ATPnovel Chapter 51 "I command you to come up on stage and compete."
Chapter 51 "I command you to come up on stage and compete."
There was a moment of silence in the audience.
Even the First Elder Mo Wentian and the Second Elder Liu Suifeng were defeated, so who else can be Li Wuhen's opponent?
The Fourth Elder, Yue Qingcang, known as "Sword of Broken Mountains," slowly rose to his feet.
He was a burly old man with a resolute face, beard and hair like halberds, and a huge sword as wide as a door carried on his back.
"I'll give it a try."
Yue Qingcang strode onto the stage, his voice booming.
His swordsmanship is characterized by its fierce and powerful style, emphasizing overwhelming force.
After taking the stage, he defeated the Fifth Elder, Bai Ningshuang, known as "Flying Frost Sword".
But in the second match, he faced the Sixth Elder, "Cloud Piercing Sword" Feng Wuying.
Feng Wuying's swordsmanship is characterized by its speed, as fast as lightning and as swift as a shooting star.
Although Yue Qingcang's giant sword was powerful and heavy, it was too slow. Feng Wuying used speed to exploit the weakness and stabbed Yue Qingcang in the shoulder, defeating him.
Feng Wuying won one match; if he wins another, he will be qualified to challenge Li Wuhen.
Unfortunately, in the second match, he faced the Seventh Elder, "Listening to the Rain Sword" Su Tingyu.
Su Tingyu is a beautiful woman who looks to be in her thirties, but she is actually over sixty years old.
Her swordsmanship was like spring rain, continuous and dense, penetrating every nook and cranny.
Feng Wuying's swift sword seemed to have nowhere to strike against her.
After a hundred moves, Feng Wuying's true energy ran out, and Su Tingyu knocked his sword away with a single strike, defeating him.
Afterwards, Su Tingyu defeated another outer sect elder, winning two consecutive matches and earning the right to challenge.
However, she knew that her strength was far inferior to Li Wuhen's, so she chose to give up the challenge and step down from the stage.
After that, more than a dozen inner disciples went up on stage.
Among them are many exceptionally talented individuals.
A young inner disciple named Zhao Lingyun, at only twenty-eight years old, had already reached the peak of the first-grade Vajra Realm and defeated an outer elder with overwhelming power.
In the second match, he faced a veteran inner disciple named Zhou Pojun.
Zhou Pojun is over forty years old and has been stuck at the first-grade Vajra Realm for ten years. Although his cultivation is not as good as Zhao Lingyun's, he is experienced and his swordsmanship is ruthless.
After a fierce battle of two hundred moves, Zhao Lingyun, due to his youthful arrogance and eagerness to win, revealed a weakness and was stabbed in the thigh by Zhou Pojun's sword, thus losing the fight.
Zhou Pojun then defeated another inner disciple, winning two consecutive matches and earning the right to challenge.
He hesitated for a moment, then decided to challenge Li Wuhen.
Although he knew he was no match for them, the opportunity to fight against a Celestial Realm expert was still a rare chance for him.
The result was as expected.
Li Wuhen only used three swords.
The first sword strike broke through Zhou Pojun's defenses.
The second sword strike sent his longsword flying.
The third sword strike stopped three inches in front of his throat.
Zhou Pojun's face turned ashen, and he slumped in defeat.
Afterwards, several more disciples who had qualified to challenge came up on stage, but without exception, they were all defeated within ten moves.
Although Li Wuhen had fought several battles and was quite exhausted, the gap between the Celestial Phenomenon Realm and the First-Grade Vajra Realm was like an insurmountable chasm, which could not be bridged by sheer numbers.
Time passes little by little.
The sun was rising higher, and it was almost noon.
The arena was still bustling with noise, but the number of challengers was dwindling.
Almost all the capable inner disciples and elders have already competed on stage.
The only one who has qualified to challenge but has not yet gone on stage is the disciple named "Come Quickly".
Come quick, he's as impatient as his name suggests.
He is twenty-five years old this year, a second-rank martial artist, and is considered to be at a mid-level among the inner disciples.
Winning two consecutive matches to qualify for the challenge was purely by luck.
The two opponents he drew were both injured in the previous match, which greatly reduced their strength.
At this moment, Kuailai stood below the stage, his expression shifting rapidly.
Should we go up and challenge Li Wuhen?
Are you kidding me!
A second-rank official facing celestial phenomena? Isn't that courting death?
But if I don't go up, I'll seem too cowardly. How will I be able to hold my head high in the sect in the future?
Just as he was about to make a decision, the presiding deacon shouted again:
"Is there anyone else who wants to challenge the Third Elder? If not, the Third Elder will be announced as the new sect leader in one incense stick's time!"
Below the stage, Xu Longxiang couldn't help but smile.
Become!
It really did!
In just one incense stick's time, Li Wuhen will become the new sect leader of the Qinglan Sword Sect!
At that time, he publicly expressed his support, and the alliance between the Qinglan Sword Sect and the Northern Territory was bound to succeed!
The incense stick burned out quickly.
The presiding deacon surveyed the entire audience, took a deep breath, and spoke in a loud voice:
"The time allotted for one incense stick is up! If there are no challengers, according to the rules of the Sword Sect, Third Elder Li Wuhen will become the new Sect Master of our Qinglan Sword Sect!"
He paused, then looked at the three Supreme Elders at the edge of the platform:
"Please, Elder, announce the results!"
The three elders exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.
The eldest elder in the middle slowly stepped forward.
His hair and beard were all white, his face was withered, but his eyes were as clear as a baby's, and his voice was old yet clear:
"According to the Sword Sect's rules, in martial arts competitions, the victor is respected. Third Elder Li Wuhen has won every battle and is unmatched. Therefore, I hereby declare—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the entire room:
"The new sect leader of the Azure Mist Sword Sect is Elder Li, the Third Elder—"
"Wait a minute."
