Chapter 275: Fame and Achievement

"Xiao Yu, promoted to Sect Registered Disciple!"

As Clerk Qin's voice rang out, Xiao Yu's heart relaxed. The hidden pain of her dantian being drained and the exhaustion throughout her body surged up together. She felt her head grow heavy, and she looked as if she were about to collapse!

Duan Rong stood below the platform, keeping his attention on Xiao Yu's condition. Seeing her body sway, he suddenly leaped up like a great bird, landed beside her, and grabbed her by the shoulders.

Xiao Yu's body stiffened, and she steadied herself by leaning on Duan Rong. Looking at Duan Rong standing beside her, she gave a miserable smile.

Duan Rong hoisted Xiao Yu up from under her arms, moved with agility, and landed below the Zeying Tai.

Xiao Zongting, on the viewing stand, watched Duan Rong bring Xiao Yu down, the expression on his face suddenly becoming complex.

As soon as Zhu Xiaoqi saw Duan Rong bring Xiao Yu down, he immediately rushed over from the edge of the crowd.

When Xiao Yu was injured, Zhu Xiaoqi had anxiously turned back to fetch wound medicine and bandages.

"Miss Yu!" Zhu Xiaoqi called out with concern.

Xiao Yu's feet were on the ground now, and her mind was steady. Although she had some injuries and pain, it was nothing serious. She looked at Zhu Xiaoqi, smiled, and said, "Xiao Qi, I'm fine."

Seeing that Xiao Yu was unharmed, Zhu Xiaoqi was finally relieved; he knelt down to treat her wounds.

Xiao Yu looked toward Duan Rong. She could hold on until the end, until Luo Zhoucheng fainted, all thanks to Duan Rong's reminder.

In the third round, she had conceded directly when facing Ximen Kankan, which ensured she entered the Segmented Life and Death Wheel Battle in peak condition, allowing her to barely win.

But as Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong's eyes now, it was not entirely gratitude. Both she and Duan Rong had been promoted to Registered Disciples, and her heart was filled with joy. The look she gave Duan Rong was full of charm!

Xiao Zongting also walked down from the viewing stand. When he was closest, he happened to see the look Xiao Yu gave Duan Rong...

Xiao Zongting felt a sudden sting in his heart. Only at this moment did he realize that he was secretly jealous of Duan Rong.

He had originally been grooming Duan Rong as the next version of himself, but gradually he realized that Duan Rong had already leaped out of the range he had set.

It had only taken him one year to go from a Miscellaneous Disciple in an Escort Agency to a Sect Registered Disciple. His future achievements would surely far exceed his own.

When Xiao Zongting was young, if judged solely by his martial arts cultivation, he naturally would have been qualified to participate in the Sect Registered Disciple selection, but the sixty thousand silver coins for the registration fee was undoubtedly an insurmountable mountain for someone of his impoverished background.

By the time he finally had the money, he was already middle-aged and past the age limit for the Sect Registered Disciple selection.

Therefore, when he discovered that the deep regret of his own impoverished years had been easily crossed by Duan Rong, a heavy jealousy sprouted in the dark corners of his heart, a place he had never even noticed himself...

He was already a twilight-aged man. He had always thought Duan Rong would be the next him, but now he suddenly discovered that Duan Rong had already far surpassed him. By comparison, how humble the young version of himself in the past had been! No matter how hard he worked, no matter how gifted he was, he was still crushed by fate...

He was not jealous for the sake of this twilight-aged man he was now; he was jealous for that young self in the past. That self who had once given him infinite glory now appeared so disgraced in front of Duan Rong!

The Segmented Life and Death Battle here was not yet over!

Tao Rong, Shen Mizhi, and Xiao Yu had taken three spots; only one spot for a Registered Disciple remained in the Segmented Life and Death Battle.

And of the original nine people, only the last three remained: Jiang Qingyu, Gui Zong, and Yue Feng.

