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墨書 Inktalez
"Lu Chen and Yuan Jia's Challenge, there's only a thirty percent chance!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Zhulan's face fell, her complexion alternating between red and pale. She said, "You really are a madman. Since you have no confidence, why did you agree to the Challenge with Yuan Jia? What do you think of Sun Zizhao?"
Princess Zhulan questioned Lu Chen. The idea of Lu Chen participating in the Challenge with Yuan Jia was simply too reckless. If something were to happen to Lu Chen at Martial Arts Peak, it would affect Sun Zizhao's recent plans, including the treasures that the Steppe People had plundered, which might end up benefiting other feudal states.
"Hahaha, Princess, there's no need to worry about me. What good does it do to backtrack now? Let's focus on the matter of the parchment scroll. We need to venture into the Great Gobi; how can we do that without a map?"
Seeing Princess Zhulan's worried expression, Lu Chen laughed heartily and shifted the topic to the parchment scroll.
"Working with you is truly a dangerous affair; it's both exhausting and laborious," Princess Zhulan complained. Collaborating with Lu Chen made her anxious and fearful, as she was putting in both money and effort.
"The parchment scroll is no longer our concern; Sun Zizhao will handle it. We just need to head to the grasslands, and someone will meet us there," Princess Zhulan said nonchalantly.
Lu Chen was taken aback by this. The parchment scroll was in Young Master Ming's hands, who was a neutral party and did not involve himself in any matters. How could Sun Zizhao obtain the parchment scroll?
It seemed he still had some skills; after all, he was a descendant of the former royal family. Lu Chen had underestimated him.
However, for now, having access to an existing parchment scroll was simply perfect; it saved him from worrying.
The two continued discussing some trivial matters before Princess Zhulan stood up to take her leave. Lu Chen sat alone at the table.
It was best that Yin Boqing did not find out about the Challenge with Yuan Jia; otherwise, he would surely face some questioning.
As for what would happen after the Challenge, regardless of the outcome, Yin Boqing would eventually find out, but by then it would be a different story.
The time for the election of True Disciple was drawing closer.
At Martial Arts Peak, many outer disciples were already busy cleaning the mountain, transporting items back and forth, and setting up the Arena in preparation for the election of the True Disciple. Everything was proceeding in an orderly manner.
On the evening of the tenth day of May, Lu Chen was summoned by Yin Boqing once again.
Lu Chen hurried to Gate Peak, where Yin Boqing simply instructed him to be more reserved and not to engage in any outrageous behavior.
Lu Chen broke out in a cold sweat, kneeling on the ground and quietly listening to Yin Boqing's teachings, not daring to lift his head.
No matter how wild or reckless Lu Chen was outside, upon seeing Yin Boqing, his legs would go weak. He always had the illusion that if he uttered any rebellious words in front of Yin Boqing, he would immediately be crushed to pieces.
There was a psychological intimidation that even made Lu Chen feel less apprehensive when facing the Supreme Emperor; only Yin Boqing made him tremble as if he were being suppressed by an enormous mountain.
Moreover, every time Yin Boqing summoned Lu Chen, it was always for reprimands. As a master, he had never taught Lu Chen any techniques; only when Lu Chen actively inquired would he share a little. Lu Chen could never understand this dynamic.
The next morning, Lu Chen woke from meditation and leisurely walked to the back mountain to practice some old Qigong techniques. After completing these tasks, he slowly made his way to Martial Arts Peak, navigating through the mountains with ease.
By the time he arrived at the peak, most people had gathered.
First were the Inner Sect Disciples participating in the election—over three hundred of them—standing together in a dense crowd. Additionally, there were nearly two hundred elders from the Five Element Sect, some appearing relatively young in their thirties or forties, while others were elderly men in their sixties or seventies with white hair and beards, looking as if they were on the verge of death.
However, their cultivation levels were absolutely terrifying; no one would expect those who looked like they could die at any moment could easily crush a tiger or an elephant with a casual strike.
Furthermore, at the center of the viewing platform on Martial Arts Peak sat someone Lu Chen did not want to see—Yin Boqing.
Regarding the election of the True Disciple, the chief judge was the Vice Master Supreme Young Sovereign of the Five Element Sect.
However, the previous Young Sovereign had already died. Lu Chen had personally heard the Supreme Emperor confer upon Yin Boqing the title of Young Sovereign, making him the Vice Master Supreme of the Five Element Sect.
The Vice Sect Master of the Five Element Sect is responsible for overseeing some internal affairs, acting as the decision-maker. The authority of the Young Sovereign is very high.
Currently, the Vice Master Supreme and Young Sovereign of the Five Element Sect is Yin Boqing.
Although Lu Chen stands among the crowd and appears inconspicuous, he does not dare to make any reckless moves for fear of being discovered by Yin Boqing, which would expose him.
Around the Martial Arts Arena, triangular colorful flags are planted, each marked with a circle containing the character "Element" which likely serves as an abbreviation for the Five Element Sect.
Inside the Martial Arts Arena, eighty arenas have already been set up in advance, each with a corresponding number from one to eighty.
