A Vivid Lesson

If the first victory was due to luck, then the second victory was the real deal.

Of course, from the disciples' perspective, Han Fei had seized Leng Mu's opening and didn't give him a chance to counterattack, directly laying the foundation for victory. After all, Leng Mu had just used the Two Forms Sword Art, and before everyone could see its flashy offense, Leng Mu was already on the ground.

However, some higher-level Martial Artists saw that the stone Han Fei threw wasn't just a random toss.

Qi Xiaotian said in a low voice, "Both opponents were defeated by this Han Fei before they could even display their true strength, completely unable to fight back. This kind of combat awareness indirectly boosts Han Fei's combat power."

Qi Xuanxuan said, "Father, can you tell how he did it? Although it felt very powerful, I still didn't quite understand."

Qi Xiaotian explained, "It's actually very simple, just by exploiting openings. The first opponent thought his speed was fast enough to outpace Han Fei's eyes, especially since his cultivation was a level higher than Han Fei's. But Han Fei's sudden burst of speed was even faster, so in his panic, he couldn't change his move and was counterattacked by Han Fei. This could be considered the result of underestimating his opponent. Of course, personally, I don't think the first opponent would have been Han Fei's match even in a full-power fight."

"As for this Leng Mu, although he didn't underestimate his opponent, his sword technique had a flaw. While the Two Forms Sword Art isn't weak, it's still performed by one person and can't achieve seamless connection. Han Fei just exploited the gap in the Two Forms Sword Art."

Moreover, that strike accurately hit Leng Mu's vital point, causing his move to completely collapse, resulting in a spiritual energy interruption for at least one or two breaths. In a martial artist's duel, these one or two breaths can be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.

At this point, Han Fei had become famous. In fact, winning two consecutive matches and entering the third stage meant most disciples were already well-known figures in the Tianyuan Divine Sect.

Han Fei felt no particular emotion after his victory. However, after Han Fei, the eighth match was Fu Jiahao.

Fu Jiahao landed in the arena, his opponent being Qin Yu, the top disciple of Giant God Peak, at the peak of the Innate Realm ninth level.

Qin Yu looked at the bamboo slip in his hand, his hand almost bleeding. He was the only one from Giant God Peak to enter the second stage; the other four had been defeated in the first stage. This made it impossible for Qin Yu to even trade bamboo slips with others. He could only brace himself and step onto the arena.

"This Qin Yu is really unlucky to have encountered Fu Jiahao in the second stage. That's the Sect Master's personal disciple, and his cultivation is rumored to have already reached the Spirit Gathering Realm."

"Qin Yu is finished. Alas, with Qin Yu's cultivation, he would have surely entered the third stage."

Many of the surrounding disciples felt pity for Qin Yu.

"Qin Yu of Giant God Peak, I dare not fight Senior Brother. I concede this match."

Fu Jiahao narrowed his eyes and turned towards the Tongtian Peak spectator stands, not even bothering to acknowledge Qin Yu.

The eighth match ended hastily, disappointing many of the spectators.

However, the ninth match featured Qi Mengyu. Naturally, the outcome was predictable; she lost to a disciple from Zichen Peak.

At this point, Giant God Peak had all five of its disciples defeated, solidifying their position as the last place in this tournament. Taihe Peak still had Han Fei.

Half an hour later, the second round concluded. A total of forty-three people advanced, and Han Fei was one of them.

Next, Qi Xuanxuan participated in the draw. There were forty-four people in total, divided into twenty-two groups for their respective matches.

The sky gradually darkened, but the peak of Tongtian Peak remained brilliantly lit, not much different from daytime.

All the buildings were luminous, including the surroundings of the plaza. Countless luminous stones illuminated the arena as bright as day.

But just as the draw was completed, a cry of unfairness erupted from the direction of Giant God Peak.

Instantly, all eyes turned towards Giant God Peak.

Qi Xiaotian stood up, a smile on his face, and asked, "Oh? You're saying the rules of the Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament are unfair?"

Daoist Yiyuan, the head of Giant God Peak, turned ashen and immediately bowed. "Sect Master, please calm your anger. It is my failing for not properly disciplining my disciples. I beg for your punishment."

Qi Xiaotian waved his hand, signaling Daoist Yiyuan to be quiet, then looked at Qin Yu and said, "Today, in front of all the elite disciples of the Thirty-Three Peaks, tell me where you believe it is unfair?"

Qin Yu broke free from the junior brothers and sisters who were holding him back, stepped forward to the edge of the spectator stands, and said, "Sect Master, while it's true that most of these forty-four people who advanced to the third round did so deservedly, some relied on luck rather than strength. There are even those at the sixth level of the Innate Realm. How can those of us at the ninth level of the Innate Realm, or even the eighth, be convinced?"

