Chapter 278 - Chapters 272-277: More of the Grand Tournament! (1/2)

”Haha! Looks like it's your turn next, Xiucai.” Lin Shu attempted to slam her palm on Xiucai's back for support. ”Good luck!”

Xiucai vanished from where he was standing and appeared behind Lin Shu. ”..!” She wasn't holding back with that ”friendly” gesture! Lin Shu took herself off balance with the amount of force she put into the motion. That was how Xiucai knew she wanted to hurt him.

”Hehehe... Can't I give a fellow disciple some encouragement? Why're you so timid, junior brother?” Lin Shu tried to play off her malicious attack disguised as ”encouragement.”

”You're the last one out of master's disciples, Xiucai. You have to make sure you win for master's sake!” He Wenqing suddenly appeared behind him.

A feat impossible for a simple farmer's son to sneak up on a trained ȧssassin since birth! Unless, he deliberately used Withering Willow to erase his presence! He Wenqing tried to grab him in a hold from behind but Xiucai's clan didn't train him for years so that he could be caught off guard by two mortal-born cultivators who haven't been trained anywhere near as hard as him. Xiucai loosened his joints, slipped in between He's thick arms and dashed toward the stage to avoid any further complications with his senior brother and sister.

Yes, Xiucai was younger than both He and Lin, surprisingly enough. A fact that he was rather surprised by once he got a decent grasp on their temperament. But then again, Xiucai was also shorter and thinner than both of them as well. Another fact that Lin Shu loved to boast about. ”You know, if you didn't have that mask, I think you'd look more like a girl than I do.” Lin Shu once commented.

Xiucai ignored her as he and only his family knew how he really looked. He definitely didn't promise to make sure that Lin and He never saw his true appearance. That would be ridiculous. An ȧssassin caring about judgment from others? If his mother or father found out, he would immediately be snatched back to the clan for additional training. Something that might last until he was 25 or 30 years old.

”Have you even been listening, kid?! We're going to need to work together if we want to win this, you know? Hello?!” A rather tall girl with a personality somewhat similar to Lin appeared in front of him.

Slim waist, beauty suitable for seduction, but a temperament that would scare most men away. Not suitable for ȧssassinating. She waved her thin smooth hand in front of him back and forth to gain his attention but Xiucai was paying attention from the very beginning. Xiucai may have looked like he was staring off into space but an ȧssassin-born cultivator like himself was always paying attention to his surroundings. Especially if he sensed killing intent like he did from one of his teammates.

However, it wasn't from the loud girl still trying to gain his attention.

”You really dare to ignore me? I've never seen someone so courageous, you know?” She laughed with anger behind her laughter.

It was from the servant of the loud girl. His eyes were filled with disbelief and hostility for some reason. Xiucai wasn't the most sensible of ȧssassins as he never really had any friends he didn't have to kill growing up but killing intent was second nature for him. At first, he questioned how this noble managed to get on a team with her servant when all of Heaven's Angels were split up. Perhaps it was luck or maybe the tournament was rigged.

But then the match started and Xiucai could no longer afford to split his attention between his thoughts and his teammates.

”Follow.” Was the only word Xiucai spoke to Chu Hua and Chu Bolin.

Xiucai tossed two shining black capture beads into the air. Hua and Bolin looked up along with everyone else as another member of Heaven's Angel revealed their attainment of a heaven-ranked spirit beast. It made people wonder if gathering heaven-ranked spirit beasts was really this easy! Even the Heavenly Collectors, the only spirit beast tamer faction in the Golden Serpent Sect, only had a single heaven-ranked spirit beast among their members!

”Should Heaven's Angels be called the Heavenly Collectors?”

”They really do have a lot of strong spirit beasts! I've never seen a single one of them beside the Golden Panda one from earlier!”

”Even that one looked different from a regular Golden Panda! Didn't you see those giant gauntlets around its fists!?”

During this time, Xiucai wasn't idly wasting his time admiring and questioning his spirit beasts like everyone else. As they were released from their capture beads, Xiucai immediately erased his presence and raced toward his opponents who were caught up in seeing what type of spirit beasts were being released. Many hoped it was a spirit beast as beautiful as the strange human-like one from before after hearing Xiucai was the junior brother of the cultivator with the human-fish spirit beast.

It only took the time for one to blink for Xiucai to deal with his distracted opponents. His finger jabbed into the side of their necks one by one. Then they dropped like corpses, unable to control their bodies in the slightest. Xiucai was relieved his first match was so easy. He didn't have to show any of his martial arts or techniques.

