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The master of Ghost Face Hall lavished praise on the three newcomers, their enthusiasm indeed inspiring their fellow sect members, prompting everyone to decide to participate.
After returning to Shu Mountain, Chu Liang immediately relayed the news to the elders. Everything else could wait, but such a critical matter could not be delayed.
The Shu Mountain high command took the matter very seriously and immediately began a series of discussions. As for Chu Liang, they instructed him to just keep steady and not leak any information.
This was, of course, not difficult to achieve.
The three of them were seasoned undercover agents, naturally not lacking in professional integrity.
Having reported the news, Chu Liang was no longer worried. The Shu Mountain high command would surely be prepared. If the Underworld Sect dared to infiltrate Shu Mountain and wreak havoc, they would certainly not return.
The next day brought a new round of competitions.
Since the final match of the Shu Mountain Summit was scheduled for tomorrow, the finals for the three entertainment competitions were all arranged for today, making for a very tight schedule.
Early in the morning, Chu Liang was already seated at the mahjong tournament finals.
At the table were four players: the innocently-faced Liu Xiaoyu, the smiling Chu Liang, a square-faced young man with an upright appearance—none other than Yuan Zhuo, the Protector Hall brother Chu Liang had met before—and a middle-aged man in a wheelchair.
The middle-aged man had a lean face with a touch of scholarly elegance, fair skin, and bright eyes, clearly the type of person with considerable wisdom. He was none other than the master of Rain Pine Peak, Dan Taijing, indeed a renowned tactician among the peak masters.
Some said that if it weren't for a severe injury in his early years that cut off his path of inquiry, his future would have been boundless. Purely in terms of strategy, he was even more suited to be the chief of the peaks than Wang Xuanling.
By the final stages of every mahjong tournament, those who could sit here were no longer just mahjong experts, but rather a stage for those whose mental prowess was nearly demonic.
Facing these two, Chu Liang dared not claim any advantage.
Of course, he didn't expect to win either.
Dan Taijing smiled and half-jokingly said, "It's quite rare to see two young people from Silver Sword Peak. Make sure you don't feed each other with your plays."
Chu Liang responded with a smile, "How could we?"
Liu Xiaoyu blinked in confusion, "Play?"
***
The mahjong tournament ended peacefully.
It finished earlier than expected, almost without suspense. The game of "stacking little blocks and then knocking them down" was too simple for a little demoness of normal intelligence like Liu Xiaoyu.
Before noon, Chu Liang had already arrived at the venue for the Flying Sword Racing competition. Unlike the previous group matches, the track for the finals was extremely complex.
And naturally, the strength of the competitors was stronger, all of them top experts selected from their respective groups.
The small team from Silver Sword Peak also came to cheer for Chu Liang, and many spectators from within and outside Shu Mountain came to watch, far more than at the mahjong tournament.
In previous years, it wasn't like this. The mahjong tournament on Shu Mountain had always been a hot event at the summit, never lacking in audience. It was just that this year's tournament was too lacking in spectacle; not to mention the audience finding it boring, even Chu Liang himself wouldn't have wanted to go if they weren't short of a player to start the game.
The Flying Sword Racing competition was different, with thrilling cloud-top racing that was sure to get the blood pumping.
Because he participated in the mahjong tournament, Chu Liang arrived a bit late. Many competitors were already there, some new faces and some familiar, all looking tough to deal with.
Wen Yulong approached and asked, "How did it go, did you practice after last time?"
He seemed even more nervous than Chu Liang.
"I tried a few times, it's difficult," Chu Liang knew he was referring to the technique of flying sword drifting, "because time was tight, I didn't practice much afterward."
After losing to Chen Zheng by a small margin last time, Chu Liang did indeed study the technique of drifting around corners with the flying sword. But the difficulty was too great, and he didn't have much time to delve into it, so he couldn't say he had mastered it completely.
He couldn't help it; he was participating in too many events and had to prioritize preparing for the main competition.
"Sigh," Wen Yulong sighed, "You haven't been involved in flying sword racing before, and just being able to make it to the finals is already impressive. You can't be too demanding about the results."
There were ten competitors in the finals, still standing before that cliff, with a road of clouds ahead.
