Chapter 256 - The Drawing of Lots

Chapter 256 - The Drawing of Lots

After the Body Sect team defeated the Sun-Moon team, the quarterfinals came to an end. Xiao Hongchen, though reluctant, had no choice but to leave the arena with his sister, Meng Hongchen. It's worth noting that, just like in the original story, he sacrificed five years of his future development using a soul guidance device to break through to the Soul Sage level. His goal was to make a name for himself in this tournament and to confront Du Qianjue, who he suspected wanted to steal his sister.

However, he didn't even get to face Du Qianjue and instead got beaten up twice by Long Aotian, who wasn't even as strong as Du Qianjue. Xiao Hongchen's fighting spirit was nearly shattered.

It must be said, though, Long Aotian was rather decent about it. If it had been any other team from Douluo's Three Kingdoms with their strength, they would have been merciless against the Sun-Moon team. But, without prior notice from Du Qianjue, Long Aotian actually held back.

Although he didn't spare the other members of the Sun-Moon team, aiming to incapacitate them—which even if not serious, would require a few days in bed—he did restrain himself in the final moments against the siblings, Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen, preventing them from ending up bedridden as well.

After the match, when a fuming Xiao Hongchen confronted Long Aotian asking why he didn't fight with full force, Long Aotian's straightforward response embarrassed Xiao Hongchen and made Meng Hongchen blush, "Your sister is quite close to our junior sect leader. I was worried that if I hit too hard, the junior sect leader might come after me once his retreat ends."

Xiao Hongchen was livid.

Fine, play it that way, huh? Not only does this blond kid try to steal my sister, but he also has your sect members helping in his schemes?

If it weren't for Meng Hongchen holding him back, he probably would have rushed up and let himself be beaten by Long Aotian again.

"Big sisters shouldn't stay away from home, big sisters shouldn't stay away from home! Sister, you're from the Sun-Moon Empire!" Xiao Hongchen lamented sorrowfully after Long Aotian left, his tone profoundly emotional and heart-wrenching.

"How can you turn your back on your own brother!"

Meng Hongchen turned away, embarrassed, her slender fingers twined in front of her as she spoke in a tiny voice, "Du Qianjue is going to be your brother-in-law. What's wrong with siding with him a little?"

"What did you say?!" Xiao Hongchen nearly blacked out, his voice octaves higher upon hearing Meng Hongchen's murmur.

Seeing her brother about to pass out from rage, Meng Hongchen quickly went to calm him, "It's nothing, big brother, you heard wrong. Let's go home."

Ignoring his resistance, she pulled him by the hand and left the soul-fighting arena. She was genuinely afraid her brother might die young from stress, especially after being dealt a double blow by Long Aotian and herself.

The next day, the semifinals proceeded as scheduled. However, noticeably fewer spectators were present compared to the exciting quarterfinals. With the seating barely two-thirds full compared to yesterday, the sparse crowd was understandable considering none of the four teams in the semifinals were from the hosting Sun-Moon Empire.

It was like having a finals in the LPL at the Bird's Nest with two Korean teams—how is that any different?

A dark time for the Sun-Moon Empire indeed!

As the four teams entered the arena, their captains went up to draw lots for the semifinal matchups. With only two matches needed today—one for each half of the draw—the winners would advance to the finals and the losers to the third-place match.

The same setup was planned for tomorrow: determine the third place in the morning and the champion and runner-up in the afternoon.

Wu Qian of the Proud Sword Sect was the first to draw. Perhaps fittingly given his name included the character for 'lot', he drew a spectacularly explosive slot.

"Proud Sword Sect drawing result: upper half!"

The next to draw was Yu Tianlong from the Heavenly Dragon Gate, a formidable competitor with pure Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon bloodline, even purer than Bei Bei's. He was incredibly strong.

"Heavenly Dragon Gate drawing result: lower half!"

Yu Tianlong's face darkened, and his fists clenched slightly. This draw was disadvantageous for the Heavenly Dragon Gate. The best slot would have been the upper half, facing the Proud Sword Sect—Yu Tianlong was confident he could defeat them and advance to the finals.

But being drawn into the lower half meant facing either the Body Sect or the Holy Spirit Cult, and Yu Tianlong was sure he couldn't confidently beat either. The Body Sect's display of strength was evident to all during this tournament; just Long Aotian alone was a challenge, not to mention his team's unsportsmanlike full equipment of soul guidance devices.

As for the Holy Spirit Cult...

Laughable. By the semifinals, it was clear to any sane observer just how abnormal this sect was. Every participant they fielded was bizarre to the extreme, engaging in eerie, abstract tactics like eating brains or absorbing souls, each more explosive in appearance than the last: a Dark Gold Skeleton King, an Abomination, a Brain Eater, and a Whip Enthusiast...

The only seemingly normal one, Yan Feng, radiated a chill and sinister aura that no sane person would want to linger around.

A true all-star team of evil soul masters!

Yu Tianlong would have to be out of his mind to choose the Holy Spirit Cult; he'd rather be pummeled by the Body Sect. At least they were normal people who wouldn't kill without reason.

But those from the Holy Spirit Cult? They were real killers.

As Yan Feng from the Holy Spirit Cult prepared to draw, both Wu Qian and Yu Tianlong tensed up.

"Don't pick me..."

"Don't end up against me...!"

Both were praying simultaneously in their minds, hoping not to face the Holy Spirit Cult.

"Holy Spirit Cult drawing result..."

Yu Tianlong and Wu Qian held their breath, awaiting the 'death sentence' from the referee.

"Lower half!"

"Phew—what a relief!" Wu Qian cracked a smile, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders.

Meanwhile, Yu Tianlong looked utterly devastated, staring blankly at the distant sky. If there had been background music, it would surely be:

Snowflakes fluttering, north wind howling...

"How so, are you happy?"

Just as Wu Qian was enjoying his moment, Yu Tianlong's voice, chilling and teeth-gritted, rose ominously. Wu Qian stiffened and slowly turned his head, only to see Yu Tianlong's dangerously smiling face. (End of Chapter)

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