681: Chapter 681 Eliminate that woman first!

The entire venue fell silent for a few seconds.

The next moment.

Wang Tianlong was the first to step forward: "My Wang Family agrees."

Perfected Person Qingxuan and Abbess Juechen looked at each other, both seeing a hint of helplessness in the other's eyes.

What else could they do if they didn't agree?

Stuff Ye Chen back into the first group?

Then everyone in the first group would forfeit, and this Martial Arts Tournament would become a laughingstock.

Move Ye Chen to another group?

Then the people in those groups would likely cause an uproar as well.

Although Daoist Priest Qingfeng's proposal was against the rules, it was currently the only way to solve the problem.

Perfected Person Qingxuan sighed: "My Wudang agrees."

Abbess Juechen nodded slightly: "My Emei Sect agrees."

With the four founding powers having stated their positions, everyone's gaze fell on Master Huineng.

Master Huineng spoke helplessly.

"In that case..."

"Then we shall do as Sect Leader Qingfeng said."

"Young Friend Ye will receive a bye and advance directly to the top sixty."

"The top sixty of this Martial Arts Tournament will be increased to sixty-one."

"When the top sixty promotion matches occur, we will discuss adjusting the tournament format further."

As his voice fell.

The crowd erupted once again.

"Holy crap! A direct bye? That's way too lucky, isn't it?"

"If you're so capable, why don't you make the AI system report an error too? Do you have the ability to exceed the strength limit?"

"Exactly! He got the bye through sheer strength. Why are you so salty?"

"Why does that sound so weird to me? Getting a bye through sheer strength?"

"Forget it, forget it. Anyway, it has nothing to do with us as long as we're not in the same group as that malignant star!"

...

After hearing this decision, the two hundred or so people in the first group were stunned for a couple of seconds before letting out a sigh of relief.

Some even started crying on the spot.

Dammit!

This was considered a narrow escape!

If they really had to face Ye Chen, all their previous efforts would have been in vain!

Now it was fine.

That malignant star was gone, and they could compete properly!

Standing below the stage, Ye Chen shook his head speechlessly as he watched the people in the first group weeping with joy.

It seemed...

Being too strong was also a kind of trouble.

If it's a bye, then so be it; it saves trouble.

Anyway, his only goal was...

The jade sword.

Ye Chen turned around, returned to Yan Qingwu and the others, and said with a smile, "Oh, I accidentally advanced. You guys better work hard."

Yan Qingwu: "..."

Shen Qingyi: "..."

Jiang Daoxuan: "..."

Shu Yuan: "..."

Why did it feel like someone was gloating?

...

Before long.

The preliminary rounds officially began.

Lights lit up simultaneously at sixty venues, illuminating the entire valley as bright as day.

Each venue was a circular arena fifty meters in diameter, separated by chain-link fences, with numbered light boards hanging above, arranged from one to sixty.

Tens of thousands of martial artists flocked to their respective venues according to their groups.

For a moment, the entire valley was filled with the clamor of voices and a deafening roar.

Yan Qingwu stood up, straightened her black sportswear, and turned to look at Ye Chen: "I'm going to Group 17."

Ye Chen leaned back in his chair and waved his hand lazily.

"Go ahead, just don't embarrass yourself."

"Embarrass myself?"

Yan Qingwu raised an eyebrow. "Do you think that's possible?"

After she finished speaking.

She turned and walked toward Group 17.

Shen Qingyi followed closely behind, heading toward Group 8.

Jiang Daoxuan and Shu Yuan bowed to Ye Chen one after another before heading to their own venues.

Ye Chen sat alone in his chair, legs crossed, looking around bored.

Finally.

He yawned, took out his phone, and started scrolling through short videos.

...

Group 17 venue.

Yan Qingwu walked to the chain-link fence, pushed open the iron gate, and stepped inside.

Nineteen people were already standing in the venue, all of them men.

As soon as Yan Qingwu entered, everyone's eyes fixed on her.

"Whoa! A beauty!"

"Which sect is this girl from? She's way too good-looking!"

"Don't you guys recognize her? That's Yan Qingwu of the Yan Family of the Capital!"

"I don't care who she is. Anyway, once the fight starts, I won't show any mercy."

"Hahaha, I can tell you're a single dog at a glance!"

...

The men around whispered to each other, their eyes filled with amazement and desire.

Yan Qingwu walked to a corner of the venue with an expressionless face, arms crossed, looking at these people coldly.

She didn't like these kinds of occasions.

She didn't like being stared at or being judged.

But to stay by Ye Chen's side legitimately, she endured it.

Just then, a familiar voice came from the other side of the venue.

"Yo, isn't this that big beauty?"

Yan Qingwu's brow furrowed slightly as she looked toward the source of the voice.

In another corner of the venue stood two young men.

One wore a moon-white robe and looked refined, like an elegant scholar.

The other was burly and well-built, with injuries still visible on his face.

They were the First Disciple of Diancang Sect, Wen Sheng, and the second disciple, Li Sanjin.

Wen Sheng pushed through the people in front of him and strode over to Yan Qingwu.

