Chapter 50: Overcast

  Three days later, Tian Xuan Sect, Lieyang Plaza!

  This place is located in the central area of the Tianxuan Sect. Whenever there are disciples competing, they will come here. Even some disciples who settle personal grudges will come here for a life-and-death duel. As long as they sign the life-and-death contract, the sect will not interfere.

  The square is extremely large, with a lush green stone floor. In the center of the field, there is a stone platform about one person high, on which tables and chairs are placed. Xiao Lao and five other monks sit upright on it, each with a majestic aura.

  The stone stage is surrounded by dozens of large and small circular arenas, each arena separated by more than ten zhangs, the smallest arena is also five or six zhangs in size, and the surrounding areas are viewing seats.

  At this moment, the Liuyang Square is crowded with people, looking like there are several hundred people, although most of them are in the Hua Hai realm, but there are also some beings beyond the Hua Hai realm, and even some Sheng Ling realm and Wu Ling realm, who have come here to watch the excitement. As for this sect, it doesn't restrict anything, after all, you can learn some combat experience here.

  "Alas, it's a pity. We've been stuck at the Sea Boundary stage for over four years now. It's probably impossible to make further progress from here on out. Now we can't even get the chance to compete for the trial rewards, and all we can do is watch as our newly-advanced fellow disciples take part in the trials." A sigh echoed through the crowd.

  "For us disciples, the sect is almost irrelevant, but even if our senior brother takes action, it's not necessarily possible to win the championship!" Another voice sounded.

  "Hey, guess who will win the championship this time?" a young man with a long face asked the person next to him in the crowd.

  "Needless to say? Of course it's Wu Qi Shixiong!" Another person replied.

  "I doubt it. In the past three years, some of the disciples who have advanced to the Hua Hai realm have already advanced to the Yuan He realm, and there are only a little over thirty people still stuck in the Hua Hai realm."

  "Wu Qi senior brother has just broken through to the Hua Hai realm for less than a year, his talent and hard work are clear to everyone, let alone his strength. However, if Huo Wei senior brother were to participate, Wu Qi senior brother would probably find it difficult to take the championship!"

  "How is that possible? Both Master Wei and Master Yin have been in the second stage for over two years, and it's said they're currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the Yuanhe realm. For a trial at the Huahai realm level, neither of them would participate - after all, they don't lack these rewards, they both have backgrounds."

  "If that's really the case, then Wu Qi must have won the championship. He was originally a mountain village boy who relied on his own efforts to get to where he is today, and it's only right that he should win the championship!"

  "That's right, support Brother Wu Qi in winning the championship!" A white-robed young girl showed a doting expression, while people around her rolled their eyes.

  Shi Sheng sat in front of several people, and couldn't help but frown. It seemed that the Tianxuan Sect's Huahai Realm had many disciples, and their relationships were somewhat complicated. As for who could get the championship, Shi Sheng didn't care too much about it. He just hoped to make it into the top ten and get some rewards. The championship was not something he dared to hope for.

  "Everyone be quiet!" At this moment, a middle-aged man standing beside Xiao Changlao on the stone platform stood up and with a wave of his large hand, the crowd below immediately fell silent.

  "Today is the day of the triennial Huahai Boundary Trial, all disciples who have advanced to the Huahai Boundary within the past three years can participate in the trial. The top ten will receive a reward of 50 blocks of Xuanjing Jade."

  The third prize is a high-grade spiritual instrument, the second prize is an extreme-quality spiritual instrument, and the champion will receive a spiritual treasure as a reward!" As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, the audience below erupted into a commotion!

  "Lingbao?"

  "Top-grade spiritual artifact?"

  "Are there fifty pieces of Xuanjing Jade in each of the top ten?"

  Some new disciples' eyes lit up, while some older disciples who had participated in the triennial tournament before didn't show much surprise upon hearing this reward.

  "Alright, all disciples who are ready to participate in the competition, come forward and draw lots to decide your opponents. This match will be presided over by myself and Elder Liu!" said the middle-aged man with a slight smile.

