That night, Wang Xiaoqiang retracted his avatar.

The next day.

With the assistance of two maidens from the Yan Family, Wang Xiaoqiang donned a clean robe, washed up, had breakfast, and then accompanied by the two maidens and True Person of Taiyi, he arrived at Dragon City Plaza.

Although it was still early, and some time away from the competition, Dragon City Plaza was already filled with spectators, the number far exceeding those of the previous three arena matches,

To increase the attention to this ranking match, today the plaza was set with one arena, a super-large arena, which had a diameter of nearly a hundred meters, cast from transparent, hard rock.

At the edge of the arena stood a team of palace maids skilled in singing and dancing. These maids played the role of cheerleaders, performing on stage with songs and dances during the intermissions of the match.

The purpose was also to attract attention, enhancing the watchability and excitement of the tournament.

The tournament scene was arranged with great grandeur, important officials of the empire and the Eight Great Princes all attended in official robes, seated behind the main platform. An army of cultivators with at least an Eightfold Body of the Immortal Venerable, wearing military uniforms and holding Spirit Soldiers, maintained order at the site.

In mid-air, the Emperor's Immortal Carriage floated silently.

Emperor Huang Ce along with the Empress, Lotus Princess, and Princess Hua Shao sat inside.

When Wang Xiaoqiang appeared at Dragon City Plaza, Princess Hua Shao's eyes fixed tightly on him, a cold gleam flickering in her pupils,

The encounter at Drunken Immortal Tower yesterday had greatly annoyed her, causing her to brood for most of the night and sleep poorly. Consequently, she had dark circles under her eyes this morning.

Wang Xiaoqiang walked triumphantly to the main platform at the edge of the arena, seeing that the other three contestants had already arrived,

Leng Qingqiu, Ann Miaoyi, and another male cultivator,

This male cultivator had a stature of seven feet, a face fair as jade, standing grace like a handsome tree capable of making men jealous and women enamored.

This man, named Xu Wenxuan, about thirty years old, possessed a Spirit Root of three attributes and had a Sevenfold Body of the Immortal Venerable, making him the highest in cultivation base among the four strong contestants.

Wang Xiaoqiang today did not intentionally conceal his cultivation base, showing his Onefold Body of the Immortal Venerable,

But such a base level cultivation base actually shocked everyone who saw him,

because just yesterday, Wang Xiaoqiang was still at the Ninth Stage of True Immortal Realm, and in just one day, he had broken through.

The key was that not only had he broken through, but within just one day, he had also condensed an avatar.

To know, for a normal person in the Immortal Venerable Realm to condense an avatar, it would take at least five years, even for a genius it would take at least two years. Wang Xiaoqiang condensing an avatar in just one day was too inconceivable, too unbelievable!

Therefore, this person with the lowest cultivation base surprisingly became the most eye-catching one.

At this moment, not only the tens of thousands of spectators looked at Wang Xiaoqiang, the officials behind the main platform, the four people in the Emperor's Immortal Carriage, and the other three contestants were also staring at Wang Xiaoqiang as he walked over.

Ann Miaoyi still did not speak kindly to Wang Xiaoqiang and even showed a face full of hostility towards this competitor.

Zhao Wenxuan also stared at Wang Xiaoqiang with a face full of hostility, though his look also carried a hint of contempt and disdain.

Only Leng Qingqiu's gaze, as she looked over, held neither disdain nor hostility,

Her expression was calm, her eyes like an ageless well, showing not a ripple of emotion,

Yesterday, Wang Xiaoqiang had saved her life, but as a cultivator of the Path of Ruthlessness, to solidify her Daoist Heart, she had to cast aside the Seven Emotions and Six Desires, setting aside all debts of gratitude and revenge. Thus, even if Wang Xiaoqiang had saved her ten lives, in a conflict of interest she would not hesitate to kill Wang Xiaoqiang.

This was the Path of Ruthlessness.

And this was the dreadful aspect of cultivators who practiced the Path of Ruthlessness.

After the four contestants assembled, a prince walked up to them and explained the rules of the match,

Today was the last match of this Armor Snatching Tournament. In this match, one person would be eliminated, and the other three would also be ranked first, second, and third.

The third-place winner receives Spirit Copper Armor.

The second-place winner receives Spirit Silver Armor.

The first-place winner receives Spirit Golden Armor.

First, these four competitors must draw lots to determine the match-ups, with the person who draws number 1 competing against the person who draws number 2 to decide the winner and loser.

The person who draws number 3 and the person who draws number 4 will battle to decide their winner and loser.

Once the winners and losers are decided, the two victors will directly advance to the next round for the championship, runner-up, and third-place ranking matches.

The two losers then will compete again.

If they lose again, they will be eliminated and become the fourth-place finisher of this Armor Snatching Tournament.

The victor will join the two who had directly advanced in the ranking competition.

First, the two victors will compete to determine the winner and loser.

The victor will advance directly to first place.

The loser will compete against the third place. This will determine the second and third places.

Since the matches are decided by drawing lots, it isn't entirely fair, but there really isn't such a thing as absolute fairness in this world.

As a result, Zhao Wenxuan drew number 1, Ann Miaoyi drew number 2, Leng Qingqiu drew number 3, and Wang Xiaoqiang drew number 4.

In the first match, Zhao Wenxuan competed against Ann Miaoyi.

The two exchanged glances, Zhao Wenxuan's expression somewhat gloomy,

Zhao Wenxuan was born into a family of cultivators.

The Zhao Family's influence was substantial in the Yellow Dragon Empire, but the common folk have never competed with nobles. No matter how influential, can it surpass the imperial relatives?

In terms of cultivation base, Zhao Wenxuan was two stages higher than Ann Miaoyi, but before coming to the competition, the Clan Leader of the Zhao Family had instructed that if he met Ann Miaoyi in the arena, he should by no means win against her, otherwise offending Prince Ann. Even if he won this tournament, it would not end well for him.

Zhao Wenxuan, brash and young, dared not defy the Clan Leader's instructions.

During the lot drawing, he had prayed repeatedly not to end up against Ann Miaoyi.

And yet, what he feared came to pass, he indeed ended up facing Ann Miaoyi.

"You're a member of the Zhao Family, aren't you?" Ann Miaoyi, feigning friendliness, asked Zhao Wenxuan somewhat pointedly.

"Yes, Lady Ann, I am the thirteenth-generation eldest grandson of the Zhao Family," Zhao Wenxuan replied meekly.

"Young Master Zhao, after you," Ann Miaoyi, seeing Zhao Wenxuan's wariness, displayed a triumphant look and gestured to him with her hand.

"Lady Ann, please, you first," Zhao Wenxuan greeted her with a fist salute.

Ann Miaoyi's face revealed a smug smile; then, lifting her neck as noble as a swan's, she strode confidently toward the arena.

Zhao Wenxuan was about to follow when Wang Xiaoqiang slowly began, "Cultivation, cultivation, in fact, what one truly cultivates is not mighty power, but a Daoist Heart — wealth cannot corrupt, power cannot bow, to become a strong person, one must possess an extraordinary Daoist Heart…"

Zhao Wenxuan, astute as he was, realized Wang Xiaoqiang was mocking him, and although he was not planning to win, feeling like a guilty thief, his face slightly burned, and he turned to glare at Wang Xiaoqiang.

Wang Xiaoqiang scoffed, "Glaring at me is useless; you no longer have a chance to spar with me, unless you possess an extraordinary Daoist Heart…"

Zhao Wenxuan was at a loss for words, infuriated and sullen, he headed toward the arena.

(To be continued. If you like this work, we invite you to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)

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