Dance Of The Phoenix
35. Ranked Arena

Somehow, Luo Youzhe felt anxious. That anxiety was covered by her flat face, but not by her movements approaching Gu Yuena and directly lifted her up right then and there.

Gu Yuena flinched. Who just lifted him up in his room? Was it the wrong room?

Since the dark room and the person's face did not appear to be covered in the shadow of moonlight, Gu Yuena did not know who he was. But one thing was certain, he recognized his scent and breath.

"I knew I was hurt, but I didn't go to the doctor. Want to kill yourself?"

Gu Yuena instantly recognized the voice, ignoring the man's annoyed remark. "Why are you here?"

"Can't I be in my room?" Luo Youzhe brought Gu Yuena to the bed, then placed her down carefully.

While lying on the bed, Gu Yuena immediately felt very weak and wanted to sleep alone. He had gone through a fierce and difficult battle to the point of feeling extremely tired.

"Have not seen each other for a long time, but you've come under these circumstances." Luo Youzhe said as he took out some medicine from the spiritual room.

"I'm used to it."

"Honored Miss Gu is used to being back in a state full of blood? Gu's residence is indeed unusual," Luo Youzhe said.

Gu Yuena snorted. "Don't insinuate. You don't know me very well."

"Then how did you treat yourself in the past?"

"I'm healing myself" replied Gu Yuena. He saw the man.

Now Luo Youzhe's face was clearly visible even in the dark. With that unraveling hair, Luo Youzhe looked much different than before. It was like seeing the man he met at the inn while being fiercely oppressing him.

Gu Yuena continued, "Sometimes my people bring the doctor if it's not busy. Sometimes I treat myself."

"You didn't tell your sister?" Luo Youzhe cleaned the wound on Gu Yuena's hand just like that.

Gu Yuena looked silent for a while. "If I could, I'd like to tell her everything, that I'm not okay." Unfortunately, her brother left early leaving her alone. His father and mother whom he loved the most were the same.

Luo Youzhe looked at Gu Yuena with a complicated look. He did not know what Gu Yuena was going through, but he could see all the pain and desire lingering in Gu Yuena's eyes when he saw her.

"You can tell me." Perhaps it was because Gu Yuena did not want to trouble Gu Yuan, so she said that.

Gu Yuena looked at Luo Youzhe, seeming to have thought of something. He was astonished, why would Luo Youzhe be willing to give a shoulder to someone like him? They are clearly enemies.

There was something that made Gu Yuena dislike. He wanted to accept Luo Youzhe, although they often fought over trivial matters, but he felt it was inappropriate. Remember, his life span is only 2 years.

Gu Yuena turned her gaze elsewhere, then said, "I must have been affected by the tapeworm hypnotism, don't think about my words."

Luo Youzhe did not say anything more. He only focused on treating the wounds on Gu Yuena's hands carefully, then gave her a bandage. For some reason, he couldn't use his spiritual power for a while despite only treating Gu Yuena's injuries like that day.

"You don't have to be like this. Remember, we're not that close." Gu Yuena was trying to build a stronger separation wall. He even said without looking at Luo Youzhe.

"It's my wish, so there's no need for your approval." Luo Youzhe spoke in a flat tone that made Gu Yuena almost at a loss for words.

Merely, Gu Yuena did not want to give up. "But I'm involved."

"I don't care," Luo Youzhe replied.

He finished his bandage, then kept all the medicine back where it was. He looked at Gu Yuena once more, with a striking dark blue iris when illuminated by the moonlight. It looks like a frozen lake.

"I've told you many times. Other than me, no one can bully you."

"I only killed a monster!" Gu Yuena defended herself. He was not oppressed, why did Luo Youzhe accuse him of being bullied!

"I know," Luo Youzhe said. "But the challenges in the arena are too risky. Wang Liang was just a little mouse that didn't need attention, but the others were different." Apparently Luo Youzhe was worried about that.

