Chi! Chi! Chi!
Following Meng Xiaoyue’s rapid three thrusts that pushed Niu Qiang off the Martial Combat Platform, the tenth round of the finals and scoring match was declared over.
Compared to the ninth round, there were some changes in the rankings after the tenth round.
Qu Zhanqian, Ye Zhen, and Changsun Ran each tied for first place with twenty points, while Gao Xinglie, ranked second on the Heavenly List, fell to fourth with eighteen points due to his loss to Ye Zhen.
Ren Xihua had good luck this round, won a match, and scored sixteen points, tying with Han Shi, who also won one match, ranking fifth and sixth respectively.
However, because Sunx Zuohai lost a match, and Meng Xiaoyue, Cao Luo, Wu Ge, and others each won a match, including Bian Long and Yuen Hui, there were six disciples with fourteen points each, and two of them had to be eliminated from this group.
Elder Zhong proposed a simple method: within this small group of six, each person would choose an opponent to fight one match, then another, for a total of two matches.
Those who lost both matches were to be eliminated first; if there were still too many, they would eliminate the martial artists who lost one match.
Sunx Zuohai sealed his own fate. Being the first to choose an opponent, he had a great advantage, yet he mistakenly thought Meng Xiaoyue was an easy target.
Meng Xiaoyue’s Half-vein Divine Power, though not able to actively unleash the Origin Sword Vein like Ye Zhen, her Sword Vein Divine Power and Sword Heart Enlightenment, coming from the same lineage, assisted her significantly.
Even during the inheritance, because Meng Xiaoyue was the main inheritor, the Sword Vein Divine Power she forged was even stronger than Ye Zhen’s.
Consequently, Sunx Zuohai’s Heavy Mountain Leg Skill had absolutely no suppressing effect on Meng Xiaoyue.
Tragically, Sunx Zuohai was chopped off the Martial Arena by Meng Xiaoyue, and Meng’s cultivation was only at the True Essence Fifth Realm Peak, and without any Low Grade Artifact enhancement, she could not break Sunx’s Protective Gang Qi with a single sword strike.
Otherwise, Sunx Zuohai’s fate would have been even more miserable.
The nickname Little Rakshasa for Meng Xiaoyue was well earned.
Impressively, when it was Meng Xiaoyue’s turn to choose someone to challenge, she directly challenged Sunx Zuohai, who considered her an easy target.
Meng Xiaoyue, when combating disciples of similar cultivation in previous matches, struck hard and harsh, always drawing blood upon defeating them.
This ruthless style, combined with her master being known as the Demon-faced Rakshasa, Liao Feibai, quickly spread her nickname, Little Rakshasa, among the disciples.
Originally, Meng Xiaoyue, by choosing to challenge a loser and bully, could have been refused by Sunx Zuohai.
But, thinking of making a comeback to regain his face, Sunx Zuohai immediately jumped onto the Martial Combat Platform.
As a result, Sunx Zuohai truly became the proverbial soft persimmon, completely crushed by Meng Xiaoyue, and utterly disconnected from the rewards of the top ten of the Inner Gate!
The top ten of the Sect’s grand competition were thus decided.
They were Qu Zhanqian, Ye Zhen, Changsun Ran, Gao Xinglie, Ren Xihua, Han Shi, Wu Ge, Yuen Hui, Cao Luo, and Meng Xiaoyue.
Among the top ten disciples on the Qiyun Sect’s Heavenly List, surprisingly three did not make it into the top ten of the Sect.
The final ranking competition was not held immediately.
Many had already fought twenty matches early in the morning; their cultivation and spirits were severely depleted, and some were even injured, like Fengg Xinglie, who could hardly perform at his peak combat power.
Therefore, Elder Zhong announced that after a rest of two periods, the combat would resume in the afternoon!
The two periods passed quickly, and the crowd at the Martial Battle Arena only grew larger.
