When Life Runs Out, the Fun Begins-Chapter 33 – Elder Mu wants everyone to benefit equally!

On the third day of the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament, the atmosphere on Lan Yun Terrace had evolved from initial anticipation and curiosity into a near-frenzied excitement. Almost everyone's gaze, intentionally or not, was focused on that leisurely, seemingly detached figure in dark green.
Mu Xiaochuan remained calmly seated, indifferent to the curious glances, whispers, and probing or cold stares from the viewing platform. He even had the leisure to slowly savor the translucent Yuxia grapes peeled by Lin Yue's delicate fingers, his composure and tranquility a silent provocation in itself.
Su Yao and Lin Yue nestled by his side, their cheeks flushed, gazing at Mu Xiaochuan with eyes full of tender admiration, saying everything without words. Occasionally feeling the envious or even jealous glances from other female disciples around, they would subconsciously straighten their backs and lean closer to Mu Xiaochuan, as if declaring some kind of sovereignty.
"Dong—Dong—Dong—"
The bell tolled again, drawing everyone's attention back to the arena. Today was the second round of the Outer Sect disciples' competition! Forty into twenty, the competition would be even more brutal!
The five remaining disciples from the Heaven Vault Pavilion—Shi Poxiao, Luo Lixue, Tie Meng, Su Yao, and Lin Yue—undoubtedly became the focus of all attention.
"First match, Heaven Vault Pavilion, Tie Meng! Versus, Spiritual Herb Garden, Zhou Zhirou!"
With the referee elder's booming voice, Tie Meng's towering figure was the first to step onto the arena. After yesterday's rest, not only had his injuries fully healed, but his spirit and energy had reached an unprecedented peak! Standing there, he was like a silent war beast, exuding an oppressive aura that made hearts tremble.
His opponent, Zhou Zhirou, was an outstanding female disciple from the Spiritual Herb Garden, at the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refining. Her "Vine Serpent Entwine" technique was masterful, capable of controlling plants for tricky attacks and setting up sturdy defenses, with a body technique that was quite agile, making her a formidable opponent among the Outer Sect disciples.
"Senior Brother Tie, I witnessed your extraordinary prowess the other day. Today, I must learn from you!" Zhou Zhirou, holding a jade-green vine whip, spoke with a charming smile and graceful demeanor, but her lively eyes were full of caution. Tie Meng's performance of defeating his opponent with a single punch the other day had already made everyone wary of underestimating this seemingly simple-minded strongman.
"Please!" Tie Meng was as concise as ever, his voice steady as a mountain. He spread his feet slightly, grounded his stance solidly, and assumed a simple yet rock-solid horse stance. After the beating from Mu Xiaochuan, he seemed to have had an epiphany, no longer charging recklessly as before.
"Buzz—" The referee elder signaled, and the match began!
Zhou Zhirou did not rush to attack like Tie Meng's opponent yesterday. Her movements were agile, like a green bird weaving through flowers and trees, swiftly circling Tie Meng, searching for an opening. Simultaneously, she chanted incantations softly, and her vine whip traced mysterious trajectories in the air.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
In an instant, dozens of thick green vines burst from the arena floor, twisting and winding like serpents, sweeping towards Tie Meng's legs from all directions, attempting to bind him!
This was a common tactic used by the Spiritual Herb Garden disciples, using plant control to restrict the opponent's movements, often leaving cultivators of the same level helpless.
Many disciples familiar with the Spiritual Herb Garden nodded in approval, acknowledging the well-timed combination of offense and defense. A typical fifth-level Qi Refining cultivator, once entangled, would likely face a tough battle.
However, facing this seemingly inescapable attack, Tie Meng remained as steady as a rock. He didn't even blink, taking a deep breath, his chest swelling like a bellows, and then let out a thunderous roar!
"Ha—!!!"
This roar was even louder and more powerful than the previous day! A visible wave of energy, tinged with a faint earthy yellow glow, radiated from him like a shockwave!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The unusually thick vines shattered and splintered like rotten wood upon contact with this energy wave, even causing the ground to tremble slightly!
