Chapter 496 - The Scum Is Sneaky

A week passed by in a flash, and the elimination stage of the Intersect Competition finished without any accidents. This is due to everyone's cooperation, and worked harder to protect the Zhongyang from the dangers lurking around the corners.

When the elimination stage finally ended, all the disciples and the other participants were exhausted… except for a certain group of people: the mages from the Xinfaxian Sect, namely Wen Wen, Cui Xiang and Cui Xiao, and the only mage from the Shanliangde Sect, Sun Ri. Everyone's faces are entirely dark since these originally three, now four, mages, really did as what they have planned to defend and only attack when they were attacked, and by the time everyone knew it, their forest arena have been cleared after twenty people, including them, were left.

You could say that they are really clever. Their hiding place is situated beside the river and they camped beside a large rock that, not only could protect them from the cold wind, but also could hide them from the other participants' eyes! Of course, they shouldn't forget the fact that Wen Wen's talisman formation is a strong defense! And Sun Ri's offense also isn't something to sneer at! Her spiritual tool, a long string, can be used as a whip, and also as a bind! It is poisonous!

Meanwhile, Cui Xiang acted as their support by treating their injuries, although they are small. As for Cui Xiao… everyone thought that he is just a rabbit after seeing her deceiving performance before when she saved Sun Ri. Looks, and even actions, can be deceiving! She is a rabbit, but a rabbit that bites! She isn't an offensive like Sun Ri or a support like Cui Xiang. Instead, she is also a defensive type like Wen Wen. But, her strength doesn't lie on talismans or poisons or spiritual tools. It's on spells. However, she gave them a new insight on how to use spells.

Since their arena is a forest, not to mention the trees, but bushes and some large rocks are also obstacles. So, someone can plan an ambush not just by personally attacking them, but also using traps! Yes, traps! Cui Xiao knows how to make traps! And this is one of the reasons why she, Cui Xiang, Wen Wen and Sun Ri won! She dug pits, literally, and also at times used Sun Ri's poisonous string and Wen Wen's talismans, as well as the fragrant knock-out potions made by Cui Xiang. Then, she used spells… yes, she is accurate. She accurately hit the traps she made using the spells to detonate them when an enemy arrived!

Mages really can't be underestimated, especially the talented and clever ones! Then, they all suddenly thought of Cheng Sheng… only he could have thought Cui Xiao that way, right? Since only he could think of that way to use spells.

As for the canyon arena, although Hui Na, Hui Qu and Hui Lu, together with that rogue cultivator that pulled them three together with him down the river, they were unconscious for two days and when they woke up, they decided to make a truce since the other participants must have thought that they died and wouldn't bother checking on them. So, they separated but remained in the place where they were brought by the river until their canyon arena have been cleared and they won.

Meanwhile, the other three arenas are as exciting as the surprising arenas of the mages. In the mountain arena, the disciples of the Xinfaxian Sect, Zunjingde Sect and Qianxu Sect have decided to scout the area for both enemies and the beasts that originally served as their prey to hunt and be eaten. They would send their respective leaders a message talisman to notify them of the direction of their enemies, and also of the beasts to avoid or hunt them. This also applies to their enemies. They remained on top of the trees to have a better view of the surroundings, and also to jump down and defeat their enemies when they see them.

This sneaking type of attack is very exhilarating since the audience couldn't help but want to cheer for these shameless disciples, yet also want to alarm these disciples' targets that the enemy is above them! But, of course, this sneaking type of attack isn't absolute since there are also strong opponents like a rogue cultivator named Qi Lan who was sneak attacked by a Zunjingde Sect disciple yet his reflexes are fast. He even actually noticed that they are all up in the trees. In the end, he joined them and won along with them.

In the desert arena, a big accident almost happened. Yes, they are Xi He and Wu Tao. Xi He and Wu Tao have been fighting for a long time and, when they finally exhausted themselves, the other participants finally decided to fish in troubled waters! The Shanliangde Sect disciples naturally counterattacked. Of course, they can't just leave Xi He to die so they saved him. As for Wu Tao… Wu Tao actually still have his strength left and successfully escaped! This infuriated Xi He who felt so weak and realized he has been deceived! He almost went to chase Wu Tao. But, finally, he remembered that he is in a team and so he shut up and rested for some time before he joined to help his fellow disciples, feeling ashamed but inwardly furious and vowed to defeat Wu Tao in the next stage!

