Chapter 128: Scheme

Chapter 128: Schemes

Several people hopped into the cave, and the Giant Buzzard was stowed in the Spirit Beast Pouch. Before they could even steady themselves, they almost sneezed from the dust that had accumulated in the cave over the years.

Elder Juhu, walking at the front, let out a grunt and waved his hand, sweeping all the objects in the cave, along with the dust, out. Another wave, and a very bright fish-oil lamp was suspended in mid-air. "We'll rough it here for now."

Elder Shenlin remained silent, seemingly disdainful of the empty cave's dryness and lack of life. He waved his hand, laying down two layers of vine mats covering the whole cave, and instantly, vines and fresh grass sprouted from the stone walls and the entrance.

Shang Yunduo felt envious. The Wood Spirit Root was so handy!

Look, now they even had curtains.

Not only were they nice to look at, but they were also practical.

He knew that unremarkable little grass at the entrance. If spiritual energy suddenly approached, it would bloom, serving as a warning against sneak attacks.

So nice.

Of course, his Fire Spirit Root was also good—it could be used for cooking on ordinary days and for warmth in winter. If only he could have both.

Every spirit root had its own uses.

As he thought about it, he began to think of Pei Jie, who had all five spirit roots.

Shang Yunduo couldn't help but feel downcast.

The elder thought he was just nervous, seeing him so listless.

"Why are you so spiritless? Haven't you slept enough after three days?" Elder Juhu grabbed him by the collar and hauled him up, patting him. "I see your injuries are mostly healed. Aren't you an alchemist? Make some pills for yourself."

Reminded by him, Shang Yunduo also remembered: "Can I take pills during the competition?"

Elder Yanhu, who had been here many times, was more familiar with the rules, so he explained them directly: "No in win-loss matches, yes in life-and-death ones. Once most of the clans have gathered, Hua Guan, you will come with me to visit the various clans. If possible, you'll go up first tomorrow morning for a life-and-death match."

Hua Guan nodded: "Yes!"

Elder Yanhu: "You two compete in win-loss matches."

Elder Juhu also said: "Right, twenty-four clans, over seventy participants, only ten can enter the inner valley. We don’t expect you two to win. If you see someone you want to fight, go for it. Each of you can go up to the stage three times at most. Seize your own opportunities and choose opponents at your level, understand?"

Shang Yunduo nodded.

He probably understood the reasoning behind this arrangement.

This competition was different from a normal arena match. It was very much in the demon race's style—simple, direct, and efficient. No draws, and fairness is not considered; it was basically a challenge match.

The first to take the stage could decide whether it was a win-loss match or a life-and-death match. If you were confident in yourself, you would take the stage early, show your strength, and put pressure on all challengers with a life-and-death match.

Challengers would avoid life-and-death matches if they didn't have absolute certainty or confidence.

After all, this competition wasn’t about who came first or tenth; as long as you made it into the top ten and secured the qualification to enter the valley, that was enough. Once inside the inner valley, the real life-and-death match would begin.

Those of equal strength who weren’t particularly competitive or obsessed with ranking would often step aside to avoid a direct fight.

Of course, stepping up carelessly wasn’t without risk.

The biggest risk was the nature of the demon race. Most clans were hot-blooded and aggressive.

Unless you had enough strength to inspire fear and awe, if you showed even a hint of hesitation, leading them to think they could beat you, they would jump up to challenge you immediately.

If that happened, a life-and-death match would become asking for trouble.

So, intel was crucial. The experienced Elder Yanhu would take Hua Guan around the various clans to scout the situation, as well as to present themselves, letting them silently size each other up to see if they dared or wanted to fight.

Compared to Hua Guan, the two of them had it way easier.

If they could win, great. If not, so be it.

Unless Hua Guan lost, and to fight for a spot and for pride, Cui Peng needed to be ready to take on a life-and-death match.

And then there was him.

Shang Yunduo really hoped that Hua Guan wouldn’t even need to fight, that he would scare everyone off and take first place outright.

As long as Hua Guan could win and step off safely, the two of them could focus on getting some practice, with participation being the main point.

After explaining the rules, Elder Yanhu took Hua Guan to visit the various clans to scout. Elder Juhu said he was going to take a look around and disappeared. Only Elder Shenlin sat steadily at the cave entrance, saying to Shang Yunduo and Cui Peng: "It will be time to compete by dawn. Sleep now."

But this night was not peaceful.

Besides them, other demon clans were arriving one after another. The empty caves nearby and across the way gradually filled up. In the middle of the night, one could hear provocations and greetings.

