376: Chapter 20 White Sword Immortal

The rules for the preliminary rounds of the Luotian Grand Ritual were very simple:

After registering, participating contestants would line up to draw lots. The lot numbers consisted of Heavenly Stems like Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, combined with various animal names.

The Heavenly Stem represented the order of entry, while the animal name was used to further determine opponents.

For example, 'Jia-White Tiger' meant entering in the first batch, and the opponents would be others who also drew 'White Tiger.'

The first preliminary round was a four-way match where only one would advance; after entering the arena, a contestant had to defeat three opponents to move on to the next round.

The lot Meng Li drew was 'Ding-Vermilion Bird,' meaning he would enter in the fourth batch. His opponents were currently unknown.

He didn't go around asking; instead, he first went to check out the matches of a few acquaintances.

The first among them to take the stage was Feng Sha Yan. She had drawn 'Jia-Azure Dragon,' and her opponents were three unknown extras. Feng Sha Yan didn't even use her spatial abilities, winning easily relying solely on the physical technique 'Hundred-Step Punch.'

Feng Baobao and Zhang Lingyu also took the field in the same batch.

Feng Baobao had good luck; her opponents were the 'Little Peach Garden' trio she had taught a lesson to before.

Upon seeing Feng Baobao, the Little Peach Garden trio were like mice meeting a cat; they bowed their heads in submission and voluntarily forfeited.

Zhang Lingyu's opponents were of average strength; he won without even needing to use his Golden Light Mantra.

The next acquaintance to take the stage was Zhang Chulan, who had drawn 'Yi-White Tiger.'

Just like in the original plot, this guy—to build a persona and hide his strength—used a showy display to incite his three opponents into fighting each other. He then took advantage of their exhaustion to easily defeat the winner among the three and claim victory.

This maneuver left the referee speechless and drew a chorus of boos from the audience.

After that was Zhuge Qing.

Because of his great fame, he faced a coordinated attack from his three opponents and had to exert some effort to secure victory.

His younger brother, Zhuge Bai, who came with him, was eliminated because he was timid and was scared to tears by the fierce-looking Jin Meng.

However, that Jin Meng did not advance either, because Wudang's Wang Ye was also on that field.

Meng Li didn't pay attention to the subsequent matches, waiting for his turn to enter the arena.

“Contestants who drew ‘Ding-Vermilion Bird,’ please enter the arena.”

Meng Li flipped over and landed gracefully on the ground.

Once his three opponents were in the arena and the referee announced the start, he moved with a flash for every step, giving each person one strike, then waved to the referee on the platform: “You can announce the result now.”

A second later, with a thud, the three opponents collapsed to the ground, unable to get up.

The referee froze for a moment before reacting, announcing loudly: “For the Ding-Vermilion Bird match, White Sword Immortal wins.”

White Sword Immortal was precisely the name of Meng Li's current persona.

Hearing the result, Meng Li left the arena directly, found a place to rest, and waited for the drawing of lots after the preliminary rounds ended.

Once the preliminaries were over, a total of thirty-two people advanced, including Meng Li.

It was the same as in the original plot.

Meng Li wasn't sure for a moment whom he had replaced, but he didn't care.

Mainly because the three opponents in his group were unfamiliar; he estimated the original winner was just an extra, or perhaps not even that.

After the advancing candidates were decided, Meng Li drew lots for the second round of one-on-one duels.

The opponent he drew was—Lu Linglong!

Meng Li recalled for a moment and vaguely remembered she was Lu Jin's great-granddaughter. Like Xia He, she had pink hair, but she was the pure and cute type.

As for what abilities she had, he wasn't very clear. He only remembered that in the original plot's round of thirty-two, she met a masked opponent who forfeited because he refused to fight women. Later, Lu Linglong faced Zhang Lingyu and was miserably struck by lightning.

Because of this, Lu Jin 'hunted' the Old Celestial Master all the way, nearly causing the latter to throw the wheelchair-bound Tian Jinzhong out as a hidden weapon to block him.

