Originally, if this Zhao Family man hadn’t gone to challenge Ji Yue, with his strength, he might have been able to secure a ranking in this edition of the Lesser Lantai Gathering. But now, seriously injured, he had already lost the chance.
"I can fight across realms and defeat people whose cultivation level is higher than mine!"
Ji Yue was extremely excited.
"Su Fei, the true essence of the Thousand Purple Sword Art you transmitted to me is so powerful!"
Ji Yue sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"That’s because your own natural talent is also good, and you’ve already cultivated the Thousand Purple Sword Art to a very proficient level. Otherwise, even if I transmitted the true essence to you, you wouldn’t be able to unleash such great power in such a short time," Ye Yunfei said with a laugh.
Ji Yue’s talent was indeed quite good; otherwise, Ancestor Purplesage wouldn’t have regarded her with special favor.
"Ji Yue, you are vicious! You’ve injured so many of our Zhao Family members!"
Zhao Tianyu raged.
"It was your Zhao Family people who came to provoke me first! No matter how many from the Zhao Family come, I’ll beat them all!"
Ji Yue now also understood that the Zhao Family members were specifically targeting her, and her beautiful face turned ice-cold as she spoke coldly.
After speaking, Ji Yue sat back cross-legged on the cushion, continuing to comprehend the true essence of the Thousand Purple Sword Art.
As time went on, more and more young martial artists continuously stepped onto the stage to challenge, competing for a ranking on the Freak Minor Ranking.
The three hundred young freaks on the stage also began challenging each other, wanting to fight for higher rankings. This edition of the Lesser Lantai Gathering had entered a white-hot stage.
Even the young freaks ranked in the top ten started to be challenged! Some challenges failed, while others succeeded. The fifth, sixth, and seventh rankings were successively succeeded by new young freaks!
"Mo Qingxuan, I challenge you!"
Suddenly, a loud shout rang out.
The entire square instantly fell silent. Someone had finally challenged Mo Qingxuan!
"It’s Ximen Yijian from the Sword Realm! He ranked third in the previous Lesser Lantai Gathering! It’s said his strength is on par with the Third Prince, who ranked second. Now he’s directly skipping the Third Prince, aiming for the top spot!"
"I heard that after the last Lesser Lantai Gathering, Ximen Yijian secluded himself to cultivate the sword within the Sword Pool of the Sword Realm, only emerging to come to Lantai City as this edition’s gathering was about to begin. I wonder if he can defeat Mo Qingxuan?"
"I think he definitely cannot beat Mo Qingxuan. I heard that after the previous gathering ended, Mo Qingxuan left the Eastern Barrens and traveled to other regions of the Primordial Continent, specifically making friends with the young freaks of the world, exchanging pointers through martial arts, gaining great insights."
Voices of discussion rose one after another across the square. Both Mo Qingxuan and Ximen Yijian were much-anticipated young freaks, their every move attracting everyone’s attention.
"Heh heh, Brother Ximen, it is a great honor to have the chance to spar properly with you," On the stage, Mo Qingxuan stood up and addressed Ximen Yijian with great elegance.
"During my cultivation in the Sword Pool recently, I comprehended a sword technique. I gave it a name: Nameless. I have not demonstrated this technique to anyone before. Now, I shall employ this Nameless technique to engage you. Our battle will conclude in a single move."
Ximen Yijian stood up, his gaze sharp as a sword fixed on Mo Qingxuan as he spoke.
Dressed in snow-white robes, his posture was straight and sharp as a sword. Swarm after swarm of razor-sharp sword energy spilled from his body, soaring straight into the heavens.
He looked exceedingly aloof!
"So handsome!" Many young women in the square couldn't help but cry out.
"Haha… Excellent! With Brother Ximen’s talent in the sword Dao, the sword technique you comprehended is surely astonishing. I am extremely honored to be the first to witness it!"
Mo Qingxuan laughed heartily. As they spoke, the two had already moved to the center of the stage, standing opposite each other.
At this moment, all fights on the stage paused. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on these two young freaks!
"I make my move."
Ximen Yijian said softly.
*Swish!*
A long sword appeared in his hand, slowly thrusting forward. The sword move appeared utterly plain.
But the audience suddenly discovered that above the stage, endless streams of sword energy were ceaselessly materializing, like vast schools of deep-sea fish swimming in unison. Every single foot, every inch of space was packed densely with sword energy!
*Rumble…*
Next, streams of sword energy continuously converged, gathering closer and closer.
Finally, a colossal sword radiance took shape high above the stage, like a titanic sword cleaving the heavens. Its tip aimed squarely at Mo Qingxuan as it slowly descended.
In Ximen Yijian’s hand, the sword also slowly advanced toward Mo Qingxuan; the gigantic sword in the sky above the stage also slowly cleaved downward.
Between heaven and earth, boundless sword energy pressed toward Mo Qingxuan.
"Too terrifying!"
"With my strength, I’d probably be dismembered instantly before this sword!"
"I’m even worse. Before this sword officially strikes, those terrifying sword energies alone could grind me to dust and bone fragments!"
...
All across the square, astonished cries rang out.
