At the second section, Gui Ya extended two fingers. Against another opponent, one finger would have sufficed, but Gongsun Yun was no ordinary disciple - he was able to withstand his first finger.

Gongsun Yun was backing away hastily, his face pale. He conceded bitterly. Withstanding the first finger attack was already his limit and he didn’t want to sustain too big of an injury. If one can’t take first place, they would naturally aim for the second.

After he cupped his fist towards Gui Ya, Gongsun Yun stepped down from the arena. He threw a glance at the section Gongsun Wan-er was fighting in and frowned.

Gui Ya maintained a calm expression as he too stepped off the arena. But he too glanced at Bai Xiaochun. Upon noticing the defenses Bai Xiaochun had, his expression flickered.

On the South Side, the South Bank disciples all had their heads lowered... They felt embarra.s.sed, genuinely pitying the North Bank spectators.

The North Bank disciples were being driven mad...

Gongsun Wan-er was going crazy herself. She screamed as she lunged at Bai Xiaochun with everything she had. Countless magical abilities exploded, yet Bai Xiaochun’s defenses still stood tall.

Especially his last defence, the black bracelet that could turn to liquid and envelop his entire body; it was designed to be a life-saving protection against a Foundation Establishment expert. After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, Gongsun Wan-er vomited blood. She looked like she was about to collapse as she stared at Bai Xiaochun with awe, despair filling her eyes.

Just when she was about to risk summoning her phoenix, Bai Xiaochun glanced at her as a pill appeared in his hands, and he began tossing it from one hand to another.

Furious, Gongsun Wan-er clenched her fists tightly.

“I concede!” She spoke sullenly, her eyes reflecting unwillingness.

“Thank you for letting me win, wise of you to not force my hand!” Bai Xiaochun was overjoyed, but maintained an expertly look, cupping his fist and speaking softly.

These words caused tears to well up in the South Bank disciples’ eyes, whereas Gongsun Wan-er walked away, her whole body trembling with anger and her teeth tightly clenched.

At this moment, the Shangguan Tianyou’s battle with Xu Song was similarly coming to an end. Shangguan Tianyou’s sword swooped down and a blinding light erupted. The five beasts in front of Xu Song disappeared as the light dimmed down. Xu Song was backing away, a trace of admiration appeared in his eyes as he looked at Shangguan Tianyou.

“A sword spirit inside the body, truly extraordinary!” Blood dripped out of the edge of his mouth as he spoke before he turned around and left the arena.

Silent, the Shangguan Tianyou turned his eyes to Gui Ya. He knew that his true opponent here was Gui Ya alone.

“Just like me, he must be bored fighting others.” Shangguan Tianyou recalled his flying sword, and swept his gaze over Bai Xiaochun. His defences only caused contempt to surface in Shangguan TIanyou’s eyes as he walked off the arena, greeted by the South Bank’s frenzied cheers.

Amidst those cheers, Bai Xiaochun proudly returned to his position as well.

Of the first round in the third stage, among the six compet.i.tors, the winners were Gui Ya, Shangguan Tianyou, and Bai Xiaochun. The defeated were of Xu Song and the Gong Sun siblings.

The North Bank disciples didn’t pay much attention to the victories of Shangguan Tianyou and Gui Ya. They remained preoccupied with Bai Xiaochun’s shamelessness which drove them mad.

Bai Xiaochun had already done it… to this Heaven’s Chosen War’s rhythm, his influence was already unimaginable…

Eyes red, the North Bank disciples clenched their fists tightly as they relentlessly glared at Bai Xiaochun. Under the gazes of these tens of thousands spectators, Bai Xiaochun rubbed his nose guiltily as he pretended not to notice them.

Gongsun Wan-er was still trembling in rage before, under her brother’s whispered persuasions, she clenched her teeth and sat down to meditate in order to recover her strength as the others did.

After the time it took for three incense sticks to burn, the second round of the third stage began!

In the first section of the stage, Gongsun Wan-er was pitted against Gui Ya. She looked bitter at the expressionless Gui Ya in front of her and chose to concede. She couldn’t afford any more injuries, or her chances would be jeopardised.

As such, with Gongsun Wan-er admitting defeat, Gui Ya won by default.

Meanwhile, the second section shook with explosions. The matchup was between Shangguan Tianyou and Gongsun Yun, the one who had resisted Gui Ya’s first finger. Tossing his sleeve to the side, countless insects swarmed out, blotting the skies and covering the earth as they charged straight at Shangguan Tianyou.

Shangguan Tianyou gazed somewhat seriously as he raised his right hand. A flying sword shot out, whistling as it slashed horizontally.

This battle ought to have been the main attraction to the spectators, but... whether it was in the South Bank or the North Bank, most disciples seemed to be focused on the third section.

There, Bai Xiaochun stood proudly on the arena, facing against his opponent, Xu Song!

Eyes on Bai Xiaochun, Xu Song’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“Whether an expert in pills or an expert in defense, now that you face me, you’re doomed to suffer miserably.” As he finished, he raised his right hand and cracking sounded from all around them, and unexpectedly, as much as three monstrous beasts appeared out of thin air, all of them at least ten zhang tall. One was an ape, another was a tiger, and the final one… was actually a bat with huge wings sprouting from its back.