True Inheritors of Qiyun Sect like Fan Chuyu, Luv Xin, Wuw Mingda, and Mei Yuanju, who rarely showed themselves, also appeared at the Martial Battle Arena, forming their own unique small circle.
Even Caiyi came to the Martial Battle Arena, though she stayed close with Ye Zhen, eliciting envy from many disciples.
All eight Sect Elders were present as well, and each of the top ten was exceptional. If the elders took a liking to anyone, they might take in disciples on the spot.
"The top ten ranking competition begins now; the first match, Ren Xihua versus Wu Ge!" announced Elder Zhongli, stepping onto the Martial Combat Platform.
The ranking competition is actually the simplest—everybody has to fight a match against each of the top ten, with victory or defeat determining the scores, and ultimately, the highest scorer will be the champion of this Sect competition.
For opponents who had already fought in the group stage and scoring matches, those results would be directly used to reduce the number of fights.
Of course, if someone was dissatisfied, they could request a rematch.
Ye Zhen had already fought against Han Shi, Ren Xihua, Gao Xinglie, and Wu Ge, so unless there was an unexpected development, he would only need to fight four more matches in this ranking competition.
Soon, it was Ye Zhen’s turn.
"Fourth match, Ye Zhen versus Changsun Ran!"
Amid Elder Zhong’s call, Ye Zhen and Changsun Ran both stepped onto the Martial Combat Platform.
Hearing that Ye Zhen was to battle against Changsun Ran, all eyes shifted towards the Martial Combat Platform.
"Senior Brother Fan, who do you think will win between Ye Zhen and Changsun Ran?" asked True Disciple Mei Yuanju.
The discussions among True Disciples were the most notable; instantly, all disciples pricked up their ears, eager to hear their insights.
With a graceful smile, Fan Chuyu first teased a little, "Junior Brother Mei, would you like to hear the truth or a lie?"
"Truth or a lie, what do you mean?"
"A lie? Since my junior apprentice-brother Yuen Chengzu died at the hands of Ye Zhen, naturally, I hope Changsun Ran wins and Ye Zhen loses," said Fan Chuyu.
"So the truth is that Ye Zhen will win?"
"Exactly. Although I’d like Ye Zhen to lose, based on today’s performance in the Sword Dao, he has been incredibly skilled. Just in terms of Sword Dao proficiency, only Little Rakshasa Meng Xiaoyue can barely hold a candle to Ye Zhen!
Unfortunately for Changsun Ran, who also uses a sword, there’s almost no chance of winning with such a small gap in cultivation..."
While Fan Chuyu and the others were discussing, Ye Zhen and Changsun Ran had already crossed swords.
"Senior Brother Changsun, please enlighten me!"
With a shout, Ye Zhen’s sword light suddenly surged, slashing down at Changsun Ran like a cloud.
Flowing Cloud Like a Whip!
Changsun Ran casually sliced out a sword light to meet it.
The Flowing Cloud Sword Technique excels in its unpredictable changes. With a thought in his Divine Sense, Ye Zhen’s sword light, like a whip, suddenly turned, avoiding Changsun Ran’s oncoming sword light and struck towards Changsun Ran.
Suddenly, Changsun Ran’s sword light also turned bizarrely and faced Ye Zhen’s sword light.
The two curving sword lights collided fiercely and then vanished. However, Ye Zhen was momentarily stunned.
"Junior Brother Ye, how was my Flowing Cloud Like a Whip? I have diligently practiced the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique for over a year..."
Changsun Ran looked quite pleased with himself, as if to say that Ye Zhen using the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique in front of him was like showing a bricklayer bricks.
"Not bad!"
While saying it was not bad, Ye Zhen’s figure had already soared, with the Sky Crystal Sword emitting radiant sword light. His Sword Vein Divine Power trembled incessantly, and nine streams of Flowing Cloud Sword Qi arrayed like soldiers, assaulting Changsun Ran!
Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes!
"Well done!"
Changsun Ran shouted, countering with Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes against Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes.
