Chapter 23: Final Arena Test, Battle Against Genius
The aftermath of the Illusion Killing Formation had not yet completely subsided, and most of the less than one hundred disciples who had passed the assessment in the square were still regulating their breathing, their faces pale, and their souls still trembling with anxiety.
On the high platform, the cold-faced deacon stepped forward again. His voice was still emotionless, but it clearly suppressed all gasps and whispers: "The Illusionary Killing Array assessment is over. Those who pass, rest for one stick of incense. After one stick of incense, the final event will begin - the arena showdown! The final ranking will be determined!"
As soon as he finished speaking, several disciples from the sect carried up a huge wooden lottery box and placed it in the center of the square. Runes flickered on the box, clearly indicating a ban to prevent prying eyes and cheating.
Final ranking! These four words struck everyone like a hammer. It wasn't just a matter of reputation; it directly impacted upon post-secondary resource allocation, choice of mentor, and even future destiny!
The remaining disciples did not dare to neglect their efforts, seizing this precious moment to swallow their pills and recover with all their strength. For a moment, spiritual energy surged in the square.
Ye Li also sat cross-legged, taking out a Heart-Cleansing Pill given by Su Wanyun and swallowing it. As the pill dissolved, a cool sensation flowed through her sea of consciousness, quickly soothing the slight mental fatigue brought on by the Illusion Killing Formation. The "Youhuan Emperor Scripture" activated itself, rapidly replenishing the spiritual energy she had consumed. Her condition was recovering at an astonishing rate.
Her gaze swept across the crowd. Luo Bing was enveloped in a chill, his face pale, but his aura was steadily recovering. Shi Feng, on the other hand, simply pulled out a beast-skin bag and drank several gulps of an unknown beast's blood. His explosive aura intensified once again. Lin Yu waved his folding fan, seemingly leisurely, but the glint in his eyes revealed that he was also secretly regulating his breathing. Su Wanyun, Ye Shi, and the others, all gritted their teeth and persevered.
The time of a stick of incense is gone in a flash.
"The time has come! All those who are qualified, come forward and draw lots!" The deacon's voice sounded like a death warrant.
Everyone stood up and walked towards the huge signing box with solemn expressions. The atmosphere suddenly became extremely tense, and the air was filled with invisible smoke of gunpowder.
The order of drawing lots is random. Each person puts their hand into the light curtain above the lot box, and a jade card engraved with a number is automatically taken out.
Ye Li casually reached in and took out a jade token with a number engraved on it - "seven".
Soon, all the lots were drawn, and the steward began to loudly announce the names of the duels according to the numbers on the jade cards.
"First match, number one versus number one hundred!"
"Race 2, number two versus number ninety-nine!"
…
As the list was read out one by one, some people breathed a sigh of relief, while others looked even more serious.
When the words "Seventh match, number seven versus number thirteen" were read, Ye Li raised his eyes slightly.
Her opponent is number 13.
And number 13 was none other than that wild young man—Shi Feng!
"Hahaha! Great!" Shi Feng was not surprised but delighted when he heard that his opponent was Ye Li. He laughed wildly and locked onto Ye Li with a fierce gaze like a hungry wolf. "Perfect! You got the upper hand on the Azure Cloud Ladder. This time, I'll knock you down! I'll show you what true power is!"
He had long been dissatisfied with Ye Li's "cheating" way of reaching the summit, and was determined to defeat him in a head-on battle to prove that he was the stronger one!
The people around immediately turned their attention to him.
"Shi Feng versus Ye Li! This is going to be a good show!"
"Shi Feng is a renowned battle maniac with terrifying strength. It's said that he once tore apart a Condensed Vein Realm monster with his bare hands!"
“Ye Li’s movements are strange and her finger techniques are precise, but I’m afraid she won’t be able to withstand Shi Feng’s violent attacks!”
"The outcome of this match is hard to predict..."
On the platform, the elders' gazes converged with intense interest. They all wanted to see how far this dark horse, who had performed so impressively in the first two rounds, could advance in a true combat match without any external aids.
Su Wanyun's eyes showed a hint of worry. Ye Shi's face was solemn, and he whispered, "Be careful, he's very powerful."
Ye Li seemed oblivious to the surrounding discussions, calmly walking towards her designated arena number seven. Shi Feng had already impatiently leaped onto the arena, carrying a massive black door-like blade he had retrieved from nowhere, glaring down at Ye Li with a seething fighting spirit.
