Chapter 273: The Madwoman

The names on the turntable had long since been replaced by the yamen runners.

Clerk Qin gave it a forceful spin; the turntable creaked and whirred, finally stopping on a name. It was Tao Rong.

"First segment challenger, Tao Rong!"

As Clerk Qin's voice rang out, Tao Rong, who had been sitting cross-legged on the ground, suddenly opened his eyes, a brilliant light radiating from them!

Clutching his weapon, which had four or five cracks along the blade, he leaped up and once again stood steadily upon the Plum Blossom Stakes!

Tao Rong's gaze was clear and his spirit vibrant; after this period of meditation, his Internal Breath had clearly recovered quite a bit.

"Segmented Life-and-Death Challenge, life and death are not counted! First segment challenger Tao Rong! If there are any challengers, please step forward!"

The scene was deathly silent. Most of the other eight people were sitting cross-legged, resting without even lifting their eyes. Xiao Yu merely stood there gripping her sword, glanced at Tao Rong on the Plum Blossom Stakes, and remained unmoved!

After three breaths, Clerk Qin shouted again.

After another three breaths, Clerk Qin shouted for the final time, yet not one of the remaining eight people stepped forward!

Although Tao Rong had been defeated by Duan Rong, his realm and strength were there for all to see, and having rested for such a long time, no one dared to risk their own life against that blade, even if it was cracked in several places!

This was the Great Accomplishment realm: to subdue the enemy without fighting!

Tao Rong stood there, his gaze looking down disdainfully at the few people below, but when his eyes swept over Duan Rong at the very edge, his proud expression suddenly went still!

"Tao Rong, promoted to Registered Disciple!"

Following Clerk Qin's announcement, the expression of Tao Jiusong on the viewing platform finally eased. He had originally thought that since Tao Rong had already achieved the Great Accomplishment realm, advancing to Registered Disciple would be an easy matter, but he had not expected his only son to be defeated by Duan Rong, who came from a destitute background, during the third round of the melee.

After Tao Rong suffered that setback, Tao Jiusong had been worried, but seeing Tao Rong finally advance, his heart finally settled, and his eyes once again emitted a look of self-satisfaction.

Tao Rong jumped down from the Zeying Tai, walked over, and stood beside Duan Rong.

Seeing Tao Rong walk to his side, Duan Rong said with a somewhat awkward expression: "Brother Tao is mighty! Brother Tao stood there, and yet not a single person dared to challenge you!"

Tao Rong laughed: "That is still after being defeated by Brother Duan! Brother Duan, if there is a chance, I would like to fight you again!"

Hearing this, Duan Rong's eyebrows twitched, and he thought to himself: This guy isn't targeting me, is he?

Although Duan Rong thought this in his heart, he still wore an indifferent smile on his face and said: "This... that is easy to say, easy to say."

Looking at Duan Rong's demeanor, Tao Rong felt a chill. He had never interacted with Duan Rong before, nor had he even heard his name, but Duan Rong was in the Great Accomplishment realm and his mind was steady and shrewd; he had not expected that after a few sentences, Duan Rong would be so worldly and slippery.

The Segmented Life-and-Death Challenge originally only had four spots; Tao Rong had taken one directly, and now there were only three spots left.

Clerk Qin walked to the turntable and began to spin for the second segment challenger!

The turntable stopped on a name.

Clerk Qin's eyebrows moved slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Second segment challenger, Shen Mizhi!"

Shen Mizhi's hair was somewhat disheveled, and there was a faint trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, but after resting, her Internal Breath had also recovered quite a bit!

Shen Mizhi suddenly leaped up, landing lightly on the Zeying Tai like a large bird.

Clerk Qin glanced at Shen Yanliu on the viewing platform and suddenly shouted: "Second segment challenger Shen Mizhi! If there are any challengers, please step forward!"

"Second segment challenger Shen Mizhi! If there are any challengers, please step forward!"

Clerk Qin's speaking speed had clearly accelerated!

