Chapter 161: The Lou Ri Battle Platform
Chapter 161: The Lou Ri Battle Platform
Cheng Lingyu smiled, unintentionally releasing a faint alluring aura that alerted Fang Ruohua.
“Senior Brother Cheng’s smile is strange. It’s almost like…”
Cheng Lingyu’s smile stiffened as he immediately clamped down on his mental fluctuations.
“It changed again… how odd.”
Fang Ruohua was the same age as Cheng Lingyu.
“Junior Sister Fang, you tease me. The gathering is starting—let’s go.”
Cheng Lingyu struggled to keep a straight face, feeling awkward.
Wan Fang chuckled at his expression. “Don’t force yourself to hold back. Learn to let it flow naturally instead of faking seriousness.”
Cheng Lingyu grimaced. “Easier said than done, Elder Brother.”
“That’s why you need practice.”
Of the twelve disciples from Fallen God Ridge competing, three were in the Blood Martial Realm and nine in the Soul Martial Realm.
Led by Palace Master Zhang Chengtian of Liyun Palace, the group traveled to Feixing Ridge with Wan Fang.
Feixing Ridge, the first of the Western Fallen Nine Ridges, lay nearly a hundred thousand miles from seventh-ranked Fallen God Ridge. Only teleportation arrays bridged the distance.
By early morning, the Fallen God Ridge disciples reached Feixing Ridge’s Tenth Palace. A crowd of thousands had already gathered.
Though labeled one of the Lower Four Palaces, the Tenth Palace stood grand and imposing, encircled by glowing rings and pillars of divine light.
Holding the friendly match here allowed most disciples to witness or participate.
The arena outside the palace’s main entrance stunned newcomers.
A pancake-flat giant stone floated mid-air, hundreds of feet wide and shimmering oddly. Encased in a transparent light barrier, it was ringed by eighteen cloud stone sections, each twenty feet long and holding thousands.
Competing disciples occupied nine eastern cloud stones arranged by ridge rank. Spectators filled nine western stones.
Feixing Ridge’s team stood on the first eastern stone. Cheng Lingyu’s group from seventh-ranked Fallen God Ridge took the seventh stone under Zhang Chengtian and Wan Fang.
Lou Ri City’s Western Fallen Nine Ridges were ordered: Feixing, Xuanmoon, Yunjir, Youxing, Lou Ri, Anmoon, Fallen God, Mingmo, and Xingyun. Central Lou Ri Ridge loomed tallest.
“Elder Brother, this…” Cheng Lingyu gaped at the spectacle.
Fang Ruohua and other newcomers stared wide-eyed.
Wan Fang explained, “This is the Lou Ri Battle Platform—an exceptional-grade spirit artifact. Its special defense contains battle impacts while allowing free use of magical artifacts, even exceptional-grade ones. The cloud stones adjust in size and number. Eighteen sections match the nine ridges, competitors east and watchers west.”
“An exceptional-grade spirit artifact!” Cheng Lingyu marveled. “Incredible!”
Fang Ruohua noted Yunjir and Fallen God Ridges had the fewest competitors. The spectator sections mirrored this imbalance.
“Lou Ri Ridge and Feixing Ridge have the most participants; our numbers here are pitifully small,” Mu Hua sighed, his face falling.
As the saying goes, comparisons reveal shocking truths.
Though there were only over three hundred competing disciples this time, Feixing Ridge and Lou Ri Ridge vastly outnumbered Fallen God Ridge.
Fang Ruohua snorted, “Numbers mean nothing. What matters is effort.”
Wan Fang nodded, “Well said! With enough effort, you could surpass all other branches. Remember when Mingmo Ridge produced an unparalleled genius who single-handedly overshadowed Lou Ri Ridge’s talents? That was a true miracle.”
Fang Ruohua declared solemnly, “I’ll surpass even that ancestor and make history!”
Mu Hua stared at her, startled by her boldness.
Cheng Lingyu scanned the other branches, spotting Lan Xiaozhu on the viewing platform rather than competing.
Qu Wei waved at him from Anmoon Ridge’s sixth cloud stone, participating in the friendly match.
Cheng Lingyu waved back, catching Fang Ruohua and Mu Hua’s attention.
“Senior Brother Cheng, who’s that?”
“A friend from Yunyang City,” Cheng Lingyu replied.
Mu Hua elbowed him, “You two seem close. Sweet on her?”
Cheng Lingyu chuckled softly, “We’ve weathered storms together.”
Mu Hua grinned, “Even better!”
Cheng Lingyu shook his head, turning to observe the platforms.
“She joined Feixing Ridge. That place clashes with me.”
He noticed Ye Xinyi of Xuanhuo Sect on Feixing’s platform beside a handsome youth.
Ye Xinyi met his gaze coldly, hostility simmering beneath.
Though rarely interacting, Cheng Lingyu’s feud with Xuanhuo Sect made them natural enemies.
Song Xuejiao stood with Xingyun Ridge disciples, nodding politely at him.
Fang Ruohua asked, “Another friend?”
“Yunyang’s famed divine doctor. Respected by all,” Cheng Lingyu answered absently.
“Look – Situ Caifeng made it into Lou Ri Ridge! Lucky!”
Nie Jiaolong appeared at Xuanmoon Ridge’s platform.
Finally, Hong Xiu Tian Xiang watched from Mingmo Ridge’s viewing stand, smiling tenderly.
Cheng Lingyu waved eagerly despite mixed feelings.
Mu Hua smirked, “All your acquaintances are beauties! No male friends?”
Cheng Lingyu rolled his eyes, “Six of Yunyang’s top ten beauties came. Only they passed elimination into Lou Ri City.”
“Introduce me!” Mu Hua wheedled.
“With your charm? Shouldn’t need help.”
“Those beauties are back home! I know none here.”
“They’re not close to me anyway. Some are rivals.”
“Rivals? Who–”
“Focus,” Wan Fang interrupted softly.
The crowd hushed as radiant light coalesced above Feixing’s Tenth Palace, forming a golden path to Lou Ri Battle Platform’s center.
A luminous figure materialized, commanding all eyes.
“Welcome to Feixing Ridge’s Tenth Palace. I’m Liu Haocun, Fifth Palace Master, overseeing today’s friendly match.”
The light faded to reveal a gaunt man in blue robes, eyes like bottomless whirlpools.
“This annual tradition rotates among Western Fallen Nine Ridges. Hosting during Lou Ri City’s largest disciple recruitment in five centuries honors Feixing Ridge.”
He gestured decisively.
“Competitions span Soul Martial Realm’s third stage through Seven Levels, and Blood Martial Realm’s four levels. Champions earn rewards per tier, with special prizes for exceptional performances.”
Cheng Lingyu noticed odd spatial distortions near Tenth Palace.
“Above you,” Wan Fang whispered.
Looking up revealed nothing until Cheng Lingyu activated Magic Eyes – a ghostly cloud hovered invisibly over the battle platform.
He averted his gaze quickly.
“Three hundred four competitors today. Twenty third-stage Soul Martial disciples will fight in ten groups. Three hundred moves without victory advances both. No deliberate injuries. Magical artifact duels require mutual consent.”