Chapter 173 - Arc 11: The Sect's Grand Competition | Chapter 173: Match 20
Translator: Lynn
Unbeknownst to them, the thousands of Golden Core cultivators were divided into nearly a hundred groups, and they were all competed against each other.
Many Golden Core Stage cultivators were defeated by their experienced comrades, leading to varying levels of embarrassment or a struggle to maintain composure, ultimately choosing not to continue. The disciples and fellow cultivators of these defeated individuals also retreated.
Post-competition, there were now fewer than a hundred individuals left, representing the cream of the crop among the geniuses and heroes.
These favored children, because of their exceptional potential, exuded a certain arrogance, a self-assured air almost bordering on conceit. With the exception of a few who had old acquaintances among them, they paid little attention to each other.
This was hardly surprising. Confidence was necessary to break through the challenges on their path. Without a sense of self-assuredness, they feared being overshadowed by their powerful colleagues, thus adopting such an attitude.
Yun Lie naturally embodied this disposition, indifferent to others, and reciprocally not met with warm gestures. Each stood alone, contemplating their supernatural abilities and techniques, covertly assessing and evaluating their opponents, each with their own strategies in mind.
All the cultivators stood on the stage. Although their numbers were quite small, the collective aura they emitted was hundreds of times stronger than when they had fought each other earlier! The energy radiating unconsciously nearly squeezed the void above the stone platform to the brink of rupture!
Beneath the stone platform, although many cultivators had suffered varying degrees of injuries earlier, as long as they were not severe, they chose to remain and continued to observe the ongoing competition.
The previous battle involving fifty cultivators, although dazzling with a multitude of spells, paled in comparison to what was to come. The chosen formidable contenders possessed the might to move mountains and unleash tsunamis!
—Why would they want to miss witnessing this?
Moreover, the cultivators on the stone platform were all youthful and robust individuals under four hundred years of age, most of them without Daoist companions. Their strength, appearance, and demeanor were all top-notch. Naturally, they garnered many admirers.
Given this, the cultivators who had cultivated affection in their hearts naturally chose to stay.
Soon, the instructions were conveyed through their spiritual consciousness, detailing the sequence and rules of the upcoming battles for these cultivators.
Upon receiving the telepathic message, Yun Lie swiftly descended from the stage without wasting any time.
The same was true for the other cultivators, leaving only two standing across from each other on the stone platform.
This battle followed a round-robin format, determining opponents based on a predetermined sequence rather than everyone choosing their own.
Yun Lie’s position in the sequence was thirty-five, meaning there were thirty-four others before him, engaged in their respective battles.
The subsequent events revealed the careful consideration behind Yun Lie’s sword intent.
In this level of combat, the rules were clear—it was not a fight to the death.
The sect’s regulations were specific, designed to evaluate these cultivators in various ways.
On the stone platform, two women stood with an air of grace, robes billowing like ethereal deities.
One of them delicately raised her jade hand, releasing a ball of light and shadow that expanded rapidly from her palm, enlarging a thousandfold or more, shrouding her head and face, and then descending upon the other person!
The other woman remained composed, holding a flute in her hand, and gently blowing into it. Immediately, a “whimpering” sound resonated, sound waves rippling like waves, colliding with the giant hand in a series of impacts!
The sound waves soon erupted, shattering the colossal hand into fragments, releasing a surge of air that spread in all directions! The shockwave quickly reached the nearby elevated platforms. Many cultivators caught in its wake spat out blood, and even Master Qiu He’s platform was not spared.
After all, Qiu He was a Golden Core Stage cultivator. Although the two women had higher cultivation bases and immense strength, he repeatedly emitted yellow light, shattering the shockwaves one after another.
However, he was shielding eight female disciples, as well as Luo Yao and others, alongside a second and a third disciple. Dealing with these forces did prove somewhat taxing. Nonetheless, given his extensive experience, if the objective was to safeguard everyone, it was indeed achievable, albeit requiring considerable effort.
The two female cultivators engaged in a fierce battle, creating a turbulent aftermath akin to a stormy sea.
