have been Murong Wushuang. Who else could it be?"

"Whoever knows Ming Yang’s identity must also be from Dark Emperor City—and must be a student in this year’s cohort, someone with status within the city. She must be the one Tianchenzi planted inside Dark Emperor City."

This was as far as Ning Xiaochuan could deduce.

Now that he knew Ming Yang was from Dark Emperor City, his sudden closeness to Princess Lanfei made perfect sense.

"To win her favor, he’ll undoubtedly try to kill me with everything he has. I wonder what level his cultivation has reached now?"

As Ning Xiaochuan pondered this, Yu Qianqian appeared at the door, holding a parchment scroll. "What are you thinking about? Worried you’ll die at Ming Yang’s hands again?"

Clearly, Yu Qianqian already knew about today’s events—the death warrant Ming Yang had issued to Ning Xiaochuan.

Ning Xiaochuan collected his thoughts and smiled. "When soldiers come, we block them; when water rises, we build a dam. What’s there to fear?"

Yu Qianqian stepped inside the stone hut, pressing her lips together lightly. "You actually have remarkable talent as a Heart Nurturer. Master Huo says you have the potential to surpass him and will undoubtedly become a Great Heart Nurturer in the future. Why push yourself so hard in martial arts? If you face him in the arena, just admit defeat. Losing to Ming Yang is nothing to be ashamed of."

Ning Xiaochuan chuckled. "We’ll see when the time comes."

Yu Qianqian knew Ning Xiaochuan was brushing her off, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she unfurled the parchment in her hand and said, "This is the list of the top 80 students in this year’s competition, divided into ten groups of eight. Each group has one slot for the top ten. The top three from each group are eligible to challenge the first-place finisher of another group. If they succeed, they can replace that person and enter the top ten."

"You’ve been placed in Group 7, while Ming Yang is in Group 1. This means you won’t face each other in the group stage, which is good news for you."

Each group consisted of eight participants, requiring at least three consecutive victories to claim first place and advance to the top ten. However, even securing first in the group didn’t guarantee a spot in the top ten, as one would still face challenges from the top three of other groups. A single defeat could cost them their chance.

Murong Wushuang, Yu Qianqian, Ning Xin'er, Princess Lanfei, Yu Tiadi, and He Jia had all made it into the top 80, while Ning Meier, another prodigy of the Jian Pavilion Marquis House, was eliminated.

The next morning, Ning Xiaochuan arrived at No. 7 Martial Field, where a crowd of martial artists had already gathered. However, the true protagonists were the eight young elites, each brimming with vigor and sharp-eyed determination.

An instructor from the Emperor’s Martial Palace stood at the edge of the field, maintaining order. He appeared to be in his fifties, dignified and sharp-eyed, holding a jade scroll in his left hand and a bronze brush in his right.

Among the spectators were slightly older young martial artists, all unfamiliar faces. Their cultivation levels were formidable, riding powerful mystic beasts, their martial prowess unfathomable.

"Those are second-generation students of the Emperor’s Martial Palace. They entered five years ago and are now all experts."

"Why are second-generation students here?"

"They’re probably scouting for outstanding talents to recruit into their factions. Rumor has it that students in the Emperor’s Martial Palace form alliances, and the strongest factions monopolize the limited resources in the Emperor’s Ruins. To secure cultivation resources, one must join an alliance."

Some of the current students’ mentors were former Emperor’s Martial Palace elites, so they had some knowledge of its inner workings.

Ning Xiaochuan also noticed a few individuals in their twenties. Among them was a beautiful woman seated atop a Blue Wind Spirit Sparrow, whom he vaguely recognized—Jin Quexi, the senior who had escorted their batch to the Fire Demon Mountain Range for the assessment.

However, Jin Quexi had little recollection of Ning Xiaochuan. At the time, her task was merely to guide newcomers to the Fire Demon Mountain Range, not to pay attention to an untested young martial artist. But now, as one of the top 80, he had caught her eye, if only for a fleeting moment.

The instructor at the edge of the field announced, "No. 7 Martial Field, first match: Ning Xiaochuan."

Ning Xiaochuan strode into the center of the field, awaiting his opponent.

The martial field was square, with each side measuring a full 100 meters, making it a fairly large arena where any divine ability could be unleashed without restraint.

