Chapter 2686 Duan Ling Tian!

The County Chief of the Overarching Floating County was clearly aware that if not for Chu Yu showing her mercy, Xing Dong’s injuries would have been much more severe than they were. With his current injuries, he would just have to consume a healing Celestial Pill and rest a bit to fully recover to his full form. He would then be able to continue with the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties.

Although Xing Dong lost this battle, he still had the chance to challenge anyone who ranked fourth till tenth in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties. If he could defeat them, he would still have the chance to challenge the top three contestants.

“Most welcome, Uncle Lian.”

As the daughter of the County Chief of the Soaring Wind County, Chu Yu had met the County Chief of the Overarching Floating County, so she immediately responded with a smile when the other party thanked her. Then, she returned to the lineup and stood along with the other top 10 contestants.

“Next!” the emcee of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties announced indifferently.

“Mo Qiu of Qiu Li County…I challenge Tong Yuan of Horse Teeth County!”

As soon as the emcee finished his sentence, a lean young man stepped forward and said that he would like to challenge the person currently placed second in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties: Tong Yuan of Horse Teeth County!

Tong Yuan was a young two-meter-tall man. He was muscular and had bronzed skin. After being named, he stood up solemnly. However, he wore a blank expression. Then, he went into the battle ring and confronted Qiu Li County’s best candidate, Mo Qiu, who was already waiting for him in the battle ring.

Coincidently, they attacked at the same time!

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

About thirty breaths later, a figure backed off and surrendered. “I’m no match for you. I surrender!”

The person who had surrendered was Tong Yuan of Horse Teeth County.

Among the best candidates from the thirteen counties, two of them had appeared. Apart from Xing Dong of the Overarching Floating County who had been defeated, Mo Qiu from Qiu Li County defeated Tong Yuan and took his place to become second in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties for now.

As for Tong Yuan, he became the third. Those placed third to ninth had also moved a spot lower. The person who had been ranked tenth was no longer in the top 10 now.

“You are forced out of the top ten now, but you’ve been given a chance to challenge anyone in the top ten now. If you can defeat them, you will take their place and stay in the top ten for now.”

The emcee looked at the young man who was no longer among the top ten of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties and said, “If you pass on this opportunity, you will no longer have the chance to be placed in the top ten of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties. You have ten breaths’ time to consider, so think things through and let me know.”

“I give up.”

In about the span of two breaths, the young man made up his mind. He chose to give up this opportunity. He would not have ranked tenth if he could defeat any one before him. The latest addition to the top ten of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties was even stronger than Mo Qiu. He was well aware he was no match to him. Therefore, he chose to give up because he knew it was impossible for him to win.

“Next.”

…

“Next.”

…

The emcee repeated again and again, introducing the best candidates of the thirteen counties one by one. The competition was in full swing.

In the process, more and more of the people, who were temporarily listed in the top ten of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties, were forced out. They would either lose the challenge or did not dare to challenge the newcomers at all. The most outstanding contestant was, of course, the best candidates of Fair Mountain County, Yang Jin, and Soaring Wind County, Chu Yan.

Chu Yan was the brother of Chu Yu, who ranked first temporarily. He was also the son of the County Chief of the Soaring Wind County.

After numerous battles, the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties was nearing the end. Chu Yu, who was temporarily ranked first in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties, was not just forced out of the top place, but she was not even amongst the top three. For now, she ranked sixth in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties. However, if there were no accidents, her ranking should not change by much.

At most, she would drop by one more spot, and that would only happen when the best candidate from Nine Spectre County, Duan Ling Tian, appeared and was stronger than her.

Certainly, Duan Ling Tian was undoubtedly stronger than her. Therefore, as long as Duan Ling Tian showed up, his position would definitely drop. If Duan Ling Tian did not show up, then she would be able to maintain her rank.

At that point, the top ten in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties was as follows:

First, Yang Jin of Fair Mountain County.

Second, Chu Yan of the Soaring Wind County.

Third, Zhong Jue Ming of the Peaceful County.

Fourth, Ren Fei of Red Cloud County.

Fifth: Zhang Jian Hong of Plum Blossom County.

Sixth: Chu Yu of the Soaring Wind County.

Seventh: Mo Qiu of Qiu Li County.

