Chapter 457 - 432

In the valley, the competition continued round after round. As the matches progressed, the contestants’ abilities were gradually revealed. It was now clear at a glance who was powerful and who was relatively weak.

Under these circumstances, the weaker contestants began to concede one after another when faced with stronger opponents, and the pace of the competition quickened. After just one day and one night, the competition had already reached the fiftieth round, marking the halfway point of the tournament.

In these dozens of rounds, no one had dared to fight Zhaang Ye. As a result, he easily secured fifty consecutive victories, reached a score of one hundred fifty points, and ranked first on the leaderboard.

Sharing the first-place rank on the leaderboard with Zhaang Ye were fourteen other powerhouses: King of Hell, Mo Luo; Sword King Ye Cangtian; Power King Red Cliff Celestial Ape; Blood King Netherworld Green Blood; Spear King Fengyun Sheng; Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining; Lie Xuefeng; Luo Fusheng; Bizhi Orchid; Blood Chongyang; Huaa Jianxiong; Ancient Wilderness; Zhong Pingtian; and Augustus.

Among this list, the four individuals—Huaa Jianxiong, Ancient Wilderness, Zhong Pingtian, and Augustus—were considered dark horses. Each of them possessed formidable strength, not inferior in the slightest even when compared to long-famous experts like Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining, Lie Xuefeng, Luo Fusheng, Bizhi Orchid, and Blood Chongyang. It was precisely because of their tremendous combat prowess that these four were able to stand out from the crowd of geniuses and rank first on the leaderboard alongside the other supreme experts and super-geniuses.

Of these fifteen top experts, who would make it into the top ten and become an Inner Sect Disciple? Who would overwhelm their peers and seize first place in the entrance tournament? The audience debated these two topics, each arguing heatedly until they were red in the face.

"The way I see it, Zhaang Ye and the five great experts will make it into the top ten, no doubt. But as for who will take first place, that’s hard to say. I get the feeling these top experts haven’t revealed their full strength yet, so it’s impossible to compare them."

"I agree. There should be no problem for Zhaang Ye and the five supreme experts to enter the top ten. As for first place... I feel that the King of Hell, Mo Luo, has the best chance."

"The King of Hell, Mo Luo is very strong, but the other four supreme experts and Zhaang Ye are also unfathomable. We’ll only know who is truly stronger after they’ve fought."

「The Fifty-First Round.」

In this round, one particular battle drew everyone’s attention. The two combatants were Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining and Huaa Jianxiong. Both were top-tier experts and popular candidates for the top ten.

Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining and Huaa Jianxiong arrived on the arena stage at the same time.

After being defeated by Zhaang Ye, the disposition of Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining had become more composed and even more unfathomable. As for Huaa Jianxiong, he was no simple character either. Relying on the Long Sword in his hand, he had cut a path through the competition, eliminating dozens of geniuses. Even more astonishingly, his swordsmanship was so uncanny and unpredictable that not a single person had managed to withstand three of his moves so far in the tournament.

The moment Huaa Jianxiong stepped onto the stage, he immediately drew his Long Sword. The three-foot-three-inch-long Cyan Blade Sword pulsed with wisps of Sword Gang. The tip of the blade was pointed directly at Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining.

Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining did not dare to be careless. As soon as he was on the stage, his hands immediately formed a peculiar Hand Seal as the Innate True Qi within his body began to condense and compress. After his battle with Zhaang Ye, Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining seemed to have gained a new level of understanding of his Hand Seals. The speed at which his Innate True Qi compressed was now much faster; in the short span of two blinks, a terrifying aura began to rise from his hands.

Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two, the referee wasted no words and directly announced the start of the battle.

"CRACK!"

The referee’s voice had barely faded when Huaa Jianxiong struck first. The Long Sword in his hand exploded like a firework. The three-foot-three-inch Cyan Blade Sword abruptly transformed into countless giant swords, stabbing straight toward Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining!

The countless giant swords were like the teeth in the massive maw of an Ancient Barbaric Beast. The cold glint flashing from the Sharp Swords was more intense than the sun in the sky. Even the spectators hundreds of yards away were forced to shut their eyes against the terrifyingly bright light, crying out in shock. Huaa Jianxiong’s Heaven-Shocking Sword Technique had instantly stunned the audience!

Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining was also slightly startled, but his combat experience was exceptionally vast. Although Huaa Jianxiong’s swordsmanship was terrifying, it wasn’t enough to fluster him. Just as Huaa Jianxiong’s Sword Light was about to strike him, Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining let out a sudden, mighty roar. The compressed Innate True Qi in his hands abruptly formed a small mountain that shot forward to meet the Sword Light head-on!

"BOOM!"

Amid a world-shaking explosion, the Sword Light unleashed by Huaa Jianxiong slammed directly into the compressed Innate True Qi. The Sword Light and the compressed Innate True Qi both detonated in mid-air!

Amidst the countless dazzling flashes of Sword Light and blasts of piercing Innate True Qi, Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining and Huaa Jianxiong were both forced back thirty yards, a trickle of blood appearing at the corners of their mouths. In that head-on clash, they had fought to a draw, with neither gaining an advantage.

"Awesome!"

"So strong!"

"Now this is what I’m talking about! This is the kind of fight that’s satisfying to watch!"

