Show-Off

Tie Man stood stiffly on the arena platform, shock still written across his face. After staring at Lu Yi for a moment, he grinned. "White Cloud Footwork at the Returning to Purity Realm?"

"Mm." Lu Yi nodded with a smile and sheathed his sword.

Tie Man scratched his head and cupped his hands toward Lu Yi. "I concede. Junior Brother Lu Yi is formidable. I lost."

With that, Tie Man leaped down from the arena platform and began regulating his breathing. The top-ten competition was not decided by a single match. Losing this one meant the top five were out of reach, but the remaining five spots still had to be contested. If he did not recover now, his condition would suffer in the next matches.

Lu Yi also jumped down from the platform. Seeing Jiang Fan and the others all looking at him, he smiled shyly. "What is it, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters?"

Bai Yulong gave a dry cough, waved the folding fan in his hand, and asked, "Junior Brother Lu Yi, tell us the truth. Has your White Cloud Qi Guiding Art... also reached the Returning to Purity Realm?"

Lu Yi froze for a moment, then said in surprise, "Senior Brother Bai Yulong, you are really clever. You could even guess that?"

"..."

Bai Yulong and the others fell silent.

Even Tie Man, who had already begun regulating his breathing, had his aura fluctuate at those words. Clearly, he had heard them too.

Amid the silence, Dugu Fang had already arrived on the arena platform. "Number Two, come up."

Only then did everyone come back to their senses. Lin Wan'er and a senior brother at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer leaped onto the platform at the same time.

The senior brother at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer was remarkably serene. He knew he was no match for Lin Wan'er and had no intention of making a desperate gamble. He merely gave it his all, and once he saw that victory was impossible, he decisively conceded. There were barely any twists or turns.

The third match was between Jiang Fan and the white-robed senior sister at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer. The white-robed senior sister's swordsmanship and movement technique were both exceptionally accomplished, having reached the Transformation Realm. However, Jiang Fan was clearly the stronger of the two.

Jiang Fan cultivated a blade technique known as the Sharp Metal Blade Technique. His blade art was incomparably sharp, its edge fully bared, completely unlike his own ordinary appearance. The moment the battle began, he seized control of the situation, forcing the white-robed senior sister back again and again until he finally slashed her off the arena platform.

As Lu Yi watched Jiang Fan wield his blade technique, his eyes flickered. He realized Jiang Fan seemed to be holding something back. He probably had not used his full strength.

Senior Brother Jiang Fan's Sharp Metal Blade Technique may have reached the Returning to Purity Realm.

Lu Yi was somewhat awed. As expected of a senior brother who could make him feel the slightest hint of danger—his strength truly was formidable.

The fourth match was Bai Yulong against another senior brother at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. Bai Yulong's weapon was an uncommon folding fan, which surprised Lu Yi somewhat.

Above the Foundation Establishment Realm, cultivators used a greater variety of magic treasures, and all kinds of weapons appeared in strange and fantastic forms. But in the Qi Refining Realm, blades, swords, spears, and similar weapons were more common.

However, Bai Yulong's folding fan was a Low-Grade Magic Item with extraordinary power. The attacks he unleashed with it carried fierce blade intent and were immensely powerful.

Looking at Bai Yulong in robes as white as snow, Lu Yi's mouth twitched. He discovered that this senior brother was quite narcissistic.

Using a blade to perform blade techniques was obviously better, yet this guy insisted on using a folding fan. He clearly thought a folding fan looked cooler, right?

As Lu Yi watched Bai Yulong putting on a stylish front, he began wondering whether he should also acquire some particularly cool spells or magic items.

After all, being strong was only a temporary matter, but being handsome was for life.

Bai Yulong was naturally extremely powerful. The senior brother at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer barely struggled before Bai Yulong smacked him off the arena with a single sweep of his fan.

