Chapter 972 - 57: This Arrangement Suits Me Perfectly (3 Updates)

Chapter 972: Chapter 57: This Arrangement Suits Me Perfectly (3 Updates)

Top three?

Li Chao’s words lingered in Mu Qingge’s mind.

Her original intention was to strive for the top three. Although she wasn’t quite sure what that Dao Light was or what its use was. But since the Four Divine Domains Debate, such a grand event, brought it out as a reward, it indicated it was definitely something good!

Since it’s something good, how can three days be enough?

Ten days, that’s her choice.

The light in Mu Qingge’s clear eyes shifted. She never acted unless she could do it well, and once she decided to do something, she’d do it to the best of her ability.

This time, it’s the same.

So, she aimed for the top three, to win the right to bask in the Dao Light for ten days.

’Little Ge’er...’

Suddenly, Si Mo’s voice transmission entered Mu Qingge’s mind.

Mu Qingge, deep in thought, stiffened and was taken aback, almost biting her tongue. Her eyes narrowed sharply, but she didn’t look in Si Mo’s direction.

It’s not that she didn’t want to, but she feared being noticed by the Divine Emperor Zhong Shan.

Si Mo was too bold!

’Don’t worry, Little Ge’er. No one can hear us talking, not even the Divine Emperor Zhong Shan.’ Knowing Mu Qingge’s worries and concerns, Si Mo explained.

With this assurance from him, Mu Qingge’s heart slightly eased.

She transmitted back, ’You’re too bold. Even if you’re not afraid of being detected by the Divine Emperor Zhong Shan, my skills are limited. Transmitting sound to you is likely to draw his attention and implicate you.’

She worried that Si Mo’s identity being exposed would bring about persecution or even a manhunt from the Divine Clan against him.

’I know Little Ge’er cares about me, but don’t worry, he can’t hear.’ Si Mo chuckled in response.

’Why aren’t you watching the match properly and instead talking to me all of a sudden?’ Mu Qingge replied irritably. This man, was he determined to scare her to death?

If she were strong enough, she wouldn’t care if others discovered Si Mo’s identity.

But she wasn’t strong enough now, and if Si Mo encountered danger, how could she stand by him and help reduce his risks?

’Still too weak!’ Mu Qingge thought in her heart.

’Little Ge’er.’ Si Mo’s voice came again, ’I won’t let you think nonsense.’

Mu Qingge was not one to indulge in self-pity. Knowing she wasn’t strong enough, she just needed to work harder; there was no need to dwell on it with self-blame.

’Yes, I understand.’ Mu Qingge firmly responded.

Si Mo laughed, ’I wanted to ask you, do you know if there’s any difference between the top three in this debate?’

’Hmm?’ Mu Qingge was startled, as she indeed didn’t know this.

She only knew that the top three could bask in the Dao Light for ten days.

’That’s not right!’ Mu Qingge frowned slightly. The ongoing competitions on the stage hardly caught her attention. Prompted by Si Mo’s hint, she suddenly thought, ’If all top three rewards are the same, then why bother competing for ranks? There must be something I’m unaware of.’

Having entered the Divine Land recently, there were too many things about it that she didn’t know. Mu Qingge had to ask, ’I only know the top three can bask in the Dao Light for ten days, but I don’t know what’s different.’

Si Mo said, ’The difference is in the location of basking in the Dao Light.’

’Different locations?’ Mu Qingge was puzzled.

Si Mo continued to explain, ’The so-called Dao Light is a source of the Dao. Under the Dao Light, one can trace back to the origin, gaining insights to improve their Cultivation Realm. Little Ge’er, you should know that after entering the Spirit Cave Realm, cultivation is no longer about pure Divine Power accumulation or refining Divine Sense. More is about understanding Dao Principles and Dao Techniques, to master Laws and use Magic.’

Mu Qingge remained silent, internally agreeing with Si Mo’s words.

She was already at the Spirit Cave Realm Third Layer, so she had naturally realized the difference in cultivation now compared to before.

The thought that Dao Light could enhance her Cultivation Realm and even provide insights into the Dao’s origin was surprising to her.

Si Mo’s voice came again, ’The Dao Light is the first light condensed when the Dao first appeared, enduring until now for countless years. The higher the spot under the Dao Light, the more insights one can gain, and the greater the chances of breakthroughs. This is your opportunity.’

