Chapter 80: The Envoys of the Demon Realm Take the Stage
Kui and Zhen also turned their heads at the same time. Seeing their master’s trembling body, they were overwhelmed with shame, unable to face him. Not only had their sacrifice failed to save their master, but it had also been exploited by Dr. Barry to turn them into killing tools, hurting many innocent people and even personally injuring Zhang Yang from Qin Xiaochuan’s team. At this thought, the three of them couldn’t stop their bodies from shaking. “We’re sorry, Master, we’re so sorry... We’ve committed so many sins with our own hands; we really... really have no face to see you! It would be better... better if we just died like this...”
“Fools! All of you!” Master Xiurui could no longer contain himself, reprimanding them loudly, pointing at them as words failed him for a moment.
Seeing Master Xiurui so agitated, the masked competitor hurried forward to calm him. “Please don’t be upset yet,” she said. Then she turned to the three disciples, who still had their backs to their master, and explained, “Just now, the spell I cast on you was the Great Light Incantation, which can save those burdened by evil. It purifies your bodies through the repentance in your hearts. If you’d still harbored evil intent, the spell would have instantly destroyed your bodies. So it wasn’t actually me that saved you—it was you who saved yourselves. You broke the blood tumor’s control with your own will. I merely provided the opportunity.”
After hearing the masked competitor’s explanation, Master Xiurui composed himself and spoke to his three disciples. “Xiu, Kui, Zhen... I have always believed in the purity of your souls. Even if your bodies were briefly controlled, you would ultimately overcome the evil manipulating you. So please, don’t speak of death anymore, all right?” As he spoke, Master Xiurui became emotional again. “It’s been so long since I’ve shouted this loudly... Could you turn around and lend me a hand? These old legs of mine are trembling...”
“Master!”
At their master’s call, the three could no longer contain their emotions. They turned around and embraced him, the four of them holding each other and bursting into tears. The joy of reunion after resurrection bound them tightly together. After experiencing this parting between life and death, they cherished their bond as master and disciples even more, and expressed their deepest gratitude to Qin Xiaochuan and his team for their help.
“The match has ended in dramatic fashion. The Qin Xiaochuan team, victors of the second round, will advance to the next stage, but it seems their teammate Zhang Yang is seriously injured...”
On the arena stage, Miss Ruoxi, having received the notice from the tournament organizers, addressed the audience with commentary.
The G-3 contestant, known as “Zhen” by Master Xiurui, walked over to Qin Xiaochuan, helping him lift the unconscious Zhang Yang from the stage. Zhang Yang, gravely wounded, was still out cold. After carrying him down, Zhen turned to Qin Xiaochuan. “I am truly sorry. So very sorry.”
“It’s... it’s all right!” Qin Xiaochuan scratched his head sheepishly at Zhen’s apology. He understood well: Zhen hadn’t meant to hurt Zhang Yang. Controlled by the blood tumor, he’d acted against his will. Now, coming to apologize, it really wasn’t Zhen’s fault; the true culprit had already been punished. Now, being apologized to, Qin Xiaochuan actually felt a bit embarrassed.
“I wish to atone for my sins with everything I have. Please let me substitute for him and fight for your team!”
“Really, it’s fine. I’m already grateful that you feel this way!”
“But... but!”
“Heh, if you really did that, this guy...” Qin Xiaochuan pointed at the still-prone Zhang Yang, “...would get up and punch me to the moon. He’d stand and roar, ‘I can keep fighting, you bastard!’ And besides, the rules only allow a substitute if a team member dies. So,” he pointed to Zhang Yang again, “this guy’s still alive, you see.”
“I understand...” Zhen’s disappointment was obvious. He sincerely wanted to help Qin Xiaochuan’s team. Not only had they saved him and his brothers from their predicament, they’d also cured his master’s poison, becoming the saviors of their lives. To Zhen, even giving his own life wouldn’t be enough to repay such kindness. Now, unable to help them in battle, he felt another weight settle on his heart. No matter what means, no matter how long it took, as long as he lived, he would surely repay Qin Xiaochuan and his friends’ life-saving grace.
