Chapter 173

On the highest table, Shen Qing sat down in a relaxed, imposing manner, and finally his gaze fell on Su Jiudie on the stage.

Shen Qing smiled.

Hey, Su Jiudie, you're already on the stage?

Looks like I still made it in time.

Do your best.

Su Jiudie smiled brightly and bowed slightly.

Shen Qing looked at the people around and said, "What are we waiting for? Let's begin."

Also, everyone fight well, show your true strength.

But by no means should you go easy on the people of Yongning Commandery just because of my identity.

Upon hearing this, the people on the stage looked at each other.

They had received orders: when encountering people from Yongning Commandery, they must not deliver a killing blow, but they must definitely strike hard.

But now, in Sun and Moon Mountain, the corpse of Wu Yuhong, beaten to the point of losing bladder control, still lies there, and the corpses of Xu Mo and Zhang Kai not far from the stage are still warm.

Do they still dare to strike hard now?

Three Golden Core Realm cultivators were killed like dogs; are they also going to become the next ones?

Instantly, the several Acquired Realm cultivators on the stage panicked, turning their gazes toward the senior figures of their respective sects.

Then they were surprised to discover that the senior figures in their sects were even more panicked than they were.

Each one looked at them with pleading eyes, shaking their heads repeatedly.

Absolutely do not strike hard!

Shen Qing said calmly: "Let's begin!"

The drum sounded, and the people on the stage immediately moved.

However, everyone acted in unison, each seeking an opponent, with no one going after Su Jiudie.

Su Jiudie just stood there in the very center of the stage, seeming not to be part of the same picture as the people around her.

She stood still there, the breeze from the surrounding battles gently stirring her black hair and swaying her skirt, as if she were a painting.

But the surroundings were not like that.

An Acquired Realm spearman, his eyes icy, his inner power surging, thought to himself:

Yes, I dare not strike Su Jiudie, but do I still not dare to strike you guys?

Of course, everyone on the stage thinks this way: first place is Su Jiudie's, but can we still contend for second?

Everyone gathered their strength and launched heavy punches at anyone other than Su Jiudie.

After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, only three people remained on the stage.

Besides Su Jiudie, there was also the spearman from the beginning, and also a swordsman.

Only see, inner power flaring, the spearman executed a reverse spear thrust, stabbing the swordsman off the stage.

By now, only Su Jiudie and this spearman remained on the stage.

Only see, the spearman holding his spear slowly approached Su Jiudie.

Su Jiudie readied her stance and slowly opened the white jade fan in her hand.

She could feel the man ahead was formidable; having just dealt with the other competitors, he likely hadn't yet used his full strength.

The spearman said: "Miss Su, blades have no eyes, be careful."

Having said that, the spearman lunged forward to attack.

In an instant they exchanged blows, but soon the spearman's face showed a hint of fatigue, his movements slowed considerably, and in the end his inner power actually broke off, and Su Jiudie sent him flying.

Su Jiudie was stunned.

Only see, on the high platform, Shen Qing rose and clapped.

Good! The acting was not bad... cough cough, the fighting was not bad!

In the eyes of low-level martial artists, this spearman was simply exhausted from fighting too many opponents.

But in the eyes of high-level martial artists, it was completely different.

His lack of stamina was an act, his broken inner power was an act, and even finally he deliberately bumped his face into Su Jiudie's fan.

This spearman truly has great acting skills.

The senior figures from all the surrounding sects hurriedly rose to applaud: "Well fought!"

At the same time they let out a sigh of relief; it was finally over.

But just then, they heard Shen Qing say something.

No need to say more about that; let's hurry and start the next match, is it the Innate Realm?

Upon saying that, the atmosphere on the spot instantly grew a bit colder.

Exactly, Yongning Commandery still has Innate Realm and Grandmaster Realm cultivators.

Could it be that the true acting assessment has only just begun?

At this moment, the Manor Lord Sun of Yongning Commandery stepped forward, clasped his hands toward Shen Qing, and also toward Jiang Sheng.

"Lord Shen, we've recently encountered some minor setbacks in our training; let's not participate in the later matches."

After all, they are old hands; they understand the principle of quitting while ahead.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sheng, as if grasping at a straw, turned his gaze toward Shen Qing.

Shen Qing noticed Jiang Sheng's gaze and smiled slightly.

"If there are problems in training, that indeed needs attention; if you don't want to participate, then don't."

"Sect Master Jiang, you have no objections, right?"

Jiang Sheng hurriedly nodded like a chick pecking at grain: "Martial sparring is trivial; health is paramount—take good care of yourself."

I'll send some healing medicines over to Manor Lord Sun and his people later.

Mainly, this time at the martial arts assembly they conducted themselves properly, caused no trouble, and their actions against the people of Yongning Prefecture were also clean; they only intended to fight on the stage, not to resort to underhanded tactics elsewhere.

Then Shen Qing also couldn't be bothered to make things difficult for them; letting them save face was fine.

After all, you can't just wield the stick; you also need to offer a sweet date.

Shen Qing waved his hand.

Alright, that's it then. Since Manor Lord Sun and his companions are unwell, I won't linger either; I'll go ahead and take them to get medical treatment.

You guys fight well.

Saying that, Shen Qing flew down from the high platform; the sect bigwigs on the surrounding stands also hurriedly flew down after him, following behind Shen Qing, and only after they had sent Shen Qing away from Sun and Moon Mountain did they return to the stands.

Jiang Sheng finally let out a sigh of relief: 'Alright, they've left.'

A bigwig from You Prefecture beside him chuckled: 'Your Qing Prefecture martial world will enjoy blessings from now on, having run into such an Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander.'

Jiang Sheng seemed to think of something, put on a pained expression, and hastily waved his hand.

I won't say, I won't say.

Having said that, he changed the topic, shouting loudly: 'Let the Innate Realm contestants step onto the stage!'

Only see several Innate Realm martial artists walking up one after another, but it seemed one person was missing.

Jiang Sheng narrowed his eyes: 'How come someone's missing? Who didn't come?'

A shout came from below: 'Jiang Sect Master, it's the people of Frost Bell Temple; today not a single person from Frost Bell Temple came!'

Not a single one came? Does anyone know what happened?

Just then, two disciples ran up onto the high platform, leaned close to Jiang Sheng, whispered a few words, and stuffed a notice into his hand.

Sect Master, down at the mountain base the Embroidered Uniform Guard is posting notices, and they gave us a few copies.

Jiang Sheng took a look and felt his vision go dark.

The notice just had a few lines written on it.

'Frost Bell Temple secretly harbors a wanted criminal of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.'

'The entire sect has been ordered to be exterminated.'

The same situation was also playing out at each sect's master.

No sooner had Shen Qing left than the Embroidered Uniform Guard began posting such notices.

The meaning of this was already quite clear.

It was nothing more than telling them.

Even if I, Shen Qing, have already left and am no longer at Sun and Moon Mountain.

I can still keep an eye on you.

You all had better be careful!