"Let's see how many more times you can dodge!"
Wen Zi’s momentum surged like a rainbow as she swung her fists, charging toward Ye Yunfei.
The fist technique she executed was fierce and heavy with force. With every punch she threw, spiritual power erupted wildly, causing the space around them to rumble.
“The Taiyi Tiangang Essence truly lives up to its legend, amplifying all types of energy. Each punch from Wen Zi is boosted at least five times over by the essence.”
Sensing Wen Zi’s attacks, Ye Yunfei couldn’t help but silently nod in approval.
In his previous life, Ye Yunfei had once encountered an expert who possessed the Taiyi Tiangang Essence and witnessed its power once. However, that expert hadn’t exactly been on friendly terms with Ye Yunfei, so he never had the chance to study it properly. Who would have thought he’d encounter it again in this lifetime?
Boom! Boom!...
Like a humanoid beast dragon, Wen Zi chased Ye Yunfei all over the arena, raining down punches.
However, Ye Yunfei had activated the Sky Shadow Robe’s tenfold acceleration, making his movement speed unimaginably fast. Wen Zi couldn’t even touch a corner of his robe.
“Hey, you! Stop dodging all the time! What kind of fight is this?!”
Finally, Wen Zi grew impatient and shouted at Ye Yunfei.
“Are you that eager to fight me?” Ye Yunfei smiled.
Looking at Wen Zi before him, Ye Yunfei was suddenly reminded of Long Yingying from the Tianyuan Sect back on the Tianxuan Continent. Their personalities were somewhat similar—both beautiful on the surface, but in reality, they were both violence maniacs.
“That’s right! Stop dodging! What kind of hero keeps dodging?! If you’ve got any guts, have a proper fight with me!” Wen Zi yelled defiantly.
“Alright,” Ye Yunfei nodded, coming to a stop and standing his ground, no longer dodging.
“You’re really not going to dodge anymore?! Great! Take this!”
Seeing this, Wen Zi was overjoyed. Brandishing her fists, she charged forward ferociously.
Boom!
Her fist released terrifying power as it smashed toward Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei threw a punch to meet it, using no particular technique.
Boom!
The fists of the two collided violently.
Neither gained the upper hand.
“Let’s see how many punches you can block!” Wen Zi roared.
Boom! Boom! Boom!...
She threw punch after punch, her fists fast as lightning, aiming at Ye Yunfei. Each punch carried astonishing energy, the accompanying wind howling and causing the entire arena platform to shake as if an earthquake had struck.
The overwhelming power displayed by Wen Zi drew gasps of amazement from the surrounding crowd.
As for Ye Yunfei, he simply placed one hand behind his back and met her punches with his other fist.
The fists of the two collided over and over.
It remained a stalemate.
However, discerning observers could tell that Ye Yunfei had the advantage. Wen Zi attacked with both fists, soon becoming drenched in sweat. Meanwhile, Ye Yunfei, with a single hand behind his back, seemed utterly composed and relaxed, with strength to spare.
“Freak, I quit! Your strength is actually greater than mine!” Wen Zi finally stopped. She had realized that Ye Yunfei’s strength surpassed her own.
“So you admit defeat?” Ye Yunfei smiled.
“You’re a grown man, can’t you yield to me a little? Let’s just consider this match as your loss,” Wen Zi said.
“I didn’t lose,” Ye Yunfei shook his head.
“How can you be like this! I’m just a little girl, why are you arguing with me? Fine then, you let me win this one, and I might consider giving you a chance to get close and pursue me. I am, after all, a peerless, youthful beauty, hehe. It’s settled,” Wen Zi declared.
“I am the winner of this match!”
Then, without waiting for Ye Yunfei’s response, she loudly announced to the crowd. She quickly turned and left the arena without looking back, as if afraid Ye Yunfei would retract his non-existent concession.
“You can do that?” Ye Yunfei was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile, resigning himself to it. He truly couldn’t bring himself to seriously argue with a little girl.
The watching students around them were also left utterly dumbfounded.
Even the academy’s higher-ups observing the farce could only shake their heads with rueful smiles.
Finally, the Ten-Strong Competition concluded.
Surprisingly, six people had simultaneously qualified for the final Top Five Finals.
They were: Ye Yunfei, Feng Yun’ao, Qin An, Dugu Huan, Wen Zi, and Xiao Hui. All six had performed too excellently.
