Chapter 99: A Difficult Situation

The Vermilion Flame Sect elder’s expression gradually became serious.

His gaze remained fixed on Long Feng for several breaths, carefully observing the young man standing below the platform.

A unknown Peak Golden Core Realm disciple

And he had appeared only when the wilderness training was almost over, carrying a harvest that was nearly twice that of Han Tianyu.

’They hid him.’

That was the only explanation that made sense to him.

There was no way an unknown disciple could suddenly appear with twenty-three thousand Flame Spirit Stones without some preparation behind the scenes.

Even if this disciple possessed extraordinary strength, collecting such an enormous number of Flame Spirit Stones required not only strength but also sufficient time and opportunity.

The timing was simply too suspicious.

The Vermilion Flame Sect elder slowly turned his head toward the Azura Heaven Sect elders.

"So this was your sect’s hidden trump card."

The Azura Heaven Sect elders were speechless.

They looked at one another, and the same surprise could be clearly seen in their eyes. They hadn’t deliberately hidden Long Feng.

In fact, they were just as confused as everyone else.

But at this moment, there was no reasonable explanation they could give.

What could they possibly say?

Could they say that Long Feng had somehow reached the Peak Golden Core Realm in less than a month and had somehow obtained twenty-three thousand Flame Spirit Stones?

Even to themselves, such an explanation sounded unbelievable.

Therefore, they could only remain silent.

Their silence, however, only strengthened the Vermilion Flame Sect elder’s misunderstanding.

Meanwhile, Han Tianyu stood below the platform, staring at the enormous ranking board. His previous first-place position had been completely crushed.

Not only had he lost first place, but the person who had surpassed him had done so by an enormous margin.

Han Tianyu’s eyes remained fixed on those numbers at top ranked. His hands slowly clenched beneath his sleeves.

He was confident in his own strength, but he wasn’t arrogant, and he rarely became angry simply because someone had surpassed him. However, this time was different.

Not only the difference was simply too enormous, but he too was a stranger.

’How did he do it?’

Han Tianyu’s gaze slowly moved away from the ranking board and landed on Long Feng.

Finding out not a slightest trace of excitement on his face, his heart sink even further.

Just as the emotions in his heart were becoming increasingly complicated, a soft voice came from beside him.

"Tianyu, you don’t need to take it to heart."

Han Tianyu turned his head and found Shen Yao standing beside him.

Her beautiful eyes contained a trace of concern as she looked at him. She had clearly noticed the change in his expression.

"There will still be another opportunity."

Han Tianyu remained silent for a moment before slowly relaxing his clenched hand.

"You’re right."

Shen Yao smiled faintly. "This is only the result of the wilderness training. It doesn’t determine everything."

Her words gradually eased the frustration in his heart.

He took a slow breath before placing an arm around her waist, pulling her slightly closer.

Shen Yao’s body stiffened for the briefest moment, but she quickly relaxed.

Han Tianyu lowered his voice. "I know. I just didn’t expect someone to suddenly surpass me by so much."

There was still a trace of unwillingness in his eyes, but his previous anger had already disappeared.

"Then I’ll see for myself."

At that moment, Shen Yao suddenly felt a strange sensation. It was as though someone was watching her.

She instinctively turned her head. Her gaze crossed the crowd and finally landed on a familiar figure.

It was Long Feng who was standing not far away. His eyes were quietly looking in her direction. And there was a faint smile on his face.

The moment their eyes met, Shen Yao’s heart suddenly trembled.

Her breathing became slightly uneven. For a brief moment, an inexplicable panic flashed through her eyes.

She immediately remembered what had happened between them inside the Blazing Flame Mountain.

The memory of Long Feng rescuing her, their conversation, the closeness that had developed between them, and the relationship she had established with him all flashed through her mind.

She had never expected to see him again so soon.

And she certainly hadn’t expected him to look at her like this in front of so many people.

’Why am I nervous?’

Shen Yao’s fingers unconsciously tightened as she quickly shifted her gaze away.

However, she couldn’t completely suppress the slight trembling in her heart.

If Han Tianyu discovered something strange between them, things would become troublesome.

