Chapter 12: Winning streak, dark horse

The dead silence and uproar on Arena No. 1 were like a huge rock thrown into a lake, causing waves that quickly spread to the entire training ground.

Ye Li's name was no longer associated with the word "trash," but was now closely linked to powerful words like "mysterious," "powerful," and "one-hit kill." She returned to the corner, closing her eyes and regulating her breathing, attracting far more and more complex gazes than before.

The atmosphere on the platform also became noticeably different.

"Mid-level Spirit Awakening Realm… No, judging by the concentration of her spiritual energy and her grasp of timing, she's definitely not an ordinary mid-level cultivator!" Great Elder Ye Xiao's voice was deep and incredibly sharp. "That finger, while seemingly simple, contained a power and spiritual impact that could never be possessed by a human-level martial artist! This woman is incredibly skilled!"

Third Elder Ye Lang's face was so gloomy it looked as if water might drip from it. His initial shock had given way to deep suspicion and a subtle dread. He chuckled dryly, "Perhaps it was some stroke of luck that gave him some incomplete inheritance, allowing him to win by chance. Ye Hua underestimated his opponent and let her take advantage of him."

"Luck?" Fourth Elder Ye Yun shook her head slightly, with a glint in her beautiful eyes. "Maybe it was a luck once, but that calmness, that precise grasp of the timing of the battle, are definitely not luck. I think our Ye family might have a real hidden dragon." There was a hint of appreciation in her words.

Patriarch Ye Tian tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his eyes still fixed on Ye Li, and spoke slowly: "Keep watching. We'll soon know whether it's a dragon or a bug."

Obviously, the top management has already listed Ye Li as a key observation target.

The following competition almost became a one-man show by Ye Li.

No matter whether the opponent is at the initial or intermediate stage of the Spirit Awakening Realm, no matter what kind of martial arts the opponent uses, whether it is a strong attack or a guerrilla fight, whether it is cautious or fierce, the outcome is no surprise.

Her fighting style is simple, efficient, and even has a cold beauty.

In the second match, the opponent was a collateral branch disciple who was famous for his defense. He practiced the human-level mid-grade defensive martial art "Stone Skin Technique". After entering the stage, he was ready for battle, with his muscles tense and glowing with an earthy yellow luster.

However, Ye Li's figure flashed, and like a ghost, she circled behind him. Still with her fingers like swords, she precisely struck at his waist, where his defense was most vulnerable. Breaking his Qi, penetrating his energy! Without a single grunt, the disciple collapsed to the ground, instantly losing his fighting ability.

In the third match, the opponent was a nimble young lady from the direct lineage, skilled in whipping, who attempted to contain Ye Li with long-range attacks. The long whip danced like a venomous snake, creating a series of piercing sounds.

Ye Li's steps were even more unpredictable (the Shadow Step was beginning to show its power), always avoiding the whip shadow at the last moment, sticking close to the opponent like a thorn in the flesh. Then, with a light tap on the opponent's wrist, the whip flew out of his hand, and the battle ended.

In the fourth match, the opponent was a top collateral expert at the peak of the middle stage of the Spirit Awakening Realm. He had learned from the lessons of the previous matches and attacked with all his might from the start. His fists were whistling, and he tried to suppress Ye Li with his violent attacks and not give her a chance to attack.

However, Ye Li seemed to casually sidestep, block, and dodge, each movement perfectly avoiding the strongest attack points, as if she could predict her opponent's movements. In the moment when the opponent's old strength was exhausted, new strength had not yet been generated, and the breath was changing, she seized that fleeting flaw, broke the fist with a finger, and hit the opponent's shoulder well, instantly disintegrating all his attacks.

Fast! Accurate! Ruthless!

No battle lasts more than three moves!

No battle required her to use a second strike!

She didn't even use any obvious human-level martial arts, it was just the extremely simple yet terrifying finger techniques, combined with the ghostly and unpredictable body movements!

Every victory caused greater uproar and discussion.

The audience's concepts are ruthlessly refreshed, crushed and reshaped time and time again!

From the initial shock and questioning, to the subsequent numb acceptance, and finally to the fanatical curiosity!

Just how strong is she? What are her limits? What exactly are those finger techniques? And what about her body movements?

No one knows the answer. She is like a bottomless, cold pond, with no one able to see its depth.

Her indifferent expression and calm eyes formed an extremely strong contrast with her overwhelming strength in the ring, exuding a heart-pounding charm.

The contempt and ridicule that had once lingered in her gaze gradually gave way to awe, curiosity, and even a hint of admiration. This was especially true for the collateral descendants, long suppressed by the direct lineage, and the lowly servants. Seeing the figure on the ring, whose sheer strength had broken through class barriers, their eyes involuntarily lit with hope, as if they had witnessed some symbolic vision.

"Sister Ye Li...you're so awesome!" Ye Xiaodou in the corner was so excited that his face turned red and he clenched his fists tightly.

"Is she... is she really still the same Ye Li?" Some servants who had bullied the original owner felt a wave of fear and chill at this moment.

The expressions of Yelang and the others had changed from initial shock to a sullen hue, and now to a gloomy gloom. As they watched Yeli's rapid and unstoppable progress, the jealousy, anger, and anxiety in their hearts nearly overflowed.

"What's so arrogant about her? She's just relying on her strange body movements and those weird finger techniques!" Night Wolf gritted his teeth and whispered to the people around him, "When she meets a truly strong person, like Brother Ye Feng, she will definitely be defeated!"

The Ye Feng he mentioned is one of the recognized top talents in the direct lineage. His cultivation has reached the high level of the Spirit Awakening Realm and he is the favorite to win the championship in this competition.

But even so, they had to admit that Ye Li, the dark horse, had seriously threatened the reputation and interests of their direct lineage!

Ye Li paid no heed to this. She simply focused on each battle, viewing it as a whetstone for familiarizing herself with this body and honing her skills. With each strike, her control over her strength improved, and her mastery of the spiritual energy from the "Youhuan Emperor Scripture" grew more refined.

Although the fragments of the Samsara Mirror no longer displayed their power, the aftereffects of the enhanced perception she had gained that day still lingered, allowing her to learn and adapt at an astonishing speed.

With consecutive victories, she broke into the top 16, top 8, and even top 4 without any suspense!

The rewards she received increased. Every victory brought her corresponding elixirs and spirit stones. Although they were not high-grade, they were a timely relief for her, who was short of resources. She used them without wasting them on training and recovery.

Her rise is unstoppable.

The image of the dark horse is completely established!

When the deacon loudly announced, "The winner of the fourth game is Ye Li! She advances to the final four!", the whole audience was no longer in uproar, but an almost habitual exclamation of shock and expectation.

Everyone's eyes are focused on her, waiting for the next round, her clash with those truly top talents!

Ye Li slowly walked down from the ring, feeling the spiritual energy in her body increase a little bit, and those gazes filled with various meanings.

She knew that the real challenge was coming.

And she also looks forward to fighting against stronger opponents to test her current limits.

The eye of the storm has already formed.

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