Chapter 218: Head Seat
Three days passed in a flash. Originally, Zhao Jinhu in 58th place, Liang Le in 59th place, and Zhao Kang in 60th place, all after Su Yan’s 57th place, were challenged and replaced, becoming new disciples.
Before 57th place, several Tiger Ranking disciples were also challenged down.
In a short time, nearly one-sixth of the top sixty Tiger Ranking disciples were replaced.
Combat is often decided by the slimmest margins; sometimes, just a single thought—whether to face death with no regrets or not—can determine the victor.
As Gu Songde had said, for the sake of securing his position, he also moved forward several spots, challenging for 40th place.
He acted decisively, even with a touch of ease, clearly not using his full strength to ascend the ranking.
Similarly, Yao Yunzhou of White Python Peak also climbed a few spots forward to 37th place, using only a single sword slash when he made his move.
Everyone knew the key to the competition lay in the elimination tournament; as long as they won one match, they could enter the top thirty, at least having a chance to obtain the opportunity to go to the Blood Flood Dragon Secret Realm.
Only higher up was the real contention of this ranking battle; the higher the rank, the richer the sect rewards. For first place, the sect even offered 50,000 contribution points and a chance to select a treasure of fourth-order or below.
Fourth-order—that was the level of a Dharma Aspect True Person, with a lifespan of a thousand years. In Lingnan Prefecture, or even beyond it, they were great figures.
Even though everyone knew a fourth-order item might not directly allow him to break through to the Dharma Aspect Realm, it could at least increase his chances, such as a fourth-order cultivation manual.
Su Yan arrived at the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform. Two high platforms faced each other from afar; the one belonging to the Tiger Ranking disciples now had only sixty spots left, all occupied by disciples who would participate in the elimination tournament.
When he arrived, Zhao Mingcheng, Yuan Yi, and a few others had already gotten there ahead of him.
Seeing Su Yan, they nodded slightly in greeting.
Su Yan found a seat and sat down. Before he could settle in, Xia Wan’er immediately came over and sat in the spot next to him.
“Today, the eight Head Seats and the Sect Master are all coming. You must perform well. If you want to cultivate fourth-order cultivation manuals, you need the Head Seats’ approval; you’ll have dealings with them in the future.”
Xia Wan’er had entered the sect earlier after all, and she spoke with clear insight.
“Here.”
As she spoke, a porcelain bottle appeared in Xia Wan’er’s hand.
“What is it?”
Before she could react, she subconsciously uncorked the porcelain bottle, and a wisp of medicinal fragrance wafted out.
She immediately plugged it back, staring intently at Su Yan. The shock in her eyes was indescribable; she wished she could press her graceful body against Su Yan to examine it closely.
“You… you refined it just like that?!”
“Yeah, with sufficient materials prepared, I refined it.”
Su Yan spoke calmly, as if it were only natural.
Xia Wan’er, however, remained in a dazed state.
Why?!
This was a third-order pill, and even though she already believed in Su Yan enough.
She still thought he would need at least half a month, or even one or two months, to figure it out.
Only then would it be normal; pill refining always consumes the mind.
But how long had it been?
Fully calculated, only two or three days had passed.
This was no upper second-order pill master preparing to attempt breaking through to third-order pill master; it was clearly pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.
She couldn’t help but say wistfully, “Next time, make the process sound more difficult.”
Su Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. “To sell it at a high price?”
“No, to avoid getting beaten.”
Xia Wan’er was quite dejected; this once cheerful woman spoke fewer words, though her peripheral vision intentionally or unintentionally kept drifting toward Su Yan.
On the high platform, all the Tiger Ranking disciples were assembled, sixty people sitting quietly in their seats. Below the high platform, the viewing stands were packed with layers upon layers of Beast King Sect disciples surrounding the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform, shoulder to shoulder, everyone showing excitement.
Several streaks of flowing light flew in from the various peaks, and the crowd immediately straightened their backs, looking toward the flowing lights with respectful expressions.
The leader wore a cyan-white Daoist robe, standing on a Cloud-Soaring Dragon Feather Eagle, exuding an immortal air; it was precisely the Beast King Sect’s Sect Master Chu Qidao.
Following closely behind was a gray-clothed, plainly dressed old man with gray hair and beard, a dark blunt sword at his waist.
He flew through the air, stepping on the void as if on flat ground, his figure unhurried, yet his speed was not much slower than Chu Qidao’s; it was the Beast King Sect’s Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, Qin Lifu.
Behind the two, the flowing lights contained eight more people, all with extraordinary bearing and presence.
Hu Yangming of Hundred Tiger Peak and Gu Sanqian of Guizang Valley were among them, accompanied by a woman in palace attire, elegant and noble like a water lily of wealth; it was precisely Shattered Moon Peak’s Head Seat Bi Qingman.
To her right was a black-haired, long-bearded man with a stern face and tall stature, around fifty years old, his eyes sharp and imposing, standing atop a cyan jade flood dragon; it was none other than Azure Dragon Peak’s Head Seat Lin Bumo.