The elevated platform was buffeted by this wave, and Master Qiu He expertly managed it, akin to navigating a flat boat amidst the churning waves.
At that moment, the sword mark in front of Xu Ziqing suddenly illuminated, unleashing an invisible giant sword that surged forth, instantly emanating a potent sword intent, dissipating all traces of the aftermath with a soaring murderous aura!
Qiu Ze was left awestruck, exclaiming, “Senior brother’s sword intent is incredibly vivid and intimidating!”
Seeing the display of the senior disciple’s sword intent, Qiu He adjusted his robe, settled into a seat, and remarked with a smile, “Yun’er’s abilities will become apparent to all of you in due time.”
On the stone platform, the female cultivator wielding a flute had successfully repelled her opponent. The defeated woman snorted disdainfully and gracefully stepped off the stage.
Soon after, a robust man in a black cassock ascended the platform and unleashed a thunderous slash.
Following, the female cultivator responded elegantly, emitting a high-pitched scream.
The screeching sound was jarring, a manifestation of her sound-based supernatural power, capable of shaking one’s very soul, seemingly unstoppable. However, the sturdy man was undeterred, only momentarily shaken before more sound waves inundated him, ultimately leading to his defeat.
The female cultivator secured two consecutive victories, seemingly handling her opponents with ease. The next male cultivator confidently ascended the stage, standing proudly, not waiting for the female cultivator to direct the engagement.
The prowess of this male cultivator’s attack was astonishing. As the wind howled through the air, a fierce and formidable mana surged directly, overpowering any resistance the female cultivator’s sound attack power could muster. The male cultivator captured all the sound waves with this brute force!
Onlookers gasped in astonishment. The female cultivator turned pale, hastily picking up her long flute and forming a barrier to withstand the force of that attack. Seizing this opportunity, she retreated, conceding defeat and stepping down.
The male cultivator stood on the stage with an air of arrogance, exuding a demeanor of superiority, a rarity among the many Golden Core Stage cultivators.
Xu Ziqing abruptly opened his eyes due to the powerful gesture he witnessed.
Master Qiu He was taken aback, initially thinking he was awakened abruptly. However, upon closer inspection, he realized the blue light in Xu Ziqing’s eyes remained, indicating he hadn’t awakened suddenly. Instead, it was a moment of enlightenment triggered by an external stimulus, making him more aware.
Indeed, the male cultivator now held the stone platform, engaging in a fierce battle against his opponent. With a mere gesture, he sent his opponent flying off the stage, displaying remarkable might and freedom.
Xu Ziqing’s eyes shimmered with a multitude of operating rules, gradually forming a discernible pattern. It was as if a rudimentary form of a supernatural power was taking shape, still in the process of brewing. It seemed that the Qingyun needles were constantly stirring in his sea of consciousness, guiding a new train of thought.
Observing this, Master Qiu He gestured with his fingers and whispered with a smile, “Ziqing is truly talented. It appears he has gained insights from this ‘Batian Finger’, a testament to his good fortune.”
This set of finger techniques was crafted by the patriarch Batian and consisted of three styles. They were incredibly powerful, and anyone on the stage who could master them would be considered a top-tier disciple.
The others may not have Master Qiu He’s level of understanding, but they didn’t inquire further, their attention captured by the swift and intense ongoing competition.
Indeed, the Batian Finger technique was impressive. Eight individuals successively challenged it, all ultimately defeated by its precise pointing.
In the span of just an incense stick burning, more than ten individuals were already dismissed, highlighting the precise control of Golden Core Stage cultivators in the competition. Whether for themselves or their opponents, they demonstrated accuracy without causing harm. They appeared calm and composed.
As a few more individuals took their turns, the one wielding the Batian finger was also eventually defeated. A person with formidable fist techniques replaced them, and this cycle repeated. Many cultivators on the stone platform exuded vitality and an overwhelming domineering spirit, showcasing unmatched courage.
This battle was truly magnificent!
Gradually, a swordsman stepped onto the stage, emanating an aura akin to fine steel—electric, sturdy as a mountain, and fierce like a raging current.
