Chapter 0692: Totem Avatar

Chapter 0692: Totem Doppelganger

After comparing notes, Qin Yun and Xiao Yuelan both concluded that "Long Yue" from Tenglongzhou was actually Xiao Yuemei.

They couldn’t figure out what Xiao Yuemei’s intentions were.

Suddenly, a box was brought out in front of Qin Yun and the others.

Jian Shitian stepped forward and said, "Inside this box are eight pairs of beads, each pair marked with matching numbers. Your opponents and the order of matches will be determined by the beads you draw!"

Qin Yun tried using his Spirit Eye on a whim and discovered he could see the beads inside the box.

At that moment, someone stepped up and reached into the box—a disciple from the Qiwen Hall. He pulled out a bead labeled 'four.'

The second person to draw was also from the Qiwen Hall. By sheer coincidence, he also drew a bead marked 'four.'

The King of Yezhou couldn’t help but sigh deeply. He dreaded the possibility of two Qiwen Hall disciples being pitted against each other too soon.

Who would’ve thought it would happen so coincidentally?

Seeing this, Qin Yun grinned to himself—he had used his mental energy to manipulate the movement of the beads, ensuring that person drew the matching number.

He sent a mental message to the anxious Jian Ruyan: "Sis Yan, let’s draw last... Pick your opponent, and I’ll arrange it for you!"

Jian Ruyan was stunned upon hearing Qin Yun’s message and quickly replied, "Yun, how are you pulling this off? Can you really control the beads inside?"

"Yep. The two Qiwen Hall guys facing each other was my doing. Heh!" Qin Yun transmitted with a laugh.

"That’s amazing! Set me up against a Wanxing Sect disciple—that guy’s a pushover!" Jian Ruyan quickly responded.

"Sis Yan, I thought you hated cheating?" Qin Yun teased.

"Hmph! Blame yourself—you’re a bad influence!" Jian Ruyan shamelessly retorted.

Later, Qin Yun also sent a message to Xiao Yuelan: "Yuelan, when you go to pick a bead, I can make one fly into your hand... Heh, who do you want to face this round?"

"Really? Let me think!" Xiao Yuelan was pleasantly surprised, though she wasn’t particularly concerned about her opponent.

After a moment of consideration, she said, "Set me up against a Totem Pavilion disciple!"

"Nope, I’m taking that one!" Qin Yun chuckled.

"Fine, he’s all yours. Then match me against someone from the Medicine Immortal Valley!" Xiao Yuelan said.

At that moment, it was Jian Nanhu’s turn to draw. Thanks to Qin Yun’s behind-the-scenes meddling, he pulled out a bead labeled 'two.'

Earlier, a Demon Immortal Grotto-Heaven disciple had also drawn a bead with the number two.

Thanks to Qin Yun’s scheming:

- Jian Ruyan’s opponent was from the Wanxing Sect, in the third match.

- Xiao Yuelan’s opponent was from the Medicine Immortal Valley, in the fifth match.

- Qin Yun drew the number one bead, placing him in the first match against a Totem Pavilion disciple.

Seeing Qin Yun’s opponent, Jian Ruyan sent a puzzled message: "Yun, why did you choose to face a Totem Pavilion disciple? Disciples from the Sword Star Sect or the Canghuo Immortal Mountain would’ve been a cakewalk!"

"I’ve got unfinished business with the Totem Pavilion," Qin Yun replied with a smile. Jian Ruyan thought about it—their Immortal Armory City was already at war with the Totem Pavilion. Taking out one of their best here was payback.

"Yun-ge, was it you who arranged for Hu-ge to deal with someone from Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven?" Jian Ruyan chuckled and asked via voice transmission.

"Exactly! The guys from Demon Immortal GrottoHeaven are strong, so I had Jian Nanhu help deal with them."

Qin Yun felt that with his arrangements, he wouldn't end up facing Xiao Yuelan in the end.

Xiao Yuelan had also been slightly concerned earlier—if she had to fight Qin Yun right off the bat, they wouldn't be able to compete for the top spots later.

"First match: Qin Yun versus Du Senyi! Make ready! All others, leave the combat platform!" Jian Shitian bellowed.

Massive ritual pillars slowly rose around the enormous combat platform as a barrier activated.

Du Senyi was a disciple of *Totem Pavilion*, rumored to possess a Fiend Demon Body, making him formidable in both physique and spirit.

His complexion bore a darkish hue, his face unremarkable beneath black robes. Though tall, he lacked the overt menace of other demonic practitioners.

Most who'd faced Du Senyi in combat had died—including two said to have been consumed alive. A truly terrifying opponent.

"Little Yun, this man's darkened skin and potent blood aura suggest he's refined Demon Blood!" Ling Yuner said. "The power of Demon Blood rivals that of Immortal Blood!"

"Could Du Senyi also be over a thousand years old?" Qin Yun asked, surprised.

