Chapter 309: Wouldn’t It be Romantic?

~~~

Mere hours remain until the beginning of the Crimson Cloud Tournament. The gambling houses are full of people making last-minute bets, and people pour into the floating Crimson Cloud Arena by the thousands. Their combined voices fill the air with never-ending whispers. Anticipation is heavy in the air.

That is when they enter the arena.

Lord Feng Gui and Lord Feng Shang of the Eternal Flame Clan, accompanied by their wives and children, walk into their box seats with Elder Xue. On the opposite end of the stadium, Lady Shao Zhilan, Lady Meng Yue, and Lady Bai Lianshi walk into the Divine Frozen Palace’s box with their disciples, Bai Wen and Fu Lihua. Over at the box seats of Infinite Mountain Sect, there are only three of their Elders, but that is still more than the two people seated in Endlessly Raging Valley’s box.

However, one of those two is the Wandering Wind.

The people in the audience are the Patriarchs and Elders of powerful Sects, scions of wealthy clans, and more. Yet, they all try to lift their heads as much as possible to catch a glimpse of those seated above them. The seats belonging to the Divine Frozen Palace, in particular, receive much attention. A few have even brought vision-enhancing items for this one occasion.

As Emperor Xiang rises from the Imperial Box, the crowd falls silent.

“My citizens, we have waited a long time,” Emperor Xiang says. “From thousands to one thousand and from a thousand to sixty-four. The road has been long and generated much excitement. However, we are at an end. I present to you the brightest jewels of this generation!”

The crowd’s cheers are deafening as the gates of the arena open, and out walk the sixty-four contestants who will participate in the final stage: ten from the Eternal Flame Clan, ten from the Endlessly Raging Valley, ten from the Divine Frozen Palace, ten from the Infinite Mountain Sect, and twenty-four from various other Sects.

“Look! Look! It’s Chen Guo! Chen Guo!”

“That’s the son of the next Patriarch of the Eternal Flame Clan!”

“Over there! Look! They say those girls are disciples of the Five Fairies!”

“Hey! Those are the children of the Ding clan! And that’s Ruan Leji!”

“I see Emperor Qing Jin of the Storm Dragon Empire!”

“You have fought long and hard to reach this stage,” Emperor Xiang says to them. “However, this is not yet the end of your journey. In a matter of days, only one of you will stand before me. Some of you have already accepted it will not be you who manages that feat.”

The unexpected words cause frowns to appear on the faces of several contestants and audience members.

“It is above your station. It is not your time. It is not within the realm of your possibilities. If you are thinking something like that, you are certainly very prudent children,” Emperor Xiang says, nodding with his hands behind his back. “However, if you do not have it in yourself to be bold, then what are you doing here?”

Emperor Xiang smiles tiredly at them.

“Be audacious, children. If not now, when?”

His speech does not immediately receive applause. Some people do not even realize he is finished until he returns to his seat.

Nevertheless, it gives several contestants something to think about.

~~~

“The first match of the day! Xiao Shuang of the Divine Frozen Palace vs. Ding Wenzhe of the Endlessly Raging Valley!” a tournament official calls out as the two participants meet in the center of the arena. In total, there are four officials standing outside the large white square, ready to spot any possible underhandedness, and thousands of eyes watch from the stands with eager anticipation.

“I have heard many tales of the beauty of the women of the Divine Frozen Palace,” Ding Wenzhe says amidst the crowd’s deafening cheers. He is a handsome youth with green eyes. “Though you hide your face with a veil, I can tell there were no exaggerations.”

Xiao Shuang says nothing. She merely studies her opponent’s stance and does her best to gauge his cultivation level.

“It is such a shame that your husband does not think so.”

Xiao Shuang. Blinks.

“You do not have permission to speak of my husband,” she says, her tone cold. The people closer to the lower seats rub their arms as they feel the temperature drop.

“Oh?” Ding Wenzhe lets out a little laugh. “Everyone in the city is doing so. Why should I need permission?”

“I suppose it is foolish to tell a dog not to bark,” Xiao Shuang says, immediately wiping off the smile from her opponent’s face.