"Too amazing! The most anticipated battle of this Lesser Lantai Gathering has finally arrived!"
"The battle between Mo Qingxuan and Ximen Yijian represents the highest-level showdown of this gathering! Though I lack the strength to challenge on stage, traveling thousands of miles here to witness such an amazing fight is worth it!"
Countless people cheered.
"This Ximen Yijian could comprehend such a sword move himself; his talent in the sword Dao is passable. In this move, the laws of the sword Dao are connected with the laws of heaven and earth of this space. Its power is not small," Even Ye Yunfei nodded slightly.
"Excellent sword technique!"
Mo Qingxuan’s expression turned grave.
*Boom…*
He took out a silver battle halberd and fiercely swung it.
*Boom! Boom!…*
For a moment, layered shadows of the halberd surged from the stage like a volcanic eruption, billowing upward.
Simultaneously, a layer of golden light rose from his body, instantly forming a suit of golden armor on his body’s surface.
*Clang! Clang!…*
One stream of sword energy after another struck this suit of armor, the noise deafening.
*Boom! Boom!…*
An ancient Deity phantom suddenly appeared behind Mo Qingxuan’s body, brandishing a halberd, looking down from a commanding height as it moved to block the gigantic sword slowly descending from high above the sky.
This Mo Qingxuan had cultivated several very advanced martial arts, and the power of every single one was terrifying.
*Boom! Boom!…*
On the stage, the rumbling roar rolled continuously.
The two sides were locked in stalemate; for the time being, no victor could be distinguished.
As time slowly passed, both attacks seemed to be in a deadlock.
"What’s going on? It’s still not over?" Everyone awaited the outcome eagerly.
"Though it appears neither side has gained the upper hand, Ximen Yijian’s momentum is actually waning. Mo Qingxuan has won," Ye Yunfei mused inwardly.
Indeed, the next moment…
"I concede," Ximen Yijian’s voice sounded from the stage.
Then, the endless sword energy and the colossal sword in the sky above the stage suddenly disappeared.
Ximen Yijian sheathed his sword and returned to the cushion representing the third place.
"Brother Ximen, you are gracious in defeat," Mo Qingxuan laughed heartily.
"Third Prince, I know you also intend to challenge me. Will you make your move now?" Mo Qingxuan looked toward the Third Prince seated cross-legged on the cushion representing second place, and smiled.
"Correct. Originally, I did intend to challenge you. But judging by the current situation, it’s unnecessary. I still cannot defeat you."
After a moment of silence, the Third Prince shook his head and spoke.
"This edition’s Lesser Lantai Gathering has its number one champion, and it’s still Mo Qingxuan!"
Hearing the Third Prince’s words, someone immediately shouted. The entire square seethed with excitement.
The number one champion of this Lesser Lantai Gathering was finally confirmed!
"Ji Yue, I challenge you! With our Zhao Family present, a disciple from the Ziwei Sect of Yan Country like you absolutely cannot stay on this stage! What right does a disciple from a backward, godforsaken place like Yan Country, from a garbage-worthy tiny sect like Ziwei Sect, have to share the same stage with genuine freaks like us from the Eastern Barrens!"
Suddenly, Zhao Tianyu abruptly rose from the cushion representing thirtieth place and walked toward Ji Yue.
"What’s going on? Someone ranked thirtieth is actually going to challenge someone ranked two hundred seventieth? Isn’t he voluntarily downgrading his rank?"
Zhao Tianyu’s actions immediately caused an uproar in the whole venue. Everyone’s curious gazes fell upon him and Ji Yue.
"Zhao Tianyu, what are you doing! How dare you downgrade your challenge!" Ji Yan shouted angrily.
"Who says you can’t downgrade a challenge? I took a liking to that two-hundred-seventieth cushion, I want to go sit on it for a while, can’t I!" Zhao Tianyu scoffed.
"After I go sit on it and have my fun, I’ll return to my thirtieth-place cushion. With my strength, who could possibly take my ranking from me?"
Zhao Tianyu sneered.
So that was it! Hearing Zhao Tianyu’s words, everyone understood.
"It seems his aim is to drive that Ji Yue off the stage!" someone remarked.
"Zhao Tianyu, how dare you!" Ji Yan raged, standing up.
"Of course I dare. Ji Yan, do you dare to intervene? I am challenging on the stage right now. Third parties are not allowed to interfere. Do you dare to act?" Zhao Tianyu jeered.
Ji Yan was so furious she could not speak. Indeed, challenges on this stage must not be interfered with by third parties, or severe punishment would follow.
"I will beat you severely. And then, you will have no chance to step onto this stage again."
Zhao Tianyu arrived before Ji Yue, sneering.
"Good. The Zhao Family, Zhao Tianyu, forcing me to make a move," Ye Yunfei sneered.
"Ji Yue, immediately come down. Do not fight him. You are no match for him right now," Ye Yunfei sent Ji Yue an immediate Sound Transmission.
"Ji Yue, concede immediately, come down now!" Ji Yan also shouted.
She knew that if a fight started, Zhao Tianyu would absolutely not hold back.