There were also demon cultivators with similar ideas, and some even came to their place to probe.

Apart from those who came in person to test the waters, there were also those who used their Spiritual Sense to investigate.

Shang Yunduo wasn’t sure if the demon race was particularly bold and lacked etiquette, or if their practice of the Spiritual Sense was relatively crude. The Core Formation cultivators weren’t recklessly probing, but why were the Spirit Accumulation ones scanning everywhere?

Could this also be part of the competition?

Not long after he lay down, over a dozen spiritual senses had swept over him. Since that was the case, he could look at them too!

Shang Yunduo began to watch the excitement all around.

A rough scan revealed that there were over a dozen people with cultivation levels equivalent to Hua Guan’s, at the high level of the Spirit Accumulation stage, comparable to Late Foundation Establishment. Oh? Three of them had run into each other and were already exchanging threats, telling the other to concede. Wow, they were arguing, arguing! Hey, how did Hua Guan and Elder Yanhu get involved? Oh ho, they also joined the intimidation process. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

He secretly watched until the group dispersed in discord, then quietly continued peeking further away.

Eh? It seemed that herbivorous-type demon cultivators were all gathered in this area. Wow, that demon cultivator with eyes on his forehead was huge! He was two sizes taller and more muscular than Hua Guan, who was a Giant Tiger. His muscles were like iron blocks, and the curved horns on his head resembled both a cow and a sheep—crescent-shaped, looking even more ferocious than the horns of a Dark Armor Ox.

He was eating a spirit fruit. He appeared to be a vegetarian.

Hey?

Wait.

Would a vegetarian demon cultivator also eat Spirit Rhino?

He looked further away, his spiritual sense probing into the smallest cave, the deepest and most secluded one. The moment his spiritual sense swept in, he felt as if something had locked onto him, and he broke out in goosebumps in fright, hastily retreating.

Fortunately, the thing didn’t pursue him.

Shang Yunduo's heart pounded. What was that? He had only glimpsed a pair of very large eyes.

After a while, Hua Guan returned, and together with the two elders, they discussed whether to take the stage first in a life-and-death match the next day.

After listening to their intelligence report, the taciturn Elder Shenlin thought for a long time, then said: "Better to wait. Let the Blood Qilin Clan and the Black Abyss Clan fight it out first."

Elder Yanhu: "...Last time, we defeated the Blood Qilin Clan and severely injured their most relied-upon young one, preventing them from making it into the top ten. Will they come looking for revenge?"

Elder Shenlin shook his head: "I don't know the reason, but the Blood Qilin Clan and the Black Abyss Clan bear deep enmity. Compared to us, they would choose to fight the Black Abyss Clan to the death."

Just as he spoke, Elder Juhu returned. "You guys still haven't decided?"

Elder Yanhu briefly explained the situation.

Elder Juhu pondered for a moment: "Aguan, let them compete first. Normally, we'd let them fight it out, but not this time. We haven't figured out what King Lingxi truly intends, so you need to conserve your strength before entering the valley."

Hua Guan nodded.

Shang Yunduo, who had been quietly listening to the arrangements, slowly raised his paw: "Um... Elder..."

"Hmm?"

Shang Yunduo said softly: "Can they hear us talking too?"

"Too?"

Elder Juhu suddenly extended his Spiritual Sense, scaring off everyone who was eavesdropping or spying. "Alright, now we can talk."

Shang Yunduo nodded, glancing at Hua Guan and then at the others: "I accidentally overheard the Blood Qilin Clan discussing tomorrow's match..."

Elder Juhu immediately chuckled.

Shang Yunduo: "I swear it was an accident!"

They arrived around the same time and chose caves not far apart. When he pulled back his spiritual sense earlier, he happened to see them talking secretively, the young Blood Qilin members looking resentful and unwilling.

And since the Blood Qilin Clan had just threatened them—one of them having a similar cultivation to his—Shang Yunduo naturally worried if they might target him. What if some hothead singled him out for a life-or-death match?

Then he heard...

"They said they won't go first tomorrow and won't fight to the death. If Hua Guan or some blind one steps up first, no matter how provoked, they won't step up..."

"Oh?" Elder Yanhu couldn't help interrupting. "That's what they said? They won't go up?"

Shang Yunduo nodded.

Elder Yanhu: "That's strange."

Elder Shenlin: "Doesn't seem like something the Blood Qilin Clan would do."

Elder Yanhu: "More than that. Sha Feng isn't the type to back down."

With Hua Guan's strength, getting into the inner valley this time is a no-brainer. His biggest rivals are the Blood Qilin and Jade Mountain clans at the same cultivation level.

