197 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Chen Er gave a thumbs-up and praised continuously, "As expected of a senior in the Great Ascension stage, your skills truly show excellence." Once the disciples on the Mingjing Platform had recovered, Ying Xiao cleared his throat and continued, "A total of twenty-four people have passed this round and will proceed to the second round of the Immortal Gate disciples' assembly." "You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to freely form teams," he announced the rules loudly, "Each team is limited to three members, forming a total of eight groups. After grouping is complete, the competition will formally begin." Form free teams, divided into eight groups, each with three members. Bi Lan quickly extracted the key information. At this moment, Wu Yingying suddenly said, "For a three-person team, I’ll not team up with you and Miss Nian." Bi Lan frowned, and Yan Zhao asked in confusion, "Why?" Wu Yingying pursed her lips, "Because I…" She couldn’t say the real reason—it wasn't out of insecurity or shame, but rather the feeling that by doing so, she would be letting down Yan Zhao and Bi Lan for bringing her into the second round with their efforts. Yan Zhao interrupted her, "Who do you want to team up with?" Wu Yingying was at a loss. She really hadn’t even decided what she was going to do. By rights, she should have been eliminated in the last round. She never thought she’d make it to the second round, so she hadn’t prepared herself mentally. "You haven’t decided," Yan Zhao concluded, "In that case, you’ll team up with us." Bi Lan nodded in agreement, "Miss Nian is right. We’ve worked together before, and we already know each other well. Forming a team with us is the best choice." Wu Yingying was deeply moved. She knew that Bi Lan and Yan Zhao were worried that if she didn’t team up, she might be ostracized by other Immortal Gate disciples. However, she felt her abilities were too lacking and worried she’d only hold Bi Lan and Yan Zhao back. Wu Yingying hesitated deeply. At this moment, Yan Zhao added, "I don’t trust others." Wu Yingying suddenly looked up, surprised, at Yan Zhao. As she said this, Yan Zhao remained expressionless. If someone wasn’t already used to her emotionless nature, they might think she was coldly reciting lines. To see someone so reserved and emotionally scarce, who sincerely wanted her on their team the first time they met, deeply moved Wu Yingying. Bi Lan couldn’t help but side-eye Yan Zhao, surprised at her special treatment of Wu Yingying. Unexpectedly, Yan Zhao’s next sentence took a turn: "Besides, someone as gullible as you would definitely be deceived by other teams." Wu Yingying: "…" Bi Lan's mouth twitched, trying hard not to burst into laughter, and ended up holding her mouth to stifle a cough. Around Yan Zhao's neck, a small fox showed a look of disdain. Anyone else could say that, but really, Yan Xiaozhao, where did you get such confidence? Chapter 212 Yan Zhao’s inexplicable confidence and composure infected Wu Yingying, who finally took a deep breath and responded, "I understand, I'll try not to be a burden." Upon hearing this, Bi Lan also relaxed. Only twenty-four Immortal Gate disciples had passed the first round, and more than half were unfamiliar to them, making it hard to find suitable temporary team members. Even if Wu Yingying's cultivation was weaker and her combat strength low, it was better than forming an unstable collaboration with strangers. With Yan Zhao’s team formed, elsewhere, Ye Yanran, Chen Er, and Xuanyuan Mu had naturally formed their own group. Wanbao Palace’s Le An gathered Xuanyuan Zheng and formed a group with another Sword Sect disciple. Other Immortal Gate disciples also teamed up with familiar acquaintances, leaving only three solitary figures on the Mingjing Platform. These were Zuo Xun, who had a lofty and solitary aura, Luo Qi, who wore a conical hat and had a cavalier demeanor, and a timid-looking disciple named Fa Xiu with seemingly low cultivation. Zuo Xun glanced at Fa Xiu; the unremarkable appearance likely masked a hidden skill, as he had managed to make it through the last round alone, meaning appearances could be deceiving, and he might have surprising abilities. With the teams formed, Zuo Xun, Luo Qi, and Fa Xiu naturally became a group by exclusion. This unexpected grouping didn't faze Zuo Xun, who stayed calm about the minor turn of events. However, for some unknown reason, she glanced in Wu Yingying’s direction. Wu Yingying, interacting harmoniously with her team, seemed carefree, as if there was no concern about her team formation. Zuo Xun lowered her eyes, mentally reminding herself not to let personal emotions interfere with her true purpose for joining the Immortal Gate competition. Ying Xiao continued, "Once the teams are formed, please select a team leader and head to the overseeing elders to collect your team’s token." He flicked his long sleeve and at the four corners of the Mingjing Platform appeared four stone pedestals, each with an elder seated. These four elders would oversee the order of the upcoming second and third rounds of the competition. Le An took his team to one of the elders first and received their token, a bamboo plaque engraved with the character "甲" (Jia). Bi Lan and Wu Yingying both agreed for Yan Zhao to be the team leader. Yan Zhao, however, was unsure about taking on this new role. In the past, she had always followed others’ lead when working as part of a team. Now, needing to think for herself and take on responsibilities was unfamiliar to her. Yet, even though she felt uneasy inside, she didn’t show it outwardly. Bi Lan recommended Yan Zhao as the leader, and with Wu Yingying cheering enthusiastically from the side, Yan Zhao couldn’t refuse and went along with it. Thus, she represented the team and took Wu Yingying and Bi Lan to the overseeing elder to obtain their token. The plaque was engraved with the character "戊" (Wu). The remaining teams also came to collect a bamboo plaque and then withdrew to the designated waiting area. The overseeing elders stood, performing spells and gestures. With a thunderous sound, a circular platform ten feet wide rose in the center of the Mingjing Platform. Yan Zhao felt a slight tremor in the bamboo plaque in her hand, which then glowed and transformed into a small glowing orb, floating up into the air. The same happened with the other teams, creating a total of eight