Chapter 0690: The State King

Chapter 0690: The Regional Champion

Qin Yun won his group, becoming the second fighter to do so.

The first was Jian Nanhu, who finished his match in seconds after it began.

Next was Xiao Yuelan, the third to make it into the top sixteen.

Jian Nanhu glanced at Xiao Yuelan nearby, thinking she might be a formidable opponent, though he wasn’t sure if they’d face each other next.

Totem Pavilion’s disciples and two Immortal Disciples from the Glyph Temple also won their matches in succession.

Among the Five Immortal Sects, each had group winners. The Glyph Temple and Sword Immortal Pavilion stood out, with two Immortal Disciples each winning their groups.

Jian Ruyan also won easily, unharmed.

The next day, other groups still had matches to finish before determining their winners.

The final tournament would begin in three days.

Qin Yun spent those three days resting and recovering.

Two days later, the final sixteen were set.

The Glyph Temple, Sword Immortal Pavilion, Immortal Armory City, and Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven each had two disciples in the finals.

Blaze Immortal Mountain and Herb Immortal Valley each sent one disciple through.

Of the three Moon Sects, Flame Moon City and Devil Moon Island each had one qualifier.

Among the Five Star Sects, only Sword Star Sect and Wanxing Sect had one group winner each.

Rounding out the list were Totem Pavilion and the Jian Family.

Within the Immortal Sects, only Qin Yun and Jian Ruyan weren’t Immortal Disciples.

Now mostly healed, Qin Yun sat in the hall listening to news about who made the cut.

"The sixteen of you will draw your matchups by lot. Tournament veterans should know the drill by now!"

Sect Leader Bao was relieved to see Qin Yun recovering well.

"Master, which opponents should we watch out for?" Jian Ruyan asked.

"Overall, several tough opponents stand out. Devil Moon Island and Sword Immortal Pavilion’s disciples are strongest. Then there’s Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven—those two are mysterious. From what I saw, they hardly showed what they could really do during matches!"

"As for Totem Pavilion and the Star Sect disciples, they shouldn’t give you trouble."

"Finally, the Glyph Temple’s Immortal Disciples are most concerning. I’d bet those two are cheating—their strength is unfathomable, and impossible to gauge!"

Bao Changshou had done his homework.

Qin Yun asked, "What’s the Jian Family disciple’s level?"

He remained wary of their fighter.

"Good, but no match for Brother Hu!" Jian Ruyan laughed. "Nothing to worry about!"

Qin Yun had watched Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven’s matches before but couldn’t get a read on them—the barrier blocked their auras.

Bao Changshou said, "Jian Nanhu and Xiao Yuelan are the most outstanding in terms of strength. It's best if you don't encounter these two in the early stages!"

Jian Ruyan pouted, "I don't want to face them either, but what can you do? Each round involves drawing lots, so we can only leave it to fate!"

She was particularly afraid of encountering Xiao Yuelan, as she felt Xiao Yuelan was far more terrifying than Qin Yun.

Qin Yun chuckled, "We still have one more day of rest tomorrow. Maybe we can make some offerings or something."

Bao Changshou said, "Tomorrow... the Tenglongzhou contingent will arrive. You top sixteen disciples will need to meet them."

"Are their top sixteen coming too?" Jian Ruyan asked in surprise.

"I heard only the top four are coming, as they're the only ones uninjured from the competition. The others were decimated." Bao Changshou sighed. "Every Martial Path Championship is this brutal."

Jian Ruyan smiled, "There are too many geniuses. Some must be eliminated, or the sky couldn't contain them all!"

Qin Yun asked curiously, "Why are the Tenglongzhou people coming? Just to watch?"

Bao Changshou shook his head, "I don't know. It was arranged by the Rune Soul Hall."

"Tenglongzhou is the Long family's stronghold. It's said their power is strongest there—their place of origin," Jian Ruyan explained.

"Indeed, the Long family of Tenglongzhou is a behemoth, rivaling immortal sects. They'll likely arrive tomorrow too," Bao Changshou added.

"If Grand Master Ye brought them here, they're definitely up to no good," Qin Yun snorted.

...

Upon hearing the Tenglongzhou group would arrive the next day, many disciples grew curious, eager to see how strong they were.

Tenglongzhou and Aoxingzhou were quite distant, so interactions between them were rare.

Most only knew the Long family's descendants from Tenglongzhou were formidable, as it was their ancestral land.

The next day, Qin Yun was woken up early—by Jian Ruyan entering his room.

