Long Chen’s defence was indeed astonishing, his attacks incredibly fierce.
But none matched Ling Xiao.
This battle was essentially Ling Xiao giving Long Chen a live lesson.
Absorbing Long Chen’s luck, Ling Xiao’s fortune reached eight cauldrons, catching up to Qin Bixue, now tied for third behind Ji Mingkong and Bai Qianjiao.
“That sword strike was terrifying. Bixue, are you confident?”
The Blood Blade Sect Master no longer dreamed of defeating Ji Mingkong. His expectations had lowered; second place for Qin Bixue would suffice.
But seeing Ling Xiao’s fight with Long Chen, he grew worried, “This Ling Xiao, with forty percent Heavenly Yuan Force, unleashes the power of sixty percent. Be cautious.”
“Sect Master, rest assured. If that’s all he’s got, he’s no match.”
Despite losing to Ji Mingkong, Qin Bixue’s arrogance hadn’t diminished; it had grown.
Perhaps he believed he was the strongest after Ji Mingkong and needed to prove himself.
“Unexpectedly, drawing his sword made his aura so formidable. His killing intent rivals Qin Bixue’s. He’s tough. I thought he’d barely make the Six Young Masters, but he might be stronger.”
Mo Wushang frowned.
Having lost to Qin Bixue, he didn’t want to lose to anyone else but Ji Mingkong.
Hong Li’s expression was excited, eager to outshine Qin Bixue and Ling Xiao.
Though Qin Bixue lost to Ji Mingkong, he defeated Mo Wushang.
Ling Xiao, undefeated, was a miracle.
Yet she lost to her senior sister Bai Qianjiao, which infuriated her.
Now, Ling Xiao was her target for redemption. Defeating him could regain the audience’s approval.
“Meeting Ling Xiao is dangerous!”
Bai Qianjiao remained calm but seemed to sense Ling Xiao’s terrifying strength, murmuring to herself.
The spectator stands buzzed with discussion.
“Ling Xiao’s too strong, dominating Long Chen. We misjudged him. He’s the brightest new star!”
“Indeed, both Ling Xiao and Long Chen held back, but compared to top-ranked Ji Mingkong, there’s still a gap.”
“Still, I think he’s the most likely to challenge Ji Mingkong.”
“Why?”
“He’s defeated Fire Demon Lord, Hong Sanmei, and Long Chen—three top-ten scorers—plus Jian Wuji, one of the Six Young Masters!”
“Right, each fight seems like he’s given his all, yet the next one always surprises us.”
“Even so, his prospects aren’t great. His next opponents are the Holy Son, Mo Wushang, Bai Qianjiao, Qin Bixue, Hong Li, Liu Taiyin, and Lan Yuer. Lan Yuer and Liu Taiyin are no match, but the other five are tough. Don’t assume Hong Li’s loss to Bai Qianjiao means she’d lose to Ling Xiao.”
“Heh, that’s what makes it exciting. Can Ling Xiao keep winning?”
If Fire Demon Lord was a dark horse, Ling Xiao was a pitch-black, peerless one.
From the group stage to now, he hadn’t lost, and no one knew his true strength or trump card.
In every fight, he seemed to reveal just a fraction of his power.
“Let’s see if this dark horse can stay black to the end!”
After defeating Long Chen, the next match was Bai Qianjiao versus Liu Taiyin.
Liu Taiyin was formidable.
Though he lost to Long Chen, his swordsmanship proved his strength.
But unfortunately, he faced the higher-ranked Bai Qianjiao.
In just five moves, she broke his protective Heavenly Yuan Force, defeating him decisively.
This victory skyrocketed Bai Qianjiao’s popularity. Some suspected she hid strength capable of challenging Ji Mingkong.
Then, proud Hong Li faced Fire Demon Lord and suffered another shocking defeat.
Fire Demon Lord revealed he’d broken through to the late First Heaven stage, though still inferior to Ji Mingkong.
He hadn’t planned to expose his strength so soon, but consecutive losses left him no choice.
With Ji Mingkong’s strength already revealed, he had nothing to hide.
The shock from Fire Demon Lord’s performance barely settled when Ji Mingkong’s match began.
“Ji Mingkong versus Mo Wushang!”
Last tournament’s first versus second.
Mo Wushang, facing Ji Mingkong, refused to concede.
He knew he was outmatched but surrendering didn’t suit him.
Yet during the fight, he realized Ji Mingkong was even stronger than last time.
The gap hadn’t narrowed; it had widened.
His demonic eye was a joke before Ji Mingkong, utterly ineffective.
Ji Mingkong stood there, letting Mo Wushang show off.
After ten moves, she used a simple Holy Ancestor Long Fist, blasting Mo Wushang off the arena.
She spared his dignity, avoiding a humiliating defeat.
Absorbing Mo Wushang’s luck, Ji Mingkong’s ninth cauldron was nearly seventy percent formed.
The final cauldron was harder to form than the previous eight, making the ninth a daunting task.
After Ji Mingkong’s victory, the twelfth round ended.
After a rest, the thirteenth round began.
It started with a blockbuster.
“Ji Mingkong versus Long Chen!”
But to the audience’s disappointment, Long Chen forfeited without stepping onto the arena.
Many thought he conceded because he couldn’t match Ji Mingkong.
No one mocked him.
Only Long Chen knew he was at a critical moment of comprehension, close to a breakthrough. He’d have forfeited even if his opponent wasn’t Ji Mingkong.
“How boring!”
“Indeed, Qin Bixue, Mo Wushang, and Long Chen have all proven they’re no match for the Holy Son. Are Bai Qianjiao and Ling Xiao our only hopes?”
“It seems so.”
“Ling Xiao, oh Ling Xiao, let our dreams last a bit longer.”