But the Jade Mountain Clan always plays it safe, never going first.

The Blood Qilin Clan, on the other hand, is impulsive and loves to provoke. To save Hua Guan's energy, we should avoid fighting them. Otherwise, even if they won, both sides might suffer heavy losses.

Elder Juhu thought for a second and asked: "Hear anything else?"

Shang Yunduo nodded: "They also said if I or Cui Peng, or any of those weaker blind cultivators at the Nurturing Spirit stage go up, they'll send that Cang Ju to challenge us to a death match and kill us..."

Everyone's expression changed.

Elder Juhu: "Cang Ju?"

Hua Guan: "The leader among those three Blood Qilin."

Shang Yunduo continued, looking pitiful: "...and if they can't get a death match, they'll seriously injure us in a regular match, the more severe, the better, preferably beating us to death."

Elder Juhu squinted: "They must know King Lingxi ran off too."

Elder Yanhu nodded: "Yeah, otherwise Sha Feng wouldn't act like this."

They were all thinking the same thing—to conserve strength and play it by ear once inside the valley.

But the Blood Qilin Clan was even more underhanded than them. They just wanted to use the rules to save their strength, but the Blood Qilin wanted to use their top junior to kill the weaker juniors. Look how scared this little redhead is.

Tch, and they brag about having a true sacred bloodline.

Elder Shenlin asked: "What about the Black Abyss Clan? What's their plan?"

Elder Yanhu clicked his tongue: "Same as always—holed up in their cave, not coming out until the match starts."

Elder Juhu's eyes darted, and he patted Shang Yunduo: "Kid, go take a listen at that bunch of blind cultivators' cave again."

Shang Yunduo pointed at himself, confused: "Me?"

Elder Yanhu: "Core Formation cultivators can't use their spiritual sense, otherwise I wouldn't have to personally drag Hua Guan everywhere. You juniors can. Just use your spiritual sense to eavesdrop! Don't worry, worst they'll do is scare you off. They can't attack you—Core Formation cultivators aren't allowed to."

Shang Yunduo: "..."

He looked at Hua Guan, who said bluntly: "I'm no good at that."

Cui Peng didn't even wait for Shang Yunduo's gaze to fall on him: "I'm no good at that either."

Shang Yunduo: "..."

He wasn't good at that either!

And he was obviously the lowest cultivation of them all!

"Which cave are the blind guys in?" Wait, who are the 'blind ones'? He hadn't seen any blind demon cultivators.

Elder Yanhu: "Eighth one to our right, the one without a lamp lit..."

"Huh?"

Shang Yunduo: "The one with the tiniest doorway?"

Elder Yanhu said automatically: "Yeah, that one..."

Then he caught himself: "Wait, you were eavesdropping on them too?"

Shang Yunduo: "..."

"I really wanted to listen, but..."

"I hadn't even stuck my spiritual sense in when I got kicked out."

All three asked at once:

"Who chased you out?"

"Who discovered you?"

"Was it that old blind man who scared you off?"

Shang Yunduo: "...Probably not at the Spirit Incubation stage, but his Spiritual Sense was very strong. I only saw a pair of eyes..." He thought for a moment, "Red pupils, very fierce!"

"It's that old blind man!"

According to the rules, using Spiritual Sense to probe an opponent's strength is also part of the competition. Matters among the juniors are for the juniors to handle. Even if a Core Formation cultivator discovers it, they cannot intervene. The Tiger Clan and other tribes not skilled in Spiritual Sense, after suffering losses, learned to exploit loopholes, deliberately visiting others' territories to openly issue threats and size them up.

The Black Abyss Clan has poor eyesight and relies heavily on Spiritual Sense. Even their juniors who have just reached the Spirit Incubation stage are better at it than many other tribes, so they shouldn't be afraid of being probed at all. Unless the Black Abyss Clan was also discussing something inconvenient for others to hear, just as the Tiger Clan had been a moment ago.

"They might also know!"

Shang Yunduo couldn't help but complain inwardly, "Isn't that still a secret? How does everyone know?"

Elder Juhu chuckled, "Aguan, you take the first platform tomorrow. Fight a life-and-death match."

Since they all share the same intention, don't blame us for turning their own tactic against them.

Author's note:

Yun Duo: "Why does the tactic feel so sloppy? Is it really okay?"

Tigers: "Don't worry, everyone is sloppy. We already have a solid plan. You guys who are good at spells sure have many clever ideas!"

Yun Duo: "Who?! Me?! Huh?"