"Extra! Extra! New rules for the Sect showdown are out --"
The messenger ran at full speed, his voice louder than the morning bell, so startled that the spirit birds flapped in all directions.
Chu Xuan was crouching under the eaves of the kitchen gnawing on the spirit potato. Hearing the sound, he looked up, with mashed potato still sticking to the corner of his mouth: "It came quite fast. Come, look."
Lin Hao threw the basin away and rubbed his oily hands against his trouser legs: "Judging from that tone, he probably didn't hold back his fart."
On the east side of the training ground, there was a large crowd of outer disciples.
A large red list was posted on the high wall, the ink was still wet, and the faint fragrance of the ink could be smelled from afar.
At the top of the list, the characters are flying like dragons and phoenixes -
[Outer Door Showdown · Three-Wheel System]
Qi Refining Test: Those with a purity of spiritual power of ≥ 70% are shortlisted;
Magic Duel: Random draw, one round to determine the winner;
Sparring: Free challenge, conceding is allowed, no ban on killing.
The last five words, as sharp as a knife, are blinding red.
"Unrestricted killing order?" For real?"
"No referee's dead hand in the actual game? If you can't stop it...
The crowd buzzed, some excited, some pale.
Chu Xuan narrowed his eyes, a cold glint in the bottom of his eyes: There is indeed a pit.
"Make way, make way!"
With bandages in his left hand, he still looked arrogant and forced his way to the top of the list with his two lackey men.
"Ouch, Brother Chu also came to see the rules? If you're afraid of death, it's not too late to abstain now." He squinted at Chu Xuan, his voice sarcastic.
Chu Xuan groped his ears and replied in a soft voice, "Brother Zhao's hand is ready? Don't fall yourself again later."
There was a snicker around. Zhao Tianlei's face turned purple, he snorted and walked away, making a neck-wiping gesture as he left, his mouth silent - "See you in real combat."
Lin Hao cursed in a low voice, "Damn it, and pulled it up."
Zhang Asheng hunched his neck: "I heard that the actual referee was Elder Li."
Wang Tiezhu scratched his head: "Is that the elder Li who was caught for corruption and was punished with three cups of wine?"
They looked at each other, their hearts pounding at the same time --
Rules + referees, double insurance, clearly going to cause trouble.
...
In front of the law enforcement hall, Ling Qingxue stood with a sword in her arms, her white dress and black hair fluttering in the cold wind.
Chu Xuan jogged over: "Qingxue, do you know that there is no ban on killing in actual combat?"
"Just found out." " She frowned slightly. "Elder Li let out the word last night that 'it's normal for young people to have a fight and not stop.'"
Chu Xuan sneered: "Normal? He would love Zhao Tianlei's sword to kill me."
Ling Qingxue raised her hand to brush the snow off his shoulder, her voice soft but cold: "Don't worry, I'm here."
Just five words, like a blanket, wrapped Chu Xuan from head to toe.
He grinned: "Of course I'm at ease, but --"
"But what?"
"But I want to play a round myself first." The young man had a sly look in his eyes. "The rule is a loophole. It's a waste."
...
On the way back to the shed, Chu Xuan pulled the trio into the woodshed.
As soon as the door was closed, he pulled out a booklet he had made himself - "Big Comparison of Loopholes One Two Three".
"First, there is no killing ban in the actual game, but you can admit defeat voluntarily; After conceding defeat, the opponent is not allowed to pursue again; otherwise, the opponent loses.
The order to admit defeat must be pronounced 'clearly and completely'. If it is disturbed, a rejudgment may be requested.
Article 3: The actual combat arena is divided into main and secondary stages. The secondary stage referee is the outer gate deacon, and Elder Li can only take care of one stage."
Lin Hao's eyes shone: "Got it! Let's bring Zhao Tianlei to the secondary station, admit defeat first and then trick him!"
"No," Chu Xuan shook his finger, "admit defeat first, then kill back."
Zhang Asheng raised his hand weakly: "How to counterattack?"
Chu Xuan laughed like a fox who had stolen a chicken: "I'll give the command, halfway through, you sprinkle the potion, the iron pillar slide shovel, I'll seal his hole - the battle is over before the referee realizes it."
