CHAPTER 61

Gathering of the Five Sects

"Dang!" A deafening strike of the cauldron echoed through the venue. The bustling crowd fell silent in unison, turning their attention to the three-zhang-square black jade martial platform at the center. A middle-aged man standing in the middle smiled and clasped his hands in greeting. Though his voice was not loud, it carried clearly to the tens of thousands of spectators present: "Thank you all for responding to our sect's call and taking the time to attend this rally to crusade against the demonic sect. As the arbiter of this assembly, I solemnly declare that the competition to select warriors to directly confront the demonic sect begins now!"

After his impassioned speech, he launched into another round of formal pleasantries. In a corner of the venue, Tong Tong, who had been sulking like a mushroom, was no longer listening.

What's with this high-energy "World Martial Arts Tournament" atmosphere?!

The opponents are demonic cultivators who k!ll without blinking and devour people without spitting out bones, according to a certain unscrupulous senior brother! This isn't a talent show like The Voice of China; why is everyone so enthusiastic?!

And!

And what's more: With so many people willing to fight the demonic sect for fame and glory, why must they send a nobody like me to die... Even though I do want to save Young Master Ding and the others, couldn't they have chosen a safer, more reliable, and gentler method?!

No matter how she played dumb, acted cute, or threw tantrums, she couldn't change her beautiful master's gentle, smiling yet unwavering decision to send her to participate in the competition, earn a ranking, and confront the demonic sect. Tong Tong felt a faint sense of melancholy...

To put it bluntly: The young girl's old habit of fearing death and being cowardly had resurfaced.

Glancing at Tong Tong, who was unwillingly shrinking in the corner and radiating resentment, Su Yan's lips curled slightly. Seeing that everyone around her was fully focused on the speech on the platform, she reached out and ruffled Tong Tong's little head, drawing her attention back.

"Huh?" Raising her head in confusion, Tong Tong met Su Yan's faintly smiling eyes. Her vision blurred for a moment, making her think it was just an illusion as she stared blankly up at those dark jade-like orbs.

"Watch carefully. When it's your turn to take the stage later, don't start crying." Su Yan said meaningfully, the corners of her eyes and brows alight with the fluttering of spring blossoms.

It took Tong Tong a long moment to regain her composure before she found her voice to retort, "I won't cry!" At most, I'll just flee in panic... She swallowed hard, thinking this with little confidence.

Although these days, under Su Yan's guidance and the relentless day-and-night training alongside the highly skilled junior disciples of Qiuye Peak, Tong Tong's reaction speed and spiritual energy reserves had significantly improved, not only was she more adept at using spells, but even her previously abysmal swordsmanship had become barely passable for combat. This was largely thanks to the sword manual Biling had taught her.

Having only just grasped the basics, the benefits it brought to her swordsmanship far surpassed all her years of previous learning. She didn't know whether to feel happy or resentful.

The only thing that brought Tong Tong comfort after her improvement was that Su Yan's attitude toward her had become much gentler and more affectionate than before, still wearing that cold, detached expression and maintaining his reticent nature, but the frequency with which he brought her pastries had increased exponentially.

For a foodie, this was the key data to judge whether someone cared about you!

Occasionally, she could even catch fleeting glimpses of softness in his gaze and faint smiles, Tong Tong felt that perhaps these unintentional displays of genuine emotion were the beautiful moments she was willing to give everything to protect.

"According to the draw results, let us welcome the two contestants for this match!" The long-bearded arbiter began his rousing introduction once more. From his exaggerated expressions, one could hardly see the calm and free-spirited demeanor of a cultivator, he resembled more a frenzied TV salesman shouting, "Only 998!" Hysterical emotions were always the most infectious for ignorant audiences, and his performance had the smaller sects and independent cultivators, who were merely there as guests aside from the major sects, wildly excited.

"They are, Master Daxi from Tianyin Temple!" As his words fell, the deep red formation of Tianyin Temple shimmered with dazzling light, the effect of sunlight reflecting off the monks' bald heads, and they chanted in unison, "Amitabha."

From among them emerged a young monk with delicate features and a gentle, obedient expression, clearly a person of honest and sincere character.

"Pfft," Tong Tong still couldn't break her bad habit of laughing whenever she heard the other's name. The genuine smile on her face, however, caused Su Yan, who had been keeping a strand of her divine sense focused on her by her side, to frown slightly.

