With a casual palm strike, Luo Tian defeated his first opponent.
"Who is this guy? Such incredible strength!"
"It’s Luo Tian, thirtieth on the Human List."
In Sub-match 1, the students from the various Wu Mansions gasped in amazement as they recognized Luo Tian.
Liu Ziyan’s gaze narrowed slightly.
Luo Tian was much stronger than she had anticipated, unleashing power at the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm with a single palm strike.
"Number 66 wins."
The referee gave Luo Tian a longer look before announcing the result.
For winning one match, Luo Tian earned 3 points.
The sub-matches would consist of as many as seven, or even ten, rounds of competition.
Winners would be pitted against other winners.
Losers would face other losers, and anyone who lost three consecutive matches or had a score of negative three points would be eliminated.
After seven rounds,
the top five individuals with the highest points from each of the four sub-matches—twenty people in total—would advance to the second round, the Ranking Challenge.
The pace of the sub-matches was fast.
Due to the huge disparity in strength between the Holy Mansions and the various Wu Mansions, victories and defeats were decided quickly.
Even in drawn-out battles,
the sub-match rules dictated that if a winner wasn’t decided within one hundred breaths, the match would be declared a draw.
「Two hours later.」
Luo Tian entered the stage for his second round. His opponent was a Golden Student from Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion, with combat power approaching the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.
The outcome was no different.
Luo Tian once again defeated his opponent with a single palm strike from a distance.
Defeating a Golden Student with a single palm strike, Luo Tian’s display of strength earned him the wariness and attention of many.
Before long,
the third round of matches began, a round that would eliminate many of the students on losing streaks.
The four Spirit Sea Realm experts—Xia Bingyue, Li Yao, Xu Mengxin, and Xi Shan—once again won with ease.
In this round,
Luo Tian’s opponent was even stronger.
"Zuo Feng, one of the Golden Lords from Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion."
A short-haired youth with a clean-cut face stepped onto the Martial Combat Platform.
"Senior Zuo, beat that kid!"
"Senior Zuo is ranked twenty-sixth on the Human List. His chances of winning should be pretty high, right?"
The students of Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion shouted their encouragement.
Zuo Feng’s combat power was formidable; he had once overwhelmed a master at the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.
"Luo Tian, I’ve heard of you. You’re a Golden Lord from the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion?"
Zuo Feng smiled faintly, a trace of superiority in his expression.
Though they were both Golden Lords, the caliber of students from Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion was generally higher.
"Sorry, I’ve never heard of you."
Luo Tian stated bluntly.
"Arrogant brat!"
Zuo Feng’s anger flared. He had always looked down on Sun Chasing, the weakest of the Three Great Holy Mansions, and now he was being ignored by one of its students.
WHOOSH!
Zuo Feng’s Cultivation at the Peak of the Ninth Layer erupted. Gripping a Long Halberd, he swept out a torrent of Golden Sharp Halberd Shadows that evoked the clang of armored cavalry, unleashing combat power beyond the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm.
"Be defeated!"
Luo Tian swiped with a single finger, and a sword gleam as brilliant as Starlight shot out. It flickered with a biting chill and possessed a vastness like the starry sky.
BOOM! PSHH!
The shimmering, chilling sword gleam instantly shattered the Golden Sharp Halberd Shadow and sent Zuo Feng flying.
"H-How is this possible!"
Zuo Feng stabilized himself, his face a mask of horror. There was a bloody gash on his shoulder.
Furthermore, a tyrannical Cold Power was eroding the life force within his body.
"I... I forfeit!"
Zuo Feng didn’t dare to fight anymore. If he didn’t neutralize that terrifying Cold Power quickly, his condition would continue to decline, and he wouldn’t be able to handle his subsequent matches.
Zuo Feng lost?
The students from the various Wu Mansions outside the platform were utterly shocked.
The students from Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion, in particular, found it hard to believe.
A Golden Lord from Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion, powerful as he was, had been defeated by Luo Tian in a single move.
Even Xia Bingyue, with her ice-clear, profound eyes, gave Luo Tian another look.
The Breaking Sky Sword Qi Luo Tian had just used was barely enough to be worthy of her notice.
’Damnable Death Group! Another powerful rival!’
Wei Yun, ranked twentieth on the Human List and at the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm, was displeased.
Both Liu Ziyan and Luo Tian would now be his rivals for the single remaining spot.
In any other sub-match, Wei Yun could have advanced much more easily.
Liu Ziyan’s elegant brows furrowed. The strength Luo Tian had shown was making her increasingly wary.
At this moment,
the situation in Sub-match 1 had become somewhat clear.
