Hum~
With a ripple as the only sign, four walls rose up around the stage, trapping everything within.
“The barrier is set. Take your places!”
The judge made a sign, turning from Demon Scheming Sect to Beast Taming Sect to get started.
Bearing a cold smile, Qi Changlong with his highest cultivation strutted in the middle. He unleashed the full power of a 3rd layer Ethereal Stage, flexing his majestic strength.
Once inside the barrier, his aura got cut off, and the audience could finally breathe again. Though the same could be said about the shock, still reeling from the deadly pressure on their chest.
Beast Taming Sect’s side was scared witless, shaking to the core.
The one holding the number one token in particular.
The guy’s hands were quaking, and seeing Qi Changlong’s cold sneer on the stage had him close to tears.
While not weak by any means by being in the 7th layer Radiant Stage, one couldn’t say the same for his luck, or lack thereof. Faced with insurmountable adversity, he felt like a lamb to the slaughter.
[I’m going to get myself killed!]
He whipped his panicked and wheedling face to Elder Lu, “Elder, my loss is certain. Can I just forfeit?”
“Do you have any clue what Double Dragon Gathering’s rules are?”
Elder Lu snorted, “A win is counted as two points, a draw as one, and a loss as zero. While forfeiting, humph, minus two. You not getting up there is ruining us. “
The guy’s face sank, “Double Dragon Gathering won’t even let us forfeit? They just want us all to die!”
“How the hell would you know what’s on their mind?”
Elder Lu sneered, “Even knowing the risks you still have to take them. The Double Dragon Gathering set up this system to see how dedicated the disciples are to their sects if they are willing to give their lives for it. If a sect ends up with a negative score, it doesn’t necessarily show its strength but it shows its cohesion, destined to be the runt of the lower three sects. So for the sake of the sect, you will get up there even if you were facing a peak Elder Stage!”
[That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one going.]
All that complaining didn’t help him at all, forcing him to drag his feet up there. Not going would end up with a fate worse than death, while at least he’d get a quick death up there in the ring.
Hui Xiong had a mocking smile like always, just loving it when others were in pain, “Didn’t you always try to take my place as the best in our sect? This is your chance to earn a name. Unlike my battle with that weak guy, not getting any honor, ha-ha-ha…”
His teammate glared back in hatred.
[This bastard would mock and kick anyone!]
Then he turned to Zhuo Fan on the enemy’s side in envy. [Just a 3rd layer Radiant Stage. Practically an easy wing for most of the guys in Double Dragon Gathering. Such damn luck he had. Did Hui Xiong save the world in his past life or something?]
Filled with bitter jealousy, the guy walked into the ring. Faced with Qi Changlong’s cold smile, reality came crashing down on him.
[There goes my poor little life.]
Standing there all shivering, Qi Changlong only had a sneer on his face.
“Begin!” The judge gave the go-ahead.
The guy lowered his head and held his hand in prayer. His forehead touched the ground again and again, in the hope to gain some pity.
Qi Changlong cracked up. The entire Demon Scheming Sect’s team did so in fact.
[No matter how weak you are, you don’t even have the guts to face your enemy?]
Elder Lu’s face twitched, while the Beast Taming Sect’s team was ashamed.
[Senior brother, you’re making us look like worms. Can’t you die with dignity?]
Qi Changlong grinned wider, mocking, “You have good eyes to recognize greatness. In light of your exceptional decision, I shall let you go. Now scram!”
Whoosh~
A flick of his wrist sent a gale so strong the guy was sent crashing out of the ring.
It took a good minute to calm down and touch himself all over for wounds, only to find nothing hurting. He was alive and well!
“First fight goes to the Demon Scheming Sect!” The judge declared, feeling bored of the huge gap between the sects. This had never happened in the history of Double Dragon Gathering. They were both sects in the same grade yet worlds apart. The Demon Scheming Sect was a freak.
The guy looked up at Qi Changlong on stage and broke out in an unbridled smile, thanking and bowing over and over, “Thank you, thank you, thank you…”
It was without a doubt a most demeaning and vile sight. He earned the disgust of everyone with his servile attitude, and Elder Lu practically burned from rage.
[He got to get out alive but without any shred of decency either!]
Funny enough, the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect were bright-eyed. [So that’s how I keep my life. It’s worth a shot. Since we can’t win anyway, we might as well come out alive.]
