Chapter 1071: The Devious Gold-Hand Scholar

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Apart from courting death, fighting Residence of Nine Supremes in a match of formations would also bring the risk of destroying the future of their disciples.

Thousand Mountains Sect was a clear example and warning.

Du Yangfan sat in his seat with a dull face, his mind completely blank. Meanwhile, Yun Yang looked over at him while smiling. “Sect Leader Du, it’s time for the third match. How would you like to fight it? Will it be a match of pillar forces, a match of free will, or something else? Whatever your choice is, Residence of Nine Supremes will play along.”

Du Yangfan shuddered when he heard that and felt a chill run down his back. It was a fact that his sect had lost two matches in a row, and was disheartened and discouraged. But, the battle of the Celestial Luck Banner was not yet over. From what he could see and hear, Residence of Nine Supremes clearly wished to continue. And not only did they want to defeat Thousand Mountains Sect, but they also had even higher goals.

But, how would he fight the third match?

By now, the entire Thousand Mountains Sect had realized that Residence of Nine Supremes was truly much stronger than them. In fact, not only were they merely stronger, but they were also superior to them in every aspect.

It was proven by the two matches they had lost.

And now, the third match had undoubtedly become a match of life and death for them. After all, if they lost again, it meant that Thousand Mountains Sect would fall down one rank, becoming the last sect with a lower-class Celestial Luck Banner.

It was an unacceptable outcome they would never like.

For Thousand Mountains Sect, a drop in the ranking was the worst thing that could happen, and according their initial prediction, the soonest it would happen would be three years later.

But, it was about to happen right now.

They could not afford to lose the third match!

In the worst case scenario, if they were defeated eventually, the Residence of Nine Supremes would have failed to secure five victories as long as they won this match, and subsequently lost its qualification to challenge higher-ranking sects. It was the smallest victory they could have in the end.

But, the reality was different from what Du Yangfan had planned in mind. The question now was…how could he win the third match?

How could he ensure victory in this match?

He frowned. His mind was in a jumble, and he was clueless. At that moment, he turned to look at a black-clad man who had been standing silently beside him. The man was his senior brother, Yang Ping, who was claimed to be a genius of martial arts Thousand Mountains Sect had not seen for thousands of years.

He had a very profound cultivation base, which was not only two levels higher than Du Yangfan’s, but also stronger than all the elders of Thousand Mountains Sect who were cultivating in seclusion. He could be said to be the number one expert of Thousand Mountains Sect.

In other words, Yang Ping was the strongest trump card of Thousand Mountains Sect, the ace in the hole.

In the past, Du Yangfan had deliberately covered up his senior brother’s strength for a rainy day, saving him for the critical moment so that he could turn the situation around.

Could now be that critical moment?

“Senior Brother Yang,” Du Yangfan sighed softly, “the next match will be the match of pillar forces. Why don’t you fight for our sect? We can’t lose anymore. We have to win at least this one.”

“Understood,” said Yang Ping with an expressionless face and then stood up.

Meanwhile, Du Yangfan gathered himself as he turned to Yun Yang and said, “The third match will be the match of pillar forces. My senior brother, Yang Ping, will represent my sect. What do Sect Leader Yun say?”

Du Yangfan was, after all, the leader of a sect. Even though he was facing a critical situation, he could still clutch at the last straw that could save his sect, and he even maximized the efficiency of the straw. He was indeed an outstanding man.

There was a reason behind his highlight of Yang Ping’s seniority. In a sect, most of the strongest fighting forces were elders while the sect leader was slightly weaker. It was rare for disciples of the same seniority as the sect leader to be extremely strong, let along stronger than all the elders.

Everyone present knew that Residence of Nine Supremes wanted to win all five matches. Right now, the situation was clear for all to see: Yun Yang was the strongest fighting force in his sect and the next was Luo Dajiang. However, both of them would be saved for the match of free will and the last match between the strongest experts. So, if they sent Shi Wuchen, whose strength was weaker than the two, to fight this match, Du Yangfan was confident that his sect would certainly win the match given the other’s previous performance.

Yun Yang nodded and said, “It doesn’t matter who fights the match. I’ve said this many times.”

“So…will you still send Shi Wuchen to fight this match?”

Yun Yang smiled strangely. “Of course…not.”

“Good…WHAT?” Du Yangfan answered reflexively as he did not expect Yun Yang’s answer to be ‘no’, and his next word came out like the croak of a frog. He suddenly had a feeling that he had fallen into a trap.

‘He’s not sending Shi Wuchen? But why? Isn’t this the match of pillar forces? Is he planning to send someone else?’

A thought suddenly came to him. He had not mentioned that the match of sect leaders had been replaced with the match of free will. So, the Residence of Nine Supremes could, of course, choose Luo Dajiang, who was stronger, to fight the match of pillar forces while Yun Yang could fight the last match—the match of the strongest experts.

‘Why not? Wouldn’t this arrangement have a better chance of winning?’

If it were himself, Du Yangfan knew he would never give up such a high chance of winning.

If it were Luo Dajiang who fought Yang Ping, the chances of his sect winning the match would be sharply reduced. Judging from the fighting strength Luo Dajiang had shown previously, Yang Ping would have an extremely slim chance of winning!

At this moment, Du Yangfan was so upset that he was going crazy. Meanwhile, Yun Yang turned and asked, “My brothers, any of you who have not yet fought want to do a bit of exercise?”

“Me!”

“Me!”

“Me! Me! Me!”

Immediately, Tie Qingcang, Ren Qingkuang, Kong Luoyue and the others shouted noisily, all eager to fight.

On the opposite side, Yang Ping raised his eyes which gleamed coldly. Beside him, Du Yangfan was shocked for a second. His eyes flickered with the light of hope once again, but they were also mixed with doubts.

‘You are going to fight a critical match that will decide the ranking of your sect! Yes, your sect has won all the matches, so you can act like you are very strong. I can understand that! But, how could you send a random person to fight this critical match?’ But then, he saw that they began to play a finger-guessing game to decide who would fight the match, and it immediately set his eyes ablaze!

‘How defiant!’

‘Do you take us all for nothing!’

“Haha!” Tie Qingcang flew out of the crowd and landed in the field, then threw his head back and laughed. “I’ve won, haha…”

Kong Luoyue, who was standing in front of him and getting ready to throw out his fist, had a confused look on his face. But, it was immediately replaced with an angry look. ‘How could you have won when I haven’t even played the finger-guessing game with you? I’ve fought so hard to get to the final of the game, and just when I was going to put out the last fight, you jumped out and announced that you’ve…won? Who said you’ve won?’

“Tie Qingcang, I can’t believe that a guy with thick brows and big eyes like you could be so devious!” Kong Luoyue was extremely upset and boiling with rage. Next to him, Ren Qingkuang and the others were laughing their heads off. None of them had expected that Tie Qingcang, who had always been an honest and simple guy, had a devious side in his character, and he even cheated so openly!

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