The striking performances, along with his young age being at the Early Golden Core Stage, made him the dark horse of this tournament in the hearts of the people.

There were more male disciples than female in the Taiyi Sect, with two-thirds being male and one-third female. At this time, not only were the male disciples' eyes focused on Wang Xiaoqiang, the "dark horse," but the female disciples were also paying attention to him, like Zhao Wushuang from the West Sect, He Saixue from the East Sect, and of course, Ye Qingcheng had her eyes on Wang Xiaoqiang as well, meaning the attention of all three great beauties of the Taiyi Sect was solely on him.

This made Qi Jingtian of the West Sect slightly jealous. Qi Jingtian, twenty-five years old, at the Early Golden Core Stage, the third place winner of the last tournament, had been in seclusion for many years just for this tournament. He had emerged from seclusion last night, and after more than half a year, his cultivation base had reached the Middle Golden Core Stage.

Yet such a talented person was also overshadowed by Wang Xiaoqiang, because everyone was secretly saying that Jiang Yulong, who was at the Middle Golden Core Stage, had been killed by Wang Xiaoqiang. One could only imagine, a person capable of killing someone at the Middle Golden Core Stage, what level his cultivation base must have reached?

Under the watchful eyes, Wang Xiaoqiang felt a chilling sensation, realizing that around him, a hundred orbs of Five Elements Spiritual Spring were floating there. If anyone saw them, what a sensation it would cause. Fortunately, no one noticed. However, being stared at by thousands of pairs of eyes, Wang Xiaoqiang still felt uneasy and disoriented, especially with all the female disciples' gazes making his face heat up.

"Little Qiang, don't be nervous," noticing a slight flush on Wang Xiaoqiang's face and fine beads of sweat on his forehead, Ye Qingcheng leaned closer to his ear with a lotus-like beautiful face and reminded him with a smile. Ye Qingcheng was already standing close to Wang Xiaoqiang, and with such an intimate reminder and charming smile, it instantly dazzled all the male disciples, almost making their eyeballs fall to the ground, feeling incredibly envious and jealous, thinking, if only Ye Great Beauty would smile at me like that, it would be worth dying for!

Not far away, Lin Jinghong from the North Sect watched Wang Xiaoqiang with a resentful gaze, feeling that it should have been him, not Wang Xiaoqiang, who Ye Qingcheng was smiling at. He believed the current scene was solely because Wang Xiaoqiang had bewitched Ye Qingcheng; withdrawing his gaze, he exchanged a look with two other members of the Crown Prince Faction who were competing, all revealing murderous intent in their eyes.

Although the rules of the competition stated that harming the opponent's life was not allowed, incidents of accidental killing still occurred frequently in previous competitions, and the sect never demanded the killer's life in retribution, merely disqualifying them from the competition as a symbolic punishment. Hence, such a tournament wasn't very safe for the competing disciples, especially those who had conflicts or even grudges against their opponents, as they might end up dead.

Before the competition, one of the elders in the sect announced the rules of the competition. This year's rules were the same as before: disciples from the four sects (north, south, east, west) would select two disciples each, and opponents would be chosen through drawing lots, from one to eight. The disciple who drew number one would compete against the one who drew number two, the disciple who drew number three against the one who drew number four, and so on, forming four groups, competing simultaneously on four platforms. The losers would withdraw and the winners would proceed to the next round.

Such competition rules were not favorable for the sectors with fewer people, like the South Sect, who had only four competing disciples, while the other three sects each had between ten and twenty disciples. If one failed, another would take their place, if two failed, another two would step up.

The South Sect couldn't do that; if all four failed, it meant total defeat.

It wasn't because the South Sect lacked disciples, but because they only had these four impressive disciples; the ones below them were all in the Qi Cultivation Stage. Bringing them out would just be an embarrassment. That's why, at this time each year, the face of the Vice Sect Leader of the South Sect, Taiyi Immortal, always lacked luster.

"Ah, Old Guo, this year there's one more than last year, not easy at all, haha..." The Vice Sect Leader of East Sect seemed to be praising, but actually he was mocking. Last year, the South Sect had three participants, this year it has increased by one, but this number doesn't even reach one-third of those from the East Sect. This time, the participants from the East Sect amounted to twenty.

Old Guo, named Guo Shoujing, who is also the South Sect Leader Taiyi Immortal, heard this and was not disturbed. He took the words of the East Sect Leader very lightly.

"However, I am quite optimistic about this Wang Xiaoqiang. Hey, Old Guo, where did you find such a freak? Such a young age and already at the Early Golden Core Stage?" The Sect Master of West Sect noticed that Guo Shoujing seemed more confident than last year, realizing he was relying on Wang Xiaoqiang, and asked curiously.

"Hmph, this Wang Xiaoqiang has an unclear background, and he's ruthless and merciless, clearly a crooked devil..." The North and South Sects have always been aligned, and in every past tournament, when Guo Shoujing faced ridicule from the East and West Sect Leaders, the North Sect Leader would always help to change the subject. However, having heard that Wang Xiaoqiang had killed his beloved disciple, Jiang Yulong, the North Sect Leader despised Wang Xiaoqiang thoroughly, and instead of helping out, he directly slandered Wang Xiaoqiang as soon as he spoke.

