Chapter 42: The Plaque‑Seizing Good Show

Below Returning Goose Tower.

Ten thousand people gazed up at the tower top; they were all admirers who did not want to miss this grand feast, most having come from afar. There were also a few unwilling souls whose strength was insufficient—going up meant death; their foresight outweighed their opportunism.

On the contrary, the citizens of Nanjiang City showed numbness toward this scene; although it occurs once every ten years, after seeing it a few times, it had lost its meaning.

On the tenth floor of Returning Goose Tower.

The empty hall could accommodate two or three hundred people. Above the hall, a red rope hung down from the top, with ten wooden plaques attached to its end, each bearing the numbers one through ten; each competitor took one plaque and entered by means of it.

Plaques are obtained by strength. In previous years there were a hundred plaques; this year only ten. The wind up top is strong, causing the plaques to sway and collide, producing crisp sounds.

At the front of the hall sat seven people in black robes; the eldest sat in the center, with three on each side extending outward. They either sat solemnly, leaned without expression, or stared vacantly. Affairs within the hall were none of their concern; they cared only about the final ownership of the ten plaques.

They were the seven elders of the Thousandfold Gate.

"Purgatory Hand" took one plaque, becoming number two. The person who had just stepped up on a flying dart to challenge him was instantly burned to ashes by him! The crowd erupted in an uproar; even the experienced elders couldn't help but glance again, secretly sighing at this young man's future prowess.

Those thrown down from the tower were all the work of Iron Clothes alone! Anyone who came within five meters of him would be hoisted high and then ruthlessly flung away! He casually grabbed a red rope, took a plaque, becoming number four, and clutching it tightly he laughed wildly, "Number four? Is this fate? It seems I have no destiny with number one!" After saying that, he stepped aside to watch the other opponents.

Ou Yang Lie took number six.

The plaques swayed in the wind, yet no one dared to step forward to take one, for the outcome was plainly clear.

Faced with absolute strength, no one dared to compete with such people anymore; they only hoped for someone weaker to appear, giving them a chance. Their gazes all fixed on the stairwell entrance, their sole hope.

They hoped a dozen slightly weaker opponents would come. If the plaques were all taken, they would have to snatch them from the holders' hands—tantamount to striking stone with an egg.

When the Young Palace Master approached, that sole hope was instantly shattered.

The Young Palace Master glanced at no one, walking straight to the red rope; her hand swept over the remaining plaques one by one, finally she cut a red rope and said, "Heh, is number one still left for me?" From start to finish she moved as if through an empty space, under everyone's gaze her bearing was calm and dignified, not losing the poise of the Five Absolutes Palace! She lifted the red rope by hand, the plaque on it trembling on the verge of falling, yet no one dared to step forward and ask her for that number one plaque.

"Everyone, I'm going up!" Suddenly a person leapt from the crowd, stood beside the remaining plaques, and was about to take one. He bore a long sword, his hair flowed freely, and his Daoist robe fluttered as if he were an immortal sage!

This hard‑won balance was shattered again! Where did this stranger come from? By what right did he snatch a plaque ahead of them? The crowd surged forward, intending to tear that first‑comer to pieces!

Then that person's long sword behind him unsheathed itself, a blade of light arcing out! The crowd fell like cut scallions, tumbling backward one after another! Yet throughout the process, that person's body did not move at all!

The Grand Elder stroked his white whiskers and said, "The Mount Hua Sect's 'Imperial Sword Technique' truly lives up to its name. I never expected that after so many years, the Mount Hua Sect, like the Purgatory Gate, would produce talent."

The Grand Elder gave no comment to the Young Palace Master or Purgatory Hand, yet this disciple of the Mount Hua Sect earned his praise—an absolute highest honor.

Chen Yi He, just one step from finishing the stairs, narrowly avoided being knocked over by the crowd falling toward him; fortunately he was quick‑eyed and quick‑handed, leaping up to grab the beam. However his act was rude, presenting his backside to the seven elders. Beneath his trousers lay the crowd that had just been struck down by a sword.

The sword‑bearing person took a plaque, bowed to the crowd with clasped fists, then silently stepped aside; the attention he had drawn was now wholly shifted to Chen Yi He.

The seven elders rose from their seats on the far right, walked to the hall's center, counted the plaques, and announced to everyone, "Numbers one, two, four, six, and seven have been taken. Remaining are three, five, eight, nine, ten—five plaques. Please decide quickly." As soon as he finished speaking, he returned to his seat and sat upright.

The Dragon King and Dongfang Xing also came up. Like the Young Palace Master, the Dragon King walked straight to the plaques, took one, and deliberately bared his left chest, revealing a ferocious, claw‑waving dragon—this was the symbol of his identity! A descendant of the Dragon Clan! Heir of the Azure Dragon Blade!

Tiger Mountain Dragon King—who would dare provoke him?

The Dragon King raised the plaque and said in a loud, clear voice, "Number three."

Just then a heavyweight figure stepped forward. A single utterance of "Prince" from someone unknown instantly ignited the crowd—was a superstar making an appearance?

The people's hatred for the Great Zhou Dynasty had nearly reached its peak; were it not for the court's intervention this time, far more than those present would be standing in the hall of Returning Goose Tower's tenth floor. Yet most of them had suffered losses at the hands of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and still they stood firm here.

Unlike usual when he is fawned over, today Zhou Kai came alone, walking up by himself with no attendants or bodyguards behind him. Perhaps he also realized that at this critical moment, a prince's status alone wouldn't suffice; he needed to prove himself with his own strength.

He swaggered along, and when he passed Dongfang Xing's side he didn't forget to throw her a flirtatious glance.

Another set of footsteps sounded—the person following Zhou Kai upstairs, whom Chen Yi He would never forget! It was Xiao Xiao Yu, and after three or four months he had encountered this demon again!!

Xiao Xiao Yu followed behind Zhou Kai, also heading for the plaques. At first she did not notice Chen Yi He on the beam.

Indignant, the crowd surged forward to surround Zhou Kai and Xiao Xiao Yu, declaring, "Others may take plaques, but you may not." Having ascended Returning Goose Tower, it didn't matter whether you were a prince.

"Heh. It's not that our Western Depot is strong; the competitors in the hall would be at least ten times more numerous than now—do you still have hope?" Zhou Kai gave a cold smile, showing no fear.

Xiao Xiao Yu stood beside Zhou Kai, clearly indicating they would share the same fate.

Chen Yi He chuckled inwardly, "Looks like there's really a good show to watch today!" He was also scheming, planning to snatch a plaque amidst the chaos.

"Hahaha, today truly a gathering of outstanding talents! Let this old man envy the vigor of youth. Two royal heirs, please give this old man a modicum of respect!" Suddenly a sentence rang out from the heavens, filling Returning Goose Tower; though the voice sounded aged, its force was mighty and powerful!!!

"Voice transmission over a thousand li?" The seven elders rose together, stepped to the side, and looked outward; outside the wind was light and the clouds thin, yet no matter how they searched they could not find the speaker.

Not only the seven elders, but everyone present stared, wondering where the speaker was; they felt fear, dreading that such a powerful figure might suddenly appear and slap them to death……

Chen Yi He, frightened, fell from the beam, feeling that the sound had just come from the eaves behind him on the tower's roof……How much longer will this drama of seizing the plaques continue?