Among the forty-four who advanced, besides Han Fei, who was at the sixth level of the Innate Realm, there was one at the seventh level and three at the eighth level. This was why Qin Yu was unconvinced.

Qin Yu continued, "Setting aside whether I can defeat these lower-cultivation disciples, even if I encountered someone at the ninth level of the Innate Realm, I might not necessarily lose?"

Qi Xiaotian nodded, not directly answering Qin Yu's question, but instead pointing towards the Taihe Peak stands.

"Taihe Peak has been last for three consecutive tournaments. Do you know why? Did none of their disciples ever defeat disciples from other peaks? Did none of them reach the third round with the ninth or even tenth level of the Innate Realm?"

"Let me tell you, in the last tournament, Taihe Peak's strongest fighter was at the peak of the ninth level of the Innate Realm, just like you. Yet, they didn't reach the third round. Why didn't Taihe Peak lodge a complaint like you? Did their ninth-level Innate Realm cultivators lose to eighth-level or even seventh-level Innate Realm cultivators who reached the third round?"

Qin Yu deflated. He had indeed been blinded by anger just now and hadn't considered this angle.

Daoist Yiyuan sighed beside him, his head bowed, still maintaining his bowing posture. This was both reverence for Sect Master Qi Xiaotian and punishment for his own lack of strict discipline.

Qi Xiaotian continued, "I understand your feelings, but you must respect the qualifications of the Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament. Who says luck isn't a part of strength? Over the years, the heads of the major peaks have gradually placed too much importance on rankings, to the point where they desperately try to raise their disciples' cultivation levels, losing sight of teaching them fundamental strength."

All the heads of the Thirty-Three Peaks lowered their heads. Qi Xiaotian's words had indeed struck a chord with them.

For the sake of the Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament rankings, for the sake of a fleeting reputation, and to avoid losing face in front of other peak heads, they had gradually neglected to improve their disciples' actual strength.

Qi Xiaotian walked along the spectator stands, infusing his voice with spiritual energy. "Originally, I didn't intend to say some things publicly, but you've gone too far, heads of the major peaks. We all come from the same sect. Please recall, did our master or our ancestors ever teach us that cultivation alone represents strength?"

"Hasn't this young man named Han Fei given us a vivid lesson today? With a cultivation of the sixth level of the Innate Realm, he instantly killed a seventh-level Innate Realm opponent. In the second match, he also instantly killed an eighth-level Innate Realm opponent. Is this luck? I believe everyone present can see clearly, right?"

Qin Yu was somewhat bewildered. After Qi Xiaotian's words, he felt he had indeed overstepped. He sat down in the spectator stands, feeling lost.

Qi Xiaotian sighed, waved his hand, and signaled for the tournament to continue. Although Qin Yu had disrupted the order of the tournament, he had forced Qi Xiaotian to speak his mind, which was somewhat in line with Qi Xiaotian's intentions, so he didn't want to pursue the matter further with Qin Yu.

Han Fei glanced at the Giant God Peak spectator stands and muttered, "Idiot..."

Qin Yu looked up angrily. "Others can insult me, but you can't. No matter how much the Sect Master praises you, you're still an ant at the sixth level of the Innate Realm. If you fought me, you'd die miserably."

Han Fei shook his head. "Don't you understand yet? The Sect Master said so much, and you didn't listen to a word. I feel sorry for you."

Qin Yu froze. The spectator stands of the two main peaks, as well as the disciples behind them, all turned to look in their direction.

Han Fei continued, "What the Sect Master means is that in reality, only the top few in each tournament are truly valued. You, however, are enraged because you can't enter the third round. This is what disappoints the Sect Master most about you."

"Think about it carefully. Even if you entered the third round, what then? Could you enter the fourth round? Even if you entered the fourth round, could you reach the fifth? What the Sect Master truly cares about is the final arena battle. Yet you're jumping around here because you can't enter the third round. Did I say you were an idiot incorrectly?"

Qin Yu suddenly came to his senses, realizing the problem. Yes, even if he had entered the third round, what difference would it make? Without reaching the tenth level of the Innate Realm, he had no chance for the final eleven spots.

Daoist Yiyuan was also extremely disappointed in Qin Yu at this moment. He turned his head to watch the next match.

Han Fei, on the other hand, prepared for his next match. His goal wasn't the third round, but the final arena battle. He felt that was the truly interesting part. He hadn't even drawn his Gale Sword yet.