The battle intensified, with a pervasive murderous aura dominating the sky and sword energy soaring to great heights.
However, when Yun Lie finally ascended the stage, a divine glint flashed in his eyes as his sword intent cleaved down audaciously, shattering the opponent’s sword concept. The opponent was swiftly swept off the stage, unable to react!
In an instant, the arena fell into silence.
While Yun Lie’s performance in the previous competition with fifty individuals wasn’t necessarily unique, facing a cultivator who had also defeated dozens of golden cores, his ability to incapacitate them with a single blow was truly astounding!
Then came the thirty-sixth Golden Core Stage Daoist who wanted to challenge Yun Lie, but they too were thrown off the stage under the influence of his swordsmanship.
Following suit, the thirty-seventh, thirty-eighth… up to the forty-fifth contestant, almost ten of them in a row were no match for him!
The forty-sixth contestant chose not to play and conceded. The forty-seventh was formidable, but against Yun Lie’s sweeping giant sword, victory was elusive!
As this pattern repeated, Yun Lie remained steadfast, armed with just one sword intent and one supernatural power. He stood like an unmovable mountain, guarding the platform, invincible.
Spectators were initially astounded, but then they felt a tingling sensation down their spines, their blood surging with excitement. Encountering such an overwhelmingly powerful Golden Core Stage cultivator was a rare event that hadn’t occurred in thousands of years!
—
Seated within it was a colossal figure, nearly reaching the heavens above and grounding with its feet.
They encompassed the area on three sides, observing the competition with heads inclined. Beneath that immense form, the grand stone platform resembled a mere chessboard, minuscule in comparison.
One of them grinned, their voice rumbling through the void like thunder: “Old Ji, is this the disciple you’ve taken a liking to? His talent is astounding! Not yet a hundred years old, and already possessing sword intent! It’s reached 100% and is nearing perfection. With such talent, why not nurture him yourself?”
The voice of the person opposite was gentle, akin to a refined scholar, yet the words were as clear as water striking a rocky stream: “He is indeed a core disciple with boundless potential, but the sword still needs honing. He is resolute, and it’s better for him to forge his own path.”
Another presence chimed in with mellifluous tones: “You two need not argue. If you hold such a disciple close to your heart, he will assuredly soar into the skies in the future and ascend to being an ancestor and immortal. At that time, Brother Ji’s position as the sect master will be exceedingly prestigious.”
The man before them chuckled once more: “The future is vast and uncertain. There are also good students. Let’s see who can traverse the skies like a dragon and secure the mantle of luck as the leader in these ten thousand years!”
Upon hearing these words, the other two joined in laughter, their spirits lifted.
—
Standing in close proximity, observing Yun Lie display his prowess on the platform, they all bore complex expressions and contemplative gazes.
Among them, Yuan Taihe wore a somewhat displeased expression: “I had hoped for a match with Yun Lie, but it appears I wouldn’t measure up. It’s truly hard to accept.”
Zeng Yi’s eyes blazed with intensity, clearly stirred: “He possesses such power at the early stage of Golden Core Stage, almost being dubbed the ‘foremost under Nascent Soul stage’! Is the ruthless killing sword truly this potent?”
Yuan Taihe took a deep breath: “Given our current level of cultivation, resisting stubbornly would certainly result in defeat.” He sighed, then continued earnestly, “But you and I need not underestimate ourselves. If we, as sword cultivators, haven’t grasped sword intent, we’ll fall short by three points when faced with it. If we earnestly cultivate in seclusion and delve into the essence of the sword, there’s no harm in attempting a serious bout with him!”
Zeng Yi fell silent, his countenance steadfast.
When the two of them ascended the platform, they were the first to acknowledge defeat, refraining from forcing a confrontation. Some officers who had previously clashed with Yun Lie at Sixing Peak knew they were unbeatable and conceded defeat one after another.
Consequently, since Yun Lie took the stage, he faced sixty-one opponents. He either sent them flying off the platform or they willingly conceded, leaving no one left standing on the stage.
The Golden Core Stage cultivator competition concluded, and at the apex, the champion was none other than Yun Lie!
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