Ye Lin and Ouyang Changqing stood on the wide stage, with the executives present doing their duty in erecting a barrier to isolate their fight.
The loud and raving cheers cut off as well, unable to reach the two fighters.
âOne is a great talent of western lands youth, the other is the best disciple in northern lands. I wonder how it will turn out? Ha-ha-ha, thisâll be good!â
âI put my money on Changqing. Heâs been training in Heaven Sealing Sword Art since he was young and he also had brother Lingtian to nurture him all these years. While Double Dragon Manor trains the most elite disciples, they have lost the best period in life, starting too late. And with the loss of Vaulting Sword, the kid had no chance of learning of the Vaulting Sword Art. The ending is obvious.â
âThatâs too soon to tell. Yes, being trained early will help correct any bad habits that might form, but the way western lands selects its disciple is from their very best, with each having a specialty. After all, Vaulting Sword Artâs character is one of harmony. Western lands does it so that every disciple gets to further amplify their strengths when they learn from the Vaulting Sword. Itâs the best way of training in the Vaulting Sword Art and bring about the greatest talent ever seen!â
âBut their Vaulting Sword is lost.â
âBe that as it may, I heard that the best disciple in western lands has such an outstanding talent that makes not learning the Vaulting Sword Art a moot pointâŠâ
âHow reliable is that info? Now Iâm really eager to see how far talent alone can get him against a disciple having learned from a divine swordâŠâ
Ouyang Changqing did such a great job at spreading the news of his fight that, just like Zhuo Fan predicted, many elders from Beyond Heaven Island came over as well. They hovered above, with eager and hopeful eyes.
Just like the roaring mob of disciples below, they were just as interested to see who the best disciple among these two was, but without all the fanaticism.
Ye Lin took a deep breath looking at Ouyang Changqing with a smirk and invitation, âAfter you, lest people say I pick on the weak.â
âYou got some nerve acting all smug before me when youâre only in the 2nd layer of Soul Harmony Stage! How in the world did you even get to be the first disciple with that kind of cultivation is anyoneâs guess.â
Ouyang Changqing mocked back, although focused on looking around the audience, âNot here still? I even had to insist for two hours to get her to agree. Why isnât she here yet?â
Ouyang Changqing hesitated.
Ye Linâs brow shook, âWhere are you looking? Scared?â
âGet over yourself! I am a great 8th layer Soul Harmony Stage expert. You must be dreaming if you think Iâd be scared of someone in the 2nd layer!â
Ouyang Changqing huffed with disdain, but still scanned the crowd, âSuch a grand performance comes by rarely. Youâre turning all my effort and grand heroic performance into wasted effort with your absence, sister XueâŠâ
âSister Xue, quick, itâs about to start!â
Meanwhile, in another area, Shangguan Qingyan kept pulling Murong Xueâs arm, running over to the hustle and bustle heard for miles.
Murong Xue rolled her eyes, âItâs just that pompous prick showing off, what are you getting all excited about?â
âI know Ouyang Changqing is the best disciple in northern lands with hardly anyone lasting five strikes, but his opponent this time is the best disciple in western lands. Maybe itâll be a great fight for once. You donât want to see if there are such experts among our peers?â
Shangguan Qingyan had a very good reason, yet when she arrived at the show, her eyes were everywhere but the stage.
She had even less interest in Ouyang Changqingâs high class act. The only reason she came was because she heard Zhuo Fanâs group was here to cheer for him. So she thought of an excuse to get Murong Xue to come as well.
Was she worried at all that maybe Murong Xue would figure Zhuo Fan out? Absolutely not. She believed Zhuo Fan had taken precautions since he chose to come here. And two, once she spotted him, sheâd dump Murong Xue and would shield him from anything. This way theyâd also get close. What could possibly go wrong?
Having run her plan countless times through her mind, no matter how shallow, she would have Murong Xue as an excuse when coming to the fight anyway.
