Free Web NovelChapter 209: Chapter 209: Battle Begins, Battle Valley
Wu Yiyi’s gaze shifted uncertainly as she listened to Zheng Zhuhe’s explanation.
"Oh, is that right? It seems I wasted my time again. I’m suddenly realizing how useless I am."
She continued in a pitiful tone, her eyes turning red. "Just now, I ran into my uncle’s daughter, Wu Caicai. She’s close with Fake Lu Chao, and they almost beat me up."
At these words, Zheng Zhuhe exploded with rage, his killing intent flaring.
"Those bastards! I’ll go get revenge for you..."
With that, Zheng Zhuhe immediately made to storm the courtyard where Dragon Flame Academy was staying.
But of course, Wu Yiyi pulled him back. "Don’t be rash. Fake Lu Chao is finished tomorrow anyway. As for my Sister Caicai... she’s from the Tiger Institute, and she’s always bullying me at home."
Zheng Zhuhe stopped at her words. It was true; he couldn’t rashly go after Fake Lu Chao, or he would give people something to use against him.
He then gave a vicious grin. "Wu Caicai from the Tiger Institute, is it? No problem. Just leave her to me."
Wu Yiyi thanked him repeatedly, feigning gratitude, then made an excuse that she was tired and needed to go rest.
The two shared a reluctant farewell. Only when she was a safe distance from Zheng Zhuhe did Wu Yiyi let out a scornful laugh...
’Compared to Fake Lu Chao, aside from his higher Martial Arts Realm, Zheng Zhuhe is a complete idiot.’
’But idiots have their uses. He’s perfect for getting someone else to do my dirty work.’
’Wu Caicai... hehehe...’
’You made Fake Lu Chao drive me away, but I’m not going to tattle to Uncle. With just a few words, I can make you offend the greatest prodigy of the Saint Bone Zheng Family. Soon, you won’t be able to stay at the Tiger Institute any longer.’
With that, Wu Yiyi stretched lazily...
’Fake Lu Chao can’t possibly rely on the power of the Saint Bone Su Family, so... will he come to me?’
’How exciting!’
A bewitching smile touched the corners of Wu Yiyi’s lips...
She was certain Fake Lu Chao would secretly come find her tonight to make a deal. After all, he had run out of options.
...
At dawn, Zeng Quan’s voice rang out across Beast Flame Academy: "Assemble! The second round is about to begin."
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Everyone poured out of their designated courtyards and, led by staff sent by the Beast Flame Academy’s upper echelons, surged toward the arena for the second round. They quickly assembled on several cliff faces.
The location consisted of six or seven massive stone ledges jutting out from the small mountains surrounding a small canyon below.
The small canyon floor was like a huge plaza, surrounded by a dense forest.
Dean Zeng Quan, along with a group of the Beast Flame Academy’s senior leaders, walked out onto the highest stone ledge.
His gaze swept over the entire area, and he immediately spoke...
"Is everyone here? What you see now is the former Battle Valley of the Azure Flame Sect’s Soldier Dao Sect."
"Now, of course, it belongs to our Beast Flame Academy."
"The second round, the mounted combat duels, will take place in Battle Valley. Let the duels begin, following the drawn order..."
"First match: Sky Cliff Academy versus Luoyan Academy!"
As his voice faded, the entire arena fell silent.
Zeng Quan’s voice boomed again, "Students of both academies, leap down into Battle Valley now."
At the command... SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!
Led by their Senior Sister Sky Cliff, the students of Sky Cliff Academy vaulted down from the stone ledge, landing steadily in a designated spot in Battle Valley that had already been marked with a line.
The students from Luoyan Academy followed, flying down to land behind the line on the other side. This was a Small Institute with only a dozen or so students.
As they landed, Zeng Quan spoke again, "Now, release the warhorses!"
The sound of pounding hooves immediately rang out... THUD! THUD! THUD!
From the woods on both sides of Battle Valley, warhorses charged out thunderously, their numbers exactly matching the number of students from the two academies.
As the warhorses drew near, Senior Sister Sky Cliff shouted, "Everyone, mount up!"
Their thirty students immediately vaulted onto the horses, and their opponents did the same. The duel began instantly...
The students of Sky Cliff Academy immediately charged at their opponents. Luoyan Academy’s students, having just mounted, turned and fled... Since they were outnumbered, their only choice was to run first and figure out the rest later, perhaps using arrows for cover.
But it was no use...
Senior Sister Sky Cliff was a veteran of the Azure Flame Sect’s war in the Chaotic Hundred Countries; her experience was far greater than her opponents’.
In just a few exchanges, she knocked all of her opponents from their horses.
Zeng Quan announced, "Sky Cliff Academy, victorious!"
The duels continued...
Match two, match three, match four... And in every single one, no team had managed to recruit any so-called external support. The "charisma contest" established by Zeng Quan seemed to be just for show, as every duel was fought only by an academy’s own students.
But everyone present knew...
...all the students eliminated in the first round had been recruited by Zhongyue Academy.
To most people in the audience, this string of duels was utterly bland. Everyone was waiting for the one match that truly mattered.
Countless gazes were fixed on a corner of one particular stone ledge.
There, the members of Dragon Flame Academy stood in isolation—a group of fewer than twenty people in total, including staff and students.
Everyone was wondering, ’Will Dragon Flame Academy forfeit?’
Just then...
The crowd saw a figure who looked like a middle-aged guard walk over to the Dragon Flame Academy contingent. After saying a few words, he retreated, his face livid.
Most people didn’t know who this middle-aged guard was.
When the middle-aged guard reappeared, he had already arrived on another stone ledge.
He was, of course, Wu Yiyi’s guard. He reported to her, "Miss Yiyi, Fake Lu Chao refused. He also told Miss Yiyi not to bother him again. That piece of trash is still putting on airs."
Upon hearing this, Wu Yiyi’s face paled slightly with anger.
She had dark circles under her eyes.
She had been so sure that Fake Lu Chao would seek her out for a deal last night, but she had waited for nothing and hadn’t slept a wink.
Now, hearing that Fake Lu Chao had rejected the guard she sent, she was suddenly overcome with rage.
Her head snapped up, and she looked toward Wu Caicai in the neighboring contingent, who appeared completely unfazed.
Wu Yiyi’s mind raced again. ’Could Wu Caicai have interfered? Did she give Fake Lu Chao some kind of advantage or advice?’
Slowly, Wu Yiyi retracted her gaze, her eyes turning sinister as she plotted.
After a few breaths, she muttered sinisterly, ’Fake Lu Chao, I don’t care what tricks you have. You made me wait for you all night... so you’ll have to excuse me. There is absolutely no chance you’ll win this second round.’
At this thought, Wu Yiyi glanced toward another contingent on her ledge and found Zheng Zhuhe.
The corner of her lip curled up, but she took no action for the moment...
This particular stone ledge served as the viewing point for the students of the seven Inner Courtyards.
Practically all the students from the seven Inner Courtyards had shown up for the second round. They were naturally here to see the skill level of the future Outer Courtyard, and, of course, to watch that Fake Lu Chao get absolutely crushed.
Suddenly...
Zeng Quan’s voice rang out, "Match fifteen is complete! For match sixteen, Dragon Flame Academy versus Zhongyue Academy! Students, enter the arena!"
His voice boomed across the arena. Everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the two academies.
