Chapter 1669: Rising Sky Rankings Battle

As Ren Zhong, the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion introduced himself, the leader of the Raging Wave Mansion's people spoke as well.

The stout and bald man was the representative from Raging Wave Mansion sent here to preside over the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. After Ren Zhong finished speaking, he introduced himself as well, "Everyone! Elder Ren's words are similar to the words I wanted to say. Due to this reason, I'm not going to repeat it. I'm Liu Hong Guang, the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion."

Similar to the Sky Hurdle Mansion and the Rising Sky Mansion, the Raging Wave Mansion was a fourth-rate force as well.

However, compared to Ren Zhong, the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion, and Xu Cen, the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion, the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion did not seem as impressive.

Soon after, when people learned about the stout and bald man's identity, someone exclaimed in a deep voice, "Looks like the Raging Wave Mansion doesn't really care about the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. They only sent a Second Elder to preside over the event."

Since somebody had spoken up, it was only natural for others to begin speaking as well.

Soon after, the gigantic chessboard that stretched out as far as the eyes could see began to bustle with noise again.

"Compared to the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion and the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion, the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion doesn't seem to be at the same level as them. I really don't understand what the Raging Wave Mansion is thinking when they sent a Second Elder here."

"Exactly! How can a mere Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion uphold the fairness of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle?"

"In our Rising Sky Mansion's district, the only people who are capable of disrupting the fairness of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle are from the Rising Sky Mansion. If the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion is not around, who's to stop the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion from breaking the rules? How's the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion going to stop him?"

"That's right! I think the Raging Wave Mansion sending the Second Elder here is just a mere formality... His comparatively weak strength won't make much of an impact at all at the critical moment."

...

Seeing how Liu Hong Guang, the Second Elder of the Raging Wave Mansion, did not seem to mind their words, more people began to shamelessly join in the discussion.

Liu Hong Guang had a calm expression on his face as he hovered in the air as though he could not hear the discussion around him at all.

In truth, with his cultivation base, he could hear the people's discussion clearly even if they were whispering, let alone the people shamelessly discussing out loud.

He remained calm because he was not bothered by their words. However, even if Liu Hong Guang did not care about their words, it did not mean the people from Raging Wave Mansion who came with him was not bothered by it. The elders and disciples from the Raging Wave Mansion looked furious. Some of them even opened their mouths to explain, but their voices were buried by the discussions in the surroundings.

In the distance, when Xu Cen, the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion, heard the discussion, his mouth twitched subtly.

Did these people say Liu Hong Guang was inferior to him?

Although he was much older than Liu Hong Guang, Liu Hong Guang's strength had already surpassed his strength ten years ago. At that time, he had gone to the Raging Wave Mansion with the Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion. He and Liu Hong Guang had fought, and in less than 100 moves, he was defeated.

He might not have used any Saint Inscriptions, Dao Talismans or other external aids, but he had used all the tricks he had up his sleeve. However, in the end, he was still no match for Liu Hong Guang. Due to this reason, he knew how strong Liu Hong Guang was.

When he heard the people in the surrounding saying Liu Hong Guang was inferior to him, he instantly felt a burning sensation on his face. He was so embarrassed, he wished the ground would split open and swallow him whole.

"Liu Hong Guang, the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion, is not that simple!" Among the people present on the scene, apart from those who were familiar with Liu Hong Guang, there were only Duan Ling Tian and a few others who did not agree with the masses.

Previously, when the three great fourth-rate forces made their appearance together, Duan Ling Tian had noticed an abnormality. Xu Cen, the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion, was not only polite to Ren Zhong, the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion, but he was also polite to Liu Hong Guang, the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion as well.

They were all members of fourth-rate forces, and Xu Cen was the Grand Elder of the Rising Sky Mansion. Although he had to put on a show of paying respect to the Raging Wave Mansion, he would not have been so polite to Liu Hong Guang if he was weak.

After all, this was a world where the strong ruled.

Those who were of equal standing or stronger would not treat someone weaker in such a way.

Those who shared the same thoughts with Duan Ling Tian were a few other powerhouses from the three great fifth-rate forces in the Rising Sky Mansion's district. Apart from them, there were the Flowery Monk, Jing Xu Ji, and Zhong Gu.

Based on their expressions, it was obvious they did not agree with the discussions in their surroundings.

