Everyone looked up at the highest seats and at what Exalted Hei Ran held with deep frowns, gulping and sweating in anxiety as their nails dug into their hands.
Only the Demon Scheming Sect was chill. They just didnât care about the ranks. Just like Zhuo Fan said, a weak sect like theirs shouldnât aim too high.
Without high expectations there was nothing to be tense about.
They were more sad about their leader, Zhuo Fan, leaving them.
âI shall now declare the nine sectsâ positions in the Double Dragon Gathering!â
Exalted Hei Ran cleared his throat, âWe begin with the Beast Taming Sect, the last in the lower-three sects!â
Exalted Hei Ranâs declaration earned a mocking look from the crowd.
At the start of the lower-three sects stage, Zhuo Fan wiped them out in one punch. Even their elder was culled soon after. If they wasnât dead last, who would be?
They were indeed shit out of luck to meet a freak like Zhuo Fan right off the bat. Zhuo Fanâs power was soon made public in a fantastic display. Their demise⊠obvious, ha-haâŠ
âThe last among the middle-three sectsâŠâ
Exalted Hei Ran continued and the people tuned in. Heaven Trailing Sectâs young master was even more attentive. That was their spot since coming here. Though unclear if they kept it after all the changes.
They were sweating now, eyes bloodshot, as they awaited Exalted Hei Ran to say those little words.
It was never meant to be though, as Exalted Hei Ran said, âDemon Soul Sect!â
The Han brothers shook their heads. They planned on moving up at least a spot but ended up moving a spot backward. They had no idea how they were going to break this to their harsh old man.
While they were hesitating, Ren Cong was frozen in place. If Demon Soul Sect got last place in the middle-three sects, then Heaven Trailing Sect was in the lower-three sects?
The young master felt like crying. Getting home would get his dad to thrash him.
[How could we fall so low?]
âThe last among the superior-three sectsâŠâ
Ignoring those two sectsâ sadness, Exalted Hei Ran kept on declaring, âSword God Sect!â
Wen Taoâs team was stunned, then went wild with joy. They actually upgraded their class, from middle-three sect to superior-three sect.
They thought that by losing to Zhuo Fan and being wounded in the challenge stage, they lost their chance. Now, it seemed that they did it.
Even if it was the last spot, it was still worth an achievement.
Zhuo Fanâs side stuck to their ally-making policy and congratulated them. Wen Tao kept cupping his hands in reply with a beaming smile.
Though one sectâs fortune was anotherâs sadness. Universal Righteous Sectâs Zhao Dezhu was dumbstruck.
For Sword God Sect to go up, one had to go down. As to who that was, it went without saying that it was the weakest.
This was the worst performance in all Double Dragon Gatherings. How was he going to explain it back home?
Looking aside, Exalted Hei Ran showed a mocking smile as he continued, âLower-three sects mid position, Mystical Heaven Sect!â
Xuan Shaoyu and the elder eased a breath. This was the usual result at least.
Though they failed to be the first lower-three sect.
The girls didnât care much about it. Those glistening pairs of eyes only watched Zhuo Fan, as if the Demon Scheming Sectâs spot was far more important.
âMiddle-three sects second spot, Universal Righteous Sect!â Exalted Hei Ran looked right at Zhao Dezhu when he shouted.
The crowd was in an uproar. A great superior-three sect had not only fallen from grace but went down to ranks.
The Universal Righteous Sectâs elders were bound to go mad from the news!
While the people did not know if they would, they did hear Zhao Dezhu go insane first as he argued, âHold on, Exalted! What is this? Universal Righteous Sect is a superior-three sect, how did it fall so much?â
âHumph, you should be asking your scheming mind.â
Exalted Hei Ran disdained, âWhen you fought Hellion Flame and Ultimate Clarity Sect, you always held back, so much so you earned little points. In the superior-three sects challenge stage, you routed Demon Scheming Sect but in the end, your score dropped to rock bottom, earning your current rank as second middle-three sect.â
Zhao Dezhu shook like a leaf, his butt hitting the ground hard from shock. âHow can this be? The points for fighting in the superior-three sects singles are far more than in the other categories. HowâŠâ
âYouâre right, but thatâs because the superior-three sectsâ disciples are much stronger. But that only means by forfeiting the deduction is even greater.â
Exalted Bai Meiâs eyes were sharp as he said flatly, âYour great scheming has brought you this low. I hope that as a second middle-three sect you and your sect will calm down and focus on your path and not scheme for fame and wealth. As you know scheming comes with risks. If it fails, youâre the one to suffer for it.â
Zhao Dezhu sat there on the ground, lost, not even hearing his advice.
The exalted shook their heads and Exalted Hei Ran continued, âSuperior-three sects mid position, Hellion Flame!â
Yan Mo nodded and eased a breath. At least they kept their spot.
They were really scared the Demon Scheming Sect wouldâve taken it.
âAnd now, itâs time to announce the top positions!â
Exalted Hei Ran finally came to the final three names. The crowd went quiet and waited with bated breaths.
âLower-three sects top position, Heaven Trailing Sect!â
Exalted Hei Ranâs shout pierced Ren Congâs ears. He had seen it coming but it still came as a blow. He was shaking so hard, the breeze might topple him.
It was too much for him to take.
In the end, he chose to glare at Zhuo Fan.
[Itâs all that punkâs fault. I wonât ever let you go! Just wait, youâll get yours!]
Ren Congâs eyes flashed as he started making his plans.
âMiddle-three sects top position, Demon Scheming Sect!â
Exalted Hei Ran finally uttered the greatest underdogâs name, but the gang were all smiles.
That threw the crowd off. Even the exalted were curious.
[They got such restraint?]
They were clearly something more to keep their cool after hearing they went from lower-three sects to top middle-three sects.
[Or was it the least of their expectations, since they aimed for superior-three sects?]
How would they know the Demon Scheming Sect teamâs mood was more affected by Zhuo Fanâs leaving?
Zhuo Fan had got them all the way here without a scratch. Now that he left, they couldnât be happy even if they wanted to.
Shrugging, the exalted scratched their heads. Exalted Hei Ran declared the last spot, âSuperior-three sects top position, Ultimate Clarity Sect!â
The king in the western lands, Ultimate Clarity Sect, had never fallen off his throne. But everyone, even Ultimate Clarity Sect were clear how dangerous it was to maintain it.
Giving Zhuo Fan a long look, Wu Qingqiu sighed, âI hope the next Double Dragon Gathering we wonât meet that freak again.â
Wu Qingqiu wiped his brow recalling the fight.
The nine sects now had their new status. What followed next was what they were waiting for. The share of sacred stones the Double Dragon Manor bestowed at Double Dragon Gathering.
Exalted Hei Ran sat down and Exalted Bai Mei began, âAccording to Double Dragon Gatheringâs results, the sacred stones shall be split as follows: the top superior-three sect, Ultimate Clarity Sect, will receive a hundred thousand, the Hellion Flame fifty thousand and Sword God Sect thirty thousand.â
Everyone was shocked.
[So much?]
Only the elders that had been to past Double Dragon Gatherings shook their heads.
[Much? That goes to the winner.]
[Double Dragon Manor ainât so generous to losersâŠ]