Chapter 95 The Immortals League Competition (1/2)

Time passed very quickly. Three days were soon over. Early morning, as the first rays from the sun shone into the imperial palace, the entire palace resounded with gong and drum strikes. Musical instruments were played. Led by two contingents, each with a thousand soldiers, even noblemen and court officials got out of their sedans to see the warriors off by foot.

The venue of the Immortals League Competition was not the palace, but 9 kilometers away east, at a place named the Wind Floating Platform.

When the wind and the clouds rose, ten thousand heroes would acknowledge allegiance!

At the Wind Floating Platform laid out of green stone, 64 flags fluttered noisily in the air. There were many colors: red, blue, green and indigo. Each bore a green dragon, white tiger, red sparrow, black tortoise or other totem.

The Qing State sects were already waiting. On the high platforms sat the Qing State ambassador on one side, and the Zhou Emperor, Empress, Third Prince and Princess Xuanyue on the other, together with several officials.

Beyond these two high platforms, an army made up of several thousand men stood guard. Beyond this army were onlookers: commoners of the White Cloud City and other sectless cultivators.

The warriors were all in high fighting spirits. Although the Zhou State had won several times in succession, rumor had it that the Qing State had sent out many young superiors from the Heaven and Earth Lists to participate this time. Earlier, Xiao Chen had heard from Gu Hanxuan that Yu Yifeng would not be here. Although the Jade Qing Sect was in the Qing State, they were only concerned with destroying demons and upholding the Way. They had never been involved in the two states' disputes.

This placed the Zhou State in a great advantage. After all, Yu Yifeng was ranked 11th on the Heaven's List. If he had taken part, no young Zhou cultivator could rival his eminence.

This was also a good thing for Xiao Chen. After all, he could not fight Brother Yifeng finally, could he? Now, all he hoped for was that None-flower Dust's attendance was a mere rumor. Otherwise, even had he employed the Fuxi Zither strings, he might not take him down.

The wind surged and the clouds rolled on. The battle drums were struck thunderously. The presiding officers from both sides started to examine today's competitors, making sure they had not taken any illegal pills.

The rules of the Immortals League Competition were very simple. The competitors fought three rounds and the side that won two won the overall competition. One round was held every day; the competition would be held for three consecutive days. During each round, the states would send out eight contestants to fight and eliminate their oppositions on the spot.

Every competitor had two chances to compete. If they competed in the first round, they must choose between the second and the third day's competition. If a competitor lost in the first round, he would have no chance to participate in the next.

There were a total of eight duels in each round. The winner of the first duel could stay on to compete, or step down to take a rest. Even if that winner lost the next duel, he could still take part in another round. In short, the last person left standing on the platform won for his camp.

The arrangement of the Teal Jade Sect was for Xiao Chen to compete on the first day. He ought to be able to win easily. Then, with his divine zither, he would take part in the third. Gu Hanxuan and Chu Lingjiao had higher cultivations. They would take part in the second day's competition. If they won, they would compete in the third too.

After finishing examining the competitors, a Core Forming Realm Cultivator stepped up onto the Wind Floating Platform and pointed his sword at the heavens. A swift and fierce Sword Qi soared toward the sky, breaking through the cloud layers and scattering down many drops of golden rays. This signified the beginning of the first round.

Two human figures flashed and leapt onto the Wind Floating Platform at the same time. After cupping their fists in respect, they started to execute their most lethal moves.

Xiao Chen surveyed the place from under the platform. He discovered three familiar figures from the Qing State. One was Ling Yingfeng, whom he fought originally at the Skygale Sect. The next was Qian Yeli. The third, surprisingly, was Ouyang Yu.

Presumably, they were representing the Skygale Sect. Yet from where they stood, they appeared not to be the first day's competitors. Hence, he should not need to face them in today's battles.

Liu Fenghuang squeezed past the crowds, a fruit bowl in her hands filled with peeled mandarin oranges and peeled apples. She reached his side and said with a grin, ”Junior Brother, give your best later!”

Xiao Chen turned back his head and smiled at her, nodding. Liu Fenghuang answered, ”Taste these. I peeled them myself.” Xiao Chen smiled lightly. ”Thank you.” He was just about to take a mandarin orange when he discovered a shadow streaking over from the corners of his eyes. He pulled her over and they leapt to one side.

”Peng!” went a thud. The place they had stood on was almost ruptured by a competitor flying down from the platform. The fruits on Liu Fenghuang's plate were all scattered. She glared at the platform and cried loudly, ”What on earth!?”

Immediately, however, her voice was drowned by uproarious cheers. The competitor remaining on the platform was from the Zhou State, so the person thrown down onto Xiao Chen must have been a Qing State competitor. As he clambered up embarrassedly, Liu Fenghuang crashed the plate on his head. ”How tiresome! Must you fall here of all places?”

The man shrieked hideously and passed out.

The scene had been taken in by the Qing State. A few cultivators started to yell. ”Hey, what are you people doing!” To forestall any unnecessary trouble, Xiao Chen pulled Liu Fenghuang and dashed away into the crowds.

The second and third duels were won by the Zhou State as well. There were eight persons remaining from the Zhou State, but only five from the Qing. They won on their first strikes and had a massive advantage. For a short moment, everyone from the Zhou State was jubilant. The smile on Yu Wenji's face became more radiant.