Chapter 6924 Playing With Me?
A thunderous explosion echoed through the air. As the dust and runes faded away, the martial stage came into view.
At each end of the martial stage, there were spectator stands filled with dozens of disciples. Disciples from the Painting Sect sat on one side, while those from the Calligraphy Sect, including Li Chenggang, sat on the other.
Each side sent dozens of disciples, but only five matches were scheduled. The fighters weren’t chosen in advance, so they could be switched depending on how things went.
At this moment, two battered figures lay on the martial stage. They tried to get up, but both failed and fainted at the same time.
They had used their strongest moves at the end, leaving themselves completely drained. Injured and out of strength, neither could stand.
“Does this round count as a tie?” Long Chen asked.
Vice Sect Master Liuyun nodded. This should count as a tie since both collapsed and fainted at the same time. There was no way to tell who was stronger.
Before he could say anything, someone interrupted, “Do you think you can just call it a draw? These matches between the Painting Sect and the Calligraphy Sect must have a winner and a loser!”
Long Chen had expected someone to speak up. But when he looked over, he saw it was the person he had just slapped.
“Oh, does your face not hurt?”
“You—!” The person was furious at being reminded of it. It felt like being slapped all over again.
“What? Don’t tell me you have to win all five matches?” Long Chen asked.
The man sneered, but before he could reply, a woman spoke up. “This competition between the Calligraphy Sect and the Painting Sect is very important. It will affect the Dao discussion later. That’s why every match must have a winner or a loser—no draws. Do you have a problem with that?”
She was quite sharp-tongued. If Long Chen claimed to have an opinion, it would amount to interfering in the affairs between the Painting Sect and the Calligraphy Sect. He would definitely be meddling.
“Dean Long Chen, let me introduce you. This is the Painting Sect’s Vice Sect Master Ling Yan!” Liuyun seized this chance to inform Long Chen who this was.
Long Chen nodded and said, “Vice Sect Master Ling Yan, I shouldn’t be meddling in the matters between your sects. But I could tell right away that the disciple from the Calligraphy Sect was following the rules and holding back, while your Painting Sect’s expert attacked with the intent to kill. The Calligraphy Sect treats you as a guest, while you act like you own the place. Isn’t this a bit much?”
Ling Yan sneered, “The great era is coming. When the tribulations arrive, rivers of blood will flow. Even the four immemorial sects might not survive. As we seek the faintest glimmer of life within death, mercy would only lead us to annihilation. When the match started, we agreed that life and death would be left to fate. We must do whatever it takes to win.
“This match is part of our struggle to survive in the great era. We use our power as a display that people who cling to old ways will fall into a bottomless abyss and be lost in the long river of history.”
“Wow, well said! I’m impressed!” Long Chen exclaimed. H
He clapped for her, but his expression seemed mocking.
Ling Yan could see what he really meant. If any other disciple had mocked her like that, she would have punished them eight hundred times over.
But she had to hold back with Long Chen. His background was too powerful. Even if she could defeat him, the Painting Sect couldn’t handle the fallout.
After all, Long Chen had the High Firmament Academy behind him, as well as the violet blood race, Jiuli race, and dragon race. Any one of them was a frightening existence. She would have to be crazy to try to kill him.
She calmly asked, “Does Dean Long Chen doubt my words?”
“No, I don’t doubt them at all... I simply don’t believe them.”
Ling Yan’s face darkened at his sudden change. She felt like he was playing with her.
She asked coldly, “So, Dean Long Chen, do you have another opinion?”
“Of course!” Long Chen replied bluntly. “Isn’t your challenge today meant to prove the Calligraphy Sect’s path is wrong? I can show that your path is actually the wrong one. Want to test it?”
“Oh? Are you saying you want to join the matches yourself?”
Ling Yan and the others’ eyes lit up. They couldn’t hide their excitement, no matter how hard they tried.
“No, how could I possibly bully you like that? I will give the Calligraphy Sect’s disciples a bit of advice on fighting. Will Vice Sect Master Ling Yan permit it?” asked Long Chen.
Ling Yan and the others were clearly disappointed. Ling Yan said, “So Dean Long Chen wishes to personally give guidance to the Calligraphy Sect’s disciples? It’s not an impossible request, but...”
She intentionally paused here before continued, “I heard Dean Long Chen is the number one junior figure of the nine heavens. I wonder if my Painting Sect’s disciples are qualified to ask for pointers from you?”
“Not a problem. If you win any of the next three matches, I will accompany you,” Long Chen said indifferently.
“Dean Long Chen, you can’t! They—” Liuyun hastily spoke up.
“Alright, since Dean Long Chen has already spoken, my Painting Sect agrees!” Ling Yan interrupted.
“Dean Long Chen, you probably don't realize! There's a monster lurking among those disciples!” Liuyun said.
“I know. Don’t worry about it!”
Ling Yan motioned for Long Chen to enter the martial stage. She seemed worried he might back out.
“Dean Long Chen, go ahead. I hope you don’t take too long!”
Long Chen stood up, and Zi Nuo and the others followed. Lingyun sighed and formed a one-handed seal.
The barrier slowly opened, and Long Chen and the others entered.
The barrier closed again. Ling Yan and the others exchanged glances, faint and sinister smiles appearing on their faces.
At the same time, Long Chen wore a similar smile inside the martial stage.
“So, you want to play with me? I’ll play until you can’t handle it!”