Chapter 350: Chapter 343: Arson Queen
Gasps of alarm came from all directions. To vanish so brazenly in front of everyone—there was no other way besides the Shadow Stealth of a Dark Attribute Martial Artist.
"Now their opponents are in for it. A Dark Attribute Martial Artist... aside from a Poison Cauldron Master, they’re absolutely the most detestable kind of Martial Artist to face."
"The Xuanling Empire really has some tricks up its sleeve. They’ve mastered the art of pretending to be weak to prey on the strong. Good thing we weren’t the ones who fought them at the start. Otherwise, even if we weren’t weaker, underestimating them would have completely turned the tables on us in the end."
"..."
Hearing the crowd’s discussion, Qing Lei quickly noticed a trace of anxiety on the opposing contestant’s face. Seeing this expression, Qing Lei smirked and said calmly, "Low-level Middle-tier Empire, Xuanling Empire, Qing Lei of the Demon Castle."
Elder Bai nodded. "Your turn."
The opposing contestant took a deep breath. After his nerves settled a bit, he said, "Low-level Middle-tier Empire, Rabi Empire, Zou Kai."
Elder Bai nodded again and was about to announce the start of the match, but just then, Qing Lei interrupted him. "Sorry, Referee. May I make a request?"
Elder Bai was a kind man and didn’t mind Qing Lei’s interruption. Instead, he chuckled, "Are you also thinking of challenging their entire team by yourself?"
Qing Lei rubbed his nose and nodded slightly. "Yes. The referee saw right through me."
Elder Bai laughed heartily. "How interesting! This is the most interesting match I’ve ever adjudicated. Rabi Empire, the contestant from the Xuanling Empire, Qing Lei, has issued a challenge to you. Do you dare to accept? If not, I will declare the Xuanling Empire the victor!"
Do you dare to accept?
Hearing these words would make any empire furious. Even a saint has their limits; how could they let someone look down on them like this?
"Dare? Why wouldn’t we dare!"
A young man, also in tight-fitting combat attire, leaped down from his seat in the sky. Behind him were four other youths, boys and girls dressed in the exact same way. It was a fairly gender-balanced team. But in Qing Lei’s eyes, they were all enemies, stepping stones on his path to greater heights. He was sure they had been mocking the Xuanling Empire just moments ago.
"Hmph! You think you can run rampant through the Low-class Empires just because you got lucky and won one match? We of the Rabi Empire are not like that bunch of idiots from the Kachu Empire who got scared witless and jumped off the stage to forfeit. In a moment, I’ll make your Xuanling Empire understand the price of looking down on others!" The moment the young man in combat attire landed, his face was dark, his expression filled with deep-seated anger.
"Oh."
Qing Lei said "Oh" without any expression, not once sparing the youth a glance. It was pure, blatant disregard. Like a proud prince, Qing Lei didn’t even deign to look at the young man in combat attire, which infuriated him even more.
"Heh... you really don’t take us seriously at all. In a moment, I’ll teach you how high the heavens are and how deep the earth is!"
The young man’s expression suddenly became calm, but a ferocious sneer twisted the corner of his mouth. In his eyes, Qing Lei saw a faint killing intent.
"Tch..."
A grin spread across his face. Qing Lei suddenly raised a finger and wagged it at the young man. "No, no, no. I think you’ve misunderstood. I never said I was going to give you a chance to make a move. Because... before you can, the match will already be over!"
"SWOOSH!"
The moment his words fell, Qing Lei’s figure abruptly transformed into a shroud of night and instantly vanished from the stage. The six members of the Rabi Empire were stunned. In that brief moment of shock, the young man in combat attire felt a heavy blow to his abdomen, and his entire body was sent flying off the stage like a sharp sword.
At the same time, the other five contestants from the Rabi Empire were sent off the stage in the same manner. It wasn’t until he felt countless gazes locked onto him that the young man in combat attire realized he had already fallen from the stage. The gap... it was just too vast!
And back on the stage, a figure slowly materialized where Qing Lei had been standing. He stood there just as arrogantly as before, as if he hadn’t moved from the very beginning.
Standing on the stage, Elder Bai’s expression was calm, as if he had expected this all along. He stroked his beard and gave Qing Lei a peculiar look. ’From my judgment of character, this young man may seem frivolous, but his eyes have maintained a sense of gravity—a respect for his opponent. Though he hides it well, I still noticed it.’
"Heh heh... the Xuanling Empire. Truly interesting." After muttering this to himself, Elder Bai strode forward, grabbed Qing Lei’s wrist, raised it high, and announced loudly, "The winner of this battle is... the Xuanling Empire!"
"An instant kill!! It was an instant kill!"
"You’ve got to be kidding me. I just blinked, and he was the only one left on the stage."
"It looked like the other team just jumped off the stage themselves..."
"Do you believe that?"
"Nope."
In any case, at this moment, the Xuanling Empire’s image underwent a world-shaking transformation in the eyes of all the other empires. To challenge an entire opposing empire with just one person was not something a Low-class Empire should be capable of. Although it had only been two matches, the intelligent observers could already deduce certain truths from them.
Therefore, their expressions also changed dramatically. From the initial disdain, contempt, and disregard, to the current surprise, shock, and astonishment! The Xuanling Empire was definitely a dark horse that had emerged from the ranks of the Low-class Empires. But... if pitted against the Middle-class Empires, could they still advance so unstoppably?
"Is this Qing Lei’s true strength?"
In the Holy Hall’s area, the students of the Holy Hall all wore expressions of shock. Imro opened his mouth but could only utter that one sentence. The other team members saw the dejection in his eyes, sighed softly, and said nothing...
