Chapter 2085

For the disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect, losing to anyone is no problem; the only one they cannot lose to is the Dao One Immortal Sect—this is a matter of face.

But in this first match, when the disciples of the two sects faced off, they had thought it would be a battle to avenge shame, yet unexpectedly it turned into a humiliating battle.

Facing the disciple of the Dao One Immortal Sect, the Immortal Sword Sect disciple who stepped onto the stage was completely suppressed from start to finish.

If it weren't for him gritting his teeth and holding on all the way, he would have lost long ago.

Even so, it was merely dragging out a little time; in the end he still had to lose.

As for turning the tide, there was simply no chance.

The Immortal Sword Sect disciples offstage were the most numerous, after all this was inside the Immortal Sword Sect.

Each of their faces was grim to the extreme, yet they could not intervene.

In the end, as that Immortal Sword Sect disciple was knocked off the stage with a single blow, the outcome of the match was decided.

The Dao One Immortal Sect took the lead and secured the first victory.

Perhaps knowing the Immortal Sword Sect disciples were unhappy, and adding to the events of the past few days, after winning, the Dao One Immortal Sect disciple did not cheer out loud.

Instead, he silently stepped down from the platform and returned to where the sect's members were gathered.

His conduct was very low-key, which also left the many Immortal Sword Sect disciples unable to find a reason to get angry.

But just as he returned, before he could even speak to offer his respects, Ye Zhangqing snapped his fingers, and a box of already-warmed rations fell into the disciple's hand.

Looking at the rations he held in his hands, the disciple was stunned, then gazed at Ye Zhangqing in disbelief, while Ye Zhangqing merely said lightly.

"You fought well; this is for you."

「This................... 」

No one had mentioned there would be such a reward before; it was completely an unexpected surprise, a windfall from heaven.

After a moment's pause, the disciple, having come to his senses, bowed respectfully to Ye Zhangqing with a look of delight and thanked him.

"Thank you, Elder Ye, for bestowing this treasure."

Upon hearing this, the people from the surrounding sects all stared blankly.

Originally, after this disciple secured the first victory for the Dao One Immortal Sect, many people had been paying attention to him.

Every move he made naturally could not escape the notice of so many eyes.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing give this disciple a meal, everyone already felt something was odd.

With everyone's eyesight, it was naturally easy to see that it was just an ordinary meal, the ingredients even being the most common demon-beast fare.

What does it mean to give a meal as a reward for winning?

We're all cultivators; who cares about such things?

But just as everyone was still trying to figure it out, the disciple bowed respectfully with a look of delight and thanked him, which directly left everyone bewildered.

No, what does this mean? Why are you even thanking him for this?

How can an ordinary bowl of food be considered a treasure? What kind of treasure is this?

The people from the surrounding sects all looked toward where the Dao One Immortal Sect members were, each with a doubtful expression.

Just what kind of proper sect is the Dao One Immortal Sect, anyway?

Which normal sect would be so delighted over bestowing just an ordinary bowl of food?

However, nobody really cared about those odd glances.

The disciple, holding the meal in his hands, was thrilled inside and had no leisure to worry about what others present might think.

As for Ye Zhangqing, his nature is not to care about such things; can one even stop others from letting their imaginations run wild just because they have brains in their heads?

They paid no heed to the gazes cast upon them from all sides.

Only within the Dao One Immortal Sect itself did the other nine disciples, seeing this person sit down with the rations, immediately start eating heartily, feeling a mix of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

They wished they had been the ones to go on stage earlier; if they had, they would be the ones eating now.

Watching that junior brother wolf down his food, the other nine disciples each thought to themselves.

"Damn it, why wasn't it me just now? I've let this guy get a freebie."

This disciple was actually the weakest among the ten Dao One Immortal Sect disciples participating this time.

Actually, speaking of it, people like Qi Xiong and Wu Shou currently have no clear grasp of their disciples' abilities.

There's no way around it—those old fogies haven't even reached the cultivation level of their disciples, so naturally they can't see the depths of their disciples' abilities.

In the following several matches, no disciple from the Dao One Immortal Sect stepped onto the stage.

This left the other nine disciples anxious beyond measure, after all, only by going on stage could they get food.

Those few were already starving to the point of desperation, hearts burning with urgency.

At this point, it was finally the Dao One Immortal Sect's turn again; hearing his name called, one of its disciples sprang to his feet and, with a flash, appeared on the platform.

He looked utterly impatient, causing the Immortal Sword Sect elder standing nearby to blink in surprise.

What's going on with the Dao One Immortal Sect? Why is he so worked up?

Under the suspicious gaze of that elder, the opponent stepped onto the stage, and the Dao One Immortal Sect disciple, without wasting words, clasped his hands in a salute.

"Fellow Daoist."

He then turned his head to look at the Immortal Sword Sect elder beside him; the meaning was crystal clear: "Old man, aren't you going to shout the start?"

Under the disciple's silent urging, the Immortal Sword Sect elder frowned and announced the start of the match.

The instant the words fell, the Dao One Immortal Sect disciple launched the first attack.

Just as in the previous match, from the outset the Dao One Immortal Sect disciple seized the initiative and firmly held the battle's momentum.

The opponent struggled desperately to resist, but in the end he still fell, filled with resentment.

The fight ended even more swiftly than the first, and it was a crushing victory.

After winning, the disciple said nothing more, turned, and stepped straight down from the platform.

Then he fixed a blazing gaze on Ye Zhangqing; seeing this, Ye Zhangqing smiled and snapped his fingers, and a box of warmed rations likewise appeared in the disciple's hand.

"Disciple thanks the Elder for the treasure."

Huh??? Again???

Seeing another meal delivered to that disciple's hand, the surrounding people from other sects were dumbfounded again.

What's going on?

You Dao One Immortal Sect win, and you reward just a meal? How stingy!

But those two disciples, upon receiving the meal, were excited as if they had obtained some rare treasure.

And the other eight disciples, each filled with envy, their expressions utterly genuine.

This left everyone present bewildered—what exactly does it mean?

Something's off with this Dao One Immortal Sect.

Unable to figure it out, the disciple who received the dry rations hurried back to his seat and immediately began to eat heartily, enjoying it immensely.

The remaining eight disciples secretly gathered their strength, waiting for their turn to go on stage, determined to win with lightning speed, then come back to eat.

Already rolling up their sleeves and clenching their fists, just waiting for their turn to go on stage.

Gazing at the arena, their fighting spirit continually gathered, while they constantly swallowed saliva; this taste is truly fragrant—when will it be my turn to go on stage?

Strange, why can't we have a rule like a relay match, where once I go up I won't come down.