Ye Li walked up to the stage step by step and stood still.
The referee was a disciple from the Condensing Veins realm with a strong aura. He glanced at the two and said in a deep voice, "In the ring, fighting must stop when it's due. Do not intentionally cause harm to others. Violators will be severely punished! Do you understand?"
"I understand!" Shi Feng grinned, revealing his white teeth, but his eyes were fixed on Ye Li.
Ye Li nodded slightly.
"start!"
The moment the referee finished speaking!
“Roar!” Shi Feng roared like a ferocious beast, unleashing the violent spiritual energy of his Half-Step Vein Condensation Realm without reservation! A khaki light enveloped his entire body, his muscles instantly bulging, veins wriggling like a dragon, his aura terrifying!
He didn't try at all. He held the exaggerated giant sword in both hands, took a step forward, and the arena shook!
"Earth-Splitting Slash!"
The giant sword, with its terrifying power to tear everything apart, stirred up a violent gust of wind, and chopped down towards Ye Li like a landslide! Before the sword even reached him, the heavy pressure had almost locked the air around Ye Li, making him suffocate!
The power of this sword was so fierce that it far exceeded any opponent the Ye family had encountered before!
There was a cry of surprise from the audience! Many people subconsciously thought that Ye Li would definitely choose to dodge with his body skills!
However, Ye Li's eyes fixed, and instead of retreating, he advanced!
Executing the Phantom Step to its full potential, her body seemed weightless as she slid in along the edge of the violent blade! Simultaneously, her fingers formed into swords, the icy spiritual power of the Phantom Emperor Scripture concentrated with incredible precision, aiming at a point on the side of the giant blade where the power flowed!
She actually wanted to use cleverness to defeat force!
"bite!"
An extremely crisp sound of metal clashing was heard!
The fingertips collided with the giant knife, and sparks flew out!
Ye Li's body was shaken violently, and he felt an overwhelming force coming from his fingertips. His whole arm instantly felt numb, his blood boiling, and he involuntarily retreated several steps before he dissipated the terrifying force.
What a powerful force! Ye Li was secretly shocked. The other party's strength and spiritual power were indeed superior to hers.
Shi Feng was also slightly stunned. He hadn't expected the opponent to dare to take it head-on. Even more unexpectedly, those slender fingers could accurately hit the moment when his sword's power shifted, reducing the power of his sword by 30%. The recoil force also made his wrist numb slightly.
"You have some skills! But not enough!" Shi Feng roared, and the momentum of the knife changed again, pouring towards Ye Li like a storm!
"Wild Wind Sword Technique!"
The giant sword seemed to lose its weight in his hands, transforming into countless sharp sword shadows, covering all the space around Ye Li! The combination of speed and strength made the power even more terrifying!
Ye Li pushed her Shadow Step to its limit, weaving and dodging through the dense web of blades. Her figure was like a ghost, always avoiding fatal attacks at the last moment. Her sharp finger winds would occasionally strike, precisely hitting the sides of the blades or Shi Feng's wrists, elbows, and other joints, disrupting his power.
For a moment, on the stage, swords flashed and fingers whistled! Figures flew around, dazzling everyone!
Shi Feng's offensive was like a raging sea, one wave after another, and Ye Li was like a small boat on the crest of the waves. Although seemingly surrounded by danger, she always managed to escape danger at the most critical moment!
The audiences were so fascinated by the show that they dared not even breathe.
"Too strong! Senior Brother Shi Feng's swordsmanship is simply terrifying!"
"Senior Sister Ye Li's agility is amazing! She can even dodge that?"
"But it seems she can only dodge and interfere, and can't fight head-on!"
"If we hold on for too long, we'll lose! If this continues, Senior Sister Ye Li will be in danger!"
On the high platform, the elders also nodded slightly.
"Shi Feng's son has unstoppable strength and powerful swordsmanship. He is a promising individual cultivator."
"Ye Li, this girl, has exquisite body movements, sharp eyes, and a superb grasp of timing. However, her cultivation is a little inferior, and her strength is insufficient, making it difficult to defeat her head-on."
"Let's see how long she can hold on."
Shi Feng on the stage continued to attack without success, growing increasingly impatient. He felt as if he were hacking at a ball of cotton with nowhere to push. He had all the strength but couldn't fully utilize it. Every attack was always resolved or interrupted by the opponent at the smallest cost. It was extremely frustrating!
