Chapter 259: Bye, Round! Is the Matchmaking System Fishy? (Requesting Monthly Votes)

The first two days of the Jiuzhou Grand Competition's preliminary round proceeded smoothly and swiftly, with a total of 125 contestants advancing to the elimination stage among the top ten on the overall leaderboard.

The waiting benches in the arena suddenly became much emptier, dwindling from over a thousand contestants to just over a hundred.

Several prodigies who had not appeared on the second day of the preliminary round reappeared before the audience.

Zhu Shun, Chu Qingyun, Liu Yunmu… these prodigies who had been eliminated in the preliminary round.

On the Kas side, two Norman soldiers carrying rifles had been knocked down, while another, armed with a pistol, stood in place with both hands raised above his head.

The surrounding steel city gradually gave way to lush forests, and the murky air seemed purified, refreshing the nose.

The ancient halberd's shaft had no luster whatsoever, its material unknown; the moment it was gripped, a terrifyingly supreme spiritual sense subtly emanated from within, as if the ancient aura could transport the wielder back to the halberd's glorious era, witnessing the chaotic wars it had once brought forth.

"But this time, you'll inevitably face Chen Shan sooner or later—Chen Shan isn't an easy man to deal with. Are you afraid?" Xu Changshan asked with a smile.

The man grinned lewdly, his gaze sweeping across the three faces, their bosoms, slender waists, and long legs, radiating wolf-like lust.

After bowing before his master's cave entrance, he was called inside. Du Feng sat across from his master and bowed again. He hadn't seen his master in a while; the old man looked increasingly dearer—when would he ever fix his habit of tricking his disciples? That would be perfect.

Bai Luo's breathing grew rapid; he could no longer control his breath's rhythm, and the chaotic breathing left him flustered.

Know this: in his early years, whenever he gained spoils while campaigning with Lord Ling, he either offered them to superiors to curry favor or distributed them to subordinates to win loyalty; though he handled vast wealth, he retained little for himself. Had he continued this way, it would have been fine.

During backstage preparations before the match, Chu Ming, making her debut as an official interviewer, met Lin Xuan and smiled, saying she looked forward to his post-match interview—yet she never received it, not even when she returned home for the New Year.

Especially when he leaned close to whisper to Yao Niang, that cascading, undulating charm was unforgettable; the cost was a distinct, visible mark left on Zhou Huai'an's shoulder by her, whose gentle exterior concealed unyielding resolve.

Before Long Qingjue could turn his head toward Chu Yuqing, he collapsed backward without warning.

Beside him, Long Qingjue, after hearing the imperial physician's words, slumped entirely, his tense body relaxing as he lowered his eyes helplessly.

"Are you certain a person can remain alive?" Lou Junruo, as Zhao Yunshu's mother, still had to ask again.

He walked step by step to the bedside where Ling Luqi lay, seeing her eyes tightly shut, her cherry lips pressed firmly together, and an ECG monitor beside her showing rhythmic pulses.

Zhao Renfan also felt suspicious, and a chill ran through him—he sensed the matter was far from simple.

As the attack net of black divine light broke through, Lu Yu unleashed another punch; the starry qi surged into the second fatal rune pattern. This sight left Tian Mingzi utterly stunned.

Though I've always appeared to be the active one, I've ultimately been within Jiang Yining's calculations all along.

Cao Ruoxi looked at Cao Yimo's disheveled clothes, then at Fu Ye, whose body now seemed stiff.

"The Chu family has some business dealings with Grandpa. So Chu Shaozero is close to the Jiang family. Grandpa hopes Chu Chuwēi will marry Chu Shaozero." Jiang Yining didn't directly mention his own relationship with Chu Shaozero, but simply explained Chu Shaozero's connection to the Jiang family.

Hong Ling sighed, casting a worried glance at Leng Ran—this foolish girl, so naive it broke one's heart.