Clerk Qin walked to the turntable again, and only three names remained on the turntable.

Clerk Qin turned the turntable with force!

As the turntable creaked and turned, Jiang Qingyu, Gui Zong, and Yue Feng all felt very nervous!

This old, dimly colored turntable was practically the fate-wheel deciding their destinies!

The strength of the three was not much different; who could finally obtain the spot actually depended on their respective luck.

The turntable would reveal the ring master, and in the Segmented Life and Death Battle, being the ring master was definitely not a good thing!

The turntable stopped on a name.

Clerk Qin's voice followed.

"Fourth segment, Segmented Life and Death Battle. Ring master, Yue Feng!"

Four spots, four segments of life and death battles! It was nearing the end!

Yue Feng's expression was grave, but the expressions of Jiang Qingyu and Gui Zong were not relaxed either! Because there was still the hurdle of drawing the Long and Short Lots!

Yue Feng had already jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes with his blade! At this point, with the last spot in sight, no one would retreat now!

Clerk Qin said: "Fourth segment ring master, Yue Feng! Challengers, please step forward!"

As soon as Clerk Qin's first sentence finished, Jiang Qingyu and Gui Zong both stepped forward.

As both stepped out at the same time, the order of drawing lots would be decided by Clerk Qin randomly choosing one person.

Clerk Qin hid the Long and Short Lots in his sleeve, revealing only the tips of the lots between his fingers, and handed them to Gui Zong!

Gui Zong's eyes were hesitant; after pondering for a few breaths, he finally pinched a lot tip and slowly pulled it out!

The moment the lot was pulled out, Jiang Qingyu's eyes lit up with joy. Gui Zong had pulled the short lot! This meant he could sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, then strike later to gain the advantage.

Clerk Qin was expressionless as he handed the remaining long lot in his hand to Jiang Qingyu. Jiang Qingyu took the long lot and couldn't help but sigh; the chance to decide the winner among the three lay in this small lot.

Gui Zong held the short lot, his eyes flickering.

His current situation was very awkward, but how could he be willing to give up!

Gui Zong's gaze hardened, and he drew his blade and jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes!

In fact, Gui Zong was a tactical fighter. He had started spending time and resources two years ago to investigate potential opponents.

He was able to win against Xue Yu in the first round because he relied on his detailed investigation and bribing the Personal Attendant close to him.

If he hadn't known early on that Xue Yu had a move called White Rainbow Piercing the Sun, which had great power but required a specific distance to execute, he could not have avoided Xue Yu's killer move through cautious probing.

However, among the twenty-four people participating in the Zeying Assembly this time, there were some he had almost no information resources on, such as that Great Accomplishment realm Duan Rong, and the Yue Feng before him.

Because, if one started investigating from the moment the list was received, it was only two months, and it was impossible to investigate any valuable information at all.

Duan Rong was a dark horse; a year ago, he was just a Miscellaneous Disciple crawling at the bottom of an Escort Agency. Unexpectedly, in just a year, he had achieved the Great Accomplishment realm! One could only say he was exceptionally gifted!

But this Yue Feng was also somewhat special; he had almost never stayed in this Xiangu County for the past two or three years.

Yue Feng's elder sister had married into Jiuzhong County three years ago. His elder sister had always doted on her younger brother Yue Feng the most since they were small, so Yue Feng had lived at his sister's house in Jiuzhong County for the past two or three years.

He had only returned to the mansion in Xiangu County a few days before the Zeying Assembly began.

Gui Zong naturally hadn't been able to investigate any information.

However, judging from the fights over the past two days, this Yue Feng's martial arts style seemed to lean toward the fierce and aggressive path.

As soon as Gui Zong stood on the Plum Blossom Stakes, Yue Feng took long strides and attacked him fiercely with his blade. Gui Zong's eyes were cautious, and he only suddenly moved his body after Yue Feng crossed the midpoint of the Plum Blossom Stakes.