The appearance of these three beasts was quite a sight; their bloodthirst they emitted reached the heavens, and they even emanated imposing auras equivalent to the ninth level Qi Condensation.

“Bai Xiaochun, let’s see if those defenses of yours can withstand my three monstrous beasts’ relentless attacks!” Xu Song said with a malicious grin, preparing to attack.

“You should concede, ok?” Sighing, Bai Xiaochun raised his right hand and took out an Aphrodisiac Pill, gazing at his opponent with pity.

“That again?!”

“Destroy that Bai Xiaochun!” The North Bank disciples exploded as soon as Bai Xiaochun spoke.

Looking at the pill in Bai Xiaochun’s hand, Xu Song threw his head back and laughed. His face clearly exposed his contempt and the pride he had for himself.

“I knew you’d pull that shameless pill out again, but do you think that I have come unprepared? These three monstrous beast of mine were prepared just for you, Bai Xiaochun… They’re all females!” Pleased with himself, Xu Song was confident that he would be able to take revenge for the North Bank.

Hearing his words, the North Bank disciples grew excited as they cheered wildly for Xu Song.

Bai Xiaochun’s heart thumped loudly as his eyes spun lightning-fast. He maintained his expression as he spoke lightly with pity in his eyes.

“This pill of mine… It works on beasts, and it works on humans just the same.” Bai Xiaochun spoke threateningly and swept his gaze between him and the three beasts beside him.

His sentence silenced the audience, their faces turning blank as their minds involuntarily pictured a scene that was so poignant, that they all sucked in a deep breath.

Xu Song widened his eyes, an explosion went off in his mind as though he was struck by lightning. His face instantly paled as he recalled Beihan Lie and Gongsun Wan-er, and believed that Bai Xiaochun spoke the truth. If he were to swallow that Aphrodisiac Pill… He gulped as he subconsciously glanced at the three beasts beside him and trembled. The three beasts were quite intelligent and seemed to realise that Xu Song was unexpectedly shaking in fear.

Without hesitation, he instantly recalled the beasts. It wasn’t something he dared to gamble with. Even if he was 90% sure Bai Xiaochun was bluffing, he simply didn’t dare to risk it.

Just as he recalled the beast and was distracted, Bai Xiaochun took a step forward. His body was shrouded with a light screen as he approached his opponent quickly and swung his right hand.

A great force followed that swing. Xu Song’s forte lay in controlling beasts, and without the beasts, his strength was halved. As he was now, there was nothing he could do to resist Bai Xiaochun’s strike. Upon impact, his body rolled away as blood flew out, leaving him to stagger backwards after landing. With fury and unwillingness raging within, he clenched his fist and yelled out his surrender.

Blinking, Bai Xiaochun cleared his throat and cupped his fist. As he swaggered away, countless maddened roars arrived behind his back.

“Bai Xiaochun, you, you, you… ”

“That d.a.m.ned pill, it should be destroyed!”

“Heavens, someone please kill that shameless Bai Xiaochun, I’ll even pay ten Spirit Stones!”

“I offer fifteen Spirit Stones, kill that Bai Xiaochun!” The North Bank was going crazy as countless people yelled out. The bounty soon acc.u.mulated a huge reward, numbering over ten thousand. The South Bank disciples watched stupefied as a newfound respect arose inside them for Bai Xiaochun.

Such undisguised bounty appearing caused Bai Xiaochun’s complexion to quickly change as he hastily jumped off the arena. A chill ran down his spine as he realised the bounty had surpa.s.sed twenty thousand Spirit Stones.

“You guys aren’t being reasonable, I always give the chance for my opponents to concede before fighting!” Panicking, Bai Xiaochun desperately tried to explain himself.

The explanation only enraged the North Bank even further, and the bounty quickly shot to thirty thousand. The phoenix in the sky looked with schadenfreude as it constantly screeched to Bai Xiaochun’s hatred.

Even the eyes of the many Elders on the terrace flickered with interest.

“I’m an Honourable Disciple! I’m the Sect Head’s Junior Brother, those who continue with that bounty thing will be kicked out by my master!” Seeing this, Bai Xiaochun’s scalp felt numb as he screamed out a threat.

That… only added fuel to the fire. Someone from the North Bank couldn’t control themselves any longer as a flying sword flew over the arena. More followed as most of the North Bank’s magic weapons shot out. War beasts’ roars echoed, ready to jump into the fray.

Terrified, Bai Xiaochun backed away quickly. Fortunately, the Elders on the terrace stepped in and a light shot down, blocking the North Bank disciples.

The battle between the Shangguan Tianyou and Gongsun Yun had just ended as well. Shangguan Tianyou had used three flying swords to corner Gongsun Yun until he eventually conceded.

Shangguan Tianyou panted softly. Gongsun Yun had been a strong opponent, so he was forced to fight him seriously. As he left the stage, he noticed the enraged North Bank and frowned. Taking a look at Bai Xiaochun, contempt surfaced in his eyes once more, yet some jealousy mixed inside as well.

“Relying merely on a single pill and some protection, he has actually reached the same level as me, huh!” Shangguan Tianyou turned around and closed his eyes as he sat down cross-legged and rested.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Translated by: Marcus