Chapter Eighty-Three: The Mystery Behind the Leaderboard

Shangguan Yu’s brow was tightly furrowed. The five members from Jade Sword Sect had not performed well. In his opinion, even at his worst, Long Yun should have been in the top ten, yet according to the points ranking, Long Yun’s score placed him outside the top one hundred. The best among them was Xiao Leng, but even he was only ranked thirty-seventh. Liu Xiaoxiao followed closely behind at forty-second, while Chang Yi and Chen Long were both around the sixties or seventies.

“What on earth happened to Long Yun? Could someone have truly targeted him inside?” This was the only possibility Shangguan Yu could think of. Among the five disciples participating in the tournament, he had placed the highest hopes on Long Yun.

But clearly, Long Yun’s performance was disappointing, and this realization weighed heavily on Shangguan Yu’s heart.

He was troubled, but the one truly most vexed was the Azure Sect elder who had activated the Demon Phantasm Realm. Only he knew where Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao had been transported. In his mind, the moment those two entered the Death Domain, they should have been killed instantly. Never did he expect that their names would still remain on the list.

Moreover, they had even gained some points, which meant they had managed to slay some demonic beasts within the Death Domain. How on earth had these two disciples accomplished this?

If they truly emerged safely from the Demon Phantasm Realm, the Azure Sect would have to reconsider the Jade Sword Sect—at the very least, the achievements of these two would one day surpass even Shangguan Yu.

Such potential already posed a threat to Azure Sect’s supremacy, yet he was not worried, for the Death Domain was a legendary place—where the Azure Sect’s second-generation headmaster, Qing Didu, had been trapped in ages past, his life and death unknown.

He did not believe the two could walk out alive.

Beneath the stage were the leaders and elders of every major sect, each wearing different expressions—some joyful, others anxious. The ones most delighted were the head of Hua Ying Sect and Hua Zonghe.

Of the ten disciples sent by Hua Ying Sect to the hunting tournament, all were ranked within the top fifty at this point. In particular, Chu Huafei and Hua Longyin stood at seventh and thirteenth, far outstripping the disciples of Jade Sword Sect.

As time ticked by, the numbers on the points board climbed steadily upward—except for Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao, whose scores had remained stagnant. By now, Liu Xiaoxiao had dropped to fifty-third, and would soon fall further.

“Sect Master, it seems this time our Jade Sword Sect will suffer great humiliation,” Chen Huafei sighed heavily.

Shangguan Yu only shook his head. “Reputation is not the issue; what matters is that they return safely. If that’s possible, everything else is trivial. What I worry about is losing any of them—such a loss is something we cannot bear.”

Hearing the underlying meaning in Shangguan Yu’s words, Chen Huafei was slightly taken aback. Indeed, the only true talents remaining in Jade Sword Sect were these five. Each was a pillar of the sect—they could not afford to lose any.

“There’s a change!” Shangguan Yu’s sudden exclamation jolted Chen Huafei from his thoughts, and his gaze snapped to the points board.

Now, two names were rapidly overtaking those ahead—sure enough, it was Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao.

Long Yun had broken into the top hundred, now sitting at ninety-second. Liu Xiaoxiao, already ranked fairly high, now climbed to thirty-seventh.

“Sect Master!” Chen Huafei’s face lit up with joy as he looked to Shangguan Yu.

“The situation is shifting. I believe Long Yun still has time to catch up!” Shangguan Yu’s somber expression eased.

Long Yun’s ranking continued to soar. In less than half an hour, he had already surpassed Xiao Leng and the others, now standing at fortieth. Liu Xiaoxiao climbed even faster, surging to fifteenth.

The Azure Sect elder’s face changed drastically—how could this be? Had they truly escaped from the Death Domain? Otherwise, how could their rankings have improved so swiftly?

Three more hours passed. Long Yun’s points now ranked him sixteenth, and Liu Xiaoxiao stopped at eleventh.

It wasn’t that their scores had ceased to grow, but once inside the top twenty, the gap between each ranking became immense—surpassing even one position required slaying a great number of demonic beasts.

