Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 127 - 121: What Makes You Think You’ve Already Won?
The central arena was a large platform formed by the combination of over a dozen ordinary dueling platforms.
At this moment, led by Mu Yunlan, five disciples from the East Campus had already made their way to the middle of the arena.
After that, all eyes turned to the disciples from the West Courtyard on the other side.
Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, Qin Qing, accompanied by fifteen West Courtyard disciples, slowly entered the center of the arena, standing opposite the five East Campus disciples.
From the numbers alone, the disciples from the West Courtyard clearly had the upper hand.
Fifteen against five, it was a tremendous disparity.
"What goes around comes around; this year it’s our turn. It’s been a long time since we from the West Courtyard have witnessed such a scene..."
Some veteran disciples of the West Courtyard were nearly moved to tears.
In the past, the predicaments faced by the West Courtyard disciples were just like what those five new East Campus disciples were currently up against.
Some were even worse.
Yet this time, the tables had finally turned.
"It’s so uplifting! That new guy called Qin Qing, he really isn’t bad at all!"
"Worthy of being the newcomer that stirred up a storm upon entering the Great Qian Martial Institute. It’s entirely due to his efforts that the West Courtyard managed to reverse the situation!"
"Exactly, it’s this Qin Qing who, through his own power, ripped apart the East Campus’s scheme and was able to turn the tides."
"This year’s newcomer assessment and duel is truly worth watching..."
These veteran disciples were all engaged in fervent discussion, and most of their gazes were focused on Qin Qing.
Similarly, those new disciples from the West Courtyard had even more fervent looks in their eyes.
In their minds, Qin Qing had undoubtedly become a super heroic figure.
"This is so satisfying! Two months ago, those guys from the East Campus humiliated us without showing any mercy!"
"Back then, there were still seven of us from the West Courtyard able to make it to the second round, and these guys from the East Campus are faring even worse than those seven from that time..."
"It’s all thanks to Senior Qin. If it weren’t for Senior Qin stepping in, we in the West Courtyard would still be facing nothing but a rout!"
"However, it’s still too early to say, those chaps from the East Campus aren’t to be underestimated; that Mu Yunlan for instance, is said to rival those exceptional veterans in strength..."
"I believe in Senior Qin! What does Mu Yunlan amount to in front of Senior Qin?"
"Right, I also believe in Senior Qin. He is invincible now!"
Many female disciples had already become devout followers of Qin Qing, offering him their blind support.
"Mu Yunlan, this time, perhaps we should come to a final resolution!"
In the middle of the arena, Qin Qing looked at Mu Yunlan and spoke indifferently.
It seemed as if everything was taken lightly.
Indeed, the love of the past was no longer there, the once passionate romance had now turned into smoke of bygone days.
But beneath the facade of nonchalance, a turbulent undercurrent of unresolved resentment swirled.
Hatred burning down to the soul, the grudge of betrayal, none have been settled!
How could Qin Qing possibly forget?
"Yes, Qin Qing... between us, it’s time to settle things!"
Mu Yunlan nodded indifferently.
"Qin Qing!" Beside Mu Yunlan, Qin Lie suddenly pointed at Qin Qing and exclaimed, "Don’t think that you will definitely win against us this time! With Elder Sister Yun Lan here, you are bound to lose!"
"Is that so?" Qin Qing shrugged, a trace of coldness seeping through his eyes, "Whether I will lose today, I do not know, but I do know that you will surely die! If... you fear death and don’t want to die, I advise you to leave the arena right now."
Qin Qing’s words caused Qin Lie to subconsciously hesitate, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
Honestly speaking, Qin Lie did harbor some fear toward Qin Qing.
Especially with each unexpected shock Qin Qing had given him, making him increasingly less confident when facing Qin Qing.
But Qin Lie’s pride and dissatisfaction gnawed at him.
Why should it be so?
In the Qin Residence of Tianjue City, hadn’t Qin Qing always been a good-for-nothing?
Why did he suddenly rise to prominence one day and step over him?
Qin Lie was deeply resentful.
Furthermore, Qin Qing’s repeated heavy blows to his face had sparked hatred within him; he yearned to trample Qin Qing underfoot and grind his face into the dirt.
So even though he was afraid of Qin Qing, Qin Lie still chose to stand on the opposite side.
This was like someone obsessed, determined to follow a path of darkness to its bitter end.
"Hah, Qin Qing. Spare me your threats!" Qin Lie sneered coldly, "With Elder Sister Yun Lan here, you can’t touch me!"
"Is that so? We shall see!" Qin Qing said with a faint smile, no longer paying any attention to Qin Lie; in his eyes, Qin Lie was as good as dead.
Qin Qing retracted his gaze, quietly surveying the five people opposite him.
Beyond Mu Yunlan and Qin Lie, there was another familiar face.
This individual, named Fang Hu, was said to possess divine power. Like Qin Qing and Mu Yunlan, Fang Hu was also a new disciple who had participated in the assessment in Tianjue City, and back then in Tianjue City, Qin Qing already had a considerable impression of him.
During the encounter in the Wind Spirit Valley Secret Realm, Fang Hu even once assisted Shangguan Feixing in attacking Qin Qing.
As for the other two, one had a vigorous aura, shoulders set back, while the other held a long staff, his eyes slightly closed, yet exuding a sense of sharpness and explosive power even in repose.
"Boss, the guy with the dual swords is called Shangguan Yu; he’s from the Shangguan Clan. Leave him to me when the fight starts... The one with the staff, named Yuan Cheng, is probably stronger than Qin Lie!"
