Chu Xingchen slung an arm around Yu Yang Daozi's shoulder with a beaming smile.
He hadn't expected that Yu Yang Daozi, who looked so upright and maintained a stern, unsmiling expression, would have such a strangely low tolerance for dad jokes.
As long as they weren't enemies, Yu Yang Daozi's confrontational aura had become much more placid.
Moreover, their implicit friendship had grown from skipping tedious conversations and going to the restroom together.
At the very least, Yu Yang Daozi didn't mind simple physical contact.
Indeed, there were no misunderstandings between men that couldn't be resolved by using the restroom together—even if it was a fake one.
Simply put, Yu Yang was quite reasonable.
However, soon after, both of them noticed Xu Jin's gaze upon them.
Chu Xingchen looked back and saw Xu Jin's somewhat inscrutable expression, but he just smiled and waved casually.
Yu Yang Daozi glanced over and simply gave a slight nod as a greeting.
From afar, Xu Jin watched Chu Xingchen wave enthusiastically, and for a moment, he felt dazed—was this the same Chu Xingchen who wouldn't even meet his face yesterday?
So enthusiastic now, why didn't he want to meet last night?
As he waved, Chu Xingchen turned to ask Yu Yang Daozi beside him:
"What's with Xu Jin? He seems so... timid."
Hearing this, Yu Yang Daozi glanced sideways at Chu Xingchen, who was smiling and waving while making such cutting remarks, his expression completely natural.
If you're talking about outrageous behavior, who could possibly top you?
But for some reason, Yu Yang Daozi didn't think Chu Xingchen was the type to be two-faced.
Although his actions weren't always particularly magnanimous, he was a man of true character.
Compared to Xu Jin, who spoke with such refinement but instinctively made one feel uncomfortable, as if you could tell at a glance he was up to something.
Like the goody-two-shoes student in school who reports petty nonsense to the teachers.
You couldn't call him morally corrupt, but no one liked him.
Yu Yang Daozi didn't like to badmouth others, so he simply replied:
"People are just different."
Chu Xingchen shrugged indifferently, not taking offense. "Alright, I've said hello. If I stay any longer, he might think I'm about to defect to the Tai Dao Sect."
Yu Yang Daozi gave a slight nod. "Please, do as you wish, Brother Chu."
Chu Xingchen straightened up and glanced in the direction of the Bixiao Palace, quickly catching Ye Antao's gaze, which had been fixed on this direction.
Their eyes met for a brief moment, and Ye Antao immediately lowered her head.
Although he didn't know what she was so afraid of...
Since she was this scared, he'd just grant her wish and not go over to say hello.
Chu Xingchen returned to the area where the Tianyan Sect was gathered.
Lü Xuan nodded with a smile as Chu Xingchen returned:
"You'll have to work hard for us soon."
Chu Xingchen was taken aback by this. "Aren't top talents like us supposed to fight last? Don't you save the exciting matchups for the end?"
Lü Xuan was stunned and glanced at Bai Xuanling, who was低头喝茶 (bowing his head to drink tea):
"You didn't tell him about the competition format?"
Bai Xuanling set down his teacup and said nonchalantly, "I did. Just fight."
Hearing this, Lü Xuan instantly held his breath. Because simply put, Bai Xuanling wasn't wrong, but this was far too simplistic.
It was like explaining the rules of a competition by simply saying—just win.
Lü Xuan sighed and explained:
"The one-on-one duels are last. Beyond the top combatants, the major sects also need to demonstrate comprehensive strength and teamwork."
"So, we start with team competitions, followed by individual matches."
"The team battles can have as few as one fighter or as many as ten."
"Fewer participants mean higher points if you achieve victory."
"The four sects will spar with each other, and the one with the highest points wins the team competition."
"Pay special attention to the Haotian Palace and the Xiaoyun Pavilion—they're not participating in the individual matches, so their team battle skills are definitely something to be reckoned with."
"Furthermore, because of the difference in cultivation levels, the formation below suppresses your internal cultivation and spiritual sense, but it's easy to break through. So you'll need to be careful when you make your move."
"Cultivation levels will be suppressed to the Nascent Soul stage, and you cannot use power beyond that level."
