This kind of spectacle similarly aroused the attention of those three Immortal realm martial artists standing on the boulder.
Among them, the woman's refined eyebrows furrowed and her cherry lips slightly opened to ask: “What's going on?”
The man on her left also frowned as he glanced forward. Then, he turned his head: “It looks like something amazing is being commiserated over.”
After the man on the right took a careful measure of the situation, he tried to curry favor and said: “Junior sect sister [1], do we send someone to go check it out?”
The woman thought about it for a bit, and her beautiful head [2] nodded slightly: “Then, I'll have to inconvenience senior sect brother Liu.”
The martial artist on the right laughed out loud: “What inconvenience? Don't hesitate to let the ones from the three great empires go do it.”
The martial artist on the left was not to be outdone: “Junior sect sister, the Qingyue Empire has how many youngsters? Actually, while they still do what they're told, it's better to just make them go. It's also easy to do.”
The right-side martial artist raised one of his sword-like eyebrows: “Junior sect brother Luo, have you gained this much of an understanding of the Qingyue Empire because you've secretly made a pact with them? You shouldn't be doing things that violate the sect rules.”
The left-side martial artist smiled coldly: “Senior sect brother Liu, isn't what you're saying about me just about yourself? Also, you wouldn't happen to know about that one time when someone left your place at midnight?”
The right-side martial artist's heart tensed, and he blurted out: “You—”
The two were fighting a battle of words, and soon, the more they talked, the more outrageous those accusations became.
That woman lifted her lily-white hands and respectfully shouted: “The both of you! Don't give others a reason to laugh at us!”
Junior sect brother Luo and senior sect brother Liu heard her and immediately stopped talking.
They reacted at this moment. This was indeed not an intelligent way of doing things.
In addition, the two of them had actually made some actions in secret, which let them obtain many rewards. However, these were all conducted privately and couldn't be mentioned in public. While it now seemed like they disdained this mission to monitor the Hundred Countries Tournament, they still acted fair and selfless on the surface. Otherwise, if they were accused of something, it would put them in a very disadvantageous position in their sect.
The woman also knew that they were handling things on the sly. It was only that it seemed that these kinds of things were an unspoken rule. For the past many years, everyone had a tacit understanding. If she were to raise this issue, then she'd run out of luck. As a result, she could only turn a blind eye.
Besides, so long as each person who accepted this mission wasn't too stupid, they wouldn't need to act too excessively. There might be some fine-tuning in the details, but they wouldn't truly let something unpresentable occur like trash climbing to the top.
Moreover, they were always watching over the three great empires. If everything was going well and an accident occurred… They'd just work for a little bit.
After the dispute stopped, the woman didn't overthink about sending someone to investigate the matter that was causing a sensation. In any case, if they waited till the Hundred Countries Tournament ended, they could naturally find find a person from the three great empires to question. They didn't need to be too meddlesome right now.
Anyway, the woman thought about what benefits this remote and desolate place could have. In general, the things that could shock country b.u.mpkins usually couldn't compare to what would drip from their fingertips.
If it weren't for the Qingyun Sect ancestors making the monitoring of the Hundred Countries Tournament a tradition, this mission wouldn't have been observed by them at all… The previous two trials that ended were merely conventional tests in the Qingyun Sect. Having so many people killed proved that there wasn't anything great in respect to the martial power of these rustic martial artists.
The woman didn't think about it, and merely continued watching the trials while nibbling on some light refreshments. Then, she reluctantly went in search for what could be counted as a young seedling.
Generally speaking, such a person would come from a first cla.s.s empire…
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Gu Zuo watched how the life and death grindstone spun faster the more it turned. One couldn't say that the injured martial artists on the turning platform could make use of their footwork, even thinking about settling in a horse stance wasn't easy.
In addition, the concentrated sword lights, which were already like a blanketing white wave, truly made it so that even he couldn't see the figures on the grindstone.
But in the end, Gu Zuo was still very anxious about his dear big brother.
He wasn't too hesitant in maneuvering his psychic power and attaching a thin layer to the surface of his eyes. Instantly, the things ahead were seen clearly by him!
Through this one look, Gu Zuo let out a huge sigh.
This was because his big brother, Gongyi Tianheng, was still persevering like usual.
Yes, Tianheng held the silver spear and would swing his arm ahead, brandishing the spear to prevent the wave of light from advancing. The after-images of the spear layered across his whole body, which provided an air-tight protection.
No matter how that sword light emerged and shot out, no matter how fast that grindstone turned, Tianheng was as immovable as a tall and mighty mountain. His feet seemed to sprout roots as he firmly stationed himself in that hole.
Gongyi Tianheng didn't have the slightest injury.
As for when he confronted the trial, his willpower was truly resolute and he was incomparably calm.
Gu Zuo watched Tianheng who wasn't the least bit harmed, and when he discovered that this big brother still wasn't too nervous, he realized that he should make plans in advance. Afterwards, he turned his eyes away to help his big brother scout out the “enemy situation.”
On the eighteenth grindstone, it was without a doubt Tianheng's performance which was the most outstanding. However, not everyone on the other grindstones were doing poorly.
For example: Cang Yu. He held a giant cleaver, and as his muscular arm extended, he brandished it with ease. His entire body was like a lofty mountain or a gigantic cauldron, suppressing all the sword lights from within the hole. So long as the piercing lights approached, they'd be diced into pieces by the edge of his blade.
This Cang Yu was also very steady. His movements were methodical and seemed extremely direct and efficient.