After deliberation, the academy’s higher-ups couldn’t bear to eliminate any of them. Although everyone knew Wen Zi had likely lost in her match against Ye Yunfei, the thought that Wen Zi was only fourteen or fifteen made the academy leaders’ hearts too soft to officially declare her eliminated.
“Alright, all six of you qualify for three days of cultivation within the Heavenly Dragon Pond,” Dean Shangguan announced clearly.
“The competition now moves to the final segment: determining the Top Three,” Dean Shangguan declared.
“The Top Five Competition will take place on Arena Number One. First match: Yuan Xiaohui versus Qin An!”
The official in charge of the draw shouted.
Whoosh!
A figure flashed onto Arena Number One.
It was Qin An.
Clad in a purple robe, he stood with hands clasped behind his back, his clothes fluttering slightly without any wind, his bearing spirited and proud.
This demeanor faintly restored a touch of that youthful prodigy’s aura he possessed back in Yuanyue City when he had just awakened his Heavenly Spirit Body.
Xiao Hui then walked onto the arena.
Swish!
Before Xiao Hui could even settle into position, Qin An attacked directly. A crimson longsword appeared in his hand, and his figure shot forward.
A series of sharp, overwhelming crimson sword lights continuously slashed toward Xiao Hui.
“So he has comprehended the meaning of sword force to the second layer, and has cultivated a domineering sword art. It seems he’s had some kind of fortuitous encounter,” Ye Yunfei noted inwardly.
Faced with Qin An’s ferocious assault, Xiao Hui did not retreat an inch.
A high-pitched, piercing phoenix cry rang out.
A True Phoenix phantom soared into the sky from within Xiao Hui’s slender frame.
Boom! Boom!...
Xiao Hui struck out with both palms simultaneously. Raging flames gushed from her palms, taking the form of fiery phoenixes that moved to block the incoming crimson sword energies.
After activating her True Phoenix Physique, Xiao Hui’s combat power had surged forward in leaps and bounds over a short time, nearly doubling in strength.
“Xiao Hui is no match for Qin An. She only activated her True Phoenix Physique a few days ago and hasn’t fully adapted to it yet. Qin An’s Heavenly Spirit Body was awakened much earlier. Furthermore, he’s already at the Early Stage Yuan Foundation Realm.”
Watching a few more exchanges, Ye Yunfei sighed inwardly.
Sure enough, moments later, Xiao Hui was forced to retreat repeatedly, her face pale.
“I concede.” Xiao Hui ceased her movements, conceded decisively, and jumped down from the arena, returning to Ye Yunfei’s side.
“You’ve only just activated your True Phoenix Physique and haven’t adapted to it yet. Once you can unleash the true power of your Phoenix Bloodline, your strength will surpass Qin An’s,” Ye Yunfei comforted her.
In fact, Ye Yunfei spoke the truth. The grade of the True Phoenix Physique was indeed higher than that of the Heavenly Spirit Body.
“I understand. I won’t be discouraged,” Xiao Hui nodded.
“Second match: Wen Zi versus Dugu Huan!” the official announced clearly.
“Dugu Huan and Wen Zi’s combat power are actually quite similar. However, Dugu Huan’s saber technique has flaws, while Wen Zi possesses the Taiyi Tiangang Essence, which automatically protects its master in critical moments and should be able to withstand Dugu Huan’s strike. So most likely, Wen Zi will win.”
Ye Yunfei assessed silently.
On the arena, Dugu Huan lashed out with a single slash, fast as a thunderclap, heart-shaking in its intensity.
Wen Zi flustered a bit, hardly knowing how to defend. However, at the critical moment, the Taiyi Tiangang Essence performed its function, blocking the broken saber in Dugu Huan’s hand.
Even so, Wen Zi’s face was pale from fright at Dugu Huan’s saber technique.
“I concede.”
With his first slash rendered ineffective, Dugu Huan conceded immediately. He knew his saber technique became weaker with each successive strike. If Wen Zi could withstand the first, there was no need to continue.
“Ye Yunfei versus Qin An!” the official called loudly.
“Oh?” Ye Yunfei paused. He hadn’t expected to finally encounter his old rival, Qin An.
“Ye Yunfei, for this battle… I’ve waited a long time!”
Qin An charged directly onto the arena, his eyes fixed dead on Ye Yunfei, roaring with a piercing voice.