Chapter Forty-Four Choosing an Opponent

  Only twenty disciples successfully entered the third round, Shen Hao unfortunately lost, Meng Yuanhou measured his time a little longer and finally said: "Alas, there is no suitable twenty-second person for you to be your opponent, so you don't need to compete."

  After lunch, with a little time left before the martial arts competition, the young men of Yelin Town were chatting idly in the training arena beside the main house. Shen Hao was extremely disheartened, punching and kicking at a large tree, lamenting to his companions, "If only I had used a bit more strength - actually, I could have - I wouldn't be so unlucky now."

  Fang Fang didn't make it either. In fact, all the female disciples stopped at the second round, and even the two Taoist disciples were no exception. Meng Yuanhou only said one sentence, "Everyone has their strengths, and it's clear that stimulating fighting spirit and potential is not your strong suit."

  Only Xia Qiu and Er Liang Shen Xiuyi from the Wild Forest Town could participate in the afternoon martial arts competition. The latter's excitement was in stark contrast to Shen Huan's regret, "I can still do a little better, my stick has a few yellow spots, but no one noticed. Xia Qiu brother, although I may not be able to beat you, maybe I can use a bit more strength and win over you."

  "Aren't you winning enough? With the gold and silver coins in your hand, I also want to get a few." Xia Qiu was not backing down at all, but he was in an extremely good mood. The competition with friends was just so delightful.

  Dah Ryong Shen Xiū Míng patted his younger brother's shoulder intimately, "You must win, you have to win. One Golden Armor is refined from one thousand two gold ingots, if you get three more, we'll have four, and we won't be homeless again."

  "Of course I'm not afraid, and in the future I will use them to make the best magic tools."

  "Magical instruments can be used for a little while, you should use the silver and gold to exchange for something more useful, such as buying a house in Western City."

  "I don't want to, from now on we'll be Taoist priests, what's the use of a house? We should exchange... I also want to exchange for a group of pigs, cattle and sheep, slaughter one every day, and invite everyone to drink and feast."

  "Dummy, what if I finish eating it all?"

  ……

  The Shen brothers were at odds over how to deal with the golden and silver treasures, while others giggled and supported one side or the other, sometimes even coming up with more ideas.

  Xiao Qiu was delighted to hear this and noticed Fang Fang waving at her from outside the crowd.

  Fang Fang sat alone on the stone bench, while Xiao Qingtao was not with her, but was teasing Erliang Shen Xiuyi with others. Fang Fang patted the position beside her, indicating for Xiao Qiu to sit down.

  Xiao Qiu was very surprised and a little embarrassed. Fang Fang had always been shy and rarely made special gestures in front of outsiders, today was an exception to the norm.

  Xiao Qiu sat down and asked in a low voice, "Is there something going on?"

  "Uh, who are you playing against this afternoon?"

  "Of course it's Shen Geng, as long as Meng Du doesn't arrange me with someone else again."

  "No matter how Mengdu arranges it, I hope you don't choose Shenggeng."

  "Why? Are you afraid I'll lose to him?" Xia Qiu asked in surprise, having always thought that Fang Fang had complete confidence in himself.

  Fang Fang smiled and pointed at Xiao Qingtuo in the crowd, "Her cousin Pei Zihao wants to play against you."

  Fu Rong Mountain, the Pei family had three siblings, but only Pei Zihao passed the test. His staff skills were quite good, and while stimulating his potential, his techniques were more mature than most people. Meng Yuanhou commented on him: "You are like a water-filled leather bag, full, but lacking a bit of ferocity, you need to bring out the spirit of breaking the bag and spraying water."

  Pei Zihao never did it.

  "What's going on?" Xia Qiu understood that such a request must have a reason.

  "Shen himself did not fight with you in the morning, but was humiliated by his brother at noon. He has been harboring resentment, but he does not want to compete with you again. Instead, he chose Pei Zihang and spread the word that 'losing a little demon like Pongshan is no big loss'."

  Xiao Qiu furrowed her brow, no matter how much Meng Yuan Hou valued it, everyone regarded this martial competition as just a game before officially joining the sect. Winning was delightful, losing was disheartening, that's all. Shen Geng and Shen Ji seemed to be taking it too seriously.

  "Is Pei Zihao afraid?"

  "There was one thing, he didn't want to be beaten by Shen Yi and lose face in front of everyone, but he also didn't dare win, fearing that it would lead to even more resentment. It didn't matter if others won or lost, but he was a non-human. He couldn't find anyone else to help him, so..."

  Xiao Qiu scratched his head, he really wanted to play against Shen Geng, Meng Yuanhou was right, a strong opponent could bring out more potential. Xiao Qiu felt that he could do even better, "Can't we switch and have me play against Pei Zihang instead? Er Liang... Er Liang is fine, he hasn't confirmed his opponent yet, I'll go talk to him."

  Xiao Qiu thought this method was perfect.

  "Alright." Fangfang agreed somewhat reluctantly, "You and Shen Geng... will become sworn enemies."

  "No way, I'd rather fight him face to face than have a grudge against him even if I turn my back on him." Xia Qiu shrugged and smiled, "Let Shen Geng know he's not that tough, maybe he'll behave himself."

  The martial competition is about to begin, and everyone heads towards the courtyard. Xiao Qingtong comes over and says timidly: "Xiao Qiuge, thank you."

  Even if they were together every day, Xia Qiu would still get annoyed when she heard her voice, and vaguely replied "nothing" before quickly running to the front to walk with Er Liang Shen Xiuwei, quietly telling him about the situation and suggesting that he challenge Pei Zihang later.

