A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

Yan Wujiu felt like he had been tricked, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

Before he could even react, another hearty laugh came from outside the courtyard.

"Junior Sister Yunxi!"

Master Qingyang arrived on the wind, followed by two people.

Chu Wuyai.

Yang Shiqi.

Chu Wuyai remained expressionless, staring straight ahead, radiating an aura of coldness that kept strangers at bay.

But if you look closely, you'll notice an unnatural red tinge around his ears.

Yang Shiqi kept her head down, not daring to look at anyone the whole time, her face flushed red all the way to her collarbone.

"Junior Sister Yunxi, I have come here only to demand an explanation."

Master Qingyang smiled and clasped his hands in greeting to Yunxi, then gestured with his hand towards the two people behind him.

"Last night, your nephew Chu and your disciple Yang Shiqi achieved a perfect union."

"I hope my junior sister can give me an explanation for this matter."

What?! A win-win situation?!

Xie Nantian's chin almost hit the ground.

Xiong Chumo almost shoved the pastry in her hand into her nostril.

Lu Qingdai covered her mouth.

Midozhi blinked, looking back and forth.

Yan Wujiu's mouth was so wide open it could fit an egg.

He turned to look at Luo Fan, only to see Luo Fan looking down, intently studying Bai Jie's toes.

Annoyed and embarrassed, Bai Jie secretly pinched him, then quickly pulled her little foot back under her skirt.

Yunxi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly.

Under someone's scheme, both of these apprentices were reserved for someone else overnight.

She couldn't quite describe her feelings.

"Brother, please rest assured, I will certainly not wrong your disciple."

Yunxi smiled and said, "Once we return to Peach Blossom Temple, I will have someone prepare generous gifts for our journey to Qingyun Sect."

"Then this humble Taoist will await good news!"

Master Qingyang was in a very good mood, and then he left with Yang Shiqi.

Before leaving, Yang Shiqi quietly turned back to look at Chu Wuyai.

That one glance, her eyes brimming with a mixture of shyness and reproach.

Chu Wuyai's ears turned even redder.

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Chu Wuyai slowly turned his head, his gaze sharp as a sword.

My gaze locked onto the figure in the corner, who was trying to quietly move backward.

"Junior Brother Luo."

His voice was very calm.

Luo Fan turned around with an awkward smile. "Second Senior Brother, good morning?"

Chu Wuyai remained expressionless.

He was moving his wrists.

Then there are the finger joints.

Click, click.

He took a step forward.

Luo Fan took a step back.

"Hey, senior, let's talk this out. We don't condone violence, okay?"

"Don't worry, I just want to warm up before going on stage. You shouldn't have any objections, right?"

"Sect Leader, save me! Martial Uncle, save me!!"

Luo Fan turned and ran.

Chu Wuyai raised his leg and chased after him.

The two chased each other, circling around the courtyard.

Seeing this, Yan Wujiu suddenly realized what was happening and grabbed Xie Nantian next to him.

"Senior Brother, have we all been betrayed by Junior Brother Luo?"

Not entirely.

"How so?"

Yan Wujiu was stunned.

"If I understand correctly..."

Xie Nantian patted him on the shoulder, "You should be the freebie."

"..."

Yan Wujiu clutched his chest, feeling as if he had been struck by a ton of force.

So all that running errands for him was for nothing, and he was locked up all night.

In the end, was it just a buy-one-get-one-free deal?

"Senior Brother Yan, try to look on the bright side."

Xiong Chumo patted him on the shoulder, "A free gift is at least a quality item."

"..."

thank you!

This consolation is worse than nothing.

He squatted down in the corner and started drawing circles.

After the morning interlude, the final battle of the Four Sects Tournament finally arrived.

The training ground was packed with people.

Disciples from all sects had already gathered, eagerly anticipating today's ultimate showdown.

On the high platform, the four sect leaders took their seats.

Yunxi remains as serene and cold as the moon.

Liu Linglong smiled, her gaze fixed solely on Luo Fan.

Thinking about what would happen after the martial arts competition, she felt a mix of nervousness and anticipation deep down.

Master Xuanming and Master Qingyang exchanged a knowing smile, their understanding unspoken.

The audience below the stage, the Peach Blossom Temple camp.

Chu Wuyai held his sword, closed his eyes to rest, as if nothing had happened last night.

If you look closely, you can see that the knuckles of his hand holding the sword are slightly white.

Yan Wujiu was squatting in the corner, still drawing circles and muttering to himself.

"A free gift... I'm a free gift..."

Bai Jie stood next to Luo Fan, stealing glances at him every now and then, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Lu Qingdai gripped the hem of her clothes and took a deep breath.

Xiong Chumo chewed on the pastry, her mouth slurring indistinctly.

"Don't be nervous, senior sister. If we encounter someone we can't beat, we just admit defeat. There's no shame in it."

Anyway, they've already reached the eve of the final showdown.

Quitting at this point is not shameful.

Even the eldest brother lost in the second round.

She admitted that she had an element of luck, but she was originally a blacksmith.

When it comes to fighting, it's all about participation.

"quiet!"

The elder presiding over the ceremony resounded throughout the hall.

"Today, we will hold the third and final round of the Four Sects Martial Arts Tournament!"

"This round will determine the top three finishers in this martial arts competition!"

"Now, disciples who are advancing to the next level, please come forward and draw lots!"

