Upon hearing these words, both the competing disciples on the Sword Platform and the spectators in the Cloud Pavilion watched unblinkingly as the Immortal Crane above fluttered its wings, suddenly releasing the pearl clutched in its claws.
The pearl, reflecting the sunlight, plummeted from the sky.
In an instant, a series of whooshing sounds erupted across the Sword Platform.
Then, figures around the arena turned into streaks of sword light, each following a different trajectory, racing towards the falling pearls.
From the Cloud Pavilion above, the colorful sword lights scattered like fireworks over the Sword Platform.
“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!”
With several urgent sounds of air being torn, the pearls, which had only fallen a few feet, were snatched up by several figures.
The next moment, these figures, each holding a pearl, flew towards the nearest statue of the Five Elders.
“Second Senior Brother caught one!”
Despite their speed, Zhao Linglong immediately recognized the figure of Second Senior Brother Qingxiao.
“Senior Sister also got one.”
Xu Taiping expressed his surprise.
His eyesight was good; he recognized her the moment Senior Sister Jiang Zhi’s figure paused slightly.
“That’s right, that’s right, Senior Sister is amazing!”
Zhao Linglong jumped excitedly.
Although Xu Taiping wasn’t as agitated as Zhao Linglong, his usually calm emotions were now fluctuating with the movements of his Senior Sister and Senior Brothers above the Sword Platform.
He hadn’t felt this emotional even during the Seven Peaks selection.
“Boom!”
Just then, a figure on a sword collided straight into Senior Sister Jiang Zhi.
“Bang!”
Although Jiang Zhi was protected by her sword aura, she was still sent flying backward.
The crowd looked closely and realized that the culprit was Jin Hezhi from the First Peak.
“This Jin Hezhi is detestable, he’s clearly targeting our Seventh Peak.”
Zhao Linglong stomped her feet in anger.
If it weren’t for Xu Ziyan holding her back, she might have already rushed to the railing to curse out loud.
“Boom!”
Just as Senior Sister Jiang Zhi was steadying herself, another streak of sword light accompanied by a whooshing sound headed straight for her.
“Bang!”
But before the sword light reached her, a man with an honest face holding an iron scale stepped in front of her, catching the impact of the sword light.
It was Third Senior Brother!
And then, the identity of the figure in the sword light attacking Jiang Zhi became clear—
A young man with a square face and a heroic appearance.
“It’s Huang Qi from the First Peak!”
Zhao Linglong recognized the young man once again.
While they spoke, Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi turned into two streaks of sword light, both charging at Jiang Zhi and the Third Senior Brother from the Seventh Peak.
Clearly, they were targeting the Seventh Peak this time.
“Senior Sister, go! I’ll stop them!”
Above the Sword Platform, Third Senior Brother’s aura surged, forming a wall of True Qi to protect Jiang Zhi behind him.
“Bang!”
But before he could finish speaking, he was hit by a streak of sword light, sent flying straight backward, and with a splash, fell into the water below.
The one who sent Third Senior Brother flying was Jin Hezhi.
Although Xu Taiping felt some anger, he understood the rules of the competition and knew that Jin Hezhi’s actions didn’t violate them.
According to the rules, although the competitors couldn’t engage in combat while vying for the pearls, they could use their speed and protective sword aura to intercept and collide with opponents, even sending them flying, as long as they didn’t use spells or take lives.
At that moment, Senior Sister Jiang Zhi dodged the attack from Huang Qi of the First Peak with a swift flash, then streaked towards the nearest statue of the Five Elders.
She clearly didn’t want to waste the opportunity Third Brother had fought for.
But just as Jiang Zhi was about to reach the statue, a pale-faced, slender figure stood in her way.
“It’s over, it’s Yan Bing, the First Peak’s Senior Brother!”
Zhao Linglong couldn’t help but exclaim upon recognizing the person.
Yan Bing, the First Peak’s Senior Brother, had a cultivation far surpassing Jin Hezhi’s, and even Dugu Qingxiao couldn’t match him.
Meanwhile, Second Senior Brother Qingxiao was also caught in the attack from Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi, unable to come to the rescue anytime soon.
“Whoosh!”
However, upon seeing that it was Yan Bing, Senior Sister Jiang Zhi didn’t give up but turned into a streak of sword light, weaving and dodging with a series of whooshes.
“Boom!”
But Senior Sister Jiang Zhi’s sword flying speed was ultimately no match for Yan Bing, and she was blocked and sent flying, her pearl knocked away and seized by Yan Bing.
“Alas, sword flying is ultimately not Senior Sister’s forte.”
Zhao Linglong sighed.
“Indeed, Senior Sister did her best.”
Xu Taiping nodded.
He knew that Senior Sister Jiang Zhi’s true strength lay in formations; although talented in sword cultivation, she didn’t favor this path.
Watching his Senior Brothers fall one by one, his desire to help them grew stronger.
“Boom!”
But just as Zhao Linglong and Xu Taiping were coming to terms with the reality that the Seventh Peak might not win a pearl this time, Jiang Zhi, who was about to fall into the pond, suddenly surged with energy, and her figure turned into a streak of sword light, charging at Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi, who were surrounding Qingxiao.
Yan Bing was too late to react.
With a “boom,” both Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi were sent flying by Senior Sister Jiang Zhi.
“Junior Brother!”
Ignoring the turmoil within her, Jiang Zhi turned and shouted at Qingxiao.
Qingxiao immediately understood, his figure vanishing like a bolt of lightning.
Yan Bing, having seen through their intentions, also flew out, sword in hand, to intercept Qingxiao.
“Whoosh!”
But Senior Sister Jiang Zhi, anticipating his move, intercepted Yan Bing in advance.
With a “bang,” Jiang Zhi was hit directly by Yan Bing and sent flying, falling straight into the water below.
Despite the disparity in their cultivation, Jiang Zhi couldn’t withstand Yan Bing’s blow, but her effort bought Qingxiao just enough time to place his pearl atop the nearest statue of the Five Elders.
Yet, Qingxiao didn’t stop there.
Without a word, he turned into a streak of sword light and charged at Yan Bing.
With a “bang,” Yan Bing was sent flying by Qingxiao, sliding hundreds of feet in the air before regaining control.
Seeing this, Jin Hezhi and Huang Qi rushed up, faces filled with rage, ready to settle the score with Qingxiao.
But Qingxiao, undaunted, charged at them again.
“The first pearl goes to the Seventh Peak! All stop your pursuit, or face disqualification!”
But just then, the thunderous voice of the Black Dragon Elder suddenly exploded above the Sword Platform.