Chu Tian did not know if Ma Lingling had done it intentionally or not, but she had told Ma Ruolin to sit on the other side.
After she sat down, she glanced at the chair and then at Chu Tian.
Her meaning was: You sit!
Chu Tian shivered under her gaze.
He was just about to say to Ma Deju: Let's four find another place!
But before the words left his mouth.
A sturdy figure flashed past Chu Tian from behind.
That massive body made the chair creak…
He directly sat in the seat that originally belonged to Chu Tian.
“So tired…”
After sitting down, this person leaned back and slumped onto the chair.
“You…” Ma Lingling’s eyes widened.
Then her gaze returned to normal, with a hint of curiosity.
“It’s you…”
“It’s you…”
Chu Tian also uttered the same words!
“You know him?”
“You know him?”
Chu Tian and Ma Lingling looked at each other and simultaneously asked the same question.
Grandma Ma had also seen this person and frowned, thinking for a moment before saying rather slowly, “Young Yan?”
This person who had snatched the seat was none other than Yan Mingshan, whom Chu Tian and the others had met at the foot of the mountain.
Grandma Ma’s exclamation, “Young Yan?”
Almost made Chu Tian burst into laughter.
She had called this burly man a little kid.
“Grand Madam Ma…”
Yan Mingshan quickly stood up and solemnly cupped his fists in greeting.
Grandma Ma smiled, “Alright, stop putting on a show. You’re just like your father.”
Yan Mingshan chuckled and sat back down, looking truly exhausted.
Chu Tian, standing there, overheard this and realized they were old acquaintances.
The three of them began to chat.
Seeing that Yan Mingshan was not talking to him, Chu Tian looked up at Ma Deju, Qi Shushu, and Song Zijing.
The three understood Chu Tian’s meaning.
They bid farewell to Grandma Ma and left.
After wandering around, they couldn't find a single place to sit.
Ma Deju grumbled and cursed in frustration.
Finally, with no other choice, they returned to the Ma family members and stood by, waiting for the event to begin.
After all, they were all scheduled to be on stage once the event commenced.
As it was nearing eight o'clock, Chu Tian directly covered his ears.
As expected, boom, boom, boom…
Eight consecutive thunderous explosions announced the start of the martial arts大会.
Seeing Ma Deju cupping his ears, Chu Tian grinned mischievously.
The host for today was still Luo Qingyu.
She wasn’t as hesitant as yesterday.
She directly announced the rules for the first round of elimination.
Similarly, this time everyone could participate, with an age limit of under thirty.
There were eight擂台, and the time limit was one hour.
The last eight people remaining on each擂台, a total of sixty-four people, would advance.
Finally, Luo Qingyu emphasized that if anyone felt they were not strong enough, they could withdraw.
Otherwise, once on the擂台, life and death were not to be discussed. Injuring others off the擂台 was strictly forbidden, and severe consequences would follow!
Upon hearing the rules, everyone buzzed.
They already knew how many people had participated in the literary competition.
There were nearly three thousand participants.
This martial arts elimination round was a free-for-all.
The scale of such a battle would be immense!
Accidental injuries, or even deliberate targeting, and they wouldn't even know who killed them.
For a moment, many people were having second thoughts.
Of course, more people still wanted to try their luck.
After announcing the rules, Luo Qingyu finally said, “Everyone, prepare yourselves. The competition will begin immediately after the cannon fire.”
“Eight… let’s all go to the same擂台!”
Ma Deju, rubbing his hands together, his eyes gleaming.
Chu Tian, Lin family siblings, Ma Ruolin, Qi Shushu, and Song Zijing.
Adding himself, that made exactly eight people.
Although he and Ma Ruolin currently had no fighting ability.
However, he believed that without him and his sister having to lift a finger, Chu Tian and the others could lead them to secure a擂台.
“You and Ruolin can still compete?”
Chu Tian was startled. Hadn’t the participant lists for the eight major families been submitted last night?
“Why not? It’s not the final eight battle for supremacy.”
It turned out that the rules of each family were that only those on the participant list were counted towards each family’s ranking when vying for the top eight.
Therefore, they had all filled their three slots.
No one paid much attention to the elimination round, especially this time when even rogue cultivators were allowed to participate.
However, if a member of the eight major families was eliminated during the preliminary rounds.
It would simply mean they were too weak, and their death was their own fault.
“So that’s how it is…” Chu Tian nodded.
The eight of them, united as one, could still put up a fight.
It wasn't impossible to secure a擂台 directly.
However, after Ma Deju said this, he suddenly felt immense pressure.
He also had to bear the responsibility for the Ma family’s ranking this time.
Boom…
While they were still talking, a deafening explosion of colorful fireworks roared.
Announcing the commencement of the martial arts competition.
Countless people rushed towards the擂台, which were more than ten feet high.
Chu Tian put aside his thoughts and looked towards the擂台.
With a hint of determination in his eyes, he said, “Let’s… go too!”
Ma Deju also shed his usual flippant demeanor.
This was his first time participating in the major eight families’ competition. Despite his injury, he had to give it his all.
Perhaps, in ten years, he… would still have a chance to participate again.
The Ma family had too few members. If they didn't secure a good ranking, there would be a gap.
Unlike other families, who could participate in every session.
Therefore, to have a ‘Qi Soul Pearl’ available during such gaps.
Their Ma family… had to achieve a higher ranking.
This time… it would depend on Chu Tian!
As for the Lin siblings, they were all extremely excited.
Compared to them, Qi Shushu and Song Zijing had no significant reaction.
The main forces of their families were not them.
Although it was their first time participating, they were indeed squeezed in at the last minute.
They only hoped that their literary competition scores could improve their ranking in the end.
In the past, it was directly the eight major families competing, and rogue cultivators like them could only watch the show and join in the fun.
Looking at the people rushing towards the stage with shouts, one could tell how excited they were for the rogue cultivators.
While others leaped and charged forward, these people, for some reason, all followed behind Chu Tian.
Chu Tian slowly approached the擂台.
This group of them became the only unique presence in this competition.
Step by step, he arrived beneath the擂台 and looked up.
When everyone thought Chu Tian was going to leap onto the stage.
He turned and walked along the side of the擂台 towards the back.
Qi Shushu, Song Zijing, the Lin siblings, and the Ma siblings.
They didn’t know what Chu Tian was doing and exchanged glances.
They continued to follow Chu Tian.
He circled around half the stage and reached the stairs leading up.
Only then did he step onto the stairs, climbing them one by one.
The few of them smiled wryly, Brother Tian truly did not play by the rules.
Others rushed to the擂台 as quickly as possible.
He, on the other hand, had to walk up the stairs after circling half the venue.
Their unusual behavior was clearly visible to everyone.
It was so bizarre…
[Author’s Note]
Not finished today, will post later.