Chapter 96: The Semi-Finals End, Match (Part 2)

Xiao Qiong shouted from the side, then continued, "Xiao Wan, number five, versus Xiao Zheng, number six!"

After Xiao Qiong's voice fell silent, Xiao Wan, a woman with a beautiful and alluring face and a curvaceous figure, gracefully ascended the combat platform... This woman, Xiao Wan, was absolutely pursued by many handsome young men in the Xiao Family.

At a young age, she had already gained the qualification to enter the inner chamber of the Xiao Family's ancestral hall, just like Xiao Qiong and Xiao Bei. In other words, this woman's strength was as powerful as a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior!

With such a solid foundation of strength, combined with Xiao Wan's appearance, temperament, and figure, it was only natural that she was pursued by many suitors.

Xiao Zheng, who was about to face Xiao Wan, was a young man with an ordinary appearance but a clear and refreshing demeanor. He was also an outstanding descendant of the Xiao Family, qualified to enter the inner chamber of the Xiao Family's ancestral hall to obtain an ancient annotated text, a Ninth Rank Later Heaven Warrior!

It could be said that Xiao Wan and Xiao Zheng were evenly matched in strength.

After Xiao Wan gracefully ascended the combat platform, Xiao Zheng also ascended with a smile.

"Begin!"

After Xiao Wan and Xiao Zheng were in position, Xiao Qiong shouted.

Everyone's attention immediately focused on the combat platform... However, the next scene left the Xiao Family members stunned once again.

Because everything was far from what the Xiao Family members imagined... After Xiao Zheng ascended the combat platform, he first exchanged deep bows with Xiao Wan. Then, just as Xiao Wan was about to unleash her martial qi to its peak, Xiao Zheng smiled slightly and said, "Xiao Wan, we are not blood-related, and I am a collateral descendant. You know my feelings, and you understand... This time, I won't compete with you for the ranking. You win."

After saying this, Xiao Zheng continued to smile at Xiao Wan and then jumped off the combat platform.

Leaving the platform directly meant losing, according to the rules.

So, Xiao Qiong, who was momentarily stunned by the situation, had to announce, "Xiao Zheng left the platform, so he loses! The winner of this match is Xiao Wan! The only female in this semi-final!"

There was a lot of applause from the audience below the platform.

However, the crowd below the platform was more focused on Xiao Zheng rather than Xiao Wan... Seeing the smile that wouldn't fade from Xiao Zheng's face, many people's confusion turned into understanding.

Throughout history, men have often risked everything for the sake of a beautiful woman. Winning a smile from a beauty by giving up a mere title, and indulging in youthful romance, might not be such a bad thing.

Therefore, many people understood Xiao Zheng, and some even admired him for his actions.

Only those young men who saw Xiao Wan smile because of victory, but not because of themselves, but because of Xiao Zheng's actions, felt jealous of Xiao Zheng at this moment.

Of course, there was also Xiao Zheng's mother, who was now scolding him, turning his smile into a bitter one.

"Hmph, what's so great, just because you're a bit more charming than me, I haven't even...," Zhou Yue muttered, her lips slightly parted, looking at Xiao Wan on the platform with an unhappy expression.

However, her confidence wavered when she glanced at Xiao Wan again and then at herself...

"Light the fire."

Xiao Ting said from the stands.

On the other side, not far from the combat platform, Xiao Qiong raised his hand, holding a large torch.

"Whoosh," "Whoosh," "Whoosh"... Several sounds of breaking air followed as the large torch, controlled by Xiao Qiong's martial qi, darted through the air, igniting the large torches around the combat platform.

For a moment, the sound of the wicks burning in the torches, "crackling" and "hissing," could be heard. However, the wax of these torches was made from a special oil from a beast's body, so there was little smoke, and it emitted a musk-like fragrance.

Xiao Wan, after bowing deeply to the audience below the platform, gracefully descended.

After descending from the platform, as the only female in this semi-final, she naturally received the attention and care of many female members of the Xiao Family.

Almost all the younger female descendants of the Xiao Family ran to Xiao Wan to congratulate her, saying flattering words.

Xiao Qiong, standing on the platform, held the torch that had flown back and shouted, "This year's Xiao Family trial competition is different from previous years due to the addition of three outstanding young men. Therefore, it has been decided that the semi-finals will be held ahead of schedule! Right now!"

Xiao Qiong's words did not shock the Xiao Family members or Zhou Jiao and others too much.

Xiao Qiong's gaze swept over Xiao Bei, Xiao Yun, Xiao Qiong, and Xiao Wan, and he said, "The four of you, continue to draw lots!"

As soon as Xiao Qiong finished speaking, Xiao Ting walked out calmly. In front of Xiao Ting, four wooden plaques floated, enveloped by his martial qi... "Choose one, Xiao Qiong," Xiao Qiong said, standing next to Xiao Ting, to Xiao Qiong, who had come over.

"That one, Head of the Family."

Xiao Qiong casually pointed to one of the plaques.

"Good."

Xiao Qiong said, then nodded to Xiao Ting.

Xiao Ting smiled and withdrew the Imperial Rank martial qi he had covered on that plaque... It was a large "1."

Xiao Qiong, number one.

Next, it was Xiao Yun's turn to choose a number.

Xiao Yun's face looked much better now, but as soon as he stood in the position to choose a number, Xiao Qiong's gaze swept over him, and Xiao Yun's face immediately changed, showing fear.

"That... that one."

Xiao Yun pointed to one of the plaques hesitantly.

Xiao Ting then withdrew the martial qi covering the plaque, revealing a "4."

Xiao Yun, number four!...

Next, Xiao Wan, with light steps, walked to the front and said softly, "Head of the Family, I choose that one."

She pointed to the leftmost of the two remaining plaques.

At this moment, Xiao Bei noticed that Xiao Ting's martial qi had changed slightly, doing something sneaky... Xiao Ting used his martial qi to control all the plaques, and although they were clearly visible from the outside, the images seen were actually under the cover of Xiao Ting's martial qi.

Just now, Xiao Ting used his martial qi to quickly swap the order of the plaques!

If the martial realm gap between Xiao Bei and Xiao Ting were not so large, Xiao Bei might not have been able to determine whether Xiao Ting had done anything sneaky... On the other side, Xiao Qiong was already reading out the number on the plaque, "Number 2."

Hearing this number, Xiao Bei had a slight realization.

Because Xiao Wan had drawn the number 2 plaque, the only remaining plaque must be number 3!

Number 1 versus number 2, and number 3 versus number 4!

Number 3's opponent would be Xiao Yun, who had just angered everyone!

Due to Xiao Ting's sneaky move, Xiao Bei would directly face Xiao Yun... And it seemed that the entire Xiao Family knew about the conflict between Xiao Bei and Xiao Yun, and Xiao Ting and Xiao Qiong must have known as well.

So, Xiao Ting's intention... was to use the so-called fair arena to have Xiao Bei severely punish Xiao Yun, who had angered everyone?