The four Spirit Sea Realm experts had each claimed a spot to advance.
Luo Tian, Liu Ziyan, and Wei Yun would now compete for the final spot.
Many people looked forward to
seeing what kind of clash would occur between these three.
The third round of matches quickly concluded, eliminating a batch of students with consecutive losses.
The fourth round began.
This round ushered in a battle worth watching.
Liu Ziyan was pitted against Wei Yun.
"Finally, we meet."
A sharp glint flashed in Wei Yun’s eyes.
Liu Ziyan was at the Peak of the Ninth Layer. Although she was ranked twenty-fourth on the Human List, her displayed combat power was closing in on the top twenty.
Wei Yun, at the Half-step Spirit Sea Realm and ranked twentieth on the Human List, did not dare to underestimate her.
"Begin," the referee announced with a wave of his hand.
The two geniuses clashed in an instant.
Jade Saber Technique!
Wielding his Treasure Saber, Wei Yun slashed out, creating waves of overlapping, jade-green saber glints. They were filled with continuous vitality and exuded a majestic aura.
The combat power he unleashed was comparable to a Weak Spirit Sea Realm expert.
Liu Ziyan swung her arm, creating a flurry of splendid, crescent-shaped petals of purple light that circled around her, but they were suppressed by Wei Yun’s Saber Technique and crushed time and again.
"Liu Ziyan is being suppressed!"
"Wei Yun is worthy of his rank as twentieth on the Human List."
The crowd exclaimed in amazement.
Luo Tian’s eyes flickered; he could already see the outcome of the match.
BUZZ! WHOOSH!
A hazy image of a purple vaporous mist appeared behind Liu Ziyan. Within it, a purple haze seemed to ripple, creating a magnificent and beautiful sight.
Liu Ziyan’s combat power soared!
The petals of purple, crescent light flared brilliantly, launching a swift and fierce counterattack that enveloped Wei Yun.
"Martial Vein Power!"
Wei Yun’s expression changed drastically as he was forced back step by step. Cries of alarm also rose from the crowd.
After several dozen moves,
Wei Yun, now injured in several places and with his condition declining, gave a bitter smile and finally conceded.
After defeating Wei Yun,
Liu Ziyan’s breathing was ragged, her pretty face slightly pale. The exertion had clearly been significant.
"Well done! By defeating Wei Yun, your path to the top twenty and advancing to the next round is more or less secure," the Seventh Prince transmitted, his face wreathed in a brilliant smile.
"Wei Yun is strong. It’s a pity Luo Tian didn’t have to face him."
Liu Ziyan murmured.
Now, her only remaining stumbling block was Luo Tian.
"Don’t worry! Luo Tian’s opponent this round is even more fearsome. He’s about to suffer a loss and be left in your dust,"
the Seventh Prince said confidently.
With Crown Prince Li Sheng’s help,
he was able to indirectly influence the matches without changing the tournament’s ironclad rules.
"We shall wait and see."
A glint flashed in Liu Ziyan’s beautiful eyes as she made a guess.
’A stronger opponent must be one of the four Spirit Sea Realm experts. Could it be Xi Shan?’
"Number 66 versus number 56."
The referee’s voice rang out.
Luo Tian took the stage again, but this time, his opponent was unexpected.
"Senior Sister Xu?"
Luo Tian looked surprised as he gazed at the young woman across from him, who was dressed in the purple robes of a Sunshine Student.
Xu Mengxin, one of the three Sunshine Students from the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion.
"Hehe..."
Liu Ziyan couldn’t help but let out a delicate laugh.
’The Seventh Prince’s move is truly vicious!’
At the same time,
a man’s voice sounded in Luo Tian’s ear: "Luo Tian, just forfeit! Don’t waste your energy against Xu Mengxin."
This True Qi sound transmission came from Vice Manor Master Yue on the spectator platform.
Luo Tian frowned slightly.
Vice Manor Master Yue wanted him to give up directly. It was a move to sacrifice the chariot to save the king.
In his previous fights,
Luo Tian had demonstrated combat power that rivaled the Spirit Sea Realm. If he fought Xu Mengxin, they would both expend a great deal of energy.
Vice Manor Master Yue was worried that it would affect Xu Mengxin’s condition and her final ranking.
"Senior Sister Xu, how about we call it a draw?"
Luo Tian said calmly.
He was only taking this half-step back because they were from the same Holy Mansion and she was a Sunshine Senior Sister.
"A draw?"
A contemptuous smirk played on Xu Mengxin’s lips.
