A Tasteless Ascension Tournament

Han Fei's victory in this battle wasn't particularly difficult, but it wasn't easy either.

Since the Gale Sword was broken and he had no sword, 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 was such a Spirit Energy-consuming move. If the technique he used was inferior to a normal attack, why would Han Fei use it?

This also showed that Han Fei didn't refuse to use the Dragon Slaying Sword Art; it was just not cost-effective.

He took out a set of clothes from his Storage Bag and put them on, waiting for the next person to ascend the stage. The defeated Meng Qing returned to the viewing area of Digui Peak.

She had only exhausted her Spiritual Energy and wasn't injured; she just needed to recover it.

The arena battles, as the name suggested, involved eleven people fighting in a round-robin format. The winner stayed, the loser left, and everyone fought ten matches. The person with the most wins at the end was first place, and so on.

Han Fei's second opponent was named He Yan, who was at the Ninth Level of the Innate Realm.

He ascended the stage and immediately forfeited. He was only at the Ninth Level of the Innate Realm. Even if he had confidence in his own strength, he didn't have enough to believe he could defeat Han Fei.

With a second surrender, Han Fei gained another quarter of an hour to recover. The third opponent was Zhang Yang from Qiankun Peak. He was Zhang Chao's older brother and the top expert of Qiankun Peak, at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm.

Zhang Yang, holding a rhombic long saber, took a deep breath.

The Peak Master of Qiankun Peak, standing beside him, instructed, "Fight if you have a chance, forfeit if you don't. You still have nine more battles to fight. Don't exhaust yourself in the first one."

Zhang Yang nodded silently.

He slowly walked into the Tongtian Plaza.

The surrounding discussions felt like mountains pressing down on Zhang Yang.

"This Han Fei is too strong. He even defeated the proud daughter of Digui Peak. Is he aiming for the top?"

"Based on the current situation, it seems no one can match Han Fei. Han Fei becoming a Core Disciple is a sure thing. Now it's just a matter of how many matches he wins. Judging from past tournaments, to win first place, you need at least six wins, maintaining a win rate of over fifty percent."

"I doubt it. No matter how strong Han Fei is, can he win six consecutive matches? Don't forget, his current cultivation is only at the peak of the Eighth Level of the Innate Realm. There's always a gap in Spiritual Energy compared to those at the Ninth or Tenth Level."

Listening to the surrounding discussions, Zhang Yang didn't hear a single prediction that he would win. Of course, he didn't believe it himself.

Swish. The rhombic long saber emitted a faint glow. Zhang Yang had made up his mind: "Even if I can't defeat you, I'll at least drain some of your Spiritual Energy. I don't believe your Spiritual Energy is infinite."

With that, he held the long saber upside down and quickly approached Han Fei.

"Senior Brother Han, please forgive me."

Han Fei's feet spun, and he sidestepped Zhang Yang's strike. However, Zhang Yang's move was clearly not that simple.

As the falling long saber descended halfway, it suddenly flipped and struck Han Fei's chest.

Everyone was surprised that Han Fei was hit by a saber strike just like that.

However, the expected splatter of blood did not occur. Zhang Yang's long saber did not cut through Han Fei's flesh.

Han Fei grabbed Zhang Yang's rhombic long saber with his right hand and said in a low voice, "Considering you're using a low-grade Treasure Artifact, just forfeit yourself. I won't affect your subsequent battles."

Han Fei's meaning was clear: if Zhang Yang surrendered voluntarily, Han Fei wouldn't harm him; otherwise, Han Fei would take action.

Zhang Yang narrowed his eyes: "You look down on me?"

Han Fei shook his head: "Your aura is too superficial. Although you have the cultivation of the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm, there's too much water in it. For you to be the top expert of Qiankun Peak, I feel even sighing is redundant."

With that, he flicked his right hand, pulling the rhombic long saber away, and then swept his leg towards Zhang Yang's chest.

Zhang Yang was sent flying back more than ten meters, landing on the ground.

Before Zhang Yang could react, a Sword Qi streaked across his throat and embedded itself in the bluestone slab.

Zhang Yang was startled and quickly touched his throat, finding only a shallow cut from the Sword Qi.

The entire venue erupted in shock. Zhang Yang, at the Tenth Level of the Innate Realm, was defeated in an instant.

Many people were confused. Even Qi Xuanxuan didn't understand: "For cultivators at the same Tenth Level of the Innate Realm, is the difference between Zhang Yang and Meng Qing really that great?"

Qi Xiaotian explained, "It's not uncommon for cultivators at the same level to have significant differences. Zhang Yang's Spiritual Energy hasn't been refined. Because his breakthroughs were too smooth, he never considered suppressing his realm. This kind of cultivation method will eventually lead to a bottleneck. These Peak Masters are truly going too far."

Qi Xuanxuan: "So that's how it is. No wonder Han Fei won so easily."

Qi Xiaotian sighed, "However, even with superficial Spiritual Energy, defeating someone at the Ninth Level of the Innate Realm shouldn't be too difficult. But compared to someone like Han Fei or Meng Qing, who are at the peak of the Innate Realm and can even fight against those in the Spirit Gathering Realm, he's pitifully weak."