Turning lightly, Qing Lei left everyone with only the sight of his slender back as his figure flickered and vanished from the stage. The next moment, in the Xuanling Empire’s viewing seats, Qing Lei sat down, calm and composed. A smug grin spread across his face as he said, "So? How cool was I?"
His teammates smiled faintly and, in perfect unison, turned their heads away. Even the ever-cool Mu Bingling pretended to start a conversation with Xuan Moqing. Left hanging, Qing Lei felt extremely awkward. He shrugged helplessly and said, "Hey, hey, come on. It’s not often I get to act cool. At least give me a chance to show off."
"Haha..."
Qing Lei’s words immediately drew teasing laughter from Little Tiger, Mo Qing, and Ye Shuangshuang. For a moment, the atmosphere in the Xuanling Empire’s section was relaxed and carefree, as if they didn’t feel any pressure at all.
In the middle-tier section, at the Cangyue Empire’s viewing seats, a chill flashed in Liu Feiyuan’s eyes. But the look only lasted a moment before it was replaced by a lazy expression. He smiled faintly. "A Dark Attribute Martial Artist... If we were on open ground, I might be a bit wary. But what a pity. This is a stage battle..."
Liu Feiyuan’s voice wasn’t loud, but it wasn’t quiet either. At least Liu Feiyan, who was beside him, heard it crystal clear. In a small area, a Dark Attribute Martial Artist was truly nothing for them to fear.
...
"Another instant kill! Holy crap, that’s a purple Flame Level! And the power of that Combat Skill just now was terrifying!"
"This woman is insane! She didn’t hold back at all. She burned the other team so badly their own mothers wouldn’t recognize them."
"The winner of this battle is... Ye Shuangshuang of the Xuanling Empire!" Elder Bai’s mouth twitched as he glanced at the contestants on the other side, who were burned black. He shook his head in pity. ’They were innocent bystanders in all this, weren’t they?’
On the stage, Ye Shuangshuang patted the purple flames on her hands and put her hands on her hips. "A bunch of little brats daring to shout at your big sister. Now you know who you’re dealing with, huh?"
"The winner of this battle is... Xuan Moqing of the Xuanling Empire!"
"The winner of this battle is... Little Tiger of the Xuanling Empire!"
"The winner... Qing Lei of the Xuanling Empire!"
"Xuanling Empire!"
"Xuanling Empire!"
"Xuanling Empire!"
"..."
As time passed, the Xuanling Empire’s battles continued without pause. But whenever the Xuanling Empire took the stage, every match involved one of their members challenging an entire opposing empire. They completely controlled the rhythm of the battles, putting immense pressure on any contestant who had to face them. Some would even immediately admit defeat and forfeit the moment they heard they were up against Ye Shuangshuang of the Xuanling Empire. The reason was simple: any empire that fought Ye Shuangshuang met the most miserable fate. They would go on stage with a full head of hair and leave bald, with a complimentary dye job thrown in for free. Eventually, people gave her the nickname, the "Blazing Fire Fiendess," or more simply, the "Arson Queen."
Far from being angry about this, Ye Shuangshuang happily accepted it, claiming it was a sign of everyone’s recognition of her skills... Little did she know, if the people who gave her those nicknames knew she interpreted their malice this way, they might just feel incredibly guilty.
...
"Old Dragon... you bastard, you put on quite an act just now. You even fooled us. So what, you were in on it with this little empire all along?"
In the special viewing seats, a chiding voice came from a large, magnificently dressed man with curly golden hair.
"Exactly! That old bastard, hiding a dark horse like this. When did you cultivate them? We were completely in the dark!"
Sacas pursed his lips, though inwardly he was extremely surprised. ’According to the reports from spies dispatched to the Flame Dragon Dynasty, the Flame Dragon Dynasty has only focused on cultivating the elites of the Flame Dragon Empire for the past five years. I’ve never heard of the Flame Dragon Dynasty also cultivating a small Xuanling Empire. Strange.’
"Hmph."
The Emperor of the Ice Emperor Dynasty snorted coldly, his expression a bit gloomy. Although he himself was cold and sinister, he detested hypocrites the most. If you’re going to do something, do it out in the open and let the final battle decide the victor. Secretly cultivating newcomers behind everyone’s backs was the thing he loathed most.
"Ahem..." In his heart, Long Yuan was already cursing out the ambassadors assigned to the subordinate empires. ’What kind of inspections are they running? How could they not immediately report that so many geniuses have appeared in a minor empire?’
Putting on a fake smile for the three of them, Long Yuan turned to Red Wood Cliff at his side and said, "Mu Ya, later, I want you to find out which ambassador is monitoring the Xuanling Empire. After we get back, I will punish this person severely!"
Red Wood Cliff froze upon hearing this. He gave Long Yuan an awkward glance and said, "Well... Your Majesty, actually you..."
"Actually what? This matter can’t be dropped. It must be investigated!" Long Yuan commanded in a tone that brooked no refusal.
Little did he know that Red Wood Cliff was already cursing him out in his head. ’Investigate my ass! You never even assigned a damn ambassador to the Xuanling Empire in the first place, so how am I supposed to investigate? Investigate your grandma’s mouth!’
Of course, there was no way he could ever say this out loud, so he could only agree verbally while secretly trying to figure out a way to hint at the situation indirectly so that Long Yuan would realize it himself.
"Next up, the final match on Stage One! The two sides are the Xuanling Empire and the Red Sun Empire!"
Just then, Elder Bai on Stage One made the announcement. And that very announcement made Qing Lei and the others reveal a wicked smile.
"It’s finally those bastards’ turn..."
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