small orbs, each representing a team. The four elders simultaneously struck with their palms, creating a convergence of force. The eight small orbs violently collided and bounced within a space of about one foot in radius. Two of them soared high before being caught by the elders. A sweep of the elders’ palm dispersed the misty light on the orb surfaces, revealing two large, golden letters: 甲 (Jia) and 丁 (Ding). These were the first and fourth groups. The remaining light forms returned to the tokens of each group. An overseeing elder announced, "Would the two selected teams please step onto the stage!" Le An laughed heartily, "So soon!" With that, he leaped onto the stage. Xuanyuan Zheng and another silent swordsman followed him. Around the platform, the spectators watched with intense focus. Le An had made a spectacular showing in the previous competition, and everyone was curious about the tactics he had used to independently gather six tokens. On one of the surrounding floating islands, the Medicine Sage squinted, stroking his beard. Le An from the Wanbao Palace seemed strategic. What purpose did he have in staying so close to Xuanyuan Zheng? Su Zijun sat relaxed, absent-mindedly tapping her knees. This match seemed devoid of suspense. On the other hand, Team Ding, who had drawn Le An’s team, visibly felt the pressure. Even before the overseeing elders announced the start, they seemed intimidated and their morale was low. The overseeing elder looked between the two teams and reminded them, "The competition is about learning from each other, so keep it to just a friendly match!" His voice faded as he retreated, and white light flashed around the stage, forming a protective array set by the four elders. This was to contain the energy on the stage and protect the audience. The match began, with Le An’s swordsman taking the first move, executing swift and clean strikes without a hint of hesitation. The other team’s three members, all at the Golden Core stage, had been cautious of Le An, but once the fight started, they didn't hold back. Their leader immediately engaged and blocked the swordsman. Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Zheng brought out a magical artifact to support the swordsman, and while Le An hadn’t attacked yet, they maintained an even fight in a two versus three. Everyone's eyes were on Le An, who seemed unbothered by the match’s outcome. The swordsman suddenly executed a quick strike to repel the Ding Team Captain, while Xuanyuan Zheng blocked attacks from the other two with his magical artifact. The swordsman's confidence grew with each clash, and within a hundred moves, the fight was decided. From start to finish, Le An didn’t make a move. Defeated by the swordsman, the Team Ding members conceded, their apprehension of Le An deepened. Le An didn't do anything himself, yet he could direct both the swordsman and Xuanyuan Zheng. So, what could happen if he took action himself? The overseeing elder announced, "Team Jia wins." Le An cupped his hands toward the opposing trio, "Thank you for letting us win." The Ding Team Captain said nothing, as he and his two teammates were simultaneously enveloped by a teleportation sigil beneath their feet. In a blink, they vanished from the Mingjing Platform, reappearing on the viewing platform at the back. The viewing platform was packed with people from various sects and factions. Losing so publicly felt like being paraded to the gallows, a humiliating experience for them. Le An led his team off the stage with an air of ease and grace, his every movement filled with a springtime-like joy. Winning this match meant they had passed the second round, bringing them one step closer to the final victory. Le An's relaxed victory left a somber mood among the other teams watching from below. The overseeing elder rose once more, and the bamboo plaque in Yan Zhao's hand lit up again. This time, however, only six balls were left to draw. Watching the spheres collide in the air, Yan Zhao asked Bi Lan and Wu Yingying, "Do you think we'll be drawn next?" Bi Lan shook her head, "I don't know." Wu Yingying wiped her sweaty palms, tense with anticipation. Across from them was Zuo Xun's team. Wu Yingying clasped her hands and silently prayed: Please don't face Senior Sister Zuo, please don't face Senior Sister Zuo… Yan Zhao and Bi Lan were certainly not weak, but Zuo Xun was intimidatingly powerful. If they faced off, Wu Yingying wouldn’t know who to support. With a flick of the palm, two spheres ascended into the air, marking the next competition pair. Xin and Bing. Yan Zhao glanced down at the bamboo plaque as the light returned to it, leaving it dim once more. She remarked, "Not us." Simultaneously, Wu Yingying noticed no light heading toward Zuo Xun. The characters on Zuo Xun's bamboo plaque remained illuminated, indicating they were selected. "Let's go," Zuo Xun coldly said, tossing the words over her shoulder as she confidently stepped onto the platform. Their opponents were three swordsmen. These three appeared to hail from the same sect, the Kunling Sword Sect of the Taixu Immortal Realm. Fellow disciples naturally practiced the same techniques, allowing them high synergy—aside from Le An, they were considered a formidable team. In the previous round, two of their members had secured two tokens each, while their leader, Fang Miao, had captured four. In other words, had Captain Fang Miao not shared tokens with his teammates, his collected tokens would equal Le An's. Once both teams took the stage, the disparity in strength was evident. Fang Miao had the peak of Golden Core cultivation, while his two fellow disciples boasted mid-Golden Core strength. Their aim was to seize the championship. The overseeing elder announced the start of the match. Fang Miao drew his sword and, with a cold demeanor, warned Zuo Xun's team, "Apologies!" The three swordsmen simultaneously moved, their attacks fast and forceful. On Zuo Xun's side, she seemed to carry no weapon. The man with the straw hat held a sword, but his stance made it clear he was unskilled, while the timid Fa Xiu visibly quaked at the sight of the three swordsmen. The spectators below sensed that the outcome was already decided. "Fang Shixiong's swordsmanship has improved again!" someone in the crowd exclaimed in praise, "These three are unfortunate to face the Kunling Sword Sect—their individual skills aren't the strongest, but their sword formations are exceptional!"