What exactly had the Bai clan head and Bai Feiyao just seen?
On the other half of the platform, the Bai clan’s disciple lay collapsed on the ground, unable even to crawl back up, while the Hai clan’s disciple stood with his hands clasped behind his back, feet planted wide apart, his expression fierce and triumphant. He had won.
“I don’t believe it!” Bai Feiyao nearly shrieked. They’d certainly investigated the Hai clan beforehand — a mere rising newcomer, having climbed all the way to the final round through a combination of genuine skill and no small amount of luck.
Whatever strength the Hai clan possessed was only strength relative to the lesser clans below the top three. Compared to the three great clans, compared to the Bai clan itself, what strength could they possibly claim?
In the Bai clan’s eyes, the Hai clan was simply trash!
And yet, the facts stood plainly before them. Had the Bai clan head not held him back, Bai Feiyao might well have shouted the exact same accusation the Yu clan head had made moments earlier — “They cheated!”
By now, the crowd’s attention had shifted away from the Gu clan entirely, turning instead toward the Bai and Hai clans!
“My god, the Hai clan has pulled off another miracle!”
“No — they’ve broken the record! Well done, Hai clan!”
“Go, Hai clan! Defeat the Bai clan, challenge the Gu clan!”
…
In an instant, public opinion swung entirely in the Hai clan’s favor!
The reason was simple. The Hai clan, a grassroots power on Liuxian Island, had fought their way up through the ranks, one victory after another, all the way to this position — carrying with them the hopes and dreams of countless ordinary families across the island!
The Bai clan had never been particularly well-liked to begin with, and Bai Feiyao’s arrogant, domineering temperament had only alienated more people still!
Though everyone had long expected the Bai clan to become Liuxian Island’s new ruling power, far more people secretly hoped the Hai clan might pull off a miracle instead, and break through all the way to challenge the three great clans!
“Defeat the Bai clan, challenge the Gu clan!”
“Defeat the Bai clan, challenge the Gu clan!”
…
Suddenly, the chant rang out in unison, the entire crowd cheering for the Hai clan!
The expressions on the Bai clan head’s and Bai Feiyao’s faces were about as ugly as could be — furious, humiliated, and utterly unwilling to accept it!
And yet, this match had been overseen from start to finish by Elder Se herself, every move witnessed clearly by the entire crowd, with genuine skill on full display. There was no room for dispute whatsoever.
“First match: the Gu clan versus the Yu clan — the Gu clan wins! The Bai clan versus the Hai clan — the Hai clan wins! Congratulations to both victorious clans!”
Elder Qin announced the results loudly. The outcome was settled, beyond any dispute.
Before long, the results of the first match were written up on the blank curtain beside the judges’ panel — followed underneath by the names of the Gu, Yu, Bai, and Hai clans, with the Yu and Bai clans’ names both marked with a large “X.”
The Bai clan head narrowed his eyes at this humiliation and said coldly, “Feiyao, we’ll let the first match slide for now. But the second match — we absolutely must turn this around.”
Though furious, the Bai clan head wasn’t the least bit afraid of the Hai clan — and for good reason. In this second match, the Bai clan’s own competitor would be none other than Bai Feiyao herself. His daughter had shown exceptional talent since childhood, and her vine-technique mastery even surpassed his own. Paired alongside her in the mixed free-for-all would be someone personally trained by Mu Fusang. He simply couldn’t believe the puny little Hai clan could produce anyone capable of standing against his precious daughter.
And as for the third match, Mu Fusang himself would step onto the field personally — leaving nothing at all to worry about.
One of the great peculiarities of the ranking tournament was that the decisive round allowed for no intermissions between matches. Before long, the second match was already underway.
Bai Feiyao took the field alongside a male companion, the two of them standing shoulder to shoulder, radiating overwhelming presence. The Hai clan, meanwhile, sent out two disciples whose expressions and attire looked much the same as their teammate’s from the previous round. Standing opposite Bai Feiyao’s pair, there was no question — in terms of sheer presence alone, Bai Feiyao’s side clearly held the upper hand.
Of course, arrogant as Bai Feiyao appeared, deep down she wasn’t taking her opponents lightly in the slightest.
The Bai clan head, for his part, was now focused entirely on his own side of the platform. The Gu clan’s victory in the first match had already proven Jun Beiyue’s formidable capability — the Yu clan’s loss, in his mind, was already sealed and settled.
