Chapter 244: The First Level! (First Update)

The newcomer was none other than Chu Liuyue!

All eyes converged upon her simultaneously, reactions varying wildly.

Mu Hongyu and the others immediately cried out in pleasant surprise

"Liuyue! You—you're finally here!"

Chu Liuyue walked toward the direction of Tianlu Academy.

Unable to contain herself, Mu Hongyu rushed forward and grabbed Chu Liuyue's arm.

"You, you..."

She desperately wanted to ask where Chu Liuyue had gone for an entire day and night, what she had experienced, and if she was injured. But remembering the countless eyes staring at them, she ultimately suppressed it, merely staring at her intently, too excited to speak.

Chu Liuyue felt a warmth in her heart

"I've made you worry."

Mu Hongyu shook her head hurriedly

"As long as you are fine, that's all that matters!"

Sun Zhongyan also couldn't help but scan Chu Liuyue up and down. Only after confirming she seemed unharmed did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Chu Liuyue smiled and said

"Some matters delayed me yesterday. I wonder if I can still continue with the competition?"

Sun Zhongyan immediately replied

"You can! Of course you can!"

Although only one hour remained and the possibility of Chu Liuyue winning was minuscule, seeing her calm and indifferent demeanor, the words escaped his mouth reflexively.

"I think she cannot!"

Cheng Han suddenly spoke in a cold voice, his brow furrowed.

"The competition is about to end. What logic is there in joining at a time like this? Since she is late, she has already lost the qualification to continue the competition!"

Sun Zhongyan retorted

"Brother Cheng Han, it seems the Qingjiao Assembly has never had such a rule. Although Liuyue is late, the competition has not yet ended. Besides, she did indeed register beforehand; why shouldn't she be allowed to continue?"

Cheng Han loathed Chu Liuyue to the extreme; obstructing her participation was merely an instinctive reaction. Hearing Sun Zhongyan defend her so staunchly, he sneered

"Without rules, there is no order! If she is allowed to continue today, others will follow suit in the future, and then what?! It would be nothing but chaos!"

Sun Zhongyan laughed heartily

"That's not necessarily true! Among those present, I doubt many would choose to compete when only one hour is left. In my view, this isn't a violation of rules, but rather a demonstration of steadfast will!"

Cheng Han was choked for words.

When it came to verbal sparring, Sun Zhongyan was unparalleled; he could make black seem white!

Seeing this, Fu Yunshan also expressed some disagreement, saying

"Brother Zhongyan, regardless of the circumstances, letting her compete with only this little time remaining is truly somewhat inappropriate."

Sun Zhongyan put his hands behind his back, wearing a half-smile.

"Could it be, Brother Yunshan, that you are afraid Liuyue will overtake your academy's students within this final hour?"

Fu Yunshan's expression stiffened.

This was blatant provocation!

But as it happened, it actually worked!

If he continued to disagree, wouldn't he be indirectly admitting that his students were inferior to a single Chu Liuyue?!

He let out a cold snort.

"Since you have put it that way, I naturally have no reason to object further! However, this is the only time!"

Sun Zhongyan then looked toward Cheng Han.

"What does Brother Cheng Han think?"

Since even Fu Yunshan had agreed, if he continued to oppose it, he would only appear more petty.

Cheng Han waved his sleeve

"Since you insist, then go on stage as you wish!"

He truly did not believe that a mere Level 2 Mystic Practitioner like Chu Liuyue could actually stir up any waves!

Situ Xingchen glanced at Chu Liuyue, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease in his heart.

"Master, are we really going to allow her to continue the competition just like that? This... seems somewhat inappropriate, doesn't it?"

"What if it is inappropriate? Didn't you see that Sun Zhongyan is clearly trying to help Chu Liuyue? It seems Chu Liuyue isn't even his disciple, yet for some reason, he is quite concerned about her..."

As Cheng Han spoke, his lips curled in disdain.

"Perhaps he's just trying to find a way to save face because their academy has no one else left to take the stage? However, attempting to let a Chu Liuyue restore their reputation is truly wishful thinking! We shall just sit back and watch the show! If that Chu Liuyue fails to even clear the first stage by the end, then it will be a massive joke!"

Seeing that both of them had relented, Sun Zhongyan felt somewhat relieved.

Chu Liuyue said gratefully

"Thank you, Elder Sun."

Sun Zhongyan waved his hand

"There is nothing to thank me for. Just go up! There is only one hour left in the competition; just do your best. As for the rest, there is no need to think too much about it."

In truth, he didn't hold much hope himself.

Chu Liuyue nodded slightly

"This student will certainly do her best."

Having said that, she walked to the side of the arbitration teacher and took her wooden plaque.

Xi Wanwan looked at her with a furrowed brow.

Because the rankings of the previous day's Martial Artist competition placed her behind Chu Liuyue, Xi Wanwan currently felt both jealousy and dread toward her.

Seeing the small red mass perched on Chu Liuyue's shoulder, she felt a bit intimidated, and her attitude was naturally not as flamboyant as when she dealt with Si Ting.

She barely maintained a calm expression

"I thought since you took first place in the Martial Artist category, you wouldn't be coming to today's Mystic Practitioner competition."

Chu Liuyue gave her a fleeting glance, the corners of her lips curling slightly

"Why wouldn't I come? If I didn't come, how could I witness such a good show?"

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Xi Wanwan's hands with implication.

Xi Wanwan was startled!

Could Chu Liuyue know—

How was that possible!

She had acted silently; even the arbitration teacher standing by the arena hadn't noticed. Chu Liuyue had only just returned; how could she possibly have seen?

These words were definitely a bluff!

Xi Wanwan forced a somewhat stiff smile

"I can't tell, but you and Si Ting seem to have quite a friendship. Do you also believe that I tampered with things, causing his failure?"

Chu Liuyue's smile deepened.

"It has nothing to do with friendship, and everything to do with eyesight."

She tapped her eyes as if she had a slight headache.

"These eyes of mine simply cannot stand looking at dirty things."

Xi Wanwan felt a sudden chill.

The temperature was clearly fine, and Chu Liuyue was smiling in front of her, yet a coldness suddenly rose from the soles of her feet.

It was as if everything had been seen through!

Feeling guilty and nervous, she averted her gaze, seemingly unwilling to say more, and turned to leave.

Chu Liuyue stared at her back for a moment, finding it somewhat amusing.

She really didn't know whether to call this Xi Wanwan stupid or foolish.

Did she truly think that no one would notice her petty, dirty tactics?

But now was not the time to pursue these matters. She quickly withdrew her gaze and walked toward the stage.

She ran into Si Ting head-on.

The two exchanged looks. Si Ting's expression was complex, and in the end, he only said one sentence

"Be extra careful. Just do your best."

Chu Liuyue nodded with a smile.

This time, it truly was a pity for Si Ting.

Based on his true strength, he could absolutely have taken first place.

Unfortunately, a despicable Xi Wanwan had intervened halfway through.

The two brushed past each other.

Following the number on her wooden plaque, Chu Liuyue found her position.

Upon the chessboard, even the pieces had not yet been placed; everything was in a state of being uninitiated.

She held her breath and focused her mind. With a light flick of her wrist, the patterns on the chessboard shifted!

The first stage immediately manifested before her eyes!

(End of Chapter)