Han Fei had not won this battle with much difficulty, but neither had it been easy.
With the Gale Sword broken and no sword at hand, how could Han Fei use the Dragon Slaying Sword Art? Even if he could use it, its power would be greatly reduced.
The Dragon Slaying Sword Art consumed an enormous amount of spiritual energy. If the technique he used was less effective than an ordinary attack, why would Han Fei use it?
This also showed that it was not that Han Fei did not use the Dragon Slaying Sword Art, but that it simply was not worth the cost.
He took out a set of clothes from his Storage Bag and put them on, waiting for the second person to take the stage. Meng Qing, who had lost, returned to the Digui Peak viewing stands.
She had merely exhausted her spiritual energy and suffered no real injuries. She only needed time to recover.
As the name implied, the arena battles were a round-robin format among eleven people. Winners stayed while losers left, until everyone had fought ten matches. Whoever won the most matches would take first place, and so on.
Han Fei's second opponent was named He Yan, and his cultivation was at the Ninth Level of the Innate Realm.
The moment he stepped onto the stage, he surrendered. He was only at the Ninth Level of the Innate Realm. Even if he had confidence in his own strength, he was not confident enough to defeat Han Fei.
After the second surrender, Han Fei gained another quarter-hour to recover. The third contestant was Zhang Yang of Qiankun Peak. He was Zhang Chao's older brother and Qiankun Peak's strongest expert, with cultivation at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm.
Holding a diamond-shaped saber, Zhang Yang took a deep breath.
The Headmaster of Qiankun Peak beside him instructed, "Fight if you have a chance. If you don't, surrender. You still have nine battles ahead of you. Don't exhaust yourself in the very first match."
Zhang Yang nodded silently.
He slowly walked into Tongtian Square.
The discussions around him felt like mountains pressing down upon Zhang Yang.
"Han Fei is far too dominant. Even Digui Peak's proud daughter of heaven lost to him. He's on track to win the Ascension Tournament."
"From the looks of things, no one seems to be Han Fei's opponent anymore. His entry into the core ranks is already certain. Now it just depends on how many matches he can win. Based on previous tournaments, to take first place in the Ascension Tournament, one needs to win at least six matches and maintain a win rate above fifty percent."
"I doubt it. No matter how strong Han Fei is, can he really win six straight matches? Don't forget, his cultivation is only at the peak of the Eighth Level of the Innate Realm. There is still a gap in spiritual energy between him and those at the ninth and tenth levels."
Listening to the discussions around him, Zhang Yang did not hear a single person predict that he would win. Of course, he did not believe it himself either.
With a swish, the diamond-shaped saber gave off a faint glow. Zhang Yang had already made up his mind. "Even if I can't defeat you, I'll make you expend some spiritual energy. I refuse to believe your spiritual energy is limitless."
With that, he held his saber in reverse and rapidly closed in on Han Fei.
"Senior Brother Han, excuse me."
Han Fei spun on his feet and turned sideways, dodging Zhang Yang's slash. However, Zhang Yang's move was clearly not so simple.
The falling saber suddenly flipped midway through its descent and chopped toward Han Fei's chest.
No one had expected Han Fei to be struck by the blade so easily.
Yet the imagined spray of blood never appeared. Zhang Yang's saber failed to cut through Han Fei's body.
Han Fei grabbed Zhang Yang's diamond-shaped saber with his right hand and said quietly, "Since you're using a low-grade Treasure Artifact, surrender on your own. I won't affect your remaining battles."
Han Fei's meaning was obvious. If Zhang Yang surrendered voluntarily, Han Fei would not hurt him. Otherwise, Han Fei would make his move.
Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes. "You're looking down on me?"
Han Fei shook his head. "Your aura is too inflated. Though you possess cultivation at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm, there is far too much emptiness in it. If someone like you can be Qiankun Peak's strongest expert, even sighing feels unnecessary."
As he spoke, he flung his right hand and knocked the diamond-shaped saber aside, then swept a kick into Zhang Yang's chest.
Zhang Yang was immediately sent flying more than ten meters before crashing onto the ground.
Before Zhang Yang could react, a streak of Sword Qi sliced past his throat and plunged into the bluestone tiles.
Zhang Yang jumped in fright and hurriedly touched his throat, only to find that the Sword Qi had merely cut his skin.
The entire venue erupted. Zhang Yang, at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm, had actually been defeated in an instant.
Many people could not understand it. Even Qi Xuanxuan was confused. "They're both at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm. Is the gap between Zhang Yang and Meng Qing really that great?"
Qi Xiaotian explained, "It isn't unusual for Martial Artists at the same level to have enormous differences in strength. Zhang Yang's spiritual energy was never refined. Because his breakthroughs came too smoothly, he never considered suppressing his realm. Sooner or later, this kind of cultivation method will hit a bottleneck. Those Headmasters have truly gone too far."
Qi Xuanxuan said, "So that's how it is. No wonder Han Fei won so easily."
Qi Xiaotian sighed. "Even with inflated spiritual energy, defeating someone at the Ninth Level of the Innate Realm would not be difficult. But against top Innate Realm experts like Han Fei and Meng Qing, who can even fight those in the Spirit Gathering Realm, he is pitifully weak."