Previously, when calling for Tao Rong, he would pause for three breaths each time to leave time for the other challengers to think, but this time, the pause in the middle was not even one breath long.

Shen Mizhi's strength was not weak, and her status was special—she was the apple of the eye of the Xiangu County Magistrate, Shen Yanliu. The challenge did not count life or death; if someone were to accidentally injure or even kill the young lady of the Shen Family, these people were all children of noble families, so how would they continue to get by in Xiangu County in the future?

These noble families knew Shen Yanliu's methods best; they treated him like a god every day, yet he was still suppressing them. If anyone dared to kill his daughter, Shen Yanliu would definitely uproot their entire family in Xiangu County!

These people were all hesitating, and Clerk Qin was shouting so fast that it looked like it would be over once the third shout was finished.

Xiao Yu was also hesitating. Among the nine people in the Segmented Life-and-Death Challenge, besides Tao Rong, only Shen Mizhi and she had the strongest strength.

If she did not go up, Shen Mizhi would likely take another spot, and by then, it would be 7 people fighting for two spots; she would definitely encounter a wheel-battle!

But she was also somewhat wary of Shen Mizhi's status!

Just as Xiao Yu was hesitating and Clerk Qin was about to finish his third shout, Xiao Yu's shoulder moved, and she was about to step out.

But at this moment, a burly figure beside Xiao Yu suddenly took a step forward and stepped out!

Xiao Yu glanced at that person and stopped her steps!

The person who stepped out was Fan Baolong!

Fan Baolong had lost to Xia Shuangshuang in the first round of the three-round melee, but after that, he had won two consecutive matches to enter the Segmented Life-and-Death Challenge!

His strength was not weak; he lost the first match to Xia Shuangshuang because Xia Shuangshuang's Long Spear had the advantage of weapon reach on the Plum Blossom Stakes—didn't Shen Mizhi also lose to Xia Shuangshuang?

Fan Baolong's intentions were clear: if he did not come out this time, he would likely have to face the even more formidable Xiao Yu, and it would most likely be a wheel-battle.

Although challenging Shen Mizhi might bring the family the retaliation of Shen Yanliu, the temptation of being a Sect Registered Disciple was simply too great.

The moment Fan Baolong stood out, Shen Yanliu's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He turned his head to look at a person sitting in the corner of the third row of the viewing platform; Fan Baolong's father, Fan Cen, was sitting there.

Fan Cen ran a pawnshop in Xiangu County and had dealings with all sides. He noticed the gaze Shen Yanliu shot over, but still pretended to be calm and looked toward the Zeying Tai.

Fan Baolong had already grabbed his Broad-edged Horizontal Saber and jumped onto the Zeying Tai!

Since only he stood out, there was no need for a wheel-battle, and therefore no need to draw Long and Short Lots!

The Segmented Life-and-Death Challenge determines victory and defeat, but also life and death!

Fan Baolong held his horizontal saber in hand; his Broad-edged Horizontal Saber flashed with a cold, biting light under the warm spring sun!

The two instantly began to fight; Shen Mizhi's Huan Water Sword Technique had sword shadows that were clear and cold, flowing around Fan Baolong's side like murmuring water.

Fan Baolong, on the other hand, used his horizontal saber with wide, sweeping movements!

Shen Mizhi's sword tip tapped onto the blade of Fan Baolong's saber. Fan Baolong's saber momentum sank, and he took the opportunity to slash toward Shen Mizhi's waist. Seeing the horizontal saber coming for her waist, Shen Mizhi did not retreat, but instead, with a point of cold light, she thrust toward Fan Baolong's throat!

Fan Baolong dodged to the side, and Shen Mizhi performed a sword flourish, changing her thrust into a chop!

The two were locked in a bitter struggle on the Plum Blossom Stakes, back and forth, becoming entangled!

It was clearly an even match!

The few people on the viewing platform showed an increasingly intense look of interest in their eyes, because they knew that in a Segmented Life-and-Death Challenge, it is only when the opponents are evenly matched that lives are lost!