Mu Qingge suddenly understood.

So, what the top three competed for was not the time basking in the Dao Light, but its height. The first place must be the highest, then follows the second and third, while the remaining ninety-seven likely can only sit at the lowest to bask in the Dao Light.

Si Mo’s voice did not sound again.

He had said what he needed to, and reminded her of what was necessary.

He firmly believed Mu Qingge would know what to do next.

’It seems, fighting for the first place is still necessary.’ Mu Qingge resolved in her heart.

Only—

Mu Qingge lifted her gaze, first looking at those around her. The second place that emerged was Yan Quan, the third was Li Chao, and the fourth was...

Mu Qingge frowned slightly, how come after she pondered for just a while, there were already seventy or eighty people standing below the stage?

And on the stage?

Mu Qingge shifted her gaze back to the stage, noticing that there were already very few people left on it, all competing for the remaining twenty or so spots.

Mu Qingge’s lips twisted into a wry smile, not expecting it to be this way.

Watching the flashing Magic on stage, along with the constantly colliding Power of Laws, she was momentarily at a loss for words.

Retracting her gaze, she looked around again, noticing that Zhuang Shan, Xuan Qiang, and others from the Huan Yue Domain were all standing outside the stage, appearing to secure their positions in the top hundred.

At this moment, Zhuang Shan approached Mu Qingge with a very relaxed expression.

Standing in front of Mu Qingge, he cupped his hands and bent forward slightly.

Mu Qingge was surprised and asked, "Senior Brother Zhuang Shan, what are you doing?"

Zhuang Shan smiled and said, "Thank you for your good strategy, allowing me to enter the top hundred!"

Mu Qingge offered a sheepish smile.

"If it weren’t for you, we would definitely have continued with our previous strategy, preserving our strength step by step, and only unleashing our trump card at the end," Zhuang Shan remarked wistfully.

Winning ten consecutive battles wasn’t that easy.

The further you fought, the tougher opponents you faced. So everyone wanted to conserve their strength, saving more divine power and divine sense for stronger opponents.

However, Mu Qingge’s tactic broke convention. Her unexpected move took everyone by surprise and capitalized on the opportunity to secure easy victories.

"This move can only be used this once. I’m afraid that in another hundred years, when the Four Divine Domains debate again, everyone will have learned it, and it will no longer be unexpected," Mu Qingge said with a smile.

Zhuang Shan nodded in agreement. "Anyway, I owe a lot to you this time. Otherwise, let’s not even talk about whether I could squeeze into the top hundred, but the ten preliminary battles would have been extremely arduous."

"Brother Zhuangshan, you’re exaggerating," Mu Qingge replied.

After chatting for a while, Mu Qingge asked, "Brother Zhuang, do you know who the fourth person to qualify was?"

Zhuang Shan nodded and said to Mu Qingge, "It was a disciple from the Zhong Shan Domain, in the Spirit Cave Realm Fifth Layer. He is also a Palace Disciple, and the second young master of the Zhong Shan Domain, Yu Lv. This time, it seems the eldest young master of the Zhong Shan Domain had an assignment and didn’t participate, so their team is led by him."

Mu Qingge nodded, "I see."

Zhuang Shan frowned slightly and said to Mu Qingge, "Soon, you’ll be competing for the top three. Among the four of you, the eldest and Yan Quan are both in the Spirit Cave Realm Sixth Layer, and Yu Lv is also in the Fifth Layer, while you..."

"I’m only in the Third Layer," Mu Qingge replied candidly.

Zhuang Shan took a deep breath and nodded with pursed lips, a trace of worry in his eyes.

This worry was for Mu Qingge.

Because, in his view, facing these three, Mu Qingge’s chances of winning were far too uncertain.

"Although you managed to defeat Qian Shui, that was because the gap between your realms wasn’t large, and you had prior knowledge and familiarity with his combat strategy. But today, these three..." Zhuang Shan shook his head slowly.

For anyone else, he could easily say it was a certain defeat. But in front of him stood Mu Qingge, someone who disregarded the rules and had created countless miracles, making it difficult for him to predict.

"No matter what, fight first and see," Mu Qingge said with a tone of certainty.