Eighth: Tong Yuan of Horse Teeth County.

Ninth: Yan Shi Hu of One Heart County.

Tenth: Xing Dong of the Overarching Floating County.

Apart from Yang Jin of Fair Mountain County and Chu Yan of the Soaring Wind County who had not fought each other, the rest had already battled against each other. The outcome was clear.

In other words, Yang Jin and Chu Yan would be the ones fighting for the first place in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties.

“If Duan Ling Tian doesn’t show up, the first place in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties will belong to either Yang Jin or Chu Yan”

“Yes. If Duan Ling Tian doesn’t appear, only the first and second placing of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties might change. The next eight will stay the same.”

“If Duan Ling Tian does show up, the first place of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties will definitely be his…if he lives up to his name.”

“If Duan Ling Tian shows up, Xing Dong of the Overarching Floating County will be forced out of the top ten!”

Seeing that the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties nearing its end, the crowd was gradually abuzz again. A lot of them mentioned Nine Specter City’s best candidate, Duan Ling Tian.

However, up till then, Duan Ling Tian had yet to show up.

The County Chief of the Overarching Floating County saw Xing Dong’s anxiousness and promptly consoled him, “Don’t worry…Look at the time. I don’t think he’s coming.”

Xing Dong nodded, but he still could not help feeling nervous. Once Duan Ling Tian appeared, he would be forced out of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties’ top ten. At the same time, the Overarching Floating County would also be penalised by King Qin’s Mansion if that happened.

At that point, Nine Specter County was the only county which was not ranked in the top ten but still had their best candidate. Three other counties had their best candidates forced out of the top ten. Therefore, they would have to accept King Qin’s Mansion’s penalty. Those county chiefs from the three counties did not look pleased. Although King Qin’s Mansion penalty was probably to ask them to submit more celestial stones and would not severely harm their counties, they still felt the pinch.

In the VIP seats, Duan Ling Tian, who was shrouded in his Celestial Master’s Robe which had a ‘kun’ word, was watching the battle between Yang Jin and Chu Yan with a clear mind.

Yang Jin was the best candidate from Fair Mountain County. He was also known as the strongest person below 100 years old in Fair Mountain County. He was an average-sized young man dressed in a blue robe. Because he seemed so ordinary, he was someone you would not be able to pick out in a crowd.

Chu Yan was the best candidate from the Soaring Wind County and the son of the County Chief of the Soaring Wind County. Before the King Qin’s Mansion’s Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties, no one had heard of him. At that time, it was his sister, Chu Yu, who was known as the strongest person below 100 years old in the Soaring Wind County. This time in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties, Chu Yan had shown his strength which was far superior to his sister’s. He became the underdog who succeeded against all odds, ranking second in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties now. At this moment, he would be fighting Yang Jin for the first place in the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties.

In the camp situated behind the VIP seats, nine snow white horses were resting at the side while a few other people stood straight as though they were marching. In front of the horses and those men, there were three luxurious seats where King Qin, the Third Prince, and Qin Yu, who had just reunited with his family, sat.

At that time, Qin Yu’s eyes were fixed on the fight between Yang Jin and Chu Yan as he tried guessing who would win the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties.

‘Will Duan Ling Tian come? If he does, he will surely win. If he doesn’t, the first place of the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties will be determined in this match. I hope he’s still safe even if he doesn’t show up,’ Qin Yu thought to himself.

Unlike Qin Yu, King Qin and the Third Prince’s attention were mostly on the audience from Fair Mountain County although there some occasional glances at Yang Jin and Chu Yan’s fight. More accurately, their eyes were on the gray-clad man beside the County Chief of Fair Mountain County.

“Brother…the Compassion Celestial Traveler Sect’s core elders haven’t made any move. Could it be that the person he is here to kill on the orders of Compassion Celestial Traveler Sect’s sect leader has yet to appear?” the Third Prince asked King Qin in confusion.

“That should be it.” King Qin nodded and continued, “However, till this point, all the people who are supposed to show up for the Martial Competition of the Sixteen Counties have already appeared…unless…”

At that point, King Qin gave a pause and stared at the Third Prince in the eye.

In the next moment…

“Duan Ling Tian!” King Qin and the Third Prince unanimously chorused the name.