The remaining match was between Li Yun, the cold and stern senior brother who used twin blades, and a senior sister at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

Li Yun was not the sort to cherish beauty and treat women gently. His blade technique was equally fierce, and he showed the Qi Refining Ninth Layer senior sister no mercy. In merely two strikes, he sent her flying, making her eyes redden as though she were about to cry.

Lu Yi glanced at expressionless Li Yun and felt that this fellow might be destined for a lonely life.

After the top five were decided, they were given an hour to regulate their breathing and recover.

Afterward, the second round of matches began. Of the five people, two pairs would fight while one person received a bye. This would be decided by drawing lots.

Dugu Fang and Lu Yi's group of five stood on the arena platform. Five Jade Tokens floated before Lu Yi and the others. Dugu Fang smiled. "Choose one."

The five looked at one another. Then Bai Yulong smiled faintly. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, you are the youngest, so you should go first."

Lu Yi smiled as well and had no objections. "No problem."

He looked at the five Jade Tokens and silently prayed, Don't give me a bye! Don't give me a bye!

He still planned to fight another round and claim the reward!

Lu Yi directly chose the Jade Token on the far right. Once it landed in his hand, he flipped it over and saw: 1.

A faint smile immediately appeared on his face. It was not a bye! Wonderful!

The four beside him glanced at Lu Yi's Jade Token and chose their own as well.

After taking his, Jiang Fan froze for a moment, then said cheerfully, "Looks like my luck is pretty good."

He flipped over his Jade Token. It was blank, without a number.

A bye.

Bai Yulong's mouth twitched slightly as he silently revealed his own Jade Token: 1.

He looked toward Lu Yi and smiled. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, I did not expect us to meet."

When Lin Wan'er and Li Yun saw Bai Yulong's token, their expressions relaxed slightly.

Lin Wan'er said with a grin, "Good thing I did not run into Junior Brother Lu Yi or this fellow Bai Yulong. Those two are real headaches."

Li Yun glanced at Lin Wan'er and said calmly, "What? Do you think I am weaker than them?"

Lin Wan'er looked at Li Yun and gave a mischievous laugh, making Li Yun's aura turn even colder with anger.

At that moment, Dugu Fang spoke calmly. "Everyone else, get down. Lu Yi and Bai Yulong, stay."

Lin Wan'er smiled at Lu Yi. "Good luck, Junior Brother Lu Yi. Give that show-off a good beating!"

Lu Yi glanced at Bai Yulong, whose expression had stiffened, and inwardly laughed. It seemed Senior Sister Lin Wan'er understood Senior Brother Bai Yulong's secretly flamboyant nature quite well.

Jiang Fan, standing nearby, patted Lu Yi on the shoulder and smiled. "Good luck."

Li Yun said nothing. Lin Wan'er's earlier disdain had left him shut down, and he silently stepped off the arena platform.

After the three left the platform, only Lu Yi and Bai Yulong remained.

The disciples below immediately erupted in commotion.

"Junior Brother Lu Yi is fighting Senior Brother Bai Yulong already?!"

"Junior Brother Lu Yi's White Cloud Swordplay and White Cloud Footwork are both so powerful, while Senior Brother Bai Yulong is one of the top three outer sect disciples. Their match will definitely be thrilling!"

"Yes, they are both outer sect geniuses. I wonder who is stronger?"

The watching disciples were filled with anticipation.

Not only them—even the elders and deacons in the sky were looking forward to it. Since Lu Yi had entered the top ten, Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi were no longer worried. No matter what, he was guaranteed to enter the inner sect. Any additional victory would be a bonus, so there was no pressure. They too wanted to see just how much strength Lu Yi could display.

On the arena platform, Lu Yi looked at Bai Yulong and silently said to himself, I want to defeat Senior Brother Bai Yulong.

The next moment, text appeared before Lu Yi's eyes.

He glanced at the words, froze for a moment, then was overwhelmed with delight. He had not expected the reward to be like this?!