  On the wooden table under the stage, there were some small wooden plaques. A stout middle-aged man stood nearby, who was Liu Changlao. Shi Sheng and more than 50 disciples came to the front of the wooden table and each took a small wooden plaque.

  "Third Arena?" Shi Sheng looked at the wooden sign in his hand and then at the others.

  "Everyone go to the arena according to the number on your card!" Old Liu finished speaking, and more than 50 people in front of him dispersed with a commotion. Shi Sheng then arrived at Arena No. 3.

  In a short while, a gray-robed youth appeared on the third arena, looked at Shi Sheng with a glance, and smiled on his face. Two figures also appeared on each of the surrounding arenas.

  Liu Chang shouted loudly: "Everyone's opponent has already gone up to the stage, next I will explain the rules of the competition. Although knives and swords are blind, accidents can't be avoided during the competition, but after all, it is a same-door exercise, so poison cannot be used."

  Moreover, as long as one side admits defeat, the other side must stop fighting; otherwise, it will be considered a foul and eliminated. In the first round, all winning disciples become candidates, while all losers are re-tested. Those who continue to lose are directly eliminated, and the winners advance to the second round for another test with the candidates.

  "With this cycle, the final ten winners will be selected and will receive a reward from the sect. Does anyone have any questions now? If not, then let's get ready to start the competition!"

  "No problem!"

  "I see!"

  "I understand!" The many disciples nodded slightly, some with a fierce determination, others with excitement on their faces, while some hung their heads in despair, with a flash of fear in their eyes.

  "Well, I declare that the trial has begun!" After Liu Changlao finished speaking, several attendants came to the vicinity of the arena. They were there to watch for any rule-breakers and also to prevent any accidents during the trial.

  As soon as the words fell, several disciples on the ring couldn't help but start their hands, chanting spells, spiritual instruments, talismans, and five-element magic tricks.

  There were also several people on the stage who did not take action, but instead used stillness to control movement, as if they were looking for weaknesses in each other. The two of them on Stage Three, Shi Sheng and the other, were like this!

  "Down to Hei Yan!" The young man in gray robes nodded his hands, with a glint of sharpness in his eyes.

  "In the lower stone...". The Stone-born's words were cut off as he saw the grey-robed youth suddenly shake his sleeve.

  With a whoosh, a small fireball shot out, followed closely by a wooden rosary. The grey-robed youth manipulated the rosary with one hand while gazing at Shi Sheng with an unscrupulous glint in his eye, his eyes gleaming with excitement and agitation.

  "Damn it!" Shi Sheng silently cursed as he greeted the gray-robed youth's family, not expecting him to be so despicable and take advantage of the conversation time to make a move. Although the competition rules didn't explicitly state that this was against the rules, Shi Sheng could only acknowledge it with a pinch of his nose. At this critical moment, there was no time for Shi Sheng to think further, as the fireball was already right in front of him.

  With a single flick of his wrist, a small fireball shot out, and with a dull thud, two fireballs burst open. Immediately after, a wooden nunchaku shot out from within the flames. Shi Sheng furrowed his brow, thinking that it was already too late to condense another fireball to defend against this attack. Although the nunchaku was made of wood, if he were hit by it while in the midst of transforming into the Sea of Consciousness, he would undoubtedly be injured.

  "Haha, Shi Shixiong, I'm afraid I have no choice but to resort to this tactic. To avoid getting hurt, you'd better admit defeat, haha!" Hei Yan said with a sly smile, as he once again condensed a small fireball in his hand. Feeling that Shi Sheng was unable to dodge the fireball's trajectory, even if he managed to barely avoid it, Hei Yan could take advantage of the opportunity to throw the small fireball at him, making it a foolproof plan. (End of this chapter, next chapter will be more exciting!)

  I spent the whole day writing and researching, and I didn't even realize it was a holiday. Wishing everyone a peaceful Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! Has anyone read this after? Please leave a recommendation ticket to support me, thank you!!!