Ever since he'd done her some favors, she'd grown more familiar with him, acting casually around him.

Qin Yun dressed in the same pale blue robes as Jian Ruyan, though he disliked the look. But as it was Celestial Weapon City's attire, he had no choice.

Bao Changshou led Qin Yun, Jian Ruyan, and the other disciples to the martial arena.

Normally, such meetings would be held in a grand hall, but for some reason, they were heading to the massive combat grounds.

On the way, they encountered Jian Nanhu and others.

"Qin Yun, I heard the Tenglongzhou folks are extremely arrogant. They arrived last night, and one boasted he alone could wipe out our entire top sixteen!" Jian Nanhu said. "Meeting us at the arena clearly means they want a fight—music to my ears!"

Jian Ruyan laughed, "Brother Hu, the official Martial Path Championship is tomorrow. Eager much?"

Jian Nanhu smirked proudly, "The top four from Tenglongzhou's championship are no pushovers. If I defeat them all today, you'll know exactly where I stand!"

The multiple platforms in the arena had been dismantled, leaving only the largest one at center stage.

Below the grand platform stood about twenty figures, mostly elders and middle-aged individuals, including Demi-Immortals and Martial Emperors—clearly the heavyweights from the four factions.

"That's Qin Yun!" Grand Master Ye pointed at him from afar.

"He who controls Qin Yun controls the Star Monarch Rune Soul," Tu Tiandi said under his breath. "But it won't be easy."

Qin Yun heard Grand Master Ye's voice and seethed with anger.

The matter of the Star Monarch Rune Soul had already spread to other states.

Now that the people from Tenglong state had arrived, it was clear they were also after the Star Monarch Rune Soul.

"These pests never quit!" Qin Yun was furious. If he had enough strength, he would have charged over and pummeled those trying to capture him.

The Martial Arts Championship in Tenglong state was also organized by the Mystic Rune Hall, and they awarded two Immortal Essences.

The first and second places went to the Long family and the local Mystic Rune Hall respectively.

Qin Yun's group saw Tenglong state's top four—the other three were strikingly handsome youths, while the last wore a mask, appearing mysterious.

"The masked one is a Long family disciple—a woman named Long Yue. She took first place and boasted she could wipe the floor with all sixteen of us!" Jian Nanhu whispered to Qin Yun.

All sixteen finalists from Aoxing state were present, scrutinizing Tenglong state's top four with curiosity.

"Friends from Tenglong state, why'd you pick this spot?" Jian Shitian asked upon arrival.

"More space here. Cramming into some hall would be stifling. Breathing your exhaled air? Disgusting enough!"

The speaker was a demi-immortal in luxurious purple robes bearing a Mystic Rune Master badge—black with the character "Dao" engraved.

Jian Shitian's temper ignited, as did the other Aoxing state demi-immortals. They'd heard of Tenglong state's arrogance, and now saw it firsthand.

"I'm Tenglong state's Mystic Rune Hall Grand Master, de facto State King. Address me as Muzhou King!"

"In power and status, I outrank your so-called Grand Master Ye! I even have authority to meddle in Aoxing state's affairs!" The purple-robed elder sneered.

Grand Master Ye's face clouded over. The Aoxing state demi-immortals bristled—this was clearly a play to annex their state.

Noting Bao Changshou's displeasure, Muzhou King barked a laugh: "No state king yet, eh? I'll take the job—establish rules to make Aoxing state prosper!"

"Muzhou King, you're overstepping!" Jian Shitian snapped. "Aoxing state has talent to spare. We don't need outsiders dictating terms!"

"Then elect your own state king during this championship! Set rules so our states can compete properly!" Muzhou King flashed a crocodile grin.

Grand Master Ye proposed: "Let the winning disciple's faction leader become state king. Agreed?"

Bao Changshou countered: "Tenglong state's winner was from the Long family. Why are you state king?"

Muzhou King chuckled: "The Long family head handed me the title."

"We won't stand for electing a state king!" interjected a Medicine Immortal Valley demi-immortal. "Unless he imposes no rules!"

Big shots from Canghuo Immortal Mountain and other factions also objected.

"Why fix what isn't broken?" Bao Changshou shrugged.

"You must elect one with unified rules!" Grand Master Ye insisted. "Otherwise you'll forfeit the two Immortal Essences!"

Qin Yun and Xiao Yuelan shared a look of exasperation. Their damn championship had been hijacked for this state king farce.