"You yourself are already strong enough, but are still in the academy made up of weaklings. Whatever your purpose is here, I will still achieve my goal. I also have a reason why I should enter Yuansu Palace sooner." Gu Yuena spoke at a fast tempo which made her no longer feel tired. He's being very serious. "Whatever it is, we go through the plan separately and without interrupting."

Luo Youzhe looked at Gu Yuena for a while, before finally chuckling a little even for a moment.

"It looks like the hypnotic 'tape worm' is affecting you more, it's better to take a break." Luo Youzhe intended to end this heavy talk. Apparently Gu Yuena was still stubborn despite being sick.

"I'm serious." Gu Yuena snorted. He pulled the blanket carefully afraid of hurting his hand and turned his face away in annoyance. It's just free to argue.

Luo Youzhe stayed in place, looking at Gu Yuena who was getting more and more sleepy from fatigue. He got up, then took a small towel soaked in a little water.

Back near Gu Yuena, he cleansed the monster blood on Gu Yuena's face. Even though the girl was filled with blood, she was still beautiful. But it would be more beautiful and innocent if there was no trace of blood on her face.

Luo Youzhe cleaned it slowly to see that face more clearly. Gu Yuena who looked extremely pale, slept soundly like a plain and cute doll.

Unknowingly, Luo Youzhe smiled looking at her face. But he quickly turned it back flat, as if remembering something.

He recalled Gu Yuena's words the other day.

If he loved Gu Yuena, would there really be no chance?

For some reason, he thought Gu Yuena was right.

Only one can make all hope impossible.

Death ....

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

From that night on, Gu Yuena no longer saw Luo Youzhe.

But not completely not looking at Luo Youzhe. Sometimes they meet, but act like they don't know each other and stay away. Sometimes we communicate with each other, but only for a moment. Luo Youzhe was also not acting as silly as he used to be. He became very cold and short-spoken.

Gu Yuena did not know the reason. His day passed with full cultivation without feeling any emotions like before. He also felt, the strange feeling slowly disappearing as long as he did not see it.

Until finally 6 months passed without feeling.

The inner page exam is getting closer.

Gu Yuena in the academy courtyard, after the practice of magic classes and elements, looked at the notice board filled with outer courtyard disciples. Gu Yuena guessed, it must be the announcement of the inner page examination.

After it was believed the crowd was not too full, Gu Yuena slipped with her small body in front of the notice board to take a closer look.

The statement letter from the academy stated, that the inner courtyard exam this time will be held through two processes. The writing exam and the competition exam are final. For the top 10 ranked outer courtyard academy, it would get special privileges when the competition examination. Special rights will be declared after the student reaches the top 10 until later assessment.

They only had three weeks to prepare.

Immediately, Gu Yuena ran to the ranked arena to file a match. Not only Gu Yuena, the other disciples were the same.

For 6 months, Gu Yuena's rank had stuck for never challenging again. He spent his time training on his own and using monsters as his strength test. In his opinion, it was most effective to fight against a top 10 ranked disciple directly.

Gu Yuena gave her token to the arena guards and put up a challenge for some disciples directly. He was ranked 575 at the moment, replacing the rank of Wang Liang, the little mouse. The journey is still far away.

It's okay, there's three weeks left. In these three weeks, he will reach the top 10 quickly.

Speaking of which, Gu Yuena's cultivation had already reached the 5-star 1st level. Although it was still the beginning of tier 5, it was not a problem for him to fight with a fellow tier 5. He could directly challenge the top rank.

Assuming Gu Yuena was too rash or arrogant, he did not care. After all, he was already able to defeat level 6 monsters that were on par with tier 7 and 8 humans.

"Xiao Yue, are you really going to challenge the top 100 rankings directly? Isn't it too ...." Mu Xinhuan felt that Gu Yuena was a bit rash. The thing is, Gu Yuena is still a top 500!