White Python Peak’s Head Seat Zhu Zhilan, Overturning Sea Peak’s Head Seat Yuan Lan, Fuyue Peak’s Head Seat Du Rushan, and Black Stone Peak’s Head Seat Fan Shuzheng followed closely, all flying onto the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform.
Once everyone had landed and taken their seats, there were exactly ten spiritual incense cedar wooden chairs.
There were also Dan Qiao Realm cultivators present, though not many; they were all serving as referees for today’s matches.
There were five arenas in total, each a hundred meters on each square side, reinforced by the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform.
Each arena had an elder at its side, with at least Dan Qiao Realm cultivation, and Yin Mingchen, this platform duty elder, was the chief referee of the matches.
“Sect Master, all sixty Tiger Ranking disciples are present.”
Yin Mingchen cupped his hands in salute. Chu Qidao’s gaze fell on the high platform, and he nodded slightly. “Then come up to the stage and let the various Head Seats see your prowess.”
“Yes.”
Yin Mingchen said, “The top sixty Tiger Ranking disciples, come up to draw lots.”
It began.
The top sixty Tiger Ranking disciples rose from their seats; some were uneasy, while others were eager to try.
With the seven peaks one valley, plus the Sect Master and Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall—such Dharma Aspect Realm powerhouses watching—for these True Intent Realm disciples, it could not be more grand.
Su Yan remained calm. His gaze swept over the Dharma Aspect True Persons, and he thought to himself: ‘Their aura is like an abyss; against all fierce insect opponents, they probably wouldn’t last one or two moves. However… there are other experts.’
His keen perception detected other experts hovering in the air beyond the high platform or hidden among the crowd, watching the arenas from afar.
“Hm?”
Chu Qidao’s expression stirred slightly, landing on Su Yan, revealing a smile.
‘This is the disciple named Su Yan… such keen perception…’
Su Yan hadn’t used spiritual power, but even so, his perception stood out too much in front of these Dharma Aspect Realm powerhouses.
Tigers wouldn’t notice ants, but if a mantis appeared among the ants, it would be extremely conspicuous.
Su Yan was the anomaly among this group of little ants.
“That’s a disciple of Guizang Valley?”
Lin Bomo raised his eyes slightly. Gu Sanqian snorted. “So what?”
“Not bad bone structure and appearance; just don’t know what rank he’ll get.”
Lin Bomo had also heard of this disciple’s conflict with the Qing Family, but he didn’t care, his gaze still indifferent.
Shattered Moon Peak’s Bi Qingman’s eyes lit up slightly. What a handsome youth.
Her red lips parted slightly, and she smiled. “How about a bet, Senior Brother Lin? Care to try?”
Lin Bomo looked at Bi Qingman, raising his eyes slightly, somewhat surprised.
Tiger Ranking matches happened every year, with batches of outstanding disciples appearing every few years.
They were all several hundred years old; what genius disciples hadn’t they seen?
Bi Qingman’s eyes narrowed slightly, flashing with a strange light as her peripheral vision swept over Gu Sanqian.
“Senior Brother Gu, care to try?”
Lin Bomo frowned slightly. Gu Sanqian showed some surprise and nodded. “Sure, I bet on first place. How about it?”
Everyone turned their heads, looking at Gu Sanqian in astonishment. So bold?
Those disciples didn’t know Yuan Yi’s background, but did these Head Seats not know a thing or two?
Bi Qingman shook her head slightly and said, “Senior Brother Gu, how about holding off? Your grand-disciple has good aptitude, but he’s still a few years behind Yuan Yi.”
“Junior Sister Bi, what rank do you think he’ll get?”
Gu Sanqian countered. Everyone was stunned, looking at Bi Qingman. She pondered briefly. “Top three on the Tiger Ranking; number one in a year.”
Hiss.
At these words, even Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall Qin Lifu opened his eyes, a flicker of surprise in his calm gaze.
“Top ten at most.”
Lin Bomo didn’t believe it, raising his eyes slightly and scanning Su Yan’s body.
Bi Qingman didn’t argue, merely smiling as she looked at the other Head Seats. “Anyone else want to place a bet?”
White Python Peak’s Zhu Zhilan and Fuyue Peak’s Du Rushan both shook their heads; their temperaments didn’t favor gambling on disciples like this, so they didn’t join in.
Overturning Sea Peak’s Yuan Lan smiled without speaking; not understanding Su Yan’s background, he naturally wouldn’t do something so uncertain.
“No bet.”
Qin Lifu’s response was concise and clear. Chu Qidao shook his head slightly. “It’s not suitable for this old man to join; you play among yourselves, but don’t make the stakes too big.”
The remaining was Hu Yangming, who unexpectedly said flatly, “This old man has already placed a bet, with that boy.”
Everyone was even more astonished. Yuan Lan couldn’t hold back and asked, “Senior Sister Bi, what did you discover?”
Bi Qingman said calmly, “The Moon-Eating Worm told me his bloodline is very powerful.”
Everyone immediately showed surprised expressions, their gazes all focusing on Su Yan.
