Chapter 7: I Told You, You Can't Escape

A few days later, when Xiao Mo’s salary was issued, Jiang Qingyi clutched it tightly, unwilling to return it to her master no matter what.

Although she was happy that her master supported her, winning the championship was simply too difficult.

She couldn't let her master waste any more money.

As for the money her master had already bet, Jiang Qingyi had made up her mind.

In this New Blood Tournament, as long as she still had a breath left, she would do her absolute best to advance and recover the money her master had invested!

Soon.

The day of the New Blood Tournament arrived.

Early that morning, Xiao Mo took Jiang Qingyi down the mountain to the tournament grounds.

The New Blood Tournament was held on a small plain.

The plain was divided into various sections by magical formations.

Each formation served as a dueling platform.

Jiang Qingyi drew lots and was assigned to Group A.

Jiang Qingyi’s first opponent was an inner sect disciple from the Nine Swords Peak, at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

For Jiang Qingyi, who was at the seventh level of Qi Refining, this was relatively easy to handle.

And that was exactly how it played out.

In the first round of the competition, Jiang Qingyi won with ease.

Xiao Mo was not surprised that Jiang Qingyi passed the first round.

Although any newly initiated disciple could participate in the New Blood Tournament, most of them were truly just "participating."

The first round was merely a screening process to filter out those cultivators below the fifth level of Qi Refining.

Therefore, in the first round, it was basically a matter of higher-level cultivators facing lower-level ones, and most people won easily.

The second round was where the real competition began.

This year, there were three hundred disciples in the second round of the New Blood Tournament.

In the second round, Jiang Qingyi faced an inner sect disciple from the Sword Formation Hall, whose cultivation level was the same as hers—the seventh level of Qi Refining.

As the name suggests, disciples of the Sword Formation Hall were skilled in using sword formations.

A single longsword could not form a sword formation, so they usually carried large sword boxes on their backs, containing several swords inside.

This match was not easy for Jiang Qingyi.

In the end, Jiang Qingyi narrowly defeated her opponent, but she also sustained some injuries.

Some cultivators from the Medical Hall were standing by, immediately treating Jiang Qingyi’s wounds.

The New Blood Tournament lasted for a total of four days.

On the second day, the tournament adopted a format where disciples competed in groups of three.

All three were opponents; two would be eliminated, and one would advance.

By the end of the second day, Jiang Qingyi had made it into the top one hundred of the New Blood Tournament.

However, watching Qingyi’s struggle during today’s matches, Xiao Mo felt that she would be lucky to win one more round at most.

Tomorrow would involve drawing lots for one-on-one duels, as well as arena battles and three-way fights.

The schedule was very tight, aiming to select the top sixteen.

The disciples who could make it to the third day were no pushovers.

Xiao Mo was already thinking about how to comfort Qingyi.

"Don't worry, Qingyi, you've already done great. Making it into the top one hundred of the New Blood Tournament is already very good."

While eating dinner, Xiao Mo comforted Jiang Qingyi.

"No, Master!" Jiang Qingyi held her small hands in front of her chest. "Master, you bet so many spirit stones; Qingyi must work hard, otherwise the spirit stones you bet will go down the drain."

"..."

Xiao Mo wanted to say something more.

But looking at his disciple’s determined eyes, Xiao Mo just smiled faintly and ruffled Jiang Qingyi’s little head: "They didn't go down the drain; didn't I do it to support you?"

"Master... you really are..." Jiang Qingyi sighed.

Although the young girl complained on the surface about her master being a spendthrift, she felt warm inside.

In the first match of the third day, Jiang Qingyi faced an inner sect disciple at the eighth level of Qi Refining.

In everyone’s eyes, Jiang Qingyi was bound to lose.

At the beginning, Jiang Qingyi was indeed suppressed by that disciple, with almost no hope of winning in sight.

Standing outside the arena, Xiao Mo was already planning to throw in the white flag for Jiang Qingyi.

But unexpectedly, at the very last moment, Jiang Qingyi broke through to the eighth level of Qi Refining right in the middle of the fight.

In the split second her opponent was stunned, Jiang Qingyi seized the opportunity and unleashed the Burning Grass Style of the Grass Sword Art!

The longsword in the young girl’s hand slashed through the waves of fire, turning defeat into victory.

But Jiang Qingyi had no time to celebrate.

She had to participate in the next round immediately.

To Xiao Mo’s surprise, by the time the third day’s matches concluded, Jiang Qingyi had made it into the top sixteen!

"Master, I made it into the top sixteen!" Jiang Qingyi ran to her master’s side, saying happily.

The young girl stood on her tiptoes, lifting her fair, delicate chin, expecting praise from her master.

"Very impressive, worthy of being my disciple." Xiao Mo reached out and gently wiped the blood from the corner of the girl’s mouth. "But Qingyi, let’s withdraw."

"Eh?" Jiang Qingyi looked at her master blankly.

"You barely won your matches today, and your injuries are too severe." Xiao Mo patted the girl’s head. "You’ve already proven yourself; Master is already very satisfied."

In Xiao Mo’s view, Qingyi was basically at her limit.

Although others in the top sixteen were also injured, compared to them, Qingyi’s injuries were more severe.

Moreover, the intensity would increase by another level tomorrow.

If something were to happen to Qingyi, it would be disastrous.

Jiang Qingyi lowered her head, her small hands tightly gripping her skirt, looking very conflicted.

But in the end, the young girl looked up, her eyes fixed firmly on Xiao Mo: "Master! This disciple is not afraid! This disciple wants to continue competing!"

Ten Thousand Laws World, Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

The maidservant Qiu Ye walked into the courtyard of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master: "Sect Master, this is the list for the second round of the New Blood Tournament. Please have a look."

The Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master glanced at Qiu Ye indifferently: "No need. I trust your work."

"Yes, Sect Master." Qiu Ye put the list away. "Sect Master, a disciple from the Heavenly Secret City just delivered a letter. That disciple asked me to tell you, 'The City Lord has done his best; he could only calculate up to this point.'"

As soon as Qiu Ye finished speaking, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master turned her head abruptly, staring straight at her.

Under the Sect Master’s gaze, Qiu Ye’s throat bobbed, sweat broke out on her forehead, and she felt as if a massive mountain were pressing down on her.

"The letter." The Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master uttered a single word.

"It's... it's here..." Qiu Ye hurriedly took a letter from her robes.

Qiu Ye had never seen the Sect Master like this before.

The Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master flicked her finger, and the letter flew into her hand.

"Zhou Kingdom, Imperial Capital..."

Half an incense stick later, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master’s eyes flickered. She let out a deep breath and tossed the letter paper upward; the white paper instantly turned into countless fragments, scattering in the wind.

"Finally, I have found you."

The Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master looked at the starry sky, the corners of her mouth curling slightly. For the first time in three thousand years, the woman smiled.

"I told you, you cannot escape."

"Master."

(End of chapter)