"No! This fiend cultivated it through consuming victims—their flesh and essence!" Ling Yuner explained. "The Demonic Path offers many shortcuts. Devouring potent life force accelerates Demon Blood refinement!"

Had his opponent been an Immortal Disciple bearing Immortal Blood, Qin Yun would've refused the match.

Fortunately, Du Senyi's demonic nature made him vulnerable to *Hao Ran Zheng Qi*.

Du Senyi's lips twisted in a smirk. "I thought those Esoteric Sigil Hall fools drew the worst lot—but meeting me first? Your luck's truly wretched!"

Qin Yun gave a knowing laugh.

The irony amused him—this "misfortune" was entirely his own orchestration.

Yezhou King frowned at Elder Tu beside him. "Elder Tu, how capable is your disciple? Facing Qin Yun bodes ill."

"My disciple will crush him!" Tu Tiandi boomed, oozing arrogance.

"Wasn't your disciple Hei Teng your strongest? Yet that chit of a girl defeated him! How does Du Senyi compare?"

Yezhou King sought intelligence for future matches.

The mention made Tu Tiandi's face twitch as he shot Xiao Yuelan a venomous glare.

"Elder Ye, Du Senyi has refined Demon Blood!" Tu Tiandi's grin turned feral. "Now gauge his strength!"

Yezhou King drew a sharp breath—he understood the implications.

On the platform, malefic black vapors seeped from Du Senyi's pores, the power beneath his skin quivering like a coiled serpent.

Tenglongzhou's contingent had arrived but couldn't care less about provincial matches.

Their young disciples watched with open sneers.

"Begin!" Jian Shitian's voice shook the arena.

Here's the improved translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Du Senyi's body suddenly swelled, oozing waves of crimson-black energy as his power surged dramatically.

"It's Demon Blood!" Bao Changshou shouted. "Qin Yun, be careful to defend yourself—don't let him drain your blood! This guy has cultivated Demon Blood, and his strength rivals that of an Immortal Disciple with Immortal Blood!"

The crowd erupted in uproar.

Even the people from Tenglongzhou couldn't hide their astonishment.

Qin Yun, however, remained completely unfazed, having anticipated this.

"Qin Yun, I won't go easy on you just to get the Star Monarch Rune Soul!" Du Senyi sneered. "Han Yilai before you was too fixated on obtaining it and failed to kill you decisively!"

Before Du Senyi could finish speaking, Qin Yun had already dashed forward, executing his EarthPiercing Shatterstrike Finger technique with a powerful strike.

"Your strength is too weak!"

Du Senyi stood unmoving, swiftly swatting aside Qin Yun's attack with a single palm strike, creating a deafening explosion.

The shockwave rippled out but was contained by the barrier, whipping up violent gusts.

"This guy really is strong!"

Qin Yun had only been probing with a standard attack, but Du Senyi swatted it aside effortlessly.

"Xiao Yun, his Demon Blood is nearly as strong as Immortal Blood! That's why it's normal. You can counter him with your Haoran Zheng Qi energy!" Ling Yuner said. "Otherwise, the power disparity would be overwhelming."

Du Senyi's body blurred, leaving behind an afterimage as he instantly appeared behind Qin Yun, striking down with his palm.

Qin Yun sensed it just in time and swiftly evaded using Radiant Mirage steps.

Du Senyi's attack missed, slamming into the arena and unleashing a dark hurricane.

Qin Yun felt a chill of dread—had he been even slightly slower, that strike would've turned him to pulp.

"Immortal-Slaying Demon Palm!" The Muzhou King of Tenglongzhou frowned. "That's a long-lost demonic technique! Demon Wasteland's disciples are indeed formidable."

Seeing Qin Yun flee, Du Senyi scoffed, "Qin Yun, all you good for is running?"

With a shudder, his body engulfed the entire battleground in a dense black mist.

The mist churned, turning the arena into a viscous black morass.

Soon, the mist dissipated, revealing sinister black sigils etched across the arena floor.

Totem patterns!

Qin Yun recognized them instantly—these were profound and powerful totems.

"Demonic Totems—and Xuan-tier at that!" Ling Yuner exclaimed. "What is this guy planning?"

"Activate!"

With Du Senyi's roar, the demonic totems on the arena surged upward, coalescing into a humanoid figure—a perfect facsimile of Du Senyi!

"A totem clone!" Bao Changshou's face turned grave.

"Totem Clone—a long-lost totem martial art! I never expected the Totem Pavilion to possess it!" The Muzhou King gaped in astonishment.

Tu Tiandi of the Totem Pavilion chuckled. "This totem martial art isn't easy to master, but Du Senyi's natural aptitude and comprehension allowed him to grasp it effortlessly."

The demi-immortals present burned with jealousy and reverence—this technique was versatile; any totem wielder could use it.

Now, the totem clone charged at Qin Yun, pincer-attacking with Du Senyi from two directions!

Qin Yun's predicament seemed hopeless—facing two enemies at once!