C62 First Place in the Second Round

Yu Kun ascended the stage once more, engaging in several more bouts. Wu Baishun and Bai Qingfeng, after a brief respite, also made their way back to the ring to resume their battles.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, it was clear to all that the second round of the trials was drawing to a close. The frontrunner for this round was becoming evident.

Undeniably, with his score, Yu Kun was poised to take first place in this second round.

At that moment, Yu Kun listened as the Inner Sect Elder announced the scores.

"Yu Kun has won 29 battles!"

"Bai Qingfeng has won 27 battles!"

"Wu Baishun has also won 29 battles!"

Yu Kun felt a twinge of surprise.

He mused, "Wu Baishun managed to win 29 battles? My own were fiercely contested, yet Wu Baishun faced several disciples with lesser skills, allowing him to finish his fights swiftly. I hadn't anticipated he'd match my score."

The Inner Sect Elder declared, "The second round can only have one victor. Therefore, please replenish your Astral Energy for the final confrontation. The victor will claim the top spot in this round."

The announcement sent a wave of excitement through the crowd of warriors spectating the event.

The clash between Wu Baishun and Bai Qingfeng was fierce indeed.

Yet, it was the impending battle between Yu Kun and Wu Baishun that truly captured the audience's attention. Hsu Shaan and the others erupted into cheers, their faces flushed with excitement. Although Yu Kun was the one on the brink of becoming an Inner Sect disciple, they were his friends, and they shared in the pride of his accomplishments.

In that moment, the Little Prince of the Inner Sect ceased his eating and drinking, his gaze fixed intently on the arena, anticipation etched on his face. Yaen Hongling remained stoic, her expression betraying no interest in the outcome of the fight. However, her attention was, in truth, focused on Yu Kun.

Yu Kun settled into a meditative pose, channeling his energy to restore his Astral Energy.

Shortly thereafter, he opened his eyes to find Wu Baishun stepping onto the stage.

Wu Baishun addressed him candidly, "Senior Brother Yu, my talent may not be exceptional, and my cultivation is modest at best. My Martial Arts prowess pales in comparison to yours. Thus, I stand no chance against you."

Yu Kun remained silent, simply waiting for Wu Baishun to go on.

Wu Baishun resumed, "Despite that, I'm eager to try. You've intervened in my fight with Bai Qingfeng before, so I know you're not afraid of Astral Energy explosions."

"I've made up my mind to battle you using Astral Energy," declared Wu Baishun.

Yu Kun's eyes sparkled before he responded, "Brother Wu, you're far stronger than those self-proclaimed geniuses. You have the insight to recognize your strengths."

Wu Baishun chuckled, "I'm not very smart, so I don't have many skills. While others were enjoying themselves, I was dedicated to my cultivation, which is why my Astral Energy is more plentiful than theirs."

Yu Kun understood perfectly why Wu Baishun was keen on measuring their Astral Energy against each other. Wu Baishun's natural talent was limited, so he had to compensate with relentless training. This dedication resulted in his abundant Astral Energy. Even if his skills weren't on par with others, he wouldn't be at a disadvantage—he had replaced talent with hard work.

Aware that he wasn't favored to win this contest, Yu Kun accepted the challenge nonetheless.

With a mutual nod, they unleashed their Astral Energy, allowing it to crash together.

At that moment, Yu Kun exerted his full power to release the Leviathan-roc Astral Energy. But Wu Baishun's reserves were vast, preventing Yu Kun's energy from completely overwhelming his.

The disciples watching were utterly shocked.

"Have they lost their minds? A violent collision of Astral Energy could set off an explosion. No one uses their most potent Astral Energy in a duel for that reason."

"I've never known of any bad blood between Senior Brother Yu and Senior Brother Wu!"

The Inner Sect Elders' brows knitted in concern, ready to intervene for their disciples' safety.

The Little Prince's fists tightened, his face alight with fervor, seemingly captivated by the raw clash of power.

And even Yaen Hongling's frosty demeanor showed signs of thawing for a moment.

But these reactions were fleeting. The arena was already shifting with the unfolding battle.

In the briefest of moments, the clash of their Astral Energies had reached its conclusion.

Wu Baishun's Astral Energy relentlessly advanced, while Yu Kun's was steadily pushed back. Despite being formless and intangible, the point of their Astral Energies' impact was distinctly visible to all. It was clear to everyone that Wu Baishun's Astral Energy had nearly reached Yu Kun's face.

Now, it was apparent to all. Wu Baishun had triumphed, and Yu Kun had been defeated.

The Inner Sect Elder, Zhou Xingtian, no longer hesitated. He leapt from the platform, unleashing his Soul Embryo to rescue the pair.

The sight of Zhou Xingtian releasing his Soul Embryo sent a wave of astonishment through the other disciples.

"Elder Zhou has actually advanced to the Intermediate Rank of Martial Disciple and has formed a Soul Embryo!"

"It all makes sense now. I always had the feeling that Elder Zhou commanded the most respect in this trial. So that's why!"

"Elder Zhou is stepping in to assist them..."

Zhou Xingtian touched down on the stage, ready to intervene and separate their Astral Energies.

But before he could act, the outcome had already been decided.

Wu Baishun's Astral Energy encroached upon Yu Kun's space but then slowly faded away into nothingness.

Meanwhile, Yu Kun's Astral Energy, unimpeded, struck Wu Baishun squarely, toppling him to the ground.

However, due to the previous collision, Yu Kun's Astral Energy had been sapped of its strength. Even though it had knocked Wu Baishun down, it caused no injury.

Wu Baishun quickly scrambled to his feet and gave a respectful bow to Yu Kun, admitting, "Senior Brother Yu, your strength is undeniable. I admit defeat."

Yu Kun reciprocated the gesture, modestly replying, "It was merely a stroke of luck!"

Zhou Xingtian, momentarily stunned by the swift resolution, found himself unsure of how to proceed.

But he recovered swiftly, declaring, "Excellent! The victor of the second round has now been decided. I shall now announce the final standings!"

"First place goes to Yu Kun, with an impressive streak of thirty consecutive victories! Second place is awarded to Wu Baishun!"

At that moment, a wave of cheers erupted from the Outer Sect disciples.

Many may not have personally known Yu Kun, but a reverence for the powerful is a martial artist's instinct. Witnessing Yu Kun's accomplishments, they all shared in the pride of his success.

Undeniably, Yu Kun had proven himself a true Inner Sect disciple!

A hint of a smile played across Yu Kun's face.

"This brings me one step closer to my goal of becoming a Direct Disciple! But why am I even thinking this way?"

Yu Kun's memories seemed jumbled. Shaking his head firmly, he refocused, mentally admonishing himself, "No more wild thoughts. The final trial is tomorrow, and it's my turn to ascend the Flying Cloud Tower!"

With that thought, Yu Kun snapped back to the present and joined in the jubilant celebrations with his fellow disciples.