Chapter 122: Finals, Let Me In

In the cave dwelling, Chen Mobai played with the spirit brush in his hand. Its barrel was made from a bamboo tube, intricately carved with a depiction of a bamboo forest. A red tassel hung from its end, the tip was cone-shaped, the cylindrical brush head was full and round, and the bristles were evenly distributed.

Truly worthy of a first-grade superior item, its craftsmanship alone was exquisite.

He infused it with spiritual power, dipped it in a little water, and tested its stroke on the table, but found it somewhat difficult to control. However, this was understandable, as he had only just acquired it and would need more practice.

After playing with it fondly for half an hour, Chen Mobai placed the green bamboo brush back into the pen case that came with it. He then picked up another woven bag.

The bag was casually tied with a red string around its opening. Inside was a jin (500g) of second-grade "Cinnabar Spiritual Sand."

Opening the bag, Chen Mobai took out five irregular, reddish-brown mineral chunks of varying sizes. Their overall appearance was dark red, opaque yet with a hint of translucence. Upon touching them, one could feel the deep yet stable spiritual essence contained within.

He poured them out for a closer look: two large pieces and three smaller ones. Holding them in his palm, Chen Mobai thought that if he hadn't known they were Cinnabar Spiritual Sand, he would have considered them ordinary rocks that no one would bother to pick up from the roadside.

After examining both items thoroughly, Chen Mobai's initial excitement waned. He put them away into his satchel. He then diligently consumed a vial of Qi Replenishing Spiritual Water and began cultivating with the Five Elements Technique.

Three days passed in a flash. Although his fight against Gong Xiangyu had been a hard-fought battle, his spiritual power consumption was not significant.

By the day of the semifinals, he had fully recovered to his peak condition. Moreover, he felt that his spiritual power had advanced after these recent battles.

"Old Chen, our whole class is here today."

As he opened the door to his cave dwelling, Chen Mobai saw Lu Hongsheng, his deskmate. Beside him were the class monitor, Mo Simin, and the two beauties who sat in front of them, Pu Jiangxue and Yu Shu.

"Everyone else is waiting at the arena. We came to escort you there, so those scoundrels from Yuheng High School don't drain your spiritual power on the way." Lu Hongsheng, having heard about Chen Mobai being harassed by students from Yuheng High School, spoke with indignation.

"Don't worry, the senior students from Danzhu Academy will escort me." Chen Mobai appreciated their kind intentions. However, at that moment, the student council president who had previously escorted him also arrived. Chan Si and Shen Juanxiu were also in the group. Upon seeing their formation class teacher, Lu Hongsheng and the others greeted them again.

"Alright, since you're here, let's all go cheer for Chen Mobai." Although he was naturally modest, Chen Mobai could only allow himself to be surrounded by a large group of people at this moment, escorted from the entrance of his cave dwelling all the way to the peak arena.

"Oh, Yan Bingxuan is here too." Upon reaching the peak, Chen Mobai saw the beautiful Yan Bingxuan sitting on a stone bench, and couldn't help but look surprised.

"Not just her, your girlfriend is here too." Lu Hongsheng subtly pulled Chen Mobai, pointing in another direction. Qing Nü, wearing a hat and a mask, stood near the front of the arena. When they looked over, she squinted her eyes, smiled, and waved.

"How did you recognize her?" To be honest, had Lu Hongsheng not pointed her out specifically, Chen Mobai might not have recognized Qing Nü in such attire amidst the crowd.

"I arrived here earlier this morning and saw Yan Bingxuan talking to her, so I recognized her immediately."

"Those two?" Chen Mobai found this a bit strange. He felt that Yan Bingxuan and Qing Nü shouldn't have any common ground for conversation.

Just then, a cheer erupted as the stern-faced Yan Feng flew up from below. Facing the rising sun, he seemed to be cloaked in a layer of radiant light, making it impossible to look directly at him.

"So handsome!" Many spectators, primarily interested in appearances, exclaimed in admiration at this sight.

"This match is in the bag!" But when Chen Mobai saw this, he knew that his own battle was likely won.

Practitioners at the Qi Refining stage cannot fly by manipulating qi; the only way to do so is by using a "Flight Talisman." However, the "Flight Talisman" is also a first-grade superior talisman, and even if it consumes minimal spiritual power, it still consumes spiritual power. Yan Feng using a Flight Talisman to ascend meant that his spiritual power was not at its full state from the very beginning. To others, it might have been an unnoticeable detail, but to Chen Mobai, a master of strategy, it indicated that the scales of victory were already tipping in his favor.

Soon after, Kong Feichen and Yang Jing also ascended. They didn't show off like Yan Feng; instead, they simply walked up the path, surrounded by several students from Second High School.

Once all four had arrived, they looked at each other and then chose three corners to stand in. Just as they were waiting for the Red-Robed Daoist and the representatives from the Daoist Academy, Chen Mobai suddenly saw Qing Nü walking towards Kong Feichen and Yang Jing, a strange action that instantly perplexed him.

Hesitating for a moment, he noticed that Qing Nü seemed to know Kong Feichen and the others, greeting them with smiles and laughter. At this, Chen Mobai couldn't stay put and walked over.

"Why are you here too?" Upon reaching them, Chen Mobai pretended to have just noticed Qing Nü and greeted her cheerfully.

"I came to cheer for all three of you," Qing Nü smiled and said this to the three of them, leaving Chen Mobai, Kong Feichen, and Yang Jing bewildered.

Just then, the Red-Robed Daoist arrived, flying in with representatives from the Daoist Academy. Upon landing, he immediately gestured grandly. "No need to waste time. Let's begin. The upper bracket matches will proceed first today." After announcing the semifinal matchups, the Red-Robed Daoist cheerfully sat down.

Kong Feichen and Yang Jing exchanged glances, then simultaneously greeted Qing Nü. "Sister, we're going up now."

At the referee's signal, they stepped onto the specially reinforced and widened arena.

"The rules are the same as before." After speaking, the referee turned and leaped, landing below the arena, leaving the stage to the two contestants.

Kong Feichen was still pondering how Qing Nü and Chen Mobai knew each other and what their relationship was. Absentmindedly, he picked up a "Great Wind Talisman." According to their previous plan, Yang Jing would concede. The act of 'going easy' would certainly not escape the notice of the Red-Robed Daoist and the Daoist Academy representatives, so the two decided to be straightforward about it. He would activate a talisman and directly blow Yang Jing out of the arena.

The "Great Wind Talisman" activated, and a whirlwind of green qi swept towards Yang Jing. Her form-fitting black tunic and trousers fluttered, rustling loudly, accentuating her tall, long-legged figure and curves. She even had to hold down her wide-brimmed round hat to prevent it from being blown away.

Just as Kong Feichen was about to watch her exit the stage, Yang Jing suddenly looked up and, with a wave, dispersed the "Great Wind Talisman" that had reached her.

"How about I advance to the finals instead?" she suddenly said, a statement that made Kong Feichen's eyes widen.