Chapter 666: Chapter 659: The Competition Begins

Zhang Biao’s altercation with Shang Yunfeng was, for Chen Hai, nothing more than a minor interlude.

It didn’t matter whether their strength was several times or even tens of times greater; as long as they were not yet True Immortals, they would hardly catch his eye.

He found Shang Yunfeng offensive, but at most he would ensure his elimination in the grand competition, nothing more.

As for what Zhang Biao might do or how he might react after Chen Hai left?

It had nothing to do with him, and he couldn’t be bothered to care.

With hands clasped behind his back, Chen Hai strolled leisurely for just a turn or two in the vast valley when Ye Qingqing, leading the Sect’s senior members, descended into the valley.

At nine in the morning, the grand competition of the Bloodthirsty Sect officially began.

Before that, Chen Hai had met with his wife, Ye Qingqing, and they had exchanged a few casual words.

According to her idea, she wanted Chen Hai to join her and sit high above the others, on the specially constructed viewing platform at the head of the valley.

However, after considering her suggestion for a while, Chen Hai ultimately declined it tactfully.

After all, he was not a member of the Bloodthirsty Sect and held no position within it.

Strolling about below was one thing; sitting alongside Ye Qingqing and the Sect’s senior members on high was quite another and simply didn’t seem right.

Moreover, he who always preferred a low profile and disliked making a spectacle of himself, had no interest in mingling with the other high-ranking members of the Sect aside from his wife, Ye Qingqing.

Seeing his unequivocal refusal, Ye Qingqing, who already had some understanding of his character, hesitated for a moment and ultimately did not insist further.

Sitting on the specially constructed platform, one could have an unobstructed view of the entire valley.

This vast area was divided into six venues.

Disciples of the Bloodthirsty Sect at the same level would be competing in the same venue.

Six levels, six venues, matching each other perfectly.

“Senior Brother Fang, in terms of strength, I’m definitely not your match. Facing you right at the start is just my bad luck, I concede!”

“Damn it, Zhang Chen, you’re despicable and shameless, resorting to throwing lime of all things?!”

“Heh! In war, there is no such thing as too much deception. Haven’t you even heard that before? Blaming me for your own carelessness, should I call you stupid or naïve? Get off the stage; I’ve won this match!”

…

Within the six venues, bouts raged on one after another.

Some had registered for the grand competition merely as a formality, without any hope of achieving a notable result.

They would take to the stage, greet their opponent, and without another word, jump down on their own accord.

Then there were others who, knowing their strength was insufficient and having reluctantly signed up, simply chose to be absent.

Those who truly stepped onto the stage and enjoyed a spirited fight with their adversary were generally those who harbored hopes for one of the twenty spots.

Those strong contenders, already favored to win in the grand competition, conducted themselves with propriety, aware of their status.

But the ones below with less strength were truly desperate to win by any means necessary.

Like that fellow on the competition field just now, speaking brotherly terms while pretending to concede, but when his guard-dropped opponent was careless, threw several bags of quicklime, successfully knocking his opponent off the platform and securing victory in the match.

Similar incidents occurred quite frequently on several stages at the start.

However, as the contestants grew more vigilant, such base and despicable tactics became ineffective.

“Palace Master Yang, Palace Master Qian, who do you think will stand out in this competition and secure the final spots?”

“My disciple, Yuan Fang, is not bad. Right when he stepped into the Sixth Realm of Sky Control, he managed to defeat a Seventh Realm Manifestation cultivator. Among the disciples who have been with the Sect for twenty to thirty years, I won’t say he’ll definitely lead, but making it into the top three is certain.”

“Our Law Enforcement Hall’s Qin Tian is also quite capable. In the battle against the Demon Clan, he faced off against three of them at his level, and not only held his own but eventually killed one.”

“Among the disciples aged thirty to forty, the strongest is, without doubt, our Magic Transmission Hall’s Shang Yunfeng. Look, the person preparing to enter the stage at the third fighting ground is him.”