Offstage,
some of the Sun Chasing Holy Mansion students, including Liu Ziyan and the Seventh Prince, found it amusing.
Luo Tian had actually made such a request to a Sunshine Student.
"No! I am striving for the top ten. A draw will affect my point ranking."
Xu Mengxin’s attitude was cold.
"Then let our skills decide the outcome."
Luo Tian no longer yielded.
Across the Three Great Holy Mansions, there were thirteen prodigies in total.
Xu Mengxin was ranked in the top twelve of the Human List, which placed her among the lower-ranked prodigies.
If Luo Tian wanted to break into the top ten, he had to defeat an opponent of at least this level.
"Such arrogance!"
Xu Mengxin’s gaze turned icy.
WHOOSH!
Her robes fluttered as she released the pressure of a Spirit Sea Realm expert. A purple Soft Whip appeared in her hand.
CRACK!
A purple whip shadow as thick as a python shot toward Luo Tian like a bolt of lightning, accompanied by the explosive crackle of a firecracker.
CLANG!
Luo Tian’s Wind and Snow Sword left its sheath. He slashed out, unleashing a sword gleam as brilliant as Starlight, magnificent and vast like the starry sky.
BOOM! PSHHH!
The whip and sword collided with a deafening roar.
The hard greenstone of the platform floor flaked away, layer by layer, kicking up a cloud of stone dust that swirled in all directions.
’Worthy of a Sunshine Student.’
Luo Tian retreated a step or two.
With that last sword strike,
he hadn’t used his Divine Vein, relying solely on his Cultivation and Martial Skill. The power was comparable to the Spirit Sea Realm, yet he was still at a slight disadvantage.
A Sunshine Student, after all, had passed the eighth layer of the Spirit Fighting Tower. Their combat power surpassed that of an ordinary Spirit Sea Realm expert.
"This kid actually has the combat power to contend with the Spirit Sea Realm."
The students outside the platform were shocked.
The Seventh Prince and Liu Ziyan exchanged a look, their surprise considerable.
Before this,
it seemed that Luo Tian’s one-move defeat of the Golden Lord from Cloud Heaven Holy Mansion was no accident.
"Hmph!"
Xu Mengxin’s gaze grew even colder, and a faint trace of killing intent flashed within it.
Dragon-Taming Whip!
The Soft Whip in her hand cracked even more violently. Serpent-like whip shadows, gleaming with a cold, cyan light, struck toward Luo Tian’s vital points—his Dantian, the joints of his lower body, and more.
Hm?
As Luo Tian fought defensively, he felt that something was wrong.
He sensed a faint killing intent from Xu Mengxin.
It seemed
that Luo Tian was enveloped by the soul-shaking cracks of the giant python-like whip shadows, falling into a disadvantageous position.
"Kid! You’re courting death!"
The Seventh Prince wore a mocking expression.
"Your Highness, does Xu Mengxin have a grudge against Luo Tian? Why are her attacks so ruthless?"
Liu Ziyan asked, confused.
"This is the darkness of the human heart."
The Seventh Prince couldn’t help but shake his head.
"This Prince merely bribed Xu Mengxin to ensure Luo Tian would suffer a firm defeat."
"Bribed?"
Liu Ziyan understood at once.
"But upon seeing Luo Tian’s great strength, which could threaten her own chances of entering the top ten of the Martial Arts Festival, she spontaneously decided she wants to cripple him."
The Seventh Prince’s face was full of ridicule and amusement.
On the Martial Combat Platform,
Xu Mengxin’s attacks grew more and more vicious, killing intent flickering in her eyes.
Massive whip shadows whistled and cracked, attacking from all sorts of tricky angles in an attempt to seal off all of Luo Tian’s escape routes.
’This bitch! She wants to cripple me?’
A chill went through Luo Tian’s heart as he realized Xu Mengxin’s intentions.
He immediately channeled a portion of his Divine Vein Power and began to counterattack.
Celestial Star Three Techniques, Seven-stars in a Row!
A magnificent and dazzling expanse of Star Sword Light flowed out ceaselessly, weaving into a Seven-star Sword Net solidified from chilling intent.
DING DING! PENG PENG PENG!
Luo Tian instantly reversed his disadvantage. His powerful Sword Technique and chilling intent surged back toward Xu Mengxin.
’This kid! I absolutely cannot let him break into the top twenty.’
Xu Mengxin’s heart sank, and her expression turned ruthless.
This was because in the second round, the Ranking Challenge, one could secure a higher rank through challenges.
Luo Tian’s strength gave him the potential to threaten her own push into the top ten.
Xu Mengxin had to either heavily injure or cripple this stumbling block.
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