Meanwhile, on the other half of the platform, the Gu clan had sent out two disciples, no different in appearance from the five who’d fought before — young, fresh-faced disciples, every one of them. The Yu clan, in turn, sent out a brother-and-sister pair.
This was a mixed-pair melee, one that demanded coordination, teamwork, and complementary strengths between partners!
Soon, the gong sounded, and the second match officially began!
Unlike the first round, the crowd’s attention was no longer fixed entirely on the Gu and Yu clans — some watched the Bai and Hai side, some watched the Gu and Yu side, but most kept switching their gaze back and forth between the two!
Though the third and final match would be the true climax of the tournament, this second match carried enormous weight of its own.
Best two out of three — this second match could very well decide the entire outcome right here!
Seated beside Jun Beiyue, the Gu clan head was earnestly asking him about the technique of transferring the Gu clan’s internal energy. Jun Beiyue answered his questions while watching the match unfold, though it was hard to tell whether his attention was more focused on answering the Gu clan head or on the battle taking place on the platform.
Ziqing, meanwhile, had her attention fixed entirely on the Yu clan’s side — the Yu clan head, she noticed, had slipped away at some point without anyone noticing.
“Guess the pressure finally got to him,” Situ Haonan remarked with a low, cold chuckle.
Ziqing said nothing, a complicated flicker passing through her eyes before she withdrew her gaze, turning her attention instead to her musical score.
The method of transferring internal energy had been her own idea, given to Jun Beiyue. The plan to win first place without resorting to open violence had also been her suggestion. And yet, she hadn’t intended to push the Yu clan quite this hard.
That whole scene moments ago — the young disciple publicly humiliating the Yu clan head — had clearly been something Jun Beiyue had specifically arranged.
For the Yu clan to have cheated in the drawing of lots, ensuring they’d draw the Gu clan specifically, whoever was behind it had to be someone extremely close to the two Elders of Qinse.
Ziqing didn’t even need to think twice — she already knew exactly who was behind it all. Jun Beiyue was pushing the Yu clan this hard for one purpose alone: to flush that person out into the open.
Thinking of this, Ziqing couldn’t help but turn to look at Jun Beiyue. Viewed from the side, this man’s profile looked as though it had been carved by the heavens themselves, breathtakingly handsome beyond compare. At that moment, he sat with a faint smile on his lips, chatting leisurely with the Gu clan head.
He’d told her once that he wanted Liuxian Island for himself!
And that meant far more than simply seizing the position of foremost clan — he wanted complete, total dominion. He would tolerate no other power setting foot on the island ever again.
This time, surely, Jun Beiyue wouldn’t let Xuanyuan Lige off the hook either.
Seeing the Yu clan head had still not returned an answer, Ziqing let out a soft, quiet sigh, and turned her gaze back toward the platform. Would the second match end in the Yu clan’s defeat after all?
Meanwhile, in the woods not far outside the circular arena, the Yu clan head paced back and forth, his hands fidgeting restlessly, unable to stay still.
Whatever happened, the Yu clan absolutely could not afford to lose!
He’d already offended the Gu clan, lost his main hall, and if he failed to secure the position of foremost clan on top of all that, he didn’t even dare imagine what fate awaited the Yu clan afterward.
“What are you so anxious about?” a low voice suddenly called out. The figure who emerged was clad in purple, with silver hair — Xuanyuan Lige himself, looking as though he’d arrived in something of a hurry.
“Young Master Xuanyuan, where on earth have you been? I’ve been searching for you for ages! Something terrible has happened — we already lost the first match!” the Yu clan head said anxiously.
Xuanyuan Lige’s brow arched — clearly, he hadn’t expected this either.
“Young Master Xuanyuan, I trained those five disciples exactly according to the method you gave me for the first match, and yet they never even got the chance to make a move! I don’t care what method you use, but you must guarantee my Yu clan wins the second match!” the Yu clan head demanded, growing so frantic he could barely string his words together.
Xuanyuan Lige’s brow furrowed tightly as the Yu clan head explained exactly how the Gu clan had won. His face went instantly pale.
“Young Master Xuanyuan, hurry, think of something. I know you must have a way — or perhaps young lady Gu still has some trick up her sleeve!” the Yu clan head urged.