Chapter 2 The Assembly Point
The assembly point for the second day was moved to the martial arts training ground where Murong Bai had been teased upon his arrival at Wolong Villa.
Long Xiaotian stood on the platform and announced loudly:
"Good morning, everyone. I, first and foremost, congratulate the forty-eight individuals on the roster for successfully passing the second round of trials.
Now, I will explain the content of the third trial, 'Strength'.
Before I detail the specific trial content, I believe you have all seen the arena before you.
Passing the test of virtue and possessing wisdom, one also needs the strength to protect the treasure map, which is what we commonly refer to as martial prowess!
Therefore, the final trial, 'Strength', will adopt the simplest draw method. The forty-eight qualified participants will pair up and compete on the stage one by one, until the final champion is crowned.
However, it must be noted that the competition is to be stopped at the opportune moment, and those who cause fatalities will also be disqualified from the competition."
"It appears that arena duels are indeed a mandatory item for martial arts gatherings."
After finishing his words, Lin Qingge turned to look at the two people beside him, one large and one small. "Madam, swords and blades have no eyes. When you step onto the stage later, you must concede the match immediately.
And Mo'er, you too."
Lin Zimo, who had somehow stumbled his way into the third round of trials, strained to lift his small head and looked at the 'colossi' around him. His round, big eyes were filled with confusion.
Could someone please tell him what exactly had happened to make him, a four-year-old infant, have to endure such a terrifying ordeal?
At this moment, Long Xiaotian on the stage spoke again:
"Next, please heroes come forward in order according to your passing sequence of the second trial to draw your upcoming match numbers. Those who draw the same match number will be opponents in the first round.
In addition, Wolong Villa has prepared a nameplate for each hero who has successfully entered the third trial. Your nameplates will be hung on the promotion board behind me.
The second round of matches will proceed according to the order on the promotion board, and so on, until the final champion is determined.
It is worth noting that to win the championship, one must win six rounds consecutively. Therefore, the allocation of stamina and replenishment is particularly important. I hope all heroes will manage their resources wisely.
Finally, I wish all heroes good luck!"
Lin Qingge was the first to step forward to draw lots, and he drew the number [one].
Following closely, Murong Bai also drew the number [one].
"Brother Lin, what fate!"
Lin Qingge looked at the increasingly radiant and charming man opposite him, instinctively covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve.
The referee, Master Huichong, who appeared frequently, stood with one hand held to his chest, chanting Buddhist prayers:
"Amitabha, the match begins!"
Then, neither side moved.
Feeling that his voice might not have been loud enough, Master Huichong had to raise his voice and repeat:
"The match begins!!!"
But both sides still showed no intention of moving.
Just as Master Huichong was gathering his energy, preparing to unleash a lion's roar to intimidate the two arrogant young lads before him, Murong Bai spoke slowly:
"Brother Lin, I concede."
With that, he briskly raised his hand towards Master Huichong and said, "I forfeit."
"Pfft—"
This was the sound of Master Huichong forcefully releasing gas from his lower abdomen after his energy gathering was interrupted.
The loud fart echoed through the silent competition arena.
Though he didn't know what 'social death' was, Master Huichong's entire old face turned red with shame and indignation. If there had been a crack in the arena, he would have undoubtedly crawled into it and never emerged again.
After a long while, Master Huichong managed to find his voice with difficulty:
"First round, first match, Lin Texing wins."
Yan Tinghao, who was watching from below, scratched his head in confusion. "Who is Lin Texing? Is there someone like that among us?"
"It must be a pseudonym Brother Lin came up with on the spot~"
As soon as Hua Jinrong finished speaking, they heard the steward in charge of calling names on the stage announce loudly:
"Ye Shaoqing."
Hua Jinrong immediately raised his hand and waved. "Here!"
???
Yan Tinghao, his face a mask of confusion, became even more bewildered. "Big... Big Brother, didn't you write our names for us during the first match?"
Lu Mingxuan beside him said weakly, "Could it be that Brother Lin already knew Brother Hua's pseudonym? After all, Gao Ming always calls him 'Brother Ye, Brother Ye'."
Hua Jinrong's opponent was a disciple sent by the Tianji Pavilion.
Hua Jinrong casually fanned himself, then, quite unintentionally, a plaque fell to the ground. The Tianji Pavilion disciple opposite him immediately had his pupils constrict, and then he fearfully conceded the match.
Master Huichong, the referee: ...
The next person called was Lin Zimo, who had quickly passed the previous round due to studying the questions.
The little child, under everyone's gaze, climbed onto the stage with his bottom sticking out, puffing and panting.
Because his arms were short, he had to let the steward draw lots for him.
And his opponent, by sheer bad luck, was also one of their own, Lu Mingxuan, who had lowered his presence to the bare minimum.
While Lin Zimo was still struggling to climb onto the stage, Lu Mingxuan, who was extremely protective of his own life, had already forfeited.
Lin Zimo: ???
Master Huichong, who had been a referee for three rounds and felt like he had accomplished nothing, was also speechless. Fortunately, the next participant did not forfeit. However, the man named Ling Lingqi was too powerful, knocking his opponent off the stage with just one move.
Come to think of it, it was no different from forfeiting.
"Next match, Leng Xin of the Jade Maiden Sect has drawn Leng Shi as her opponent."
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingge, filled with worry, grabbed Leng Ningyue. "Madam, why don't we just concede directly? What if you get hurt?"
"Big... Big Brother, her name is Leng Shi, why are you so worried?"
Too lazy to bicker with the simpleton, Lin Qingge rolled his eyes at the sky and said irritably:
"My wife's surname is Leng. What's wrong with her being called Leng Shi?"
"Wife... Madam?"
Yan Tinghao, who was accustomed to calling her 'Madam Lin', heard her surname for the first time and then muttered softly:
"Leng Xin versus Leng Shi. When did the surname Leng become so common?"
"As far as I know, all female disciples who join the Jade Maiden Sect must abandon their original names and adopt the surname Leng, believing that only with a cold heart and cold emotions can one avoid being hurt by the world.
I didn't expect Madam Lin to also be surnamed Leng~"
Hua Jinrong said, fanning himself, and cast a meaningful glance at Leng Ningyue.
However, Leng Ningyue shrugged off Lin Qingge's hand clutching her sleeve, leaped up, and landed on the stage as nimbly as a butterfly.
"Madam is so cool!"
Lin Qingge shouted, then belatedly realized that the exceptionally tall and graceful figure on the stage suddenly seemed a little unfamiliar.
Although they had been like close friends for years, he felt as if he had never truly known her.
By the time Lin Qingge snapped out of his thoughts, the match had already... ended?!
Feeling that it had ended much too quickly, he hurried forward to receive her. "Madam, are you injured? Did you bump or scrape anywhere?"
Not far away, Leng Xin, who had fallen off the stage and felt as though her internal organs had shifted: ...
However, as Lin Qingge was fussing over Leng Ningyue.
Leng Shuang, an elder of the Jade Maiden Sect and one of the judges on the high platform, stared intently at Leng Ningyue, her fists clenched at her sides, as if she were desperately suppressing something.