Purple Mist Dao Master
Chapter 269 - 218: Master Yan, We Believe in You!_2

Chapter 269: Chapter 218: Master Yan, We Believe in You!_2

As it turned out, by sheer coincidence, they ended up in Yan Chuan’s group.

This eliminated two teams, leaving only the other two to compete.

However—

"Rather than saying Professor Yan is lucky, it’s more accurate to say the other two teams are lucky."

Whether the Zhou Family Sisters and Tu Tiannan’s team are at full strength or not, with Yan Chuan’s power, they can still advance. But for the other two teams, it’s uncertain.

But now—

"An easily acquired spot in the Top Eight is right in front of them; it’s just a matter of which of these two teams can grasp it!"

Yan Chuan also thought they were fortunate.

As he was thinking this.

Suddenly.

At this moment.

"Good news, good news!"

Du Zhenzong came striding in, and with a smile at Yan Chuan and Shao Yancong, said: "The Military Suppression Department followed the line from Feng Guan and discovered that Liyang Academy harbored cultists, capturing fourteen ’Mianran Sect’ followers with varying levels of strength. Among them, four were limit-breaking disciples from Liyang Academy competing in this tournament, and they just so happened to reach the fourth round, placed in Group Jia. When they were captured, they violently resisted, killing three of their limit-breaking teammates, and now that team has been completely wiped out."

"Ah, this—"

Yan Chuan was stunned.

Shao Yancong was also dumbfounded, but quickly reacted and asked Yan Chuan, "Who is the last team in your Group Jia?"

...

"Great news!"

"We’ve secured a spot in the Top Eight!"

Linhuan Academy was overjoyed.

This academy, located in the middle to lower regions among the Nine Counties of Jian Province, couldn’t compare to the likes of Liyang Academy or Guangling Academy, but it was better than Wendeng, Yingze, and Taikang Academies.

But that was in the past.

In this "Jian Province Competition," the landscape changed dramatically—

"Taikang Academy has Yan Chuan, a strong contender for the championship."

"Yingze Academy has Wang Ge, steadily progressing to the fourth round with hopes of reaching the Top Eight."

"Wendeng Academy has the Zhou Family Sisters, with hopes not just for the Top Eight, but even the Final Four."

The ’Bottom Three Academies’ each will have remarkable achievements.

Conversely, the fourth from the bottom, Linhuan Academy, doesn’t even have a complete limit-breaking team, barely squeezed into the fourth round.

But once in, the groupings—

Yan Chuan!

Tu Tiannan!

Mo Yuncong!

The Zhou Family Sisters!

Look at Group Jia’s teams, which one isn’t strong?

Yan Chuan firmly holds one spot, while the remaining four teams vie for the other.

Fortunately, overnight, something happened to the Zhou Family Sisters, and they can hardly fight anymore, eliminating another possibility.

But remaining are Tu Tiannan’s team from Guangling Academy, and Mo Yuncong’s team from Liyang Academy, both teams completely limit-breakers and strong, they are the true competitors for second place in the group.

Linhuan Academy?

Hope seems slim!

Yet this sliver of hope truly fell on them—

"Tu Tiannan’s team had internal strife, now only Chu Yan and Yang Wei are left half-defeated."

"Mo Yuncong’s team had cultists, many captured or killed, completely wiped out."

"So that means!"

"You now just need to defeat Tu Tiannan’s team’s Chu Yan and Yang Wei to advance smoothly to the Top Eight! Not only are there more rankings and rewards, but you also qualify to go to Cang Mountain for the ’Cang Mountain Sword Discussion’!"

Inner Court Elder Pu Cicheng of Linhuan Academy was excited; this was a heaven-sent opportunity, even the heavens favored them.

Heaven gives opportunities, don’t miss!

Disregard and you’ll be blamed!

This opportunity must be seized!

...

"Heaven gives opportunities, don’t miss, disregard and you’ll be blamed!"

"This opportunity must be seized!"

Yan Chuan looked at the Zhou Family Sisters and smiled.

However—

"Opportunity?"

Zhou Jiao looked at Yan Chuan, then at her own sisters—

Eldest sister and youngest sister lay unconscious on stretchers.

Third sister Zhou Wen had three broken ribs, her inner strength scattered, and she staggered when walking, her grip on her sword weak.

Fourth sister Zhou Hui had been struck by a mace from a black-clothed man, alien inner power eroded her meridians. Though Yan Chuan had expelled and neutralized it, her inner strength was still sluggish, and even though she wasn’t physically injured, how much strength did she have left when she couldn’t use her inner power?

