Chapter 397 - 148: When the Tide Recedes, Who’s Swimming Naked?
The sky was just beginning to lighten.
A gentle knock sounded on the gate of Qing No. 4 Courtyard.
Yang Jing was already up. After quickly washing up, he accepted the breakfast delivered by a servant disciple.
He finished his meal quickly. A pleasant warmth spread through his belly, and he felt his strength surge. He then rose and headed straight for the summit of Lingxi Peak.
Today was the twenty-ninth of April, the day the Cyan Qilin Battle was set to begin.
As was customary, he was to gather at the Internal Affairs Hall with the other participating disciples. From there, a Steward would lead them all to the Cyan Qilin Platform on the Main Peak.
Before long, Yang Jing arrived at the Internal Affairs Hall, located to the side of Lingxi Plaza.
A number of disciples had already gathered outside the Internal Affairs Hall.
Inner Sect Disciples in white robes gathered in small groups, their low voices buzzing with discussion about the upcoming battle. Their faces held a mix of tension and excitement.
Farther off stood a few Outer Sect Disciples in green robes; they were mostly there to watch the spectacle.
Yang Jing’s arrival did not attract much attention.
The Inner Sect Disciples merely gave him a passing glance before returning to their conversations. After all, Yang Jing was a newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple with no reputation on the peak. He was naturally of no interest to these veterans.
Yang Jing didn’t mind. He found a quiet corner and waited patiently.
Before long, a tall, imposing figure approached at a brisk pace.
The man was powerfully built with a resolute expression; it was none other than Zhang Hengyi, first on the Spirit Tide Dragon and Tiger List.
The moment he appeared, the surrounding Inner Sect Disciples swarmed him, all greeting him at once.
"Senior Brother Zhang!"
"Senior Brother Zhang is here! This must be his seventh time in the Cyan Qilin Battle!"
"Senior Brother Zhang is sure to place high this time!"
Zhang Hengyi gave a slight nod. His expression was composed, and though he said little, he exuded the aura of an expert.
A moment later, an agile figure hurried over. It was Chen Xuexiang, ranked second on the Dragon and Tiger List.
He too was immediately surrounded by a throng of disciples showering him with compliments, making the atmosphere even more boisterous.
Yang Jing watched from a distance, his gaze lingering on the two men for a moment.
This was his first time seeing Zhang Hengyi and Chen Xuexiang in person. He had only ever seen their names and descriptions on Lin Ziheng’s copy of the Dragon and Tiger List. Seeing them today, he could tell they were indeed men of extraordinary presence.
Listening to the chatter of the disciples around him, Yang Jing confirmed that both men were indeed participating in the Cyan Qilin Battle.
Just then, a familiar voice came from behind him: "Junior Brother Yang!"
Yang Jing turned around and saw Lin Ziheng walking quickly towards him.
Lin Ziheng was extremely popular on Lingxi Peak. Many Inner Sect Disciples greeted him with a smile as he passed, and he returned each greeting with a cheerful grin.
"Senior Brother Lin." Yang Jing smiled and cupped his fists.
Lin Ziheng walked quickly to his side. He first glanced in the direction of Zhang Hengyi and Chen Xuexiang, then leaned close to Yang Jing and said in a lowered voice, "Junior Brother Yang, I have some good news for you!"
Yang Jing blinked, looking at him in confusion. He had no idea what the good news could be.
Lin Ziheng whispered, "I got some news from the Steward Hall, and it’s confirmed. Gao Yang of Zhenyue Peak and Xu Ziqiang of Fen Yang Peak have left the mountain! They’ve both accepted missions outside the sect and won’t be back anytime soon!"
"What?" Yang Jing’s eyes lit up at the news.
"That’s right!" Lin Ziheng nodded emphatically. "Those two definitely won’t be in the Cyan Qilin Battle this time!"
At this, Lin Ziheng frowned and muttered, a little perplexed, "It’s really strange. In the past, even if those two had missions, they would always schedule them around the Cyan Qilin Battle. For both of them to leave at the same time and miss it... it’s a bit too much of a coincidence, don’t you think?"
Yang Jing, however, wasn’t in the mood to dwell on it. A weight lifted from his chest, and he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.
For him, the greatest pressure in the upcoming Cyan Qilin Battle came from Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang, two top-tier experts just shy of the Qi Eating Realm.
With them in the running, no one else stood a chance at the top two spots.
Now that they weren’t participating, it was as if two great mountains had been lifted from his mind. His confidence for the Cyan Qilin Battle surged.
Seeing his look of relief, Lin Ziheng couldn’t help but smile. "Feeling better? No matter how you slice it, them not participating is a godsend for all you disciples aiming for a high rank."
"That’s a huge relief," Yang Jing nodded, a smile finally breaking across his face.
"But don’t get complacent," Lin Ziheng added, his tone turning serious. "With Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang out, everyone else will be fighting tooth and nail for the top spots. Zhao Chong, Yuwen Mingjue, Qin Wenbao... not to mention Zhang Hengyi and Chen Xuexiang from our own peak. None of them are pushovers. They’ll definitely seize this golden opportunity to climb higher in the rankings."
Yang Jing nodded in solemn agreement.
’He wasn’t the only one who realized this; the other competitors surely had as well. This Cyan Qilin Battle was bound to be a clash of titans. After all, if they missed this chance, they’d have to wait for Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang to return. In next month’s Cyan Qilin Battle, the top two spots would be locked down again, leaving everyone else to tear each other apart just for third place.’
While the two were conversing in hushed tones, the great doors of the Internal Affairs Hall swung slowly open.
Steward Zheng and a middle-aged Steward walked out side-by-side.
The middle-aged Steward was dressed in gray martial attire. His face was stern, and he possessed a heavy, condensed aura. His very presence seemed to exert a faint pressure on those nearby.
At the sight of them, the disciples outside the Internal Affairs Hall fell silent, bowing respectfully. "Greetings, Stewards!"