"Sect leader Fei…" the sect leaders looked at Fei Huang. Their expression worried. They're afraid Fei Huang is upset and would suddenly snap.
However, Fei Huang's expression didn't change a bit. "It's our disciple's loss." He said. "He's lacking in aptitude." He explained.
The sect leaders nodded in understanding. Despite the huge advantage in strength, but Xi Shi obviously lost control of his emotions. That's why Li Tian, who's calm, won.
On the other side, Xie Lan was grinning from ear to ear. "Xiao Tian may look average, but he's actually strong." He said, his face proud. His nose is pointed up high to the ceiling. "Not only in his studies, but also he has a high cultivation." He explained. "He's perfect to be a Spell Caster." He added.
The other sect leaders nodded in agreement. Indeed, Li Tian showed exemplary skill in Spell Casting by continuously casting spells as he attacked Xi Shi. One need not only the spell, but also the corresponding power to cast the spell. For Li Tian to be successful… they didn't know a part of Li Tian's success is due to Cheng Sheng channeling some of his qi to Li Tian when they meditated at the Meditation Hall of Xinfaxian Sect during their last day of training. Of course, he also channeled some to You Rou and Lei Ling. Their success will be up to them.
"Now, for the second pair of contestants – " the emcee said and turned to Zheng Fu Gong who picked a nameplate.
"Zunjingde Sect – " Zheng Fu Gong said. " – Jing Cheng. His opponent is…" he said as he took another nameplate.
"OOH! The Zunjingde Sect is up!" the audience couldn't help but be excited. The Zunjingde Sect is not only popular, but also one of the strongest. They're on par with the Shanliangde Sect and tied in the first place with them!
"Jing Cheng… I'm guessing he'll be the first in ranking after the competition ends!" someone said. Jing Cheng is the eldest disciple and the strongest in the Zunjingde Sect.
Since it's none from their sect who is fighting next round, the Xinfaxian Sect and the Youxiwang Sect relaxed and focused on healing Li Tian. Chen Jing can't stay longer thus he left. "Ah Tian…" Chen Han called. He sighed in relief when the color on Li Tian's face returned.
"Oh! He used a magic pill!" the audience said when they saw Jing Cheng's opponent had taken a magic pill, thus increasing his strength. They turned to look at Jing Cheng, only to see him look calm. The expression on his face didn't even change a bit.
"He's really strong." Cheng Sheng commented as they watched Jing Cheng punched his opponent like he's punching a sandbag.
Jing Cheng's opponent couldn't fight back even for a second because Jing Cheng's too fast! Not only he was fast, but each of his punches are strong! Did I send myself just to be a punchbag? He thought and cried as his body weakly fell on the ground. This is the fate of the cannon fodders... he thought and bitterly smiled.
Sun Yi nodded. "After all, sect leader Jing cultivated him." He said as they watched Jing Cheng, undoubtedly, won. "He's younger, but he's on par with Xi Ming and da shixiong's strength." he added, referring to Chen Han as his da shixiong.
"He's amazing!" Lei Ling exclaimed as he looked at Jing Cheng in awe.
Jing Kang, who was standing across the other side, saw Lei Ling giving Jing Cheng a worshiping gaze. "Tch." He clicked his tongue in annoyance and looked away.
"What's wrong, Jing Kang?" Jing Hei asked when he saw Jing Kang frowned.
"Nothing." Jing Kang answered with his lowered gaze when he saw Jing Cheng easily won.
"The Zunjingde Sect is really strong!" the audience exclaiemed.
"Yeah!" the others couldn't help but agree.
"Domineering! He's too domineering!" the people added as they looked at Jing Cheng's unharmed and handsome appearance while his opponent was crushed beneath his feet. He didn't use any fancy moves and just used basic skills.
Jing Kang couldn't feel any worse. "Winner, Jing Cheng of Zunjingde Sect!" the emcee announced.
"Congratulations, da ge!" Jing Bai and Jing Hei said when Jing Cheng returned to their side.
"Thank you." Jing Cheng said.
"Uncle looked please. Look!" Jing Hei pushed Jing Cheng to face Jing Rui afar.
"I can't let him down." Jing Cheng said and looked at Jing Rui. When he saw Jing Rui wasn't even looking at him, he looked away. Jing Bai and Jing Hei saw his expression and they grinned.
