C16 He Entered the Top Five

Wang Mingxuan's face lit up with excitement as he turned to Yang Ying, "Senior Brother Yang, you're the second person to clinch a victory in the competition!"

"The second? Who was the first?" inquired Yang Ying.

"It was Wang Shuo who won the fastest," replied Wang Mingxuan.

"Wang Shuo!" Yang Ying tensed inwardly, "I thought I won quickly enough. Could Wang Shuo have been even faster? Did he really win with just a single move?"

After speaking, Yang Ying glanced over at Wang Mingxuan.

Wang Mingxuan explained, "Senior Brother Yang, Wang Shuo's platform, number 11, is quite close to ours. I saw his opponent get seriously injured by a single move from Wang Shuo. He had to be helped off the platform."

Hearing this, Yang Ying's brow furrowed in concern. He knew he would have to be extra cautious if he faced Wang Shuo as an opponent.

Having finished his match early, Yang Ying and Wang Mingxuan stepped aside to get a better look at the potential competitors.

An hour later, the preliminary rounds were over, and it was time for the top ten showdown.

The draw pitted Yang Ying against Pang Junyu, who was ranked eighth. Pang Junyu was adept with wood control spells and his swordsmanship was formidable. In his matches, he often entangled his foes with vines before finishing them off with his blade.

As Yang Ying and Pang Junyu exchanged bows, Pang Junyu wasted no time in casting his Binding Skill, attempting to immobilize Yang Ying before he could even draw his sword.

But Yang Ying was ready. He swiftly employed the Soaring Movement Arts to evade, leaving his spot just as Pang Junyu realized his predicament and vanished using his own movement technique.

Yang Ying now stood where Pang Junyu had been moments before. As Pang Junyu reappeared, Yang Ying was already there, sword drawn. He launched an attack, and Pang Junyu barely managed to parry.

With a swift maneuver, Yang Ying aimed for Pang Junyu's wrist. Caught off guard, Pang Junyu released his grip, and his sword clattered to the ground.

Pang Junyu swiftly backpedaled, trying to create distance between himself and Yang Ying. Seizing the moment, Yang Ying employed the Soaring Movement Arts to materialize at Pang Junyu's side. His long sword came to a halt at Pang Junyu's throat.

Feeling the chill against his skin, Pang Junyu realized he had been bested.

Yang Ying sheathed his sword and respectfully bowed to Pang Junyu, saying, "I'm grateful for the challenge." Pang Junyu returned the bow and, without a word, descended from the platform.

With the conclusion of the subsequent match, the morning's competitions were wrapped up. The afternoon would see the top ten duelists draw lots to determine their matchups, with the victors advancing to the top five.

Yang Ying's next opponent was the sixth-ranked contender, Qi Lingrui.

Renowned as the most exceptional female disciple of the Outer Sect, Qi Lingrui's beauty was unparalleled. She and Kuan Ningshuang, another Outer Sect disciple, were celebrated as the Two Hotties of the Outer Sect.

The youngest daughter of the Qi Family Patriarch from the imperial capital of Yaen Country, Qi Lingrui had been a prodigy from childhood, adored by her family's elder. Her cultivation had flourished since joining the Green Cloud Sect four years prior. Now at the pinnacle of the ninth level in Qi Refining, she was anticipated to ascend to the tenth level within three months.

The crowd erupted in cheers as Qi Lingrui gracefully ascended the stage, their support for her resounding.

Yang Ying watched Qi Lingrui with a calm gaze. Although her stunning beauty was captivating, he was unfazed, accustomed as he was to the myriad of beauties from his future experiences.

In a gentle tone, Qi Lingrui addressed him, "Senior Brother Yang, please be gentle."

With a cool response, Yang Ying replied, "Forgive me, Senior Sister Qi, but I must not hold back."

His sword was already in motion as he spoke, executing the Gale Sword Arts with a direct thrust at Qi Lingrui.

Caught off guard by Yang Ying's preemptive strike, Qi Lingrui's pride was wounded, her beauty disregarded. Anger flared within her as she responded with the Sword Drawing Art. Her sword glinted, intercepting Yang Ying's blade with a flash of light.

Seizing the moment, Yang Ying advanced with a stride, his sword tip sweeping toward Qi Lingrui's arm with a whoosh.

Qi Lingrui's skills were deep-rooted. In that dire instant, she forcefully redirected her sword's path, bringing it down upon Yang Ying.

Unflinchingly, Yang Ying took the hit from Qi Lingrui's blade. Her sword sliced through Qi Lingrui's arm, tearing her sleeve and drawing blood from her pale skin.

Then, Qi Lingrui's blade found Yang Ying's left hand. She stared at her own fair arm, slightly lost in thought, not having anticipated her own injury.

In earlier bouts, the Outer Sect disciples often held back against Qi Lingrui, reluctant to exert full force for fear of harming her.

Catching Qi Lingrui off-guard, Yang Ying aimed a strike at her neck. But as his sword neared her skin, it halted abruptly.

This was the first time Qi Lingrui had faced a disciple who showed no mercy or tenderness. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Yang Ying sheathed his sword and offered, "Senior Sister Qi, I appreciate the match!"

Below the stage, the onlookers voiced their disapproval.

"How can he be so dishonorable?"

"Indeed, how could he launch a sneak attack while Senior Sister Qi was distracted?"

"And how could he lack such chivalry?"

Yang Ying was left at a loss for words. Disregarding the jeers from the spectators, he descended from the stage alone and, with Wang Mingxuan at his side, departed from the Martial Arts Practice Field.

The afternoon would bring the top five competition. Each of the five Outer Sect disciples would face off against the other four.

A victory meant one point, while a defeat scored none. Ultimately, rankings would be determined by total points, with ties broken by head-to-head records.

As the afternoon arrived, Yang Ying and Wang Mingxuan made their way to the Martial Arts Practice Field, peering into the bustling arena. The crowd had swelled considerably from before, with numerous inner sect disciples in yellow robes now present, a stark contrast to earlier matches where they were conspicuously absent.

The competition was about to commence shortly.

At that moment, the previously vacant seats on the main stage were now occupied. Judging by their attire, they were the Deacon, the Elder, and the Peak Lord of the Inner Sect.

As per the Green Cloud Sect's regulations, Outer Sect disciples donned grey robes, Inner Sect disciples yellow, True Inheriting disciples purple, Deacons and Elders blue, Peak Lords gold, and the Sect Master green.

Yang Ying didn't recognize the dignitaries on the main stage, so he paid them little mind.

Catching sight of Deacon Faang on the main stage, Yang Ying turned and respectfully bowed in his direction, expressing gratitude for the assistance he had received from the Deacon previously.

Deacon Faang acknowledged him with a nod. At his side, someone clad in blue robes leaned in to ask a question, to which he responded with a warm smile.