Chapter 296: Chapter 274: Honor and Rank in Hand

"Xiao Yu, promoted to sect named disciple!"

As Qin Shuban’s voice rang out, Xiao Yu felt a wave of relief wash over her. The hidden pain from her exhausted dantian and the fatigue throughout her body surged in unison. She felt her head spin and was on the verge of collapse!

Duan Rong stood below the platform, intently watching Xiao Yu’s condition. Seeing her stagger, he suddenly leapt up like a great bird, landing beside Xiao Yu and supported her by the shoulders.

Xiao Yu’s body froze momentarily, leaning on Duan Rong to steady herself. She looked at Duan Rong standing beside her and managed a bitter smile.

Duan Rong lifted Xiao Yu by the armpits and gracefully descended from the Zhexing Platform.

From the observation seats, Xiao Zongting watched Duan Rong lead Xiao Yu down, a complex expression on his face.

As soon as Zhu Xiaoqi saw Duan Rong bringing Xiao Yu down, he rushed over from the edge of the crowd.

When Xiao Yu got injured, Zhu Xiaoqi anxiously went back to fetch medicine and bandages.

"Miss Yu!" Zhu Xiaoqi called out with concern.

With her feet now on solid ground, Xiao Yu felt a sense of calm. Although her body was aching, it was not serious. She looked at Zhu Xiaoqi, smiled, and said, "Xiaoqi, I’m fine."

Seeing that Xiao Yu was alright, Zhu Xiaoqi finally felt at ease and crouched down to tend to her wounds.

Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong. She managed to hold on until Luo Zhoucheng fainted, thanks in part to Duan Rong’s reminder.

During the third round, she conceded directly to Ximen Kankan to ensure she could enter the divided mortal combat in peak condition, barely securing victory.

However, Xiao Yu’s gaze towards Duan Rong was not solely of gratitude. Her heart was filled with joy as both she and Duan Rong advanced to named disciples. Her eyes brimmed with deep feelings as she looked at him!

Xiao Zongting also walked down from the observation seats. At that moment, he happened to see the way Xiao Yu looked at Duan Rong...

Suddenly, a pang struck Xiao Zongting’s heart. It was then he realized, he was secretly envying Duan Rong.

He had always considered grooming Duan Rong as the next him, but gradually, he discovered that Duan Rong had already surpassed the boundaries he had set.

It took only a year for Duan Rong to rise from a servant disciple in the escort agency to a named disciple of the sect. His future achievements will certainly far surpass his own.

When Xiao Zongting was young, based solely on his martial arts cultivation, he was naturally qualified to participate in the sect named disciple selection. However, the registration fee of 60,000 silver coins was an insurmountable obstacle for someone of humble background like him.

By the time he finally had the silver coins, he had already entered middle age, bypassing the age limit for sect named disciple selection.

Thus, when he discovered that the deep regret of his impoverished years was easily surpassed by Duan Rong, in the darkest corner of his heart where even he was unaware of, heavy jealousy grew...

He was already an elderly man in his twilight years. He had always thought Duan Rong would be the next him, but he abruptly discovered that Duan Rong had already far exceeded him. In contrast, his younger self seemed so insignificant compared to the young man in those years! No matter how hard he tried, no matter how prodigious his talent, he was still crushed by fate...

It wasn’t jealousy for the elderly man he was now; it was jealousy for the young version of himself in those years, the one who had given him endless glory, who seemed so unremarkable in front of Duan Rong!

The divided mortal combat was not yet over!

Tao Rong, Shen Mizi, and Xiao Yu took three of the positions, leaving only one named disciple slot in the divided mortal combat.

Originally nine, now only three were left: Jiang Qingyu, Gui Zong, Yue Feng.

Qin Shuban once again approached the spinning wheel, which now bore only three names.

Qin Shuban vigorously spun the wheel!

As the wheel creaked and groaned, Jiang Qingyu, Gui Zong, and Yue Feng all felt incredibly tense!

This old, dimly colored spinning wheel was practically the wheel of destiny that would determine their fate!

The strength of the three was not very different; who could claim the last spot depended on their luck.

The name the wheel stopped on would be the ringmaster, and being the ringmaster in the divided mortal combat was no favorable position!

The wheel stopped on a name. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Qin Shuban’s voice followed.

"Fourth segment, divided mortal combat. Ringmaster, Yue Feng!"

Four positions, four segments of mortal combat! Now reaching its end!

Yue Feng’s expression was serious, but Jiang Qingyu and Gui Zong’s expressions were not relaxed either! Because the lot-drawing to determine short and long sticks was still to come!

Having drawn his blade, Yue Feng jumped onto the Plum Blossom Stakes! At this point, with only one spot left, no one would retreat!

Qin Shuban said, "Fourth segment ringmaster Yue Feng! If there are any challengers, step forward!"

As Qin Shuban’s first words fell, both Jiang Qingyu and Gui Zong stepped forward.

When both stepped forward simultaneously, the order of drawing lots was randomly chosen by Qin Shuban.

Qin Shuban hid the long and short sticks in his sleeve, exposing only their tops between his fingers, and offered them to Gui Zong!

Gui Zong hesitated, thought for a few moments, and finally grabbed hold of one stickhead and slowly drew it out!

The moment the stick was drawn, Jiang Qingyu’s expression lit up with joy. Gui Zong had drawn the short stick! This meant he could sit back and watch the tigers fight, striking later.

With a blank face, Qin Shuban handed the remaining long stick to Jiang Qingyu. Receiving the long stick, Jiang Qingyu couldn’t help but sigh. The decisive opportunity among the three lay in this small stick.