Chapter Fifteen: Admit Defeat Sooner Rather Than Later
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“Stop struggling. Admit defeat while you still can. That way, when you lose later, it won’t be so humiliating—and you won’t drag our Sacred Land’s reputation through the mud with you.”
The Master of Divine Medicine Peak stroked his beard and nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Exactly, exactly. Ye Xinghe, it’s time you faced reality. You occupy Heavenreach Peak’s resources every day, yet you’ve accomplished nothing. How strong could disciples taught by someone like you possibly be?”
“The rules of this tournament are strict, and every opponent is formidable. Why force your disciples onto the stage to suffer and ruin their futures for nothing? In my view, if you obediently concede now, you may still preserve what little dignity you have left.”
The Master of Brightmoon Peak, Zhao Mingyue, glided forward with graceful, swaying steps. She gently waved a round silk fan painted with a bright moon and flourishing flowers, covering half her face while doing nothing to conceal the contempt in her eyes.
“Ye Xinghe, you must have been out of your mind when you agreed to that wager. Ten days—did you really think you could turn the world upside down in that time? You’re the sort who refuses to shed a tear until you see the coffin.”
“Looking at the situation today, if you have any sense, you’ll withdraw voluntarily. And from now on, don’t go wandering around the Sacred Land either. You’re only making yourself an eyesore.”
The surrounding disciples burst into laughter and joined their peak masters in jeering. Their shouts rose without end.
“Admit defeat! Admit defeat! Heavenreach Peak is a joke!”
Each mocking cry was like a blade, stabbing straight at Ye Xinghe and his two disciples.
Zhao Changsheng clenched his fists and stepped forward, eyes blazing with anger.
“You’ve gone too far! The tournament hasn’t even begun, yet you’re already arrogantly declaring the winner and loser. Today, I, Zhao Changsheng, will show you that the disciples of Heavenreach Peak are no soft persimmons for you to squeeze at will!”
Ximen Feixue was equally furious. She gripped the hilt of her sword and ground her teeth.
“My senior brother is right! Our master has taught us with all his heart, and my brothers have trained day and night. What right do you have to look down on us like this? Once the tournament begins, we’ll beat that arrogance out of you!”
Ye Xinghe remained calm. He raised a hand to stop his two disciples from acting rashly, a faint, chilling smile curling at the corner of his lips.
“Peak Masters, the tournament hasn’t even started, yet you can’t wait to trample me underfoot. Aren’t you being a little too eager? Since I, Ye Xinghe, dared to make that wager and bring my disciples here, I naturally have complete confidence.”
“You may be crowing now, but don’t cry later.”
The Master of Spiritblade Peak gave a derisive laugh. “Confidence? You and your mediocre skills, along with those two greenhorns? Ye Xinghe, stop putting on a brave front. Today’s tournament will be Heavenreach Peak’s Waterloo. Just wait and see!”
Ye Xinghe ignored them and turned to remind Zhao Changsheng and Ximen Feixue, “My disciples, don’t let those distractions disturb your minds. All that matters is that we know our own strength. Changsheng, when you take the stage, remain calm and composed. Bring out the level you’ve shown in training, and let your strength speak for itself.”
“Yes, Master!” Zhao Changsheng replied.
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With an elder’s command, the sect-wide tournament officially began.
The first contestants to take the stage were elite disciples from Brightmoon Peak and Spiritblade Peak. Both moved with the agility of leopards as they sprang onto the arena.
In an instant, cheers and cries surged from below like towering waves, rising and falling in tumultuous succession.
The disciples of Brightmoon Peak invariably wore moon-white robes. Cold light flashed from the long swords in their hands, spiritual energy coiling around the blades like the radiance of a silver moon.
The disciple of Spiritblade Peak, by contrast, wore a fitted combat uniform. His ink-dark robes outlined his tall, powerful frame, while the spirit sword in his hand hummed and trembled, currents of spiritual energy surging from it like hidden streams of razor-sharp sword force.
The two exchanged a glance, and each saw the other’s fierce battle intent.
Without another word, they moved at the same instant.