On the other hand, it has to be said that the most peaceful arena is the city arena where the Youxiwang Sect, Huakai Sect and Huli Sect. Although, regretfully, some of their fellow disciples failed to pass the elimination stage but their loss is justified because there were also other stronger participants. They can't always win.

"Congratulations to the following participants for passing the elimination stage - " Zheng Yi spoke as he stood on the stage and read the list of the names on the scroll. " – in the forest arena, Wen Wen of the Xinfaxian Sect, Cui Xiang of the Xinfaxian Sect, Cui Xiao of the Xinfaxian Sect, Sun Ri of the Shanliangde Sect, Ling Yun of the Yuling Sect…" he said.

Everyone was surprised and turned to look at the Yuling Sect. 'Ling Yun'?! He participated in the competition as a mage?! They all thought.

"Huh? Ling-shixiong was also there?!" Wen Wen exclaimed in surprise. Cui Xiang and Cui Xiao standing beside him were also surprised.

Meanwhile, Sun Ri's eyes narrowed as she watched Ling Yun pass by them. He has hidden himself deeply. She thought. Everyone thought that Ling Yun is a sword cultivator, but he actually also is a mage.

"In the canyon arena, Hui Na of the Tuanhui Sect, Hui Qu of the Tuanhui Sect, Hui Lu of the Tuanhui Sect, Jin Yu…" Zheng Yi spoke.

"'Jin Yu'? Who's that?" the audience asked.

"Must be a rogue cultivator…" the others spoke.

Everyone only knew who Jin Yu was when he passed by the three female disciples of the Tuanhui Sect and they glared at him. "Oh! So he's actually that guy who brought these three female disciples down the river with him!" they exclaimed when they realized it.

"In the mountain arena: Fei Yinzi of the Xinfaxian Sect, Su Yi of the Xinfaxian Sect, Zhu Xi of the Xinfaxian Sect, Wen Yan of the Xinfaxian Sect, Su Mi of the Xinfaxian Sect, Jing De of the Zunjingde Sect, Jing Xu of the Zunjingde Sect, …, Qian Meng of the Qianxu Sect, Qian Jue of the Qianxu Sect, …, and Qi Lan." Zheng Yi said as he pulled the lower portion of the scroll before he continued.

"'Qi Lan'?" the audience was puzzled.

"Another rogue cultivator!" the others exclaimed. "Huh? The Xinfaxian Sect disciples, Zunjingde Sect disciples and Qianxu Sect disciples know him?" they said when they saw Fei Yinzi and the others greeted Qi Lan when the rogue cultivator passed by him.

"You didn't see that he cooperated with them during the competition. He is also strong and defeated that disciple who tried to sneak attack him!" someone told them.

"In the desert arena: Fei Luo of the Shanliangde Sect, Fei Huo of the Shanliangde Sect, Xi Bing of the Shanliangde Sect, Sun Yan of the Shanliangde Sect, Xi He of the Shanliangde Sect, Wu Tao of the Wuyang Sect…" Zheng Yi spoke while the Shanliangde Sect disciples passed by, as well as Wu Tao, which made him and Xi He almost fought again on stage. "… and Ho Ting." He finished.

"'Ho Ting'?" the audience was clueless. "Another rogue cultivator?" they said.

"Looks like there are many masters this time!" the others exclaimed, feeling excited.

"Last arena, the city arena: Chen Wu of the Youxiwang Sect, Chen Yu of the Youxiwang Sect, Chen Su of the Youxiwang Sect, Wu Lian of the Youxiwang Sect, Tang Li of the Huakai Sect, …, Li Yan of the Huli Sect…" Zheng Yi spoke until he reached the end of the paper.. "Again, congratulations to all the participants of the Intersect Competition!" he said.