The two of them instantly began to fight!

Both knew that they absolutely could not use a war of attrition. If they did, even if they won this current match, they would undoubtedly lose when facing Jiang Qingyu next!

Therefore, as soon as they started, they unleashed their most violent attacks without reservation, hoping to win the current match in the shortest time and with the least consumption!

But as it happened, the two were evenly matched in strength!

Very quickly, they fell into a painful, stalemated struggle.

A full stick of incense passed, and both were drenched in sweat, their consumption immense.

Moreover, both had been wounded!

Gui Zong had an injury on his left shoulder, and Yue Feng had an injury on his right waist!

Yue Feng's injury seemed heavier than Gui Zong's; at the very least, the bleeding was greater, and the half of his body below his right waist was almost entirely dyed red with blood!

Both were panting heavily. Gui Zong glanced at Jiang Qingyu under the stage, feeling very angry, but he suppressed the emotions in his heart; he had to face the battle at hand first!

Gui Zong attacked Yue Feng again. After all, Yue Feng had already lost too much blood, and his movements were clearly somewhat sluggish. Gui Zong seized the opportunity and sliced off two fingers of Yue Feng's right hand with his blade!

Two bright red severed fingers and Yue Feng's weapon fell at the same time.

Yue Feng used his left hand to cover his bleeding right hand, his face deathly pale and covered in cold sweat.

Gui Zong had stopped his movements, panting heavily.

Yue Feng said, "You aren't killing me?"

Gui Zong raised his eyes to look at Yue Feng and said, "No need!"

Yue Feng was expressionless. He silently jumped off the Plum Blossom Stakes, picked up his two severed fingers and his weapon, and walked away alone in front of the County Office.

His parents had already passed away, and his large residence was actually empty; he had come to participate in the Zeying Tai alone.

His elder sister was now his only relative.

Having failed this selection, Yue Feng prepared to go back to nurse his wounds for a few days before leaving Xiangu County. Moreover, he felt that once he left, he might never return to this heartbreaking place in his life.

Just as Yue Feng was leaving with his severed fingers and weapon, Jiang Qingyu had already stepped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes with his Sword.

Jiang Qingyu looked at the shoulder-injured, deathly pale Gui Zong and said indifferently, "Still fighting?"

Gui Zong was unwilling, but he had carefully investigated Jiang Qingyu and knew that in his current state, he could not last more than a few rounds under Jiang Qingyu.

Furthermore, once the fight started, even if Jiang Qingyu did not kill him, he would severely injure him just to defeat him quickly.

"It seems it's the end; no need to struggle anymore!"

Gui Zong sighed inwardly. He had calculated everything, only to end up with a dismal conclusion.

His schemes were actually not as good as a small Long and Short Lot.

Gui Zong was a rational person after all. He looked at Jiang Qingyu and said, "No more fighting. I concede!"

Jiang Qingyu smiled and said, "Brother Gui is a sensible person."

Gui Zong naturally hated Jiang Qingyu's smug expression, but sometimes you just have to swallow the bitterness of fate.

Gui Zong jumped off the Zeying Tai and left dejectedly!

Clerk Qin's somewhat excited voice rang out accordingly.

"Jiang Qingyu, promoted to Sect Registered Disciple!"

"This year's Zeying Tai has concluded in Consummation!"

"Duan Rong, Ximen Kankan, Xia Shuangshuang, Tao Rong, Shen Mizhi, Xiao Yu, and Jiang Qingyu, a total of seven people, have been promoted to Sect Registered Disciples!"

"The document of the selection results will be posted at the gate of the County Office starting tomorrow and will take effect after ten days of public notice!"

Following Clerk Qin's announcement, the surrounding crowd began to disperse with a rustle, just like a theater clearing out...

Jiang Qingyu had already jumped off the Zeying Tai and stood beside Ximen Kankan. A torch nearby burned with a raging flame, reflecting on the faces of the few.

