The Xuanqing Heavenly Sect.
The team competition had reached its final match. Chu Xingchen leaned back leisurely in his chair, his gaze drifting with interest toward the water-screen arena.
Xuanqing Heavenly Sect's team leader, Xu Jin, was locked in a fierce battle against the Taidao Sect's Master Yuyang.
Both teams were at full strength, making for a truly grand showdown.
Although Xu Jin held a slight edge in cultivation, he had to exert himself to suppress his spiritual energy with every move—a situation with both gains and losses.
As a result, the battle remained fiercely contested, with Xuanqing Heavenly Sect holding no clear advantage.
The Tianyan Sect had already secured first place with a perfect record of victories.
This wasn't because Chu Xingchen and Yan Yun had taken on all the opponents themselves. After their encounter with the Xiao Yun Palace, Yan Yun had declared resolutely that taking on ten opponents at once was something best done only once.
As long as they achieved a clean sweep, their points would inevitably be the highest; there was no need for the extra effort.
Only Yan Yun knew the specific reasoning behind this.
Lü Xuan had originally wanted to pick an easier target to make another grand showing, but he couldn't override Yan Yun's firm stance, especially since her reasoning was sound.
Consequently, in the subsequent team matches, Tianyan fielded a full lineup with all disciples, excluding Chu Xingchen and Yan Yun.
Thanks to the formidable combat prowess of the Nascent Soul Law Manifestation, coupled with the fact that Yan Yun seemed to have had her fighting spirit ignited by someone, her strikes were swift and merciless.
The battle was, for the most part, a complete suppression of the other sects. However, in their clash with Tianyan, only Xu Jin fought with true vigor.
The Taidao Sect, led by Master Yuyang, showed a tendency to hold back, essentially going through the motions. Xu Jin fought with all his might, but he could still not withstand the Nascent Soul Law Manifestation, a devastating weapon in its own right.
Tianyan Sect comfortably held the top spot, while Xuanqing Heavenly vied for second place with the Taidao Sect.
Unlike the Xiao Yun Palace and the Haotian Palace, which had not sent their core disciples, these two sects were merely going through the motions, never having expected to contend for the top three.
Both Xuanqing Heavenly and Taidao had sent their core disciples, making the outcome a matter of great embarrassment for the loser.
Watching the water-screen, Chu Xingchen saw Master Yuyang suddenly go all out, unleashing his divine arts as if they were free, and remarked with a sigh, "That's a really cheap move with those divine arts."
Inside the arena, Master Yuyang's divine arts rained down relentlessly. He excelled at manipulating space, applying debuffs to his opponents, and launching area-of-effect attacks.
In addition to his powerful offense, he was a perfect support, forcing Xu Jin to defend with all his might.
At the Nascent Soul stage, divine arts were undeniably formidable, which explained how Master Yuyang had once been undefeated within his realm.
Bai Xuanling nodded slightly. "As the signature technique of the Taidao Sect, it's naturally well-founded. In a team competition, it grants a significant advantage."
"However, there are pros and cons. In a one-on-one battle, they would be at a disadvantage, as the Taidao Sect has only one 'True Lord of Divine Arts,' and this young disciple still has some way to go."
"You only need to watch out for Xu Jin in the individual matches," he continued. "Although he appears to be giving his all in the team competition, he's likely holding back some trump cards, planning to catch you all off guard."
Lü Xuan agreed, "With Chu Xingchen on the field, winning against them is naturally much more difficult. Winning the individual matches would allow Xuanqing Heavenly to salvage some face, so of course, he must keep something in reserve."
Yan Yun did not join the conversation. Instead, her gaze was fixed on the clash between Master Yuyang and Xu Jin.
In a team competition, the performance of the core disciples was the key to victory. By observing their methods now, they could better prepare for the individual matches.
It was also important to put on a good show to pave the way for what was to come.
Bai Xuanling's gaze swept across the water-screen idly for a moment before he spoke, "The victor is decided. Xuanqing Heavenly Sect has some real depth. For the individual matches, who will go first?"