Wang Tiezhu clapped his hands foolishly and said, "Great! Great!" "
Lin Hao frowned: "If Elder Li is partial, he will directly rule us against the rules?"
"So --" Chu Xuan snapped the book, "we have to make all the disciples see him breaking the rules, so that he can't even protect his own disciples."
...
That night, the outer gate disciples' courtyard.
The oil lamp was as big as a soybean, but it illuminated the four faces.
Chu Xuan took out a wooden box, inside which were neatly arranged the newly refined "Ice and Fire Double Explosion Talisman", "Mystical Powder" and "Musical notes".
"Asheng, tomorrow you'll be responsible for creating chaos and shout as loud as you can; Iron pillar, punch to draw attention; Lin Hao, Fireball talismans, the more smoke, the better."
"What about you?"
"Me?" Chu Xuan stretched and laughed with sharp teeth and a sharp tongue, "I'll be the victim - first being 'cornered' by Zhao Tianlei and then 'fighting back helplessly'."
The trio looked at each other and shivered at the same time:
Someone was going to have bad luck, and it was just right.
...
At midnight, the snow stopped and the moonlight was like silver.
Chu Xuan lay alone on the roof, his hands resting behind his head, staring blankly at the night sky.
In the fifteen zhang perception, the surroundings were silent, but there was an undercurrent quietly surging --
Zhao Tianlei was huddled in the side hall, gritting his teeth and grinding his sword;
In the deacon hall, Elder Li whispered to several conservative deacons;
Further away, Ling Qingxue came through the snow, holding a newly sewn soft armor in her arms
The stitches were fine, and a tiny ice lotus was embroidered on the collar.
Chu Xuan curved the corner of his mouth and said softly, "Tomorrow will be lively."
The wind swept across the eaves, carrying away the last speck of snow.
The night before the war was so quiet that it was heart-stopping.
The outer gate training ground was already bustling with people.
On the high platform, a gong hung in the middle, and Elder Li stood with his hands behind his back, his face so gloomy that it could drip ink.
Below the stage, Chu Xuan's group of four mingled in the crowd, as low-key as four ordinary potatoes.
"Ah Sheng, have you warmed up your voice?" Chu Xuan asked in a low voice.
Zhang Asheng patted his chest: "Don't worry. I shouted at the snowfield for half an hour last night. Now I can shake the icicles on the eaves!"
Lin Hao chuckled mischievously: "Then when you shout the admit defeat, remember to have a crying tone, the worse the better."
Wang Tiezhu added, "If you can't cry, pinch your own thigh. My mother says it hurts so realistically."
Three beats of the gong, Elder Li looked around the venue, his voice loud but impatient: "Today's fight, draw and match, draw numbers one to thirty-two, odd numbers attack, even numbers defend, the ring is divided into main and secondary, I am the main referee and secondary, life and death at my own risk, admit defeat must complete the command, otherwise --"
He deliberately prolonged the final note, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally glancing over Chu Xuan, "-- the consequences are at your own risk!"
A small commotion immediately erupted in the crowd.
"Got it? "Full password, if you get blocked halfway through, you're unlucky."
"This rule clearly favors someone..." "
Chu Xuan raised his lips, thinking: Old man, I'm afraid you're not biased. How can I take advantage of you if you're not biased?
...
The draw begins.
Zhao Tianlei was the first to come forward and drew the number "seven", the second table.
Chu Xuan followed up with an even number, eight, in the same ring.
The crowd let out a low exclamation --
"Old friends have a narrow path!"
"Now there's something to watch!"
Ling Qingxue stood on the other side of the high platform, her fingertips slightly tight, but she did not come forward.
She believed that Chu Xuan had his own calculations and that he could play well.
...
It was soon surrounded by disciples.
The arena was only ten zhang in size, paved with bluestone, with four copper pillars at the edge, engraved with defensive array patterns, glowing faintly.
Zhao Tianlei leapt onto the ring with his sword, his left hand bandages removed, his palm dark red, that was the crack left by the counterattack of the explosive elixir.