Qin Qing nodded slightly; although there were only five disciples from the East Campus, all five were quite strong, and they seemed very confident, indicating they had some decent reliance.
"Remember to follow my orders during the fight. Don’t engage in a chaotic battle!" Qin Qing said in a low voice.
"Yes, Senior Qin!" Everyone behind Qin Qing responded in unison.
"Boom!" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢
And at that moment, the sound of a bell suddenly rang out.
The battle erupted in an instant!
"Kill!"
Mu Yunlan let out a fierce cry as her Martial Soul manifested.
Her Martial Soul was a black Vermilion Bird. As soon as it appeared, the surrounding space seemed to be invaded by darkness, with a mysterious and frightening aura enveloping everyone.
At the same time, Qin Lie, Fang Hu, Shangguan Yu, and Yuan Cheng also manifested their Martial Souls.
"Kill!"
All five from the East Campus charged at that moment, attacking the West Courtyard Disciples.
Rather than being conservative due to their numerical disadvantage, they took the initiative to strike first at the West Courtyard Disciples.
Clearly, they wanted to catch the West Courtyard Disciples off guard and gain the upper hand with lightning speed. If they could quickly deal with or force some West Courtyard Disciples out, it would improve their situation regarding the numerical disadvantage...
"Hmm! Be careful! Manifest your Martial Souls and respond with full force. Remember to cover each other and don’t get separated!"
Qin Qing’s eyes grew sharp.
To his surprise, the weapons in the hands of these five new East Campus disciples were all Third Rank Spirit Soldiers!
Third Rank Spirit Soldiers, meaning Third Rank Spiritual Treasures, were each quite valuable in the Great Qian Dynasty.
Qin Qing’s Azure Dragon Spear was essentially only a Second Rank Spiritual Treasure.
It seemed that the East Campus had made very thorough preparations for the second round of the competition!
The reason they didn’t use Fourth Rank Spirit Soldiers was likely that the greatest limit these five East Campus disciples could exert was through Third Rank Spirit Soldiers.
Though Fourth Rank Spirit Soldiers were higher grade, given the Cultivation Realm and strength of people like Mu Yunlan, they wouldn’t be able to bring out the true power of Fourth Rank Spirit Soldiers.
"Swoosh!"
Mu Yunlan’s sword, a black streak like a swift serpent, slashed towards Qin Qing with Sword Qi like a hissing tongue, ready to claim his life at any moment!
"Well come!"
Qin Qing’s eyes sharpened, and he brandished his Azure Dragon Spear, slashing out.
"Swoosh!"
Like an angry dragon emerging from the sea, the Azure Dragon Spear made large and sweeping motions, its spear light meeting Mu Yunlan’s sword like a brilliant arc of lightning.
"Clang!"
A clear clashing sound echoed.
To Qin Qing’s surprise, a rebounding force transmitted from the shaft of his spear, while around Mu Yunlan’s body rippled rings of golden light.
"Defensive Spiritual Patterns! And they must be Third Rank Defensive Spiritual Patterns, right?"
At the same time, defensive Spiritual Patterns shimmered around the other four, including Qin Lie.
"Third Rank Spirit Soldiers and Third Rank Defensive Spiritual Treasures! Hah, talk about refusing to lose at any cost!"
Qin Qing sneered, continuously backing away under Mu Yunlan’s assault.
He wasn’t truly being suppressed by Mu Yunlan but rather he was being cautious about the other West Courtyard Disciples behind him.
At that moment, aside from Gong Yanghe, who was holding his ground, the others seemed about to be scattered by those five East Campus disciples.
This scene also drew gasps of shock from all the Great Qian Martial Institute disciples.
Could it be that only five East Campus disciples were actually making the West Courtyard Disciples, who outnumbered them three to one, retreat step by step?
"It seems we have overestimated these wastes from the West Courtyard. So what about Qin Qing? Isn’t he still being suppressed by the East Campus?"
"Qin Qing is just mediocre. Look at him facing Mu Yunlan; he has no strength to fight back."
"It looks like the West Courtyard is set for another defeat this year, all that excitement for nothing!"
With such a scene unfolding, the East Campus disciples grew more exuberant.
On the contrary, the West Courtyard Disciples, who had just been preening, now hung their heads, frowned, and their faces were all tinged with an air of helplessness.
"Qin Chang. Heh, quite the strategy, Third Rank Spirit Soldiers and defensive Third Rank Spiritual Treasures, you’ve prepared thoroughly indeed!" Xu Fang watched Qin Chang on the other side with cold eyes.
"Hehe. Xu Fang, there’s no rule against using Spiritual Treasures, right?" Qin Chang said with a smile.
"Despicable!"
Some West Courtyard elders muttered under their breaths.
Although no rule explicitly prohibited disciples from using Spiritual Treasures in competitions, it was an unwritten norm in all assessments to avoid using Spiritual Treasures, as they compromised the fairness and could easily harm the disciples.
"Hehe, despicable?"
Linghu Leiyue sneered, "Blaming others because you didn’t think of it? Or did you West Courtyard folks think you had the assessment of the new disciples in the bag?"
"Xu Fang. I told you, your West Courtyard can’t beat us... it’s better to give up early, so your disciples don’t die in vain! If you disband the West Courtyard now, I can still let you remain as an honorary dean of the Martial Institute!" Qin Chang arrogantly addressed Xu Fang.
"Then I might as well thank Dean Qin for his kind intentions. However, Dean Qin, what makes you so certain that your East Campus will definitely have the last laugh?"
As soon as Xu Fang finished speaking, in the middle of the arena, the continuously pressured Qin Qing suddenly underwent a massive change in momentum!
