Chapter 247: Destined Confrontation

Before long, the wind blew and clouds gathered, all was still, Sun Shihan took her leave, and Yu Zhangsheng did not detain her.

"A fortuitous inheritance..."

Yu Zhangsheng watched Sun Shihan's retreating figure, brow furrowed in deep thought.

"So that's how it is. No wonder Sun Shihan has been paying me such attention since then, harboring such intentions."

"Forget it. Let me get through this competition first. As for what Sun Shihan said, if there's an opportunity, we'll go take a look together."

Shaking his head, after suppressing the matter in his heart, Yu Zhangsheng looked up at the moon, then continued cultivating.

"Fortune and risk coexist. No matter what, improving one's own strength is the only way to better seize opportunities."

………

Three days passed in a flash.

Early on, Pingding Square had already gathered a large crowd. The two-sect competition had reached its final stages; the contests were more spectacular, and naturally the spectators were more numerous.

And with the arrival of Mo Pengchen and Mu Yongxian, the originally clamorous scene fell instantly silent. The pressure of Golden Core cultivators shocked the entire venue.

Mo Pengchen's expression was indifferent. His gaze shifted, as if myriad star seas rose and fell within. At this moment he swept his gaze around calmly, and his mana-amplified voice exploded like thunder in the void.

"First match: Wanxiang Sect's Gao Yiming versus Linglong Sect's Wang Junjie."

At his words, two figures shot out from the two camps and landed steadily on the once-again expanded giant arena, gazing at each other from afar.

In a flash, earth-shattering. Violent storms erupted one after another. The fluctuations of their battle, among Foundation Establishment cultivators, were absolutely top-tier.

Below the stage, disciples from both sides watched intently, discussed, and so on. The situation changed myriad times, gripping the heart.

Those who could reach this step were naturally no weaklings. Both were at the Foundation Establishment Sixth Layer, and their spirit beasts likewise. For a time they deadlocked, all techniques deployed.

"In this match, Gao Yiming will lose."

Zhang Tianwen stood beside Yu Zhangsheng. On his other side was Li Minghan, observing the battle. Although he had already been eliminated, Yu Zhangsheng still had a match, so naturally he would come.

At Zhang Tianwen's calm words, Yu Zhangsheng turned his head, looked at Zhang Tianwen's tranquil gaze, and nodded slightly.

Although the two appeared evenly matched now, with his vicious eyesight and keen Divine Sense, Yu Zhangsheng could naturally tell that Gao Yiming was indeed going all out, but Wang Junjie was still holding back.

If this dragged on, the advantage would naturally tilt toward Wang Junjie's side.

"But reaching this step is already quite good." Zhang Tianwen thought for a moment, then continued, "If nothing unexpected happens, I'll face Yang Chengxu. At that time, I'll go all out so you can figure out Yang Chengxu's bottom line..."

He paused. Zhang Tianwen fell silent for a long while. His gaze darkened imperceptibly. He said, "Also have to thank Li Minghan. You should know some of Yang Chengxu's methods by now..."

As Zhang Tianwen spoke, his gaze turned to Li Minghan. He nodded to him: "However, that's only a part he showed. If he goes all out, I estimate he might be even harder to deal with than Tang Chen that day."

"In short, no matter what, just do your best in battle. The rest, victory or defeat doesn't matter."

Zhang Tianwen smiled, suddenly exhaled a breath. From his words, it seemed even facing Yang Chengxu, he had no certainty of victory.

Hearing this, Yu Zhangsheng's heart tightened. His gaze grew heavy. After a long moment he nodded.

Zhang Tianwen said nothing more. In the end he merely patted Yu Zhangsheng's shoulder. Li Minghan pursed his lips at the side, not interjecting.

After an incense stick's time, as expected, Gao Yiming ultimately lost the match.

This made the Wanxiang Sect side sigh in unison, while the Linglong Sect side was invigorated.

Mo Pengchen's gaze was flat, his expression unmoved. He announced the second match lineup.

"Second match: Wanxiang Sect's Mo Yuxuan versus Linglong Sect's Yang Chengxu."

The words fell. Mo Yuxuan's face instantly fell, his expression helpless. In the end he sighed lowly.

The result of this battle needed no further elaboration. Before long, after Yang Chengxu got serious, Mo Yuxuan was defeated and left the stage.

Losing two matches in a row made the Wanxiang Sect side's atmosphere slightly depressed, until the third match, when Zhang Tianwen took the field, the atmosphere livened up again.

"Third match: Wanxiang Sect's Zhang Tianwen versus Linglong Sect's Bi Feiyun!"

In this match, Zhang Tianwen used beast control for the first time, then with thunderous means swiftly ended the battle. This invigorated the Wanxiang Sect people, while the Linglong Sect side couldn't help but narrow their eyes, feeling slight wariness.

The final match arrived as promised.

