Chapter 33 | The Divine Ability Practitioner

When the resonant sound of beating drums echoed across the lake once more, the already tense, sword-drawn atmosphere on the lake mountain was instantly ignited.

“Today, my Flowing Cloud Hall challenges the Black Wind Hall!”

“Burning Wood Hall challenges the Water Spirit Hall!”

“My Tiger-Form Hall challenges the Thunder Lion Hall!”

“...”

Roars filled with battle intent resounded like thunder across the lake. With every shout, several figures leaped toward the Duel Platforms of the challenged Divine Ability Halls.

As majestic primordial energy surged, those battle-ready figures charged forward directly without any polite pleasantries.

Fierce battles erupted instantly.

There were over a hundred Divine Ability Halls, large and small, in Qingyuan Ward. These halls usually had countless grudges and frictions. According to the rules of the Hall Meet, every Divine Ability Hall had the right to challenge any other hall once, and the challenged hall could not refuse; they had to accept the challenge.

Thus, this Hall Meet served a dual purpose: it allowed halls to showcase the power of their divine abilities to others while also resolving past grievances. It was truly killing two birds with one stone, a pleasing arrangement for everyone.

Consequently, within moments, the various Duel Platforms became bustling with activity.

The countless spectators along the shore watched with great relish, cheering and encouraging the Divine Ability Halls they supported. The boiling clamor soared straight into the clouds.

However, on the top floor of the Lake-Viewing Tower, prominent figures of Qingyuan Ward like Zhou Xuan, Li Yan, and Yan Jing remained indifferent. Some even closed their eyes to rest, looking rather bored. After all, those currently fighting belonged to Grade 1 or Grade 2 Divine Ability Halls, which did not even possess a single Divine Ability Master. To them, there was truly nothing worth watching.

So, they waited.

They were waiting for these low-grade Divine Ability Hall challenges to gradually conclude. Only when the four Grade 3 Divine Ability Halls at the mountain peak began their matches would the real show begin.

On Thunderfire Hall's Duel Platform.

The stone platform here was carved to be extremely spacious and divided into three tiered levels. At this moment, on the highest tier, Lu Jin stood with his eyes closed and hands behind his back. Like a pillar supporting the heavens, he anchored the confidence of all the Thunderfire Hall disciples. Behind him, a Thunderfire flag fluttered noisily in the lake breeze.

On the middle tier stood Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei, both of their faces filled with solemnity.

On the lowest tier stood Lu Ming, Gao Yu, and Yuan Da. Behind them, another Thunderfire flag was planted.

Lu Ming's gaze was currently directed toward the lower right, where Red Sand Hall's Duel Platform was located. He could feel the undisguised, hostile stares coming from the people of Red Sand Hall.

Clearly, Red Sand Hall would definitely come to seize Thunderfire Hall's second-tier position today.

A fierce battle was inevitable.

“If Red Sand Hall comes to challenge us later, I will intercept Lü Xiao on the lower flag side. As for the brothers Gong Peng and Gong Hu, I'll have to rely on you two to hold them off. On our end, we aren't looking for a victory, only stability. As long as we drag the challenge out for a full shichen, the worst result will be a draw.”

Once a draw occurred, it would be considered a vacant flag, meaning neither side could claim it. The three-point match would then become a two-point match, with the final outcome determined by the results of the other two battles.

Clad in a scarlet martial outfit, Gao Yu had long, straight legs, and her ear-length short hair gave her a heroic and spirited look. At this moment, her pretty face was grave as she reminded Lu Ming and Yuan Da.

Although Yuan Da was currently the most senior disciple in the hall, due to his Low-grade Divine Ability Bone, his primordial energy intensity had already been surpassed by Gao Yu, who had caught up from behind.

As for Lu Ming, when he had sparred with Gao Yu and the others in the hall previously, he had only shown normal levels of strength. He had never exposed his Sub-Heaven-grade Divine Ability Bone's amplification of divine abilities, nor his trump card, the Fire Lotus primordial energy. Therefore, in Gao Yu's eyes, his current combat strength was only on par with Yuan Da's.

Unfortunately, such strength was slightly weaker than that of the brothers Gong Peng and Gong Hu.

Thus, looking at the three-on-three situation, they held a slight disadvantage, so they had to prioritize stability.

