Purple Mist Dao Master
Chapter 276 - 221: Jian Province Top 8! Yan Chuan Rank 1!_2

Chapter 276: Chapter 221: Jian Province Top 8! Yan Chuan Rank 1!_2

But now—

"Let’s wait a bit longer!"

Yan Chuan sent Wang Zhengyi away, though he was anxious too, but when it comes to developing martial arts, haste makes waste.

...

The Jian Province Competition continues.

On the first day of the fourth-round group matches, Group A had numerous unexpected events. Yan Chuan advanced steadily with no suspense, while the Zhou Family Sisters experienced many twists and turns, yet thankfully secured a spot in the next round.

The first two spots in the top eight were thus confirmed.

The second day.

Group B’s matches.

Ten matches in total, all resolved in one day.

Guangling Academy’s Wang Zhengyi Team and Chen Ze Team advanced hand in hand, securing the third and fourth top-eight spots, as well as the third and fourth advancement spots.

This battle was fierce, with Wang Zhengyi being invincible. The remaining four teams fought with all their might for the last spot in the group, not daring to challenge Wang Zhengyi, conceding upon sight, but Chen Ze did not have such dominance.

He was nearly overwhelmed!

But Chen Ze was not weak—

The ’Flower Stand Sword Technique’ had improved further, and the ’Quanzhen Swordsmanship’ initially showed its power, with the sword in hand, the other three teams in Group B, apart from Wang Zhengyi, were no match.

In the Three Battles, Chen Ze made a name for himself!

March 12th.

Group C’s matches.

Liyang Academy’s Liu Qifeng Team and Shi Xuanli Team both advanced.

Two more top-eight teams took their places.

March 13th.

Group D’s matches.

In this group, Fu Yunzhan Team and Wang Ge Team advanced.

Over the course of four days.

The fourth round concluded, the top eight of Jian Province emerged, and the advancement spots were confirmed, they are—

Liyang Academy: Liu Qifeng Team, Shi Xuanli Team.

Guangling Academy: Wang Zhengyi Team, Chen Ze Team.

Wendeng Academy: Zhou Family Sisters Team.

Qiancheng Academy: Fu Yunzhan Team.

Yingze Academy: Wang Ge Team.

And, Taikang Academy, Yan Chuan Team!

...

After twenty days of matches, the top eight finally emerged!

...

"There’s not much to see in the top eight advancing to the top four."

"A vs. C!"

"B vs. D!"

"First versus second, second versus first!"

"The strength disparity among the four groups is large, there’s little suspense in the outcomes."

On the night the group stage ended, Wang Zhengyi sought out Yan Chuan again, uninterested in the upcoming top eight to top four, he talked to Yan Chuan about the usual three topics: custom martial arts development, team reformation—

"You, me, Liu Qifeng, Fu Yunzhan, Chen Ze, the five of us as the main lineup, along with Wang Ge and Shi Xuanli as substitutes, with this setup, only then can we face the Heavenly Prides of the remaining fourteen states at Cang Mountain with confidence!"

Wang Zhengyi looked at Yan Chuan: "The region-wide competitions have been going on for over half a month, Guangling Academy has been gathering information from other states and sending it back. Not to mention the distant ones, just the nearby Peng State has three Fourth and Fifth Grade Heavenly Prides, each no weaker than us."

As the Jian Province Competition neared its end, the time for the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion grew closer, making Wang Zhengyi increasingly urgent.

His vision was already beyond just one province, aiming for a broader stage.

But before that.

Before heading to Cang Mountain, it’s crucial to integrate the strongest players of Jian Province, especially Yan Chuan, so that with everyone’s combined efforts, they can hope to break through at Cang Mountain.

"Chen Ze and Wang Ge have already clearly agreed, but Wang Ge has some concerns about the substitute position, though it’s not a significant issue."

"However, Liu Qifeng, Fu Yunzhan, and Shi Xuanli are somewhat troublesome."

"Shi Xuanli is not important, whether he comes or not, it doesn’t make much impact."

"But it’s best to secure Liu Qifeng and Fu Yunzhan."

Wang Zhengyi worried.

Yan Chuan curiously asked: "Joining forces with the strong is a good thing, why would Liu and Fu disagree?"

"It’s not that they disagree."

Wang Zhengyi explained: "It’s just about the say-so after the team restructure, and the distribution of benefits after the competition, they’re having disagreements on these."

The benefits from the Jian Province Competition are already significant.

The rewards from the Cang Mountain Sword Discussion will only be greater.

If they’re reassembling a team, the distribution of rewards, whether it’s evenly shared, or ranked from first to fifth, needs to be settled beforehand.

Liu Qifeng and Fu Yunzhan both consider themselves strong, not inferior to Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi, and naturally don’t wish to lose out.

