Chapter 403: All present, the year-end meeting begins |
The third team clearly didn't realize how important this special training was for them.
In their hearts, they were all complaining that this captain was neglecting his duties, purely a side effect.
He hadn't shown up for a year, and now he was giving them special training at such a crowded time, with everyone watching them like a monkey show, making them lose face completely!
With this mindset, very few were serious, all trying to escape the influence of the blindfolds.
Even if someone was serious, they were moving randomly, getting further and further away from Martial Arts Island.
…………
Penglai Island, a vast and flat island, situated on the eastern side of the Penglai Sea, with a light wall between them, like a boundary line separating the two sides.
Recently, the light wall disappeared, and a new island emerged in the middle.
Martial Arts Island, the venue for the year-end conference.
Demonic beasts stood on one side, humans on the other, a rare place where humans and demons coexisted, though not peacefully.
In just one day, several bloody incidents occurred, but the higher-ups on both sides tacitly did not intervene, as long as no one died, human or demon, they could fight however they wanted.
Before the conference began, the probing between the two sides was always just a touch, no one would be serious, only some trash would be beaten to near death and forced to leave.
Above the island, many clouds floated, serving as the stands.
Yu Jianqiu's figure appeared on one of the clouds. At this moment, he had transformed into human form, wearing a long purple robe, with long black hair, blindfolded, most of his body had transformed into human form, only the tail and ears remained fox-like.
This was not his true form, but an external incarnation. At their level, external incarnations could change at will.
Before long, the Water Kylin and Old Master also appeared, they too were external incarnations.
Then came some elders from the six lineages, and the high-ranking members from Penglai Island, not many, each sitting on a cloud.
After these high-ranking figures appeared, the disciples below all quieted down, retreating to their respective territories to conserve their energy.
"This year, the number of participants is much higher than in previous years," Old Master said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the figures on the island.
"Who does the Master think will take first place this year?" the Water Kylin asked with a smile.
"Of course, it's Bai Qiushui," Old Master answered without hesitation.
"Nonsense! My disciple Bai Luo can beat Bai Qiushui to tears!"
As soon as the words fell, a mocking voice came from the side, and a man with skin glowing golden appeared, named Meng Sheng, one of the three island masters of Penglai Island.
Meng Sheng usually stayed in seclusion, studying mechanisms and techniques, never showing himself, this was his first public appearance in ten years.
"That Xu Qingfeng is not bad either, but unfortunately, he's too old to compete with the young ones, otherwise he would have a place too," commented another elder.
The year-end conference did not restrict the age of participants, only their cultivation level. However, it was mostly young people competing, the older generation wouldn't participate, they couldn't afford to lose face.
"Hmph, the human side is as arrogant as ever, in my opinion, our Wen Tailai will take the top spot without any pressure," the Nine-Eyed Toad snorted coldly.
"Practicing some unorthodox poison techniques and wanting to take the top spot? Heh, my disciple Hai Teng has the demeanor of a Flood Dragon, immune to toxins, perfect for dealing with such flashy tricks," Elder Jinhuan sneered.
"That Nine-Headed Worm is not simple either, his father was also an elder of our six lineages back then, now unfathomable," Jing Wuji commented.
Before the conference began, the higher-ups would point fingers as usual, some with differing opinions would even argue, which was quite an amusing sight.
At this moment, Hai Teng and his fiancée Lin Cai were coiled in a corner, surrounded by supporters of the Sea Serpent lineage.
However, Hai Teng's mind was not on this, his attention was drifting outside, ignoring his beautiful wife in front of him.
"Why hasn't that guy come yet? It's almost noon!"
Hai Teng was anxious inside, he had boasted that he would beat Xu Hei and Xu Bai at the conference, but neither of them had shown up.
As the time approached, he was on pins and needles, his whole body on edge.
"What's wrong now?" Lin Cai noticed something was off and asked.
"It's none of your business," Hai Teng replied.
Lin Cai gritted her teeth in anger, snorted, and turned her head away.
As the time drew near, almost everyone who could arrive was present, the distant sea was empty, both the human side and the demonic beast side were basically all there.
Just as the Water Kylin was about to announce the start.
Two small dots appeared on the distant sea, rapidly approaching.
In front was a pitch-black horned serpent, blindfolded, moving at high speed towards Martial Arts Island, followed by a white serpent, also blindfolded.
Yu Jianqiu, who had been dozing off, turned his head to glance, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Heh, they didn't arrive late, surprising."
Three days, just in time!
But it was only the two of them, none of the other three teams' members had arrived.
As Xu Hei landed on Martial Arts Island, the black blindfold on his face automatically fell off, and in an instant, his vision cleared.
Xu Bai was the same.
In that moment, various noises flooded into their ears, the external light seemed hundreds of times brighter than usual, and all details were captured by them.
Xu Hei's five senses and Divine Sense surged in an instant, but in just a moment, returned to normal levels.
"What a magical blindfold!"
Xu Hei looked at the black strip in front of him, feeling very unsettled inside, it was definitely a treasure.
He could sense the external world better when losing his five senses, this black strip was definitely related.
As for Xu Bai, she couldn't sense others, but was very sensitive to Xu Hei's position, following right behind him.
The Water Kylin took a deep look at Xu Hei, then turned back and announced loudly, "I declare the year-end conference officially begins!"
With the Water Kylin's words, a stage rose in the center of Martial Arts Island.
This stage was extremely large, spanning a hundred miles, equivalent to the size of a town, enough for Core Formation Stage battles. It allowed for maneuvering, pursuit, and escape, all sorts of tactics could be executed.
Everyone was excited, winning the championship in such an environment would be a great honor, something to boast about for a lifetime.
"Whoosh—"
Suddenly, a sharp whistling sound came from the sky.
Everyone looked up to see a warship coming from the distant sky, cutting through the sky, forming a parabola, and crashing onto the hundred-mile stage in the center, shaking the entire ground.
"Boom!!"
The ship exploded, flames soaring into the sky, shattering into pieces, with thick black smoke rising.
Amidst the wreckage, a bear-like demonic beast with singed black fur appeared, its fur black and white, unlike an ordinary bear.
It was a panda.
At this moment, Yu Jianqiu, who had been lazy and listless, suddenly had his pupils contract, instantly sitting up.
Even though his eyes were covered, his expression betrayed him, showing immense shock!
Even Old Master and the Water Kylin looked over in surprise, it was their first time seeing Yu Jianqiu show such an expression.