Chapter 353: Chapter 346: Challenging the Cangyue Empire
"A challenge match? Against a Middle-class Empire?"
A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Qing Lei’s eyes. Mu Bingling was right; the people from the Low-class Empires were just minor obstacles, not enough to command their full attention. The real problem was which empire they should choose as a stepping stone for the challenge match. This was, after all, their first time in the Empire Tournament. They had no clear idea how strength was truly divided between High, Middle, and Low-class Empires. The strength of the Middle-class Empire they were about to challenge was a complete unknown. What should they choose?
Just then, Di Cang, who had been sitting silently to one side, suddenly smiled. "Children, have you run into a dilemma?"
Qing Lei froze for a moment before giving an awkward smile. He did have a question, a major one. But they had been so independent that with each victory, they had actually forgotten they had a seasoned old fox like Di Cang right beside them.
"Ah, Dean Di Cang, I do have a question. Now that our match against the Red Sun Empire is over, our Xuanling Empire has finally broken out from among the Low-class Empires. But we’ve run into a problem. In the upcoming challenge match, which empire should we choose as our stepping stone into the ranks of the Middle-class Empires?"
Di Cang chuckled. He didn’t mind Qing Lei and the others’ independent thinking. In fact, he highly approved of it. He had rarely seen contestants who could be so composed in their first Empire Tournament.
"What’s so hard to choose? After your last battle, I already assessed your strength. Based on the High, Middle, and Low Empire Level divisions, your power should be enough to defeat a typical Middle Upper Empire. As for your choice... just pick any one from the Middle-level Empire Region. I believe in you. It doesn’t matter if you succeed or fail. Since we’re making a challenge, we might as well challenge the strongest! Even if we lose, we’ll have no regrets!"
For some reason, Qing Lei felt that today’s Di Cang was different. The usual Di Cang was calm and reserved, a man who, with every step, would already be planning the next, ensuring he could always retreat to safety at a moment’s notice. But today, Di Cang was arrogant! Fearless! It was as if the word ’retreat’ no longer existed in his vocabulary!
But compared to the old Di Cang, Qing Lei much preferred this arrogant version of the Dean.
"I see..." Qing Lei pursed his lips. "Then I know who to choose."
Di Cang smiled, his gaze shifting back toward the High-level Empire Region. ’The Middle-class Empires aren’t my final destination. The opponent I truly want to challenge is... the one who beat me, in all my pride, to a pulp! Red Wood Cliff!’
Di Cang didn’t know that at the very moment he looked toward the High-level Empire Region, Red Wood Cliff was also looking at him. A corner of Red Wood Cliff’s mouth lifted as he chuckled softly. "That guy... I’ll admit, your empire has improved tremendously. But... compared to the geniuses from the Flame Dragon Empire, the gap is still immense."
"Sister Jun Wu, which Middle-class Empire do you think the Xuanling Empire will challenge?"
It was now the mid-tournament intermission, and Shan Ziyan, seated in the special section, was bored to tears. Although she was the main host, she was really only needed for the opening and closing ceremonies. The person who really called the shots during the matches was Elder Bai. After all, wouldn’t it be weird if she had to jump down before every match just to announce the combatants’ origins and the outcome, only to hand the stage back over to Elder Bai?
Jun Wu playfully pinched Shan Ziyan’s delicate nose and smiled. "If I were the Xuanling Empire, I’d definitely choose a lower-tier Middle-class Empire to challenge. With their current strength, their odds of winning would be much higher. As long as they win the challenge match, they’ll earn a ticket to the ranking tournament for the Middle-class Empires."
Shan Ziyan nodded. "You really live up to your reputation, Sister Jun Wu. You think everything through so carefully."
Jun Wu tapped Shan Ziyan’s temple and chided with a laugh, "You little minx, always flattering me. Any sensible person would make the same choice."
But even as she said it, Jun Wu had a nagging feeling deep down that things wouldn’t go as she predicted. She gave the Xuanling Empire a deep look, a flicker of anticipation in her eyes, and murmured in a voice only she could hear, ’Mu Bingling, with the surname Mu... that’s not a common name.’
Time flew by, and the nearly half-hour rest period came to an end. Elder Bai once again stood above Ring Number One, his resonant voice echoing across the entire Peak of the Holy Mark.
"Everyone! After the last round of eliminations, the final victor from the Low-class Empires has emerged! They are! The Xuanling Empire!"
The announcement finally jolted everyone from their reverie. It was only then that they realized the ultimate champion of the Low-class ranking tournament was the very same Xuanling Empire they had been scorning and looking down on from the very beginning.
"And according to the rules of the tournament, the first-place winner among the Low-class Empires earns a special privilege! The privilege of challenging a Middle-class Empire! Now, that privilege is in the hands of the Xuanling Empire! Xuanling Empire, name the Middle-class Empire you wish to challenge!"
Hearing Elder Bai’s bellowing, the crowd couldn’t help but wonder if the old man was on something. Why else would he be so fired up?