Yuan Da had a burly and robust build, but at this moment, his face was filled with tension. Listening to Gao Yu's arrangements, he nodded repeatedly. “I'll deal with Gong Peng. I might not be able to defeat him, but I'll do my best to hold him back.”

Lu Ming knew that Gao Yu had misjudged his true strength, but he did not say much at this moment. After all, if the situation remained relatively stable, there was no need for him to show off too much and expose his trump cards.

“I hope everything goes smoothly.” Gao Yu let out a breath. She understood very well what this Hall Meet meant to Thunderfire Hall.

The sound of beating drums continued to echo across the lake.

As time passed, the battles between the various halls erupting on the Duel Mountain gradually drew to a close.

However, even up until now, not a single Grade 2 Divine Ability Hall had dared to challenge the four Grade 3 Divine Ability Halls situated at the mountain peak. They knew it was utterly pointless; without a Divine Ability Master backing them, they could not possibly shake the positions of the Grade 3 Divine Ability Halls.

Yet, although the lower-tier competition was wrapping up, the anticipation in the eyes of the countless spectators along the shore only grew stronger. This was because the main event of the Hall Meet was about to begin.

Dong!

Suddenly, a drumbeat like a clap of thunder exploded.

On the top floor of the Lake-Viewing Tower, the expressions of Zhou Xuan, Li Yan, and Yan Jing finally shifted slightly, and they sat up a bit straighter.

Because next up were the challenges between the four Grade 3 Divine Ability Halls.

Countless gazes hovered between Thunderfire Hall and Red Sand Hall. After all, the grudge between these two halls ran too deep. In every past Hall Meet, they had clashed fiercely like a needle against wheat awn, fighting to the death.

In this year's Hall Meet, however, Thunderfire Hall was greatly weakened due to Zhang Yue's departure. For the middle flag, they could only send Lu Qingyan and Lu Jinglei to guard it, and the two of them might not be able to hold their ground.

After all, Red Sand Hall's Zhu Lian and Feng Baichuan were not weaker than them in terms of strength.

Amidst the countless expectant gazes, the Duel Mountain fell into a brief silence. Even the other Divine Ability Halls stopped their movements, looking toward the four Duel Platforms at the peak.

Next, Red Sand Hall should be the first to make a move, right?

Just as everyone was thinking this, Lin Changkong, who stood with his hands behind his back on the highest platform occupied by the Golden Gang Sword Hall, took a step forward. At the same time, his calm voice, wrapped in powerful primordial energy, boomed like thunder over the lake.

“The Golden Gang Sword Hall challenges Thunderfire Hall.”

Boom!

A single stone had stirred up a thousand waves!

Everyone inside and outside the lake was dumbfounded by Lin Changkong's move. They had never expected that the Golden Gang Sword Hall, as the champion hall, would be the first to step forward and target Thunderfire Hall!

One had to know that the Golden Gang Sword Hall was already the champion hall. They could have easily sat back and watched the other three Grade 3 Divine Ability Halls fight among themselves, which was exactly what the Golden Gang Sword Hall had always done in the past.

After all, they were already the champion hall. Even if they won a challenge, it held no meaning. Why look for trouble when there was none?

Yet, Lin Changkong had chosen this moment to take the initiative on behalf of the Golden Gang Sword Hall.

“Huh?”

Even Zhou Xuan let out a soft exclamation of surprise, not quite understanding the point of Lin Changkong's action.

Li Yan's brow furrowed even deeper. What madness had taken over Lin Changkong? How had Thunderfire Hall offended him? Why would he abandon his secure position as the champion hall just to jump into the fray and take sides?

“Hehe, now this is interesting. It seems there will be some surprises in this year's Hall Meet,” Yan Jing, the head of the Yan family, said with a smile, a trace of interest rising on his face instead.

The other prominent figures of Qingyuan Ward present also whispered among themselves in astonishment.

“Dammit, what is the meaning of this, Golden Gang Sword Hall? Thunderfire Hall didn't provoke them, so why are they challenging us? Even if they win against us, what do they stand to gain?!” Gao Yu's pretty face turned livid with anger. Lin Changkong's move had completely disrupted all their plans and expectations.

Lu Ming's expression also darkened. A month ago at the Ward Office, they had vaguely felt Lin Changkong's hostility, but they had not expected him to suddenly strike during the Hall Meet.