…

On the high platform where the audience was overlooking the battles, they swept their gaze across the scenes below while occasionally gathering to discuss a few words.

In the past, the Bloodthirsty Sect would promote someone to Supreme Elder after stepping into the Ninth Realm Heavenly Tribulation, which made them one of the top existences within the Sect.

Nowadays, the position of Supreme Elder no longer exists.

Within the Sect, although no True Immortal or True Demon level beings have truly emerged, the number of cultivators at the Ninth Realm Heavenly Tribulation level is already countless.

Especially since the Medicine King Valley merged into the Bloodthirsty Sect, with their pill support, virtually every year, several more cultivators would enter the Ninth Realm Heavenly Tribulation.

At this moment, none among these elders and hall masters on the high platform had strength below the Ninth Realm Heavenly Tribulation.

Other Sects and powers in the outside world tacitly acknowledged the Bloodthirsty Sect as the number one Sect of the West Barbarian Mountain Territory. Aside from the absence of the True Immortal or True Demon level, they barely live up to the reputation based solely on their intermediate and high-level combat strengths.

Among the people on the high platform, apart from Ye Qingqing, who rarely spoke due to her status, the other elders and hall masters pointed and commented on the fighting grounds below without pause.

Following Palace Master Tian’s remark from the Magic Transmission Hall, many people’s gaze directly focused on Shang Yunfeng, dressed in white and gently wafting his folding fan.

“Who is number thirty-seven? Hurry up and come up to the stage and fight me!” Shang Yunfeng declared, standing tall on the platform and surveying his surroundings.

Seeing that no one responded after some time, he heaved a sigh, “Being too invincible leaves one seeking defeat in vain, a truly lonely predicament.”

“Number thirty-seven, I know you fear my reputation and worry about embarrassing yourself, losing to me miserably.”

“In fact, you need not be so apprehensive. Be brave, have a little more confidence in yourself.”

“Even if you truly lose to me, it’s better than being a coward and shying away.”

“How about this, I make you a promise before everyone here, if you willingly come up to fight me, I’ll let you take three strikes without fighting back. How does that sound?”

Fan in hand, Shang Yunfeng’s face always carried a spring-like, affable smile.

Though he could win matches where his opponent forfeited, easily claimed victories didn’t showcase the extent of his brilliance.

If possible, he naturally hoped for his opponent to take the stage, to be effortlessly defeated by him.

“Senior Brother Shang, a gentleman’s word is his bond, and not even a team of horses can chase it back. Are you truly willing to let me take three strikes without fighting back?”

Shang Yunfeng’s words did have some effect. No sooner had he finished speaking than a rather sleazy-looking Little Fatty stepped forward to confirm.

“You are number thirty-seven?”

“Yes!”

“Then come up. I’ve made a promise before so many people; if I went back on my word, what face would I have left?” With an enchanting smile still on his lips, Shang Yunfeng motioned to Little Fatty to come up.

Despite Shang Yunfeng’s promise, Little Fatty remained hesitant.

He had heard that Shang Yunfeng was not only powerful but also ruthless and bitterly cruel in battle.

When he came here, he only knew his opponent was number thirty-eight, not that it was Shang Yunfeng. Otherwise, he would’ve stayed holed up inside.

“Everyone is letting you take three strikes without fighting back, and you’re still not going up; what are you dawdling for?” A sudden voice reached Little Fatty’s ears.

Turning towards the source of the voice, he saw an unremarkable young man grinning at him.

Then, as if his body had a mind of its own, he found himself flying toward the platform.

“Kid, when I said I’d let you take three strikes, I meant it.”

“After three strikes, when I fight back, I promise I won’t kill you—just beat you to a pulp at most!”

The moment Little Fatty landed on the platform, Shang Yunfeng, who was only a few steps away, had already set his eyes upon him.

The smile still on his lips was captivating, yet for some reason, it made Little Fatty feel an intense chill.