The two figures, one red and one green, landed on the highest point of Tianzhu Peak.
The red one was naturally Qian Duoduo's Zhangzuo Dajiu, Tang Honggong. The green one, from the discussions among the Disciples earlier, Qian Duoduo knew was Elder Hu from the Sect entrance, a slightly plump middle-aged man who usually presided over the Outer Sect Minor Competition.
The Palace Lord's personal presence silenced Tianzhu Peak, followed by a burst of greetings to the Palace Lord and Elder.
Tang Honggong nodded, and Elder Hu waved his hand, "The Mengyuan Mountain Outer Sect Minor Competition officially begins. Draw lots."
Disciples at the Sect entrance each held a bamboo tube, allowing the participating Disciples in the arena to draw a lot. The lots were marked with numbers from one to thirty-six for the competition platforms, and numbers from one to forty.
The opening of the bamboo tube was equipped with a Formation, so neither Disciples nor even Elders could use their Spiritual Awareness to check the lot numbers.
The bamboo slip Qian Duoduo drew was for the fifteenth number on the eighth competition platform.
"Odd-even showdown. One against two, three against four, and so on. The winner stays, the loser retreats outside the arena," Elder Hu announced.
In front of each competition platform, there was a Disciple from the Sect entrance acting as a referee. The Outer Sect Minor Competition only determined victory or defeat; life-and-death struggles were not permitted.
"Clang!" The first seven groups of Senior Brothers quickly finished their matches, which were more intense than those in the training grounds.
Thirty-six matches proceeded simultaneously, greatly broadening Qian Duoduo's horizons. To win, the Senior Brothers brought out their ultimate skills. Besides Flying Swords, their Magic Treasures included long spears, seals, banners, jade rulers, and more. Their techniques were not only novel but also genuinely powerful.
"Number fifteen, number sixteen, come forward!" the referee on the eighth competition platform shouted.
Qian Duoduo felt Zhangzuo Dajiu's gaze fall upon him, and he straightened his body and walked onto the stage.
Standing on the stage was a burly young man with a face full of acne and hands as big as palm-leaf fans.
Seeing Qian Duoduo step onto the stage, he opened his throat and loudly said, "Fifth level? Hehe. Meeting me, Jiang Xinhai, is bad luck for you, Junior Brother. Quickly admit defeat, lest I beat your face to a pulp later."
Seeing him speaking to the neighboring platform, Qian Duoduo looked over and found Yu Yixiang was indeed on the ninth competition platform. This Jiang Xinhai wanted to use him to show off his power.
"So much nonsense," Qian Duoduo's voice was also not small, intending for Yu Yixiang to hear it anyway.
"I don't care who you curry favor with, but using me as a gift to curry favor with others? That's absolutely not allowed."
Jiang Xinhai's face instantly changed. He shook his body outwards with force, forming a hand seal with his right hand. A wooden sword shot through the air with great momentum, directly piercing towards Qian Duoduo's face.
"Clang!" With a loud sound, the wooden sword stopped three feet from Qian Duoduo, striking the Golden Rooster Sword he was holding, unable to advance another inch.
Jiang Xinhai's face turned pale. He recalled the wooden sword, let out a roar, and, perhaps using some Cultivation Technique, the wooden sword's tip extended a three-inch Sword Qi. Its speed increased dramatically, like a white streak of light, attacking Qian Duoduo a second time.
The Golden Rooster Sword met it, still using its blade to steadily block the wooden sword.
"Put some effort into it. Didn't eat breakfast?" Qian Duoduo frowned, took out a Spirit Chicken leg, and offered it to him, "Why don't you have a bite first?"
Jiang Xinhai's face was flushed red. The wooden sword fell like a torrential rain of pear blossoms, but each time, it coincidentally was blocked by the Golden Rooster Sword.
Moreover, Qian Duoduo only used the sword's body, not its tip.
"Clang!" Another collision. The wooden sword trembled. Just as it was about to fly back, Qian Duoduo took a step forward and grabbed the wooden sword's hilt, as if precisely pinching the vital spot of a venomous snake.
Jiang Xinhai struggled a few times but failed to retrieve the wooden sword.
Just as Qian Duoduo was about to throw the wooden sword off the competition platform, Jiang Xinhai relaxed his entire body, "I concede."
Seeing him cover his face and descend the stage, Qian Duoduo thought, "And he wanted to use me to show off his power?"
After the first round of matches, half of the arena was empty, with twenty people remaining on each competition platform.
