Chapter 10: The competition begins, opponents are drawn
The rising sun was high in the sky, illuminating the Ye family's martial arts training ground.
The vast bluestone square was already packed with people, a cacophony of activity. Family members, stewards, servants, and even representatives of smaller, friendly clans all turned their gazes toward the three towering arenas in the center of the square. The air was thick with excitement, tension, anticipation, and a multitude of other complex emotions.
Atop the high platform, the patriarch, Ye Tian, sat in the center, his expression calm and dignified. On either side, the family's core members, including the First Elder, Ye Xiao, the Third Elder, Ye Lang, and the Fourth Elder, Ye Yun, sat in a succession, their expressions varying: some serious, some indifferent, and some surveying the crowd below with scrutiny.
The annual family competition is not only a grand event to test the cultivation of the younger generation, but also an important occasion for various forces to observe the future potential of the Ye family, and for the various factions within the Ye family to flex their muscles and redistribute resources.
In front of the arena, a huge wooden sign was filled with the names of the students participating in the competition, waiting for the draw to determine their opponents.
Ye Li stood at the far edge of the crowd, her washed-out clothes bleached by the splendid attire of the young men and women around her, making her look out of place. This attracted countless stares and whispers, both overt and covert. However, she acted as if she didn't hear them, her gaze calmly sweeping across the platform, across the arena, and finally landing on the giant lottery board. Her eyes were deep, and it was unclear what she was thinking.
"quiet!"
A deacon presiding over the competition shouted loudly, and his voice spread throughout the venue with the blessing of spiritual energy.
The noise gradually died down.
"The family competition begins now! The first item is the drawing of lots to determine your opponent! Those whose names are called, please step forward and draw your lot number!"
The deacon began to read out the names in order. The children whose names were called stepped forward and drew a wooden stick with a number from the sealed stick holder. The clerk next to them then wrote the number under the corresponding name on the wooden plaque.
The atmosphere became tense again. Everyone hoped to draw a good lot and avoid those already famous geniuses, such as the top talents of the direct lineage.
"Night Wolf!" the deacon said.
Night Wolf strode forward with a haughty expression, casually pulled out a lot, glanced at it, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face. The clerk announced loudly: "Night Wolf, arena number three, lot number seven!"
"Ye Ming!" "Ye Liang!"... Several of Ye Lang's followers also came forward to draw lots one by one. They all seemed to have good luck and did not encounter strong enemies in the first round.
Soon, it was the turn of the collateral descendants.
"Ye Xiaodou!" the deacon read. The frail young man nervously stepped forward, his hands trembling. He drew the lot and handed it to the clerk without even looking at it. "Ye Xiaodou, stage two, lot number fifteen!"
…
"Ye Li!"
When the name was read out, the whole audience fell silent for a moment, and all eyes, curious, contemptuous, and gloating, were focused on that figure.
Ye Li's face was expressionless as she slowly walked forward under the gazes of countless people. Her steps were steady, without a trace of nervousness, forming a stark contrast to the excited and nervous teenagers around her.
She reached out her hand, randomly picked a wooden stick from the stick holder, and without even looking at it, handed it directly to the clerk next to her.
The clerk took the wooden stick, took a look at it, and a trace of obvious surprise flashed across his face. He even subconsciously looked up in the direction of the platform, seeming a little hesitant.
His subtle movement was immediately caught by the people below.
"What's wrong? Who did you pick?"
"Is it a bye? Impossible!"
"Looking at his expression, he seems surprised?"
There was a buzz of discussion from the audience.
The deacon frowned and looked at the clerk. The clerk finally reacted, took a deep breath, and announced loudly in a tone of disbelief:
"Ye Li, Arena Number One, first round bye... No, that's not right," he seemed to confirm again, his voice suddenly rising with a hint of strangeness, "Ring Number One, first round, opponent is—Ye Hua!"
Ye Hua? !
When this name came out, the audience was silent at first, and then burst into an uproar that was far more enthusiastic than before!