This time the track was longer, and besides simple turns, there was also an eighteen-loop around the Divine Mace Peak. Not only that, but there would also be random sword qi rain falling on the path of Bi Luo Peak.
The increased length and complexity of the track naturally made the challenge greater, and only thus could the true strong be determined.
"Flying Sword Racing competition, finals! Take off!"
With the command of the presiding elder and the waving of the flag, ten sword lights instantly drew long lines across the sky!
"Whoa—"
The cheers of the valley instantly filled the sky!
Chu Liang secured his limbs with the Orient Loong God rope, pulling the Dustless Sword to extreme speed, instantly taking the lead at the forefront!
In terms of cultivation, he was the first among all competitors.
There were four at the Golden Elixir realm, two in the mid-stage of the Golden Elixir realm, and considering the boost from the top-quality Golden Elixir, there should be no dispute that Chu Liang was the first in cultivation.
But being first in cultivation didn't mean first in speed. He had learned this lesson last time, so he didn't dare to be complacent, taking advantage of the first straight section where he had an edge to accelerate fully, hoping to gain as much of a lead as possible.
But the sprint on the straight was too fast, and without much distance opened up, he had already reached the first turn. Chu Liang took a deep breath, pressed down the tip of his sword, and with a fierce flick of the sword body—
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—
The Dustless Sword carved out a crescent-like arc, circling around the mountain, looking quite smooth. But the arc was still too wide, and in a blink of an eye, four or five sword lights had overtaken him on the inside line!
All in an instant!
Still a bit short.
Chu Liang's expression remained unchanged, he turned back to the straight and continued to push with both Golden Elixirs to the max, catching up with the slight lag from the turn. But now he had lost the lead, with at least five sword lights advancing side by side, forming a colorful curtain of light.
Like a rainbow bridge to the other shore!
"Go Chu Liang!" Lin Bei shouted from the sidelines.
Wen Yulong said, "Brother Chu's cornering technique is still a bit weak. It seems difficult to take first place this time, but it looks like he still has a chance for the top five."
Lin Bei said, "Chu Liang is participating in so many competitions, maintaining top competitive strength in each one is already quite remarkable."
Wen Yulong nodded, "Indeed."
Looking at Chu Liang, one would always be deceived by his gentle and handsome appearance, feeling he wasn't aggressive or particularly eye-catching. But a closer look at his record would reveal something quite terrifying.
Even if he couldn't top every event, that was still…
In the sky, another turn roared!
"Wait…" Wen Yulong's voice suddenly paused, "Is there a change?"
***
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—
When another turn came, Chu Liang didn't fall behind but instead pressed the sword tip down to the limit, leaning forward, drawing an inner arc, keeping pace with the other sword lights.
But if they were neck and neck in the turns, then on the straight, they would fall behind Chu Liang.
The twin Golden Elixir vortexes spun wildly, the true qi filling his dantian to the brim, giving Chu Liang a full burst of power with every acceleration!
Boom—
As he cut through the clouds on the straight, there was even a roaring sound!
In a blink of an eye, he had passed four turns. Chu Liang held his own in the corners, and on the straights, he regained the lead.
In just a moment, he had reclaimed a significant lead!
In flying sword racing, competitors usually don't observe their opponents' status, focusing more on their own flying swords, as it's a competition that requires full concentration.
But because his lead was so noticeable, all the competitors saw Chu Liang's figure ahead!
It was him again…
Chu Liang had been too prominent on Shu Mountain these days, active in every part of the summit.
So much so that these disciples who specialized in flying sword racing were somewhat annoyed.
There was a circle of disciples on Shu Mountain who practiced flying sword racing, and they had their own pride. No matter how outstanding or advanced in cultivation, it was hard for others to beat them in racing because they specialized in it and had put in enough effort.
No matter how prominent you are in the fourth or fifth realm of Shu Mountain's elite, don't get involved!
But now, Chu Liang, who had never mixed in this circle, suddenly stepped over their heads, instantly uniting them in a common enemy.
They all gave chase!
But they couldn't catch up.
So in their hearts, they all thought, even if you lead for a while, it doesn't matter.
Because ahead, was the eighteen-loop!