To have them relinquish their say-so, give up interests—

"Unless!"

"They are conquered through battle!"

Wang Zhengyi laughed to Yan Chuan: "Hope Brother Yan doesn’t hold back in the semifinals later on, strike hard, don’t worry about damaging relationships, the harder you hit, the less confidence Liu Qifeng will have, and the more interests he’ll concede, when it comes to benefits, you can’t be polite."

So that’s how it is!

Yan Chuan nodded: "I understand!"

Strike hard, huh?

That’s simple!

...

That night.

After Wang Zhengyi left, Shao Yancong came: "I never expected, our Taikang Academy would actually make it to the top eight in the ’Jian Province Competition’!"

Shao Yancong looked at Yan Chuan, he came tonight, both to express his feelings and to thank Yan Chuan: "Thanks to Professor Yan, otherwise, this time, Taikang Academy would surely be at the bottom!"

Nine Counties of Jian Province, nine academies.

The top eight of the competition includes six academies.

Even if they stop at the top eight stage, Liyang Academy, Guangling Academy are tied for first, Taikang Academy can rank third together with the remaining three academies, improving its ranking and significantly increasing resources.

Moreover, Shao Yancong was very clear that with Yan Chuan’s current strength, the top eight is just the beginning, going further to the top four, second place, are not his main focus, Yan Chuan has a strong chance of winning the championship.

Once crowned, Taikang Academy will indeed prosper.

After years of hard work, a sudden opportunity for prosperity.

How could Shao Yancong not be pleased?

With genuine emotion and sincerity in his heart, he didn’t come empty-handed either, while speaking, he took out a jade bottle from his pocket and handed it to Yan Chuan, "For your kindness to Taikang Academy, old man has nothing to repay, I don’t even know which of the Zhou Family Sisters you favor? This bottle of ’Black Jade Spirit Dew’ can help strengthen the meridians, or slowly reform them. You take it, use it."

Black Jade Spirit Dew!

This is truly a good thing!

Especially for the unconscious and bedridden Zhou Yan and Zhou Hao, it may well be as lifesaving as a golden elixir.

Just—

"What is Elder Shao saying, I saved the Zhou Family Sisters not for romantic reasons." Yan Chuan clarified, he was above reproach, and could not let his good reputation be tarnished.

"That’s not what I meant to imply."

"That’s the word outside, that you’re a lover boy." Shao Yancong quickly distanced himself, cheerfully saying to Yan Chuan, "You’re a passionate young man, love and affection are normal, no need to be shy. Which sister do you fancy? Just say the word, injury is not a concern, as long as you’re willing to speak, people will be scrambling to help treat them and sell you a favor!"

"..."

"Truly none!"

Yan Chuan was dedicated to martial arts, the Zhou Family Sisters? He merely admired the five sisters’ character and talent, beyond that, he truly hadn’t considered.

...

The Jian Province Competition, the top eight to top four, as Wang Zhengyi expected, was indeed plain.

Yan Chuan, Wang Zhengyi, Liu Qifeng, and Fu Yunzhan, recognized as the ’Four Masters of Jian Province’, indeed had superior strength compared to Chen Ze, Wang Ge, and Shi Xuanli, and as for the Zhou Family Sisters, injured and disabled, they didn’t even participate.

Only three matches were fought in the top-eight stage.

Yan Chuan!

Wang Zhengyi!

Liu Qifeng!

Fu Yunzhan!

The four advanced to the top four of Jian Province without suspense.

And the upcoming semifinals are the main event—

Yan Chuan VS Liu Qifeng!

Wang Zhengyi VS Fu Yunzhan!

Strong against strong!

A clash is imminent!

March 15th, spring rain drizzles.

The Jian Province Competition nears its end, the sixth round, the semifinals, officially begins!

...

"Finally, I can have a showdown with Palace Master Yan, I, Liu, have been looking forward to this for a long time."

As Liu Qifeng took the stage, a fierce determination shone in his eyes.

Yan Chuan also felt his blood heat up, from the first round to this sixth round of the Jian Province Competition, apart from the battle with Wang Zhengyi, there hadn’t been a worthwhile fight, no evenly matched opponent.

Dull.

Lonely.

Now, in the sixth round, finally another expert has come.

Liu Qifeng!

An external aid from Liyang Academy!

His strength unknown! His background unknown!

Yan Chuan wasn’t very familiar with Liu Qifeng, only knowing that he, like the Zhou Family Sisters, came from Peng State and admired the fourth Zhou sister, Zhou Hui, among them, other than that, not much else.

But whether it was his ease in the Jian Province Competition, or that night when he struck down a cultist with a thunderbolt strike, it was clear, Liu Qifeng was no slouch, quite talented.

This battle.

Yan Chuan had long anticipated.

...