Watching the battle between the two top experts, the spectators’ cheers came like a landslide and a tsunami. The clash between Huaa Jianxiong and Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining had made the audience’s blood boil with excitement, and they all began to roar like mad.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

As if encouraged by the audience, the two top experts fought with increasing intensity. The arena stage was completely filled with a dense storm of Sword Gang and compressed Innate True Qi. Under the impact of the Sword Gang and Innate True Qi, the Protective Shield over the stage shuddered violently, forcing three Elders to step in and reinforce it.

Sword King Ye Cangtian watched their duel and nodded slightly. As a man who had dedicated his life to the sword, he had a favorable impression of Martial Artists who used Long Swords. Seeing that Huaa Jianxiong could actually fight Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining to a stalemate, he chuckled and said, "Everyone, since we’re just sitting idle, why don’t we guess who will win this battle?"

As Ye Cangtian spoke, he used a wondrous Sound Transmission Technique, vibrating the Heaven and Earth Essence Qi in the air. All the top experts within a thousand-zhang radius could hear him crystal clear.

Spear King Fengyun Sheng, being a rather talkative person, was the first to speak up. "Heh, Huaa Jianxiong and Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining are about equal in combat power; either of them could win. However, in my opinion, Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining’s odds of winning are slightly higher."

A deep, powerful voice said, "I agree with the Spear King’s judgment. The Hand Seals of Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining are becoming more and more formidable. He can compress his Innate True Qi two, or even three times, in a very short period. Under the bombardment of such compressed Innate True Qi, Huaa Jianxiong’s Long Sword is likely to break, and he will be defeated."

The speaker was none other than Lie Xuefeng, one of the four super-geniuses.

Lie Xuefeng’s analysis was met with agreement from several other top experts. Luo Fusheng, Bizhi Orchid, Ancient Wilderness, Zhong Pingtian, and the others all nodded slightly, concurring with his assessment.

At this moment, Power King Red Cliff Celestial Ape spoke in a low voice, "Lie Xuefeng’s analysis is good. After being compressed, Innate True Qi can easily shatter Profound Iron. Only a True Artifact can withstand the impact of such True Qi. Although the Cyan Blade Sword in Huaa Jianxiong’s hand is of good quality, after being struck by Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining over a hundred times, cracks have already appeared. It will break soon."

Hearing Power King Red Cliff Celestial Ape’s analysis, the hearts of the other top experts jolted. They hadn’t expected that Power King Red Cliff Celestial Ape could actually perceive the cracks on Huaa Jianxiong’s Long Sword amidst the chaotic battle.

Sensing their surprise, a hint of smugness appeared on Red Cliff Celestial Ape’s face.

Just then, Blood King Netherworld Green Blood let out a scornful laugh and said, "What’s so great about noticing cracks on Huaa Jianxiong’s sword? Being able to see the cracks on his Long Sword clearly, now *that’s* what you call impressive. Heh, I’ll tell you what, there are a total of three cracks on Huaa Jianxiong’s sword—two near the tip, and one near the hilt."

As soon as Blood King Netherworld Green Blood said this, the other top experts shot him sidelong glances. Huaa Jianxiong’s Long Sword moved as fast as lightning. It was already incredible that Red Cliff Celestial Ape could see the cracks on it. They never imagined that Blood King Netherworld Green Blood could actually see the exact number of cracks. Such visual prowess was truly terrifying.

Just as the experts were re-evaluating Blood King Netherworld Green Blood’s combat strength, Sword King Ye Cangtian smiled faintly and said, "Allow me to add a couple of words. The cracks on Huaa Jianxiong’s sword have indeed reached three. I estimate that after another fifty clashes, the cracks will increase to five, and the Long Sword in Huaa Jianxiong’s hand will shatter. In other words, Huaa Jianxiong will be defeated within fifty more strikes."

A silence fell over the crowd. Even Blood King Netherworld Green Blood and Power King Red Cliff Celestial Ape had solemn expressions on their faces. Not only could this Ye Cangtian see the cracks on the Long Sword, but he could also predict the exact moment it would break. The perceptiveness he displayed was simply unfathomable.

Red Cliff Celestial Ape, having been one-upped first by Blood King Netherworld Green Blood and then again by Sword King Ye Cangtian, felt a surge of displeasure. His gaze shifted, suddenly landing on Zhaang Ye. "Zhaang Ye," he said, "why don’t you give us your thoughts?"

Hearing Red Cliff Celestial Ape’s voice, the young experts all turned their gazes to Zhaang Ye in unison.

Huaa Jianxiong and Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining were evenly matched in combat power, so discerning who would win and who would lose was a true test of one’s perception. Zhaang Ye had fought his way from the elimination rounds to the present, establishing a reputation on par with a supreme expert. No one dared to look down on him. Now, everyone wanted to see just how good Zhaang Ye’s perception was, to try and gauge his true combat strength.

Under the gazes of the young experts, Zhaang Ye spoke casually, "Huaa Jianxiong’s Long Sword will indeed break soon, just as the Sword King said. However, even after his Long Sword breaks, Huaa Jianxiong will not lose. The one who will lose... is Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining."

"Woah!"

In their hearts, the young experts were all unconvinced. Everyone had concluded that Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining would win, yet Zhaang Ye actually thought he would lose. They simply couldn’t accept it.

Red Cliff Celestial Ape sneered and said sarcastically, "Zhaang Ye, your perspective is certainly... unique! Everyone else thinks Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining will win, but you think he’ll lose. It seems the perception of more than ten of us combined can’t even match yours alone!"

Zhaang Ye just smiled faintly and turned his gaze back to the arena. On the stage, the battle between Huaa Jianxiong and Clouds Parting and the Sun Shining had reached its climax. It looked like a victor was about to be decided.

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