After Zhang Yang's instant defeat, all subsequent opponents chose to forfeit.

Fighting Han Fei was too disadvantageous. Not only would it consume Spiritual Energy, but there was also a risk of injury. Losing meant paving the way for others, and winning would be a pyrrhic victory. Therefore, they tacitly chose to avoid Han Fei.

Han Fei sat in the center of the plaza, looking dumbfounded as his opponents forfeited one after another. He sat there on the plaza and achieved a ten-win streak.

The Elder Judge announced, "Han Fei of Taihe Peak, ten consecutive wins in the arena battles, clinching the championship."

The disciples of Taihe Peak erupted in cheers, but the viewing area where Daoist Sanyuan was located was deathly silent. Several people exchanged wide-eyed glances, none daring to believe it was real. Daoist Sanyuan looked at the returning Han Fei with a complex expression.

He didn't know if his expectations were too low or if Han Fei's surprise was too overwhelming. At this moment, he felt like he was dreaming.

Upon returning to Taihe Peak, Daoist Sanyuan ordered no one to disturb Han Fei's rest.

Han Fei was also happy to have some peace. He sat at the edge of the viewing area, watching others compete for second and third place.

After several hours, all the matches were completed, and the rankings were roughly as Han Fei had predicted.

Gu Yue ranked second, and Meng Qing ranked third. Gu Yue's cultivation was also in the Spirit Gathering Realm, and he defeated Meng Qing.

Han Fei, who won first place, was rewarded with the opportunity to choose a weapon from the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion.

Gu Yue, who placed second, could enter the first level of the Treasure Pavilion to select a weapon, while Meng Qing, who placed third, received five thousand Spirit Stones.

The top eleven contestants automatically advanced to become Core Disciples of the Divine Sect. They would enter the inner sect one week later.

The Thirty-Three Peaks Martial Arts Tournament concluded, proving to be far less interesting than Han Fei had anticipated. However, his gains were quite substantial.

Returning to Taihe Peak, everything seemed to have returned to normal, except for the immense change in Han Fei's status.

No one dared to disrespect Han Fei anymore. Wang Rui, the only one who had been at odds with him, was locked up by Daoist Sanyuan, who was investigating whether he had colluded with Fu Jiahao.

All disciples greeted Han Fei with respect, their attitudes mirroring how they treated Daoist Sanyuan.

Back in his side hall, the pavilion belonging to Dong Jie, not far away, remained empty. Han Fei, as if possessed, walked inside.

Dong Jie's belongings inside were untouched. Han Fei sat in the chair Dong Jie often used, past memories flooding his mind.

"If only you hadn't died, it would be so good. You could see my current achievements, and now I could protect you..."

Just as Han Fei was lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone calling him from outside.

"Han Fei? Han Fei?"

Han Fei walked out and saw Qi Xuanxuan's back as she tilted her head up, looking into his side hall.

"Why are you here?"

The voice from behind startled Qi Xuanxuan. She turned around and saw Han Fei emerging from a nearby pavilion.

Han Fei asked with a smile, "Did you come specifically to see me?"

Qi Xuanxuan nodded. "I'll also be entering the inner sect and becoming a Core Disciple. By then, I'll be your senior sister. If you dare disrespect me, don't think I won't beat you."

As she spoke, Qi Xuanxuan showed her fair little fist, acting like a bossy older sister.

Han Fei chuckled. "How could I dare? I wouldn't dare provoke you. I also have to thank you for showing mercy that day."

Qi Xuanxuan threatened, "Good, you know I let you off. Oh, right, I came this time to notify you about selecting treasures in the Treasure Pavilion."

Han Fei asked, "I don't even know what the Treasure Pavilion is for yet, but I'm looking forward to it. If the third-place Meng Qing could get five thousand Spirit Stones, my first place must have an even more generous reward."

Qi Xuanxuan smiled. "Naturally. The first level of the Treasure Pavilion has many kinds of High-grade Treasure Artifacts. A single High-grade Treasure Artifact is worth no less than five thousand Spirit Stones. The second level contains Top-grade Treasure Artifacts. I don't need to tell you the market price for a Top-grade Treasure Artifact, do I?"

"My Azure Spirit Sword is a Top-grade Treasure Artifact, and I obtained it from the second level. Of course, to get a Top-grade Treasure Artifact, you need to rely on your own ability and fortune. If you're lucky, you might even get an additional reward."

Han Fei was taken aback. "What additional reward?"

Qi Xuanxuan explained, "The Treasure Pavilion was established by the founding ancestor. It's filled with countless restrictions. In the past, more than one person, in addition to obtaining a suitable weapon, also acquired a Magic Treasure."

"Magic Treasures are superior to Treasure Artifacts, just like this one I have."

As she spoke, Qi Xuanxuan took out something resembling a cauldron.

"Even now, I haven't unlocked all the functions of this Magic Treasure. I'm currently using it for alchemy. If Magic Treasures were allowed in the martial arts tournament, you wouldn't stand a chance against me."

Han Fei looked at the palm-sized cauldron, his anticipation for the Treasure Pavilion filling him with excitement.