Chapter 16 Challenge Round Begins, Battle Yao Kaidong
"Next is the Challenge Round, starting with Immortal Beast Peak, which is temporarily ranked eighth."
The Points Round had ended, and the preliminary rankings were out. Eighth Elder Zuo Hongcai directly announced the start of the Challenge Round.
The Senior Brother of Immortal Beast Peak was in secluded cultivation, so naturally Second Brother Chu Sheng took the stage.
And the one being challenged was Immortal Spring Peak, ranked seventh.
Immortal Spring Peak was the same; their Senior Brother was in secluded cultivation, and Second Senior Sister Chen Xiawan walked onto the Dueling Stone Platform.
"Senior Sister Chen, how about this time your Immortal Spring Peak concedes once and takes eighth place?"
Chu Sheng asked with a smile.
"Junior Brother Chu, although you're a bit stronger than me, who wins and who loses isn't certain yet."
Chen Xiawan naturally wouldn't agree. In the third round of the Points Round, she had directly faced the Sect's Holy Maiden Lin Shimeng from the main peak and conceded, so her strength was completely preserved and unconsumed, and she didn't fear Chu Sheng.
"My youthful, beautiful, charming Senior Sister Chen, I know you didn't make a move in the Points Round and your strength is preserved, but I also didn't make a move. Both of us are at peak strength, and the relationship between our two peaks is good; there's really no need to fight."
Chu Sheng had naturally calculated all this long ago, which was why he had quickly surrendered when facing Yun Man, not even wanting to test things out, afraid that if he accidentally got injured, he might not be able to defeat Chen Xiawan in the Challenge Round.
"So that's your scheme, kid."
Wan Rongyang now understood Chu Sheng's plan and felt quite satisfied. Although this kid wasn't very reliable and was especially cunning, his planning was quite good.
"Forget it, Xiawan, let them have this Challenge Round. Seventh and eighth place aren't that different."
Immortal Spring Peak's Sixth Elder Wen Yuanying spoke directly.
She was the Peak Master of Immortal Spring Peak, but because she was female, the disciples under her were few to begin with, and each one was her heart's treasure. Since Chu Sheng was also at full strength, fighting might not guarantee victory, and if her precious disciple got injured, it wouldn't be worth it.
"Master, I preserved my strength precisely for this moment; how can you ask me to concede?"
Chen Xiawan was immediately unhappy. Whether she could win would only be known after fighting.
"As expected of the most beautiful Elder in our Sect, I knew Auntie Wen still cared about this nephew. Thank you, Auntie Wen."
Hearing Sixth Elder Wen Yuanying say this, Chu Sheng quickly thanked her.
"Glib-tongued kid, I'm worried about my disciple's safety; who has time to care about you? You take advantage and still put on airs."
Although Wen Yuanying said this, she still felt pleased in her heart.
"This Challenge Round, Immortal Beast Peak wins."
Seeing Immortal Spring Peak concede, Zuo Hongcai directly announced the result.
Immortal Spring Peak also didn't want to continue challenging Immortal Medicine Peak. After all, they were among the peaks with better relations, and sixth, seventh, and eighth place weren't that different, so they might as well take eighth place and appear magnanimous.
"Good, Immortal Spring Peak gives up the challenge. Now it's the turn of Immortal Medicine Peak, ranked sixth, which can challenge Immortal Artifact Peak."
Zuo Hongcai continued.
"Forget it, my Immortal Medicine Peak won't compete either."
Fourth Elder Du Jiancong also gave up continuing the challenge.
After all, the Challenge Round had always been about the top three competing. This year there was an additional Seven Stars Peak, so his Immortal Medicine Peak wouldn't get involved.
"Since Immortal Medicine Peak also gave up the challenge, next is Immortal Artifact Peak, which can challenge Immortal Cloud Peak."
Zuo Hongcai continued announcing.
"My Immortal Artifact Peak also gives up."
Kang Zhengye had just formed an alliance with the Second Elder; going to challenge now would naturally be inappropriate, so he also gave up.
"What's going on today? In previous years, even if unable to win, these peaks would send disciples to compete a bit. Why are they all voluntarily giving up this year?"
"You don't know. In previous years there were no variables, and everyone had estimates of their own rankings, so competing and exchanging pointers was normal. But this year Seven Stars Peak rose, and the top three are basically settled, so from fifth place onward, no one has much interest. Besides, everyone's attention isn't on them, and they can't be bothered to fight."