Xiucai was a bit worried about using this method to win though. He didn't include his teammates at all but at the same time he wasn't too worried. In matches where one person can decide the outcome in a 1v3, the elders usually decide for that team to win. Especially when it ends so quickly.

As Xiucai waited for the elders to decide the outcome, two strange, silly, and enormous creatures slowly raced their way to him. Standing on four legs, mostly black but with white spots lightly plastered in certain places, and teeth that only a beast that ate meat would have. They were both happily clicking at the sight of Xiucai while running toward him. Like they were having their own conversation together in a different language.

Xiucai wanted to embrace the two creatures that formed a large shadow over him when they arrived from their great size but he had a reputation to keep. So, he only patted their heads while continuing to wait for the elder's decision of the match. Guang and Hei were more than happy with this simple petting as they finally took in their surroundings.

The Chu's were less than thrilled about this type of outcome. They glared at Xiucai with hatred for taking attention away from them but consoled themselves by saying it was only the first match. There were still more fights to be had and they could show off their clan's strength during those rounds. Hopefully, Xiucai would have a sudden heart attack or something, they hoped.

Unsurprisingly, Xiucai's team was declared the winners but to no joy of any of the elders. Like they said before, this tournament was not to find individual geniuses but to find those capable of working with others. Although, many of the elders still took note of a few talented individuals. What elder wouldn't want to take on a genius student untaught by others?

”This isn't over masked boy!” Chu Hua reminded him.

”...” Xiucai nodded in agreement. They still had matches to participate in.

Xiucai returned to Heaven's Angels with Guang and Hei by his side, clicking up a storm. They couldn't stop talking about something and from time to time would start giggling as if one of them said a really funny joke. It was times like this that Xiucai wished he could speak spirit beast. He wanted to know what his beasts were talking about since they kept chatting.

”Hmph. Hmph! You did well.” Lin Shu congratulated him with a nod but he could see she was upset about something.

”Didn't expect anything less from you Junior Brother.” He Wenqing nodded as well but didn't look to be upset like Lin.

”...” Xiucai gave his thanks.

”Well done, Xiucai. Targeting that qi point was an excellent non-lethal way of taking someone unaware down. If they were on guard in any way, you would've had a much more difficult task in paralyzing them from the neck down. Your method in distracting them with Guang and Hei before attacking by erasing your presence was really great. A black capture bead is something that no cultivator can ignore. However, all of you, don't forget that Withering Willow does not allow you to erase yourself as you're attacking.” Lei Zhi lectured.

”Yes, master!” Lin Shu and He Wenqing responded loudly. Xiucai nodded along. All of them taking his words to heart.

Guang and Hei rubbed their large heads against Xiucai's body before walking over to the other spirit beasts in Heaven's Angels, this being Li Li and Plinky. All the other spirit beasts were put back in their capture bead for the time being. Li Li had no issue with the two coming over. Plinky was more interested in eating any fallen spirit cakes on the ground than interacting with the two.

”Would you two like to become one of my Heavenly Demons?” Li Li cawed, speaking in his original voice.

”Hmm? You are a strange creature...” Guang clicked.

”I don't like being called strange. Call me unique.” Li Li hoo'd.

”Strange or unique, you are very strong. I don't think even if we fought you together, we'd stand a chance.” Hei noted.

”You're not wrong. If you wish, you two can gain strength similar to mine. All you need to do is become my friends and follow me.” Lei offered.

”Sounds like a good deal to me, brother. Kekekekekeke.” Guang couldn't help but laugh.

”As long as there's fun to be had, I don't see why not.” Hei responded.

”This is a gift from me for joining me.” Li Li initially wanted to split a single drop of his blood between the two brothers but decided against it. Instead, he reached into the storage ring given to him by his mother around his leg and pulled out two seeds.

Li Li flicked the seeds at the black and white brothers and it pierced their flesh but didn't hurt at all for them. In a matter of seconds after being coated in their blood, the seeds began to sprout!

These seeds were from Cerulean! She made them like birds made eggs or women made babies. Li Li didn't know exactly how Cerulean made babies just that she did. One day, when he went out to the front yard, there were these seeds and by communicating with Cerulean's soul, he found out that these were her babies! Kind of.

His mother explained that some creatures could create babies without a mate of the opposite sėx. This was a normal way of making children for most plants. Li Li and Jing needed mates to make babies with but Cerulean didn't. After hearing that, Li Li was still mostly confused about the whole thing but understood that the seeds were Cerulean's children.

