216: Chapter 216 You're smart to know what's good for you

The first round of the competition also came to an end after several days of clashes.

Fu Xici of the Yongzhen Sect and Song Shu of the Canghai Sword Pavilion also successfully advanced; they easily crushed their opponents to enter the second round.

Among the four, only Lin Ming appeared somewhat disheveled.

This led many to believe that perhaps the other contestants could eliminate Lin Ming without the other three even needing to take action.

For a time, the number of people betting on Lin Ming's elimination increased significantly.

However, some believed Lin Ming was doing it on purpose, hiding his true capabilities, and continued to wait and see.

Still, the majority of people placed their money on the three others besides Lin Ming.

"I told you, I wouldn't lose."

Yu Yaoqin said with a Face full of confidence.

She had also won her match in the first round; facing an opponent at the Spirit Platform Fourth Heaven, she successfully defeated them and advanced to the next round.

"Among these people, there are indeed some with decent strength," Gong Hui said.

Gong Hui said.

He had watched every match of the first round. Aside from Lin Ming and the other three, there were indeed many cultivators with good strength, most of whom were Disciples from other powers.

His gaze returned to Lin Ming; he was still somewhat puzzled by Lin Ming's performance.

Intentionally hiding his capabilities?

The strength Lin Ming displayed during the Sect Competition was obvious to everyone. The other major families likely guessed that Lin Ming was intentionally hiding his strength, making it a completely meaningless endeavor.

He didn't know what Lin Ming was thinking either.

However, in his view, it was still hard to say if Lin Ming could Face those three with his strength, as there was ultimately a significant gap in their Realms.

The other three were already at the Spirit Platform Peak, while Lin Ming was only at the Spirit Platform Middle Stage; a gap in Realm is not so easily bridged.

Even if Lin Ming had previously defeated other cultivators at the Lingtai Ninth Heaven, they would certainly be on guard against him.

"In the second round, the opponents' strength will only get greater. You need to be careful, Junior Sister."

Lin Ming looked at Yu Yaoqin and said with a smile.

"Stinky Senior Brother, you'd better mind yourself."

Yu Yaoqin looked at Lin Ming with an unfriendly expression.

She always felt that Lin Ming assumed she would lose. The more he acted this way, the more she was determined to win just to show him.

There was a one-day interval between the first and second rounds to give everyone time to rest.

Lin Ming took this opportunity to wander around the city, seeing if he could find any bargains.

However, as soon as he appeared on the street, all eyes gathered on him. Many glamorous female cultivators threw him suggestive glances, and some even blocked his path directly, wanting to follow him.

This left Lin Ming with no desire to continue wandering, so he went straight back to stay at the inn.

As soon as Lin Ming returned to the inn, he saw Hu Miaotong. Dressed in purple and exuding an air of enchantment, Hu Miaotong appeared before him.

The special Seal on her forehead had not dissipated, indicating that the cold poison in her body had still not been extracted.

"Fellow Daoist Lin."

Upon seeing Lin Ming, Hu Miaotong took the initiative to greet him.

"Fellow Daoist Hu."

Lin Ming nodded.

The two of them then went to Lin Ming's room.

"Fellow Daoist Hu, how is the cold poison in your body?"

Lin Ming asked.

"I have come to bid you farewell, Fellow Daoist."

Hu Miaotong said.

"Are you going to resolve the cold poison?"

Lin Ming asked.

"I am going to Buxian City with Great Master Zhong Qi."

Hu Miaotong said.

The Great Master Zhong Qi she mentioned was the 6th-rank Alchemist of the Feiyun Pavilion.

"Buxian City, Alchemist Yinzhu?"

Lin Ming guessed.

Buxian City was naturally a city inhabited by cultivators. This city was quite famous in the cultivation world, and the source of this fame was Alchemist Yinzhu.

An 8th-rank Alchemist, Alchemist Yinzhu was also the only known 8th-rank Alchemist who achieved that rank as a Loose Cultivator.

One must know that there were only two known 8th-rank Alchemists in the current Qingxuan Realm.

Buxian City was where Alchemist Yinzhu resided and cultivated, which made Buxian City one of the Holy Lands for Alchemists.

"That's right, Alchemist Yinzhu is indeed a friend of my ancestor."

A flash of surprise crossed Hu Miaotong's eyes; she hadn't expected Lin Ming to guess it so quickly.

When she first learned that the Alchemist from Feiyun Pavilion was a 6th-rank Alchemist, she had some doubts.

After all, the poison in her body was something even a Nirvana Ancestor was helpless against.

It wasn't until she heard Great Master Zhong Qi mention Great Master Yinzhu that she realized her ancestor's friend wasn't Zhong Qi, but his Revered Master, the 8th-rank Alchemist, Alchemist Yinzhu.

An 8th-rank Alchemist might be able to resolve the cold poison in her body.

"Buxian City is a long journey away. Take care, Fellow Daoist."

Lin Ming said to her.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Hu Miaotong said.

Hu Miaotong then took out a Storage Pouch and placed it on the table.

Immediately after, she stood up and left.

Lin Ming directly accepted the Storage Pouch. Glancing at the Medium Grade essence stones inside, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

He would certainly take the essence stones.

After all, he was the one who brought her here; taking a travel fee wasn't excessive.

One day later.

The second round of the competition began.

Nie Wen was still the one standing upon the Martial Arts Arena.

This was naturally thanks to himself. Before the battle for contention started, Nie Wen had visited the host Sun Family to offer his regards, asking them to place him in the first position.

Such a request was nothing to the Sun Family, and it allowed them to give Nie Wen some Face, so why not?

"I forfeit."

A middle-aged man at the Lingtai Eighth Layer walked onto the stage and forfeited directly.

"Count yourself sensible."

Nie Wen turned and left with a satisfied expression.

How could he not be sensible?

It wasn't as if he hadn't seen the first battle; Nie Wen had directly slaughtered the person, not even giving the opponent a chance to forfeit.

He didn't want to become the second Xie Chen.

He was also unlucky enough; having finally defeated his opponent in the first round, he thought he could coast through another round or two with his strength, only to run into this killing star Nie Wen in the second round.

This made him seriously suspect if the four families had rigged the game, intentionally arranging Nie Wen for him.

"Mao Yu versus Geng Shan."

One battle after another proceeded.

The second round of battles also lasted several days. All the opponents encountered by Fu Xici and Song Shu surrendered.

Except for Lin Ming.

Boom...

Two figures crisscrossed on the Martial Arts Arena.

It was precisely Lin Ming and his opponent. His opponent for the second round was a cultivator at the Lingtai Eighth Layer, and also a member of the Ma Family, one of the four families of Flame Meteor City.

Members of the four families could naturally participate in this battle for contention. Although each of the four families was allocated a certain amount of flame essence liquid, for their families, this flame essence liquid wasn't something everyone could get.

Therefore, many people from the four families would also participate in this contention for flame essence liquid, attempting to obtain it that way.

Ma Gui was one of them.