Li Tian finally woke up after he had a rest. "Chen… Han…" it was Chen Han's handsome face he saw when he opened his eyes. Those eyes that are extremely gentle looking at him with a loving gaze... his cheeks couldn't help but flush.

"Ah Tian!" Chen Han exclaimed seeing Li Tian now awake. "How do you feel?" he asked and checked Li Tian's leg. It already healed. Cheng Sheng's magic pill is really miraculous. Li Tian's clothes also are clean after they applied Cleaning Talisman on it, so it doesn't smell of blood now. Except that there are some tears on them.

Chen Han had taken off his outer robe and wore it on Li Tian. Seeing Chen Han's robe on him, the people who saw it knew Chen Han had chosen his partner. The Youxiwang Sect's outer robe had their crest on the chest. It is an unspoken rule that whoever they will wear it on, and give it to, will be their chosen partner. Even their disciples aren't not included in this rule. This is how the Youxiwang Sect is - everyone is not excluded.

"I'm… fine." Li Tian said, though still slightly weak. He had consumed all his strength by successively casting spells. The Restoration Pill he ate was used more on healing his wounds that recovering his qi. Only some of his qi he had recovered.

"Li-shixiong!" Feng Mo, Lei Ling and You Rou called when they saw Li Tian was awake.

"How is… Xi Shi?" Li Tian asked. He didn't forget Xi Shi also suffered injuries from him, especially his eyes.

Hearing the name, Chen Han frowned. "Why are you asking about him? He harmed you." He told him.

"It was a match." Li Tian said. Chen Han didn't speak. Li Tian wanted to talk to him about Xi Shi's feelings, but he saved it for later. "How's everyone?" he decided to change the topic.

"Only you have been called from our side." Fei Yin answered. "On the other side, it was Jing Cheng and Xi Ming after your and Xi Shi's match." He explained. "Right now, the seventh match is about to end." He added. Two more matches are left for today.

Li Tian sighed in relief. Fortunately, everyone's still okay. The Intersect Competition is truly vicious. He worries for his fellow disciples.

"Winner, Xiao Le of Huli Sect!" the emcee announced.

"That person used a talisman to win, right?" someone from the audience spoke.

"They're even in strength. However, just because the other one don't know how to use talismans, the other side won." his friend said.

"Shouldn't they ban the talismans or spells…" someone beside them said.

They all looked at each other. They knew what these people meant: the match is unfair. It's not as if they hadn't thought of it. However, to realize one's strength and to make a breakthrough, alchemy comes in. The sword cultivators also use pills to increase their cultivation. So, it's reasonable for the Righteous Alliance to arrange the rules this way. Sometimes, there are even mages who are stronger than sword cultivators. Also, it's not as if the participants of the competition weren't informed of the use of alchemy. It's their fault for being inadequate in their strength.

"It's alright. Don't take what they said seriously." Chen Han told Li Tian. Li Tian also used his spells aside from his sword when during his match with Xi Shi. "What do they know? Ah Tian is Ah Tian. If you wanted to be a mage, then do it. You're not living to please others." He told him and smiled. "Also – " he said and glared at the people who talked earlier. " – if they want to see sword cultivators fight, I can grant their wish – " he said and reached for his sword.

"Don't." Li Tian said and held his hand. "It's as you said. We can't please everybody, so just ignore them." he told him.

"Ah Tian…" Chen Han sighed and helplessly smiled as he hugged him.

"... brother. If you want to speak for the mages, I'm right here. I'm the biggest anomaly." Cheng Sheng said and pointed himself. Then, he smiled at those people.

The people saw him and they immediately ran away, looking for another place to watch the matches.

"You're right." Chen Han laughed. The others also smiled, now that the tension eased.

"I'll always defend you." Cheng Sheng heard Fei Yin spoke beside him.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. "… I'll be expecting that from da shixiong." He grinned. Then, he returned his gaze on the stage.