In the blink of an eye, sword energy crisscrossed the arena.
As sword shadows clashed, the ringing of metal against metal filled the air.
The two fought back and forth, neither one lacking in skill.
The Brightmoon Peak disciple leapt into the air. With a sharp cry, she swept her long sword into a dazzling blossom of sword light.
“Brightmoon Shatters the Clouds!”
The sword shadows spread like brilliant moonlight, blotting out the sky as they descended upon her opponent.
The Spiritblade Peak disciple, however, remained unruffled. He sank into a solid horse stance and gripped his spirit sword with both hands. Spiritual energy thundered into the blade as he shouted,
“Spiritblade Cleaves the Void!”
A thick, powerful arc of sword energy tore through the air and met the descending sword shadows head-on. The two forces collided with a deafening boom, and a storm of spiritual energy swept across the arena.
When the aftershock finally dispersed, both contestants had retreated several steps.
They looked at each other and smiled before sheathing their swords and saluting one another, their manners displaying admirable humility.
The Brightmoon Peak disciple spoke first. “Senior Brother, your swordsmanship is profound. That was a truly exhilarating battle. I’m impressed! If you hadn’t held back, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to withstand you.”
The Spiritblade Peak disciple returned the salute. “Junior Sister, you flatter me. Your sword techniques were graceful and unpredictable. Several times, you nearly caught me off guard. It was you who showed mercy.”
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Their exchange of modest words earned widespread praise from the spectators below. Yet in the very next moment, the mood changed completely.
The Brightmoon Peak disciple took a few graceful steps toward the Spiritblade Peak disciple and appeared to whisper something to him.
Her voice, however, was pitched precisely so that everyone nearby could hear.
“Senior Brother, although that first round took some effort, at least it served as a warm-up. Unlike certain peaks’ disciples, who will probably go weak in the knees the moment they step onto the stage. Take Heavenreach Peak, for instance. Its disciples neglect their cultivation and have no practical combat experience whatsoever. They’ve come to this tournament purely to disgrace themselves.”
The Spiritblade Peak disciple understood at once. A contemptuous smile tugged at his lips, and he deliberately raised his voice.
“Junior Sister, you’re absolutely right! Heavenreach Peak sits on top of such excellent resources, yet it’s led by a good-for-nothing peak master. What sort of decent disciples could he possibly produce?”
“I also heard that Ye Xinghe made some grand boast and even set up a wager. In my opinion, once this tournament is over, they’ll be driven out of the Sacred Land with their tails between their legs. Hahaha!”
The moment those words fell, the spectators below erupted in laughter, their gazes turning toward Heavenreach Peak.
Even the disciples who had originally remained neutral were swept up in the atmosphere. They began pointing and whispering among themselves.
The various peak masters wore faint smiles as well, sitting back and waiting to watch Heavenreach Peak make a fool of itself.
Just as the tide of ridicule and scorn had yet to subside, the elder presiding over the tournament unfolded the bamboo slip in his hand. His gaze swept across the entire arena, and his deep, resonant voice rang out like a great bell.
“Next match: Zhao Changsheng of Heavenreach Peak versus Zhou Tong of Divine Medicine Peak!”
As soon as the elder finished speaking, the spectators erupted. The previously raucous discussion fell abruptly silent, only to be replaced by waves of laughter and excited chatter.
“Oh? The main event is here! Now this will be worth watching.”
“Zhao Changsheng usually seems decent enough, but unfortunately, he ended up with such a useless peak master. Now that he’s facing Zhou Tong, whom Divine Medicine Peak has painstakingly groomed, I’m afraid his chances are grim.”
“In my view, the match won’t last more than three rounds. Zhao Changsheng will be knocked off the stage. Just wait and enjoy the sight of him losing in disgrace.”
The disciples of the various peaks leaned together and whispered, all eyes fixed on the Heavenreach Peak camp. Their expressions were filled with the gleeful anticipation of spectators waiting for a spectacle.
Some of the more inquisitive onlookers even stood up and rose onto their toes, trying to get a clearer look at Zhao Changsheng while muttering one cutting remark after another.
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