Chapter 83: A Slight Punishment, The List Is Finally Set

Dongliu Cangshui’s head ached; he hadn’t thought these people would fight so fiercely over one battle slot.

Originally, he believed that in such an impossible-to-win situation, others would avoid the battle positions; they could just choose any two people to go to their death. But unexpectedly, they competed without giving an inch.

Even as a sure loss, being selected for the ten-man list was really an honor; it was like adding a title like Qingcheng’s Top Ten Experts. The leaders of the factions could never let such an expert title fall to others; they refused to yield at all, each saying their own fighters were strong enough to win one victory.

If this kept up, before they even faced Emei Tianshui Division, they might fight among themselves to decide the winners.

Dongliu Cangshui sighed and shook his head. Among the players in his faction, only Manzhu Lver and the newcomer Luo Xin Zhuipo could really hold their own besides himself. Sadly, Lver had just crafted a Fifth-Rank Flying Sword but couldn’t equip it because her level wasn’t high enough, so he wanted to put Ye Rong forward for that spot.

“Luo Xin Zhuipo’s usual strength is average, but if the opponent underestimates him and lets him call out the Sword Embryo, he has an eighty-to-ninety percent chance of winning. As for Yijian Kurong, that guy’s power seems never fully seen; it’s deep and hard to guess, so he should have some hope of winning too.”

“No way!”

Hearing Dongliu Cangshui meant to take three spots, the others, including Houdao Xiaosheng, all shook their heads, unable to agree.

“Dongliu, look at how few people you have; by headcount split, you shouldn’t even get one slot.”

Houdao Xiaosheng had been killed by Ye Rong in public once, losing face, but he was an expert from Closed Beta times. With his no-one-turned-away attitude, he gathered many Qingcheng Players under him, though their quality was mixed.

“Oh? Should the one I killed in one move be unworthy of this list too?”

Yijian Kurong walked over from afar, just as Houdao Xiaosheng spoke, and said coldly.

“Yijian Kurong, you…”

Houdao Xiaosheng choked up, stammering and unable to speak. He had challenged Ye Rong and been instantly killed by Lesser Yang Divine Thunder, which was definitely a big shame on him.

“What do you think you are, daring to butt in?”

Yijian Kurong smiled as brightly as a fox and pointed at this foul-mouthed stranger who didn’t know him, and whom he didn’t know. “Disrespectful to seniors, poor conduct—how can you be a Qingcheng Disciple? Keep being a Registered Disciple.”

That player instantly froze like a statue, dumbstruck. Yijian Kurong’s pointing made him receive a System Notification: he had only been a Formal Disciple for two days, but now he was back to a Registered Disciple. The Qingcheng Qi-Refining Art he learned turned grey and unusable, and he couldn’t gain experience to level up anymore.

Just then, someone remembered suddenly that Yijian Kurong was the Sect Leader’s Disciple, a full generation above them.

But punishing players directly and using promotion or demotion power was a right only for sect Elders or the current Chief Disciple. Yijian Kurong punished the player who insulted him without any report, so had he gained such big rights in the Sect?

Everyone’s eyes toward him started to hold fear; they avoided and distanced themselves. This power came from the System Deity. As long as someone wanted to stay in Qingcheng, his effect on them might be more important than their own faction leader.

“No one speaks? That means you agree to my proposal by silence?”

Yijian Kurong felt secretly pleased inside. Though he was a Third-Generation Disciple, he had no real punishment power; it was just because these players were new Formal Disciples that he, as their uncle-master, had temporary handling power. After a month of trial, he could do nothing even if they insulted him—he’d just report to a higher NPC for a warning.

Also, the highly human-like NPC might think he lacked handling skills and didn’t command respect from juniors. That could really hurt his future growth with big penalties.

But now, these people misjudged his power range, and Yijian Kurong loved seeing it. At least the faction leaders looked solemn and treated him as their equal.

“Yijian… uncle-master, but your three candidates are too many, and Luo Xin Zhuipo looks so ordinary in level and gear, with no past fame.”

This player leader, Jianggong Wangyue, spoke up then saw Yijian Kurong’s finger twitch as if to point. Frightened, he changed his title fast. He saw clearly how that disrespectful player lost his Formal Disciple role, gained only after the tough Initiation Task.

“Then I’ll step back—Luo Xin Zhuipo’s chance of winning is higher than mine.”

Dongliu Cangshui cut in, stopping the argument just as Yijian Kurong began speaking, leaving him feeling bored.

“Brother Dongliu, you’re way too generous.”

Dongliu Cangshui said Luo Xin Zhuipo had a better chance to win, not more strength than him, because if someone knew his tricks and attacked first, Luo Xin Zhuipo stood no chance—he could only be a surprise for now.

When Dongliu Cangshui backed out willingly, Houdao Xiaosheng and the rest were thrilled and agreed at once. They didn’t care who was picked as long as the slots fit; after Yijian Kurong scared everyone with his Third-Generation Disciple role, he was sure to make the ten-man list. That meant Dongliu Cangshui’s side really only got one spot.

Yijian Kurong ignored how to split the last seven spots; he let them fight while he went aside for quiet.

“Huh, Ethereal Green Robe came—didn’t expect him to join in.”

Dongliu Cangshui sounded amazed. Yijian Kurong looked up and saw Ethereal Green Robe’s back. Though not tied to any faction, with his strength and wide connections, he deservedly made the ten-man list.

“I wonder if Ethereal Green Robe has noticed the Golden Cabinet Water Manor was taken; he was the first task-taker, maybe he got extra System Notifications…”

Yijian Kurong didn’t know Ethereal Green Robe had just returned from the Golden Cabinet Water Manor under Tuo River and already marked the one who took the Heavenly Horse Stone Monument as a kill target and bitter enemy.