Nine figures emerged from their respective factions and arrived in front of the arena.

Peach Blossom Temple: Luo Fan, Chu Wuyai, Bai Jie, Lu Qingdai, Xiong Chumo.

Xuantian Sect: Qin Wushuang.

Qingyun Sect: Lin Hao.

Zhengyang Sect: Chu Xuanqing, Chi'ou.

Everyone took turns drawing lots.

Luo Fan casually pulled out one.

Xiong Chumo leaned closer to take a look and was stunned.

"I abstain!"

Without thinking, she raised her hand without hesitation.

The presiding elder frowned. "Why abstain before the war has even begun?"

"Think about it, my junior brother Luo is so handsome. When my hammer hits him, it hurts my heart."

She shrugged. "Besides, our Peach Blossom Temple has rules that forbid internal strife!"

A burst of laughter erupted from the audience.

The elder presiding over the meeting twitched at the corner of his mouth.

"Xiong Chumo forfeits, Luo Fan advances!"

Next, Chu Wuyai was drawn to fight Chu Xuanqing.

Bai Jie was drawn to face Lin Hao.

Qin Wushuang was drawn to fight Sun Bao.

Lu Qingdai was drawn to fight against the Red Gull.

Qin Wushuang essentially drew a blank lot, and Sun Bao was crippled yesterday and unable to participate in the battle.

"I'm also abstaining!"

Everyone looked on in astonishment.

It turned out to be Lin Hao, the senior disciple of the Qingyun Sect.

On the high platform, Master Qingyang stroked his beard and smiled, showing no surprise whatsoever.

The elder frowned and asked, "Why did you abstain?"

"I'm hungry, I haven't eaten enough!"

"..."

The presiding elder took a deep breath and had no choice but to announce the first round of the decisive battle.

At Peach Blossom Temple, Lu Qingdai battles against Chi Ou of the Zhengyang Sect.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense.

Just as Lu Qingdai was about to go on stage, a hand suddenly grabbed hers.

Eyes facing each other.

Lu Qingdai opened her mouth.

She wanted to say—

Let me go up.

Even if you can't beat him, you can still deplete some of his spiritual power.

however.

Luo Fan gripped her hand tightly and shook his head.

I felt the warmth from his palm, and the look in his eyes...

Senior sister, trust me.

I don't need you to take the knife for me.

I can win.

Lu Qingdai's face gradually turned red.

"I abstain."

She withdrew her hand and stood beside Xiong Chumo.

Xiong Chumo leaned closer and whispered, "Sister Qingdai, your face is so red."

Lu Qingdai ignored her.

She looked down at her wrist.

The warmth of someone's palm still lingers there.

"Are all the people at Peach Blossom Temple cowardly good-for-nothings?"

Chi Ou stood on the stage, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Fine, that's all the ambition you have."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Red Gull's gaze swept over the crowd and landed on Luo Fan.

"You'd better hope you don't run into me."

He made a throat-slitting gesture, his smile cruel and bloodthirsty.

"Who says otherwise? It seems that a battle between us is inevitable."

Luo Fan laughed and said, "But what I want to say is, the one who laughs last laughs best."

Chi Ou snorted coldly and turned to leave the stage.

And the first real decisive battle after that was between Chu Wuyai and Chu Xuanqing.

Two figures stepped onto the arena almost simultaneously.

A man in a blue robe, carrying a sword, had a stern face.

A man in black robes, carrying a sword, exuded an arrogant and domineering aura.

The two stood facing each other, about ten feet apart.

"I heard you're the second-best swordsman among the younger generation at Peach Blossom Temple?"

Chu Xuanqing spoke first, scoffing, "Don't let him fall down after just a few moves."

"rest assured."

Chu Wuyai said calmly, "You, who were severely injured by my junior brother, are not worth my full strength."

"court death!"

Chu Xuanqing made the first move!

He took a step forward, his long sword slashing straight at Chu Wuyai's face!

Until the very moment the blade was about to strike.

Chu Wuyai then reacted.

"Sword One, Stop."

Clang!

A clear, resounding sword cry echoed throughout the entire arena!

There were no flashy moves, nor any overwhelming momentum.

All that's left is the simplest stab.

Ding!

Chu Xuanqing's blade deflected, grazing Chu Wuyai's shoulder and striking the ground!

He drew his sword and slashed again!

Layer upon layer of sword light, a storm of sword energy, enveloped Chu Wuyai!

"Sword Two, Circle."

Chu Wuyai remained expressionless, his longsword spinning in his hand, drawing a perfect circle.

Inside the circle, all was calm and peaceful.

Outside the circle, the storm of sword energy raged, yet could not penetrate it even slightly!

"Using stillness to control movement, and roundness to govern squareness—this is the highest realm of swordsmanship!"

On the high platform.

Master Qingyang smiled broadly, showering him with praise.

Below the arena.

Yang Shiqi's gaze remained fixed on the figure in green robes carrying a sword.

She held her breath when he drew his sword.

As he parried, she gripped the hem of her clothes tightly.

Until Chu Wuyai drew a circle with his sword, blocking all the violent sword energy outside the circle.

Her anxiety finally subsided.

A slight curve appeared at the corner of her lips.

The curvature is very faint.

Far from being as good as...

The vibrant and dazzling bloom that graced him last night.