The Endless Promise

110. Traitors

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Disciple Jiang let go of his stump and held out his remaining hand, then closed it into a sudden fist.

In a split second, the spiky chains completely constricted into a knot of endless spikes, seemingly impaling and crushing Weiyan within.

"Yanyan!" Sect Leader Xu shot to his feet.

"Little sister!"

"Big Sister!" Outside the barrier, the disciples were dismayed.

Almost all of the Wulin, dignitaries, and competitors stared in shock, but in the elevated seats, Lord Li of Yueyan Sect gave a cold smile as he whispered,

"Three, two, one..."

A sudden explosion shook the arena and the massive knot of spiky chains was blown apart, the chains themselves ripping to shreds as if made of cloth, not metal.

At the center stood Weiyan completely unharmed, and engulfed by her white flames. More than that, her eyes also glowed a brilliant white, and an odd symbol appeared on her forehead.

Cheers erupted around the genuinely entertained crowd of spectators, but Sect Leader Xu and the disciples sagged with relief.

Weiyan took a step forward and the platform beneath her foot dented, the cracks fanning outwards.

"Impossible!" Disciple Jiang shot to his feet, staggering backwards. "What are you?!" He quickly raised a hand. "I forfeit! I forfei-!"

He never finished as Weiyan blurred and he was suddenly airborne and crashing into the red barrier, several bones and tendons broken.

Weiyan leapt and landed before him, a cruel expression on her face as she looked down at him. "According to the 'New Rules', you can't forfeit till mortally wounded." She raised her sword, unmoved by his pained whimpering.

"Why don't I make it so you can forfeit? Hmmm?"

Disciple Jiang forced himself into a sloppy kowtow, his face bruised and swollen. "Little siste-! No, no, no!" He slapped his own mouth. "Graceful fairy! Please have mercy on me! I apologise for offending yo-!"

But before he could finish, a wave of aura sent him flying out of the barrier, and he fell to the ground unconscious.

The same aura swept towards Weiyan, but she hastily leapt away and the accompanying dust cleared to reveal four individuals.

They were all Sect Leaders, all within the Astral Tier, and all wearing identical smirks directed at Weiyan.

Weiyan fisted her hand around her sword hilt, a worried furrow on her brow. She was strong, but taking on four elders was daunting, even for a more experienced elder...

"Hmph. A junior disciple who has already stepped into the Astral Tier..." One of them mused, his smirk deepening at her expression.

"Yueyan Sect is really raising monsters!" Another put in, and a third stepped forward.

"Little girl, hope you won't say we're bullying you? Four of us are your new opponents!"

The last statement was loud and clear, raising instant outrage from the elevated seats.

"City Master! What nonsense is this?!" Sect Leader Xu demanded, and Sect Leader Ju did not hesitate to jump in.

"Did you not say no one from the elevated seats could interfere?! Why then are a few amongst us standing on that platform?!"

All they heard was the gentle swish of a brush, and then...

"Change of rules. They can challenge the opponent."