"Ye Hua?! Is that Ye Hua? The Ye Hua of the direct lineage?"
"He's at the middle level of the Spiritual Awakening Realm! He's said to be on the verge of breaking through to the advanced level! He's Young Master Yelang's right-hand man!"
"Oh my god! This jerk... Ye Li's luck is too good, right? Running into him in the first round?"
"Hahaha! Now we're going to have a good show! Ye Hua is famous for his ruthless behavior!"
"This lot is drawn...it's like she's going to be kicked out in the first round!"
Everyone was talking, their faces filled with excitement. Almost everyone thought Ye Li was doomed! With her strength having "just" broken through to the early stages of the Spiritual Awakening Realm (the outside world still didn't know she had reached the intermediate stage), she had no chance of winning against Ye Hua, who had been immersed in the intermediate stage for a long time! She might even be badly beaten!
On the platform, the expressions of several elders also changed slightly.
The third elder Ye Lang raised his lips to a barely perceptible sneer, picked up the teacup and blew gently on it.
The Great Elder Ye Xiao frowned slightly, glanced at the drawing area below, and glanced at the Third Elder beside him with deep eyes, but said nothing.
The head of the family, Ye Tian, still looked calm, and just tapped the armrest lightly with his finger.
Ye Lang was standing in the audience, stunned at first, then an undisguised grin and satisfaction appeared on his face. He winked at Ye Hua, whose face seemed a little pale, not far away, and made a gesture of "teaching him a lesson".
Ye Hua had initially been somewhat displeased at having been chosen as the "soft persimmon" of Ye Li, feeling that his victory was unfair. However, upon receiving Ye Lang's instructions, a cruel smile suddenly appeared on his face. He cracked his knuckles, making a crackling sound, and looked at Ye Li with the gaze of a hungry wolf seeing a lamb.
Ye Li stood there, her face showing no trace of surprise, fear, or anger at the result of the draw. Her calmness was chilling. She simply glanced at the smug Ye Hua not far away, then looked away, as if he were just an insignificant passerby.
This extreme tranquility formed an extremely strong contrast with the noisy environment around and Ye Hua's arrogant and complacent attitude!
"Hmph! Pretending!" Ye Hua was enraged by her disregard and shouted mockingly across the crowd, "Ye Li! Kneel down and beg for mercy now, and get off the ring yourself. Maybe you can avoid breaking a few bones! Otherwise, when we start fighting, fists and feet have no judgment. If I accidentally beat you into a complete waste, don't blame me!"
The vicious words were spoken without any concealment, causing laughter and echoes from those around.
"Brother Hua is right! Trash should have the awareness of being trash!"
"Just give up! Don't waste everyone's time!"
Faced with this overwhelming barrage of ridicule and malice, Ye Li didn't even raise her eyelids. She simply turned silently and walked to a corner of the waiting area of Arena No. 1. She stood there quietly, closing her eyes, resting her mind, regulating her breathing, and completely blocking out all the noise from the outside world.
Her calmness actually caused some people who were just there to watch the fun to feel a little suspicious.
This reaction... is too abnormal. Could it be that she really has something to rely on?
Or have you given up completely?
On the high platform, the fourth elder Ye Yun looked at the girl who was sitting alone in a corner with her eyes closed, and a hint of doubt and curiosity flashed in his eyes.
The deacon and clerk presiding over the drawing exchanged a silent glance, a hint of unease hidden deep within their eyes. That lottery box... seemed to have been moved just now? But they dared not make a sound.
The drawing of lots continued, but the topic of Ye Li encountering a strong opponent Ye Hua in the first round had become the focus of everyone's attention.
Everyone is looking forward to the "clear distinction between the strong and the weak" showdown that is about to begin on the No. 1 ring.
Ye Li's calmness and Ye Hua's arrogance formed the most eye-catching scenery before the game started.
A storm has gathered above the ring.
---
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
