The next day.

Energetic and in high spirits, Little Qiang headed to Dragon City Plaza for the second round of the martial arts competition, accompanied by True Person of Taiyi and the two ladies from the Yans Family.

After yesterday's first round, half of the top thirty had been eliminated.

For the second match, only fifteen remained.

Like most talent selection events, these fifteen people had already become the center of attention.

Because among them, the top four contestants would be decided,

and these top four would receive substantial rewards from the Empire Emperor, including noble titles and positions, as well as an official salary. Furthermore, the top three would also receive a powerful Spirit Armor for defense.

The fifteen who were eliminated yesterday had seven dead, and the eight who survived were all severely injured. Fortunately, they were still alive and received an official reward of twenty spirit marrows. All things considered, it was worth it.

The remaining fifteen would still draw lots to determine their matches.

Among these fifteen, one would draw a blank lot.

The one who drew the blank would directly advance to the ranking matches for the top four.

The remaining fourteen would compete in pairs to decide the winners and losers.

At this point, all fifteen harbored a bit of wishful thinking, hoping to draw that blank lot, bypass the second match, and move directly to the ranking rounds.

In light of this, the officials decided to wait until all fifteen participants had arrived before starting the lot drawing.

The drawing at this time took on the form of a lottery.

Drawing that blank lot was like hitting the jackpot in a lottery.

Little Qiang also harbored expectations for the blank lot.

Finally, when the fifteen participants had all gathered, the officials brought them together and the lot drawing began.

Little Qiang casually took one, but he didn't look at it. Instead, he just watched the others.

He noticed that among the fourteen others, there were twelve male cultivators and two female cultivators.

One of the female cultivators was exceptionally beautiful and powerful, but Little Qiang had not paid attention to her name.

The other was the Cold-Faced Rakshasa, Leng Qingqiu.

Little Qiang stealthily glanced at Leng Qingqiu and noticed a green jade pendant around her waist, on which a grey-black substance was subtly circulating...

Upon seeing this, Little Qiang's mind stirred, feeling that this grey-black substance was peculiar, so he released his Divine Sense to investigate and discovered that it was actually a remnant soul.

That is, a living human soul.

Focusing on the remnant soul, Little Qiang was shocked and thought to himself, why would the Cold-Faced Rakshasa be carrying a living soul?

Could it be that she practiced Ghost Dao techniques?

But upon closer examination, he found no seals placed on the jade pendant.

Seeing this, Little Qiang grew even more perplexed, thinking that Ghost Dao techniques were cruel and ruthless, usually involving killing people to capture their souls and refining them into ghost soldiers to be used at one's beck and call.

Just like the Myriad Ghost Ancestor's "Ferocious Hundred Ghosts," which were actually made from a hundred human souls.

If Leng Qingqiu was practicing Ghost Dao techniques, she would have to either confine that remnant soul or seal it to prevent it from escaping. However, she had done neither, and the soul itself hadn't attempted to flee,

This evidence suggested that Leng Qingqiu was not practicing Ghost Dao techniques.

Yet, if she was not practicing Ghost Dao techniques, then what was she doing carrying around a living soul?

And moreover, why was that soul obediently staying hidden within the jade pendant? This mystery made it all the more intriguing.

Hmm, this Leng Qingqiu really is odd—but surely, she must be a woman with a story!

```

Wang Xiaoqiang stared at Leng Qingqiu and muttered to himself.

Just then, Leng Qingqiu noticed Wang Xiaoqiang's gaze and abruptly turned her head, giving him a cold and beautiful glare.

Wang Xiaoqiang quickly averted his gaze to avoid embarrassment, and with a sheepish smile, he took out the lot he had drawn to take a closer look, his face showing surprise, "Uh, luck really is on my side, I actually drew a blank lot!"

No sooner had Wang Xiaoqiang finished speaking than the other thirteen people also turned their heads to stare at him, their gazes filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment, unlike Leng Qingqiu's cold stare.

Seeing the group show envy and jealousy, Wang Xiaoqiang stretched leisurely, proudly saying, "It's really awesome, I can rest for the whole day today, and, you know, watch the competition, check out the beauties, and so on..."

Upon hearing this, another female cultivator showed contempt on her face and thought to herself, how lecherous can this guy be? Even with two beauties by his side, he still ogles at other women?

Seeing the contempt on this female cultivator's face, Wang Xiaoqiang wasn't annoyed at all; instead, he gave her a sleazy grin and said, "Well, beauty, staring at me like that, do you want me to come and watch your match?"

"Pah! Loose and shameless scoundrel!" The woman showed a hint of thin anger, spat disdainfully, and turned her head away.

Wang Xiaoqiang's gaze turned back to Leng Qingqiu.

Leng Qingqiu glared at Wang Xiaoqiang fiercely once again.

Wang Xiaoqiang shrugged his shoulders and said mockingly to himself, "Ah, no one cares about me, going home to sleep."

Wang Xiaoqiang handed the blank lot to an administrator and really did head back.

But it wasn't to sleep; instead, he started to cultivate.

Since he had just managed a breakthrough in Body Refinement and Qi Refinement yesterday, he couldn't break through again today,

These consecutive breakthroughs, although not dangerous enough to cause his body to explode, still do some harm to the body.

It's like those extreme athletes who win the competition but end up injuring themselves. It's not worth it.

Wang Xiaoqiang decided to solidify his understanding of spell techniques.

First, he practiced the Visualization-Type Techniques Arm of the Giant Scorpion and Poison Tail of the Giant Scorpion that he had just learned. Then he cultivated the Divine Art Thunderclap Annihilation Palm. As the Body Refining Realm increased, so did the power of Thunderclap Annihilation Palm,

Now, he could unleash electric arcs over a foot long.

In close combat, the Thunderclap Annihilation Palm was truly a formidable move.

If he could manage to unleash electric arcs ten feet long, he would be invincible in close combat, and also gain an advantage in ranged battles.

Thinking this, Wang Xiaoqiang felt secretly smug inside.

After cultivating until the afternoon, Wang Xiaoqiang took a nap. When he woke up, it was already dark outside. A wild wind was rising, clouds were stacked in the sky, lightning flashed and thunder roared. It looked like it was going to rain any second.

"Hmm, why not take this opportunity to absorb some lightning into my body and refine it into my hands, to raise the power of Thunderclap Annihilation Palm to another level..." As he thought this, Wang Xiaoqiang immediately dashed out of Dragon City towards Yan Mountain.

Wang Xiaoqiang didn't dare to venture deep into the mountain.

Actually, he didn't need to go deep into the mountain,

In the end, he chose a tall peak at the mouth of the mountain, flew up, and then sat down cross-legged at the peak.

The dark sky howled with wind.

Winds swept the clouds; electric arcs zigzagged; thunder rumbled. The world was a picture of desolation.

Rain lashed down, unrestrained and scattered.

Beneath the sky full of rain,

Wang Xiaoqiang sat quietly.

He raised his hands high above his head, palms facing up, in a Heaven-Lifting gesture.

With closed eyes, he began to breathe slowly, whispering of incantations.(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)

```

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.