The top youths of the other seven major sects all furrowed their brows.
Though Lin Xiao was formidable, they hadn’t taken him seriously before.
But his ability to kill Jian Wuque, a peak fourth-level Martial Lord, posed a significant threat to them.
Amid the shocked voices, Lin Xiao looked towards the Lingjian Sect and said, “Sorry, to save myself, I accidentally killed your sect’s genius!”
Yang Xiu’s expression darkened, his anger intensifying.
“It was Jian Wuque’s inadequacy!” Though furious inside, Sikong Jian remained outwardly calm. He waved his hand and said, “Yang Xiu, retrieve the body!”
Yang Xiu nodded, stepped onto the platform, took Jian Wuque’s storage ring, and collected his corpse. His eyes glared at Lin Xiao, as if he wanted to tear him apart.
Lin Xiao ignored him and walked off the platform.
“Challenge failed. Next, Wu Shixun, continue the challenge!” the referee’s voice rang out, resuming the contest.
After more than an hour, all challenges concluded.
The referee then announced, “The temporary final ranking for the summit is:
First: Lin Xiao.
Second: Li Renchou.
Third: Sheng Li.
Fourth: Yin Mu.
Fifth: Zi Ling.
Sixth: Chen Long.
Seventh: Ming Rui.
Eighth: Xie Yun.
Ninth: Mo Li.
Tenth: Yao Yan.
Eleventh: Ji Shengchong.
Twelfth: Mai Shen.
Thirteenth: Hu Yan Ziru.
Fourteenth: Ren Jinghua.
Fifteenth: Ling Hu. All others are eliminated!
Next, the second-ranked members from the four major chambers and eight major sects will enter to compete with these fifteen for the final summit ranking!” The referee stated clearly, “First, the bottom twelve of the current ranking can challenge any of the twelve newcomers, with no repeat challenges. Challenges start from the fourth rank. If a challenger loses, they are replaced from the ranking. If they win, they retain their position.
In the next round, the twelve newcomers can challenge anyone in the ranking, whether they’re already ranked or not.
Then, the current top three will challenge.
After that, the bottom twelve in the ranking will challenge again, and this cycle continues until no one challenges!”
The crowd was slightly surprised. Challenges continuing until no one stepped forward gave the participants endless opportunities to shine.
Logically, the newcomers should challenge the ranked youths first.
But starting with the bottom twelve of the current ranking gave them priority.
This was reasonable, as everyone knew the twelve newcomers, especially those from the eight major sects, were formidable.
Giving the bottom twelve priority was fair.
Excluding the top three also prevented premature clashes between the strongest.
The final summit ranking aimed to identify the fifteen strongest.
The referee glanced at the positions of the four chambers and eight sects, saying, “Now, the twelve newcomers, enter and announce yourselves!”
The twelve youths stepped forward, stating their names for others to choose.
The referee then said, “First, Yin Mu, ranked fourth, take the stage and challenge!”
Yin Mu nodded, stepped onto the platform, and cast a cold gaze at the twelve newcomers. “I challenge Jin Xuan Hall’s Qiu Liao!”
Qiu Liao frowned, his face darkening. Being chosen first implied he was the weakest of the twelve.
He had observed Yin Mu’s previous battles and knew that, with Yin Mu’s Yin Chi phenomenon, he stood no chance.
Not fighting in the first round would invite disdain.
But with many battles ahead, risking injury or even death for pride could affect his final ranking.
Yin Mu was a ruthless figure.
After quick consideration, Qiu Liao said, “I concede!”
A wave of gasps erupted. Everyone expected the twelve from the chambers and sects to rank high, yet the first challenged had surrendered without fighting.
However, recalling Yin Mu’s fourth rank and Yin Chi phenomenon, which defeated Yao Yan, many understood.
It was normal for Jin Xuan Hall’s top youth to lose to Yin Mu.
Still, the jeers persisted, making Qiu Liao and Jin Xuan Hall’s members look grim.
“Yin Mu wins. Next, Zi Ling!” the referee declared.
Zi Ling stepped onto the platform, eyeing the top youths of the four chambers. “I choose Yun Wu Tower’s Zhuang Yuan!”
“I concede!” Zhuang Yuan said with a stern face.
Zi Ling, with her Substitute Saint Spirit Vein, had shown clear strength in the previous round. He knew he was no match and would only suffer by fighting, so he surrendered.
Another round of jeers arose as the second chamber youth conceded directly.
“Next!” the referee called.
Chen Long took the stage, challenging Qu Shang.
This time, Qu Shang didn’t concede.
Instead, he defeated Chen Long, shifting the crowd’s perception of the four chambers.
Chen Long, ranked sixth with righteous aura, had lost to Wan Xiang Pavilion’s Qu Shang.
Evidently, the top figures of the four chambers weren’t so weak.
After Chen Long, Ming Rui took the stage. Instead of challenging the top figures of the eight sects, he chose Shi Jiuming, rumoured to be at the fourth level of Martial Lord.
Shi Jiuming indeed reached that level, defeating Ming Rui in one move, shocking everyone and making the top sect youths frown.
After Ming Rui, Xie Yun stepped up, challenging Jiu Xiao Sect’s Zheng Teng.
The atmosphere grew lively. This round saw all four chamber youths chosen, leaving only the eight sects.
Everyone was eager to see how strong the top figures of the eight sects were.
A muscular youth leapt onto the platform.
It was none other than Jiu Xiao Sect’s Zheng Teng.
“Come!” Zheng Teng uttered a single word, then charged at Xie Yun like a primal beast, stirring a fierce gust.
“Come!” Xie Yun, from the Evil Sect, didn’t let Zheng Teng get close. With a soft exhale, rolling evil aura surged from him.
A peerless punch blasted out, white fist beams laced with torrents of evil aura, emitting ghostly wails, rushing towards Zheng Teng.
“Hmph!” Zheng Teng snorted, releasing a powerful third-level Martial Lord aura. His muscular arms bulged, and a punch unleashed dazzling golden light. The peerless fist beam, like a surging river, crashed into Xie Yun’s evil fist beam.
A booming sound erupted as Xie Yun’s fist beam collapsed. The unstoppable force struck Xie Yun’s body.
Xie Yun spat blood, his body hurled off the platform, severely injured, unable to rise, likely unable to continue fighting.
“So strong?”
The crowd was stunned. Xie Yun, the Evil Sect’s second-ranked youth, was crushed by Zheng Teng’s casual punch?
Just how powerful was Zheng Teng? Were all the top figures of the eight sects this formidable?