Guang and Hei felt something wriggling and rooting inside their bodies as the seeds grew at a visible rate right in front of them. They sprouted after coming in contact with the orcas' blood. Two mini copies of Cerulean revealed themselves to the world on top of the fins of the spirit beasts. Leafy teeth, a head bigger than its green stem body, and a mischievous smirk permanently plastered on their carnivorous looks.

”I feel strange...” Guang grumbled.

”Unique is the word I think you're looking for brother.” Hei chuckled.

”Hahah! Unique! We are unique now too brother!” Guang loudly giggled.

”I am Li Li, your leader, and friend.” Li Li introduced himself to his new demons.

”My contractor calls me Guang!” Guang replied.

”I was named Hei.” Hei responded.

”Guang, Hei, as long as you stay by my side you will have nothing to worry about in the future.” Li Li promised.

”Sounds good to me, Leader!” Guang was more than happy to hear that. His plant was attempting to gobble one of the fallen spirit cakes on the floor but couldn't stretch that far from Guang's back.

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”I'm next.” Shang heard his number being called.

”Should be a piece of cake for a spellmaster like you.” Ying thought.

”Mhm.” Shang didn't refute her claim. This tournament seemed like it favored anyone but simple martial artists over anything else.

”Good luck.” Jing gave him a simple smile.

Jing didn't realize just how much of an encouragement that simple smile gave Shang. If before he was planning to just win, now he was planning to win with everything he had to look good for Jing. His eyes lingered on Jing's smile for a bit too long before being kicked in the back by a certain child into the ring.

”I can't even look at my woman...” Shang helplessly lamented as he got up from the ground.

”I HOPE YOU LOSE!!!” Li Li made sure to cheer him on.

”I'll do my best.” Shang waved back as he saw the other angels giggling and smirking.

He really made a powerful enemy by following his heart... With a sigh filled with happiness and tiredness at the same time, Shang looked over to his teammates. They seemed to know him and that made things easier for him. Both of them introduced themselves as martial artists.

”How confident are you two in your martial arts?” Shang asked.

Neither responded with anything resembling confidence or pride.

”Just stick by me and attack when you have the chance.” Shang commanded before signaling to the elder that they were ready.

The other team didn't take long to prepare either. Soon, the match started and in only a second, Shang tossed four talismans to each corner of the ring. From his storage ring, a golden sword came from out of it only to be tossed into the center of the ring with a talisman wrapped around the hilt. The other team immediately dashed toward them together but it still wasn't anywhere as fast as Shang's formation placement.

A bright blue light flashed within the ring that strengthened Shang's team. Floating blue dust fell all around the ring, passing through the bodies of Shang's opponents but slowly covering Shang and his teammates' bodies. Once the two martial artists felt the increase in their physique, they rushed toward the confused enemies, not willing to waste this chance given to them by Array Prodigy Shang.

Shang stayed where he was as he watched the two. If they were capable of handling the three on their own, he didn't need to do much more. But Jing was watching... Did he do well enough? Did he show off enough with his formation casting speed or using a sky-ranked supportive array with an earth-ranked spirit weapon as a base for the formation? This earth-ranked spirit weapon is a spirit weapon known for its durability rather than its offensive utility.

”Try harder! Stop losing!” Li Li cheered for the other team very loudly. ”Work like a team! Stop fighting one by one like idiots!” The young child angrily shouted.

Shang couldn't help but softly smile. He wasn't the only one smiling either, the other angels were also amused by Li Li's opposition to Shang. Everyone understood that he thought that Shang was trying to take his mother from him. A child's jealousy.

Surprisingly enough, the other team actually listened to the child and got their act together. The two martial artists on Shang's team were now more evenly matched against the trio on the other side. However, as time went on their advantage began to dwindle despite more and more blue dust covering their bodies. It wasn't as if the formation strengthening their bodies were wearing off but the fact that the two of them were fighting three people at once now with Li Li's advice continually coming in.

”Isn't it against the rules to help people in a match?”

”He's just saying how it is. I don't see how that kid would be breaking the rules.”

”I never heard any rules that said we weren't allowed to speak during a match.”

”But look! Because of that kid, they're winning now!”

”So what? Strength is what matters in the end. If you were fighting someone and they were getting advice on how to beat you, are you just supposed to lose? No! You'd keep fighting until they're dead.”