Shen Yao quietly controlled her expression and forced herself to remain calm.

Han Tianyu noticed nothing unusual. His attention was still focused on the ranking board. He didn’t notice the brief exchange of gazes between the two.

Seeing this, Shen Yao secretly let out a breath of relief.

Long Feng, meanwhile, continued looking at her for another moment before his smile became slightly deeper.

There was no need to expose anything.

Some things were more interesting when they remained hidden.

At this moment, one of the officials from the City Lord’s Mansion stepped forward.

"Everyone, please remain calm. The wilderness training has officially ended and the arena battle will be held tomorrow. Now, everyone go and get some rest. We will gather back here tomorrow morning."

The surrounding disciples gradually became quiet.

As they all knew that wilderness training was only the first part of the competition between the two sects. The true battle between the strongest disciples would take place tomorrow.

The elders likewise began leaving the platform. The disciples of both sects also gradually dispersed.

The excitement surrounding the wilderness training slowly faded. But everyone knew that tomorrow would be even more intense.

Because the real confrontation between the two sects had yet to begin!

/

"Have you thought about tomorrow? If we want to win, it’s not going to be easy for us."

At another location within the temporary residence of the Azura Heaven Sect, several elders gathered inside a spacious hall.

The atmosphere was much quieter than outside, only a few elders sitting at the front.

An elder sitting in the center finally spoke.

"Easy? Say that it is very difficult, almost impossible."

His words made others fell silent. They don’t want to admit but it’s true that they were in difficult situation now.

Are they happy about today’s win, or worried about tomorrow?

"Stop worrying. You’re breaking the resolve of these disciples too."

It was Elder Dong who had spoken. Although he was the oldest among them all, everyone fell silent the moment he spoke.

Then he looked at the three disciples before him and said in a calm tone.

"Don’t focus on winning or losing, just go into tomorrow’s match giving it everything you’ve got."

"My reason for calling the three of you here is simple. You are the only three disciples from our sect who entered the top ten."

Long Feng stood among them. He looked toward the other two.

One of them was Zhi Yuan, whom he had already seen earlier.

The other was a young man he didn’t recognize.

Judging from his aura, he was clearly another powerful inner disciple. However, all of their expressions were somewhat solemn.

Long Feng’s eyes briefly swept over the two before returning to the elders.

"The rules of arena battle are different from today’s wilderness training. Only the disciples who entered the top ten will participate."

Elder Dong paused for a moment before continuing.

"Since our Azura Heaven Sect has only three of you, that means tomorrow, you have to face seven disciples of Vermilion Flame Sect."

The atmosphere immediately became slightly heavier.

"Seven against three..." Zhi Yuan frowned slightly.

Those who had reached top ten in ranking were all top experts of Golden Corea realm. You three cannot underestimate them simply because our sect took first place today.

It wasn’t even certain if they would win in a one-on-one fight, and now they have to defeat more than two people.

Another elder taunted and leaned slightly forward.

"This is why those geezers weren’t overly concerned about losing today’s wilderness training. They know that the wilderness ranking only determines the first stage. The final result will depend on tomorrow’s arena battle."

The words of the elder caused the atmosphere inside the hall to become even heavier.

Seven against three.

Even if the three disciples from the Azura Heaven Sect were powerful, the difference in numbers was simply too large.

For a moment, no one spoke.

Several elders exchanged grim looks. One of them finally slammed his palm against the armrest of his chair.

"Only three disciples could managed to enter in the top ten!"

His voice was filled with anger.

His expression darkened as he looked toward the three disciples standing before him.

"Those good-for-nothing disciples! It seems we have to make them understand what it means to be a disciple of the Azura Heaven Sect."

Usually, even if one sect performs slightly better, the difference isn’t this ridiculous. Five and five is common. At worst, they’ve seen four and six.

But six against three? How did those disciples perform so badly?

The three disciples standing before the elders felt a chill run down their spines.

They knew very well what would happen after returning to the sect if these elders remained this angry.

However, the competition between the two sects had always been extremely intense.

The number of disciples entering the top ten was also considered an important indicator of the strength of the younger generation.

Having only three disciples enter the top ten was indeed an embarrassing result.