Lu Yaoyao said excitedly, “This is a great opportunity to spar and learn from other people.” Until now, their practice was limited to each other, but facing different opponents was necessary to accumulate more real combat experience.
Lu Yaoyao considered directly challenging someone in the top 100 but immediately decided against it. She should take it safe and slow! After some deliberation, she finally chose to start by challenging the disciple ranked 200th, who was in the Inedia level of cultivation, just one stage above her own Foundation Establishment. This level of difference was just right for her.1
The others also discussed and decided on their challenge targets based on their strategies. Like Lu Yaoyao, Du Qianshan aimed high and decided to challenge the disciple ranked 500th. Chao Muxue and Wen Zixing, on the other hand, chose a more cautious approach, opting to challenge disciples ranked just 300 places above them. Once they made their decisions, they immediately went to register to ensure their chosen targets weren’t taken. After registering, the two tall stone pillars in the square updated with the latest rankings and the names of the competing disciples on the left, and the names and ranks of their challengers on the right.
Since they registered early, their matches were scheduled sooner, so they mingled in the front row of the audience, observing other matches while waiting for their turn.
Soon, the first pair appeared on the stage. Lu Yaoyao glanced at the pillar displays and internally exclaimed, “Wow!”
—Number 0999 was challenging number 0032.
The tournament started off with a bang! Lu Yaoyao watched intently from her place among the audience. On the stage, the two disciples exchanged blows, attacking and defending, advancing and retreating, each with swift and decisive moves, earning cheers from the audience. Lu Yaoyao could follow their actions clearly and found it very instructive. However, the challenger was ultimately lost by a narrow margin, eliciting sighs of disappointment from the spectators. Everyone loved seeing underdog victories, but this time, it unfortunately didn’t happen.
The square was partitioned into multiple sections with barriers, where matches were taking place simultaneously. Unfortunately, this year’s opening seemed lackluster, as dozens of rounds resulted in failed challenges—perhaps because a lot of them chose to challenge ranks far above their own. Seeing this, Lu Yaoyao was worried about her own match, as she too had opted to challenge a much higher-ranked opponent.
Soon enough, it was Lu Yaoyao and her friends’ turn to take the stage. Since they registered one after another, their matches were scheduled almost simultaneously, so they couldn’t cheer each other on. Lu Yaoyao stood on the stage, looking even tinier than usual. With a serious expression, she focused on her opponent.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Lu,” Lu Yaoyao said, cupping her fists in a greeting, feeling a bit conflicted inside. She hadn’t expected to draw an acquaintance as her first opponent. Her opponent, Lu Junyi, was a mid-stage Inedia cultivator and an inner disciple of the main peak. She had met him a few times before, as Lu Junyi often accompanied Lu Junyang. Since Lu Yaoyao frequently visited the main peak, she knew him.
Lu Junyi, like Lu Junyang, was an orphan taken in by the sect. However, while Lu Junyang became the sect leader’s personal disciple and subsequently his successor, Lu Junyi was just a regular inner disciple of the main peak. Still, Lu Junyi, with his straightforward personality, didn’t mind these differences and got along well with Lu Junyang. Smiling cheerfully, he returned the greeting, “Junior Sister Yaoyao, I’ll give it my all.”
Putting aside her conflicted feelings, Lu Yaoyao smiled back, “So will I.”
Lu Yaoyao raised her sword, the same one she received from her Father for her first birthday. This sword, which looked like an unassuming toy at first glance, was actually quite a powerful magic weapon, and most importantly, a perfect size for her.
The match began.
“Junior Sister, please go ahead.”
Lu Yaoyao knew that her opponent wouldn’t move until she acted first. She raised her little sword and dashed forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring. The white figure moved so fast it became a blur, hard to track with the naked eye. When she reappeared, she was already floating mid-air, the sharp tip of her sword pointed straight at Lu Junyi’s face.
Lu Junyi dodged sideways and quickly raised his sword to block. In no time, the two exchanged several moves.
The crowd of onlookers grew, consisting mostly of disciples either waiting for their turn or having already finished their current match. They gathered to watch Lu Yaoyao’s match, gaping in awe—as expected of His Venerable’s daughter! Even with her cultivation restricted to the Foundation Establishment stage, she could hold her own against a senior disciple in the Inedia stage.
Lu Yaoyao’s eyes sparkled with excitement. This was her first formal duel with another cultivator. After a few probing moves, she unleashed her full strength.
For a while, neither side could gain the upper hand. However, Lu Yaoyao gradually took control, her movements fluid and her attacks and defenses seamless.
After an incense stick of time, Lu Junyi finally showed a flaw in his defense. Though it was only for a brief moment, Lu Yaoyao agilely seized the opportunity. She forced Lu Junyi into a retreat and, spotting an opening, placed her sword at his throat.
The match was decided.
Defeated, Lu Junyi didn’t look disappointed and remained gracious, “Congratulations, Junior Sister.”
Lu Yaoyao’s chubby cheeks were flushed with excitement. She sheathed her sword and respectfully cupped her hands, “Thank you, Senior Brother.”
As Lu Yaoyao and Lu Junyi stepped off the stage together, they were greeted with enthusiastic applause, a testament to the thrilling match they had just provided.
Looking up, Lu Yaoyao saw familiar faces and excitedly called out, “Brother Junyang! Eldest Senior Brother! Second Senior Brother! Third Senior Brother! Fourt Senior Brother!” She ran over, her chubby face still flushed red. “Why are you all here?”
Mo Ziwen patted her head gently, “This is our little junior sister’s first tournament and first match, of course we have to come to cheer you on.”
Lu Yaoyao was deeply touched, her nose tingling with emotion. She knew that her senior brothers were all busy—the tournament was open for all inner disciples, and besides competing, they also had the responsibility of helping to manage the tournament. She hadn’t expected them to watch her match, so seeing them here made her very happy and moved.
“Congratulations, Junior Sister!”
“Well done, Yaoyao, you were amazing!”
“No doubt about it, you are the pride of our South Fifth Peak!”
Lu Yaoyao smiled brightly. She clenched her fist and declared, “I’ll keep working hard!”
Lu Junyi also exchanged a few light-hearted words with his fellow disciples. “Don’t be disheartened, Senior Brother Lu, you were great too!” His acquaintances gathered around, congratulating and comforting him with their chatter.
Meanwhile, a faint aura flashed across Lu Yaoyao’s number plate, changing the digits to 0200. Lu Junyi’s rank became her previous 2039. The ranking on the stone pillar reflected these changes, showing Lu Yaoyao’s name at 200 and removing it from 2039.
Lu Yaoyao was elated. At the same time, she also found it all quite magical. She was particularly curious about how it worked. The number plates and stone pillars worked accurately to update the rankings in real time—it was all so awesome! What kind of artifact was this?
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