Perfected Person Ye continued, “When your identity jade token lights up, proceed to the area below your assigned arena and wait for your turn.”
“Anyone who fails to show up within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn will be considered to have forfeited.”
“The Advancement Matches now officially begin. All contestants assigned to the first match of each arena may take the stage. Those assigned to the second match, please wait at the base of your respective arenas.”
Gu Ningyun took out the pastries she had packed from the dining hall and gave a box to each of her friends. They began to eat while watching the matches.
“Ningyun.”
Huh? She thought she heard a voice transmission from Martial Uncle Lu.
Before she could react, the transmission continued, “We forgot to bring any snacks. Do you have any extra? If you do, could you have Jiang Yao bring a box over to Martial Aunt Yang?”
He added at the end, “Just don’t tell her it was my idea.”
Gu Ningyun was speechless.
She thought Martial Uncle Lu was going to give her some important advice, but it turned out he was just using her pastries to curry favor and make a girl happy!
She rummaged through her storage bag and pulled out two boxes of pastries.
She tapped the shoulder in front of her and handed the boxes over when he turned around.
Jiang Yao looked confused.
“Martial Uncle Lu wants you to bring some food over to Martial Aunt Yang.”
Jiang Yao looked up toward the back. The two martial uncles were sitting six rows behind them—not too far away.
He took the pastries and prepared to head over.
Gu Ningyun quickly grabbed his arm. “By the way, Martial Uncle Lu said not to tell Martial Aunt Yang that he was the one who asked us to bring them.”
Jiang Yao studied her expression, then looked at her blinking eyes. He had an epiphany.
“Don’t worry, I get it.”
Gu Ningyun felt something was a bit off about his tone.
But Jiang Yao was already clutching the pastries, hunching over as he shuffled toward the back rows.
He moved quickly, staying low so he wouldn't block anyone's view, and soon reached Martial Aunt Yang.
Gu Ningyun saw Martial Aunt Yang’s expression shift to a mix of confusion and surprise. Martial Uncle Lu also put on a look of exaggerated shock.
Then, she saw Jiang Yao hand the two boxes of pastries to Martial Aunt Yang and say something.
As he spoke, Martial Aunt Yang froze for a moment before turning to glare at Martial Uncle Lu.
No, Gu Ningyun corrected herself. It was more of a piercing, accusatory look.
As for Martial Uncle Lu... he had already covered his face with both hands and buried his head in his knees.
With her Qi Refining level four vision, Gu Ningyun could clearly see that Martial Uncle Lu’s ears were bright red.
Her heart sank.
It was over.
She had just offended Martial Uncle Lu beyond repair.
She knew Jiang Yao was acting weird. What did he mean by 'he got it'? He didn't get it at all!
By now, Jiang Yao—the self-proclaimed 'Know-it-all'—had completed his mission and was scuttling back like a mouse in a burrow.
When he passed Gu Ningyun’s row, he stopped and squatted on the ground, winking at her past Wen Xuan and whispering something.
Gu Ningyun didn't catch it. “What?”
Wen Xuan translated, “He said, ‘Mission accomplished.’”
Gu Ningyun clutched her chest and sighed deeply.
Jiang Yao tilted his head, looked at her face, and whispered something else.
This time, before Gu Ningyun could ask, Wen Xuan said, “Ningyun, he’s asking why you look so pale.”
Gu Ningyun thought to herself, 'So he can read expressions after all...'
She leaned over Wen Xuan’s lap and got close enough for Jiang Yao to hear her. “It’s nothing. Go back to your seat and watch the match, Jiang Yao.”
Jiang Yao was about to say more when Mu Chenze, who had finally lost his patience, grabbed him and hauled him back into his seat. “Watch the match, you blockhead.”
This unexpected episode left the five members of Ruiyu Pavilion in a brief silence—except for Jun Luo, who was always silent.
However, the awkward atmosphere was soon broken when Wen Xuan’s identity jade token began to glow with a green light.
Wen Xuan stood up. “I’ll go first then.”
Gu Ningyun squeezed her hand firmly, giving her a look of confidence.
Jiang Yao and Mu Chenze both gave her a thumbs-up, and even Jun Luo gave her a small nod.
Wen Xuan smiled slightly and didn't linger, heading toward the waiting area for Arena 1.
She had drawn Match 3 for Arena 1. Once the current pair finished their duel, it would be her turn.
Since Wen Xuan was the only one from Ruiyu Pavilion competing in the immediate future, everyone focused their attention on her.
Martial Aunt Yang had previously warned them that because there were so many disciples and high-level cultivators present, they shouldn't use their divine sense recklessly. They should try to watch the matches with their eyes instead.
Gu Ningyun was once again grateful for the enhanced senses that came with cultivation. Even from this distance, she could see every detail on the stage.
In the waiting area for Arena 1, besides Wen Xuan, there was a young boy at Qi Refining level three.
When the boy saw Wen Xuan, his expression immediately became serious, even slightly solemn.
Gu Ningyun guessed he had sensed that Wen Xuan’s cultivation level was higher than his.
It wasn't long before the two people on stage finished their match, leaving the arena empty.
Wen Xuan and the boy stepped onto the stage and handed their identity jade tokens to the referee. After the referee swiped their tokens against his tablet, they took them back, bowed to each other, and exchanged a few words.
Judging by their lip movements, they were likely introducing themselves.
At that moment, a transparent array rose around the arena, isolating the inside from the outside.
Sure enough, after they spoke, the boy’s expression relaxed significantly.
Jiang Yao chuckled. “That guy must have read 《New Disciple Xiaosheng's Remarks》.”
The boy was now holding a saber, looking at Wen Xuan with a fierce fighting spirit.
Jiang Yao began to translate the boy’s lip movements. “Alchemy cultivator, where is your weapon?”
Wen Xuan rummaged through her storage bag and eventually pulled out a two-meter-long mace as thick as a person's thigh.
The boy’s expression froze, and his relaxed demeanor vanished instantly.
The mace seemed to be quite heavy. Wen Xuan fumbled with it for a moment, and the weapon slipped from her grasp, thudding onto the ground.
The boy was speechless.
“Are you ready? Let's begin,” Jiang Yao continued to translate.
Wen Xuan gave a shy smile and picked up the mace, barely managing to grip it with both hands.
Jiang Yao the Translator: “Bring it on!”
Gu Ningyun almost burst out laughing at the sight.
The two had already engaged. The boy seemed to have studied saber techniques; his strikes were wide and powerful, each blow carrying immense force.
Wen Xuan dragged the heavy mace around, looking somewhat disheveled as she fought.
Suddenly, her foot slipped, and she nearly fell to the ground, which just happened to save her from a strike to the head.
She scrambled to regain her balance, and in her flailing, the mace inadvertently swung around and tripped the boy.
They traded blows for dozens of rounds. When they were near the edge of the arena, Wen Xuan seemed to lose her grip. The heavy mace flew out of her hands and knocked the boy right off the stage.
The referee said something and began tapping on his tablet.
Gu Ningyun opened the leaderboard and saw that Wen Xuan’s score had increased by fifty points.
When Wen Xuan returned, looking exhausted and disheveled, the group swarmed her with concern. Gu Ningyun cast several Cleaning Techniques on her and helped straighten her disciple robes.
New duels were already starting, and no one else was paying attention to them.
Mu Chenze pointed to his identity jade token, signaling that they should talk in their group chat.
Rate on N.U.
