The Scum Is A ***

"WHAT?!" everyone exclaimed in shock. Wreak havoc in Zhongyang?! They thought.

"I am afraid it is not just in Zhongyang." Cheng Sheng continued with a heavy voice.

Everyone's expressions changed when they understood. The enemies should be focusing their attack only in Zhongyang right now since everyone has gathered here. After that… they thought as their faces turned grim.

Ho Yue heaved a sigh and he pinched the space between his brows.

"What is their objective?" Sun Yu asked him.

Ho Yue shook his head. "I don't know. Maybe resources?" he guessed. "It shouldn't be Ting-er and I, either, since they thought we are just weak orphans." He frowned. "Maybe they even thought that we have already died. They wouldn't think Ting-er and I would cross the sea. They think we wouldn't dare." He added.

They all nodded in understanding. The enemies must want to claim their land, and their resources, too. Naturally, they can't let the enemies succeed.

"Elder Zheng." Cheng Sheng called. "Tomorrow should be the third stage of the Intersect Competition, and it would be the participants against the demons, right?" he asked.

"That should be correct." Zheng Fu Gong nodded. "Yi-er is the organizer for this year's event." He said and turned to Zheng Yi.

"Now with the enemies are looming in on us, and the demons in front of us, we can't let the disciples who know nothing be caught between the devil and the deep blue sea." Cheng Sheng said.

"… huh?" they muttered, didn't understand what Cheng Sheng said.

Fei Yin smiled when he saw Cheng Sheng revealed an awkward expression. "Ehem. I mean, be stuck between a rock and a hard place." Cheng Sheng rephrased.

"Pft." Fei Yin, who is the only one who understand what Cheng Sheng said, looked away with a grin on his face.

The others don't know what is happening between them so they didn't ask. "Elder Cheng is right." They agreed to what he said.

"What does elder Cheng suggest?" Zheng Yi asked.

Cheng Sheng smiled. "Then, you do this for the next stage – " he said as he beckoned Zheng Yi.

Everyone who saw the devious smile on Cheng Sheng's lips. "…" oh, god… here he is to pit someone again! They thought with dark lines covering their faces. But, since it wouldn't be them that Cheng Sheng will be pitting, they are happy.

They have no pity to their disciples for letting them fall in Cheng Sheng's hands? Who says they don't pity them? They thought. But, it is just that, right now, what they need is to be indifferent towards them since this will hone their skills.

Also, although Cheng Sheng will be pitting them, it doesn't necessarily mean that it would be that bad… right? They thought, unsure in their hearts.

…

The next day, everyone's faces turned dark when they heard what the host said about the changes in the third stage of the competition.

The host's smile is stiff as he spoke. "In this stage, we will abolish the solo, pair and group battles. The third stage will become freestyle, but it will be point system." He said. "This means that the participants can form groups or choose to go solo, as long as they earn enough points." He explained.

"Oh? This is interesting." The audience said as they excitedly listened.

"Yes. This means that the rogue cultivators can team up with the disciples but the disciples might not team up with their fellow disciple." Someone spoke.

"Choosing a rogue cultivator than their fellow disciple… isn't this just sowing discord?" someone asked.

The sect leaders' faces are as black as the bottom of the pot.

"Also… what do they mean by 'enough points'?" someone added.

The sect leaders are about to lose it. 

The host nervously gulped as cold sweat trickled down his face. "This refers to the 'elimination periods' in this stage." He answered.

"'elimination periods'?" they asked.

"The elimination period is elimination of the participants after they were judged with their current points." The host spoke. "Before the elimination period arrives, the participants should have enough or more than the threshold point that the Righteous Alliance will reveal that time. If not, they will be eliminated." He explained.

"WHAT?!" everyone exclaimed in shock. "This… this sounds exciting!!!" the audience said, feeling their blood burning.

The host's lips twitched. "There will be three elimination periods before the last elimination period which will be at the end of this stage." He continued. "The first elimination period will be five days after the third stage starts. The second elimination period will be four days after that. The third elimination period will be three days after that." He explained. Then, he suddenly paused. "Of course, we won't be merciless. Their teammates, or anyone can give them points until their points suffice. They will be judged at the end of the stage." He said.