Qing Lei felt a little sheepish at the display, but he thought, ’If even the referee can be this passionate, why should I pretend to be all prim and proper? If I’m going to be arrogant, I might as well go all the way!’
With that thought, Qing Lei shot to his feet, pointed toward the viewing area for the Middle-class Empires, and roared, "We, the Xuanling Empire, hereby challenge the Middle Upper Empire, the Cangyue Empire! Do you dare accept?!"
"Do you dare accept?!"
"Dare accept?!"
"Accept?!"
"..."
Qing Lei’s voice seemed to possess Penetration Power, as it lingered over the vast mountaintop, echoing several times before finally fading.
At the sound of his voice, every empire was stunned. Even the perpetually composed members of the Cangyue Empire froze on the spot. Liu Feiyan, who had been speaking with Ta Shan, was dumbfounded for a long moment. When she finally processed it, she stammered, "I didn’t mishear that, did I? The Xuanling Empire is challenging... us? The Cangyue Empire?"
Ta Shan nodded instinctively. "Sister Feiyan, I don’t think you misheard. I heard ’Cangyue Empire’ too."
"Ha... haha." A corner of Liu Feiyan’s mouth twitched, but her face was completely devoid of mirth. It was the expression of someone who had just heard a hilarious joke but couldn’t bring herself to laugh.
"They’ve lost their minds."
A young man in blue robes sitting beside Ta Shan frowned, his eyes fixed on the Xuanling Empire. Meeting his gaze was Qing Lei’s challenging stare.
"Peng Chong’s right. They really have lost their minds. They think winning the championship for the Low-class Empires makes them War Gods or something," another voice chimed in from beside Peng Chong.
"Besides, there are only five of them. What makes them think they have any right to challenge us?"
Gradually, Ta Shan, Liu Feiyan, Peng Chong, and the other two men rose to their feet. Only Liu Feiyuan remained, slouched in his ethereal chair with his eyes shut, seemingly asleep.
Liu Feiyan tugged on Liu Feiyuan’s sleeve and pouted. "Brother, a Low-class Empire is looking down on us, and you have the gall to just sit there sleeping!"
Liu Feiyuan cracked his eyes open a sliver and waved a dismissive hand. "You five can go. They only have five people, and there are five of you. Perfect. We wouldn’t want anyone to say our Cangyue Empire uses superior numbers to bully the weak. As for me... they aren’t worthy of my challenge."
Liu Feiyan forcefully let go of his sleeve and huffed. "I knew you’d say that! You used to use the same excuses to slack off during training."
Ta Shan and the other three shrugged helplessly and pulled Liu Feiyan aside. "Calm down. They’re just a bunch of insignificant clowns. They really aren’t worthy of the boss making a move. Any one of us could easily take them down alone. After all, in terms of the Martial Artist Realm, they’re worlds behind us."
Liu Feiyan considered this and nodded. "You’re right. Still, they’re unbelievably arrogant. With their strength, they could have picked any lower-tier Middle-class Empire, won, and been promoted. But they chose us. They’re asking for a death sentence."
Peng Chong shoved his hands in his pockets, tilted his head back, and smirked. "Let’s get going. If we don’t accept soon, people might actually think the Cangyue Empire is scared of them, and we can’t have that."
Liu Feiyan grunted in agreement, then turned her head to shout back at Qing Lei, "We, the Cangyue Empire, accept the Xuanling Empire’s challenge! But I hope you can last a little while. I’d hate to get down there and have you lose before I’ve even warmed up. If that happens, I’ll just have to keep looking down on you."
With that, Liu Feiyan leaped gracefully, landing on Ring Number One like a nimble swallow. While her looks couldn’t compare to Mu Bingling or Xuan Moqing, she was still a rare beauty among ordinary girls. That, combined with her "Flying Swallow Returns Home" maneuver, instantly raised her standing in the eyes of the crowd.
Seeing that Liu Feiyan had already jumped down, the remaining members—Ta Shan and the others—exchanged a look and then leaped onto Ring Number One, each in their own unique style.
THUD... THUD...
A series of thuds echoed as all five members of the Cangyue Empire arrived. One woman, four men. One of the men was a staggering three meters tall, standing like a small mountain at the back of the group. His presence alone was enough to create a suffocating pressure for anyone standing opposite.
SWOOSH!
THUD...
The Cangyue Empire’s contestants had assembled. As the challengers, the Xuanling Empire couldn’t be left behind. Led by Qing Lei, they leaped down from the spectator stands. Their eyes locked, and a strange smile crept onto the faces of the Cangyue Empire’s members.
"The contestants from both sides have assembled. State your names." Elder Bai slowly descended from the air, landing precisely between the two teams.
"Qing Lei."
"Little Tiger."
"Ye Shuangshuang."
"Mu Bingling."
"Xuan Moqing."
As the challengers, the Xuanling Empire naturally went first. Not to be outdone, the members of the Cangyue Empire announced their own names in turn.
"Liu Feiyan."
"Ta Shan."
"Peng Chong."
"Huang Bo."
"Chu Liwen."
And with that, the prelude to the challenge match was complete...
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