Chapter 83

"Indeed, it's a sea of people. The Yuwo Street hasn't been this lively for a long time."

Sitting in the carriage, Zhuang Wudao was enthusiastically looking out the window. At this moment, the entrance of Lichen Academy was already crowded with people. A dense crowd, numbering in the thousands, was gathered there, a stark contrast to the cold and quiet scene three days ago when the names for the grand competition were recorded.

He remembered the last time he saw such a grand spectacle was three years ago. It was also during that time that his hope of entering Lichen Sect through the grand competition was completely shattered, and he turned his attention to the Daoist path of Lichen Sect.

And today, the noise at Lichen Academy was several times more intense than it was three years ago.

"The people of Yuecheng have always been fierce and martial. Gu Yueming, Xia Miao, and a few others are all renowned young experts in Yuecheng. Even you, Zhuang Wudao, have a bit of a reputation. This grand competition will surely be spectacular and will affect the rise and fall of various forces within Yuecheng. Naturally, it has drawn a large crowd and a gathering of dignitaries."

Beitang Wan'er spoke absentmindedly, her gaze always fixed on Zhuang Wudao's wide sleeves.

"By the way, what exactly are you hiding in your sleeves? I felt something was off just now."

She always felt that there was something inside those wide sleeves that made her feel an unusual danger, which made her quite concerned.

Zhuang Wudao smiled and waved his sleeve. A white fire butterfly gracefully flew out from the sleeve and landed in his hand.

"Just a few little things, a pleasant surprise, but not very useful."

About a day ago, at midnight, he had used the power of Tianxuan Star to try to cast the 'Star Fire Divine Butterfly.' Just once, he managed to gather 1,200 fire butterflies.

And this pleasant surprise happened after he retracted his magical power and dispersed the fire butterflies. Nine 'Star Fire Divine Butterflies' did not dissipate. The spiritual nature he had briefly imbued them with could also be maintained for at least three days.

However, saying they were "not very useful" was a lie. If they were just ordinary 'fire butterflies,' they would indeed be useless, only capable of threatening cultivators below the Qi Condensation realm.

But these nine 'Star Fire Divine Butterflies' contained a thread of Shi Ming Essence Flame, which could make any cultivator below the second level of the Qi Condensation realm fear them like tigers. Using them as seeds, he could also derive another thousand fire butterflies at any time.

Zhuang Wudao speculated that these nine mutated fire butterflies were likely due to the 'Shi Ming Essence Flame.'

All things have spirits. It is said that ordinary pine and cypress trees, after ten thousand years, can grow into second-stage spirit trees and develop the most basic intelligence.

The Shi Ming Essence Flame, however, is a third-stage lower-grade spirit fire, one of the hundred kinds of rootless essence flames in the world, and it is not strange for it to have a 'spiritual nature' different from ordinary things.

The greatest advantage of these fire butterflies is not in harming others, but in attaching divine thoughts, allowing him to be fully aware of things thousands of feet away.

"Is this pseudo-mystical technique the 'Star Fire Divine Butterfly' from the Tianxuan Zhaoshi Zhenjing?"

Beitang Wan'er knew the origin at a glance, and a trace of wariness flashed in her eyes, which she quickly concealed, smiling pleasantly: "You can already use half the power of the Shi Ming Essence Flame. Your immortal root quality is really only fifth-grade? Fei Xiushen will surely lose to you this time."

Zhuang Wudao pursed his lips and, without comment, flipped his right hand again, putting the fire butterfly back into his sleeve. He did not dare to take credit. Being able to draw out half the power of the Shi Ming Essence Flame so early was not due to his talent but to the techniques taught by Yun'er.

This street was indeed crowded with people, but the reputation of the Beitang family in Yuecheng was even more formidable. When the carriages bearing the Beitang family's emblem slowly approached, the crowd in front scattered as if avoiding a plague, making way for them.

Similarly, various gazes turned toward the carriage window.

"The people from the Beitang family have arrived!"

"This time, the Beitang family is not participating in the Lichen Sect's grand competition, right? I heard that the young lady of the Beitang family was directly recommended to the Lichen Sect by the former hall master."

"Ha ha! Not participating in the competition doesn't mean they can't come to watch the show?"

"The direction they are coming from is not the West City but the Sword Robe Hall. Could they be picking up Zhuang Wudao?"

"Zhuang Wudao, the Mad Tiger? This person hasn't given up? Does he really think he can compete with the eldest son of the Gu Yue family? He won't even pass the first round. I heard that Fei Xiushen, whom I specifically inquired about, is ranked among the top ten young experts in Wujing, the capital of our Dongwu Kingdom."

"Not necessarily. I heard that Zhuang Wudao has already cultivated the Bull Demon Yuan Body before the Qi Condensation realm. He is impervious to blades and has the strength of at least eight elephants."

"So what? Fei Xiushen's skills come from the Great Sun Imperial Sect. The Crimson Sun Divine Palm and the Crimson Sun Yang Decision are precisely the bane of the Bull Demon Yuan Body."

"I heard that the odds for Zhuang Wudao in yesterday's betting were 7 to 1."

Zhuang Wudao lounged lazily on the soft couch, unwilling to move. The two days of practicing boxing had almost drained all his energy. Even after resting for half a day before coming, he had not recovered much.

It was only when he heard the words "betting" and "odds" that he perked up.

"Really 7 to 1?"