He looked at Chu Xuan and laughed coldly: "Senior Brother Chu, today we'll settle the old and new accounts together, don't say junior brother didn't give you a chance to admit defeat."
Chu Xuan stepped onto the stage slowly, stretched his body, and his voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but just heard by the disciples around him: "Yes, I'll admit defeat properly later."
The crowd burst into laughter.
Zhao Tianlei's expression darkened slightly, but unease welled up in his heart: This kid is too calm. Is he up to something?
Elder Li raised his hand, his spiritual power poured into the copper pillar, and the array pattern shone brightly: "Duel - start!"
Whoosh!
Zhao Tianlei burst out in an instant, his number advantage allowed him to attack first, his sword like a venomous snake, straight to Chu Xuan's throat.
Chu Xuan slipped his feet, retreated and disheveled to dodge the sharp edge, and quickly shouted, "I admit --"
Just as his voice was halfway out, Zhao Tianlei's sword wind suddenly turned and a sweeping strike hit Chu Xuan's mouth, clearly trying to block the word "lose" behind him.
It's right now!
Zhang Asheng hid in the front row of the crowd and shouted loudly, "Senior Brother Chu has been ambushed! "The elder is unfair!"
At the same time, Wang Tiezhu rolled into the edge of the ring from the side, the ice thread shot down to the ground, wrapped around Zhao Tianlei's ankle, and yanked!
Bang!
Zhao Tianlei was out of balance, and the wind of the sword went off course. Chu Xuan took the opportunity to lean back, as if he had fallen, but just managed to avoid the blade.
Lin Hao raised his hands together, and three fireball talismans hit the ground of the ring. Flames and thick smoke rose instantly, obscuring everyone's view.
"I admit defeat!" Chu Xuan's three words, complete and clear, came out of the smoke and were heard by dozens of disciples.
But the smoke had not dissipated and Zhao Tianlei roared, "Want to admit defeat? Dream!" The swordlight fluttered wildly and once again lunged at the source of the sound.
Boom!
The defense formation suddenly lit up, and Elder Li finally took action. With a palm press, his spiritual power turned into a huge palm, and he slapped Zhao Tianlei completely onto the ring, unable to move.
The smoke dissipated, and everyone saw Chu Xuan slumped to the ground, his shoulder lapel torn, bloodstained, and his face pale. But after Shouting "Admit defeat", he did not make another move.
In contrast, Zhao Tianlei, whose sword tip was stained with blood and whose face was hideous, remained in the pounce position.
The evidence is conclusive and clear.
The crowd exploded instantly --
"Zhao Tianlei broke the rules!"
"The elder's partiality is too obvious!"
"Chu Xuan has already conceded defeat and is still killing? Shameless!"
Elder Li's face was ashen, but he couldn't shield him in public, so he had to coldly shout: "Zhao Tianlei, the violation of the pursuit, the loss! "Take away the results of this round, pay three hundred spirit stones, and be in seclusion for a month!"
Zhao Tianlei, with blood gushing from his mouth and nose under the pressure of spiritual power, still roared: "I won't accept it! He's cheating!"
"Cheat?" Chu Xuan, clutching the wound on his shoulder, gritted his teeth and laughed, "I shout surrender and you don't stop, who is cheating?"
The audience and their disciples jeered in unison, and the sound was so loud that the copper pillar buzzed. The elder Li was in a dilemma and had to leave in a huff. Before leaving, he gave Chu Xuan a fierce look as if he wanted to devour him alive.
...
At the edge of the arena, Ling Qingxue quickly stepped forward, with a touch of her fingertip, the cold light sealed Chu Xuan's shoulder bleeding, and whispered reproaches: "It's quite real, does it hurt?"
"Yes, it hurts." The young man laughed, his eyes curved. "But if you win, it's worth it."
Behind him, Lin Hao, Zhang Asheng, Wang Tiezhu came, their fists clashing, laughing unrestrainedly.
Advancing together, retreating together, winning together --
Today, for the first time, the outer disciples truly see:
Even the oppressed "lower class" can turn rules into sharp blades and cut the lofty "privileges" with their own hands.