Then, the instructor called out, "Mu Wuyue."

A young woman of about seventeen or eighteen pushed off the ground with her toes, Profound Qi surging from her soles as she soared eight meters into the air. Spreading her arms, she glided to land opposite Ning Xiaochuan.

Mu Wuyue fixed her gaze on Ning Xiaochuan standing across from her and said, "I know you—the Greatest Love-Obsessed Fool in the World, Ning Xiaochuan."

"Pleasure," Ning Xiaochuan replied simply.

Any martial artist who had made it into the top eighty naturally possessed considerable skill. Just from the Profound Qi Mu Wuyue had just released, it was clear her cultivation had at least reached the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm.

With such a level of cultivation, she already had the capability to compete for a spot in the top thirty, undoubtedly making her an outstanding individual among ten thousand.

Outside the Training Ground, three second-year students of the Emperor's Martial Palace gathered together, their eyes fixed on No. 7 Martial Field.

"That girl's cultivation is impressive—she should be at the Third Level of the Divine Body Realm. She must be one of the top geniuses of this year's batch," Jin Quexi remarked with a slight nod.

A man with two patches of whiskers on his lips shook his head and said, "I think that 'Greatest Love-Obsessed Fool in the World' is even stronger."

"Yue Mingsong, you can actually tell that?" Jin Quexi asked, somewhat surprised.

Though Yue Mingsong was only twenty years old, the two patches of whiskers on his face made him look like he was forty, aging him unnaturally.

Yue Mingsong straightened his collar and chuckled lightly. "Of course. Anyone who bears the title of 'Greatest in the World' is no ordinary figure."

Feeling rather pleased with himself, he added, "But... cough... if I had to choose, I'd still pick that girl, Mu Wuyue, to join our Tianli Society."

Jin Quexi asked again, "And why is that?"

Yue Mingsong grinned. "Ancestral rules dictate that junior sisters belong to senior brothers, and senior brothers should care for their junior sisters. We can't break this tradition... ah—"

Bam!

Jin Quexi slapped him, sending Yue Mingsong flying headfirst into the sand, leaving only his legs sticking out as they kicked wildly. Muffled "mmph" sounds came from beneath the sand.

"Scoundrel," Jin Quexi muttered, rubbing her palm.

The battle on the martial field had already begun.

Mu Wuyue struck first, seizing the initiative. Her arms became enveloped in flames, forming a fiery cloud that pressed down toward Ning Xiaochuan's head.

Ning Xiaochuan did not underestimate her. Any martial artist who had broken into the top eighty had their own unique techniques, and the slightest carelessness could lead to an unexpected defeat.

Ning Xiaochuan moved his arms in circular motions, as if performing Tai Chi, releasing Profound Qi that formed rippling waves in front of him.

The force of Mu Wuyue's Fire Cloud Divine Fist was dispersed by these ripples, like punching cotton—lacking any sense of impact.

Then, the ripples began to contract, their speed increasing until they gathered at a single point.

And rebounded.

Boom!

Mu Wuyue felt an overwhelming force surge toward her, more than twice as powerful as her own punch.

Her expression changed as she tried to retract her fist, but it was too late. The force blasted her backward, her arm feeling as if it had been shattered.

Ning Xiaochuan naturally pursued closely, his arm enveloped in a radiant glow of lightning, emitting a thunderous divine might as he struck out with another palm, sending Mu Wuyue flying over 30 meters away.

When she landed, she was already outside the martial field.

Ning Xiaochuan walked over and extended a hand with gentlemanly courtesy.

Mu Wuyue glared fiercely at him. "You are indeed powerful. The gap between us is vast, and I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

She took his hand to stand up, then turned and left without another word.

The instructor at the edge of the martial field announced, "First match: Ning Xiaochuan wins, advancing to the top four of the group. Next match: Wei Wentong versus Wang Li."

Jin Quexi, Yue Mingsong, and Shi Hailiang exchanged glances.

"This kid is quite strong. I told you anyone connected to the title of 'Greatest in the World' must be extraordinary," Yue Mingsong said solemnly, lightly stroking the two wisps of mustache on his lips as if stating an undeniable truth.

Shi Hailiang added, "He’s worth recruiting into the Tianli Society."

The three of them then walked toward Ning Xiaochuan.