Chapter 166: Anticipated Match

　　The sixth day – the competition started off heatedly.

　　Yue Lingyin was the first to throw her hat in the ring, challenging the Harmonization Realm disciple in fourth place. She defeated him and took his place.

　　The guy in fifth place chose to challenge Shao Zhengyang. Shao Zhengyang lost and dropped to eighteenth place.

　　He initially wanted to try to work hard for another day, but who would have guessed that he would lose points as soon as the competition started? There was a twenty-point difference between him and tenth place, so it was almost impossible for him to catch up. Deflated, Shao Zhengyang gave up unwillingly.

　　One by one, the names for each match were announced, and the atmosphere was getting more intense.

　　The competition first started with some warm ups, followed by snatching points, and then it evolved into the last stage – go for the kill. The ones left were all disciples with the potential to get on the New Generation Ranking, and all of them were well-known.

　　The name list kept changing – the top ten would drop from their position if they lost a round, and the ones in the top twenty would move up if they won a round.

　　However, no one dared to challenge the top four. Challenging Wei Chunqiu or Kou Wei was obviously digging one’s own grave. Yue Lingyin wasn’t as good as them, but how many could be like her and get onto the New Generation Ranking as soon as she entered the Harmonization Realm?

　　As for Lu Mingshu, Yu Chen was a very good example of what would happen if you fought her. Her skills were all strange, and nobody knew exactly what skills or how many she possessed. Yu Chen himself was in the top ten right now, and yet he lost of Lu Mingshu. Maybe someone could beat Lu Mingshu, but why take the risk?

　　Lu Mingshu, ninety-five; Wei Chunqiu, eighty-three; Kou Wei, eighty-two.

　　Lady Luck was on Lu Mingshu’s side today; she was still in first place.

　　However, not many people were able to understand her actions.

　　“Is Lu Mingshu actually trying to fight for first place?” somebody asked.

　　If she was smart, she would’ve stopped competing yesterday. Yeah, she’s in first place, but that’s only because Wei Chunqiu and Kou Wei haven’t challenged her yet. As her points get higher, both of them will have no choice but to challenge her, which may cause her to drop from the top ten.

　　“Who does she think she is? Yu Chen is nowhere near Wei Chunqiu or Kou Wei. She really does not know where she stands.” Somebody sneered.

　　“She’s in the prime of her youth. Even you went through that phase too.”

　　Nobody believed that Lu Mingshu would defeat them both. Those who disliked her took the chance to taunt her, and those who were inclined toward her only sighed.

　　This was a stupid way of handling it.

　　Even An Tongchen thought the same way. No wonder Grand Elder Yuan Xi said that she would be easily broken; this child was easy to read. She knew clearly where she stood, and yet she was stubborn and didn’t leave herself any leeway. This was why he didn’t allow Gao Xiang to come. Lu Mingshu wasn’t a bad child, but the last thing he wanted was to see his own disciple in the same state.

　　Lu Mingshu, one hundred and five; Wei Chunqiu, ninety-five; Kou Wei, ninety-one.

　　The scores were no longer moving.

　　“It’s now!” a spectator shouted in excitement.

　　“What’s ‘now’?” His friend looked over at him in doubt.

　　“Have you even looked at the list? Kou Wei is four points behind Wei Chunqiu.”

　　“So?”

　　“Use your brain! He’s four points behind, and he’s challenged everyone except her.”

　　His friend stared at the list for a few minutes. He then suddenly said, “What about Yue Lingyin?”

　　“Wei Chunqiu could, but not Kou Wei. The Heavenly Sea Pavilion and the Amethyst Phoenix Pavilion are from the same origin, and their sects are very close. There’s no difference in challenging Yue Lingyin or someone from his own sect. Even if he managed to get first with that, the credibility would be low.”

　　“Yue Lingyin’s points are too high. Wei Chunqiu would have an advantage… Oh! That means Kou Wei only has one choice….”

　　“Lu Mingshu!” Both of them exclaimed at the same time.

　　Everyone would finally get to see Lu Mingshu suffer a setback?

　　This young lady was too arrogant. A newbie should follow the rules. She only just entered the Harmonization Realm a year ago and yet she thought so highly of herself! She would have to be careful not to go home crying.

　　In this world, there was a type of person that hoped no one would be able to accomplish something that they couldn’t. If there was someone who could accomplish it, they would watch with the hopes that they would end up failing miserably. That way, they could comfort themselves that Wei Chunqiu and Kou Wei were just way too strong while someone like Lu Mingshu was just arrogant.

　　The current match ended, and Lin Zixin announced the name for the next match. “Kou Wei from the Heavenly Sea Pavilion challenging…”

　　Everyone looked at him in anticipation, hoping that it would be the person that they were thinking of. “Lu Mingshu from Nine Jade Palace.”

　　Indeed!

　　Kou Wei leapt onto the stage with applause and cheers.

　　“Senior Brother Kou, all the best!”

　　“Senior Brother Kou will surely make it!”

　　As Lu Mingshu went on stage, Kou Wei bowed and look at her apologetically. “I’m really sorry, Miss Lu.”

　　Lu Mingshu returned the courtesy. “It’s a reasonable challenge, Senior Brother Kou. There’s no need to apologize.”

　　Kou Wei sighed. He wouldn’t have done this if he had any choice, but if he didn’t challenge Lu Mingshu, he could wave goodbye to first place.

　　“Miss Lu, please.”

　　“Please.”

　　A screech could be heard as sword energy suddenly dashed at Kou Wei fiercely.

　　Physical Manifestation of Sword Intent!

　　In the Seventh Truth Platform tent, Wei Chunqiu nudged Yu Kuang. “Junior Brother Yu, you’re better than her in sword skills, so what do you think about that?”

　　“Huh?” Yu Kuang looked at him in surprise as his train of thoughts was suddenly broken.

　　Seeing his reaction, Wei Chunqiu stared at him coldly. “Do you want to wave goodbye to the top ten?”

　　Yu Kuang rubbed his eyes, still trying to figure out what was happening.

　　“Open your eyes and look at this match! Before the Qilin Festival, you were better than her, but now, you’re both equal!”

　　This comment was a bit hurtful, and it pulled down Yu Kuang’s confidence slightly.

　　He looked over to the stage, and what he saw took him aback.

　　On the stage, Kou Wei swayed his sword as a water dragon dashed at Lu Mingshu. His techniques were all related to water, which is what made the Heavenly Sea Pavilion unique. Kou Wei had practised for years, and he was extremely skilled. Nobody had managed to receive more than ten attacks from him.

　　There was another sword energy that was weaker than Kou Wei’s, but it was still fast and furious. It managed to rekindle itself whenever it was destroyed by Kou Wei every single time.

　　Yu Kuang was taken aback.

　　Senior Brother Wei is right. Within a few months and much practice, Lu Mingshu had indeed improved a lot. Her Physical Manifestation of Sword Intent had already evolved from a baby dragon to a dragon.

　　As for him, he had known the skill for two years, and yet he still didn’t have much improvement after he evolved into a dragon….

　　Yu Kuang took a deep breath and looked at the seat where State Master Jia Yan was supposed to be sitting, then he went back to focusing on the match.