"What?!" Zhou Zhirou's expression changed dramatically! Her vines were not ordinary plants; they had been refined with spiritual power, their toughness comparable to refined iron! Yet they were shattered by a single roar?
The audience was once again stunned!
"This defense... is terrifying!"
On the viewing platform, Liu Ruyan frowned. This was her Spiritual Herb Garden's strongest disciple, and if she lost, the Outer Sect disciples might end up with nothing.
Seeing Liu Ruyan's frown, Mu Xiaochuan's thoughts shifted, realizing he had to save some face for his woman. He coughed at an inopportune moment.
The sudden cough drew everyone's attention.
Tie Meng glanced at Mu Xiaochuan, understanding his intention.
Just as Zhou Zhirou launched another attack!
Once again, dozens of purple vines burst from the arena floor. Though not as thick as the previous green vines, their toughness was far superior! They swept towards Tie Meng once more, while in the air, green lights flickered, and several "Flying Leaf Darts," formed from spiritual power and glinting with sharp cold light, silently shot towards Tie Meng's eyes, throat, and other vital points!
This was Zhou Zhirou's trump card tactic, using plants to disrupt the opponent's vision, supplemented by tricky attacks, often leaving even highly skilled fifth-level cultivators flustered and struggling.
Tie Meng still did not choose to charge recklessly but instead stomped the ground with both feet!
"Earthquake!"
"Boom!"
A deeper, more muffled sound echoed! The entire arena seemed to jump! An invisible shockwave quickly spread along the ground! The incoming Flying Leaf Darts were shattered into powder by this violent energy before they could get within three feet of Tie Meng! However, the purple vines were only partially scattered, with three still wrapping around Tie Meng like a persistent disease.
Tie Meng staggered, his speed sharply reduced, and he experienced a momentary stiffness!
In a contest between experts, victory or defeat often hinged on a split second!
Zhou Zhirou had been waiting for this opportunity! Her vine whip swiftly wrapped around Tie Meng's neck.
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"Thank you for letting me win, Senior Brother." Zhou Zhirou panted, drenched in sweat, with a look of relief after a narrow escape.
"Zhou Zhirou, wins!" The referee elder announced the result.
Hearing this, Tie Meng cheered like a child, as if he were the one who had won.
The entire venue fell into an eerie silence, with most disciples looking at Tie Meng as if he were a fool, while the Hidden Heaven Pavilion disciples gazed at him with envy. Compared to Elder Mu's rewards, the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament's prizes were insignificant.
On the viewing platform, Liu Ruyan laughed heartily, her gaze at Mu Xiaochuan full of tender affection, as if she wanted to melt him. Ye Qingyu couldn't help but chuckle, shaking her head lightly.
Mu Xiaochuan calmly enjoyed it all, along with the notification sound that echoed in his mind once more.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for defending your woman's dignity, feeling a sense of satisfaction, and earning 30 Thrill Points."
Next, it was Lin Yue's turn.
With the previous day's impressive performances, everyone was filled with anticipation for Lin Yue. Her opponent was a disciple from the Technique Transmission Hall named Zhao Feng, at the peak of the fifth level of Qi Refining, known for his fierce and fiery "Blazing Sun Palm," rumored to be able to melt refined iron.
"Sister Lin, please!" Zhao Feng's expression was serious, not daring to be careless.
"Senior Brother Zhao, please!" Lin Yue also put away her smile, her eyes sharp.
The match began!
Zhao Feng wasted no time probing and went all out from the start! His palms were fiery red, like red-hot irons, carrying scorching heat as they struck towards Lin Yue! The air seemed to ignite with a sizzling sound wherever the palm wind passed!
Facing this fierce and fiery attack, Lin Yue did not choose to meet it head-on. She lightly tapped her toes, her figure like a wisp of wind, advancing instead of retreating, approaching Zhao Feng's side at an incredible angle, brushing past the scorching palm wind!