Each arena is twenty zhang wide and half a person high. The structures of the arenas are made entirely from refined steel rods, constructed using a mortise and tenon joint system, making them incredibly sturdy and capable of bearing over five thousand jin of weight.
A bright red carpet has also been laid on top of the arenas to prevent slipping and falling, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail.
Setting up all eighty arenas is no easy task; however, under the organization of the Five Element Sect, it proves to be quite manageable, showcasing their strong unification capabilities.
At this moment, everyone who was supposed to arrive has gathered. Even the outer disciples who came to watch have numbered in the thousands, filling the entire Martial Arts Peak. After all, this is a grand event that occurs once every thirty years, and everyone hopes to witness it in person so they can have stories to share later.
The Five Element Sect has not prohibited unrelated individuals from coming to observe; on the contrary, as long as they are part of the Five Element Sect—whether they are miscellaneous workers or formal disciples—they are welcome to come and learn. The mentors are more than happy to see them.
Before long, Princess Zhulan, Jiang Jie, Lu Renjia, and Jiang Youdang found Lu Chen. They were all very happy, their faces showing unmistakable joy as they anticipated the long-awaited assessment that was finally about to begin.
The five stood together in the crowd, discussing various matters.
Soon after, the higher-ups of the Five Element Sect announced that the competition for True Disciple was officially starting. First, everyone would receive a token with a number on it; this number represents each disciple.
Princess Zhulan and her companions received their tokens and eagerly looked down at them. Lu Chen also received his token, which bore the number one hundred thirty-five.
According to the rules of the Candidate Disciple, those who receive a Wooden Plaque must find their opponents based on the numbers above.
One and two are opponents, three and four are opponents. Lu Chen calculated that if this arrangement continued, he would have to face the disciple with the number one hundred thirty-six on his Wooden Plaque in the Sixty-Eighth Arena for the first round of competition.
Lu Chen smacked his lips; there are a total of eighty Arenas in the Martial Arts Arena, which means one hundred sixty people need to compete simultaneously. His Wooden Plaque is one hundred thirty-five, which is within one hundred sixty, so he is clearly among the first group.
At this moment, several disciples had already found their Arenas and jumped up to begin their matches.
These Inner Sect Disciples were all selected through strict criteria and had undergone countless trials, making each of them a skilled fighter. As soon as they jumped onto the Arena, they immediately displayed their vigor, roaring as they charged forward.
Lu Chen and Jiang Jie were both among the first group of disciples to participate in the competition, while Princess Zhulan, Lu Renjia, and Jiang Youdang would have to wait for the second group.
Lu Chen exchanged glances with Jiang Jie, then took off with his Wooden Plaque in hand to find his Arena.
Following the Arena number, Lu Chen walked all the way to the Sixty-Eighth Arena. When he looked up, he saw a disciple dressed in Dark Blue Clothes standing with his arms crossed, waiting on the Arena.
This person was Lu Chen's opponent!
Lu Chen lightly jumped onto the Arena, placed his Wooden Plaque aside, and walked ten steps away from that disciple.
The opponent was taller than Lu Chen by a head, lean and wiry, with prominent cheekbones and bright eyes. Upon seeing Lu Chen, his eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a look of disdain.
"Senior Brother, shall we begin?"
Lu Chen did not engage in excessive pleasantries and directly addressed the disciple not far away.
The disciple snorted coldly at this and immediately sprinted over. His movements clearly demonstrated the Dragon Stride Tiger Step Fist, imitating actions such as the tiger's roar, rolling tiger strikes, fierce tiger pounces, as well as dragon claws and dragon flips—extremely domineering.
The Dragon Stride Tiger Step Fist is quite popular in the Qigong Pavilion of the Five Element Sect, with many disciples borrowing it. The Five Element Sect even prepared dozens of handwritten copies to meet the demands of the numerous disciples.
However, Lu Chen had never practiced this Fist Technique. When he saw the disciple charging at him, executing the Dragon Stride Tiger Step Fist, Lu Chen avoided the attack by using the Seven Star Step to dodge.
He only utilized the footwork from the Crazy Serpent Seven Star Classic and did not directly use its Fist Technique, which was not against the rules. The High Elders of the Five Element Sect would not pay attention to this area, especially since there were eighty arenas competing simultaneously; their eyes were likely already overwhelmed.
The Lean Disciple's fingers curled like claws, and his arms moved rapidly as if beating a drum. His five claws lunged forward with a sound that sliced through the air, creating a buzzing noise and exuding a force capable of tearing through metal and stone.
Lu Chen rolled his body and jumped aside, sweeping his long leg towards the Lean Disciple.
The opponent pushed off hard from the arena floor, leaping two meters high. He crossed his legs and clawed down again, aiming straight for Lu Chen's chest.
Lu Chen performed a backflip and bounced away to evade the disciple's dragon claw strike.
Although Lu Chen had not practiced the Dragon Stride Tiger Step Fist, he had been retreating earlier to observe his opponent's techniques and was mentally devising countermeasures based on what he saw.
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