After redrawing lots, Qian Duoduo's opponent this time was a large Fat Man, whose body glowed with a bronze luster. Upon ascending the stage, he directly swung his fist, as big as a dipper, at Qian Duoduo, relying on his rare Body Cultivator status to engage Qian Duoduo in close combat.
Qian Duoduo, however, did not engage him head-on. He quickly retreated a few steps, and the Golden Rooster Sword flew out. He didn't believe that a body made of flesh could block a Magic Treasure made of metal.
The Fat Man was indeed not foolish. He took out a thick shield Magic Treasure to protect his front. The thick shield shimmered with precious light, indicating its extraordinary quality, at least a mid-grade Mortal Weapon. The Fat Man simultaneously tightened his fat, turning it into lumps of muscle, and continued to charge fiercely at Qian Duoduo, his Aura like a tiger descending a mountain.
"Are you afraid of me?" Qian Duoduo thought to himself. He channeled his Spiritual Qi, and the Golden Rooster Sword transformed into a golden light, striking down towards the thick shield.
"Bang!" Amidst the loud noise, Sword Qi overflowed, and the thick shield fell onto the competition platform, splitting into five pieces.
The Fat Man's eyes instantly widened like a bull's, and the lumps of flesh on his body began to tremble. It was unclear whether he was heartbroken over his Magic Treasure or simply terrified.
Before he could transform into a fierce tiger again, the Golden Rooster Sword had already pierced towards his chest. His large fists hesitated for a moment, lifted, then lowered, not daring to directly confront the Golden Rooster Sword.
The tip of the Golden Rooster Sword swayed, pointing at his throat one moment, then at his heart the next. Beads of sweat appeared on the Fat Man's face, "I concede."
Having won two consecutive matches, Qian Duoduo secretly glanced at Zhangzuo Dajiu. Tang Honggong stood tall and straight, his face expressionless.
Qian Duoduo felt slightly relieved. Only Qian Duoduo knew that Tang Honggong's visit to watch the Outer Sect Minor Competition this time was to supervise him. If he couldn't make it into the top five, Qian Duoduo would have to go to Little Dragon Valley to collect snake venom for the Sect...
Only ten people remained on the eighth competition platform. They drew lots again. Qian Duoduo drew number three, to compete against number four.
Number four was a tall, thin young man whose Flying Sword was also a Golden Sword, clearly indicating his extraordinary cultivation.
However, after Qian Duoduo competed with his Flying Sword once, he found that his Golden Sword was significantly lighter than the Golden Rooster Sword. He also realized this problem and tried to compensate for the weight with speed, intending to win against Qian Duoduo through sneak attacks. That Golden Sword flew back and forth like a headless fly.
Qian Duoduo unfolded his Spiritual Awareness, thoroughly grasping the trajectory of his Golden Sword. The Golden Rooster Sword was not only just as fast as his but also intercepted his attacks early on.
After two clashes of swords, upon discovering a chip in his Golden Sword's blade, the tall, thin youth readily conceded.
As Qian Duoduo walked off the competition platform, he noticed that Yu Yixiang on the neighboring platform had also just won. A wave of flattery erupted from the surrounding stands. Those admirers, each more effusive than the last, competed to see who could praise her more sickeningly.
Yu Yixiang seemed as if she were deaf, showing no reaction whatsoever.
"Heh heh, quite profound. This truly has a bit of a Phoenix's nobility," Qian Duoduo subtly praised her in his heart.
After three rounds of elimination, only one hundred eighty people remained in the arena. These individuals were undoubtedly the elites of the Outer Sect.
Elder Hu stood up, "The second phase of the Minor Competition, the Arena Defense Match."
As soon as his voice fell, a wave of excited cheers erupted from the stands. Huang Guiren had told Qian Duoduo that the previous elimination rounds were just an appetizer for the Outer Sect Minor Competition, and the Arena Defense Match was the most passionate part.
In the Arena Defense Match, one person ascends the stage and accepts challenges from others. If they win ten consecutive matches without defeat, they directly enter the top ten.
Defending the arena requires courage, and even more, strength.
Failure to defend the arena does not mean a complete loss of opportunity, but one can challenge the arena.
However, there are also limitations on the number of challenges. Three failures mean one can no longer ascend.
Zhangzuo Dajiu wanted Qian Duoduo to definitely enter the top five, so entering the top ten was a must.
Since he had to go up anyway, whether he wanted to or not, he might as well go up early.
Qian Duoduo lifted his leg and walked towards the competition platform—Arena Defense Match, here I come!
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