### Chapter 6: The Final Showdown at the Mountain Stronghold (5)
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Needless to say, to command a swarm of hornets, Lin Nan had to expend a whopping fifty points of Luck Value.
She thought that the over two thousand points of Luck Value she’d snagged after impressing the Little Recipient would keep her going for a while. But lo and behold, just a day or two later, she had burnt through nearly half of it.
Looks like she needed to step up her game in winning over Liao Chen.
All she could hope for was that the Luck Value she’d gather from those two goofballs, Evil Shiyuan and Diamond Shiyuan, would not only make up for her losses but also let her bask in some glory.
“How about you two play the role of persuaders? Go talk to that monk and convince him to renounce his vows.”
Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi shook their heads vigorously as if they were maracas.
“Heroine, you’re not joking with us, are you?”
Ao Hongtu was finding it increasingly hard to read the radiant beauty before him, the Woman in Red.
“You know that Master Liao Chen is a revered monk from Shaolin Temple, right? His Buddhist practice is top-notch. If you’re serious about this, I’d advise you to drop the idea ASAP,” Mu Zhi chimed in hastily.
Lin Nan wasn’t pleased with their responses at all.
“Forget it, forget it! I knew I couldn’t count on you two men for anything. What’s the point in having teammates if they can’t help?”
The two guys forced a smile.
After all, given how Lin Nan single-handedly took down Nine-Bag Elder in the first match, she did have the right to complain about them.
And there was simply no way they could rebut that.
“By the way, if you guys have some silver, bet on us and Liao Chen’s team, and I guarantee you’ll come out ahead.”
Lin Nan stretched lazily, “I’m giving you the secret to making money. Just make sure when you compete later, you don’t throw it!”
Her eyes suddenly sparkled mischievously. “Otherwise… don’t blame me if I turn on you!”
Ao Hongtu, “…”
Mu Zhi, “…”
Ao Hongtu started to regret asking for a capable ally; he hadn’t expected her to flip the script so quickly.
But he and Mu Zhi had no retorts to offer.
Or maybe it was that they’d already been cowed by “Stepping Through the Dust,” and despite their inner dissatisfaction, they couldn’t seem to escape her formidable aura.
It was as if “Stepping Through the Dust” was born with natural leadership skills; backed by her overwhelming power, even a few words and simple gestures made them willingly accept being her stepping stones.
One had to admit, this gal was way more formidable than they could have imagined.
The upcoming battles were exactly as Lin Nan anticipated.
Before the real danger even showed up, she showed no interest in taking the stage.
Even when Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi battled three opponents together to a standstill, she simply leaned against the wall, her gaze fixed on a bald man across the way, twirling her hair like a lovesick maiden.
But despite her indifference to her own team,
what was oddly fascinating was that whenever Lin Nan was present, even if she kept her hands to herself,
Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi fought as if they were on fire, smashing and bashing their opponents to smithereens, whether they were from the Mountain Stronghold or the Demon-Subduing Alliance. They quickly snatched victory.
An hour later,
the Burning Moon Azure City Team stood proudly at the top of the tournament leaderboard, with a perfect record.
The Shaolin Wudang Team matched them, also boasting an impressive undefeated streak.
Everyone assumed the second round would be necessary to determine the finalists, but due to injuries and even some fatalities in the first round, many competitors couldn’t continue.
Thus, the outcome was essentially decided in one round.
The Burning Moon Azure City Team and the Shaolin Wudang Team advanced to the finals as group leaders, while the other two teams were represented by Trissa’s Harpists and the Big Food Team, led by Morris, Freeman, and Adeline.
Fatty, unfortunately, faced defeat as his comrade was injured and since they couldn’t substitute under tournament rules, they had to bow out early.
But hey, better that than face them in the finals!
Just before the finals kicked off, almost everyone in Lehua Town flocked to the competition venue.
The gambling spots were where the action was electric.
Many who’d previously struck it rich raised their silver feverishly, as if a moment’s delay would leave them soup-less.
So far, bets on the Burning Moon Azure City Team and the Shaolin Wudang Team were neck-and-neck,
while the Harpists and the Big Food Team, representing the Mountain Stronghold, lagged behind in wager popularity.
“Stepping Through the Dust” and Master Liao Chen were the superstars to watch, garnering massive fanfare.
Even though the Woman in Red hadn’t fought yet, her legendary tale of surviving amidst an unbeatable swarm of hornets was already the talk of the town. People were gushing that she must’ve come from the celestial realm; otherwise, how could she have been immune to worldly annoyances?
As for Master Liao Chen, his presence was enough to make young ladies squeal in excitement.
His calm demeanor, unwavering Buddhist authority, and skillful techniques that brought opponents to their knees—all served to elevate his otherworldly aura.
Consequently, many hoped the two would face off in the finals,
eager to witness the intense clash between the legendary “Stepping Through the Dust” and Master Liao Chen.
And indeed, reality played out much like most anticipated.
The Burning Moon Azure City Team, despite Lin Nan still not lifting a finger, barely overcame the Big Food Team,
while the Shaolin Wudang Team countered the Harpists’ hypnotic techniques with their resolute Buddhist and Taoist hearts, as Trissa and the other two Harpists regrettably fell short.
Throughout this, Lin Nan amassed nearly one hundred thousand points of Cold Value,
prompting her to upgrade her techniques and skills immediately.
Finally, with the boost from that hundred thousand points, she stepped into the threshold of the Demon Sect’s Inner Door, becoming a level 1 Inner Door Disciple.
Her internal power technique level also skyrocketed, reaching level 2 of the Jade Maiden Mindset and unlocking all sword styles of the Solitary Nine Swords.
This undoubtedly gave her more confidence when facing Liao Chen.
“Ding ding ding!”
With the thunderous sound of gongs, everyone eagerly anticipated the champions’ finals about to begin.
With all strongholds eliminated, it meant that regardless of who took the championship, it was going to be a victory for the Demon-Subduing Alliance.
Before the competition kicked off, other faction leaders from the Demon-Subduing Alliance formed two groups and gathered around the two teams, each placing their bets.
It was Ao Hongtu and Mu Zhi’s first experience of such enthusiastic greetings from the other factions.
“Oh, Master Ao, I’ve heard so much about you,” “Young Hero Mu, so accomplished at such a young age…” In short, every line was an attempt to butter them up, and soon enough, they were practically sick of it, wishing they could kick all these guys out of their resting area.
They all just wanted to gain more profit once the two became champions.
The Demon-Subduing Alliance had become a mere shadow of its former self, completely forgotten by the masses.
Suddenly, Lin Nan stood up and coldly declared, “Get out! We’ll handle how to deal with the Mountain Stronghold!”
A chill ran down everyone’s spine as they retreated under “Stepping Through the Dust’s” commanding aura but didn’t expect to bump into someone coming out from Liao Chen.
“d*mn it, that monk wouldn’t say a word; it’s like talking to a brick wall!”
“Right? That woman’s like a madwoman, giving us absolutely no chance to speak!”
Lin Nan locked eyes with Liao Chen from a distance, breaking into a radiant smile, exuding all kinds of charm.
