Chapter 1036: Means (Please Subscribe)_1

One of the clan leaders from another clan sneered disdainfully, "Duanmu Clan Leader, it appears that your family's disciples are still as energetic as ever!"

Another leader from a foreign clan chimed in, "Indeed! If they were to lose, I'm sure it would deal a great blow to them, wouldn't it?"

"I think, they should prepare themselves for failure, so that they won't do anything regrettable after the duel, unable to bear the result!"

Hearing the thick sarcasm in these comments, Duanmu Shuo retorted without showing any weakness, "The clan leaders' words are quite true, after all, our Duanmu Clan has always secured the qualifications to enter the Xuanming Domain. If we lose this time, it will indeed be a huge blow to the disciples."

The implications were simple, the disciples of the Duanmu Clan had experienced too many victories, and indeed, an occasional failure would be quite upsetting!

As soon as these words left his mouth, they immediately silenced the other clan leaders, their faces turning extremely ugly...

Finally, it was the first clan leader who spoke that said coldly, "Duanmu Family Head, let's just start the duel!!"

An Immortal Monarch-level expert casually picked could hardly be compared to the carefully selected elders of their families!

Duanmu Shuo glanced at them, then gave a slight nod to the elder from the Duanmu Clan who was presiding over the duel on the martial arts stage...

The latter immediately understood, cleared his throat, and announced loudly, "The winner of this duel will gain the qualification to enter the Xuanming Domain. The duel will consist of three rounds, and for each round, each family must send a different elder to participate!"

"The family that wins the most rounds will be victorious, and if there is a tie, another round will be conducted!"

Meanwhile, Duanmu Lian, who was close to the martial arts stage, looked at Xu Sheng with her bright beautiful eyes and said with utmost seriousness, "Xu Sheng, I'll go first in the first round, you observe the overall strength of the opponents!"

If she went first, barring any accidents, she should be able to secure an early victory!

By doing so, they could also give Xu Sheng a rough estimate of their strength, thereby increasing their chances of winning!

Xu Sheng's dark eyes flickered with surprise, and he replied lightly, "Okay!"

He had thought that Duanmu Lian would want to go first herself, but it turned out she had quite some trust in his abilities!

Seeing the two of them conversing so closely, Zhou Qingruo, despite her silence and saying nothing, was continuously pursing her delicate soft lips...

Suddenly, a voice rang out abruptly...

"Please have each family send an elder to the martial arts stage!"

As the words fell, an elder from each family in attendance took their place on the martial arts stage...

Besides the Duanmu Clan, who had sent the female elder Duanmu Lian, all the other families had sent male elders!

Without saying, the cultivation level of each elder was at the terrifying Immortal Monarch Realm!

One of the male elders was the first to speak provocatively, "Elder Lian, I know you are powerful, but times have changed, you better be careful!"

Another one looked at Duanmu Lian's exquisite body with a lecherous gaze, licking his dry lips he said, "I didn't expect the Duanmu Family to send such a beauty to the first match, are they trying to hand us a victory right from the start?"

"Beauty? This Duanmu Lian is extremely strong; I'm afraid any one of the elders from our major families is no match for her in single combat!"

From these words, Duanmu Lian picked up a keyword, thinking to herself, "'Us'? So they plan to join forces to eliminate me first."

With that thought, her vigilance reached its peak!

Come what may, she must not lose this first round!!

Before she had time to ponder further, the elder in charge of presiding the duel shouted once more, "Please have all elders participating in the duel get ready, it will officially start in three seconds!"

"Three!!"

"Two!!"

"One!!"

"Begin!!"

As these words left her lips, Duanmu Lian erupted with terrifying spiritual power. Clutching her personal sword tightly, she dashed toward her nearest opponent like a phantom...

In an instant, the entire martial arts stage descended into chaos...

...

Watching Xu Sheng intently focused on the martial arts stage, Zhou Qingruo couldn't help but interrupt, "Xu Sheng."

Xu Sheng snapped back to attention and looked at Zhou Qingruo with confusion, "Hm? What's the matter?"

Embarrassment flushed across Zhou Qingruo's delicate cheeks as she bit her lip and asked, "You... Since when have you been so close with Miss Lian?"

One could faintly detect a hint of jealousy in her words...

As if something precious to her had been taken away, her heart was filled with unwillingness...

At her words, Xu Sheng was taken aback and then laughed wryly, "Qingruo, what are you talking about? When have I ever been close with Miss Lian?"

All he did was converse normally with Duanmu Lian!

While they were talking, the situation on the martial arts stage had already reached a fever pitch...

The Elders, knowing they couldn't defeat Duanmu Lian one-on-one, made no attempt to conceal their intentions!

They set their sights on Duanmu Lian and launched a combined assault on her...

Duanmu Lian had no choice but to hold her personal sword horizontally in front of her, continuously taking a defensive stance...

However, under their coordinated attack, she was relentlessly pushed back...

Clearly, if things continued this way, she would undoubtedly lose the duel!

This scene immediately ignited the wrath of the onlooking disciples, who scolded loudly, "Damn it! Such shamelessness! Three male Elders ganging up on Elder Lian!"

"These guys are just too despicable, knowing they can't beat Elder Lian, they resort to such low and dirty tactics to win!"

"Are the other clans not planning to continue their presence in the Cultivation World? Coming up with such disgusting methods!"

Meanwhile, Duanmu Shuo, seated at the head of the gathering, wore a grim expression...

Without hesitating, his gaze turned towards the other Clan Leaders sitting beside him, his voice icy as he said, "Clan Leaders, this course of action seems somewhat improper, doesn't it?"

Upon hearing his words, the expressions of those Clan Leaders still bore their smiles...

One of the Clan Leaders sneered, "Duanmu Patriarch must be joking, right? Teaming up to eliminate the strongest opponent first is quite a normal thing, isn't it?"

Another Clan Leader chimed in, "Exactly, Duanmu Patriarch. Surely your family has engaged in such tactics before, haven't they?"

"After all, we're talking about the competition for entry into the Xuanming Domain, so using some tricks is quite normal, right?"

Duanmu Shuo clenched his teeth, but found himself at a loss for words...

As expected, under the combined assault of these Elders, Duanmu Lian on the martial arts stage had completely depleted her spiritual power...

Left with no choice, she conceded defeat...

Stepping down from the martial arts stage, she returned to Xu Sheng and Zhou Qingruo's side...

.....