Chapter 504: Is There a Surprise?
"The time is almost up. I wonder if Dharma Protector Hou has prepared all the pills he plans to lose. Hahaha..."
Amidst the crowd, Dharma Protector Wang Tianbao couldn't help but smile. Finally, he had tricked Hou Changming this fellow once. He had been pretending to be lofty, boasting about selective discipleship and avoiding mediocrity, but soon he would experience the pain himself.
"I heard that a few days ago, Dharma Protector Hou went to exchange pills. Could it be that he lacks confidence in himself and already knows he is destined to lose?"
A Dharma Protector, who appeared to be in his fifties, also joked around. He placed his bets too, although the odds were low. But it was as good as a guaranteed win in this gambling game. He didn't want to miss the opportunity and winning some pills for his disciples would be nice as well.
"It's not over yet. If you win, the elixirs that should be given to you will naturally not be missed."
Dharma Protector Hou Changming spoke up; he was well aware that his newly recruited disciple, who appeared to have average talent, was originally just an outer disciple. To expect him to stand out from the thousands of inner disciples within the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords and make it into the top sixty-eight was, to put it mildly, nothing short of a miraculous feat. Even he himself would find it hard to believe.
After the words were spoken, Dharma Protector Hou Changming simply walked away to the side, unwilling to stand amongst these people any longer.
In these days, Dharma Protector Hou Changming practically emptied his entire estate and exchanged it for various high-grade elixirs, to the point where he was almost buried under a mountain of debts.
Once words are spoken, they become like water spilled from a cup, unable to be retrieved. After all, this is his newly recruited disciple, and in the worst-case scenario, all he hopes for is that he can safely come out of the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords.
"Then I must express my gratitude to Dharma Protector Hou in advance. Hahaha."
Smiled Dharma Protector Zhuchangao, but it was evident that Dharma Protector Hou Changming was desperately trying to maintain a bold front, despite being in a dire situation.
However, other Dharma Protectors didn't keep their eyes on Dharma Protector Hou Changming. The gateway is about to open, and those direct disciples and inner disciples will emerge. This Grand Swordsmanship Competition is more important than ever before.
"I wonder which disciples managed to obtain the Dark Spirit Fruits this time?"
As a Dharma Protector spoke up, treasures like the Dark Spirit Fruits are hard to come by. It just so happens that this group of disciples encountered the Dark Spirit Fruits, which can only be harvested once every fifteen years. It is a stroke of luck and destiny. I wonder which disciples will have the fortune to obtain such a serendipitous opportunity.
"I guess only those individuals are able to obtain the Dark Spirit Fruits."
As estimated by the Dharma Protectors, those who are able to obtain the Dark Spirit Fruits are also the ones ranked at the forefront of the Sword Tower. The rest of the individuals cannot compete with them.
"I wonder if there will be any dark horses appearing this time?"
With a middle-aged beautiful lady speaking up, each Grand Swordsmanship Competition is actually a comprehensive test for all disciples. Often, there are also some seemingly ordinary disciples who emerge out of nowhere and display astonishing performances.
"Well, I am looking forward to it."
The Dharma Protectors are also looking forward to it. Each Grand Swordsmanship Competition does indeed have some disciples who suddenly display astonishing performances.
"Do you all still remember that Su Yi?"
Suddenly, within the Dharma Protectors, a faint voice echoed out.
"Su Yi, is that Su Yi of the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak?!"
"Su Yi, that disciple, seems to be an unexpected incident, and it is unclear from where Elder Su brought him back."
Upon hearing Su Yi, all the Dharma Protectors present instantly adjusted themselves inwardly.
Su Yi's performance was astonishing. He reached the seventh level of the Heavenly Stairs. Though it is unclear whether there was a malfunction on the Heavenly Stairs, it has already shocked everyone.
"Although the Heavenly Stairs malfunctioned, the fact that Su Yi was able to defeat Jian Shiyi has already proven his remarkable abilities. This time, entering within the top sixty-eight should be no problem."