"Though it's said to suppress to the Nascent Soul stage, most participants in the team competition are actually core disciples who have reached the Deity Transformation stage."
"The techniques and supernatural abilities used at the Nascent Soul stage will be restricted. Moreover, while those disciples aren't core disciples, their cultivation shouldn't be underestimated—they've received almost all the important training as well."
"The advantage in cultivation isn't completely nullified, but the margin is significantly reduced. Protective treasures are forbidden, and taking damage will be calculated based on the physical constitution of a normal Nascent Soul cultivator. So don't get cocky and try to tank attacks just to show off."
After receiving all the information, Chu Xingchen found the rules to be quite simple and clear.
Having high cultivation wasn't all beneficial here; it could also lead to disqualification if you used too much force.
The team competition first was also meant to allow people to develop counter-strategies against top players for the individual competition.
Chu Xingchen asked, "So how many of us will be going up?"
Dèrùn, who had been sitting quietly for a while, spoke calmly:
"Just you and me."
Lü Xuàn gave a slight nod. "It might seem arrogant and carry some risk, but where's the high reward without risk?"
Chu Xingchen glanced at Dèrùn and then nodded reassuringly—Even if they really couldn't win, Chu Xingchen had ways to ensure Dèrùn took more hits.
If Dèrùn couldn't hold on and Chu Xingchen couldn't win either, surrendering would be a good option.
Chu Xingchen revealed a confident smile and said, "Please rest assured, Sect Leader Lü. I have it all under control."
Looking at Chu Xingchen's self-satisfied expression, Lü Xuàn nodded in satisfaction—youth was wonderful, possessing that unyielding spirit.
Only those with an unyielding spirit could connect with the great Dao.
It was precisely for this reason that Lü Xuàn dared to boldly send only Chu Xingchen and Dèrùn.
Bái Xuánlíng looked at Lü Xuàn's gratified expression and shook his head slightly—He had told the sect leader he had misjudged Chu Xingchen, but unfortunately, the sect leader was foolish.
Although almost everyone had arrived, there was still a rather tedious set of preparations and a drawing ceremony before the competition could begin.
These were unavoidable.
Fortunately, the preparations and drawing ceremony were carried out simultaneously.
Whether it was because of some underhanded manipulation by the Xuānqīng Tiān Sect or because Lü Xuàn's luck was simply bad, the first team match was between Tiānyǎn Sect and Xiáoyùn Hall.
However, both Lü Xuàn and Bái Xuánlíng remained calm.
Chu Xingchen's gaze turned toward the direction of Xiáoyùn Hall. Over there, the atmosphere was also calm, as if they were just there to go through the motions.
As time passed, with the hundreds of formations below blooming with gorgeous light, the arena below rapidly transformed into a mountain forest.
Strictly speaking, this was also an exhibition match, but it was aimed at the most elite cultivators—true novices didn't even qualify to watch.
So there was no commentary; only a simple water-mirror projection provided a basic view.
There were still referees, however, provided by the Xuānqīng Tiān Sect.
It was Elder Qīngyún, the same elder who had welcomed them when they first arrived at the Xuānqīng Tiān Sect.
Qīngyún waved his hand, and ten jade talismans flew to Tiānyǎn Sect and Xiáoyùn Hall respectively.
Lü Xuàn slightly raised his hand and drew all ten jade talismans into his grasp, then handed them over to Chu Xingchen and Dèrùn.
He didn't say anything more, as everything that needed to be said had already been said.
He was a guide, not a nanny. Whether they were reckless or cautious was up to them.
The two didn't say much more and directly activated the jade talismans in their hands.
In the Wǔxū Arena.
Chu Xingchen suddenly felt as if countless thin ropes were binding him, creating a feeling of extreme inconvenience in movement, yet at the same time, it felt very easy to break free.
"It's a bit like the feeling when you sleep with a cricked neck."
Dèrùn didn't reply to that. Instead, she summoned her spiritual treasure and reminded him:
"Every word you say could be transmitted by the water-mirror formation. Guard your words and mind your steps."
"Really?" Chu Xingchen's eyes lit up.
Hearing this, Dèrùn instantly regretted her words.
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