CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 48: TOURNAMENT (2)

High above the arena, on the Elder’s platform, sat several figures. Among them was a mature beauty dressed in flowing pale-blue robes. Though the robes appeared modest, the curves hinted beneath were undeniably seductive. Her hair was tied up neatly, her face calm, yet her sleepy eyes weren’t on the dueling stage below. Instead, they kept drifting toward a certain man in the audience.

Then a refined old man with a curling beard next to her noticed her gaze and asked:

"Elder Yu, has a disciple caught your attention?" he asked again, following her gaze. His eyes landed on the man. "Oh, isn’t that the one you let into the sect using your authority?" His voice carried the playful tone of an old father teasing a daughter. "To think, the mighty Elder Yu Lianru actually stooped so low, taking spirit stones from a mortal, tch tch..."

Elder Yu’s face didn’t change when she heard this, as she had been teased about it many times before. "Hmph, Elder Xi, I let him join the sect with that qualification, so I say he got the better end of the deal."

Of course, outwardly she seemed unfazed. But inside... she wanted to smack every single elder who kept bringing up that dark history.

This was one of the most embarrassing moments for her. At that time, she had lost a bet with the Sect Leader. Which cost her to lost many spirit stones and even had to give up some of her treasured wine, but even then she was still short of spirit stones.

Just when she was about to head out and rob some demonic cultivator, she noticed a mortal carrying a large sum of spirit stones and heading toward the sect. Seeing that she didn’t need to venture out, she took the spirit stones from that mortal from the sky with a flick of her hand and left him with a token to ease her guilty conscience a bit.

’Ahem... It will be dangerous for you to keep carrying this much wealth, so I will be confiscating it for your safety. Take this token to the Azure Moon Sect, and you can join the sect by showing it.’

’Eh? Did I just get robbed...?’ The boy had stood frozen back then, dumbfounded as he stared at the token in his hand and the empty bag on his back.

Thinking about those times, Elder Yu was actually a bit surprised seeing this guy still here. To her, thirty years was nothing much, it could be considered a simple cultivation seclusion with her long lifespan. She thought that boy from back then had probably left or perished somewhere during a sect mission.

"Hah, shameless as always. Only you would gamble away your fortune, drink yourself silly, then rob a mortal to cover your losses." Elder Xi, who said this, just smiled and shook his head.

He knew how thick-skinned Yu Lianru could be, but he couldn’t help giving a second glance toward Li Feng, who had his hand roaming around the young women next to him. What caught Elder Xi’s attention wasn’t the perverted action, but the badge at Li Feng’s waist, and he couldn’t help showing a small surprise.

"That child’s cultivation is just barely average, but to think he managed to become an alchemist... what a surprise."

Elder Yu also noticed the badge, and that was why she had been staring and thinking to herself in silence.

In the Azure Moon Sect, even though they focused more on pursuing the dao and strength, paths like alchemy were also important for the sect, so they valued talent like Li Feng even though he might just be a Rank 1 Alchemist.

In the entire sect, there were only a few Rank 1 Alchemists and 3 Master Alchemists. As for Rank 3 Grand Alchemists... even the other major sects didn’t have such a figure. Only the Alchemist Guild and Medicine Valley had such figures among their factions, and they were all leaders or grand elders, plus all of those Grand Alchemists were old monsters who dedicated themselves entirely to the alchemy path.

As for the Rank 4 Alchemy King? There were none alive. The last one had lived many ten thousands of years ago, and he was the founder of the Alchemy Guild today. Legend had it that, with enough ingredients, a Rank 4 Alchemy King could even revive the dead with a single pill.

Of course, she didn’t think Li Feng was going to become an Alchemy King. But if he managed to become a Master Alchemist, then... her dark history might instead become an honorable moment. Then she could proudly lift her face whenever these old elders and the Sect Leader tried to use it to tease her.

Hah! You mean that boy? Of course it’s because I, Yu Lianru, have an eye for talent! Unlike you lot with no vision, I’ve been planning this long-term, hmph!

Thinking about that moment of comeback, Elder Yu’s eyes grew bright, and a plan started to form in her mind.

--

Meanwhile, Li Feng, who didn’t notice the many Elders’ attention on him, continued enjoying caressing Zhu Bai’s soft waist and even sneaking a touch toward her lower chest, causing Zhu Bai to blush even harder.

Then the glowing stone monument floated high above the arena, start showing numbers across it surface.

Lin Yu sat to his left, focused on the arena. "This year’s matches will be interesting. There are many talented disciples participating."

Li Feng wondered how amazing the benefits would be from observing the battles as Lin Yu had advised, so he also turned his attention toward the stage.

Soon, the stone above displayed two numbers.

The first two disciples stepped onto the stage, two young male cultivators who seemed to be in their twenties, showing their tokens that corresponded to the numbers above.

"Match one! Wei Zhan vs. Long Bai- begin!" the Elder announced.

Boom! Fire and ice clashed, sparks flying as the two young men exchanged fierce attacks. One launched fireballs, the other formed blades of ice. The audience cheered as they fought back and forth.