"Fourth match: Wanxiang Sect's Yu Zhangsheng versus Linglong Sect's Lin Feng."

Perhaps it was luck. Among the four matches, the weakest opponent was met by Yu Zhangsheng. In this battle, Yu Zhangsheng held nothing back. As expected, he also won.

Thus, the final promotion list is as follows.

"Wanxiang Sect: Zhang Tianwen, Yu Zhangsheng."

"Linglong Sect: Yang Chengxu, Wang Junjie."

As the two sects' Peak Masters each announced the list, at this moment an uproar rose within the crowd, especially on the Wanxiang Sect side. Many disciples looked at Yu Zhangsheng with shifting, complex gazes.

"This guy, how long since he entered the Inner Sect? He's unconsciously walked to this step. Truly, one cannot judge a person by appearance."

"Truly terrifying, this talent..."

For Zhang Tianwen's promotion, they had no surprise. Only Yu Zhangsheng's appearance shattered their understanding.

The ashamed, the admiring — all were present. Various emotions flowed across everyone's faces.

"Participating disciples, adjust your condition. Tomorrow, the finals begin!"

The crowd dispersed. Only occasional gazes still lingered on Yu Zhangsheng and the others, casting sidelong glances.

"Let's go. Come sit at my Wan Beast Tower for a while. Rest for the night. Tomorrow we'll be in good shape for the finals."

"I've already arranged fine wine and dishes. Don't worry, they're all nourishing things that can also help regulate essence, qi, and spirit."

Li Minghan laughed heartily, in high spirits. Very naturally he hooked his arms over Yu Zhangsheng's and Zhang Tianwen's shoulders, arms linked, showing great enthusiasm, as if he himself had advanced to the finals.

Zhang Tianwen lowered his head and glanced at the hand on his shoulder, frowned slightly, but then immediately relaxed. He said nothing more, instead turning his head to look at Yu Zhangsheng.

Yu Zhangsheng was helpless. Facing Li Minghan's enthusiasm he was already accustomed. After these days of interaction, the relationship between the two had ultimately become much more familiar.

So Yu Zhangsheng didn't stand on ceremony. He nodded in agreement. Zhang Tianwen had no objection either.

After eating and drinking their fill, Li Minghan even specially arranged cultivation chambers for the two. Until the next morning, daybreak. Yu Zhangsheng slowly rose, finished, exhaled a mouthful of turbid qi. His gaze passed through the skylight toward the outside world's sky.

"Hua la la... Hua la la..."

"It's raining..."

The sky was slightly overcast, with no sunlight to be seen; after several consecutive days of oppressive gloom, rain finally came on this day. Summer rain always arrives swiftly and fiercely — dense rain clouds covered the entire Wanxiang Sect, raindrops falling dot by dot onto mountains, forests, and rivers, washing away clamor and vanity; all things, too, continued to revive in the rain.

A fierce wind blew through, instantly driving the rain slantwise, making it even more violent; the wind howled, and lightning flashed within the cloud layers — but for the cultivation world, ordinary rainy weather has basically no effect on cultivators.

So when Yu Changsheng and the other two arrived at the competition grounds once again, it was still a sea of people, the scene lively and bustling; for a moment even the sound of rain was suppressed.

Among the crowd, various disciples employed methods to shelter from the rain; there were also those of frank disposition who simply let the raindrops fall on their bodies, not caring in the least — but some female disciples were rather more reserved, holding up paper umbrellas.

And the one who attracted the most attention was Sun Shihan; many people's gazes secretly sized her up.

"You're here?"

Today's Sun Shihan — her appearance seemed to have been deliberately and carefully adorned; she wore a loose, dark-green one-piece daofu, her cherry lips tinged with a faint red luster; upon seeing Yu Changsheng, her steps turned light, her brows and eyes smiling, and she stepped through the rain, ripples spreading dot by dot, actively walking toward the arrivals.

"Senior Sister Sun, who are you waiting for?"

"No way, could it be……"

"If it's Senior Brother Zhang, I could still accept it."

A group of disciples discussed in low voices, their gazes following Sun Shihan's steps — and immediately noticed Yu Changsheng and his two companions arriving together.

Sun Shihan's eyes held a smile; propping a cyan oil-paper umbrella, she finally stopped before the three, gave a slight nod to Zhang Tianwen, then produced two bottles of pills and handed them respectively to Zhang Tianwen and Yu Changsheng.

At the same time she smiled gently and said warmly: "Compete well today; these are Clear Mind Pills I prepared for you both — take two each before going on stage, they might still have some slight effect."

"Many thanks, Junior Sister Sun; you've gone to trouble on our behalf."

Zhang Tianwen nodded, and after receiving the pills, on his face that had been like an ancient well without ripples, a faint smile also appeared toward Sun Shihan.

"Many thanks, Senior Sister Sun; then I'll accept them."