What is this silly girl so happy about, smiling at that little bald monk from Tianyin Temple?

Hmph!

Mid-laugh, she suddenly felt a chill envelop her body. Alertly glancing around, Tong Tong instinctively leaned toward Su Yan beside her and felt the chill recede slightly. As she moved closer, the chill grew fainter, and when she pressed completely against the tall, slender figure of Su Yan, she could no longer feel the cold at all.

Could it be that Senior Brother has a built-in evil spirit repelling skill?

How amazing...

Scratching her head in confusion, a fair and slender hand extended before her eyes. Without a second thought, she placed her own 'paw' on it, only when the warm yet cool, soft sensation traveled from their clasped hands to her brain did she realize something. Her face flushed, and she quietly turned her head to look, a pair of cool, unwavering eyes were fixed on the passionately charged arena, while thin lips curved slightly upward, as if entirely indifferent to her actions.

Tofu or not, it'd be a waste not to take a bite!

Thinking this, Tong Tong smiled with narrowed eyes, feigning ignorance as she allowed the jostling spectators, focused on the competition, to push her closer and closer to Su Yan.

As for Su Yan, this was exactly what she wanted, delighting in Tong Tong's proximity.

These two, one pretending to casually take advantage, the other pretending not to mind being taken advantage of, each secretly reveling in their unnoticed joy. It perfectly illustrated the old saying: "Zhou Yu beating Huang Gai, one willing to beat, the other willing to be beaten."

"On the other side, a popular contender among the younger generation, from Bingyan Island, Jia Siwen!" The arbiter's attempt at rousing the crowd was met only with scattered whispers, and under the sudden silence of the arena, even those faint sounds vanished, utterly quiet.

Tong Tong's lips twitched as she glanced around, surprised to find that the spectators who had been enthusiastically commenting just moments ago now lowered their heads strangely and fell silent upon hearing Jia Siwen's name, if the masters and elders maintaining quiet was a sign of grace and cultivation, why did these disciples, whether competing or cheering, also sink into such oppressive silence? Like frostbitten eggplants, weren't they quite lively just now...

When you don't understand, you must ask. This was a principle Tong Tong always followed.

So, in the arena so quiet you could hear a pin drop, Tong Tong covered half her face with her wide sleeve, cautiously leaning close to Su Yan's ear, and asked in a voice she thought was as soft as a mosquito's but was actually audible to everyone: "Senior Brother, why did everyone suddenly stop talking?"

Su Yan glanced faintly at her nervous, still-covered face and countered, "What do you think?"

"Ahahahaha... Isn't it obvious? Of course, they were too intimidated by my domineering aura to speak! Hahaha..." A soft yet arrogant male voice interrupted Tong Tong's reply, sending shivers down everyone's spine, it was none other than the person in question, the young Jia Siwen.

His narrow eyes swept over Tong Tong before meeting Su Yan's reserved, unruffled gaze. His smile deepened, growing increasingly sinister: 'This time, I'll k!ll you in front of everyone!'

Holy crap! This feeling of being stared at by a venomous snake... This guy is definitely the fighter jet among perv3rts!

Tong Tong shuddered.

"Well, I think everyone stopped talking because they were disgusted by him..." Tong Tong cleared her throat and spoke in a voice that was not loud but audible to all, feigning innocence. "A face that's too delicate for a man and too contrived for a woman, a voice like an earthworm's crawl or shattered porcelain, taste that would make a fool cover their face and a blind man sigh, if I were him, I'd have slit my throat long ago to atone. How could I have the nerve to step on stage and embarrass myself? This young hero Jia is truly courageous, worthy of admiration! Tsk tsk tsk..."

While her words spoke of admiration, the regret on her face was unmistakable, and the sarcasm in her tone was clear to all, some in the crowd stifled laughs, others wore looks of concern, yet all regarded this young woman who dared to openly mock the "Bingyan K!llng Star" with newfound respect. Only Su Yan, who held her hand, knew she was already trembling with fear, her palm slick with cold sweat.

If not for her firmly gripping her hand and steadily channeling her spiritual energy into her, this foolish girl would likely have collapsed under the violent k!lling intent radiating from Jia Siwen.

With a cold sneer, Su Yan met Jia Siwen's furious gaze. Though her words were directed at Tong Tong, anyone with eyes could see it was a deliberate provocation toward Jia Siwen: "Junior Sister, don't look too closely, spare your eyes."