"No lie!" Beitang Wan'er glanced at him sideways: "Your brother has already placed a bet for you, 700 taels of gold, all his savings. Even I, as the bookie, am trembling with fear. This is just the first match, and the betting pool is not large. The total amount bet on Fei Xiushen is only 27,000 taels of gold. If you win, I will have to pay out at least 4,200 taels of gold."

Zhuang Wudao stared intently at Beitang Wan'er, thinking, "Isn't this just a money-making scheme? Knowing I will definitely win, she still sets up such a betting pool. This woman is indeed ruthless."

Calculating the amount, Beitang Wan'er had not invested much in him. Today, in just one day, she could earn it all back and more. In comparison, he and Qin Feng could only earn the leftovers from the Beitang family.

Unfortunately, only the Beitang family could run such a betting pool. If it were him and Qin Feng, even if they made money, they would have nowhere to spend it.

Entering Lichen Academy, it was even more crowded. The vast academy was packed with people, the noise deafening.

This time, the grand competition was not limited to the main hall's front area. Nine practice grounds within the academy, each over twenty acres, had been newly renovated and put into use. The platforms were built with high-quality ironwood, as hard as metal or stone. The areas below the platforms were already crowded with spectators, leaving no room for latecomers.

This time, Zhuang Wudao did not have the privilege of a chief disciple and had to wait quietly with the other Lichen Sect disciples in the main hall.

Xia Miao wanted to speak to him again, but every time their eyes met, Zhuang Wudao would immediately look away, unwilling to engage further. He felt that this young master of the Xia family was unpredictable and it was better to have less contact.

Finally, at the hour of Chen, the crowd did not immediately enter the arena but was checked one by one by the academy instructors. They checked for any consumption of elixirs, possession of spirit artifacts, or use of secret techniques before the competition. After confirming their innocence, the instructors led them to the competition grounds.

Zhuang Wudao was assigned to a platform in the eastern courtyard of the academy. When he stepped onto the platform, he saw thousands of people surrounding it. In the distance, there were several high platforms where the nobles and officials of Yuecheng had already taken their seats, all of them filled.

He couldn't help but mock himself, thinking that his match with Fei Xiushen must be considered significant by these nobles.

Fei Xiushen stood opposite, his eyes as cold as three days ago, with even more killing intent, not hiding it at all.

As the time approached, the instructor in charge of the competition did not say anything about "fellow disciples sparring, just to the point," but directly threw a scroll over.

"Three days ago, Fei Xiushen signed a life-or-death agreement with the hall master. Today, he wants to decide his life or death with you! Zhuang Wudao, what do you think? If you agree, you can sign. Then, the life or death of both of you will be the responsibility of neither of us."

A loud "boom" echoed on the platform. Some were shocked, others excited. Curious and gloating gazes turned toward Zhuang Wudao.

Zhuang Wudao casually caught the scroll, glanced over it, and coldly laughed. The Gu Yue family was truly leaving no stone unturned.

If he refused today, his confidence and determination for this battle would be immediately shaken. Even if he won in the end, he would be branded as a coward.

If he agreed, he would fall into the Gu Yue family's trap. They could openly resolve him on the platform without worrying about the Beitang family's intervention.

But what if he signed today?

Do Li Chongzhen and the Gu Yue family really think he, Zhuang Wudao, will definitely lose?

Without much hesitation, Zhuang Wudao forced a few drops of blood from his thumb and pressed a bloody fingerprint on the scroll, then casually threw it aside.

Fei Xiushen, seeing this, smiled slightly, with a mocking and cold expression.

"I heard you have the nickname 'Mad Tiger.' Today, you indeed live up to the 'mad' part. Knowing that I practice the Crimson Sun Yang Decision, you still dare to fight. You are indeed a man. If possible, I will give you a quick death today."

This person, with his hands behind his back, spoke calmly. It seemed as if a blazing sun was rising behind him, his aura instantly reaching its peak. The noise below the platform gradually quieted down.

Zhuang Wudao narrowed his eyes, not responding, only waiting for the moment when the instructor's handkerchief hit the ground.

Who would live and who would die, only the battle would reveal. These words could not shake his resolve.

As the handkerchief fell, Zhuang Wudao's mind was instantly at its peak. But at that moment, a blinding golden light filled his vision.

It was so dazzling that he instinctively squinted his eyes. In that moment of distraction, a pair of crimson-gold palms were already pressing toward his chest.

"Illusion?"

It turned out that Fei Xiushen was not only skilled in the Crimson Sun Yang Decision but also in illusions! A well-rounded cultivator, indeed.

Zhuang Wudao, unable to see, relied on his senses. He took a few steps back and then directly unleashed a powerful palm strike, not dodging or avoiding, but facing the attack head-on.

The outcome of the battle would reveal who would live and who would die. These words could not shake his resolve.

As the handkerchief fell, Zhuang Wudao's mind was instantly at its peak. But at that moment, a blinding golden light filled his vision.

It was so dazzling that he instinctively squinted his eyes. In that moment of distraction, a pair of crimson-gold palms were already pressing toward his chest.

"Illusion?"

It turned out that Fei Xiushen was not only skilled in the Crimson Sun Yang Decision but also in illusions! A well-rounded cultivator, indeed.

Zhuang Wudao, unable to see, relied on his senses. He took a few steps back and then directly unleashed a powerful palm strike, not dodging or avoiding, but facing the attack head-on.