"Is all you can do about hiding? Trash!" Shi Feng roared in provocation.
Ye Li's eyes were icy, unmoved. She was waiting, waiting for a chance to strike decisively! While the opponent's swordsmanship was ferocious, it wasn't without flaws! When the opponent unleashed their full force, their defenses were at their weakest!
Finally, when Ye Li cleverly deflected another full-strength chop, causing his center of gravity to tilt slightly forward—
Now is the time!
Ye Li's eyes flashed with brilliance! The aura that had been restrained suddenly burst out! The peak of the Qiling Realm's cultivation was unreserved!
She no longer retreated, but rushed forward like a cheetah pouncing on its prey, facing the gap in Shi Feng's chest that was slightly exposed due to his forward lean!
At the same time, her right finger, which had been gathering strength, condensed all the icy spiritual power in her body. There was even a hint of crystal jade color on her fingertips, and the temperature around her suddenly dropped!
"Phantom Finger!"
With one finger, as fast as lightning and as swift as thunder, he thrust it straight at the Tanzhong acupoint on Shi Feng's chest!
Shi Feng's expression changed drastically! He hadn't expected the other party to dare to counterattack at this moment! And the speed was so fast, and the angle was so tricky! His old strength had just gone, and his new strength hadn't yet returned. He couldn't retract the giant sword in time!
At the critical moment, he roared wildly, and tried to move sideways. At the same time, his left fist burst out with a yellowish-brown light and smashed hard into Ye Li's fingers, trying to attack Wei to save Zhao!
However, Ye Li seemed to have anticipated his reaction! That pointed finger was a feint! Just as her fist was about to collide with Shi Feng's, her finger strangely shifted, and her body, using the Shadow Step, slid to Shi Feng's side and back at an incredible angle!
Shi Feng's fist instantly missed! And behind him, the goal was wide open!
Ye Li's true killer move suddenly erupted at this moment! His left palm, containing a soft yet firm hidden power, silently struck Shi Feng's defenseless back!
This series of changes happened in a flash! It was incredibly ingenious and calculated to the extreme!
Shi Feng felt a chill on his back, and was horrified and desperate. It was impossible for him to return to defend!
"Bang!"
A muffled sound!
Shi Feng's sturdy body felt like it had been struck hard, and he stumbled forward a few steps. A sweet taste clung to his throat, and he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood! Although his body was strong and he hadn't suffered a fatal injury, his vital energy had been shattered, and the flow of his spiritual energy was instantly interrupted!
He had barely managed to steady himself, and before he could turn around, a cold finger had already pressed against the back of his neck! The sharp energy contained in the fingertips pierced his skin, causing it to hurt!
As long as he releases his energy, he will either die or be crippled!
The whole audience fell into silence!
All the sounds seemed to be strangled by an invisible big hand!
Shi Feng's body stiffened, his face filled with disbelief and humiliation, which eventually turned into a look of dejection.
"...I lost." He squeezed out three words from between his teeth.
Ye Li slowly withdrew her fingers, breathing slightly, and sweat trickled down her forehead. The series of operations just now had been extremely exhausting for her.
The referee was stunned for a moment before he reacted and announced loudly: "Seventh match, winner, Ye Li!"
Wow!
The dead silence was broken, and a huge uproar rose to the sky!
"Win?! Ye Li won!"
"She actually defeated Senior Brother Shi Feng!"
"That last one... was amazing! How did you do that?"
"Incredible! The weak defeated the strong! This is true genius!"
The audience was completely boiling! Everyone looked at Ye Li with eyes filled with shock and awe!
Su Wanyun breathed a sigh of relief, a delighted smile on her face. Ye Shi's eyes were also full of admiration.
On the high platform, the elders looked at each other with astonishment in their eyes.
"What a brilliant plan! What a terrifying battle awareness!"
"Feinting and scheming, making a feint to the east and attacking in the west... This woman was born for battle!"
"After this battle, she will definitely have a place in the top ten!"
Ye Li slowly walked down the stage, accepting the baptism of countless gazes.
This battle wasn't easy for her to win, as she had practically given up everything she had. But it was also this battle that truly solidified her position in this assessment!
No one dared to underestimate her because of her cultivation and "talent".
The dark horse is already unstoppable!
She glanced at the remaining opponents, especially Luo Bing who had been watching coldly, and Lin Yu with deep eyes.
The next battle will only be more difficult.
But in her heart, only the desire to fight was rising!
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