If one is strong and one is weak, it is actually less likely for someone to die!

The two on the stage right now are evenly matched; to win, one must fight with their life!

Shen Mizhi's gaze grew increasingly calm; after the miserable defeat at the hands of Xia Shuangshuang, coupled with the current life-or-death pressure, her manic heart suddenly grew quiet.

The Sword shadows in her hand also became increasingly complex and agile!

Just then, with a sound like a 'pop', a silent change occurred within Shen Mizhi; that layer of window paper had been pierced!

She had actually broken through!

In that instant, Shen Mizhi's eyes suddenly turned cold and sharp, and a powerful force surged through her dantian and meridians...

"This is..."

Many people noticed the change in Shen Mizhi; her form, speed, and strength were different in an instant!

"She has broken through to the Great Success Realm!" Shen Yanliu, sitting in the viewing gallery, suddenly revealed a look of wild joy on his cold face.

Not only had the discerning eyes noticed Shen Mizhi's change, but Fan Baolong, who was in the midst of the battle, felt it even more clearly and was terrified!

His Internal Breath was originally slightly weaker than Shen Mizhi's, but he had made up for the slight gap in Internal Breath by using a wide-open Martial Technique; however, at this moment, every time their blades clashed, the webbing between his thumb and index finger trembled as if it would split!

And the killing intent in Shen Mizhi's eyes grew increasingly heavy!

Shen Mizhi's sleeves fluttered as she fought more and more fiercely!

Suddenly, with a 'clang', amidst a shower of sparks, Fan Baolong's Broad-edged Horizontal Saber was knocked flying, and Shen Mizhi gave a wicked, cold laugh.

"I shall use your head to pay tribute to my Great Success Realm!"

Shen Mizhi's Sword blade was like water, slicing across Fan Baolong's throat; with Internal Breath flickering on the blade, blood sprayed from Fan Baolong's neck, and his severed head tumbled to the ground under the spring sunlight!

Shen Mizhi stood on the Plum Blossom Stakes, half her face splattered with blood spots, a cruel and satisfied smile hanging on her face...

The surrounding crowd was silent... Even those who did not know martial arts could see that Shen Mizhi had already knocked away Fan Baolong's weapon and had slaughtered him despite being in a position of certain victory.

"Crazy woman!" Ximen Kankan stood there, looking at Shen Mizhi on the Plum Blossom Stakes, and muttered.

Just then, Fan Cen rushed down from the viewing gallery.

His lips trembling, he cradled Fan Baolong's dust-covered head from the ground and cried out in grief: "Baolong..."

Fan Cen held Fan Baolong's head and jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes, cursing: "Crazy girl, return my son's life! This old man will fight you to the death!"

At this moment, a figure flashed on the viewing gallery; Shen Yanliu's form leaped over like a great bird crossing a river, and with one palm, he struck Fan Cen's dantian.

Fan Cen flew backward, blood spilling from his mouth and nose, still cursing incessantly!

Shen Yanliu said coldly: "Fan Cen, disturbing the Zeying Tai is a crime equal to treason; lock him in the Death Row!"

Several bailiffs had already rushed over and seized Fan Cen, whose dantian had been crippled!

Shen Yanliu stood there, then suddenly turned his head, looking with cold eyes at the Clerk standing there.

The Clerk gave a start, only then suddenly snapping out of his daze, and shouted at the top of his lungs: "Shen Mizhi has advanced to become a Sect Registered Disciple!"

Shen Yanliu looked at Shen Mizhi, whose face was splattered with blood spots, his expression not very pleasant, and said coldly: "Wipe your face!"

After saying this, Shen Yanliu jumped off the Zeying Tai!

Shen Mizhi looked at Shen Yanliu's back, gave a cold laugh, jumped off the Plum Blossom Stakes, and walked toward Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, and the others!

Ximen Kankan looked at the approaching Shen Mizhi and actually shivered. In that instant, he felt a panic as if an evil ghost were closing in!