Ignoring the ingratiating disciple, Qi Changlong returned to his team with a wide smile. It was all part of their master plan to keep them nice and healthy. All that pleading and wheedling had no effect whatsoever. But this example gave the wrong impression to the rest that their very lives hung on how much of a toadie they were. Thus…
“Second fight, fighters on stage!” The judge announced.
Yue Ling stood up and walked up the stage. Beast Taming Sect’s second adversary was shaking all over while taking slow and painful steps forward.
“Raise your head and don’t you goddamn dare to do the same thing the other did. Be a man, and die with dignity!” Hui Xiong waved his fists and roared with might at his fellow disciple. Only to give the first one a look of scorn, “And you! You are a failure, a disappointment! You just ruined the name of our sect. Yet you have the nerve to come back?”
The rest gave Hui Xiong a glare of anger.
[Big talk for someone who is fighting a damn weakling. You have no damn thing to worry about. While we have to face the strongest they have. If you’re that brave, why don’t you take them on for size? We’ll see who’s begging!]
Ignoring them, or maybe downright oblivious to the stares of hatred, Hui Xiong’s twisted smile never faltered and his self-righteous air never slacked. He was the picture of superiority standing on his skewed moral high ground. He was the bastion of Beast Taming Sect’s dignity, bearing its flag with honor and heroism as the dogs surrounding him did all they could to cut him down.
His fellow disciples feared his strength and couldn’t do anything but seethe in anger…
Meanwhile, Beast Taming Sect’s second participant, in the 6th layer Radiant Stage, walked on stage. Facing Yue Ling who was in the Ethereal Stage, he broke out in a sweat.
Without so much as a sign or hint, the guy fell to his knees before her, showering her in pleadings, even worse than the other guy.
Laughter had broken out the minute he was on his knees, laughing so hard in tears of joy. [This is no competition, but Beast Taming Sect proclaiming its veneration for Demon Scheming Sect!]
The sect had lost all its dignity. Elder Lu was boiling mad. It wasn’t just shaming the sect this time, but its legacy and all the respected leaders it had.
[We’re all from the lower three sects, but you dare renounce your sect’s name without remorse. You’re not worthy to be a disciple of Beast Taming Sect no more.]
Who the hell cared? Certainly not them, not when their lives were on the line.
All Beast Taming Sect’s disciples watched the worship being played out on stage with total focus and apprehension. Their dear senior brother was coming back home, alive.
This time, the disciple’s begging was a notch above. If that worked, then Demon Scheming Sect was going to let them all go by doing the same. The most aware of their surroundings was none other than these disciples. They had to know how to beg when their lives were at stake.
Squinting, Yue Ling sneered, “Good, very good, I just love to see a man knowing his place. Now beat it!”
In the same way, Yue Ling sent the guy flying with a swish and flick, not too hard though, needing a softer touch to leave him unharmed.
The guy got back to his feet from the ground outside the stage and burst into joy, feeling like he had just escaped the jaws of death.
Beast Taming Sect’s disciples lit up, just as excited, laughing with him. If one didn’t know better, they’d think they just won.
The scene was too damn bizarre for the audience to take in, though only for a moment, as they got to laughing soon after.
[Beast Taming Sect’s aim is so low this time. Coming out alive is already a victory.]
Elder Lu’s eyes rolled back in his head from anger. [Not just Hui Xiong, every damn disciple is worthless.]
In this manner, Demon Scheming Sect and Beast Taming Sect ‘fought’ glorious battles. Beast Taming Sect’s disciples slammed their heads on the flow without any exception, all wishing nothing more than to come out alive.
Demon Scheming Sect’s side was really enjoying being in the center of it, holding their heads high like good samaritans giving alms to the needy, or a flick to be more precise. One that promised a long-lasting life, followed soon after by endless thanks from the saved.
The constant disgraceful behavior his dear disciples had taken to with such fervor fueled Elder Lu’s anger with more and more rage, evident by his bloodshot eyes. He wasn’t far from popping a vein, or two.
While Elder Yun was beginning to see signs of something amiss. Sure, he mocked them just like the next guy, but as he watched the Demon Scheming Sect closer, he exclaimed, “This is Demon Scheming Sect’s plan…”