After Gu Zuo watched, he silently thought: If he didn't see incorrectly, it seemed like each swing of this ninth prince was very precise. And based on his precision, it'd make anyone feel that he was magnificent… He was truly quite awesome.
Cang Yu's performance was also observed by those Immortal realm martial artists.
To be accurate, it was the female martial artist who accidentally took note of him in the end. Her beautiful eyes flashed: If this person could survive the third round's trial, he could be considered a good seedling. It's just that everything is still too soon…
The female martial artist didn't watch for too long.
She was aware of the interest the two male disciples on both sides had in her. Naturally, she couldn't reveal her thoughts. Otherwise, they wouldn't have anything good in store for the seedling she attached importance to with but a glance.
However, when her gaze shifted, it landed on Tianheng. This time, it caused her eyes to show a different appearance.
These two weren't people of the three great empires, yet they could still reach this kind of level?
Could it be that in this remote and desolate place, there really were potential candidates that could compare to a first cla.s.s empire's meticulously raised talents?
Other people didn't know about this female martial artist's way of thinking.
A woman's heart was like a needle at the bottom of the ocean. When a woman wanted to conceal her worries, even a man who was very close to her wouldn't be able to get a glimpse of it.
Meanwhile, there were several people who had similarly performed outstandingly. Many were citizens of first cla.s.s empires. There were very few who were from second cla.s.s empires. And as for those from third cla.s.s empires, besides Gongyi Tianheng and Cang Yu, there weren't any others.
Overall, this wasn't considered too bad.
As more time pa.s.sed, the sword lights became more concentrated and had practically transformed into a white coc.o.o.n. The martial artists smothered in this kind of sword coc.o.o.n were all wantonly slaughtered.
One after another, more martial artists were unable to persist. Their heartstrings were tense, but they were still perceptive of their own limits.
Each and every one who found their fortunes already declining didn't dare rashly stop their hands or run away. They merely shouted “I forfeit” at lightning speed, and didn't delay as they sent out their power, borrowed the momentum, and quickly left the grindstone!
At this time, they didn't dare act with the slightest negligence. Otherwise, if their hands slowed for an instant, the sword lights would stab them into sieves. And if these martial artists, who had yet to advance to Xiantian, were turned into sieves, how could they survive?
One's life would forever be the most important thing.
Gu Zuo watched with rapt attention.
Suddenly, he became a little happy.
Perhaps it was because that person was too nervous or something. Helian Xingcheng, who previously suffered a setback during the tests in the Cangyun imperial palace, smoothly pa.s.sed the first trial. Yet, for the second trial's life and death grindstone, he was actually seeking instant benefits. If one wasn't steady or calm enough on that grindstone, it was basically impossible for someone to last for too long. Ahead, Xingcheng displayed lots of might, but because he didn't allocate his physical strength and true qi sparingly, at this time a long trail of blood splattered onto the ground.
Helian Xingcheng was seriously injured!
However his luck wasn't bad as he was able to forfeit in time. Although he had many wounds, it was unlikely for him to lose his life.
Currently, Gu Zuo was hesitating. Should he give Xingcheng a Rejuvenation Pill?
In order to conceal his objectives, he still had some high grade Rejuvenation Pills in his storage s.p.a.ce. Just now, the other martial artists had taken out many medicinal pills. If he were to take it out, it wouldn't be considered overstepping his bounds.
But…
Gu Zuo recalled Helian Xingcheng's att.i.tude and the unconcealed malice towards his big brother. Gu Zuo felt that he didn't want to treat his injuries.
Since he wasn't going to die, was it wrong to make that guy Xingcheng suffer a few hardships?
Besides, once Xingcheng recuperated for a period of time, he estimated that he wouldn't stand a chance with the third round's trial. This was about being able to keep that high and mighty guy's arrogance under control, right? In any case, the third round would have his big brother and Cang Yu. It was enough to have just those two fight for the honor of the Cangyun Empire. He didn't want to treating Xingcheng's injury, just to create an extra opponent for his big brother!
With such thoughts, Gu Zuo secretly laughed in his heart.
It was pleasantly decided just like this!
Immediately after that, Duanmu Qingrong also shot out like a bullet. His luck was just barely enough and he was seriously injured just like Xingcheng. But because Qingrong conducted himself decisively, he evaded many places in time. The wounds he received only looked grievous. In actuality, there was barely any blood loss.
His Clan's pharmacist rushed over and stuffed several medicinal pills into his mouth.
With one look, Gu Zuo saw that besides what might've been low grade Rejuvenation Pills refined by that pharmacist himself, the others were… Oh, wasn't this the Snowy Ginseng Pill?
After looking, he didn't pay them any more attention.
If Qingrong's wounds didn't reach his internal organs, perhaps the extent of his abilities in the third round's trial still unknown.
Later on, Sima Yuanyou was ejected. Like the first two, he was seriously injured.
And after that, Huangfu Zhanghao was also ejected.
And Zhanghao…was in imminent danger.
Gu Zuo: “…”
Apparently, he was still going to use a Rejuvenation Pill.
Recalling Gongyi Tianheng's explanation, Gu Zuo let out a sigh and reached into his sleeve.
Afterwards, he brought a medicine bottle as he walked over.
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[1] Due to aesthetics, I don't want to keep the pinyin for nuanced disciple designations. Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
[2] 螓首 - Qin (cicada) shou (head). A woman who has a wide and squared forehead (like a cicada) is considered beautiful.
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T/N: Besides Gongyi Tianheng, I have never seen a character have so many beautifying adjectives added to their appearance. I wonder how important this woman is.
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