Chapter 29: If I say I won't fight, will you let me down?

Jiang Zao regained her composure and asked, "If I say I won't fight, can you let me down?"

Her innocent and friendly counter-question left Wang Chen choked for words. He didn't know how to respond, especially since the person posing the question was blinking her wide, innocent eyes at him, leaving him with no way to proceed.

"Why aren't they moving? Are they preparing to concede?"

"Don't you think the name the junior sister introduced earlier sounds familiar? It seems to be... Jiang Zao? Yes, it's Jiang Zao!"

"I remember now! Isn't she that 'four-element root trash' everyone has been gossiping about lately? I didn't expect her to participate in the Sect Grand Competition."

"But won't someone like her just wet her pants from fear? Hahaha!"

"Hahaha, she might actually do it!"

In the spectator stands, many disciples recognized Jiang Zao. Mockery, contempt, and schadenfreude—the overwhelming tide of malicious gossip surged toward her.

Looking across the entire arena, there was almost no one who hoped she would win this match; some even maliciously wished for her to die in it.

Wang Chen, standing on the same stage, heard every one of those vicious words. Looking at the frail young girl across from him, he felt she was exceptionally pathetic, his eyes filled with pity for her.

Four-element roots were not rare; he did not understand why the sect disciples held such immense malice toward her.

But as small and insignificant as he was, what could he change?

In the spectator stands, three people watched the situation escalate and paced back and forth in anxiety. Because of the restrictions, no one could interfere while a match was in progress; the barrier would only lift after one side claimed victory.

They could only watch helplessly as Jiang Zao was overwhelmed and drowned by the flood of malicious gossip, unable to do anything but worry.

"How could this happen? Why is something that already passed being brought up again?" Jiang Zhuoran clenched her hands, her expression full of worry and confusion.

Yan Wuqiu came to her side and placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her: "Junior sister, please don't worry..."

"How can I not worry!"

If not for her, would Zaozao have suffered this unmerited disaster?

Before he could finish his comforting words, Jiang Zhuoran, overcome with emotion, cut him off sharply.

After the words left her mouth, Jiang Zhuoran finally regained her senses and lowered her head in guilt toward Yan Wuqiu.

"I'm sorry, Second Senior Brother. Just now... I was too emotional."

Yan Wuqiu gave a gentle smile and shook his head: "Senior brother does not blame you. I know you are worried about Junior Sister Zaozao, but the most important thing now is to stop their insults, not to waste time worrying here."

Jiang Zhuoran nodded, accepting his point. Rather than worrying in vain, it was better to find a solution.

***

Lou Si, who was completely in the dark, stood to the side, scratching his head in confusion: "Second Senior Brother, Junior Sister... what is actually going on?"

Yan Wuqiu: "It's like this..."

Yan Wuqiu told Lou Si the cause and effect of the matter. The latter, upon hearing it, wore an expression of indignation, wishing he could rush out and slap every one of them.

So what if she has four-element roots? Don't you all have someone around you with four-element roots?

[A bunch of brainless idiots being used as pawns, what are you making so much noise for!]

In the spectator stands, the three of them fell silent after hearing Jiang Zao’s foul-mouthed and irritated inner voice. Their worry seemed a bit redundant...

Jiang Zao listened to those vicious sounds. She was already in a bad mood because of the Sect Grand Competition, and now she was even more annoyed. The mental attacks formed by the gossip were useless against her; she just found these people noisy.

"Senior brother, please make your move." Let's finish the match quickly so I can go settle scores with those people!

Jiang Zao’s aura suddenly shifted. If she had been a docile, frail lamb waiting for slaughter a moment ago, she now resembled a cold and paranoid mastermind, her black eyes sending shivers down people's spines.

Wang Chen was also shocked by her transformation. It was clear she had truly been provoked by those malicious words.

"Oh, right."

With "Qingming: She Sha" in hand, Jiang Zao’s aura surged, and her sharp gaze made Wang Chen panic.

Jiang Zao gripped her sword with one hand and channeled her spiritual power, lunging rapidly toward Wang Chen. If she wanted to win this match, she had to act fast.

Wang Chen was at the fifth level of Qi Condensation; she could not compete with him in either cultivation or combat experience. Her only reliance was the sword in her hand.

Her plan was simple: if your cultivation isn't enough, use a cheat code. "Qingming: She Sha" was exactly that—a cheat. Combined with her half-month of combat training, it should be enough to deal with Wang Chen.

'She Sha, I’m counting on you this time!'

'I understand, my lady.'

In her sea of consciousness, Jiang Zao and She Sha reached an agreement, leaving the "Qingming" sword sulking in a corner, not daring to speak.

Jiang Zao glanced at the sulking Qingming. If she wanted to win quickly, he would be the best choice, but he was inherently focused on slaughter. The fact that he required blood every time he was unsheathed was enough to make her unable to cope, not to mention the overwhelming baleful aura he released when he took control of the sword.

If that happened, she wouldn't be able to explain it, and the disciples, elders, and even the Sect Master of the Wenxian Sect would condemn her to death.

*Clang—*

The two swords collided, neither giving an inch. Every move was fierce, and the two were evenly matched.

"Junior sister, you cannot beat me in either cultivation or combat experience," Wang Chen whispered, seeing that Jiang Zao, having exhausted too much spiritual power, was already struggling.

He pointed out the disparity in their strength in hopes that Jiang Zao would concede voluntarily, so she wouldn't have to suffer a humiliating defeat later.

Jiang Zao sneered: "Senior brother, underestimating your opponent comes at a price."

She, Jiang Zao, had not yet fallen to the point of accepting the self-righteous charity of others!

Her figure flickered like a ghost. Before Wang Chen could react, she was already behind him, preparing a fatal strike.

After all, Wang Chen was three minor realms above her; how could he let her succeed so easily? He leaped backward and landed safely behind her and to the side.

Perhaps the gap in cultivation was indeed an insurmountable chasm, but for Jiang Zao, who had a cheating tool in hand, it was just enough to compensate for that flaw.

"Qingming: She Sha" appeared to be controlled by her, but in reality, she was following the sword's lead. Before the newly landed Wang Chen could react, the sword thrust straight at his brow, scaring him into retreating in a panic, his hands crossed in front of him to block.

"Don't..."

Just as the tip of the sword was mere millimeters away, Jiang Zao instantly withdrew it, her voice cold: "Senior brother, you have lost."

Wang Chen slowly lowered his hands, his face pale. Overcome with shame and anger, he left the stage.

Qi Shuqian flew onto the stage: "Group One, Jiang Zao of Yuling Peak, winner."

His voice echoed in every corner. He then looked at the cold and detached Jiang Zao and whispered, "Congratulations, Junior Sister Jiang, on your successful advancement."

Jiang Zao nodded slightly at him: "Thank you."

"The four-element root trash actually won?"

"She was just lucky."

"On second thought, this isn't bad. Isn't facing her in the next round just a free win?"

"Hahaha, who’s to say it isn't!"

The questioning and mockery were endless.

Jiang Zao looked up and swept her gaze across the arena. Her dark eyes were devoid of ripples, and she couldn't help but sneer at their mockery and contempt from above.

"I admit I have four-element roots, but so what? I can still crush you bunch of brainless idiots all the same."

The disciples in the spectator stands clearly hadn't expected Jiang Zao to point at their noses and curse them. For a moment, the entire competition venue fell dead silent.

However, Jiang Zao did not stop her verbal assault because of their silence. She had been holding in a belly full of frustration, and now that there was finally a vent for her anger, she wasn't about to let it go easily.