After Zhang Yang's instant defeat, everyone in the following matches voluntarily surrendered.
Fighting Han Fei was simply not worth it. Not only would it consume spiritual energy, but they might also be injured. If they lost, they would only pave the way for others. Even if they won, it would be a miserable victory. So they all tacitly chose to avoid Han Fei.
Han Fei sat in the center of the square, staring blankly at one surrendering opponent after another. Just by sitting there in the square, he had obtained ten consecutive victories.
The Elder Judge announced, "Han Fei of Taihe Peak has won all ten arena battles and claimed first place in the Ascension Tournament."
The Taihe Peak disciples burst into cheers, but the viewing stand where Daoist Sanyuan sat was deathly silent. Several people stared at one another wide-eyed, none daring to believe it was real. Daoist Sanyuan looked at Han Fei as he walked back, his feelings complicated.
He did not know whether his expectations had been too low or whether Han Fei's surprise was too overwhelming, but at that moment, he actually felt as though he were dreaming.
After returning to Taihe Peak, Daoist Sanyuan ordered that no one was to disturb Han Fei's rest.
Han Fei was happy for the peace and quiet. Sitting at the edge of the viewing stands, he watched everyone compete for second and third place.
Several hours later, all the battles had ended, and the rankings were roughly what Han Fei had expected.
Gu Yue ranked second, while Meng Qing ranked third. Gu Yue's cultivation was also in the Spirit Gathering Realm, and he had defeated Meng Qing.
Han Fei, who had taken first place, was rewarded with the chance to enter the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion and choose a weapon.
Gu Yue, who took second place, could enter the first floor of the Treasure Pavilion and choose a weapon, while Meng Qing, who took third place, received five thousand Spirit Stones.
The top eleven contestants were automatically promoted to Core Disciples of the Divine Sect. They would enter the Inner Sect one week later.
The Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament ended just like that. It was far more boring than Han Fei had expected. Still, his gains were fairly good.
After returning to Taihe Peak, everything seemed to return to normal, except Han Fei's status had undergone an enormous change.
No one dared show Han Fei disrespect again. Wang Rui, the only one who had been at odds with Han Fei, had been locked up by Daoist Sanyuan while he investigated whether Wang Rui had colluded with Fu Jiahao.
Whenever the disciples saw Han Fei, they respectfully bowed to him, as though they were facing Daoist Sanyuan himself.
Returning to his Side Hall, Han Fei saw that the loft belonging to Dong Jie in the distance was still empty and deserted. As if possessed, he walked inside.
Everything inside that belonged to Dong Jie remained untouched. Han Fei sat in the chair Dong Jie often used, memories of the past echoing through his heart.
"If only you weren't dead. You could see what I've achieved now. I can protect you now too..."
Just as Han Fei was lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone calling for him outside.
"Han Fei? Han Fei?"
Han Fei walked out and saw Qi Xuanxuan's back. She was currently craning her head to look into his Side Hall.
"You came?"
The voice from behind startled Qi Xuanxuan. When she turned around, she saw Han Fei walking out from a nearby loft.
Han Fei asked with a smile, "Did you come specially to see me?"
Qi Xuanxuan nodded. "I'll be entering the Inner Sect too and becoming a Core Disciple. When the time comes, I'll be your senior sister. If you dare disrespect me, don't blame me for beating you up."
As she spoke, Qi Xuanxuan raised her snow-white little fist, looking every bit like a bossy big sister.
Han Fei smiled. "How would I dare? I wouldn't dare provoke you. I should also thank you for showing me mercy that day."
Qi Xuanxuan threatened, "It's good that you know I let you off. Oh, right, I also came to notify you that it's time to go to the Treasure Pavilion and select your treasure."
Han Fei asked, "I don't even know what the Treasure Pavilion is for yet, but I'm looking forward to it. Even Meng Qing, who came in third, received five thousand Spirit Stones. Since I came first, my reward must be even more generous."
Qi Xuanxuan smiled. "Naturally. The first floor of the Treasure Pavilion contains many kinds of high-grade Treasure Artifacts. The value of a high-grade Treasure Artifact is no less than five thousand Spirit Stones. The second floor contains top-grade Treasure Artifacts. I don't need to tell you how much a top-grade Treasure Artifact costs on the market, do I?"
"My Azure Spirit Sword is a top-grade Treasure Artifact, and I obtained it from the second floor as well. Of course, obtaining a top-grade Treasure Artifact depends on your own ability and fortune. If you're lucky, you may even receive an additional reward."
Han Fei was stunned. "What additional reward?"
Qi Xuanxuan said, "The Treasure Pavilion was established by the founding patriarch, and it contains countless restrictions. More than one person has obtained a Magic Treasure in addition to a suitable weapon."
"A Magic Treasure stands above a Treasure Artifact, just like this one of mine."
As she spoke, Qi Xuanxuan took out something resembling a cauldron.
"Even now, I still haven't fully developed all the functions of this Magic Treasure. For the time being, I use it to refine pills. If the martial arts tournament had allowed Magic Treasures, you would never have been my opponent."
Han Fei looked at the palm-sized cauldron, his anticipation for the Treasure Pavilion he was about to enter growing ever stronger.
Before you continue