Ma Jiamen: I was forced to fight for supremacy

Due to the disastrous outcome of the second round of the competition, all participants who continued to participate were temporarily rested for three days. These three days were also a time for consultations between Jiange and representatives from the major sects.

Since the content of the third competition had not yet been determined, Ma Zhan and his team had not yet disbanded, and He Ling was still staying in the Dahe Mansion. Except for the night when Liu Nange was not allowed to stay in the courtyard, he spent the rest of his time there.

Ma Zhan used three meals a day and a midnight snack to exchange for elixirs from Liu Nange to help his internal strength recover quickly.

With the help of the Snow Toad, Zheng Xiaoqiao completely tamed the waters of the Forgotten River in just one day. His main task now was to familiarize himself with the aura of ice in preparation for future training in ice-based techniques.

The five people spent three harmonious and uplifting days in the small courtyard.

On the evening of the third day, Liu Nange received news from his subordinates that the content of the third round of the competition had been confirmed, a one-on-one arena fight.

Sixty bamboo tubes were placed on the Dajianping, and each bamboo tube represented a practitioner.

Practitioners choose their own opponents, placing their number plates into the bamboo tube of the person they wish to compete with. If a bamboo tube contains multiple number plates, the practitioner represented by the bamboo tube can choose any of the number plates as their opponent.

If the underdog defeats the superior player, he or she can obtain the opponent's number plate.

The unselected number plates and bamboo tubes without number plates will have to re-select each other until everyone has found an opponent. The top ten will qualify to enter the Sword Tomb to seek opportunities.

Ma Zhan discovered that this competition method had a loophole, so Liu Nange asked, "What should I do if I choose Xiao Qiao as my opponent, Xiao Qiao chooses He Ling, and He Ling chooses me?"

Liu Nange explained, "According to the order of ranking on the license plate, those with higher rankings have the right to choose, while those with lower rankings do not.

For example, if you choose Xiao Qiao, and Xiao Qiao doesn't want to compete with you and chooses He Ling, and He Ling chooses you, then the result for the three of you is that Xiao Qiao and He Ling compete, and you choose someone else, or are chosen by someone else.

Ma Zhan nodded and said, "I understand. This way, it seems to provide a lot of room for cheating, but in fact, there is no chance of cheating at all.

For example, Xiao Qiao ranked high in the first competition. If she wanted to ensure that I could enter the top ten, she could only choose me in the first round and then deliberately lose the competition.

But in the second round, I will be eliminated by other people who are ranked higher.

Under this kind of multiple filtering situation, there is basically no chance of loopholes.

What if someone else chooses me and I abstain?

"The person who chooses you will either choose someone else or be chosen by someone else."

Ma Zhan nodded. He looked at He Ling, opened his mouth, wanted to say something, but held it back.

On the Dajianping, fifty-seven bamboo tubes were arranged in order. On the observation deck, Master Yuchang Sword and representatives from various sects came to watch the competition.

Fifty-seven practitioners stood in groups of three or five on the cliffs surrounding Dajianping.

The master of Yuchang Sword announced the simple and rough rules of the competition.

"There are no restrictions on the duel. If one side falls to the ground and admits defeat, the winner is determined. If the winner is determined, the winner may not continue to attack the loser, otherwise he will be disqualified. The sword has no eyes, and life and death are at your own risk.

Fellow practitioners, choose your own opponents."

Ma Zhan didn't even move as he watched the others rushing towards Dajianping. He knew in his heart that of the 189 people, they would only be chosen.

As expected, the bamboo tube with number 189 was almost full, but the number 188 on He Ling next to it was not much better.

He Ling is weak in strength. In the third match, as a sixth-grade swordsman, he is naturally a recognized soft persimmon.

Ma Zhan had attracted too much hatred. After teasing Lu Zhu, he teamed up with Liu Nange. The men present couldn't help but want to teach him a lesson.

In the Ma Zhan team, except for Liu Nange, everyone else has a number plate in the bamboo box, but the numbers are slightly different.

When it was time for the counter-selection, Gang Mazhan jumped onto the sword-fighting platform, and a figure in green appeared in front of him: "Little brother, there are so many people who want to beat you up."

Ma Zhan laughed heartily: "Beautiful sister, why are you here too?"

"I'm the referee, of course I'm here."

Is it necessary for a referee to be involved in this martial arts competition? It seems that Jiange has begun to protect the lives of practitioners.

"Haha, if you want to hit me, I'll beat them to death."

Lu Zhu giggled and pulled Ma Zhan to the 189th bamboo tube. "Come, sister will give you some advice."

Seeing the intimate actions of Ma Zhan and Lu Zhu, the men present were so angry that their eyes were about to burst into flames.

Especially Wang Yi from Jiange, who secretly swore in his heart, "I haven't even met Uncle Luzhu yet, and which man has he held hands with? I'm going to chop this kid's hands off."

Ma Zhan directly poured out the number plates from the bamboo box, picked one up without taking a second look, and said, "I choose this one."

Lu Zhu glared, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, I want to see what the strength of the young talents of Jiange is."

Ma Zhan handed his number plate and the one with the word "Yide" written on it to Lu Zhu, and then turned away gracefully, leaving behind a beautiful woman, sighing secretly.

"Such an interesting little brother... What a pity."

Ma Zhan walked to He Ling, made a choice for her, picked up number 27 and handed it to her.

"Your uncle Lin is protecting you, so just think of it as an exchange and discussion with her." After saying that, Ma Zhan nodded at Lin Yueshu on the cliff.

After several more rounds of selection, Liu Nange, as expected, received a bye. It seemed the Shu royal family was subtly influencing the rules of the martial arts world.

On the sword fighting field, Lu Zhu said loudly: "First match, number one Wang Yi versus number one hundred and eighty-nine Qing Hu."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole audience was in an uproar. All the practitioners were talking to each other. Most people thought that Qinghu was taking the opportunity to make a name for himself and chose the eighth place on the martial arts evaluation list as his opponent. Regardless of the outcome, Qinghu's reputation would be spread.

Zheng Xiaoqiao gently pinched Ma Zhan's arm. "Your internal energy has just recovered, and you're doing it again. Do you really want to compete with Wang Yi, or do you want to tease the Green Sleeve Sword Master?"

Ma Zhan chuckled, "Of course it's a duel." Then, he added in his mind, 'Of course, I'll also flirt with the Green Sleeve Sword Master.'

Zheng Xiaoqiao said yin-yangly, "Of course, and by the way, I want to leave a good impression on the Green Sleeves Sword Master."

"Oh my god, how do you know what I really think?" Ma Zhan looked into Zheng Xiaoqiao's eyes and felt a pang in his heart.

"I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense."

Zheng Xiaoqiao was too lazy to be jealous, "Go ahead, flirt with the girl, but also pay attention to your own safety."

On the sword-fighting field, the handsome Wang Yi first saluted Luzhu with his sword finger, and then turned to Ma Zhan with grace.

Ma Zhan ran to Lu Zhu in a frivolous manner and said, "Beautiful sister, I hurt your nephew, you won't be angry, will you?"

Lu Zhu rolled his eyes and said, "Just take care of yourself."

"Okay, I'll be gentle then."