Despite the malfunction of the Heavenly Stairs, Su Yi's ability to reach the seventh level of the Heavenly Stairs is indeed authentic, and his victory over Jian Shiyi confirms it.
With such cultivation strength, perhaps he can obtain enough Sword-patterned Stones, which should pose no significant issue.
"If Su Yi is able to enter the top sixty-eight, then it can be considered the first time in a hundred years that a disciple from the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak has made it into the top sixty-eight at the Grand Swordsmanship Competition," remarked a Dharma Protector.
Upon hearing this, the Dharma Protectors exchanged knowing smiles. "For the past century, it seems that the Grand Swordsmanship Competition has been entirely unrelated to the Thirty-Sixth Sword Peak," they remarked.
"This is not necessarily true. It seems that Su Yi has offended quite a few disciples, especially those from the Fifteenth Sword Peak. When it comes to the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords, they might have yet to face the consequences," murmured one of the Dharma Protectors.
"The Fifteenth Sword Peak, this..."
Suddenly, many Dharma Protectors had a subtle change in their gaze.
It has already been rumored that Su Yi has dealt with many disciples from the Fifteenth Sword Peak.
And everyone is well aware that there is a direct disciple on the Fifteenth Sword Peak, and they are not an easily provoked character.
They are all young people, driven by youthful vigor and a competitive spirit. It is likely that within the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords, clashes are bound to occur.
"Whoosh..."
Above the void, there were fluctuations in the aura, and numerous figures descended. Wave after wave of invisible aura fluctuations, causing the entire space to freeze silently.
"Greetings to all elders!"
The crowd bowed respectfully, and each Dharma Protector displayed a reverent demeanor.
A group of elders has arrived, and this time the significance of the Grand Swordsmanship Competition at the Divine Sword School is greater than usual. The Divine Sword School attaches great importance to it.
Many elders have arrived, among them are several familiar figures.
Elder Yu Changqing, Elder Lv Baimai, Elder Mei Huaye, Elder Duan Yuerong, and Elder Shangguan Hu, among others, were present.
A group of elders descended and gazed upon the area before the square, where the mountain streams intertwined. That was the place where the entrance would open. This time, the Grand Swordsmanship Competition was extraordinary.
"I hope everything goes smoothly!"
Elder Yu Changqing spoke up, with deep wrinkles adorning his lean cheeks, as if they were filled with the marks of time. His long eyebrows and a hint of white beard gently fluttered backwards, exuding a somewhat ethereal and dignified aura.
However, at this moment, Elder Yu Changqing's face also revealed a slight trace of unease, for within the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords, unexpected occurrences could also arise.
It is not uncommon for direct disciples to suffer losses among them.
Not only does Elder Yu Changqing have disciples inside, but he also hopes that there won't be any major accidents within the Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords.
"Open the exit, please."
Elder Lv Baimai spoke up, his black hair neatly tied up in a bun without a strand out of place. Under his silvery eyebrows, the slightly sunken eye sockets held deep brown eyes that were profound, revealing a hint of anxiety.
...
The mountain range stretches continuously, resembling a giant dragon coiling.
"Boom..."
Suddenly, a resounding explosion reverberated throughout the entire Battlefield of Ten Thousand Swords, accompanied by a tremor originating from between the mountain ranges. A burst of radiant light erupted, resembling the brilliance of the sun. In an instant, a massive spatial portal materialized.
"The spatial portal has opened!"
Several figures swiftly darted out, their faces wearing smiles as they gazed upon the emerging spatial portal.
These individuals are none other than Su Yi, Situ Muyang, Xu Jiahui, Zhang Qing, and others.
"The timing couldn't be better, hahaha! Let's hurry and go out!"
Situ Muyang laughed heartily as he surveyed his surroundings, noticing several groups of disciples gathered together in small clusters or larger assemblies.