Xia Shuangshuang took out a handkerchief and handed it to Shen Mizhi; Shen Mizhi took it expressionlessly and wiped the blood spots off her face.

Fan Baolong's half-corpse lay beneath the Plum Blossom Stakes, wedged right between two stakes, and the smell of blood permeated the entire Zeying Tai...

The remaining six people all had very ugly expressions!

There were six of them left, but only two spots remained; the remaining two stages would surely be wheel battles! The hearts of the six were all very heavy!

The Clerk had already walked back to the turntable and spun it!

What the Clerk spun out this time was the challenger for the third stage!

No one hoped that the name spun out would be their own!

In a wheel battle, the stage holder is at a disadvantage!

The old turntable wobbled to a stop on a name!

"Third stage challenger, Xiao Yu!"

Xiao Yu's eyes moved, and he jumped onto the Zeying Tai!

There were five people left under the stage: Jiang Qingyu, Qiu Tong, Yue Feng, Luo Zhoucheng, and Gui Zong.

Jiang Qingyu looked at Xiao Yu standing on the Plum Blossom Stakes with a hesitant expression, but the few people beside him were actually not weak either!

Jiang Qingyu's personality lacked a decisive side; although he knew that the longer things dragged on, the more unfavorable the situation might become, and perhaps in the next stage, he might end up being the stage holder!

Just then, Luo Zhoucheng had already stepped out, and Xiao Yu's gaze swept over, looking at the stepping-out Luo Zhoucheng.

The Clerk's third call had already sounded.

"Third stage challenger Xiao Yu! Challengers, please step forward!"

Jiang Qingyu was just preparing to take a step, but Qiu Tong beside him stepped out a moment before him!

Jiang Qingyu immediately pulled back the foot he had raised!

Qiu Tong had also stepped out, and the situation changed; he would rather enter the next stage with the remaining Yue Feng and Gui Zong!

That was better than a four-person wheel battle right now!

Qiu Tong was not weak either; although he had lost to Duan Rong in one exchange during the first stage, he had won both subsequent matches!

On Qiu Tong's thin, pale face, his eyelids twitched; he had stepped out at the last moment because he did not want to enter the four-person wheel battle of the next stage, but the moment he stepped out, he saw Jiang Qingyu pull back his raised foot.

That is to say, if he hadn't stepped out just now, Jiang Qingyu would have stepped out!

"Third stage, two challengers! Luo Zhoucheng, Qiu Tong!"

"The two of you, please draw Long and Short Lots!"

The Clerk handed his hand toward Luo Zhoucheng, who had stepped out first; the lots were hidden in the Clerk's sleeve, with only the tips of the lots exposed between his fingers!

Luo Zhoucheng's eyes flashed, he pinched a lot tip, and drew it out!

His expression turned joyful; it was the long lot!

Clerk Qin handed the other lot directly to Qiu Tong; the length of this lot was only half the length of the lot in Luo Zhoucheng's hand!

The short lot fights first! The long lot fights later!

In other words, in the order of the life-and-death battle within the group, Xiao Yu would fight Qiu Tong, and after the winner was decided, he would then fight Luo Zhoucheng!

Luo Zhoucheng could be said to have taken full advantage of the fisherman's profit!

A flash of ferocity crossed Qiu Tong's pale face; if he wanted to win, he had to first defeat Xiao Yu, then defeat Luo Zhoucheng!

Either he admitted defeat directly, or he had to risk his life!

Qiu Tong turned his head to look at the spectator stand!

His father, Qiu Yan, the master of the Black Tiger Martial Hall, noticed his gaze, and his body trembled visibly.

Qiu Tong could tell from Qiu Yan's expression that his father wanted him to withdraw!

However, he did not want to withdraw yet!

Qiu Tong's figure flashed, and he had already vaulted onto the Zeying Tai; whether it was a coincidence or not, his feet happened to land right on the remains of Fan Baolong, and the smell of blood drilled straight into his nose...

(End of this chapter)