Chapter 516 - 177: Vast Disparity

Thus, in their effort to curry favor with Yang Jing, whose star was currently on the rise, the two naturally wanted to get on good terms with Sun Ningxiang as well.

They hurried over, their faces beaming with enthusiastic smiles, and took the initiative to greet her. "Senior Sister Ning Xiang, long time no see!"

Sun Ningxiang was on her tiptoes, her gaze locked on the area where the Lingxi Peak disciples had gathered. It was only upon hearing the voice that she slowly turned her head.

Seeing Liu Rou and Lin Wenxuan, she was taken aback for a moment, clearly not expecting to run into them here. Then, a smile touched her lips as she replied, "Oh, it’s you two. Long time no see."

...

「Meanwhile.」

In the area where the Lingxi Peak disciples had gathered, a lively chatter filled the air. Yang Jing was surrounded by Fang He, Yan Chenglong, Ma Qiang, Lin Ziheng, and Zhang Hengyi, all talking animatedly.

Relaxed smiles adorned their faces as the conversation naturally drifted to the upcoming matchups in the main competition. They went back and forth, discussing who their opponents would be based on the first-to-last pairing rule.

For them, the opponents in the first round of the main competition were largely inconsequential.

After all, their preliminary rankings were all firmly within the top fifty. According to the first-to-last pairing rule, their opponents would, without exception, be disciples from the bottom fifty. The disparity in their strength was obvious at a glance.

As far as they were concerned, this round was a guaranteed victory, something they wouldn’t need to waste much thought on.

When the Main Peak Steward had announced the rankings earlier, Yang Jing had paid close attention and silently made a note of his opponent.

According to the first-to-last pairing rule, he, ranked thirteenth, was matched against Hu Luoluo, an Inner Sect Disciple from Qingxu Peak who was ranked one hundred and eighty-eighth.

Yang Jing had been in the Xuanzhen Sect for a long time, but he had never heard this name before. Not that he paid it any mind.

He had always been a cautious person, but he wasn’t so fastidious as to investigate every insignificant opponent.

His opponent was merely a Martial Artist at the Inner Strength Realm, whereas he had already broken through to the Qi Eating Realm. The gulf between their cultivation realms was like an impassable chasm.

The difference in their strength was so vast that there was no need for concern. Once they were on the arena platform, victory and defeat would be decided in an instant.

This was the ingenuity of the first-to-last pairing rule.

It cleverly prevented talented disciples with great power and potential from facing each other in the early stages of the competition.

This effectively prevented top disciples from being knocked out unexpectedly in early clashes, ensuring every prodigy had an adequate stage to showcase their strength.

...

「At the same time.」

On the high platform, Peak Master Zhenyue, Qin Gang, frowned slightly. His gaze, tinged with confusion, was fixed on Yang Jing’s figure below.

Because of the new bet he had made with Peak Master Lingxi, Bai Bing, he had made a point of paying extra attention from the high platform, carefully observing Yang Jing’s performance during the preliminaries.

He had seen it clearly. From beginning to end, though Yang Jing appeared to have a serious expression and his fists were lightly clenched, the aura around him remained as tranquil as an ancient well, without the slightest hint of disturbance.

It was as if he was completely at ease, even under the immense pressure of the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi that would cause an ordinary Qi Eating Realm disciple to struggle.

This only deepened the suspicion in his heart.

’Even if Yang Jing cultivates the Mountain-Breaking Seal, which is considered one of the more powerful techniques in the sect, he shouldn’t be *this* composed, right?’

’He’s acting completely unaffected. His level of composure is even better than that of many veteran Qi Eating Realm disciples who have cultivated for years.’

...

「On the arena platform.」

After announcing the rankings, the Main Peak Steward continued in a clear voice, "The preliminaries are now concluded! There will be a one-hour rest. After one hour, the first round of the main competition will officially begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Main Peak Steward turned and walked off the platform, joining the other Stewards at the side of the Observation Platform.

Fushan Square instantly erupted with noise again.

The tense atmosphere from the preliminaries dissipated. Disciples gathered in small groups, some discussing the recent rankings, others sharing strategies for their upcoming matches. The square became a cacophony of voices and clamor.

At the edge of the Yunxi Peak disciples’ area, Sun Ningxiang was chatting with Liu Rou and Lin Wenxuan, who had approached her.

Her gaze drifted from time to time toward the Lingxi Peak disciples, a faint smile on her lips, clearly still happy about Yang Jing’s ranking.

Lin Wenxuan was speaking animatedly about how formidable the experts in this Fushan Grand Competition were, his tone filled with unconcealed awe. "Did you guys see that? Chu Yunhai, Bai Ziyu, and Lu Shaohua—during the preliminaries, they were completely unfazed! With their level of strength, they’re among the absolute best of the sect’s younger generation! The way I see it, they’re all contenders to become the Senior Brother of their respective peaks. Their futures are limitless!"

As he spoke, he grew reflective. "But then again, our Lingxi Peak’s Senior Sister has a very secure position right now. Looking at all of Lingxi Peak, it really doesn’t seem like any disciple can threaten Senior Sister Si Jiawen’s status."

When Sun Ningxiang heard Lin Wenxuan’s words, her expression tensed, and an imperceptible emotion flickered in her eyes.

She immediately looked up, her gaze following the implication of his words toward a secondary platform, slightly lower than the one for the Main Peak. Her eyes landed on Si Jiawen, who was seated there.

Si Jiawen was dressed in a simple, elegant white disciple’s uniform, her posture ramrod straight. With cool, aloof features, she was speaking in a low voice to the Elders beside her. She had an otherworldly air about her, exuding a stern, inviolable dignity.

Sun Ningxiang watched her, her thoughts unreadable. She pressed her lips together gently, a flicker in her eyes.