The head of Hua Ying Sect, Hua Chengfeng, wore a stormy expression now: Liu Xiaoxiao and Long Yun had already surpassed Hua Longyin, and it looked as though they would catch up to Chu Huafei before long. At this thought, a shadow flickered at the corner of his mouth.

While the martial arena was filled with anxious speculation among the sect leaders, Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao once again joined forces to eradicate a nest of demonic beasts.

Outside the Death Domain, the two clearly felt the creatures’ strength decreasing. Out here, even beasts of the Innate Realm were exceedingly rare—they hadn’t encountered a single one on their way.

When they came across groups of demonic beasts, they would work together to annihilate them, which quickly boosted their points.

“Xiaoxiao, if we keep this up, we’ll waste too much time. Let’s not bother with these small fry any longer. We must find Senior Brother Xiao Leng and the others as quickly as possible!” Long Yun, feeling a growing unease in his heart, spoke up abruptly.

Liu Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement. “Let’s hurry. We can extend our spiritual sense to search more widely.”

Immediately, the two set off at full speed in a chosen direction, their spiritual sense sweeping the area within a ten-mile radius—alternating their search, the maximum range they could manage.

In this way, they traveled for nearly two hours, until Long Yun suddenly frowned. His spiritual sense detected a battle seven or eight miles ahead.

Along the way, they had encountered disciples from other sects locked in combat with demonic beasts, but this time, his senses told him there was no trace of demonic energy.

That was why Long Yun felt so alarmed. Exchanging a glance with Liu Xiaoxiao, they both raced toward the source of the conflict.

In the dense forest, the sound of splintering trees mingled with the clash of true energy, while flashes of light shot skyward—an intense fight was underway.

Three figures wielded longswords, launching a flurry of attacks at the two besieged in the center.

“We’re all righteous sects, yet you would gang up on Junior Brother Quan He and me for a few measly points? Some fine skills you have!” One of the besieged, a disciple at the Bone Transformation Realm, shouted in fury.

“Hmph!” The leader of the three attackers, also in the Bone Transformation Realm, sneered. “Zhun Yi, now you appeal to the bond between our sects? Isn’t it a bit late for that? Our Quiguan Sect and your Three Gorges Society have always been enemies. Killing you is no crime!”

“Then try it! Even if I die, I’ll drag two of you down with me!” Zhun Yi gritted his teeth, his sword flashing in a dazzling display as he attacked the three from Quiguan Sect with all his strength.

Seeing his senior fight so desperately, Quan He could only grit his teeth as well—at this point, it was kill or be killed; there was no other choice.

Thus, two righteous sects waged a bitter battle right there in the forest.

By the time Long Yun and Liu Xiaoxiao arrived, Quan He and one of the Quiguan Sect disciples were already gravely wounded and had fallen, unable to fight. Zhun Yi stood covered in blood, barely holding on—his situation looked dire.

“Stop!” Long Yun shouted coldly, unleashing a burst of true energy that forced both sides apart.

“Who are you? This is a matter between us and the Three Gorges Society—other sects should stay out of it!” The Bone Transformation disciple from Quiguan Sect, Qu Wei Qing, was clearly impressed by Long Yun’s strength, but couldn’t help but retort.

Long Yun frowned, unconcerned with the feud between the two sects, but still hoping for a fair tournament. The Azure Sect’s machinations had already left him with a bitter taste.

Hearing Qu Wei Qing’s words, Long Yun’s brow arched as he replied coldly, “I don’t care what grudges exist between your sects. Now that you’re here, you’d best behave yourselves!”

Qu Wei Qing was about to answer when the fallen Quan He suddenly spoke up. “I know who you are—you’re Senior Brother Long Yun of Jade Sword Sect. Senior Brother Long Yun, Zhun Yi and I are disciples of the Three Gorges Society. That Qu Wei Qing came here specifically to kill us!”

Long Yun’s heart stirred. This matter was likely more complicated than it seemed. With disciples from both sides gathered here, it was already suspicious enough. On top of that, Qu Wei Qing’s ability to track Zhun Yi and Quan He so precisely suggested the Azure Sect was involved.

With that thought, Long Yun immediately turned to Qu Wei Qing and demanded, “Who told you their whereabouts?”