Murong Xue had no clue of her intentions, beginning to assess the fight, âYanâer, Ouyang Changqing is strong in the end. While he always carries himself with flair and idles away like a true pompous fool, his upbringing has been perfect. He had started seclusion with his father when he was five, to understand the Heaven Sealing Sword Art. Not even I can last more than twenty moves against him.â
âWonât that mean the best disciple in western lands is going to lose?â
Shangguan Qingyan giggled, âSister Xue is the strongest disciple in southern lands, but for even you to say youâre going to lose, wonât that mean he has won over southern landsâ youth? While eastern landsâ strongest disciple was that cousin Yulin. Though even alive he wouldnât be a match to sister Xue. That means eastern lands lost as well. Which leaves western lands, needing to defeat their best disciple to be the best disciple of the four lands.â
Murong Xue gave a helpless nod, âYeah, now you know why he blew this fight out of proportions? Heâs about to be the best disciple in the four lands, a very good reason to celebrate. And with western lands being the last among the lands, their best disciple is definitely going to fall way short. Now the entire fight had turned into a spectacle for him to look good. Thatâs why I donât feel like coming only to watch his obnoxious grin getting wider.â
âHe-he-he, of course heâs obnoxious.â
Shangguan Qingyan teased, âIt will go along with your promise. His win will make him the best disciple in the lands and give some credence to becoming the second Invincible Sword one day in the future!â
Murong Xue sneered, âBest in the lands? Second Invincible Sword? Ha-ha, thatâs rich! Even if he wins against western lands today, his winning streak will stop here. Thereâs one among our peers he can never defeat. He has the highest chance of becoming the second Invincible Sword!â
Murong Xue turned heavy as she spoke, âCentral area Sword Star Empireâs Crown Prince, Baili Jingtian!â
âHim?â
âYeah, just another Baili.â
Murong Xue shook her head with a sigh, âIâve once gone to the central area and met with the prince on several occasions. The Baili clan is truly incredible, filled with talents and in constant growth. I believe that even a hundred years after Invincible Sword, that clan will shock the world with another incredible figure. At the very least, their top ten princes are on par with the best disciples in the lands. With the first four being above us. I couldnât even last a blow against Baili Jingtian. Heâs really the second coming of Invincible Sword!â
Shangguan Qingyanâs eyes shook, âWe really are hopeless. Our homes will all be united under Sword Star Empireâs tyranny, with everything destroyed.â
âYeah, their strength breeds fear and despair.â
Murong Xue sighed, looking desolate, âIt was Prime Minister Baili Jingwei who set up the meeting with the princes. He was then looking to persuade my brother. Thatâs why he put on such a display to intimidate us. I have to admit, it worked. Seeing those princesâ power and the immense potential of the Sword Star Empire made me realize with each passing day that we are on our last leg. While we are fighting over whoâs the best, the Sword Star Empire already took that title, rising to their glory. Maybe the next time, the four lands would end up crushed under its power. Thatâs why I feel Ouyang Changqingâs fanfare and conceit as the best disciple in the four lands as empty wordsâŠâ
Shangguan Qingyan nodded in understanding, sighing, âSister Xue has seen much, unlike us. Being so competitive and drunk on fame is truly childishâŠâ
âSister Xue, youâre here at last! Iâve waited ages for you!â
Ouyang Changqingâs eager shout reached Murong Xue waving in excitement.
Shangguan Qingyan and Murong Xue had a bitter smile and shook their heads.
In such desperate times, he had the leisure to compete over who the best in the alliance was. It only helped to make his childish image in their minds more pronounced.
Or to be more accurate, naive.
Zhuo Fan tensed seeing Murong Xue here, lowering his head.
Chu Qingcheng reached out by herself and held Zhuo Fanâs hand, gripping both of them tightly, as if to console him. Although, her eyes were still vacant.
âSorry sir, she doesnât know what sheâs doing.â Shui Ruohua startled at Chu Qingchengâs action, wanting to take her hand back at once.
It just wasnât proper to do that with a stranger, especially a man. Theyâd really take her for a crazy woman.
Zhuo Fan stopped her, sighing as he gazed into Chu Qingchengâs deep and vacant eyes, âAfter all these years, you know me bestâŠâ
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