At the residence of the Great Xia Sword Sect.
Everyone sat upright in the main hall.
The atmosphere in the room was suffocatingly tense.
After a long silence, Qin Xian let out a soft sigh and spoke.
"Only seven of you still have full fighting capability."
"The battles ahead... have lost their meaning."
"Therefore, after discussion among us elders, we have decided to withdraw from the rest of the tournament!"
*Whoosh!*
An uproar broke out among the disciples, all of them staring at the elder in the head seat in disbelief.
At this moment, Qin Xian's face was filled with desolation, for his heart truly ached for the disciples under his care.
Gao Qiwen sat in the corner with his head lowered, uttering not a single word.
Seeing the burly man's demeanor, Ye Feng could not bear it and spoke up. "Elder Qin... are we really giving up just like that?"
Tu Kui glanced at his disciple and said softly, "Down three disciples, you will be at a disadvantage no matter what.
"Catching up in points is already impossible..."
Just then, however, Li Nanting spoke up and interrupted.
"Whether to give up or not, we will respect your wishes.
"While the Hundred Sects Tournament is a fight for resources, the sect values its role in tempering you even more.
"A sect is a greenhouse. When you reach the Core Formation stage and venture beyond the sect, you will realize the outside world is forever far more brutal than any trial.
"So... whether to keep participating or not is still up to you."
The disciples fell silent.
Yu Ye, Gu Ran, Li Guanqi.
Even across all hundred sects, these three were among the strongest.
Yet among the middle Foundation Establishment disciples, apart from Ye Feng, both Lin Qingyu and Zhong Lin's pair were merely middle-tier in strength, far from guaranteed a win over their opponents.
These four were massive wildcards. Once they lost a match, points would be deducted.
Under such circumstances, even if Li Guanqi and the other two went undefeated from beginning to end, their point total would still look bleak.
Right at that moment, Li Guanqi, who had remained silent all along, spoke softly.
"I am willing to keep fighting!"
"We haven't rooted out who is targeting us yet. I can't accept walking away like this!"
The boy with the icy countenance spoke those words in a calm, steady voice.
Beside him, Ye Feng shrugged. "I want to keep going too!
"Swallowing this rage makes me sick to my stomach. I can't gulp it down, and I can't spit it out!"
Yu Ye said in a deep voice, "I am willing."
Zhong Lin and Lin Dong also responded with resolute expressions, their voices steady. "We disciples feel the same!"
Lin Dong scratched his head and said, "The sect exhausted its resources to nurture us. Even if we can't secure better resources, I don't want to halt my journey right here!"
Needless to say, Gu Ran stepped forward with a dark scowl on her face!
Lin Qingyu, the only one remaining, hesitated for a moment before standing up as well.
Though reluctant in her heart, she was infected by everyone's passion, and a touch of ruthlessness emerged in her eyes!
Having nearly been gravely injured by a Liuyang Academy disciple, she understood that feeling better than anyone.
Lin Qingyu, naturally easygoing and content to go with the flow, did not know why, but after listening to the others, a spark of indignation flared within her as well!
'Why should we suffer this injustice!'
That was the thought in Lin Qingyu's mind!
Looking at the disciples who had all stood up, Qin Xian's eyes grew slightly moist.
Raising his hand, he roared in a deep voice, "If that's the case, then let's tear the world upside down!!
"Let all the Northern Region bear witness to the mettle of our Great Xia Sword Sect disciples!! Let them see whether the swords in our hands are fast enough!!"
In the corner, Gao Qiwen slowly raised his head, gazing at those young disciples as a glimmer of light seemed to kindle in his eyes.
Having decided to continue in the tournament, everyone retired early to rest.
Zhong Lin and Lin Dong's injuries were not severe, and by now they were mostly recovered.
Night fell.
Four figures sat together atop the roof, drinking wine.
Lying on the roof, Ye Feng spoke softly. "Boss."
"Hmm?"
"Do you think... we have a shot at making the top fifty?"
Without the slightest expression, Li Guanqi shook his head gently.
"I don't know."
"To be honest, it will be very, very hard..."
Ye Feng curled his lip and asked, "Then why do you still want to keep fighting?"
Li Guanqi answered softly, "Didn't I already say? I want to root out whoever is targeting us.
"Otherwise, suffering in silence like this—I just can't stomach it.
"Besides, isn't crossing swords with the proud chosen of various sects something to look forward to?"
Zhong Lin snapped back in annoyance, "You think everyone is ridiculously strong like you?"
After draining the wine from his flask, a bright glint flashed in Li Guanqi's eyes.
Turning toward the others, he said softly, "You all need to learn from Lin Qingyu. The moment things look bad, do not hesitate for a second to surrender!
"Only while you're alive is anything still possible."
The others nodded one after another, signaling their understanding.
Li Guanqi leapt down from the roof, stepping into his room with a heavy heart.
Inside the main hall.
Squatting in the corner, Gao Qiwen asked softly, "Are we really just going to let them have their way?"
A look of worry showed on Li Nanting's face as he replied in a deep voice, "How can a fledgeling spread its wings and soar high without braving a storm?
"If they hide under the sect's wings their entire lives, that is all their lives will ever amount to.
"Though dangerous, this is the finest opportunity to temper them."
Qin Xian also nodded slightly and murmured, "They will likely only participate in tomorrow's round. It shouldn't be much of a problem.
"As long as these little fellows raise their spirits, it will be fine for them to forfeit starting from the third round."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded gently.
After all, once the second round concluded, only twenty-five sects would remain.
By that time, the Great Xia Sword Sect would definitely not qualify, so naturally they would not have to participate in any subsequent matches.
Thus, even if they lost this time, it would not affect the Great Xia Sword Sect.
That night, none of the Great Xia Sword Sect members slept well; a burst of indignation burned stifled within every chest.
Early the next morning.
Mount Tianyu was still bustling with clamorous voices, a lively and flourishing scene.
Yet the Great Xia Sword Sect's competing roster had only seven people present!
This gave a start to many spectators who had been keeping an eye on the Great Xia Sword Sect.
"Sigh, looks like the Great Xia Sword Sect came to withdraw today."
"Indeed. Yesterday they suffered one dead and two critically injured. Down three whole people, how can they fight?"
"And here I thought we'd get to see a dark horse this year!"
At that point, someone curled their lip and remarked, "Doesn't it still depend on the clash among the others?"
Beneath the sunlight, Qin Xian ignored the surrounding clamor and walked straight to the side of the tournament arena!
Up in the sky, two projection screens also captured the scene down here.
When everyone saw the disciples standing tall and straight, their hearts skipped a beat!
"*Hiss*... has the Great Xia Sword Sect's leader lost his mind? Things have already come to this, and they're still going to participate?"
"Yeah! Isn't this openly sending his disciples to their deaths?!"
Where there was opposition, there was naturally approval.
Not a few sharp-eyed cultivators chuckled knowingly!
Chapter 127