Before he could finish, Guo Shoujing protectively retorted, "Mr. Zhong, what nonsense are you talking about? How could Wang Xiaoqiang possibly be a crooked devil? You, you're clearly defaming him, you..."

"Enough, let's not talk any more," just then, a slightly angry voice arose—it was the True Person of Taiyi in the center speaking up—"whether Wang Xiaoqiang is a wicked devil or not will be known through today's competition..."

So-called wicked devils are practitioners who stand in opposition to the Three Great Immortal Sects, like some demon cultivators, beast cultivators, and ghost cultivators, whom the Three Great Immortal Sects also consider evil and exterminate on sight. Indeed, distinguishing a crooked devil is not difficult; the cultivation techniques and spells they practice differ greatly from the orthodox techniques of the Three Great Immortal Sects, and can be recognized as soon as they are demonstrated. Wang Xiaoqiang, who entered the path midway and reached the Early Golden Core Stage at a very young age, along with the deaths of three from the Crown Prince Faction, might also draw the Sect Leaders' suspicions. Thus, this grand competition is also a time to verify Wang Xiaoqiang's identity.

Once the True Person of Taiyi spoke, the two flushed and furious Vice Sect Leaders quieted down instantly, giving each other a look, anger visible in their eyes. Actually, in the past, the South and North Sects were also discordant in heart though not in appearance, but they had to unite in spirit to resist the forces of East and West Sects.

This is somewhat similar to the international situation where many countries form alliances, essentially to fend off foreign enemies and protect themselves from invasions.

The first round of drawing lots.

Representing South Sect were Mochong and Ye Qingcheng. Ye Qingcheng drew number 2, against a disciple of West Sect, while Mochong drew number 5, against a disciple from North Sect.

The competition begins.

Ye Qingcheng and Mochong, encouraged by Ling Qiyan and Wang Xiaoqiang, each headed to their designated arena. Before leaving, Ye Qingcheng said, "Sister Qiyan, Little Qiang, aren't you both coming over to cheer us on?"

Having said that, she stared intently at Wang Xiaoqiang, who said, "I will definitely support you."

As he spoke, he followed behind Ye Qingcheng, with Ling Qiyan also coming up, "As your best friend, I definitely have to cheer you on."

They arrived in front of the arena.

It was evident that this arena, compared to the other three, had many more disciples watching, and all their gazes were fixed on Ye Qingcheng. It was clear that everyone had come for Ye Qingcheng, eager to see the beauty fight in her graceful might.

On the high platform of the arena, a man with his arms crossed stood, looking at Ye Qingcheng with excitement in his eyes. He was a disciple from the West Sect, the one who had drawn number one.

Ye Qingcheng, Wang Xiaoqiang, and Ling Qiyan, with a sweep of their Divine Sense, discerned that this man was at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage. And Ye Qingcheng, at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, was significantly behind; winning would indeed not be easy.

Facing a stronger opponent, Ye Qingcheng showed no sign of discouragement. With a gesture of her hand, the Crystal Wall Sword flashed, supporting her body as she ascended to the arena.

Putting aside Ye Qingcheng's cultivation level for a moment, this very action dazzled the entire crowd.

The shining long sword, lifting Ye Qingcheng in her white gown, slowly rose, and her exquisitely unmatched beauty, along with her graceful figure, was like an Immortal Maiden descending from the Nine Heavens, stunning everyone.

The disciple from the West Sect, competing in the arena, was utterly entranced, and when Ye Qingcheng landed in front of him from the sword, he had not yet snapped out of his daze.

"I am Ye Qingcheng. Please make your move, Senior Brother," Ye Qingcheng said to the disciple, giving him a fist salute.

"Ah... I, I am Zhu Wudao. Junior Sister Qingcheng, it's my fortune to compete against you on the same stage," Zhu Wudao, having regained his composure, was still intently staring at Ye Qingcheng, looking utterly smitten.

"Haha..."

"Haha... This Zhu Wudao,"

Following Zhu Wudao's words, a wave of laughter erupted from the crowd.

Ye Qingcheng, hearing the laughter, frowned slightly, not wanting to talk further. With her right hand gestured, the Jade Crystal Sword was summoned before her. The green light reflected on her stunning face, making her look even more enchanting.

"Junior Sister Qingcheng, well, I won't be courteous anymore," Zhu Wudao said, and with a beckon of his right hand, a golden rake appeared before him. It resembled the Iron Rake from the TV drama «Journey to the West», used by Zhu Bajie, causing the crowd below to burst into laughter again at such an odd magic treasure.

Ye Qingcheng's right hand vibrated, and Jade Crystal Sword leapt into the air, sparkling brightly, then swept toward Zhu Wudao.

Zhu Wudao raised his right hand and the Iron Rake vibrated, emitting a dark light, blocking in front of him.

The next moment...

Boom!

The Jade Crystal Sword struck the Iron Rake.

A fierce shockwave, with the point of impact between the two magic treasures as the center, blasted outwards. Both Ye Qingcheng and Zhu Wudao were pushed back three steps by the blast before stabilizing themselves.

The first exchange ended in a draw. Both retrieved their magic treasures, facing each other, and it was clear to the discerning eye that the previous clash was merely exploratory without full force being exerted. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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