A ripple stirred in Yu Changsheng's eyes; a trace of helplessness flashed in their depths, and a smile surfaced on his face as he gave thanks.

"……" Beside him, Li Minghan scratched his nose, silently retreated a few steps, wanting to speak but stopping short.

"No need for such politeness; it's only right — my strength is meager; our Yushou Peak's reputation ultimately still depends on you two."

Sun Shihan gave a soft hehe laugh; the rain filling the sky, at this moment, seemed to have become her background accompaniment as well.

Yu Changsheng fell slightly silent, nodded; while Zhang Tianwen's eyes contained an inexplicable light — he glanced at Yu Changsheng, then at Sun Shihan, hehe laughing, and silently distanced himself a bit from Yu Changsheng.

Sun Shihan still wore a gentle smile; after sizing Yu Changsheng up and down, she stepped forward, positioning the oil-paper umbrella in her hand just right to cover Yu Changsheng, shielding him from the rain.

Then, whether intentionally or not, her head lightly leaned toward Yu Changsheng's side; a mouthful of warm breath gently brushed against Yu Changsheng's cheek.

"Do your best!"

Sun Shihan smiled lightly, drew close to Yu Changsheng's ear, exhaled a breath of warm air — truly disregarding the shocked gazes of those around — and after doing all this, even winked at Yu Changsheng, her attitude extremely intimate.

Yu Changsheng's body stiffened violently; such close contact made him slightly unaccustomed, to the point that his complexion flushed for an instant.

At this moment, Yu Changsheng seemed to have already heard the sound of countless disciples' hearts breaking.

Feeling the astonished, shocked, angry, and complex gazes from all around, Yu Changsheng gave a bitter smile, shook his head, pondered a moment, then suddenly smiled — his body abruptly leaned forward, actively hugged Sun Sihan once, then immediately separated.

"!!!"

Sun Sihan froze, completely not expecting Yu Changsheng to pull this stunt in full public view — so much so that for an instant her body went dumbfounded, unable to react; a blush instantly spread across her face.

"You!" Sun Sihan huffed angrily, glared at Yu Changsheng, wanted to speak but stopped, raised a fist wanting to pound Yu Changsheng's chest — but still put it down, didn't say anything more.

"Haha." Seeing this, Yu Changsheng laughed heartily, scratched his nose tip, and didn't mind it.

"They, this?"

"What the hell, my goddess, wuwuwuwu!"

"No, Senior Sister Sun, can I be your dog? Hug me too!"

With this, the onlookers completely lost their composure; some wore mournful faces, some found it hard to believe, discussions abounded.

All kinds of emotions, varying from person to person.

This scene — in the rainy day, Sun Shihan actively holding an umbrella for Yu Changsheng, talented man and beautiful woman, each with their own charm; at a glance, they actually looked quite well-matched.

"Dong dong dong!!!"

Before long, three violent bell tolls resounded through the entire Yushou Peak; the figures of Mo Pengchen and Mu Yongxian also slowly emerged from the rain.

Both bore solemn expressions, swept a glance around at the surrounding people; under the gaze of those eyes, the originally clamorous scene rapidly quieted down.

Mo Pengchen nodded lightly, raised his head to glance at the sky, paid no heed to the rain falling all over the sky — these raindrops fell, but upon reaching three inches from his body surface, they naturally vanished, not touching him in the slightest.

"Today, Heaven doesn't seem to be making things beautiful — but we are all cultivators who struggle against heaven and earth; this bit of weather naturally cannot have any influence."

"The semi-finals of the two-sect competition begin now."

Mo Pengchen spoke no more nonsense; his simple words, in an instant, rang louder than the muffled thunder in the sky — with a wave of his hand, two jade tubes trembled at once, each shooting out a bamboo slip, appearing in the void.

Everyone focused their attention to look.

"First match: Wanxiang Sect's Zhang Tianwen, versus Linglong Sect's Yang Chengxu!"

A projection appeared, announcing the lot-drawing results to all; the crowd erupted in an uproar.

"They're matched up already? Unexpectedly, the champion will be decided between these two — I thought it would be the final match before they met."

"Doesn't matter; sooner or later they have to face each other anyway — just let's see who comes out on top!"

"So looking forward to it — bound to be a dragon-versus-tiger struggle!"

"If it were before, I'd definitely be sure Senior Brother Zhang would win — but now…… sigh, it's a bit hard to say."

Amid the attention and discussion of disciples from both sides, the figures of Zhang Tianwen and Yang Chengxu each stepped out.

"Hong long!"

But the two almost simultaneously leaped, transforming into two long rainbows, soaring up onto the towering arena; the arena trembled, and following that resounded a beast roar that shook heaven and earth!

"Ang!!!"

"Hou!!!"

Two giant beast shadows emerged on the arena, one left one right, encircling Zhang Tianwen and Yang Chengxu, staring at each other.

(Chapter End)