"Miss Yan, what a coincidence."

"We meet again."

Yan Qingwu looked at him and said calmly, "It seems your injuries healed quite quickly."

Wen Sheng's smile stiffened.

He had been kicked away by Shu Yuan yesterday, breaking two ribs. Although he had treated them with the Diancang Sect's healing medicine, they still throbbed with pain.

But in front of so many people, he couldn't show weakness.

"Thanks to Miss Yan's concern, it's just a minor injury, no big deal."

Wen Sheng straightened his back, the smile returning to his face. "On the other hand, Miss Yan, you seem a bit isolated and without help."

Yan Qingwu said expressionlessly, "My boyfriend just got a bye. Do you want to go up and lie down like Sect Leader Meng Canghai, who is still stuck on the wall and can't be pried off?"

Everyone: "???"

The two hundred or so people who had just entered were all dumbfounded upon hearing this.

Good heavens...

This stunningly beautiful woman was actually that malignant star's girlfriend?

The same ruthless person who slapped the Sect Leader of the Mount Tai Sect into a wall so hard he couldn't be pried off?

*Gulp!*

Someone swallowed hard.

The next second.

"Back up, back up! Everyone back up!"

"Brother, why are you pushing me?"

"What do you care? Just stay away from this girl! Didn't you hear? She's Ye Chen's girlfriend!"

"I heard, I heard! Don't push me!"

...

The two hundred or so people all backed away in unison.

A large vacuum was instantly cleared around Yan Qingwu in the middle of the originally crowded venue.

Wen Sheng stood where he was, unable to either advance or retreat.

Finally.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to swallow the words at the tip of his tongue, and snorted coldly.

"Miss Yan, how powerful your boyfriend is is his business."

"Today is a preliminary round, a free-for-all; everyone relies on their own ability."

"No matter how powerful your boyfriend is, he can't enter the arena to fight for you, can he?"

"Don't cry if you get eliminated in a moment."

He spoke these words flawlessly.

He didn't directly offend Ye Chen, found a way to save face, and showed off his presence in front of Yan Qingwu.

The people around nodded one after another, feeling that Wen Sheng's words made sense.

No matter how powerful Ye Chen was, he couldn't enter the arena to help his girlfriend fight.

In a free-for-all preliminary, everyone relied on their own ability.

So what if you, Yan Qingwu, are Ye Chen's girlfriend?

Once you enter this arena, you have to play by the arena's rules!

Yan Qingwu looked at Wen Sheng calmly.

"Me, cry?"

"You should worry about yourself first."

Wen Sheng's face darkened, and just as he was about to retort...

*Dong—*

A bell chimed from deep within the valley, long and resonant.

The light board above the Group 17 venue suddenly lit up, its red glow illuminating the entire area.

The referee stood at the edge of the venue, raising his right hand high, his voice booming.

"Group 17, preliminary round, begin!"

The moment his voice fell, the auras of the two hundred or so people in the venue erupted simultaneously.

True Qi surged, and fierce winds howled.

Someone let out a roar and lunged at the nearest person.

Someone else flickered and retreated to the edge of the venue, intending to observe for a bit first.

Another person attacked in both directions with both palms simultaneously.

The free-for-all had officially begun.

Yan Qingwu stood in place, motionless.

Her right hand was pressed against the ink dragon sword at her waist, ready to strike at any moment.

That was a spirit sword.

It was seized from Bai Yujing of the Bai Family and could significantly increase her combat power!

Seeing that Yan Qingwu didn't move, a hint of greed flashed in the eyes of those around her.

"Go! Eliminate this woman first!"

"Her not moving is the best opportunity!"

"Don't let her react! Everyone, attack together!"

...

Seven or eight people lunged at Yan Qingwu at the same time.

Palm winds, fist force, and leg shadows covered the sky.

However.

At the moment they lunged... Yan Qingwu moved!

With a flick of her right hand, the ink dragon sword at her waist unsheathed.

The sword light was like ink, tracing a profound arc through the air.

*Qiang—*

The sword hum was crisp, like a dragon's cry.

An invisible sword qi expanded in all directions with Yan Qingwu as the center. Everywhere it passed, those seven or eight people who had lunged forward were struck as if by an invisible giant hand, spitting blood and flying backward.

One move.

Just one move.

Seven or eight people, all sent flying.

The entire venue fell deathly silent.

The people around widened their eyes, looking at Yan Qingwu as if they had seen a ghost.

No...

This woman is way too fierce, isn't she?

But soon, they realized something.

How could someone who became the girlfriend of that ruthless Ye Chen be simple?

Wen Sheng's expression changed drastically, and a layer of cold sweat suddenly broke out on his back.

He was an Early Heaven Realm expert and was considered a standout among the younger generation of the Diancang Sect.

But he had seen Yan Qingwu's sword strike just now very clearly.

Releasing sword qi externally and sending seven or eight people flying with one strike.

The opponent was clearly in the Heaven Realm, yet she could release sword qi...

It meant the sword in her hand was not simple!

It must be a sword with spirituality!