Chapter 1318: Four Dead Weights? As If!

"Don’t worry, I don’t believe that the five of us can’t beat her." Lv Junran said arrogantly, completely ignoring Huayue and the others.

Below the stage, everyone looked at Mu Hanyan and her team with sympathy. Mu Hanyan just had bad luck. If she encountered one of the weaker teams from Shangyue Country, maybe she could win single-handedly. But who would have thought she would be up against the team from West Qin Country right from the start? She probably won’t even make it through the first round. No way, the others have four helpers, while she has four burdens.

Mu Hanyan heard Lv Junran’s words and the surrounding discussions but just smiled faintly, not taking it to heart.

Burdens, you say? The three great fiends who will one day be famous in Anyun couldn’t possibly be burdens. Just wait, it won’t be long before you all get a surprise.

"First match, Anyun: Mu Hanyan, Huayue, Zirong, Jiang Yuzhe, Tang Budan, versus West Qin: Lv Junran, Zhao Han, Zhao Feng, Liu Rulong, and Tie Zheng." The academy mentor acting as referee announced loudly on the competition platform.

"Sir, it’s Tang Bufan, not Tang Budan." Tang Bufan stood up, blushing as he protested.

"Oh, it’s Tang Bufan, is it? Sorry, I’ve not heard of it before, must’ve read it wrong." The referee apologized.

A burst of giggles erupted from below the stage.

Mu Hanyan broke out in a cold sweat. If they could even get names wrong, it showed how much outsiders underestimated the people around her. But it was fine, the more they underestimated, the easier it was for Huayue and the others to conceal their strength, and the bigger the surprise would be when revealed.

The horn sounded, and both teams entered the stage.

Since it was a team fight, the selected competition platform was much larger, at least ten zhang in size.

"You must be Mu Hanyan. I heard that Nan Aotian was defeated by you. While that guy is indeed an idiot, he’s still from West Qin. Today, I’ll avenge him and set the record straight for West Qin." Lv Junran, like a proud rooster, arrogantly said with his neck held high.

"Actually, he wasn’t defeated by me; he smartly chose to admit defeat. If you’re as smart as him, you’d best surrender early to avoid disgrace." Mu Hanyan calmly replied.

She had previously reviewed Lv Junran’s data. She was confident of surpassing Lv Junran, but besides Lv Junran, Zhao Han, Zhao Feng, and the others were not weak. In a melee, Huayue and the others would inevitably get hurt. Now that she knew Huayue and the others mastered their innate divine abilities, she wasn’t worried about their safety, but their divine abilities were the biggest trump card, the later they are revealed, the better.

This battle had to be resolved quickly. Thus, her words were meant to provoke Lv Junran into going all out from the start; otherwise, dragging it on and off would inevitably expose Huayue’s divine abilities.

"You brat, I didn’t intend to hit a woman initially, but since you’ve chosen to die, don’t blame me for being rude. Attack." Lv Junran commanded, and they charged forward simultaneously.

Five agile figures arrowed forward, six bright longswords scattered frost with dragon roars piercing the nine heavens. Although Lv Junran was the strongest at Eighth Rank Sword Master, and the others were between Sixth-level and Seventh Rank Sword Masters, when attacking together, the momentum was still astonishing, with sword power comparable to ordinary Sword Saints.

This was not just because of their notable strength but also hinged on their seamless cooperation and the swords they held.

West Qin Country was famed for their sword casting technique. Their superiority when they invaded Anyun was greatly due to this. If not for their legion being unexpectedly trapped by the Heavenly Sword Seven Killings Array at Longyan Academy during their covert assault on Anyun City, Anyun might be under West Qin’s control now.

The longswords in the hands of Lv Junran’s team, while not at the level of divine artifacts, were at least demigod artifacts.

Almost in a blink, Lv Junran and his team were only two zhang away. At this point, they split, with Lv Junran, Zhao Han, and Liu Rulong jointly attacking Mu Hanyan, while Zhao Feng and Tie Zheng targeted Huayue and the others.

Three longswords pierced like meteors: one targeted Mu Hanyan’s heart meridian, another the qi sea, and the third her throat. The speed, power, and angle were impeccable. Obviously, the three had worked together for some time, cooperating seamlessly.

Having previously seen Lv Junran’s arrogance, Mu Hanyan thought he was brash and brainless. Now she realized she had underestimated her opponent. Being chosen by West Qin to compete for the Heavenly Destiny Star Plate, even if arrogant, he wouldn’t be brainless.

Even facing such a masterful strike, Mu Hanyan was forced to evade, tapping her toes as she retreated agilely.

Lv Junran and his team pursued closely in a triangle formation, with swords still pointing at her vulnerable spots.

On the other side, Zhao Feng and Tie Zheng unfurled their sword force, blocking the path between Mu Hanyan and Huayue’s team.

Zhao Feng, a Seventh Rank Sword Master, and Tie Zheng, a Sixth-level Sword Master, were stronger than Huayue and her team. Facing four opponents, they might not win but could stall for a significant time.

"Mu Hanyan, here’s your chance to surrender. If you do, I’ll let you go." Lv Junran smugly said while touching his spiky hair. After all, this was just the first round, and the opponents would get stronger. Preserving strength wasn’t a bad idea.

"Do you think this means a guaranteed win?" Mu Hanyan responded with a smile.

"Mu Hanyan, do you think you alone can withstand the three of us combined? Your strength may be notable, but unfortunately, as the saying goes, ’I’d rather face a godlike opponent than pig-like teammates.’ Your team is just too weak, hahaha." Lv Junran laughed heartily.

Against other opponents with similar strength, he wouldn’t dare have Zhao Feng and Tie Zheng face four opponents alone—it’d be suicide. But Huayue’s team clearly fell short. Three Fifth Rank Sword Masters and even one Third Stage Sword Master—putting all efforts, they might only match Zhao Feng and Tie Zheng.

Once he, Zhao Han, and Liu Rulong defeated Mu Hanyan, it would be easy to deal with the remaining weaker opponents.

Of course, he could opt for a different strategy—facing Mu Hanyan alone, while the others gradually overcame Huayue’s team, before regrouping against Mu Hanyan. But as Mu Hanyan expected, Lv Junran, while arrogant, was not reckless. With a quick assessment, he knew facing Mu Hanyan alone involved substantial risks. Having Zhao Feng and Tie Zheng restrain Huayue and the others, while he, Zhao Han, and Liu Rulong focused on Mu Hanyan, posed no risk at all. The choice was obvious.