Chapter 3693: Drawing Lots

"You… you dare… Ice Cloud Valley will not let you off…"

Leng Hanchuan's expression changed drastically; he had not expected Ye Bufan to come up with such a punishment.

To be slapped one hundred times in front of so many people was simply a slap in the face to Ice Cloud Valley.

Ye Bufan ignored his threats and waved his hand. Fifth Elder Ling and Ling Jianfei scrambled to rush forward.

They pinned him to the ground, one hitting the left side and the other hitting the right. The two of them slapped him one after another, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

The sound of "slap, slap, slap" rang out incessantly, and the surrounding crowd watched in stunned silence.

What was happening? Had the people of Lingyun Sword Sect gone mad? This was a Personal Disciple of the Ice Cloud Valley Sect Master, the future successor, being slapped in the face in public just like that?

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, after the one hundred slaps were finished, Leng Hanchuan's cheeks were already severely swollen.

Fifth Elder Ling kicked him in the buttocks, sending him flying dozens of feet away.

"You got off easy today, get lost!"

"You… you wait for me!"

Leng Hanchuan's teeth had been knocked out, making his speech slurred. His eyes were filled with endless resentment as he turned and flew toward the top of the mountain.

"What's wrong with Lingyun Sword Sect? Have they gone mad? Could it be that they have already given up on this Sect competition?"

"That's likely the case. Otherwise, having offended Ice Cloud Valley, they would surely be tortured to death once they go up…"

"That won't work either. Even if they surrender, they will still be retaliated against. That is a Personal Disciple of the Sect Master, the future successor…"

The onlookers discussed the situation, whispering to one another and voicing their speculations.

Ye Bufan ignored the crowd's reaction and walked toward the mountain peak, with Ling Jianfeng and the others following respectfully behind.

At the top of the mountain, the arena had already been set up.

The Four Great Sects each had their own designated seats, located in the four cardinal directions.

Near the arena, there was a separate, luxuriously decorated, and noble-looking platform, which was the seating prepared for the envoys of the Three Great Sects.

For competitions like this, they would send envoys to bear witness and to issue the tokens to the winners.

When Ye Bufan and his group arrived, not only were the people from the other Three Great Sects already in place, but a white-haired old man sat on the high platform—this was Gongyang Jian, the envoy from Dile Heaven for this event.

To ensure fairness and impartiality in the Hundred Sects Tournament, the envoys sent were all experts from the Three Sects, Five Schools, and Seven Families.

The Gongyang Jian before them possessed a powerful aura, having clearly reached the Middle Stage of the Immortal King realm. Ye Bufan observed his surroundings before leading his group to take their seats in the west, where Lingyun Sword Sect was located.

Just as they sat down, they felt sharp gazes shooting toward them from the side; it was Ice Cloud Valley, which was positioned on the north side.

Leng Hanchuan had arrived there first and gave an exaggerated account of his experience.

Everyone in Ice Cloud Valley was instantly enraged. Among the Four Great Sects, they were the strongest.

They were always the ones bullying others; when had they ever been humiliated like this, especially by Lingyun Sword Sect, whom they looked down upon the most?

"Master, you must uphold justice for me. The people of Lingyun Sword Sect are simply too arrogant!"

"They said that hitting me was secondary, and that their main goal was to slap the face of Ice Cloud Valley and to slap your face…"

Leng Hanchuan cried with snot and tears running down his face, and combined with his face that looked like a pig's head, he appeared incredibly miserable.

"Sect Master, let us go find Lingyun Sword Sect for revenge right now. They are bullying us too much and have no fear of death…"

The surrounding Disciples were all filled with righteous indignation, gesticulating wildly.

"Everyone shut up! What time do you think this is? How dare you act recklessly!"

The person speaking was a middle-aged man with a refined demeanor; it was Leng Binghuang, the Sect Master of Ice Cloud Valley.

Although he stopped his Disciples, the chill radiating from his body grew even more intense.

His own Personal Disciple had been beaten like that in public; as the Sect Master, he had absolutely lost face.

"Do not act rashly for now. If you encounter Lingyun Sword Sect in the upcoming arena battles, fight with full force and do not show any mercy!"

These words were filled with killing intent; clearly, he was truly enraged.

However, with Gongyang Jian present, he dared not initiate a conflict between the two Sects, otherwise they could easily be disqualified from this event.

According to his plan, he would vent his anger in the arena first, and then seek revenge against Lingyun Sword Sect after the Sect competition.

No matter what, he had to regain this face, otherwise, how would Ice Cloud Valley continue to stand in Dile Heaven?

Just as he set the tone, the group from Lingyun Sword Sect arrived at the mountain peak, and their gazes were naturally filled with murderous intent.

All Four Great Sects were in position. Soon, the appointed time arrived. Gongyang Jian stepped out, hovered above the arena, and looked down at the people below.

"Everyone, I am Gongyang Jian, the envoy for this Hundred Sects Tournament…"

After a brief self-introduction, he began to announce the rules of the competition.

"This time, as in the past, the Four Great Sects will face off in pairs through a drawing of lots. The final winner will receive the participation token for the Hundred Sects Tournament."

"Each Sect will send five Disciples. The only requirement is that they must be under a thousand years old. There are no rules in the arena battles; any method used to win is considered valid."

"I will serve as the judge for every arena battle. Those who fall and cannot rise within ten breaths are judged to have lost; those knocked off the arena are judged to have lost; those who voluntarily surrender are judged to have lost…"

"The five Disciples will participate in five separate arena battles, with one point awarded for each match. The first to reach three points wins, and the remaining matches do not need to continue…"

The competition between the Four Great Sects had been held countless times; these rules had not changed at all and were simply read from the script.

Soon, Gongyang Jian finished his routine and read the rules again, finally saying: "Alright, let the drawing of lots begin."

"I have four spheres here. Those with the same color will face each other, with red going first."

After speaking, he raised his hand and waved it, and four small light spheres flew out, each shining brightly.

Wrapped in powerful Immortal Essence, even Divine Sense could not penetrate them, and no one could see what was inside.

"Come on, send your representatives over to draw lots."

As soon as his voice fell, the Sect Leaders of the Four Great Sects flew into the air, each grabbing a sphere.

Gongyang Jian waved his hand, and the light outside the spheres vanished, revealing their true forms.

In Ling Jianfeng's hand was a small red sphere, while the other red sphere was in the hands of Huo Yanzhi, the Hall Master of the Flame God Hall.

The surrounding crowd was in an uproar. Many people had seen the conflict at the foot of the mountain and secretly thought that Lingyun Sword Sect was truly lucky.

Not only did they avoid the strongest Ice Cloud Valley, but they also avoided the second-ranked Black Tiger School, drawing the Flame God Hall, whose strength was only slightly better than theirs.

On the other side, Leng Binghuang held a black sphere, his gaze becoming incredibly sharp.

According to his plan, it would be best to draw Lingyun Sword Sect in the first round, which would allow them to seek revenge and conserve their strength, but he did not expect to draw the second-ranked Black Tiger School directly.

The expressions of those from Black Tiger School were equally ugly; they clearly did not want to encounter Ice Cloud Valley in the first round.

Although the two Sects were filled with extreme reluctance, there was no other way; the rules had to be followed.

Some were happy while others were sad. While the others were extremely unwilling, the Flame God Hall was overjoyed, as this was the best possible draw for them.

According to the strength ranking of the Four Great Sects from last time, they were ranked third, and the only one weaker than them was Lingyun Sword Sect.

In contrast, Ye Bufan's side remained calm. Their goal was to come out on top, so it didn't matter who they encountered in the first round.