Chapter 431 - Alcoholic Ritual (1/2)
What could go wrong?— is what the dark-headed Min thought as he and his team consisting of two other beast spirit masters leaped on the stage with radiant smirks on their faces as if the result of the first match is already set. The trio glanced at each other and discovered a similar unwillingness to form their much-trained formation. After all, they were up against a single girl. Her martial might, though thoroughly ingrained into the trio's tough muscles, could not cover the relevant ease of the situation on the surface. Korra was one girl. Their team was comprised of three hunks.
What could possibly go wrong?
A strange silence swept the higher-seats of the audience. None of the family heads graced this makeshift arena and took their mighty butts to the stage graced with Ye Zong's presence. Well, except a few family heads such as the Huyan Family. Within the audience, many considered the situation similar to the trio hunks. Alas, the higher-ups forming the current audience were all too familiar with soothing their tense nerves through spectating blood-boiling battles filled with depraved craziness for violence and right in front of them, the only girl who could defeat the Mistress of Violence and become the Tyrant who ruled the underground arenas with gory fists stood with an absolutely bored countenance.
This would definitely turn wrong.
***
”Amazing, the team super flame abyss demon lords of the glory won with shocking advantage,” Nik clapped while getting on the stage once again. He smoothly transitioned the victory-loss moment for the students without rubbing it into the unfortunate souls. He looked at the parchment once again and placed the mic-stone into his pocked before scribbling the name of the losing team. and circled Nie Li's team. This wasn't a stick-to-the-norm type of competition. In the first round matches, whoever lost would be unable to participate any longer. Of course, these matches were only here to depict and grade each student based on their intellect, proficiency, and teamwork. Pen Hua graded intellect and awareness of the students. Xiao Xiaji assessed martial talent. Gin Jiu wrote reports on the teaming capabilities of each student. Even if Nie Li's team won, unsurprisingly, Lu Piao's name had already reached the last dregs of the list.
If Nik had to classify the three fans of his, they would fall under Souko's category— Slutty Professionals. One of the common findings in the modern world with the moderately advanced technological system but quite uncommon in this classic world of cultivation. Nik had heard a few whispers about web novels and such back in his homeworld that depicts such a system of living and Nik was now interested in perusing through such contents once he returned. More knowledge about possible worlds he could visit would never hurt. In fact, it was one of the more popular ones that he still hadn't visited. The world of elementals, demon-infested lands, and now, the land with hot, vulnerable, sexually frustrated goddesses and dragon-slaying monsters were all very new to him.
”Now, team lightning dragon and team green serpent, come up on the stage.” Bringing the mic close to his lips, Nik stated calmly. Ning'er's team and another all-girls team stood from their seats and walked towards the stage while eyeing each other carefully. Ning'er, Ziyun, and Ryu'er, being Nik's disciples were quite focused on. Nik's reputation, though ineffective to his mind, was already branded upon the citizens of the city. Who Nik was, what his story is, his recent accomplishments... everything was already mapped and spread. So, even if Nik himself didn't care, or, in reality, didn't even notice the effect of his reputation since men naturally feared the woman magnet he was, it did not mean that his disciples and people close to him were oblivious to it... except Gojira.
”Xiao Ning'er... you two will focus on her. Stall for time and when I am done with the other two, we will fight her together.”
The leader dared not underestimate Ning'er even in a 3 vs 1 scenario. Heaving a deep breath to calm her tense nerves, she waited for Nik's— Begin— to sneak past Ning'er and knock the two other teammates of her. She was already confident in accomplishing that aspect of the plan but... if she could defeat two students simultaneously, that was equivalent of admitting that her own teammates might not even stall Ning'er at all.
”Begin.”
Nik gave his blessings the moment he stepped on the ground. Turning back, Nik found Ning'er furrow her brows. The orange-headed girl wore her most common sparring outfit with a half-sleeved dark-brown form-fitting tunic marking the curves of her upper body tucked into darker pants that tightened around her hips and inner thighs to improve mobility. A green bangle adorned her left wrist while shoes of spiritual nature covered her feet. Gesturing towards her teammates, Xiao Ning'er begun the match by sending her two teammates forward. She wasn't willing to show her true colors yet. At least, not until she fought Ziyun or Ryu'er. The trio knew each other's capabilities fully well. Ryu'er was the strongest, no doubt. But the three of them had a past with no involvement of their master and the things they learned in this period of time now turned out to be far more beneficial than the techniques they currently trained.
Seeing the two teammates walk forward instead of Ning'er, the team leader of the green serpent let out a defeated sigh and sent her own teammates out before beelining towards Ning'er. This was the worst-case scenario but she didn't wish to back out without a convincing battle. These kind of hand-to-hand battles, unlike the glory of spirit skills, were short-lived. Ning'er did not even have the need to strike more than three vital points and the team leader of the opposing party fell to the ground, her body spasming. Seeing this, the lips of Ning'er's father twitched as she barely recalled the familiar move with which Nik knocked him out in finality and allowed Ning'er to take a step forward and forgave the past mistreatment and made an effort to mend their strained relationship.
***
”We won! Yeah!”
Chen Linjian smiled and stepped down the stage. He felt slightly weird that defeating teacher Nik's disciple was quite easy. But, the moment his foot touched the ground, the unconscious bodies of Lanruo and her teammates vanished into hazy pink petals as Chen Linjian turned back with an astounded expression on his face. Matching Lanruo's glowing pink pupils and the phantom of an ethereal white-barked tree with fleeting pink petals, everything clicked for Chen Linjian while his teammates stood slack-jawed.
Not minding the removal of the greatest battle strength from his team— himself— Chen Linjian spoke calmly.
”Don't feel afraid. The fact that only I was placed into the complex illusion suggests that Huyan Lanruo can only affect a single person. Her team does not have any close combatant and we can use this weakness.” Chen Linjian smiled towards Lanruo and advised his team with a calm expression. The two were enough to deal with Lanruo and now that her tricks were exposed, even if Lanruo controls one of them, the other could directly attack Lanruo and try to break her focus. This was the most basic way to deal with illusionists. Alas, Lanruo returned the smile as her teammates chuckled at the act of one of the brawny youths attack the other.
”You spoke for a long time. Don't mind if I use that to my own advantage.”
Lanruo weaved a complex illusion with her limited spirit power and instantly controlled the entire battle. The facts combined with her earlier skills instantly made the representatives of other families note down the apparent skill of training illusionists likely available to Nik. And the fact greatly unnerved all those in power. Even Chen Linjian's fave turned dour once he realized his team would likely be eliminated in the first wave itself. Not to mention his elders, even his father would likely be disappointed.
***
”Ah, all this mansion to myself~” Ye Han's figure melted into a bewitching beauty still garbed in Ye Han's oversized green tangzhuang. Pulling the sleeves, the beauty showcased her outstanding strength by ripping apart the locks of the suit and revealing her uncovered breasts. Cupping her breadmakers from the underside and pushing them up, the gentle seductress smiled softly, ”Aah, finally I can breathe! That suit was too damn tight. My injuries should be healing soon enough,” mumbling to herself, the woman thought for a while and took out a few items and placed them within her room.
”Oh well, I am already free. Meeting my new champion would take a few days. Might as well sew congratulatory robes for our meeting. He might be the new demon lord after all~”
The woman smiled and took out high-quality rolls of cloth before sitting down and mapping the suit based on Nik's usual clothing.