Chu Xingchen glanced at the still-fierce battle. He couldn't see any sign of Xu Jin winning, but he smiled and nodded, as if he and Bai Xuanling were of one mind.
After all, copying the top student's answer was never wrong. But as for who should fight first, Chu Xingchen had his own thoughts—he didn't want any riffraff bothering him.
If they couldn't even beat Yan Yun, how dare they come to challenge him?
Chu Xingchen said nonchalantly, "I'll take the last spot."
Bai Xuanling nodded decisively. "Very well. Then, Yan Yun, prepare yourself."
Yan Yun glanced at the two men who had settled the matter in two sentences, then at her own master, who remained calm. Without a second thought, she agreed readily, "Mm, I will be prepared."
If it was for Tianyan Sect, then any disadvantage she suffered would be for the sake of the sect. Besides, she figured she'd lose if she got into a nitpicking contest with Chu Xingchen, so there was no point in courting humiliation.
As soon as Yan Yun's words faded, Xu Jin in the arena suddenly unleashed a powerful burst of energy. Seizing an opportunity and exploiting a slight opening in the Taidao Sect's defense, he began to gain the upper hand.
Although Master Yuyang reacted quickly, having lost the initiative, it was difficult for him to turn the tables against an opponent of equal standing.
The battle continued for a considerable time. After paying a heavy price, Xuanqing Heavenly Sect, now holding the advantage, narrowly secured a victory over the Taidao Sect.
This match was of extremely high quality, with both sides showcasing their skills in a bloody and spectacular display. In the end, it was a close defeat.
Not to mention, the visual spectacle of Master Yuyang's divine arts was quite impressive. Chu Xingchen enjoyed it like a movie.
As Master Yuyang was teleported back, his expression was unreadable as he looked at the utterly devastated arena.
Night had fallen, and the moon was full.
Master Yuyang casually chose a rooftop, unoccupied by anyone. On the green-glazed tiles, he lifted a cup of wine and took a sip, his gaze fixed on the full moon, his expression tinged with a hint of melancholy.
"Oh, isn't this Yuyang? Drinking alone, are we?"
Master Yuyang didn't turn, his eyes still on the moon. He set down his cup. "What are you doing here?"
Chu Xingchen sat down opposite him with perfect naturalness, pulling a small table and a bowl of peanuts from his spatial ring.
He spoke calmly, "Naturally, I came to drink with you."
At this, Master Yuyang sat up straight, his eyes fixing on Chu Xingchen. "I thought you'd come to laugh at me."
Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Of course I'm laughing at you. You couldn't even beat a mere Xu Jin."
Master Yuyang looked at Chu Xingchen's smiling face and listened to his taunting words. He had expected to be angry, but he wasn't.
He simply nodded readily and admitted, "The me of now... is indeed not as strong as Xu Jin. In a one-on-one, I'm probably not his match..."
Before Master Yuyang could finish, Chu Xingchen landed a punch squarely on his shoulder, cutting him off.
Master Yuyang frowned slightly.
Chu Xingchen stated bluntly, "If you accept defeat, then you're truly a worthless sack of trash."
Master Yuyang was taken aback.
Chu Xingchen said no more, simply lifted his cup and downed the contents in one go. Then, his gaze too fell upon the full moon.
Although he had once been an opponent of Master Yuyang, their subsequent interactions had revealed his essentially pure nature, if not a good one. Most importantly, the man bore no grudges; he had never brought up the past.
At the very least, he was a decent friend. On his recent days off, Chu Xingchen had often sought out Master Yuyang for a couple of drinks and a chat, which was quite pleasant.
Master Yuyang suddenly let out a soft laugh, his gaze also turning to the bright moon.
As a core disciple of the Taidao Sect, the word "defeat" had always carried immense weight. He had become Master Yuyang by winning every step of the way; the word "defeat" had always been distant from him.
He had always strived to keep it that way. The more one bore on one's shoulders, the less one could afford to lose. The more one bore, the more one had to win.
But Chu Xingchen was right. To accept defeat was to be a true coward.
Master Yuyang lifted the wine pot and took a long swig. Then, he suddenly laughed and said, "That Xu Jin is nothing but a head waiting to be impaled on a spear!"
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