”That's right. It doesn't matter if they listen to the advice or not, teamwork is what matters in the end.”

The elders initially thought to silence the child's incessant chattering but paused after seeing the benefits of his talking. That team began to perform more smoothly and cohesively after taking the advice of that child. They even got the upper hand now and were pushing the two martial artists back despite their advantage with the supportive array. This allowed the elders to judge the teamwork of both teams more deeply. So, they allowed it.

Li Li smirked as he continued to advise the three weaklings.

”Don't let up even if you're tired, stupid!”

”If that dumb dumb in the back moves, make sure to retreat!”

”Sloppy Girl! The dumb dumb left his base unattended! Why aren't you trying to grab it and destroy it?!”

Seeing the shift in the battle, Shang no longer could sit back and watch. While he didn't think he would lose, how could he make himself look good if he didn't win effortlessly? Shang rushed forward with his long wooden staff in hand, ready to take on the trio by himself if need be. At the exact moment he moved, so did the other team at the command of Li Li.

”Sloppy Girl! Rip off that Conduit Spell and fall back.” Li Li ordered.

”Messy Hair and Shorty! Meet up with Sloppy Girl and get ready to defend!”

No longer was there any hesitation in listening to the child's words. They moved seamlessly like they were trained to listen to all their lives. All three readied themselves to take on the Array Prodigy together as one. The one referred to as Sloppy Girl took the first strike with the golden sword in her hand that she guessed was better than her regular sword. Now that the supportive array was down, things would be a bit easier for them.

Shang's staff slammed against earth-ranked spirit weapon but Sloppy Girl didn't seem as if she felt any of the force Shang struck with. She gave a cute smile as the other two attacked immediately after he clashed with her on Li Li's orders.

”Don't forget he's a spellmaster! Close combat isn't his forte! Don't give him the chance to use any spells and you will win!”

A ray of hope appeared in the eyes of the three that didn't think they stood a chance of winning at all. With the little boy's help, they were actually giving one of the sect's Rising Prodigies an actual challenge! Could they actually win?! No, they had to win! His strength didn't matter but how well they worked together!

Continuous attacks from all sides badgered Shang Zhai. His skill with the staff was admirable and easily above the other team's individually but didn't have the killing power it usually had combined with his talismans. It was enough to keep them away but not put them down. He was genuinely surprised as the match went on. These three weren't bad! It looks like even trash can be decent with a good enough teacher.

”Don't get too excited stupid! Know when to advance and know when to retreat! And don't fall for obvious feints. Don't forget who he is!” Li Li continued to teach.

”Be stronger!” Plinky shouted in encouragement despite only spirit beasts being able to understand him.

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'To think I actually have to use some of my real strength against people like this.' Shang sighed.

Li Li really wanted him to lose. Shang wondered if Jing was as stubborn as this and he got that trait from her. He could definitely see Jing as the silent stubborn type. Not willing to back down but also looks as beautiful and graceful as she always does. She's really an amazing girl... And she's his woman!

”Ah.” Shang was suddenly struck on the forehead by the girl Li Li kept calling sloppy. A judgment he wouldn't say was wrong. ”I got distracted...” Shang was sent sliding to the edge of the ring with a red welt on his forehead.

”I landed a hit!” Sloppy Girl cheered. An uncontrollable amount of pride and energy welled up inside her from landing a hit on the Rising Prodigy.

”Don't get distracted, stupid!” Li Li admonished.

”Yes! Sorry!” She immediately ran to follow up on her successful hit.

Ahead of her, both of her teammates were already doing what she should've been doing a few seconds ago. The two of them engaged with Shang first, their swords constantly slashing and slicing at his body. Shang held his staff with one hand as he defended against the two while mentally reaching into his storage ring for a few spells. They immediately went into overdrive as the warnings of the kid flowed into their heads.

”Do not let him use his spells!”

All three cultivators focused all their attacks on Shang with crazed determination to prevent him from pulling anything out. They no longer gave any care for defense and focused all their attacks on pure offense. Something that Shang couldn't take advantage of while searching for the right spells inside his storage ring. Their crazed attacks forced Shang into retreating off the stage but even then they didn't let him go alone.

”Hehehehe... Lose! Lose!” Li Li giggled to himself, seeing Shang in a rough spot.

”I've never been so humiliated...” Shang's lips turned up. Of course, it would be Li Li that makes him feel that for the first time.