Especially Chu Qidao, who asked, “Junior Sister, are you sure?”
“Of course.”
The Moon-Eating Worm was almost her life-bound contracted beast; after years of refining, it was nearly connected to her life, with particularly powerful spiritual power and infallible perception.
Within her body, the Moon-Eating Worm trembled slightly, conveying the message: a bloodline not weaker than its own, even stronger.
Could Su Yan control insect beasts above fourth-order?
Clearly impossible, even with exceptional talent, so it could only be his own talent.
“Junior Brother Gu…”
Gu Sanqian nodded slowly. “Innate Martial Body, but I don’t know what bloodline it is.”
“That’s enough.”
Chu Qidao nodded, revealing a smile. A disciple with Innate Martial Body and bloodline not inferior to a fourth-order calamity beast—if the bloodline was properly awakened, there was a high chance of reaching the Dharma Aspect Realm.
Every Dharma Aspect Realm cultivator was a pillar of the sect.
While they spoke, the disciples had already begun drawing lots under Yin Mingchen’s supervision: thirty red and white glass beads, each embedded with a number, corresponding one-to-one.
Everyone reached out and grabbed one, holding it in their palm.
“Number 15.”
Su Yan looked at the bead; it was red number 15. Beside him, Gu Songde glanced over, saw it was also red, and breathed a sigh of relief. “Stable. Junior Brother, looks like we won’t face off in the first round.”
Su Yan looked up and asked, “Senior Brother, what number?”
“Red bead, number 12.”
Familiar disciples asked each other their numbers; at this time, Xia Wan’er also came over, saw Su Yan’s color, and was first startled, but fortunately, the numbers didn’t match.
Yin Mingchen said, “Red and blue are pairs; same number means opponents in the first round. Come forward one by one and give me your beads.”
Everyone handed them over in turn. Number one was Lan Yunyue of White Python Peak, matched against a disciple originally ranked 23rd.
One by one, the disciples’ names appeared on the stone tablet, clear for all to see.
Gu Songde was matched against Yao Yunzhou in 37th place on the Tiger Ranking; old acquaintances became old opponents, both looking pained.
The better you knew each other, the harder it was to fight.
Finally, Yin Mingchen called Su Yan’s name: “Su Yan of Guizang Valley versus Qi Yufei of Fuyue Peak.”
Their names appeared on the stone tablet, immediately eliciting an uproar from the spectator stands.
Although not many knew about the Hundred Tiger Peak Lecture Hall incident, some did.
“Hmph.”
Qi Yufei snorted coldly, raising his eyes to glare at Su Yan. “Good, let you taste my sword moves.”
Qi Yufei was an outlier; though from Fuyue Peak, he cultivated sword technique, specializing in mountain-splitting sword skills.
His Mountain Splitting Great Mountain Sword was practiced to perfection, and his sword-bearing ape added wings like a tiger.
His style clashed with Fuyue Peak’s emphasis on heaviness and strong defense, but his strength was beyond doubt.
As group after group of opponents was announced by Yin Mingchen, all the matchups were revealed.
“Groups one to five stay; the rest of the disciples, step down and wait.”
As Yin Mingchen’s voice fell, only five groups of opponents remained on the five arenas.
“Fight without restraint, but remember not to kill. If you violate this, don’t blame the sect for being merciless.”
“Yes, Elder.”
After Yin Mingchen’s warning, with Dan Qiao Realm elders as referees, unless someone went straight for killing from the start.
Otherwise, causing an accidental death was truly unlikely.
One must know that, besides the Dan Qiao True Persons, the Nine Tablet Spirit Platform itself was an important safeguard against death or maiming.
Everyone took their positions, and at the arena referee’s command, the matches began.
Lan Yunyue held a jade sword in hand. She raised her eyes slightly and said indifferently, “Junior Brother, make your move.”
The youth opposite gritted his teeth and immediately unleashed all his techniques. True Intent emerged: a burly armored beast, followed by a black armor rhino charging out fiercely.
True Intent Divine Union; his aura surged. In an instant, he unleashed his full power.
Lan Yunyue’s eyes stirred slightly. Her jade sword slashed once, and suddenly wind and clouds stirred. In a flash, sword light pierced through the clouds and mist, shattering the Armored Beast True Intent with a single strike.
The opponent wanted to continue attacking, but the next sword was as elusive as clouds and mist, like a white dragon flashing by, instantly sending him flying.
One move to defeat the enemy; that disciple was already beaten.
With True Intent broken, his true essence churned within. Before his contracted beast could attack, a wound appeared on his body, and he himself flew off the arena.
“White Python Peak’s Lan Yunyue wins.”
She won effortlessly, but the other arenas were fiercely contested.
To enter the top thirty, everyone was going all out.
It took a full half hour for all arenas to decide winners.
The middle group of five finished much faster; Yuan Yi, Xia Wan’er, and Zhao Mingcheng were among them, their opponents naturally unable to withstand.
After another half hour rest, it was finally the turn of the last batch of combatants.
Su Yan was prominently among them.
