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Everyone looked up at the highest seats and at what Exalted Hei Ran held with deep frowns, gulping and sweating in anxiety as their nails dug into their hands.
Only the Demon Scheming Sect was chill. They just didn’t care about the ranks. Just like Zhuo Fan said, a weak sect like theirs shouldn’t aim too high.
Without high expectations there was nothing to be tense about.
They were more sad about their leader, Zhuo Fan, leaving them.
“I shall now declare the nine sects’ positions in the Double Dragon Gathering!”
Exalted Hei Ran cleared his throat, “We begin with the Beast Taming Sect, the last in the lower-three sects!”
Exalted Hei Ran’s declaration earned a mocking look from the crowd.
At the start of the lower-three sects stage, Zhuo Fan wiped them out in one punch. Even their elder was culled soon after. If they wasn’t dead last, who would be?
They were indeed shit out of luck to meet a freak like Zhuo Fan right off the bat. Zhuo Fan’s power was soon made public in a fantastic display. Their demise… obvious, ha-ha…
“The last among the middle-three sects…”
Exalted Hei Ran continued and the people tuned in. Heaven Trailing Sect’s young master was even more attentive. That was their spot since coming here. Though unclear if they kept it after all the changes.
They were sweating now, eyes bloodshot, as they awaited Exalted Hei Ran to say those little words.
It was never meant to be though, as Exalted Hei Ran said, “Demon Soul Sect!”
The Han brothers shook their heads. They planned on moving up at least a spot but ended up moving a spot backward. They had no idea how they were going to break this to their harsh old man.
While they were hesitating, Ren Cong was frozen in place. If Demon Soul Sect got last place in the middle-three sects, then Heaven Trailing Sect was in the lower-three sects?
The young master felt like crying. Getting home would get his dad to thrash him.
[How could we fall so low?]
“The last among the superior-three sects…”
Ignoring those two sects’ sadness, Exalted Hei Ran kept on declaring, “Sword God Sect!”
Wen Tao’s team was stunned, then went wild with joy. They actually upgraded their class, from middle-three sect to superior-three sect.
They thought that by losing to Zhuo Fan and being wounded in the challenge stage, they lost their chance. Now, it seemed that they did it.
Even if it was the last spot, it was still worth an achievement.
Zhuo Fan’s side stuck to their ally-making policy and congratulated them. Wen Tao kept cupping his hands in reply with a beaming smile.
Though one sect’s fortune was another’s sadness. Universal Righteous Sect’s Zhao Dezhu was dumbstruck.
For Sword God Sect to go up, one had to go down. As to who that was, it went without saying that it was the weakest.
Zhao Dezhu’s lip shivered, feeling endless sadness.
This was the worst performance in all Double Dragon Gatherings. How was he going to explain it back home?
Looking aside, Exalted Hei Ran showed a mocking smile as he continued, “Lower-three sects mid position, Mystical Heaven Sect!”
Xuan Shaoyu and the elder eased a breath. This was the usual result at least.
Though they failed to be the first lower-three sect.
The girls didn’t care much about it. Those glistening pairs of eyes only watched Zhuo Fan, as if the Demon Scheming Sect’s spot was far more important.
“Middle-three sects second spot, Universal Righteous Sect!” Exalted Hei Ran looked right at Zhao Dezhu when he shouted.
The crowd was in an uproar. A great superior-three sect had not only fallen from grace but went down to ranks.
The Universal Righteous Sect’s elders were bound to go mad from the news!
While the people did not know if they would, they did hear Zhao Dezhu go insane first as he argued, “Hold on, Exalted! What is this? Universal Righteous Sect is a superior-three sect, how did it fall so much?”
“Humph, you should be asking your scheming mind.”
Exalted Hei Ran disdained, “When you fought Hellion Flame and Ultimate Clarity Sect, you always held back, so much so you earned little points. In the superior-three sects challenge stage, you routed Demon Scheming Sect but in the end, your score dropped to rock bottom, earning your current rank as second middle-three sect.”
Zhao Dezhu shook like a leaf, his butt hitting the ground hard from shock. “How can this be? The points for fighting in the superior-three sects singles are far more than in the other categories. How…”
“You’re right, but that’s because the superior-three sects’ disciples are much stronger. But that only means by forfeiting the deduction is even greater.”
Exalted Bai Mei’s eyes were sharp as he said flatly, “Your great scheming has brought you this low. I hope that as a second middle-three sect you and your sect will calm down and focus on your path and not scheme for fame and wealth. As you know scheming comes with risks. If it fails, you’re the one to suffer for it.”
Zhao Dezhu sat there on the ground, lost, not even hearing his advice.
The exalted shook their heads and Exalted Hei Ran continued, “Superior-three sects mid position, Hellion Flame!”
Yan Mo nodded and eased a breath. At least they kept their spot.
They were really scared the Demon Scheming Sect would’ve taken it.
“And now, it’s time to announce the top positions!”
Exalted Hei Ran finally came to the final three names. The crowd went quiet and waited with bated breaths.
“Lower-three sects top position, Heaven Trailing Sect!”
Exalted Hei Ran’s shout pierced Ren Cong’s ears. He had seen it coming but it still came as a blow. He was shaking so hard, the breeze might topple him.
It was too much for him to take.
In the end, he chose to glare at Zhuo Fan.
[It’s all that punk’s fault. I won’t ever let you go! Just wait, you’ll get yours!]
Ren Cong’s eyes flashed as he started making his plans.
“Middle-three sects top position, Demon Scheming Sect!”
Exalted Hei Ran finally uttered the greatest underdog’s name, but the gang were all smiles.
That threw the crowd off. Even the exalted were curious.
[They got such restraint?]
They were clearly something more to keep their cool after hearing they went from lower-three sects to top middle-three sects.
[Or was it the least of their expectations, since they aimed for superior-three sects?]
How would they know the Demon Scheming Sect team’s mood was more affected by Zhuo Fan’s leaving?
Zhuo Fan had got them all the way here without a scratch. Now that he left, they couldn’t be happy even if they wanted to.
Shrugging, the exalted scratched their heads. Exalted Hei Ran declared the last spot, “Superior-three sects top position, Ultimate Clarity Sect!”
The king in the western lands, Ultimate Clarity Sect, had never fallen off his throne. But everyone, even Ultimate Clarity Sect were clear how dangerous it was to maintain it.
Giving Zhuo Fan a long look, Wu Qingqiu sighed, “I hope the next Double Dragon Gathering we won’t meet that freak again.”
Wu Qingqiu wiped his brow recalling the fight.
The nine sects now had their new status. What followed next was what they were waiting for. The share of sacred stones the Double Dragon Manor bestowed at Double Dragon Gathering.
Exalted Hei Ran sat down and Exalted Bai Mei began, “According to Double Dragon Gathering’s results, the sacred stones shall be split as follows: the top superior-three sect, Ultimate Clarity Sect, will receive a hundred thousand, the Hellion Flame fifty thousand and Sword God Sect thirty thousand.”
Everyone was shocked.
[So much?]
Only the elders that had been to past Double Dragon Gatherings shook their heads.
[Much? That goes to the winner.]
[Double Dragon Manor ain’t so generous to losers…]