While Zhen was lost in thought, some of the monsters in the audience grew restless. They had bought tickets hoping to see Qin Xiaochuan’s team humiliated, but the outcome was completely unexpected and unacceptable. Glaring at the team below, some dissatisfied monsters began shouting at Qin Xiaochuan and his teammates.
“That’s it? How infuriating!”
“Are they cockroaches or what?! Why aren’t they dead yet?!”
“We want to see your blood!”
“Go die, Qin Xiaochuan team!”
...
“Everyone, please quiet down!” Hearing the audience’s outrage, Miss Ruoxi hurriedly picked up her microphone and announced loudly, “We will proceed immediately to the next match: Qin Xiaochuan team versus the Underworld Envoys team...”
“What? We have to fight again?!” Qin Xiaochuan, seeing the new match-up displayed on the giant screen, yelled at the referee on the stage, “What’s going on here? Didn’t you see we just finished fighting? There’s still one lying over here! Miss!”
“I-I’m sorry, I’m just an employee,” Miss Ruoxi stammered, retreating as she explained, “I just received orders from above—the match is set and must start immediately. I’m truly sorry; there’s nothing I can do! I apologize! I apologize!”
The moment it was announced that Qin Xiaochuan’s team would fight again, the crowd erupted in excitement.
“That’s right! Great job, organizers! Just like that!”
“Let them die!”
“Wear them out!”
“Excellent arrangement!”
“Kill him!”
“Kill him!”
“Kill him!”
“Kill him!”
“Kill him!”
...
As the chant “Kill him!” rang out, the atmosphere bristled with murderous intent. Surrounded by the feverish crowd, Qin Xiaochuan clenched his fist. “Fine, let’s fight. Who’s afraid? My anger at Dr. Barry hasn’t burned out yet—let’s see which idiot wants to die next!”
“Now, let’s welcome the Underworld Envoys team!” Seeing that Qin Xiaochuan no longer protested, Miss Ruoxi hurried to announce the next team. At her words, five figures wrapped head-to-toe in black cloth appeared at the edge of the arena, stepping forward amidst a whirlwind. Each wore a black cleric’s robe, leaving only a single eye exposed, hiding their true faces—perhaps to conceal their identities, though their attire seemed a bit theatrical.
“Now, will the representatives from each team please come forward to discuss the rules of the match? Please take the stage!”
“Whoever sets the rules should fight first. What do you say?” The tallest member of the Underworld Envoys suggested to his teammates. It seemed they hadn’t chosen a true leader yet.
“Fine, I’ll go first!” After a sudden gust, a figure with small horns on his head revealed his true form. Winds swirled around him, lifting his body off the ground.
“That’s Yuan, the Wind Envoy!”
“Yes, the Wind Envoy—Yuan! I know him!” Some monsters in the audience recognized the first warrior of the Underworld Envoys to appear.
“Wind Envoy Yuan! So it’s that group!” White Shadow exclaimed.
“You know them?” Qin Xiaochuan turned to White Shadow.
“Yes, it seems the Underworld Envoys team is made up of those guys. They possess special abilities in the Underworld and are skilled in manipulating the five elements. Yuan, for instance, wields the power of wind. Don’t underestimate it; if his wind is strong enough, he could blow this entire island away!”
“That powerful?!”
“Well, that’s just an expression. The strength of the wind depends on the wielder’s demonic energy...”
“Will the representatives please take the stage!” the referee called.
“I’m going up,” Qin Xiaochuan interrupted White Shadow as the referee urged them on, stepping onto the arena. Yuan was already hovering, his feet a half-foot off the ground, carried by the wind as if his body was one with it, constantly immersed in cultivation.
As the two representatives met at the center, Miss Ruoxi said, “Please decide the rules of engagement.”
“How about a one-on-one gauntlet match?” Yuan, eyeing Qin Xiaochuan, was ready to defeat his opponents one by one.
“Just what I wanted!”
“Very well!” With the rules agreed upon, Miss Ruoxi announced to the audience, “After consultation, both teams have agreed to a one-on-one gauntlet match: as long as a contestant wins, they may continue to fight, until they admit defeat or die. This will surely be a spectacular contest!”