"Ah! It's the Shanliangde Sect's turn." Qian Lin said after Zheng Fu Gong called Xi Ming's name.
"Not cheering for me?" Xi Ming said and looked at Xi Xing, Xi Ning and Gong Xian.
"Hmph! Die!" Xi Ning said. She's mad at him since yesterday. She complained to Xi Peng through her letters, but Xi Peng is powerless towards Fei Huang.
"Good luck." Gong Xian said with his eyes closed. Even though he's sleeping, but his other senses are still working. Thus, he can hear Xi Ming.
"Good luck!" Xi Xing spoke in a hoarse voice since he rarely speaks.
"So lukewarm…" Xi Ming said and cried after seeing their reaction. He walked towards the stage, his shoulders fell making him looked depressed.
"I pity him." Qian Lin said as they watched Xi Ming.
"Yeah." Jing Hei nodded in agreement. Xi Ming, as the eldest disciple of the Shanliangde Sect, has to look after his fellow disciples. Especially his siblings and cousin. Thus, they gave him the nickname 'nanny'. He's like a mother hen watching over her chicks.
"He's too pitiful…" Jing Cheng said while Jing Bai just smiled.
Jing Kang looked at Xi Ming and saw his opponent is someone from a sect in the west. The disciple looked like he's hesitating. Then, he glanced at Jing Cheng before he looked away after a second. Jing Kang could guess, the disciple's confidence decreased before he could start his own fight after he saw Jing Cheng crushed his opponent. He is thinking, someone from the big sects could easily defeat them from small sects. They will definitely lose!
Jing Kang sighed after Xi Ming won without suspense. His opponent already lost the moment he thought that way. Then, he glanced at the Xinfaxian Sect. That disciple forgot the first fight: Li Tian, from a small sect, defeated Xi Shi who's from a big sect. The disciple from the west forgot it because Jing Cheng immediately took the spotlight with his match.
Xi Ming undoubtedly won. The disciples from the smaller sects would lose their spirit seeing the big sects winning one after another. Now, they're wishing they wouldn't be matched against the disciples of the big sects.
"Sect leader Fei won." A sect leader said after Xi Ming won. "Congratulations." He said.
"It is our disciple who won, not I." Fei Huang said. Nonetheless, he's pleased. The Shanliangde Sect regained their momentum lost after Xi Shi was defeated.
"Of course, of course." The sect leader said, wanting to gain Fei Huang's favor.
The next matches were disciples from the small sects, or the rogue cultivators. Some people lost interest watching, while some who knew the contestants were cheering for them.
"These people don't know how to enjoy life." Cheng Sheng said as he chewed on the meat bun Fei Yin gave him for his snacks. Some matches are bloody and people would lose their appetite so they didn't bother eating even though they're hungry. After all, they practice inedia.
The people would normally think like this, except for Cheng Sheng who was intently watching the fourth match as he ate with gusto. He's abnormal.
"Why do you say so, Cheng-shidi?" Lei Qing asked when she became curious after hearing what Cheng Sheng said.
"It's more thrilling to watch a match between two small sects, than the match with the big sects." Cheng Sheng answered as he took out another bun and bit it. Blood splattered on the stage and there was a suspicious thing that fell from the stage. It was a finger.
"Huh? But, they are strong, Cheng-shixiong." You Rou said.
"Exactly. They are strong, so you would know they will win." Cheng Sheng said and looked at the audience. "It's already expected the big sect will win." He added. "However, a battle between two small sects – weak versus weak. Who do you think will win?" he asked.
"That's just a boring fight." Lei Ling said.
Cheng Sheng rolled his eyes. "What's good watching something with an already expected outcome?" he asked and turned to watch the match. The cries of the contestants echoed within the walls of the venue. "You don't know the struggles of the weak." He told them. "Their persistence to win even if they're about to lose…" he said.
They looked at each other. "Cheng-shidi…" they called and felt ashamed. They couldn't help but look at him. Their eyes are filled with pity. They almost forgot that Cheng Sheng had been weak before because he's crazily strong now. "What you said really would have been sad if you're just not grinning." They said as they looked at Cheng Sheng's smiling face.