"Rank does not determine how strong they are. All this time I didn't challenge, I shouldn't be in the top 500 either." Gu Yuena spoke lightly. During these 6 months, he was closer to Mu Xinhuan and Shen Jialin.

"Sister Xinhuan, there's no need to worry. Big Brother Yue will not lose to them." Shen Jialin encouraged Gu Yuena enthusiastically.

"By the way, we're the same age. Don't call me brother. Just call Xiao Yue like the others." I don't know how many times Gu Yuena said that.

"Sometimes I like to forget. Xiao Yue, you look more mature than me until I have to call you big brother." Shen Jialin.

Gu Yuena sighed. He felt sorry for Mu Xinhuan who liked Shen Jialin. But Shen Jialin instead liked 'men' like 'Gu Yue'. It's burdening.

If Shen Jialin knew his identity.

But it can't happen before the time is right.

The referee announced Gu Yue's match and the top 100 ranked participant immediately. Gu Yuena directly climbed the arena, then competed for a short period of time to shorten the time.

Just like Wang Liang, they were disappointing.

Gu Yuena's face was ugly all day because it found an opponent who instantly fell apart when facing his fist.

It seemed like he was looking too high at the top 100 which could not even be used as a warm-up. Their average strength was indeed at level 5. But tier 5 was already like fighting a level 2 monster.

If those disciples knew what Gu Yuena was thinking, perhaps they would cry.

Gu Yuena's past and present strength was clearly much different. But so far, no one had been able to make Gu Yuena show her magic and the results of her training for 6 months. He only approached the opponent, then gave him a fist full of strength until it was thrown from the arena. After that, the match was over.

It lasted for many times up to 10 games in one day. It was a shocking thing for the entire outer courtyard disciple, which made the name Gu Yue popular right then and there.

Unfortunately, popular is not a good thing. Gu Yuena started to lose her livelihood from not being able to earn any more money as a result of betting as she used to. Everyone in the outer courtyard was afraid of him, so it could not provide a challenge and tempting bets.

Worse, the women began to flirt with red faces like tomatoes!

Really, Gu Yuena was still normal, completely uninterested in women. But they approached it like they were looking at a treasure. Fortunately, Shen Jialin made them only able to see Gu Yue from afar.

But still, the rumor that said that Gu Yue was dating Shen Jialin exploded!

And the one Gu Yuena pityed was Mu Xinhuan. Gu Yuena was depressed. What should he do to quell the rumors?

Did you tell me the truth that he likes men?

Not wrong because she is a woman, but ....

The effect will be strange. What if an abnormal man approached her?

Never mind, just forget those unsubstantiated rumors. After all, he didn't date anyone.

Soon, Gu Yuena was eyeing the top 10 within a week without thinking about public opinion.

Mu Xinhuan with his talent was in the top 40 rankings during these 6 months, just like Shen Jialin. The two of them were indeed very talented, Gu Yuena admitted that. Even they also had their own fans, although in the end Gu Yue was the one who had the most fans.

In the top 10 arenas, the audience was much more crowded than usual. Usually the top 10 matches are always fierce and feisty, making the spectators shout loudly in support of his idol.

As for his reputation, the top 10 disciples should indeed not be underestimated. But in Gu Yuena's hands, he only needed to cast a bit of magic to make them fall apart. Gu Yuena admitted, he would lose if attacked in groups. But if it is alone, it will excel.

Until finally ranked in the top 5, the real match just happened.

Gu Yuena was in no hurry because she was already in the top 10, but to get greater special privileges as she knew from the officers after reaching the top 10, she said, he must enter the top 3.

There are too many conditions, but the time is still long to reach them. Isn't it just three weeks from the time it was announced to arrive? He still has two weeks to go since he entered the top 10 to reach the top 3.

The higher the rank, the more the difficulty increases. Gu Yuena challenged rank 5 first, just jumped rank 3.

The strength of a rank 5 disciple was ice. It was very opposite of Gu Yuena, yet it was no big deal. To fight someone with ice strength, he needed strong elemental control to break through the ice defenses.

