Chapter 2151 — Plotting Treachery

But the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast had no such thing as compassion. You came in here, and you neither fled nor begged for mercy—then wait for death. So the beast swung its paw again and sent the Fire Wolf Gang disciple tumbling head over heels.

This time, the Fire Wolf Gang disciple truly did not stir... At the same moment, An Mingyue said, "All right, we concede. We have held out to our limit. Let him out!"

He could still come out? Everyone was taken aback. Yet Master Wo opened the cage as asked, and the Fire Wolf Gang disciple on the ground miraculously moved again—though he could not stand, and instead crawled out of the cage, all the way to An Mingyue's side.

An Mingyue gave a few quiet instructions to one of his trusted subordinates, and the man left with the injured disciple. As to where they went, only An Mingyue knew; the other old masters present had no idea.

Not that they would make a point of investigating. The Fire Wolf Gang was a secretive lot—more so even than the Morrow Upon Morrow Sect. A great gang that had risen within the last twenty years, it had soared to prominence so fast that even ancient sects dared not provoke it, and so no one was about to stick their nose into its business.

Since the disciple had not died when he came out, his concession notwithstanding, his result still stood. Old Master Zhao therefore announced straightaway: "Second match—the Fire Wolf Gang disciple held out for nine minutes and eight seconds!"

One had to admit it: the Fire Wolf Gang disciple had fallen several times and dragged things out, and yet he had lasted longer than Pi Zhihai. He was now in the lead.

"Third match—the disciple competing is from the Golden Bell Sect!" After announcing the result, Old Master Zhao proceeded with the next bout.

When it came to the Golden Bell Sect's turn, Adamantine Diamond hesitated. Of his two disciples who had gone before, one was dead and one injured; the dead one had been his prized final disciple, and the injured one a rather gifted disciple as well. The competitor now was yet another rather gifted disciple.

But seeing the state of Pi Zhihai and the Fire Wolf Gang disciple, Adamantine Diamond held out little hope. True qi had been driven into Pi Zhihai by the spirit beast—that did not worry him overmuch, since the Golden Bell Shield could isolate true qi—but he feared this disciple's Golden Bell Shield might not withstand a single blow from the beast. If the lad were gravely wounded, the loss would outweigh the gain.

With that thought, Adamantine Diamond instructed the disciple beside him: "Once you're inside, do as the Fire Wolf Gang disciple did—stand still for a while first. If the ancient spirit beast doesn't attack you, you can stall for time. When it comes after you, run. If it catches you, take one hit. And if you feel you can't hold, concede at once—do not linger in the fight!"

"Yes, sir!" The Golden Bell Sect disciple understood the gravity of the matter and nodded in assent.

So when the Golden Bell Sect disciple entered the cage, he did just as the Fire Wolf Gang disciple had done before and stood there dumbly in place.

But the trick was plainly useless now. Seeing that this newcomer meant to try the same tactic, the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast could not even be bothered to test or frighten him—it simply swung its paw.

"Bang!" Before the Golden Bell Sect disciple knew what had happened, he was knocked head over heels. Thanks to the Golden Bell Shield guarding his body, he was only lightly hurt—but he dared not stay any longer. If the beast could break through his Golden Bell Shield, a few more blows would surely kill him.

So the Golden Bell Sect disciple made up his mind on the spot and, without even getting up from the ground, cried, "I concede!"

Master Wo opened the cage gate, and the Golden Bell Sect disciple scrambled up and ran out. From start to finish it had taken barely a minute, making him the contestant who had lasted the shortest time of all.

Adamantine Diamond watched the whole thing and sighed in resignation. His disciple had simply been unlucky—the two tricks from before had already been used by the Hidden Pi Family and the Fire Wolf Gang disciple. Whether the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast had grown bored of the game or something else, it had struck the moment he came up and knocked his disciple flat with one paw...

Fortunately, his disciple was not badly hurt; otherwise, Adamantine Diamond would have regretted it all the more.

"Third match—the Golden Bell Sect disciple held out for thirty-eight seconds!" Old Master Zhao announced. "Fourth match—the disciple competing is from the Hidden Han Family! Will the Hidden Han Family disciple please step up!"

At this, both Old Master Zhao and Master Wo of the Qianshan Sect grew tense. Wei Zhao was ranked so far back—having watched the previous matches, surely he would not simply give up? If he did, all their preparations would be for nothing.

They had not actually tampered with the drawing order; after all, meddling in such small details would invite criticism. So they all fixed their eyes on Wei Zhao, waiting to see what he would choose.

"Leader, why don't we just concede? This ancient spirit beast really is frightening..." Han Xiaopo lowered his voice. "Besides, I suspect that Master Wo can communicate with the ancient spirit beast. What if he has it turn on you, Leader? You did kill his disciple and his spirit wolf, after all!"

"It doesn't matter." Wei Zhao smiled faintly and walked calmly and openly toward the cage on the platform.

"Phew..." Everyone who saw Wei Zhao walking over breathed a sigh of relief. Old Master Tang heaved a sigh—Wei Zhao was surely doomed this time. Tang Yuyi had courted his favor for nothing; it would be of no use hereafter.

But the several old masters who wanted Wei Zhao dead were beside themselves with excitement—none more so than Wo Jindao, whose joy knew no bounds. In beast tongue he instructed the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast: "In a moment, when this creature enters the cage, kill him outright. Do not hold back—you must kill him. Whether he begs for mercy or not, use your killing strike!"

"Roar—" The Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast seemed somewhat dismissive of Master Wo's tone.

"See this? It's a spirit medicine fruit. If you kill that man, it's yours!" Master Wo quietly drew back his sleeve and revealed the spirit medicine fruit Wei Zhao had given him earlier, showing it to the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast.

"Roar!" The Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast narrowed its eyes, as if agreeing to Master Wo's demand.

Heh heh. Wei Zhao, oh Wei Zhao, you would never dream of it, would you? The spirit medicine fruit you gave me will be the key to your road to the Yellow Springs. Were it not for this thing, the Wind-Thunder Violet-Lightning Beast would never have agreed so readily!

Of course, Master Wo did all this in great secrecy; Wei Zhao must not see it.