Just as the eighteen streams of Flowing Cloud Sword were about to clash, Ye Zhen’s Sky Crystal Sword tremored slightly. The nine streams of Flowing Cloud Sword Qi accelerated instantly, surpassing Changsun Ran’s Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes.
Whoosh!
The nine swords combined into one, hammering down directly at Changsun Ran’s head!
This change was extremely bizarre and even Changsun Ran, a master of Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, hadn’t anticipated it.
In shock, Changsun Ran hurriedly parried to defend himself, and his surrounding Protective Spirit Qi lit up to the extreme.
Bang!
Changsun Ran was knocked away like a broken plank by the combined nine Flowing Cloud Sword Qi, and the Refined Gold Longsword in his hand for self-protection shattered into countless pieces.
After landing, Changsun Ran, with a trace of fresh blood on his lips, disregarded his own injuries and asked Ye Zhen in shock, "This is impossible, how can such bizarre and varied changes be made? There are no such changes in the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique!"
The spectators on and off the stage were also dumbstruck.
Nobody expected that what was anticipated to be a sensational match would end between two moves, which was utterly astonishing.
"Uh, practice long enough, and you can achieve it..." Ye Zhen casually responded.
In fact, Changsun Ran was somewhat aggrieved in his defeat!
Had he not used the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique, with his strength, he certainly would not have lost so cleanly and swiftly without even lasting two moves!
Competing in variations with Ye Zhen was utterly masochistic!
Not to mention that Ye Zhen’s Sword Heart Enlightenment allowed him to control the sword to a degree difficult for others to reach.
However, what truly enabled Ye Zhen to perform the unpredictable changes of the Flowing Cloud Nine Changes was his potent Divine Soul Power. With powerful Divine Soul Power directing, the Flowing Cloud Nine Changes were almost whimsical in Ye Zhen’s hands.
Using the same sword move to face the enemy was Changsun Ran courting death!
Of course, even if Changsun Ran had used another sword technique, it would only have looked better superficially. He was bound to lose!
"Practiced long..."
Upon hearing this, Changsun Ran gave a bitter smile. He had painstakingly practiced this sword technique for more than a year, using Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes as his killing move. Even if Ye Zhen had practiced for a long time, how much could it have been?
Among the True Disciples, Fan Chuyu was secretly astounded. Others might not know, but he knew.
A month ago, he had personally witnessed Ye Zhen selecting the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique on the fifth floor of the Scripture Storage Tower.
In just one month’s time, Ye Zhen had mastered the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique to a level even stronger than Changsun Ran, who had arduously practiced it for over a year.
"This Ye Zhen, is it that his talent is freakish, or does he really possess some extraordinary treasure?" Fan Chuyu’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes twinkled with light.
Not far away, Qu Zhanqian also revealed a look of amazement. If not for the battle between Ye Zhen and Changsun Ran, he couldn’t have imagined that Ye Zhen’s Flowing Cloud Nine Flashes could undergo such a transformation.
"The fifth match, Qu Zhanqian vs Gao Xinglie!"
As Ye Zhen stepped off the stage, Elder Zhong’s voice resounded once more.
Below the stage, Ye Zhen’s gaze turned towards Gao Xinglie, filled with expectation, "Gao Xinglie should make a move, right?"
This was Ye Zhen’s current biggest dilemma—having no knowledge of Qu Zhanqian’s real combat power.
Perhaps it was Qu Zhanqian’s reputation, or perhaps it was the Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation that intimidated everyone, but in the final point-based competition, all ten of Qu Zhanqian’s opponents surrendered as soon as they stepped on the stage, denying Ye Zhen even a chance to observe Qu Zhanqian’s strength.
"It’s Senior Brother Gao, with his personality, even if he loses, he would surely make a move, right?"
Of course, Senior Brother Gao is famously tough!"
Before an attentive crowd, Gao Xinglie and Qu Zhanqian slowly stepped onto the Martial Combat Platform! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian.com to read.)

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