When Xiao Zuiji executed an over-the-shoulder throw and slammed Xiao Linye to the ground, one hand grasping his neck while the other savagely abused him, the Xiao family Great Elder on the high platform couldn’t sit still and stood up.
He only wanted to reprimand and stop Xiao Zuiji’s violence—he had no intention of personally intervening.
After all, the sect tournament’s host was the City Lord of Liyang City. The Xiao family Great Elder didn’t have the guts to dare obstruct the matches.
Jun Changxiao didn’t know this. Seeing him stand up furiously, thinking he would harm Xiao Zuiji, he unhesitatingly pulled the trigger and fired.
After aiming for so long, he definitely hit—deviating by about half a meter was also giving the other party a warning.
This was called a warning shot.
The crystal core-condensed bullet’s light stream flew past him, the violent power it carried deeply shocking the Xiao family Great Elder’s heart.
In that moment, he had no doubt that if it had hit him, the outcome would certainly be death or severe injury!
The Xiao family Great Elder was intimidated and could only obediently watch as Xiao Linye continued to be savagely abused by Xiao Zuiji. His hands gripped the armrests tightly, his face turning pale.
The waste who’d been expelled was beating down the family genius they’d regarded as the future—definitely face-slapping and heart-wrenching!
The Xiao family heirs slumped in their chairs one by one, magnificently “dying” again.
…
After the referee announced Xiao Zuiji’s victory, the spectator platform fell deathly silent.
Relying solely on physical strength to defeat Xiao Linye, who possessed first-rank Wutu cultivation—this was absolutely shocking to the extreme!
A waste?
No one thought so anymore.
Because if someone who could even defeat a Wutu counted as a waste, what did that make them?
Xiao Zuiji stood in the victor’s area, feeling everyone’s gazes upon him, his face expressionless as he thought, “That feeling from five years ago has returned…”
What feeling?
The feeling of being envied by countless people.
Back then, he’d enjoyed others’ attention and possessed the pride a genius should have. After five years of experiencing the world’s cold treatment, his heart had become still as water.
“Junior Brother!” Su Xiaomo crouched in another battle zone, giving a thumbs up, “Beautifully done!”
Xiao Zuiji smiled brilliantly.
Only before the Sect Leader and Senior Brothers would a pure smile appear on his dejected face.
…
The last to appear in the fifth round was Tian Qi.
Because his opponent’s strength was also first-rank Wutu, he had no choice but to fully open all twelve meridians, dual explosive power of spiritual energy and physical body, going through considerable trouble before defeating him.
After the demonic training, combined with the Spiritual Energy Array and the Muscle-Tendon Transformation Classic’s 50% meridian opening rate, Tian Qi had broken through from the fifth segment to the twelfth segment.
Calculating carefully, that was roughly opening one meridian per day!
“Fifth round, eighth match, victor: Tian Qi!” the referee called out.
Tian Qi’s twelfth segment Meridian Opening defeating a first-rank Wutu once again made the venue fall deathly silent.
“Ding!”
“Five disciples have advanced to the sixth round. Epic Quest completion at 50%. Host receives 20 contribution points.”
“Ding!”
“Sect Contribution Points: 112/500.”
Jun Changxiao murmured, “Zuiji and Tian Qi will meet in the zone finals.”
Yes.
Zone D now had only two people remaining—Xiao Zuiji and Tian Qi.
The martial artists on the spectator platform also realized this and began discussing who would have the upper hand if the two fought.
…
The fifth round ended, with only two people remaining in each battle zone.
Next, they would compete for first place in their zones, then launch an assault on the final championship.
What devastated numerous martial artists was that among the top eight, the Tiegu Sect occupied five spots—not a single participating disciple had been eliminated!
“In all these sect tournaments, there’s never been five disciples simultaneously advancing to the zone finals!”
“Too terrifying!”
“That Lu Qianqian and Li Qingyang obviously still have reserves. In the upcoming matches, their probability of winning is very high!”
As everyone discussed in shock, the referee’s voice rang out: “Top eight battle, first match: Li Qingyang versus Huo Yuanming!”
“It’s starting!”
“Wonder if that Tiegu Sect disciple will burst forth with his true strength in this round?”
Under eager anticipation, Li Qingyang and Huo Yuanming successively took the stage.
