JSCMU-Chapter 188: The Disciple Tournament Begins

“Fight to the death!”

These four words carried a chilling, bloody aura.

The corners of Ruan Jun’s lips couldn’t help but turn up in a smile.

Fight to the death?

He liked that.

“Then, let the random draw begin.” Zhao Wuji glanced at Lin Ya, “If your disciple still hasn’t arrived by the time the tournament begins, it will count as a forfeit, and her points will be zero.”

Lin Ya remained composed, “Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader.”

Each peak had already submitted the list of elite disciples. Now, under the gaze of all sect disciples, the tournament that would determine the ranking of all the peaks officially began.

There were 53 participants in total. One would receive a bye each round.

The one who drew the bye was considered lucky and would automatically advance to the next round.

In the world of cultivation, while strength mattered, luck also played a role.

If one could get a bye, that too was part of their destiny.

So although this rule seemed unfair, no one objected.

After all, who didn’t want to be the chosen one?

The participating disciples began stepping up to draw lots. Lot 1 would face Lot 53. Lot 2 against Lot 52, and so on. The final, unpaired Lot 27 would be the bye.

Once everyone had drawn, the last remaining lot was naturally Yun Jin’s.

No one rushed to check her result. Instead, everyone first looked at their own.

Ruan Jun looked at his calmly.

He had drawn Lot 1.

A good number.

This time, without a doubt, he would take first place in the disciple tournament.

The first thing he did was look toward Yue Zhao.

Besides Yun Jin, Yue Zhao was the one he most wanted to challenge right now.

He wanted Yue Zhao to see that he was no longer the same person as before.

Unfortunately, Yue Zhao had drawn Lot 33. They wouldn’t face each other in the first round.

None of the Heavenly Sword Peak disciples were paired with Ruan Jun.

The only matchup between Zhao Wuji’s disciples and Heavenly Sword Peak was Zhou Li and Si Wanning.

Si Wanning looked at Zhou Li with anticipation.

Her swordsmanship had recently improved greatly. Zhou Li was a powerful opponent, just right to test her current level.

Ruan Jun glanced at Zhou Li and said, “Third Junior Brother, this concerns our master’s honor. Victory is the only option.”

Si Wanning wasn’t someone easy to defeat, and Zhou Li felt nervous, but he could only agree.

He and his younger brother weren’t favored by their master to begin with. If he lost now and caused their side to lose points, things would only get worse for them.

So, he had to win!

After confirming the matchups, everyone realized something, every single person had drawn a match.

…???

Then what about the bye?

“Ah, it seems I’m late.” Suddenly, a crisp voice rang out.

Yun Jin strolled in leisurely.

A bright smile hung on her face. There was none of the nervousness or fear that people had been whispering about. She looked calm and composed.

Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes and instinctively scanned her cultivation level.

His expression subtly changed.

How long has it been?

Yun Jin is already at mid Golden Core stage.

And her spiritual energy was vast and full, she’s clearly not far from late Golden Core.

This level of cultivation might not be shocking for elite disciples.

But!

Yun Jin was a new disciple who had only joined three months ago.

Other new disciples were still struggling in Qi Refining.

Yet she’s already well into the Golden Core Stage!

Could a Five Element Root even do something like this?

Even if she had a Celestial Spirit Root, it’s not as outrageous as this.

Zhao Wuji’s expression shifted, but then he calmed himself down.

So what if she’s mid Golden Core?

Ruan Jun’s already at peak Nascent Soul.

That’s a whole major realm higher. What could Yun Jin rely on to win?

“This is Ruan Jun’s opponent?” Li Heng looked intrigued. “Just a mere Golden Core Stage, and you’re so worried?”

Zhao Wuji replied in a low voice, “Martial Uncle, when I invited you, she was still only Foundation Establishment.”

Li Heng looked at him in disbelief.

Zhao Wuji paused, then added, “She’s been cultivating for just three months.”

Mid Golden Core in three months?!

Li Heng’s pupils shrank, “Impossible.”

Zhao Wuji didn’t want to believe it either, but still said, “It’s true. Three months ago, she was just a mortal. I don’t know how she cultivated so quickly.”

Even if she’d taken some miraculous treasure to raise her cultivation, what about her soul realm? How did her soul realm keep up?

Unless that treasure also enhanced her soul realm?

What kind of treasure would that be?!

Li Heng’s expression grew serious. His gaze toward Yun Jin now carried evaluation.

Yun Jin had finally appeared.

Although she’s “only at Golden Core Stage, the crowd instinctively stepped aside, clearing a path for her.

She walked unimpeded to the lot box.

Smiling, she picked up the final remaining lot.

After a glance, her eyebrows lifted, “Senior brothers and sisters, pardon me. It looks like I got the bye this round.”

Ruan Jun smiled, “No matter. Perhaps we’ll meet next round.”

Yun Jin looked surprised, “Are you so eager to die, Senior Brother Ruan?”

Ruan Jun’s expression darkened, “That’s my line!”

Yun Jin scolded, “Senior Brother Ruan, as cultivators, we should do less idle talk and more action. Let’s prove ourselves on the arena!”

Ruan Jun: “???”

Wasn’t she the one who started it?

He grinded his teeth, “Enjoy your last moments of glory while you can!”

Yun Jin nodded seriously, “Thank you for the kind wishes, Senior Brother.”

Ruan Jun: “???”

Did that count as a blessing?

He turned away, not wanting to talk to her anymore.

The draw results were out.

Yun Jin had indeed drawn the bye, so for now, her strength would remain a mystery.

The crowd was slightly disappointed but turned their attention to the matches.

“Lot 1 vs. 53, Lot 2 vs. 52, Lot 3 vs. 51. Please take the stage,” Zhao Wuji announced coldly.

The first round had three battles at once!

Ruan Jun slowly stepped onto the arena. He didn’t even look at his opponent, instead he kept his cold gaze fixed on Yun Jin, and made a throat-cutting gesture.

Yun Jin smiled in response. Then, as if performing a magic trick, she set up a vendor stall, complete with snacks and tea.

“Watching matches makes you thirsty! Free tea for all!”

“Bored? Want something for your mouth to do? A bag of sunflower seeds only costs one low-grade spirit stone!”

“Handmade desserts to keep you coming back for more!”

A voice recording stone began broadcasting her pitch automatically.

Ruan Jun: “……”

Zhao Wuji: “……”

Zhao Wuji glared at Lin Ya, “The disciple tournament is a serious occasion! Does your disciple take this sect seriously at all?!”