Such speed! Such exquisite footwork!
Zhao Feng was startled, hurriedly changing his move, sweeping his left palm horizontally to force Lin Yue back.
However, Lin Yue was even faster! Just as Zhao Feng changed his move, the pair of thin, cicada-wing-like short blades in her hands silently sliced towards the back of Zhao Feng's knees like two silver snakes!
The angle was tricky! The timing was precise!
Zhao Feng only felt a slight chill behind his knees, followed by a tingling numbness, and his legs involuntarily went weak!
In the moment his balance faltered, Lin Yue ghosted behind him, crossing her blades and placing them against his neck!
The entire process was as swift as lightning, over in an instant!
Zhao Feng couldn't even execute the second move of his Blazing Sun Palm before he was defeated!
"Thank you for letting me win." Lin Yue panted slightly, retracting her short blades, a confident smile on her face.
"I..." Zhao Feng opened his mouth, his face full of bitterness and disbelief, finally conceding, "I lost."
"Lin Yue, wins!"
Another clean and decisive victory!
The audience erupted!
"My goodness! She won! So easily?!"
"Zhao Feng from the Technique Transmission Hall didn't even last a single move?"
"That footwork... it's simply elusive! How did Elder Mu teach her?"
"Serve Elder Mu! We must serve Elder Mu! This is the shortcut to becoming a strong cultivator!"
This time, not only female disciples but even many male disciples began to look at Mu Xiaochuan with fervent eyes, as if receiving his "guidance" would allow them to reach the heavens in a single bound!
Mu Xiaochuan was both amused and exasperated, but the satisfaction in his heart was genuine.
Next, Su Yao, Shi Poxiao, and Luo Lixue also took the stage one after another.
Su Yao's opponent was a sixth-level Qi Refining disciple, formidable in strength. Su Yao, with her more agile footwork and some enemy-disrupting techniques secretly taught by Mu Xiaochuan, engaged in a prolonged battle, ultimately seizing a flaw in her opponent's defense to narrowly win by a move. Though the victory was hard-earned, it was enough to prove her strength had greatly improved.
As for Shi Poxiao and Luo Lixue, they were the true top experts of the Heaven Vault Pavilion's Outer Sect. Shi Poxiao's swordsmanship was grand and powerful, each strike heavy and forceful, often overwhelming opponents within a few moves. Luo Lixue, with her graceful movements and exquisite spells, was like an ice and snow fairy, with strong control abilities, often defeating opponents with ease.
Both advanced with absolute superiority!
Thus, the second round of the Outer Sect disciples' competition concluded.
Four out of five Heaven Vault Pavilion disciples advanced!
Four advanced to the top twenty!
This achievement, not only for the Heaven Vault Pavilion but even in the history of the Yunqi Peak Grand Tournament, was an outstanding result! Comparable to the deeply rooted Main Hall!
For a moment, the entire Lan Yun Terrace was completely enveloped by the brilliance of the Heaven Vault Pavilion!
All eyes were on the young elder who had created this miracle—Mu Xiaochuan!
Envy, jealousy, awe, fervor... all kinds of gazes intertwined!
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for witnessing the Heaven Vault Pavilion's historic breakthrough, igniting the crowd's fervor, feeling extremely satisfied, and earning 30 Thrill Points."
Facing the multitude of gazes, Mu Xiaochuan glanced at the viewing platform, his eyes sweeping over the sullen Chen Xuanfeng, the complex-eyed Mu Qingyao, and the iron-faced, murderous Deputy Sect Master Liang Yichen, a smile of world-conquering confidence on his lips.
"Elder Mu is amazing! Turning decay into magic!"
"I'll serve Elder Mu too." Mu Xiaochuan saw a chubby female disciple shouting, feeling a chill.
"Elder Mu! Hit me! Please hit me!" a male disciple shouted excitedly.
"Get lost! If Elder Mu hits anyone, it should be me!"
"Don't fight! Elder Mu must be fair to all!"