The audience roared in cheers. "Exciting! This year's competition is definitely exciting!" they exclaimed.

"If, at the end of the stage everyone has the same points, then everyone will advance to the next stage." The host spoke with a smile.

"Woah! This system isn't merciless. In fact, it is humane?" the audience said.

Hearing what the host spoke at the end, the sect leaders' expression cleared up and they sighed in relief. They knew it. Cheng Sheng wouldn't be merciless. Although the third stage looked like will be a grueling battle, as long as the participants would cooperate with each other, they all can win and advance to the next, last stage.

But, still, the pit is too large… the sect leaders' faces were covered with dark lines again. Not all participants would cooperate. After all, this is a competition. And, as the audience said, a discord is likely to happen.

"Xiao Sheng." Fan Wen called. "This idea of yours…" he muttered.

"Is brilliant, right?" Cheng Sheng happily smiled.

Everyone who heard it. "…" what fcking 'brilliant'?! This is too ruthless to the participants! They all thought. But, seeing Cheng Sheng's scummy smile return again, they shut up and turned their attention to the competition.

Fei Yin snickered and looked away. Too cute. He thought as he looked at Cheng Sheng's proud smile. His Sheng is too cute. He thought and smiled. Cheng Sheng can attend today's competition is due to Fei Yin acting as his bodyguard. Since the lover is now here, how can the others compete to be Cheng Sheng's bodyguard?

But, this is Fei Yin's first appearance in public after five years. There was an uproar earlier but the audience immediately calmed down seeing Fei Yin's indifferent expression. Although his face is definitely handsome, Fei Lin's smiling face is more pleasing to the eyes so they lost interest in him.

"Yin." Cheng Sheng called.

"Hm?" Fei Yin answered as he turned. But, he didn't hear Cheng Sheng spoke. He was about to speak when he felt something cool slipped on his finger.

His pupils shrank and shook as his heart skipped a beat. He stared at the top of Cheng Sheng's head but Cheng Sheng still didn't look at him. He only felt that the other held his hand tight, writing something on his palm with his index finger.

"This is the missing piece of your soul. I took it from Er Zi through the Five Elements Array I made into a shrunken size for the earring he is wearing right now so he won't notice anything. The missing piece of your soul is in this ring." 

Fei Yin's heart throbbed and his eyes reddened. But, he held back his tears and held Cheng Sheng's hand tight. His lover is always thinking of his sake. He already noticed it on Fei Yinzi. And he thinks that was the reason why Fei Yinzi felt something towards Cheng Sheng. Just that this child still wasn't enlightened in that area.

But, fortunately, he wasn't, or else Fei Yinzi would feel very confused right now of his feelings towards his master.

…

Fei Yinzi who is ignorant of him avoiding undergoing emotional disaster is fully focused on the rules of the third stage of the competition.

"Each participant will be given a map of the special space where the third stage will be held and it is demon-infested." The host spoke as the Righteous Alliance clad in black clothes that covered their entire bodies approached the participants with a stone on their hands.

The Righteous Alliance disciples handed the stones to the participants and then left.

"That stone contains the map and also the rules of the third stage for you to recall. You use your qi for the stone to work." The host continued. "Now, each of you are strong for you to have reach this far. But, it is still important to remind you to never overestimate your abilities since this time, your opponent will be demons and not your fellow participant." He told them.

Their faces turned solemn.

"Your fellow participants can stop their attack before it gets lethal but the demon won't give you mercy. They will definitely devour you." The host said. "Not to mention, if you can form groups, and so will the demons that are smart. So, you have to be careful." He told them.

"Yes!" the participants answered as they clenched their fists. Their chest are burning with determination.

"Again, the competition is not just a game. It is very dangerous and you can lose your life." The host continued as he looked at each one of them. "Like in the previous stage, the sect leaders and elders along with the Righteous Alliance will interfere if they deem that the situation is dangerous. But, you have to lose your qualification for this stage." He told them. "Thus, don't overestimate your abilities." He warned them.

The participants solemnly nodded.

"Then, participants, good luck!" the host said..  "The third stage will now begin!" he announced.