"Eighth match – " Zheng Fu Gong said as he picked a nameplate. It was gray, indicating it's a rogue cultivator. "Wu Xi." He said. "His opponent – " he picked from the other box. " – Luohu Sect, Pei An." he looked at the direction of the Luohu Sect.

"None from the big sects again…" the audience sighed

"Another rogue cultivator to be beaten up." someone said, his voice filled with expectation.

"Yeah. How many were they today who lost from the disciples of a sect?" somebody asked and laughed.

Pei An heard the audience's conversation and he wore a smug expression as he climbed on the stage. Then, on the other side of the stage, a person who wore black clothes and a conical hat with a veil went up the stage.

"Hey. What's with the hat? It's not raining." Pei An asked as he grinned at the rogue cultivator. "A veil, too. Are you trying to dress up for something?" he asked. He's obviously mocking Wu Xi.

"Him…" Jing Cheng muttered when he recognized the person.

"You know him, da ge?" Jing Bai asked as he also looked at Wu Xi. There's something with that cultivator... he thought. How do I put it? His brows knit. But, he's definitely not a demonic cultivator. He added.

"I've passed by him once." Jing Cheng answered as he looked at the stage.

"Hey." Pei An frowned when Wu Xi didn't react to his provocations. "Are you deaf?" he asked. When Wu Xi didn't answer again and just kept ignoring him, he felt humiliated. "You're provoking me, huh?" He muttered, his veins popping on his forehead in irritation. Then, he draw his sword.

"Begin!" the emcee said.

"AAAAHHH!!!" Pei An yelled as he ran towards Wu Xi. "I'll kill you, bastard... Huh?" he muttered when he saw Wu Xi suddenly appeared before him. When did he - ? he thought. He was about to speak when the next second, he saw a red, soft thing fell on his feet. He felt something wet flowed out of his mouth and then the front of his robed was dyed red. Blood was sprayed before his eyes.

"UGH!" the audience looked away in disgust when they saw Pei An's tongue was cut and the ground was immediately soaked in blood. They covered their nose when the smell of blood permeated in the air. Then, with their other hand, they covered their mouth and gulped as they watched in horror Pei An's bloody mouth was missing his tongue. They felt there's a blade on their neck and a chill ran down their spine. They felt like their tongue is going to be cut, too.

"KAAAA!" Pei An covered his mouth, but the blood can't stop flowing out. This bastard! He hatefully glared at Wu Xi. He tried to peek inside the veil to see the other's face, only for his vision suddenly to darken. "Ha…" he tried to speak, but he can't.

"AAAAHHH!!" someone screamed and immediately ran to leave when they saw Pei An's eyes were cut, and his eyeballs fell, falling just beside his tongue.

"AAAH!" You Rou screamed and Lei Qing immediately covered her eyes and hugged her.

"Wha…" Lei Ling was horrified. His face paled and his body was trembling in fear. He closed his eyes and pressed his lips tight. He's afraid his eyes will be plucked and his tongue would be cut like Pei An. Feng Mo immediately covered his eyes, though it was too late. Everything was unexpected.

Those who were psychologically weak was nauseated and they vomited. The emcee covered his mouth to prevent himself from vomiting. He felt cold on his back as he looked at Pei An's tongue and eyeballs on the ground.

"Young master!" the disciples of the Luohu Sect finally reacted after recovering from their shock. "BASTARD!" they yelled at Wu Xi. "You don't have to go that far!" they said. "We'll avenge our young master - !" they said and were about to go up stage when the emcee, forcing back his nausea, spoke.

"He will be forfeiting this match if any of you will interfere." The emcee said. "It is by the rules that as long as his opponent isn't dead, the contestant can attack him in any way." He explained.

"This is - !" the Luohu Sect was indignant.

"This was stipulated in the rules of the Intersect Competition." The emcee added. "Pei An of Luohu Sect is incapable to fight. This match goes to Wu Xi!" he announced, then turned and finally can't hold back to vomit.

There was no sound of applause since everyone was covered in fright. This man… he's vicious!