Chapter 434
434 The Zhan Clan’s Challenge
Three days later, at Lanjiang City’s fighting arena.
The huge fighting arena was bustling with people. At a glance, the viewing platform was densely packed with people. Compared to the number of people a few days ago, it could be said that there was only an increase in the number of people.
On the high platform, Jiang Li was still speaking with confidence. It was not until this old fellow had finally said enough that the third round of the competition’s drawing ceremony began. A golden ball of light once again appeared, and within it, a large number of jade chips flew about. However, compared to the previous two rounds, the number of jade slips among them had been greatly reduced.
After these two short rounds, the number of teams participating in the Grand Sect Competition had dropped by three-quarters. The remaining teams could be said to be quite powerful, most of the sects that had relied on their luck to reach this stage had been eliminated.
“I’m sure you all know the rules of this round, right?”
In the room belonging to the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Tang Conglin stared at the Golden Ball of light on the high platform, feeling a little nervous.
“Yes.” To the side, Hou Yu and the other disciples of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion nodded, their expressions uneasy.
Among the people present, only Gu Xi and Little Nine looked calm, as if they did not care too much about the drawing of lots in this round.
According to Tang Conglin’s explanation, the rules for drawing lots for the third round were different from before. The jade slip in the light ball no longer had the names of their opponents on it. Instead, it had the names ‘challenger’ and ‘being challenged’.
It was simple. According to the number of remaining teams, the competition officials would assign half of the jade slips with ‘challenger’ and the other half with ‘being challenged’. If they drew a jade slip with the words ‘challenger’ engraved on it, then the team holding the jade slip would be able to choose one of the teams to challenge. Moreover, the team being challenged did not have the right to refuse, regardless of whether the difference in strength was large or small, they could only brace themselves and choose to accept the challenge or forfeit on the spot.
On the contrary, if they drew a ‘being challenged’ token, they would not have any right to choose. They could only obediently wait for the teams that drew a jade slip with the words ‘challenger’ engraved on it to choose them.
It might sound unfair, but according to the explanation of the tournament, luck was a part of one’s strength. This was a fact universally acknowledged by everyone.
This was also the reason why Tang Conglin and the others were so nervous. If they were unlucky enough to be selected with a ‘being challenged’ jade slip, it would mean that they had become fish on the chopping board. If they were again unlucky enough to be targeted by a powerful first-rate force, their competition career might end here.
Of course, the chance of being targeted by a first-rate force was very small. After all, everyone knew that they had to pick the soft persimmon. Due to the strength that Gu Xi had displayed earlier, most of the powerful teams would not choose them as their opponents. Of course, it was not impossible for some of the teams to do something unexpected.
As the jade slips in the ball of light flew faster and faster, at a certain moment, the ball of light suddenly exploded. A large number of jade pieces began to fly in all directions, and one of them headed straight for Gu Xi’s room.
Looking at the approaching golden light, Tong Shan took a deep breath. With a wave of his large hand, a powerful suction force surged out from his palm. He forcefully pulled the jade slip into his hand.
“I hope the result will be better.” Tong Shan took another deep breath, and his gaze fell on the jade slip in his hand.
In the next moment, his expression was a little ugly, and a helpless look flashed across the depths of his eyes.
Seeing this, everyone shook their heads and sighed. Although Tong Shan had not announced the result, through the change in his expression, everyone already had an answer in their hearts. Without the right to challenge, it meant that they had lost the initiative.
“Don’t be discouraged. It’s just that we don’t have the right to challenge. If anyone dares to challenge our Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, we’ll teach them a lesson!” Sweeping his gaze across the disappointed crowd, Tang Conglin promptly opened his mouth to cheer for everyone.
Hearing this, everyone gradually regained their morale. Then, everyone’s gaze fell on Jiang Li on the high platform again, waiting for him to announce the next result.
At the same time, somewhere in the viewing platform.
Just like the people from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, the people here were also a little depressed.
“Damn, we’re the same as Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion. It seems that we won’t be able to get rid of Gu Lan in this round.”
Fifth Brother, who was dressed in red, could not help but curse angrily.
Just like the jade slip that the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion obtained, the jade slip that they drew was also the one being challenged. This meant that the opportunity to kill Gu Xi had slipped away from their fingers, and they were powerless to do anything about it.
Compared to Fifth Brother’s angry curses, the others around him did not say anything. However, it was not difficult to see from their expressions that they were clearly not satisfied with the result of the drawing of lots.
“The third round of the drawing of lots has the right to challenge the White Jade Sect, the Eight Directions Sect, the Four Symbols Sect, the Zhan Clan, the Qiankun Sect, the Yellow Bamboo Sect, the Full Moon Mysterious Sect…”
“The teams waiting for the challenge are: Golden Snake True Sect, Chaos Origin Sect, Ethereal Illusion Mansion, Refined Void Spirit Sect, Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, Big Dipper Palace, Blood Spirit Society, Raindragon Pavilion…”
On the high platform, Jiang Li quickly announced the results of the balloting this time.
After that, the Grand Sect Competition continued according to the procedure. Next, the teams with the right to challenge began to choose their opponents. The order they chose would be determined based on their performance in the previous two rounds.
After waiting for a moment, the teams with the right to challenge had already chosen their opponents.
The teams that were waiting were all extremely nervous. They were afraid that they would be chosen by a strong team, especially the teams that had relied on their luck to reach this stage. All of them had expressions of despair on their faces. It was obvious that they had already predicted the outcome.
As soft persimmon, they knew that there were too many people who wanted to pinch them. As long as they were chosen as their opponents, their opponents would be able to pass the third round of selection with ease.
“White Jade Sect versus Void Refining Spirit Sect, four symbols sect versus Yinglong Pavilion, Full Moon Mysterious Sect versus Big Dipper Palace…”
It was unknown whether it was intentional or not, but Jiang Li did not announce the results according to the order of strength. However, his action undoubtedly caused the people from the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion to once again sink into a state of nervousness and trepidation.
“Let’s hope our luck will be better this time.” A disciple of the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion could not help but pray.
However, just as he finished speaking, Jiang Li’s voice sounded once again.
“Zhan Clan versus… Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!”