"Everyone! Can you please let me speak?" As the situation seemed as though it was going out of control, Ren Zhong, the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion, finally spoke up. His voice contained True Origin, and it quickly overwhelmed everyone's voices, causing them to fall silent one by one as they shifted their attention to Ren Zhong.

They wanted to know what the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion would say under such circumstances.

When Ren Zhong saw the place had finally fallen silent, he looked at Liu Hong Guang and said with True Origin, "In terms of seniority, the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion could be considered as my nephew... However, in terms of strength, even I don't have the confidence to defeat him!"

The moment Ren Zhong's words left his mouth, the place turned even more silent if it was even possible.

Ren Zhong, the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion, said he was not confident he could defeat the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion?

How was it possible?

"What a joke! Just a Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion possesses strength that's on par with the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion? Is this even possible?"

"I think the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion only said so because he doesn't want the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion to feel awkward."

"I think so too."

...

Although Ren Zhong spoke up to help Liu Hong Guang out of this situation, it seemed like nobody on the scene believed his words at all. Everyone felt he was only trying to save the Second Elder of Raging Wave Mansion from embarrassment by saying such words.

Ren Zhong frowned when he saw this.

Just as he was about to further explain himself, Liu Hong Guang who standing at the side stopped him. Liu Hong Guang said indifferently, "Elder Ren, I'm not bothered by it so you don't have to bother with it as well. However, I would like to thank you for your good intention."

Since Liu Hong Guang had already spoken up, Ren Zhong no longer said anything.

"Hong Guang, you're even calmer than an old man like me." In the end, Ren Zhong could not help but sigh emotionally.

No matter what, the main event for today was the Rising Sky Ranking that was about to begin. Due to this reason, the discussion about Liu Hong Guang slowly came to a stop. Everyone's attention was now focused on the Rising Sky Ranking Battle.

"Everyone!" When the light of dawn hit the ground, Ren Zhong, the Vice Mansion Master of Sky Hurdle Mansion who was also one of the moderators of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle, said in a timely manner, "Today is the first day of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle... I'm sure many of you know about the rules of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. However, I'm sure there are some people who are unfamiliar with the rules as well. I will now announce the rules of the battle so that everyone is aware of it."

Ren Zhong began to list out the rules of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle.

The first rule he stated was something Duan Ling Tian already knew. One was allowed to kill in the battle. Naturally, if the other party admitted defeat, the opponent was not allowed to attack anymore. Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang who were both moderators of the Rising Sky Ranking Battle would rescue them.

Killing was allowed!

Although almost everyone who came knew about this rule, their hearts jolted when they heard Ren Zhong announcing it again. Since it concerned their lives and deaths, they found it hard to remain calm. Some of them even had thoughts of pulling out.

Although one was allowed to admit defeat, it would be difficult to find a chance to admit defeat unless both parties were equals in strength.

The Rising Sky Ranking Battle did not have any specific rules. The last ten men standing would be ranked in the Rising Sky Ranking.

"No external aids like Saint Weapons can be used during the battle. You'll be disqualified if you're found breaking this rule!" Ren Zhong continued to announce.

This was an important rule as well. No external aid was allowed.

One could only rely on one's strength to compete with the others to make it on the Rising Sky Ranking.

This rule was set in place because the people who created the Rising Sky Ranking was worried disciples from greater forces would possess an unfair advantage since greater forces had no lack of high-grade Saint Inscriptions and Dao Talismans.

If one could rely on external aids, it would not be fair to ordinary sectless cultivators.

"All of you must have heard the Rising Sky Ranking Battle doesn't really have a specific duel rule... Those who manage to last till the end will make it on the Rising Sky Ranking! Naturally, the end means when no one could continue to challenge anymore. At that time, the Rising Sky Ranking Battle will officially come to an end," Ren Zhong continued to say.

At this moment, under the watchful eyes of the others, Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang exchanged a glance before they raised the cane and gigantic hammer in their hands in tacit agreement before they struck at the sky above the Nimble Chess Set. This time, the directions they struck were different.

Boom! Boom!

As two faint sounds reverberated in the air, everyone could feel the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy in the Nimble Chess Set began to turn chaotic. It took a while before it regained its tranquility.

At the same time, they could clearly see ten chess pieces flying up from the Nimble Chess Set. They were five black and five white chess pieces.

After the ten chess pieces had risen up into the air, they hovered in the air as though some invisible energy were holding them up.

"T-This..." At the same time, the group of people, including Duan Ling Tian, could not help but widen their eyes.