It really was the first time he's ever been pushed this far by someone he considers below him. The fact that trash like this needed to work together to give him a solid fight would be something to mock and ridicule. But in this strange tournament, it was something to praise! Even now, the crowd was cheering on the three trashes forcing him to reveal his weaknesses and strengths.

”Fine. I'll lose but I'll lose with pride, damn it. You win this time, Li Li.” Shang admitted.

Shang slammed his staff vertically into the ground as he reached into his robe and activated a spell. An explosion of darkness expanded as the talisman burnt to ash. A small black dome captured Shang and the three cultivators. Those outside of it could not see inside and those inside could not see outside or inside.

It was complete darkness inside the spell but Shang had no problem navigating inside. Amusing enough, the trash stuck to each other with their backs facing each other. That kid taught them too well. But, nonetheless, they were doomed to fall here and now. Shang attacked under the veil of darkness as his ally.

His staff struck the throat of Messy Hair before coming back around and smashing him across the face into the distance. Shang's staff then tripped Shorty off his feet as he spun it around and slammed it on top of his stomach, burying him into the ground. For Sloppy Girl, she was crazily attacking the air around her as she heard the sounds of her companions falling. Shang smacked her on the back of her head and easily knocked her out.

With a tired sigh, he destroyed the spell with another and revealed to everyone that the match was over. As expected, Shang's team lost and he had to walk back to Heaven's Angels with his head hung high. He may have lost but he didn't completely lose. Unfortunately, a certain little birdy thought otherwise.

Li Li hopped around the defeated Shang without saying a word. He just happily hummed while jumping around him with a gloating look on his face. Li Li knew he didn't have to say a thing. Everyone knew what he was saying though.

'I won! You lose. I win! You lost! You really think you can take my mom when you can only amount to this?! Hmph! Hmph! Hmph! The nerve!'

”I lost face for us. I apologize.' Shang bowed to Jing but also gave a slight bow to everyone else.

”Train some more. Your skills aren't bad.” Wan Qing advised.

”I will take your words to heart.” Shang nodded.

”Don't be too down. He is Jing's son after all. Although I didn't expect Li Li to be such a great teacher even though it was done out of pure spite.” Lei Zhi noted.

”I can do anything if I put my mind to it.” Li Li confidently boasted.

”Can you turn into a girl?” Lin Shu joked, not knowing the true strength of the child.

”If I wanted to.” Li Li remembered how Wan Qing turned into a real female.

”What about a cow?” He Wenqing joined in.

”Of course.” Li Li manipulated his soul's shape and transformed from a human child to that of a cow calf.

”He actually did it!” Lin Shu shook He Wenqing wide shoulders back and forth.

”He wasn't kidding...” He Wenqing was completely shocked looking at the somehow ordinary but at the same time not ordinary cow.

Li Li had long white flowing hair on top of his head, his cowhide was black with white spots, and his tail was unusually long but that was it. Nothing more than that.

'Hmph! I told you.' Li Li spoke to their souls while in cow form.

Soon after, he transformed back to his human form that greatly resembled Jing. Both Lin Shu and He Wenqing bowed in reverence to the great spirit beast. Li Li was more than happy to receive such praise for something he considered quite mediocre for him now. If it was before the Endless Plains of Yin, he would still have to rely on communicating with people's souls to talk to them and stay in his original form.

”All hail the Great Li Li!” The two chanted.

”Hail Li Li!” Plinky innocently praised.

A smile too wide couldn't be hidden on Li Li's young face. Li Li nodded in acknowledgment. He really was great. After all, he was his mother's son.

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”Jie? Isn't that Hu Tao's woman?”

”Hu Tao's woman??? She willingly gave herself to Hu Tao?”

”I don't know. I just know that she's in a relationship with Hu Tao.”

”Is she crazy too?”

”I guess we'll see.”

Jie said nothing as she made her way up to the stage. Long black hair, generic Golden Serpent Sect robes, and a beautiful appearance. It was quite strange that someone this beautiful wasn't known already! A 7th stage Qi Consolidator as well. This woman was a complete mystery to everyone in the sect! No one could recall her before the identities of those in the Heaven's Angels faction started spreading.

She held a yellow umbrella in her hand and many ȧssumed that this was also a strange spirit tool or weapon! It was a trademark of Heaven's Angels to own a strange weapon by now. So many were excited to see the prowess of this umbrella in battle! No one dared to look down on their weapons after seeing an old man toss around a cultivator with a fishing rod!

”Maybe she'll use it like a spear! The tip is pointed and looks sharp.”