“You dare!” Ding Wenzhe says, angrily raising his Qi.

“You are right. My apologies,” Xiao Shuang says sincerely. “The comparison was unfair to the dog.”

Whatever item Ding Wenzhe is using to hide his cultivation breaks as his Qi rises and makes the winds rage around him.

Earth Realm, Level Three.

Several people in the audience gasp in surprise. Undoubtedly, it is an impressive level for someone so young and a sign of the quality of the representatives of the Endlessly Raging Valley.

“I must admit I felt some sympathy for your plight,” Ding Wenzhe says. “Now, I see your husband was wise to keep you away. Allow me to dispense the guidance he should have given you!”

He strikes.

White blankets all.

Countless eyes blink, still having trouble comprehending the sight before them. The fighting ring has become a frozen wasteland. A mighty glacier rises from the center and rises high into the heavens. Ding Wenzhe is frozen at the center of it. His eyes are wide in unblinking terror. His once mighty Qi is nothing more than a whimper now.

“Well?” Xiao Shuang asks, turning to one of the tournament officials. “Should you not declare a victor?”

“I…Y-Yes! O-Of co-course!” the official says. He stutters, but not because of the cold. “Ding Wenzhe can no longer battle! The winner of the first match is Xiao Shuang of the Divine Frozen Palace.”

The first match ends in less than a minute.

~~~

“That’s my disciple!” Meng Yue shouts from the stands. She jumps in place and waves. “Xiao Shuang! Over here! Look! Hey! Don’t walk away!”

“I am surprised,” Shao Zhilan says, looking at Bai Lianshi. “Usually, you’d be already hissing at Sister Yue to sit down.”

“What do you think he meant by that speech, sister?” Bai Lianshi asks.

“Who? Emperor Xiang?” Shao Zhilan smiles and waves the matter away. “Oh, nothing bad.”

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“It sounded like he was encouraging conflict within the Sects,” Bai Lianshi points out.

Until now, the Divine Frozen Palace’s delegation has been able to act as a team. The same can be said for the delegations of the other Three Great Sects. However, as the tournament advances, it will become nearly impossible to avoid direct confrontation between members of the same Sect.

When that happens, it is expected that the member in lower standing will only go through the motions of putting up a fight. An immediate surrender would be preferable. Anything else will just unduly exhaust the superior fighter and hamper the Sect’s overall performance.

“In a way, he was,” Shao Zhilan admits. “However, he genuinely had the contestants’ best interests at heart when he said it. He’ll deny it to the end of his days, but he is a sweet man.”

“Perhaps, but-”

“Oh, enough already,” Meng Yue cuts her off, finally turning back to face them. “You have been so dour ever since we arrived here. The Emperor can say what he wants. Besides, imagine how boring it’d be if Xiao Shuang’s fellow disciples surrendered just because I am her master. She’ll be so disappointed if that happens. Wasn’t it that way for you, Little Wen?”

“Eh?” The disciple of Bai Lianshi becomes nervous as her master and her master’s rival suddenly fix their eyes on her.

“Oh, come on, you two! There’s no need to start arguing,” Shao Zhilan says, bringing a cup of wine under her veil. “We should be enjoying ourselves.”

“My master is right,” Fu Lihua says with only a little forced cheer. Even for someone like her, it is not easy to be in the presence of three Emperors of such power. “This is a happy occasion! Sister Xiao Shuang is so strong. I might not be her match!”

Fu Lihua is exaggerating but not as much as she’d want to. Certainly, she could have easily defeated someone in the Third Level of the Earth Realm, but could she have done it as easily as Xiao Shuang? That she could do it without revealing the extent of her cultivation implies much about her real strength.

“It was an excellent blow,” Meng Yue says proudly. “That she was the first to fight only enhances it. This tournament is off to a great start for us.”

“Yes, it was good that she had the first match of the day,” Bai Lianshi says. She glances at Shao Zhilan. “Was it your doing, sister?”

“Oh, there is always a bit of negotiation here and there when it comes to the bracket. It seemed fitting to arrange this,” Shao Zhilan says.