As for Zhou Jiao herself, she too was in a dire situation. The sisters were all skilled swordswomen, but Zhou Jiao’s right hand tendon was severed by a black-clothed man last night, and her right scapula was injured. As the saying goes, "It takes a hundred days to heal from a tendon and bone injury." Right now, her entire right arm and wrist were immobile, leaving her with just her left hand. Trying to learn left-hand swordplay quickly seemed impossible for this group match.

Looking at her own ragged team, Zhou Jiao gave a bitter smile, "Palace Master Yan, where do we have a chance?"

"Not entirely hopeless!"

Yan Chuan smiled.

In their condition, facing a complete limit-breaking team, they should rest early and not entertain any ideas.

But Guangling Academy’s Tu Tiannan’s team now only had Chu Yan and Yang Wei left, both half-defeated.

And Linhuan Academy’s Chen Qiang’s team only had Chen Qiang and Niu Gu left, both half-defeated.

Fight!

Give it a shot!

There’s still some hope.

"The situation in Group Jia is as such; the remaining two teams surely understand that their biggest rival isn’t you, nor me, but each other."

"So, to play it safe, when they face me, they’ll likely choose to concede to avoid me causing any serious injury to them, which means I can’t impact the intra-group round-robin matches."

"If you want to win, you can only rely on yourselves."

"How to win?"

"Zhou Jiao, Zhou Hui, the focus is on both of you."

"Zhou Jiao, skilled in sword, with a heavy, stable, ancient, and fierce style that’s quite compatible with my Fourth Base Sword Series. But now your right arm is out of commission, you can’t use ’Seven Stars Falling Sky,’ nor ’Dai Sect,’ but in my First Base Sword Series, there is a sword technique that might suit you. If you can learn this move with your left hand, you’ll have a chance to catch them off guard and seriously wound someone. But this is a surprise move, and there’s only one opportunity."

"As for Zhou Hui, it’s the same for you. It’s difficult for you to use your inner strength, your flaw is clear, and to win, you have only one chance, and once seen through, it becomes incredibly hard to succeed again."

The time was pressing.

Yan Chuan had only enough time to explain his plan to the Zhou Family Sisters, as for teaching martial arts, there wasn’t time off-stage, it had to wait until they were on-stage.

Four hours!

Enough time to teach!

...

Jian Province Competition, fourth round, group stage.

teams were split into groups Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, with each group having 5 teams.

The first day featured Group Jia led by Yan Chuan.

Originally.

Five teams’ round-robin battles would require ten matches for a complete cycle.

But now, with Liyang Academy’s Mo Yuncong’s team completely wiped out, Group Jia only had four teams remaining, reducing the cycle to just six matches.

And the first to take the stage were Yan Chuan’s team against Tu Tiannan’s team!

"Conce—"

Tu Tiannan’s team, now just left with Chu Yan, Yang Wei as half-defeated, taking the stage, dared not approach Yan Chuan, ready to concede outright.

Yan Chuan had anticipated this, and shouted, "Wait, you two!"

His voice was as loud as a bell.

Stopping Chu Yan, Yang Wei in their tracks before the second character of ’concede’ left their mouths, the two hesitated, looking toward Yan Chuan.

They saw Yan Chuan smiling, "I have a fate with Guangling Academy, and now ’Jian Province Competition’ matches are rare, let me play for the full four hours on stage. Rest assured, I will not harm either of you."

"Master Yan, this—"

Chu Yan was puzzled.

He had discussed with Yang Wei, their game plan was to take the stage, concede immediately, conserving their strength for the real battle against Linhuan Academy’s Chen Qiang’s team, which was the sensible thing to do.

But Yan Chuan earnestly asked them for a chance, and truth be told, given Yan Chuan’s current ’status,’ it would not be appropriate to deny him that.

Yang Wei gave a wry smile, "Master Yan’s strength is overwhelming, we know we are no match and dare not delay."

This was a polite refusal.

"Meeting is fate itself."

"To be honest with you, I enjoy martial arts lectures under such attention, it inspires me a lot. Not just me, on stage, my team members also get stimulated, enhancing their martial arts practice efficiency."

"Please allow us, not that I dare compare, but in ’General’s Hammer’ and ’Wensheng Fist,’ I have quite some insights you might benefit from hearing."

With Yan Chuan saying this, how could Chu Yan, Yang Wei refuse?

Moreover.

Yan Chuan’s teaching skill is well known, giving him four hours to lecture could not only satisfy Yan Chuan but also offer them some guidance.

Gaining convenience for others is gaining it for oneself too.

A great outcome for all, why not enjoy it?

Chu Yan, Yang Wei exchanged looks and readily agreed—

"Master Yan!"

"We trust you!"

...