Seeing Jiang Qingyu walk over, Ximen Kankan laughed, "You kid, your luck is really not bad, winning without drawing blood!"

Jiang Qingyu said happily, "That's for sure! But your luck isn't bad either."

"I relied on my strength, alright!" Ximen Kankan said, sounding unconvinced.

"Is that so?" Jiang Qingyu said with a strange expression, "Try running into Duan Rong or Tao Rong!"

Hearing this, Ximen Kankan immediately shut his mouth. He glanced at Duan Rong and Tao Rong over there; he had to admit that he really couldn't beat either of them.

If it hadn't been Duan Rong running into Tao Rong in the third round, but rather himself, he reckoned he would not only lose but would also likely be injured; he didn't have Duan Rong's ability to catch three suddenly fired darts with one hand!

Could he really win if he participated in the Segmented Life and Death Wheel Battle in an injured state? Ximen Kankan really had no confidence in his heart.

At this time, the sky was already pitch black, and the dispersing crowd was discussing heatedly in groups of two or three...

"Miss Shen is truly ruthless..."

"Be careful, or you'll be taken to the Ya Men."

"Why would they take me to the Ya Men? I was saying Miss Shen is a truly heroic woman..."

Among these dispersing shadows, the old Temple Keeper Xu Dongyang walked at the very back. He walked with slow, heavy steps while frowning in deep thought, turning a deaf ear to the noisy discussions around him...

As soon as the crowd dispersed, Clerk Qin walked to the Zeying Tai, in front of the seven people including Duan Rong who had finally been promoted, and smiled, "My lords, a banquet has been prepared in the Back Courtyard of the County Office, specially arranged by the County Magistrate to celebrate your promotion! I invite you all to attend the banquet."

Since the few had already been promoted to Sect Registered Disciples, they were considered people with official status, so Clerk Qin immediately changed his address, calling them "my lords."

At the viewing stand, Shen Yanliu smiled broadly and said, "Honorable Inspectors, my wife has specially invited a famous chef from the Babao Building to host a banquet in the Back Courtyard. You Inspectors are tired, please follow me to the banquet. I, Shen, will properly accompany you for a few drinks!"

Shen Yanliu looked at Xie Daohan, who was sitting there in a daze, and said, "Head Constable Xie, come to the banquet as well."

Xie Daohan was still in a daze there; it was only after Fan Yuanhai pushed him that he suddenly woke up and hurriedly said, "This subordinate has other matters. I won't be attending the banquet."

After saying this, Xie Daohan actually jumped off the viewing stand and left on his own.

Shen Yanliu's eyebrows twitched. For the past few years, Xie Daohan had always been cautious in front of him, but today he was somewhat abnormal; he actually declined his invitation and left directly.

However, at this moment, Li Xianjiang had already walked down from the viewing stand, and Shen Yanliu immediately walked over to accompany him.

Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, and the others also successively left the viewing stand and headed toward the Back Courtyard of the County Government Office.

Because of Shen Yanliu's face, they would not have attended the County Office's banquet. But this time was different; at this banquet, they, these Sect Emissaries, needed to meet with the promoted Sect Registered Disciples.

Because, ten days later, after the public notice period ended, they still had to take the results document of the Elite Selection Assembly and, together with these seven promoted Sect Registered Disciples, head to Shenyun Prefecture to report for duty.

As for the others in the viewing gallery, they dispersed, as they had originally only been there as foils.

A Mo looked at Lv Qingzhu and asked, "Miss, are we going?"

Lv Qingzhu saw that over there, Clerk Qin was already leading Duan Rong and the other seven toward the direction of the County Office gate.

Lv Qingzhu said, "Go! Let's go in and take a look."

The two of them quickly descended from the viewing gallery and caught up with Fan Yuanhai, Zhu Qunxiang, and the others...

(End of this chapter)