A lazy voice suddenly rang out, interrupting the Supreme Elder's words.
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly resonated throughout the entire training ground.
Everyone turned their heads in unison, looking towards the source of the sound—
The main position is on the high platform to the due north.
Qin Mu slowly sat up straight.
He released his grip on Jiang Qingxue and slowly stood up.
The dark dragon robe gleamed with a dull golden luster in the sunlight, and the hem brushed against the rosewood chair, making a slight rubbing sound.
He walked step by step to the edge of the platform, looking down at the entire arena.
Thousands of eyes were focused on him.
There were doubts, surprises, confusion, and also... anticipation.
Xu Longxiang's heart sank suddenly.
An ominous premonition surged into my heart like a tide.
Qin Mu... just as expected, he's going to get involved!
On the high platform, the three Supreme Elders frowned slightly, but did not get angry. They simply looked at Qin Mu calmly.
The elder in the middle slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, what are your instructions?"
Qin Mu smiled slightly, a gentle smile that conveyed an undeniable air of authority:
"I wouldn't presume to offer guidance. However, while observing the battle just now, I noticed that the Sword Sect seems to have another disciple who hasn't yet stepped onto the stage to compete?"
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the audience before finally settling on the disciple named "Come Quickly":
"If I remember correctly, this disciple seems to have qualified for the challenge, but... hasn't he challenged Elder Li yet?"
All eyes instantly focused on Kuai Lai.
They were stunned.
He stood there blankly, his mind completely blank.
Your Majesty... is he referring to him?
How is that possible?
He's just a second-rank martial artist, how could His Majesty notice him?
A low murmur arose from the audience.
"It seems to be that disciple named 'Hurry Up'..."
"He did qualify for the challenge, but he hasn't gone on stage yet."
"Why is Your Majesty mentioning him? Could it be...?"
"What a joke! A second-grade martial artist challenging a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert? Isn't that just suicide?"
Xu Longxiang's face was so gloomy it could drip water.
He stared intently at Qin Mu, his eyes flashing with cold light.
Qin Mu, what exactly are you trying to do?
Delaying time? Or... is there another motive?
On the high platform, the Supreme Elder's brows furrowed even deeper.
He glanced at Kuailai, then looked at Qin Mu, and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, although this young man has qualified for the challenge, his cultivation level is only second rank, which is far too low compared to Elder Li. According to the rules, he can withdraw from the challenge."
"Give up?" Qin Mu raised an eyebrow, a playful smile curving his lips.
"Disciples of the Sword Sect possess a clear mind and a heart that is both sword-wielding and musical. How can we surrender without a fight when faced with a challenge?"
He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold:
"I remember the ancestral precepts of the Sword Sect: A sword is one that would rather break than bend. Facing a powerful enemy, one may be defeated, one may die, but... one must not retreat, one must not surrender!"
These words resonated deeply!
Below the stage, many Sword Sect disciples had a look of shame in their eyes.
Indeed, that is the ancestral precept of the Sword Sect.
A swordsman should possess the unyielding spirit to break rather than bend!
That disciple named "Come Quickly" has obtained the qualification to challenge, but he is too afraid to go on stage. This is indeed... contrary to the spirit of the Sword Sect.
Kuai Lai's face instantly turned bright red.
He lowered his head in shame, wishing he could disappear into the ground.
On the high platform, the three supreme elders remained silent.
Qin Mu's words were irrefutable.
The ancestral precepts of the Sword Sect are indeed true.
But... sending a second-grade martial artist to challenge a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert is practically suicide, isn't it?
The elder in the middle pondered for a moment, then slowly said:
"Your Majesty is absolutely right. However, this young man's cultivation is too weak, and the gap between him and Elder Li is too great. If he were to force a challenge, his life might be in danger. Perhaps..."
"Not as good as what?" Qin Mu interrupted him, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority.
"Since it's a martial arts competition, we should naturally go all out. But it's just a friendly spar; we should stop when we've reached our limit. Elder Li, as a Celestial Phenomenon Realm expert, surely you can control your strength and injure a second-grade disciple?"
He paused, then turned his gaze to Li Wuhen and smiled slightly:
"Elder Li, what do you say?"
Li Wuhen's face was terribly gloomy.
He stared intently at Qin Mu, his eyes flashing with bloodlust.
Qin Mu's words, seemingly speaking up for him, were actually a challenge to him!
If he agrees, then even if he wins a match against a second-rank disciple, it would be an unfair victory, and would instead make him appear narrow-minded and bullying the weak.
If he doesn't agree, it would be out of fear of challenge and would violate the spirit of the Sword Sect.
dilemma!
Li Wuhen took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.
He glanced at the disciple below the stage who called out "Come quickly," a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes.
Second-rank martial artists are nothing but ants.
Even if I agree, what then?
It can be solved in one move.
Thinking of this, Li Wuhen slowly spoke, his voice hoarse:
"Your Majesty is right. How can a disciple of the Sword Sect surrender without a fight? Now that this boy has been granted the right to challenge, I shall accept the challenge."
He paused, glancing at Kuai Lai, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"However, swords and blades have no eyes. If you get hurt, don't blame me."
These words, seemingly a reminder, are actually a threat.
His face, which had been close to hers, turned as pale as paper in an instant.
His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
"Brother, disciple..." He opened his mouth, wanting to admit defeat.
But the words just wouldn't come out.
Qin Mu's gaze fell upon him as if it were a physical object.
That gaze, calm and indifferent, carried an invisible pressure that made it hard for him to breathe.
"Disciples of the Sword Sect should have backbone."
Qin Mu spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"I command you to come up on stage and compete."