Zhuang Shan nodded. "A fight is inevitable. At the very least, try to keep the third place. Besides, in the first round of the competition, you memorized all five thousand from the Daoist Collection, which should give you extra points."

"Yan Quan has bonus points, the eldest has bonus points, but that Yu Lv..." Mu Qingge said with a clear, cold gaze.

"He doesn’t have any. He missed it," Zhuang Shan assured.

Mu Qingge nodded.

"So, first and second place, I guess, will likely be between the eldest and Yan Quan. Your best bet is to compete with Yu Lv for third place. Your bonus points from the first round are your trump card," Zhuang Shan analyzed carefully, then laughed, "Of course, you’re always full of surprises and often turn the impossible into possible. Who knows, this final result might astonish everyone."

Mu Qingge laughed, her expression relaxed, "All I can do is give it my all."

Yes, give it my all!

From Linchuan to now, surviving this far, wasn’t every battle fought with all her strength?

So, no matter who the opponent is.

Even if today’s opponent is the Zhongtian Divine Emperor, she won’t retreat, but will face the challenge with all her might!

During the conversation between Mu Qingge and Zhuang Shan, the one hundred spots for those who could bathe in the Dao Light had all been decided. Those who were eliminated could only regretfully withdraw.

When Mu Qingge once again stepped onto the arena, only four people stood on the enormous stage.

And the arena was no longer smooth and intact, but had been rendered jagged and crisscrossed by the previous use of magical power.

The four stood opposite each other. Although none of them spoke, their fighting spirits intersected in the air, agitating the falling snowflakes so much that they couldn’t land, instead getting caught in the currents of air generated by the four, continually tumbling and unable to descend.

"Final stage, competing for the top three. Battle rules, a round robin, ranks determined by number of victories." The authoritative voice resounded again, clearly stating the rules.

Mu Qingge pursed her lips in thought, which meant that everyone here would fight her, and if she won all three battles, she’d claim first place.

If she won two and lost one, and someone else won all three, she’d be second. If she won one and lost two, she’d be third. If she lost all three, she’d be eliminated from the top three, placed in fourth.

However, fourth place and the hundredth place aren’t much different, just a bit more regrettable.

"First round, Huan Yue Domain’s Li Chao versus Zhong Shan Domain’s Yu Lv. Huan Yue Domain’s Mu Qingge against Zhuoyu Domain’s Yan Quan."

The announcement of the first round’s competitors caused an uproar among countless people.

Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow; she really hadn’t expected to face Yan Quan in the first match. Li Chao had previously said he would help wear down Yan Quan’s divine power, but it seems that was now in vain.

Li Chao turned to look at Mu Qingge, his brows tightly furrowed with concern.

For his part, Yu Lv looked calm and indifferent, as if it wasn’t any of his business.

Yan Quan looked at Mu Qingge, his smile sinister, and his eyes were filled with a sharp edge. "This arrangement suits me perfectly."

"Who is this Mu Qingge?"

"I heard he’s the newly victorious third young master of Huan Yue Domain!"

"The third of Huan Yue? Wasn’t that Qian Shui?"

"Now this Mu Qingge is, naturally having eliminated Qian Shui."

"I’ve also heard that this new third young master of Huan Yue had recently made great contributions soon after joining the Young Palace, earning the trust and favor of the Huan Yue God Emperor."

"Such a character, continuously performing exceptionally in the Four Divine Domains debate, seems ready to shine brightly."

"Indeed! This Huan Yue Domain truly stands out as the leader among the Four Divine Domains of the East Divine Land, with talents aplenty!"

"But, I see his cultivation is only at the Spirit Cave Realm Third Layer! Coming up against Yan Quan in the first round, where the opponent is in the Spirit Cave Realm Sixth Layer, the difference of three cultivation layers might thwart his intention to make a mark."

"That’s true, it’s a pity, such a rising star, to face Zhuoyu Domain’s eldest young master."

"Hey, do you think his surname Mu might be related to that Mu..."

"That’s unlikely. If there was a connection, they’d avoid it like the plague. How could he have been accepted by Huan Yue Domain? I’ve looked into it myself. They say this Mu Qingge ascended from the Lower Realm, and having the same surname is just a coincidence."

"..."

Observers talked amongst themselves.

Facing Yan Quan’s menacing expression, Mu Qingge remained calm and said, "This arrangement suits me as well."