When the referee shouted “begin,” the two simultaneously charged at each other, spiritual power gathering in their fists, emanating cold and stern momentum.
Li Qingyang knew his opponent wasn’t simple, so he no longer concealed himself, directly bursting forth with his first-rank Wutu cultivation. His techniques were also bold and unrestrained!
“He’s Wutu!”
“During the Hundred Sects recruitment, he seemed to only be at the tenth segment of Meridian Opening. Now, in less than two months, he’s entered Wutu—incredible!”
“What miraculous elixirs does the Tiegu Sect have that can make disciples improve so quickly!”
…
On the battle stage, Li Qingyang with his cultivation fully unleashed became more and more fluid. After exchanging over ten moves, he suppressed Huo Yuanming, who was also first-rank Wutu!
“The victor is decided,” many experts judged.
“Bang!”
Sure enough, Li Qingyang’s fist struck cunningly like a swimming snake from the side, directly hitting Huo Yuanming’s shoulder and knocking him off the battle stage.
“Hehe.”
Su Xiaomo laughed, “When Second Senior Brother gets serious, he’s truly terrifying!”
“Top eight battle, victor: Li Qingyang!” the referee called out.
Numerous martial artists’ mouths twitched.
They’d learned of Li Qingyang’s strength, but hadn’t expected that after fully bursting forth, he would defeat a same-level opponent with such ease!
The next to appear was Lu Qianqian, who shocked them even more, because after the start, she defeated a participant with second-rank Wutu strength in an extremely short time.
That’s right.
Genuine second-rank Wutu.
A participant with this level of strength would be either champion or runner-up in previous sect tournaments!
“The further the sect tournament goes, the harder it becomes—how is it that these two Tiegu Sect disciples find it easier and easier!”
The mentality of numerous martial artists truly collapsed.
Jun Changxiao, however, said, “Very good, very good.”
With two disciples occupying two semifinal seats, they were one step closer to the condition of sweeping the top three.
…
Next, Su Xiaomo entered the fray.
His opponent was Zhang Linghe, an outstanding disciple of the sixth-tier Heroic Martial Gate, whose strength was also second-rank Wutu!
Many experts believed the Tiegu Sect disciple couldn’t withstand this and would definitely be eliminated.
Who knew that after the match began, Su Xiaomo relied on agile movement techniques to traverse the battle stage, actually making it so Zhang Linghe couldn’t even touch the corner of his robe.
“This is way too fast!”
“Did he learn some kind of high-tier movement technique?”
“Very likely!”
Numerous martial artists couldn’t understand and could only categorize Su Xiaomo’s extreme speed as employing high-quality movement techniques.
The truth?
He wasn’t using anything—just relying on a pair of short legs.
Su Xiaomo wasn’t blindly evading. He occasionally seized opportunities to sneak attack from behind. Whether he hit or not, he immediately retreated after striking.
This back-and-forth enraged Zhang Linghe, who recklessly released spiritual power and swung wildly across the stage.
“Hey, can’t hit me—frustrating, isn’t it? Hey hey hey, missed again—frustrating, isn’t it?” Su Xiaomo dodged again and again, not forgetting to use provocative words to taunt, making his opponent even more furious.
The always-proud Zhang Linghe was so angry his lungs nearly exploded, attacking even more frantically.
Half an hour later, having over-exhausted himself, he stood in place panting heavily, the fury in his eyes nearly spurting out.
“Get down!” Su Xiaomo seized the opportunity, darting in from the side and kicking him in the face. He flew off magnificently.
“Good!”
Before Zhang Linghe fell to the ground, Jun Changxiao couldn’t help but call out in approval.
With Su Xiaomo obtaining the zone championship, counting Xiao Zuiji and Tian Qi who hadn’t yet fought, this meant the championship competition had already become an internal Tiegu Sect battle!
“Thud!”
Zhang Linghe fell below the stage, a footprint visible on his right cheek.
“Is… this a dream?”
Numerous martial artists’ expressions were dazed, the shock surging in their hearts already impossible to describe with words.
Zone A champion: Li Qingyang!
Zone B champion: Su Xiaomo!
Zone C champion: Lu Qianqian!
Zone D champion: One of either Xiao Zuiji or Tian Qi!
All four zone first places swept by the Tiegu Sect—this was absolutely something that had never occurred since the sect tournament’s inception!