CHAPTER 381: CHAPTER 273: YAN CHUAN SWORD DISCUSSION, PART 1: DING XIANG! TAKE HIM DOWN! [1 NEW UPDATE!]

"Arena battles do not prohibit surprise weapons. At the Hai Character Arena, Wang Zhengyi possesses a ’Mirage Pearl’ that can create thick fog, making it perfect for avoiding fights and stalling. If we can’t break through this Mirage Pearl fog, it’s nearly impossible to defeat them."

"So, although the strength of the Hai Character Arena seems to rank as the fourth from last, a soft target, only the last three are truly intense."

Two individuals stood beside Ban Xianfu, both experts from Fuli Academy, one of the Ten Great Academies. They belonged to the same team as Ban Xianfu. Three of them climbed the cliff together, but unfortunately, Ban Xianfu was too independent, and the Qinggong of the other two was too mediocre. As a result, although many people reached the peak, they missed out on becoming the first batch of Arena Masters and could only choose to draw lots to attack the arena.

"Chufeng" thirty-three ’Infiltrate Everywhere’ Xiao Zhi has the keenest mind, already having a grasp of the backgrounds of most competitors on the Chess Stone Peak.

Including Yan Chuan at the end of the "Hidden Dragon" and Wang Zhengyi.

Therefore——

"I suggest we first eliminate the Hai Character."

"As for the other eight arenas, each is guarded by top-ranked Heavenly Pride from the two lists, with two or three people covering for each other. Trying to conquer them within two hours is extremely difficult."

Eliminate Yan Chuan!

Eliminate the remaining eight arenas!

Therefore, the only arenas that are guaranteed to be taken are Mao, Chen, and Si.

The only problem is——

"Everyone knows these three arenas are easier, so most of the 54 teams reaching the peak will likely choose them as well."

"The more challengers, the smaller our chances of being drawn by lot."

"Hidden Dragon" sixty-seven ’Iron Finger Golden Pill’ Cao Zhenhai frowned. Their team was strong, and if time permitted, any arena could be taken. If they were lucky enough to be drawn by lot, they could easily take any of the Mao, Chen, or Si arenas within two hours.

But the rules of the tournament are such that it’s really unfair to attackers like them; the difficulty is too high.

Moreover——

"If we can’t conquer an arena immediately, I’m afraid Mao, Chen, and Si will all change hands soon, replaced by stronger teams guarding them. Then all twelve arenas will be tough nuts to crack!"

Xiao Zhi was also troubled.

How can they successfully take an arena?

Capability!

Luck!

Both are indispensable!

Capability is fundamental, but luck is crucial.

Whether they’re drawn by lot or not.

The strength of the teams guarding the arenas.

And the condition of the guarding team.

These are all factors that determine the success of the arena attack.

Xiao Zhi and Cao Zhenhai smiled wryly, as two hours passed in an instant, leaving them no more time to consider. The drawing was about to start, and they had to register.

"Or!"

"Mao, Chen, Si!"

"Choose any arena and leave it to fate!"

Xiao Zhi had no patience with such a tournament format.

Cao Zhenhai accepted his fate as well.

But Ban Xianfu, who had felt chagrined from beginning to end, was now unwilling to leave it to fate: "We won’t choose Mao, Chen, Si, or Hai! We’ll pick——"

"Xu Character!"

...

"Mao Character, fourteen draws three."

"Chen Character, nineteen draws three."

"Si Character, twenty draws three."

Wang Zhengyi looked at the drawing results, unable to help but smile: "It seems we have some fame after all."

Yan Chuan also smiled: "’Hidden Dragon List’ described your ’Mirage Pearl’ very clearly, and by chance, the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ tournament format is a match to the Mirage Pearl. Even a mighty team, such as Ban Xianfu, ranked second on the ’Hidden Dragon’, doesn’t dare to attack the arena unguardedly."

Yan Chuan clearly understood that no team challenged them this round, not because they were exceptionally strong, but because people were wary of Wang Zhengyi’s ’Mirage Pearl’.

Wang Zhengyi had conceived the rogue ’Mirage Pearl Tactics’ himself, and competitors could figure out one or two aspects of it.

Without a few tricks, no one dared to attack.

Everyone feared wasting an opportunity to attack the arena in vain.

As a result, during the first two hours, the Hai Character Arena unexpectedly had a bye, just like the eight arenas occupied by teams from the Ten Great Academies.

No!

No, wait!

The eight arenas occupied by teams from the Ten Great Academies did not all have byes.

"Xu Character!"

"Chuqiu Academy!"

"Ban Xianfu is attacking the Xu Character Arena occupied by two great Heavenly Pride from Chuqiu Academy?!"

Yan Chuan glanced sideways.

The other teams were relying on luck, intending to pick the softest targets.

But Ban Xianfu chose a different path, targeting the Xu Character Arena where Ding Xiang was.

"One is the second ’Hidden Dragon’!"

"One is the fifth ’Chufeng’!"

"Even though it’s three against two, is Ban Xianfu confident he can defeat Ding Xiang within two hours?!"

Wang Zhengyi was puzzled.

Yan Chuan was just as perplexed: "Ban Xianfu’s capability isn’t as strong as imagined. Earlier at the foot of Chess Stone Peak, he was even suppressed by ’Magic Child’ Tan Dou, ranked eighth. Ding Xiang may be on the ’Chufeng List’, but with a higher ranking, she might not be weaker than Magic Child."

Judging from the list, Ban Xianfu and Ding Xiang’s capabilities might be evenly matched.

Perhaps a prolonged battle would determine victory.

But under the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’ tournament format, Ban Xianfu, as the attacker, must defeat Ding Xiang within two hours, which poses great difficulty.

Ding Xiang could confront head-on!

She could also wander to avoid the battle!

Whether to fight or evade!

Whether to settle the winner or drag out time!

These are all up to Ding Xiang’s decision.

"Does Ban Xianfu take on the challenge because he thinks I can’t hold out under his attack for two hours?"

Ding Xiang had long changed her clothes. Clad in white like the snow, she stood alongside her teammate "Chufeng" fifty-five ’Fortune Star’ Du Ying. After seeing the drawing results, Ding Xiang was brimming with fighting spirit——

Hidden Dragon second?

Half-human half-demon?

"Today, I’ll make you into a ghost!"

...

"Oh?"

"Is there a strong confrontation right at the start?"

"Ban Xianfu versus Ding Xiang!"

"This is going to be good!"

"Ban Xianfu’s blade technique is sharp, while Ding Xiang’s movement technique is unique. In a head-on duel, Ding Xiang may not contend against Ban Xianfu. I place my bet on Ban Xianfu!"