CHAPTER 33: ZHIRAN VS ....?

"Eh? Why is it you?"

As Zhiran slowly made his way into the tenth arena, he saw the timid girl from before looking at him in pure surprise. She seemed a little annoyed at his appearance.

"Yo...I never knew you even participated in this competition.

Weren’t you bullied by Wu Kang before?"

Zhiran smiled after seeing Mei Xuan fidgeting nervously in the arena as if afraid of the upcoming fight.

From how innocent, small, and naive she looked, nobody would think this girl was actually the spy of the Black Lotus Sect who would later become the saintess.

They would only pity her, just like that foolish Tianyu. If his memory served him right, the fall of the Divine Cauldron Sect bore the deep shadow of this very girl’s hands.

’Why must my first match be against this bastard? I just... want to punch that smiling face clean off him.’

Mei Xuan thought, secretly gnashing her teeth in frustration. On the outside, though, she smiled sheepishly and spoke in a low yet sweet voice,

"I was new to the sect back then and didn’t know how to use my strength properly. Fortunately, Tianyu saved me and gave me the confidence to stand on my own."

She spoke softly, her gaze drifting toward a certain direction, eyes shimmering with quiet gratitude.

When Zhiran followed her gaze, he found Mo Tianyu watching them with a stern expression. Yet, Zhiran could clearly see his composure falter the moment he met her gratitude-filled eyes.

’This bastard is too easy.’

Zhiran couldn’t help but feel speechless.

"So, I hope you can take care of me, too, in this fight. After all, you are his brother, right?"

Mei Xuan said with a beautiful, sweet smile, her eyes appearing innocent, instantly stirring the crowd behind her.

"Yeah, be careful around such a little girl."

"What kind of man would hurt a woman?"

"Boo... let her win, you jackass!"

All of a sudden, the crowd erupted in noise, voices rising in chaotic support for Mei Xuan. Some even shouted for Zhiran to let her win by default.

After all, each participant had three matches. Winning two was enough to climb the ranks.

Besides, they never thought Zhiran was capable of coming in the top ten.

So, there was no need to make an innocent, timid girl cry, was there?

’Are you all motherfuckers stupid?’

Zhiran heard their shouting and was left speechless. Were those words even human? Didn’t they realize what kind of competition this was?

Was he supposed to be a simp like them?

"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to take proper care of you in this fight. I promise."

Zhiran ignored the foolish crowd of disciples and spoke softly to Mei Xuan, a faint smirk playing on his lips, before turning his gaze to Elder Qui, who watched the scene with obvious awkwardness.

"Elder Qui, let’s start the match. We can’t delay any longer, can we?"

Like hell he would forfeit this match just because of the act of this demoness. Rather, like he said, he would properly take care of her, in his own way.

’I am sure you will like it.’

He thought, eyes fixed on the petite figure of Mei Xuan, who couldn’t help but shiver suddenly.

’What the hell is this bastard thinking?’

She felt that something was wrong, but couldn’t understand what.

"Cough... okay, are you two ready?"

Elder Qui finally came back to his senses and asked. While doing so, he looked at Zhiran a little more, wondering whether this guy could enter the inner sect this time.

"Yes!"

"Yes, Elder!"

As both Mei Xuan and Mo Zhiran nodded, Elder Qui quickly rang the bell for the match to start. Although there were ten arenas, he was the only one hosting everything.

There wasn’t any specific referee at each ring as you would expect.

This was all because of Elder Hua, who was watching everything from the shadows.

As a peak foundation realm expert, there was no need for anyone to look after this battle. He could handle everything.

"The match starts!"

"Swoosh!"

As soon as Elder Qui’s voice sounded along with the bell, Zhiran suddenly disappeared from his place.

Well, although he didn’t disappear outright, most of the people in the crowd could only see his shadow.

"Mist Step Technique?"

Seeing the swift and elusive footwork used by Zhiran to perform ghost-like movements in the arena, Mo Tianyu immediately understood what technique he used.

Not only him, but anyone who was a little strong could recognize what Zhiran was using. After all, there weren’t many methods available in the outer sect martial pavilion.

"Heh... he’s only in the Basic Mastery realm. Against Xuaner’s eighth-stage Qi Condensation strength, he doesn’t stand a chance."

Tianyu mumbled with a smirk, looking at the timid girl opposite, who now seemed serious.

All that shyness and insecurities were now nowhere to be seen as she fully concentrated on the fight.

"Right...Xuaner finally learned what I taught her before."

Seeing her like this, Tianyu smiled even more, thinking she had changed because of him. He was somehow proud of her now.

Fortunately, Zhiran didn’t hear his mumbling, or he might have puked blood speechlessly. But he was busy trying to win his fight after all.

"Mountain Splitter Strike!"

As soon as Zhiran closed in on Mei Xuan using his Mist Step Technique, his qi surged violently. Spiritual energy coiled around his clenched fist like a raging tempest, its pressure splitting the air with a deep rumble.

With a sharp exhale, he drove his strike straight toward her abdomen, intent on shattering her defenses in a single blow.

However, even then, he only used both techniques at the proficiency of Basic Mastery, while the realm he showed was only at the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation.

"Siwsh!"

"Bang!"

Sure enough, although he was fast, Mei Xuan was faster as she suddenly changed her position like drifting in a cloud with enough grace and elegance.

Her movements weren’t as flashy as Zhiran’s, but she slipped past his strikes with ease, as if his attacks were nothing more than a child’s punches.

"Jade Petal Strike!"

After coming right behind Zhiran, she raised her smooth arm up and lightly punched at his back, as if she was just touching it.

"Bang!"

Fortunately, Zhiran didn’t let her strike touch him and dodged in time. Otherwise, looking at those soft but bursting condensed qi with a blue hue, he was sure that he would be severely injured.

’Lotus Drift Movement Technique?’