"No wonder these last four places are just going through the motions. The main event still depends on the top four."
Regarding these peaks giving up their challenges, some observing disciples were confused, while others explained.
This was unavoidable. This year Seven Stars Peak had gone from last place to suddenly rising to second place, so indeed not many people paid attention to how the last few places ranked.
"Second Brother, we brothers have always been united. This time I must find Qin Xiao to settle accounts. You won't stab me in the back, right?"
Before Zuo Hongcai even announced, Yao Tiansheng had already transmitted his voice to Yao Yongzhi.
His Immortal Sword Peak disciple Li Cheng was seriously injured and had withdrawn, and Holy Maiden Liu Xueyue had also just broken through to the Golden Core stage not long ago. Even with many treasures, she had no chance of winning against Immortal Cloud Peak's Senior Brother. His own son, Yao Kaidong, needed to preserve his strength to deal with Yun Man, so he could only transmit his voice to his second brother.
"Since Big Brother says so, Second Brother naturally must give you face."
Yao Yongzhi originally wanted to challenge, but since Big Brother had transmitted his voice, he could only give up. He couldn't let people see that the two of them were not harmonious.
"My Immortal Cloud Peak also gives up."
Before Zuo Hongcai could announce it, Yao Yongzhi spoke first.
"Since Immortal Cloud Peak also gives up, next is Immortal Sword Peak challenging Seven Stars Peak."
Regarding Yao Yongzhi's concession, Zuo Hongcai wasn't too surprised. The Great Elder and Second Elder were fellow disciples, so not competing was normal.
"Yun Man, come out."
Yao Kaidong, having accumulated anger for a long time, could finally take revenge. Jumping onto the stone platform, he directly pointed his sword at Yun Man.
Previously in the last round, Yao Kaidong had fought against an Immortal Medicine Peak disciple and won without consuming much Spiritual Qi. He was now basically at full strength, and with protective treasures on hand, he wasn't afraid of Yun Man.
"Very good. Master, last time my strength wasn't as good as his. This time I'll definitely teach him a good lesson for you and vent your anger."
Seeing Yao Kaidong take the stage, Yun Man felt an itch to fight. Twenty-some days ago, if the Great Elder and Sect Leader hadn't arrived, Yao Kaidong would have dealt a fatal blow.
"Go ahead. Injuring him is fine, just don't kill him. Of course, if you're not a match, concede immediately. Your Master doesn't care about these rankings."
Seeing Yun Man full of confidence, Qin Xiao first encouraged her, then reminded her that rankings weren't important, fearing this girl might stubbornly persist and get injured.
"Master, rest assured; your disciple knows her limits."
After speaking, Yun Man flew up and landed on the stone platform.
"I know you've improved again recently, but I'm not the only one who has grown stronger. I've also reached Golden Core late stage perfection, just half a step away from the Golden Core peak. No matter how much your cultivation has increased, today you have no chance of winning."
Naturally, Yao Kaidong had also seen Yun Man's previous sword strike. Although astonished, he believed he could block it, and he had also made progress over these past twenty-odd days. Originally, he had aimed for Lin Shimeng, but since he couldn't challenge her, he would use Yun Man for practice instead.
"Stop talking nonsense. Twenty-some days ago, you came to my Seven Stars Peak to cause trouble; today we should settle that score."
Yun Man didn't care what Yao Kaidong said; she had come today specifically for revenge.
"Good, good, good. Since you're stubborn and unyielding, then prepare to die."
The sword in Yao Kaidong's hand instantly erupted with golden light as he slashed toward Yun Man.
"What? A Low Grade Dharma Treasure? The Great Elder actually gave a Low Grade Dharma Treasure to Yao Kaidong?"
As the aura of the Low Grade Dharma Treasure emerged, Sect Leader Lin Tiancheng's expression immediately changed.
In battles between peers, weapon bonuses were exceptionally important. When both cultivators were at the Golden Core late stage, having a Low Grade Dharma Treasure versus not having one put them in two entirely different leagues.
Yun Man raised her sword to block, and similarly, golden light erupted from her blade.
"What? Yun Man's weapon isn't a Top Grade Spirit Weapon, but also a Low Grade Dharma Treasure?"
Seeing golden light erupt from Yun Man's sword as well, Lin Tiancheng was surprised once more.