'Jia Siwen, the score from last time will be settled today!'

'I will make you wish you were neither alive nor dead.'

As she spoke, she considerately half-embraced Tong Tong, shielding her from the ambiguous glances all around and the particularly murderous glare from one direction, perfectly playing the role of a gentle senior 'brother.'

Not only were the Chonghua disciples familiar with her temperament stunned speechless, but even Tong Tong, protected in her arms, stiffened, frozen in place.

'Who is this person?!'

'My senior brother could never be this considerate!'

As the entire arena fell into shock, the arbiter finally remembered his duty. To prevent the situation from becoming too tense, he forced a dry laugh and smoothed things over: "It seems everyone can't wait to watch this match! Heh, heh..." Wiping nonexistent sweat from his forehead, he forced his voice to sound more enthusiastic. "Will it be the copper-skinned, iron-boned Little Master Daxi from Tianyin Temple who proves more skilled, or Jia Siwen from the Bingyan Island, known for his unstoppable prowess, who claims victory? Let's wait and see!"

"Clang!" The giant cauldron symbolizing the start and end of the competition once again served its purpose. With a dull thud, the Demon-Slaying Competition officially began. "Now, the first match, begin!"

As soon as the words fell, the host swiftly flipped backward and leaped off the martial stage, landing on a specially designated commentator's platform, quietly waiting for the two contestants to make their move.

The arena fell silent once more. Even the usually playful Tong Tong peeked out from Su Yan's embrace to watch the match intently.

'Little Master Daxi, do your best! The arduous task of defeating this perv3rt rests on your shoulders!'

Tong Tong silently prayed for him.

Neither contestant in this match was the aggressive type, so they didn't immediately launch an attack.

Daxi from Tianyin Temple practiced his sect's ultimate techniques, the Demon-Subduing Arhat Fist and the Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt, emphasizing a balance of offense and defense, steady and methodical, countering the opponent's moves as they came. Thus, he had no reason to strike first.

As for Jia Siwen, his hesitation stemmed entirely from his innate arrogance.

He didn't draw his most familiar weapon but instead summoned a gleaming golden demon-subduing pestle. With a sinister smile, he sneered, "To deal with a lowly lackey like you, I don't even need to draw my blade... Let me see if Tianyin Temple's so-called 'unyielding techniques' are truly as tough as they claim! Hahaha..." He laughed arrogantly, manipulating the demon-subduing staff to strike toward Daxi with lightning speed, the sound of it tearing through the air almost tangible.

"Thud!" A heavy, dull impact echoed. Just as everyone thought Daxi had withstood the blow with his own body, they saw the delicate-looking young monk's arm muscles bulge violently, repelling the demon-subduing staff. However, he himself spat out a mouthful of fresh bl0od, his body flying backward before crashing heavily to the ground.

"Amitabha..." This chant came from the monks in Tianyin Temple's formation, uttered on behalf of Daxi, who had been sent flying before he could speak.

The demon-subduing pestle was knocked away, its golden light dissipating and spiritual energy vanishing. With a clang, it fell to the ground, reduced to scrap. Yet its owner showed not a hint of regret, compared to the value of this artifact, the injuries inflicted upon his opponent far outweighed the loss. After this strike, the young master Daxi of Tianyin Temple fell unconscious, utterly incapable of continuing the fight!

The entire audience was stunned, plunged into an absolute silence.

Nearly everyone present was awed by the power displayed in Jia Siwen's single strike, though he had relied on the artifact to severely wound his opponent, he hadn't even summoned his usual weapon. It was well-known that Jia Siwen, the blade-wielder, was the one truly worthy of the title "K!llng Star"!

"Hiss," Locked under Jia Siwen's sharp, blade-like gaze, Tong Tong felt a chill run down her spine, as if a bucket of icy water had been poured over her from head to toe, freezing her to the bone.

Who was it that said: If you don't court death, you won't die!

What were the chances of survival if she rushed forward now to cling to someone's leg?

Tong Tong thought, tears streaming down her face.

Just then, a warmth enveloped her hand, and an elegant, captivating voice whispered in her ear: "Fear not, I am here."

Her panicked and uneasy heart suddenly steadied.

'That's right! Clinging tightly to the senior brother's leg, everything else is but floating clouds!'

'What's a Jia Siwen? Not even worth a second glance, right?'

With that, Tong Tong straightened her back once more.

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