Additionally, the fat otaku Cang Long, who was good at gathering intelligence, seemed to be Lu Linglong's simp.

Lu Linglong had a very stubborn personality; even people from the Whole-Nature sect commented that 'the word compromise does not exist in the Lu family's dictionary.'

To Meng Li's surprise, just as he finished recalling the information about Lu Linglong, she sought him out.

“Hello, I am Lu Linglong. May I ask if you are Mr. White, the White Sword Immortal?”

Lu Linglong asked with a sweet smile.

Following behind her were her good friends Zhi Jinhua and Bai Shixue.

Meng Li nodded slightly: “Yes, is there something I can help you with?”

Lu Linglong smiled: “Nothing special. I just drew you as my opponent and came over specifically to get to know you. Please give me some guidance in tomorrow's match.”

“I will,” Meng Li answered softly.

“Then I won't disturb you further. See you on the field tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow,” Meng Li responded, then went back to his room to rest, not paying much mind to the encounter with Lu Linglong.

However, after the three girls left, they held a small meeting.

Lu Linglong asked Zhi Jinhua, who was known as the 'Human Computer': “We just saw that White Sword Immortal; what's his deal?”

Zhi Jinhua recalled carefully and replied with a frown: “I don't know. Cang Long and I collected data on the participants after they registered, but the time was too short. We only got most of it, which I've memorized.”

“I have absolutely no impression of this White Sword Immortal. He must belong to the small portion we didn't collect.”

“And there's a high probability that those in that small portion are from the Whole-Nature sect.”

Lu Linglong nodded and looked sideways at Bai Shixue.

Bai Shixue understood instantly and said: “I haven't consumed White Sword Immortal's Qi, so I can't be sure through its taste. However, through that close-range contact just now, I vaguely felt that his Qi is pure and burning hot. It should belong to the Pure Yang category, but I don't know anything more specific.”

Lu Linglong said: “Then we can only wait and see tomorrow.”

...

The next morning.

The weather was favorable, and the sun was shining brightly.

The round of thirty-two was held across four venues in a total of four rounds.

Meng Li and Lu Linglong were in the first round.

The two entered the arena, and the referee announced the start of the match.

Just as Meng Li and Lu Linglong were about to move, a series of slogans suddenly came from the stands.

“Linglong, Linglong, you're the best!”

“Linglong, Linglong, you're the strongest!”

Meng Li's mouth twitched. He looked toward the sound and found it was Lu Linglong's simp, Cang Long, leading two lackeys in the chant.

Lu Linglong was equally embarrassed. Seeing Meng Li's strange expression, she hurriedly explained: “Sorry, Mr. White, I didn't ask these guys to come. They have nothing to do with me.”

Meng Li said expressionlessly: “It doesn't matter. You are not my match, just forfeit.”

Lu Linglong shook her head: “That won't do. I came to this assembly to prove myself. Please fight me seriously.”

“Is that so...” Meng Li let out a soft sound of surprise, then smiled: “Then—as you wish.”

As he spoke, he pulled a wooden box from his robes and opened it, revealing several small swords of different designs inside.

Meng Li flicked his finger, and one of the swords instantly flew out of the box. It grew as it caught the wind, becoming a normal-sized longsword in an instant, and flew toward Lu Linglong with an imposing Aura.

Lu Linglong looked surprised and hurriedly dodged to the side.

Unexpectedly, the Flying Sword seemed to have eyes; it made a sharp turn and accelerated, hovering at Lu Linglong's neck with a 'shua' sound.

“You lose,” Meng Li said.

Lu Linglong: “...”

She was somewhat unwilling, because she had lost so quickly that she hadn't been able to display even half of her skills.

But with the sword at her neck, she had no choice but to concede.

“I forfeit.”

The referee nodded and announced the result loudly: “White Sword Immortal vs. Lu Linglong. White Sword Immortal wins!”

With a thought from Meng Li,

The Flying Sword at Lu Linglong's neck immediately turned back, shrinking as it returned to the sword box.

Afterward, Meng Li turned and left the arena.

After a few steps, Lu Linglong caught up to him...