Lin Yu, who was beside him, kept commenting like he was watching a boxing match, eyes shining brightly. "Ohh, to think Brother Wei’s fire control technique has reached such a level... Ahh! That’s the signature move from Brother Long! To think he would go all out in the beginning... and that control... such precise control! So we can let the spiritual energy flow like that!" It seemed like Lin Yu was gaining a lot of insight from the match.

But Li Feng just stared at the stage with an empty face and couldn’t help but think: This... I can’t understand a thing... what energy flow?? What control?? Then he snuck a look around and saw many disciples immersed in the match, some even nodding as they learned something new from the battle. Even Zhu Bai and Madam Zhu had their eyes glued to the fight.

This... am I too dumb?

Just as Li Feng started to doubt his intelligence, the crowd cheered. and he turned to see Wei Zhan on his knees, with a blade pointing at his face.

The Elder above announced, "Long Bai wins!"

Long Bai put away his blade, then helped Wei Zhan stand and clasped his hand.

"Brother Wei, that was a great match."

"Brother Long, I also learned much from our battle."

The crowd cheered louder at the show of camaraderie, and even Lin Yu stood up to clap in excitement.

Meanwhile, Li Feng, who still hadn’t understood a single thing, simply stared blankly at the scene.

Soon, the next match began, and after a few rounds, Li Feng, who couldn’t understand anything, started to feel bored but his attention suddenly snapped back to the stage when he saw who was fighting in the next round.

After the stone above finished showing the numbers, two figures stepped onto the stage, a fiery, arrogant woman and a refined man.

"Fen Ziyan vs. Zhang Lu!"

A tall, proud young woman onto the stage. Her posture was elegant, her chin slightly raised as if she looked down on everyone present. Fen Ziyan’s beauty made many disciples cheer for her, but Li Feng narrowed his eyes.

"Hmmm, she’s still stuck," he thought. "Her aura is the same as before."

Lin Yu beside him also commented, "Senior Sister Fen is still in the 8th Realm of Qi Refinement... this might be a difficult match for her."

Li Feng, hearing this, asked, "Why do you say that?"

"It’s because Senior Brother Zhang is also at the peak of the 8th Realm of Qi Refinement-" Lin Yu didn’t even finish his words before Zhang Lu suddenly rushed forward, his sword clad with qi as a gust of wind burst forth, sharp enough to tear through the arena floor.

The disciples watching gasped in awe.

Fen Ziyan’s eyes narrowed, her robes fluttering as the wind slashed toward her. She lifted her hand, gathering qi into her palm, and parried with a shimmering flame barrier. The wind dispersed, but cracks spread across her defense instantly. Seeing the opening, Zhang Lu didn’t stop and rushed forward again with more momentum.

But just as Zhang Lu’s blade was about to pierce through her weakened defense, Fen Ziyan’s eyes flared with cold light.

"Enough!"

Her qi surged violently, flames blooming around her like a raging inferno. The sudden burst of heat distorted the air, swallowing Zhang Lu’s wind blades in crackling sparks.

Li Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly. So fierce but... even I know using such a move is going to deplete a lot of energy.

Zhang Lu’s expression tightened. He raised his sword high, channeling his qi for one decisive strike. The wind gathered above him, forming a sharp crescent that howled like a wolf.

Fen Ziyan let out a sharp cry and thrust her palms forward. Her flames coalesced into a crimson lotus that spun outward, meeting the crescent slash head-on.

Boom!

The explosion of fire and wind shook the entire arena, forcing the spectators to shield their eyes. Dust and sparks filled the stage, hiding both combatants from view.

When the haze cleared, Zhang Lu was on one knee, his sword buried in the cracked floor, his robes tattered. His qi had been completely depleted.

Fen Ziyan stood opposite him, swaying on her feet, her robes scorched at the edges. Though her flames had won out, her complexion was pale, her chest rising and falling as if she might collapse at any moment.

The elder overseeing the match declared, "Winner-Fen Ziyan!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, but they were mixed with whispers.

"She barely made it..."

"That last move drained her completely."

"If it had dragged on, she might have lost."

Fen Ziyan forced herself to stand tall, chin raised proudly, but her clenched fists trembled faintly.

Li Feng just smiled at the sight, but then he suddenly thought and turned to ask Lin Yu, "Senior Brother Lin, how long does the first round usually last?"

Lin Yu, who had been lost in thought after gaining insights from the battle, snapped back to reality at Li Feng’s question. "This... it usually lasts the entire day for the first round, since there are so many participants."

Hearing this, Li Feng’s face darkened. I might even fall asleep at this rate... He then turned his attention to the beauty at his side. ...It would truly be a sin if I don’t help this mother and daughter achieve their goals...

Suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind, and he asked with a sly grin

"Madam Zhu, how about we discuss our deal further after this?"

Madam Zhu, still full of his seed, tilted her head slightly, curious about what else Li Feng wanted to discuss.

"Oh? And what else do you want to discuss, Sir Li?" she asked softly, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation, wondering if he actually intended to join her family.

"Ehem... it’s nothing special," Li Feng said with a teasing grin. "Have you ever heard of the term ’buffet’?"