  "Little Autumn, I'll listen to you on other things, but not this one. My opponent will definitely be one of the Sheng brothers. If you choose Sheng Geng, I'll choose Sheng Yi. If you choose someone else, I'll choose Sheng Geng. A strong opponent can bring out more potential -" Er Liang blinked his eyes, "I also want to be first."

  "Besides, it's not difficult to resolve this matter, as long as Shen Zhen responds to my challenge, Pei Zihang will be fine. Honestly, I didn't expect non-demons to be so timid, the Taoist priests don't need to guard against them at all."

  Xiao Qiu failed to persuade Er Liang Shen Youwei, resulting in a small disturbance before the third round of martial arts competition had even begun.

  Meng Yuanhou had not yet appeared, and Erlang took a big step forward to Shen Ji, rushing ahead of everyone else to challenge him. Shen Ji finally used the healing medicine to remove the bruise from his face, looked at him coldly, and did not accept his challenge, stepping towards Pei Zihang instead.

  Pei Zihong looked very flustered, his eyes darting back and forth, a thin layer of sweat on his round face. He wanted to walk towards Xiao Qiu to avoid Shen Yi, but his feet didn't dare move. Before leaving home to come to Mount Pan to learn the Tao, Pei's siblings had received strict orders from their elders: they must not cause any trouble on Mount Pan and should always be accommodating at all times.

  The elders didn't say how the three siblings should respond if others take the initiative to provoke them.

  Xiao Qiu remained standing in place, and Shen Geng didn't move either. He had already issued a challenge to Mu Xiangqiu in a special way and was now waiting calmly for his opponent to come over and accept the challenge.

  Xiao Qiu silently let out a sigh and took two steps forward to stand in front of Pei Zihang, just a little earlier than Shen Yi. "I challenge you."

  Pei Zihao agreed with a moved tone and let out a big sigh of relief.

  Xiao Qiu chose to confront Pei Zihao, not entirely because of Fangfang's pleading and Xiao Qingtong's gratitude, but more so due to his disgust towards the Sheng brothers' behavior. They stubbornly regarded all non-supernaturals as despicable people, making Xiao Qiu think of the time he and his companions had encountered a demonic species. Who knows when Sheng Geng would declare that the young men of Ye Lin Town were "demonic spawn", unclean creatures that everyone should avoid.

  Shen Yi obviously didn't expect anyone to steal the show, especially not Mu Xingqiu. He was stunned on the spot, turned his head to look at his brother Shen Geng, and then said in a low but audible voice: "You two are both cowards."

  Pei Zihong hung his head in silence, the word "coward" was not an excessive insult to him, Xiao Qiu hummed and held back the sarcastic words in her heart.

  Onlookers were also surprised, everyone thought that Mu Xingqiu and Shen Gongbao would definitely face off in the third round, fighting an exciting match, but unexpectedly Xiao Qiu actually chose to avoid battle.

  Rumors and speculation sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, rapidly growing from over a hundred mouths. Shen Hao and others fought hard to refute the claims that Xiao Qiu was a coward, but they couldn't find much evidence to support their argument.

  Fang Fang did not join the debate, and Xia Qiu's change of opponent unexpectedly had such a huge impact, which was beyond her expectation. Next to her, Xiao Qingtuo was trembling slightly, as if she wanted to cover her head and curl up on the ground.

  Only Erlang Shen was delighted by this, as he could choose a stronger opponent. He immediately turned to Shengong and said in a respectful and firm tone: "Shen Gong Daoist friend, I want to challenge you."

  He still has a very deep affection for Shen Gang, and he feels honored to be able to interact with him.

  Shen Geng did not respond, his eyes gazing at the ground a few steps away, as if there was something more worthy of his attention there - he was waiting for his brother Shen Ji to turn things around.

  Xian walked to the middle of Xiao Qiu and Pei Zihang, his eyes also like his brother's, neither looking at each other, only staring at the ground. "Pei Zihang is mine, Mu Xingqiu, if you still have a bit of dignity..."

  Meng Yuanhou had not yet arrived, but his voice was already heard, "Have you all chosen your opponents?" In the blink of an eye, he was standing among the twenty disciples, making the final arrangements. The first thing to do was to assign a partner to Shen Yi, who was standing in an improper position.

  "You must use all your strength, remember, this martial contest is not about winning, but to see the extent of your desperation. Keep a distance, good. Others should also reflect on why they have potential but can't bring it out? Laziness, that's right, laziness, it will also be your most stubborn and powerful enemy in your future cultivation of the heavenly reversal technique..."

  Marquis Mengyuan took the opportunity to give his disciples a lesson and then announced the start.

  Pei Zihao was the type of person who warmed up slowly, first relying on his agile footwork to evade enemy attacks. The color of the staff in his hand changed one by one, and he didn't seem to be in a hurry at all. It wasn't until the staff turned green that he counterattacked.

  Xiao Qiu was just the opposite, with extremely strong explosive power. After a short fight, the sticks turned green and gradually changed to yellow, and they fought fiercely with Pei Zihang.

  On the other hand, Shen Gang barely accepted Erlang Shenxiu's challenge. The latter's style was similar to Xia Qiu's, and he immediately turned his staff into a green one. Shen Gang's staff was still deep red, but he responded with ease, defending seven parts and attacking three parts, and Erlang didn't gain any advantage at all.

  The martial arts competition was proceeding like wildfire, and Marquis Meng Yuan walked among the crowd as usual, using stern words to encourage each of his disciples.

  Things happened quite suddenly. Meng Yuanhou walked to the vicinity of Mu Xingqiu and Pei Zihan, with his back facing the other side of the field, just at this time...

  Shen Gang's stick suddenly turned deep yellow!

  At the same moment, he turned defense into offense and struck a lightning-fast blow that hit Erlang Shen's chest.

  (Collection needed, recommendation needed)

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