Since the one he was fighting was a mage, he only needed to spend his magic attacks without being exposed to magic effects and perform stronger direct attacks to finish them quickly.

His opponent's attack was in the form of an area attack, causing Gu Yuena to have difficulty switching places due to the opponent's extremely strong area control. Plus, the ice created was able to freeze the entire arena. Just like when Gu Yuena burned down the entire arena. Therefore, Gu Yuena could not get close to give a physical attack.

Things that everyone did not know, Gu Yuena's main attack was not a close one. They only knew that Gu Yuena used melee magic and needed physical contact to take down opponents quickly, because during the match all the tricks used were speed tricks and direct attacks.

This time, his opponent, the ice man wanted to strike from a distance and take the chance by restricting Gu Yuena's movements, breaking down the trick that Gu Yuena had previously used. He's pretty smart.

"Gu Yue, take out all the abilities you have!" The woman who was his opponent smiled cynically. He thought that Gu Yuena was currently confused and was forced to use her power.

Unfortunately, Gu Yuena still had a lot of aces in her pocket to play.

He could not use the same trick, then he would try a new trick that just appeared after breaking through the level. Good for the first experiment with a human target.

"Sister, please help." Gu Yuena slightly raised her hand. The Qi in his body came out and condensed into spiky and numerous qi flakes.

He slightly moved his finger, moving the fragment of qi that had been integrated with the phoenix flame to make it blood red. The pointed tip of the qi fragment was directed at the opponent.

Without saying anything more, Gu Yuena moved the qi fragments with a swing of her hand without moving her legs. Had he not been frozen, he could have made a heavier attack than this and knocked the woman down in one strike.

The woman directly used her ice to block the qi fragment attack. But Gu Yuena's controp was better, so as to avoid the ice that was about to destroy her attack. He broke through the defense that was made just like that, making the woman inevitably have to move from her place to avoid pursuit.

The woman was intending to launch a direct attack on Gu Yuena. He dashed past Gu Yuena, then created chunks of ice from the arena floor towards Gu Yuena who could not move.

Gu Yuena did not panic. He directed the chunks of qi floating in the air to suppress the ice mounds coming as a shield, then focused the phoenix flames on his feet to be free from the ice traps.

After being free, Gu Yuena jumped into the air and let the ice mound slide past her. Gu Yuena darted out quickly, then aimed the qi flakes at the maximum and locked onto the target using mind power.

The magician's mind power was extremely powerful, nor would it leave a trace. He pretended to cast a spell like the woman did every time he attacked her and managed to trick many people with the free magic he used.

Gu Yuena's area of attack resulted in the entire ice melting. Everyone was stunned when they saw a fragment of fire-filled qi like a phoenix flying around the arena. The red color now dominates, the hot air lasts long enough to drain the woman's energy ice.

Gu Yuena arrived in front of the woman, then let a shard of qi attack her from the opposite direction as the woman focused on chanting towards her.

As the qi fragments were about to hit the woman's back, a wall of ice sticking out of the floor blocked the smoldering qi fragments. The woman cast a spell again to freeze Gu Yuena, but quickly Gu Yuena pulled her arm and slammed it until the ice lining the floor cracked instantly.

Brakkkk

A loud bang accompanied by the pounding of qi fragments and walls filled the arena. The spectators who had previously cheered, especially the female supporters became speechless.

Gu Yuena looked at her fallen opponent while pressing her arm on her back to prevent her from moving. While the qi flakes had been pummeled in various regions right in the direction of the woman.

"I'm sorry if I'm rude, but in war, there's no difference between a man and a woman." Gu Yuena said calmly.

The woman was very upset, but she couldn't do anything. Unable to fight anymore, whereas his strength was suppressed by Gu Yuena's aura, he could only sigh in surrender.

The referee immediately announced seeing the woman showing signs of giving up.

"Gu Yue, rank 8 pages outside, win!"