Power of One Elephant

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, the day for the ranking battles among the top three hundred arrived amid everyone's anticipation.

During this time, everyone had come to a basic conclusion about those capable of competing for the top ten.

First was Feng Chao, ranked eleventh, who had become a popular candidate to contend for the top ten.

After all, he was a ruthless man who had taken on a level-five, two-star mission alone.

Next were those ranked within the top twenty, all of whom had great chances.

Finally, there were those who had performed exceptionally brilliantly in the previous grand competition.

For instance, Li Biehe, ranked sixtieth. Last time, he had reached that rank with his Mid True Qi Realm cultivation. Now that he had reached the late stage, his strength had surely improved greatly.

Moreover, with his father being an Inner Sect Elder, he would never lack martial arts techniques.

Thus, it was difficult to say what methods he possessed.

At the residence of an Inner Sect Elder, Li Biehe's father, Li Zaihu, asked in a deep voice:

"Biehe, the arena battles begin tomorrow. How far have you cultivated that [Heavenly Illumination Divine Art]?"

"Rest assured, Father. I've already cultivated the [Heavenly Illumination Divine Art] to the ninth level, the highest level of the True Qi Realm. This time, I'll definitely enter the top ten—perhaps even the top three."

Li Zaihu nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. I obtained this divine art by chance. It is Earth-grade initial level. The fact that you cultivated it to the ninth level so quickly is enough to prove that your talent is extraordinary."

Receiving praise, Li Biehe was delighted. Then he cautiously said:

"Father, about that matter concerning Zhu Ningyun that I told you about..."

At those words, Li Zaihu's smile immediately vanished, and he said sternly:

"There is little possibility in this matter. Zhu Ningyun is someone valued by the Sect Master, even by the Grand Elders. Yet your father is merely an ordinary Inner Sect Elder. Even if I shamelessly went to ask, there would be no result."

Li Biehe was greatly disappointed.

Li Zaihu did not wish to crush his confidence and consoled him, "It isn't entirely without hope. As long as you display exceptional talent and gain the Sect Master's favor, it is still very possible."

"I understand."

Li Biehe's eyes immediately lit up. He clenched his fists, deciding that he would go all out in this grand competition.

Not far outside the Wuji Sect, a thin stream trickled down from a mountain wall into a pool, and along with the current came a giant python as thick as a water bucket.

It coiled around a dead tree on the cliff wall, slowly lowered its head, and gazed into the pool.

It seemed to have sensed the scent of food nearby.

Sure enough, as its head dipped into the water, a figure sitting cross-legged at the bottom of the hundred-meter-deep pool immediately entered its bulb-sized eyes.

Without further hesitation, its entire body slid down toward the bottom of the pool.

By its usual habit, it would first coil around its prey, then begin swallowing from the head.

The first step went smoothly, but at the second, the figure suddenly opened his eyes, like an ancient ferocious beast awakening.

Then it felt a force far exceeding its own constricting strength, as though it were about to tear its body apart.

Its feeling was correct.

With a bang, the pool water was obscured by a cloud of red.

Gulp!

Who knew how long passed? Before the pool had completely turned red, a figure emerged, then slowly walked ashore.

"The third stage of the [Iron Elephant Art] has finally reached great completion!"

This person was Lu Ming. Before the previous preliminary round, he had already cultivated the [Iron Elephant Art] to the third stage.

However, it had not yet reached great completion.

Thus, after obtaining a spot, he ignored the disturbances outside and came straight back here, using the pressure of the deep pool to push this body-refining external art to its highest realm.

Yet perhaps external arts were inherently difficult to cultivate and required the slow grind of water wearing through stone, or perhaps the pressure of the deep pool was insufficient, but he had been unable to break through his limits.

He had remained only one footstep away from great completion.

Fortunately, Heaven had helped him. Just as he was preparing to give up, a little snake had come along and given him tremendous assistance.

It was a mid-stage level-two demonic beast. Its constricting strength was extraordinarily great.

Combined with the water pressure, it had finally enabled him to break past the boundary and achieve great completion in his external art.

Now, his inner and outer cultivation had fused as one, greatly increasing his defense. Within the True Qi Realm, very few could break through his defenses.

His physical strength had increased further as well, reaching a terrifying ten thousand jin.

This was precisely the Power of One Elephant described by the technique.

And that was not all. Great completion in his external art brought another benefit: the true qi within his body had undergone a tempering and become more condensed.

Although he was still at the Mid True Qi Realm and had not yet reached its peak, the richness of his true qi had improved another level compared to before.

His strength could be said to have advanced another step.

"With this, first place in the Inner Sect should be secure, right?"

Water vapor rose around him as Lu Ming used true qi to evaporate the moisture from his body, then returned to the sect.

The official grand competition would begin tomorrow. Today was the day for drawing numbers.

The Martial Arts Plaza was a place specially used by the Wuji Sect for grand competitions. It resembled a huge, deep bowl, with fifteen battle arenas at its bottom and spectator stands lining its walls.

It appeared large enough to hold ten thousand people.

When the time came, not only would disciples and elders of the Wuji Sect come to watch, but some renowned figures from outside and leaders of nearby forces would also receive invitations.

After all, the Wuji Sect needed to maintain its influence over the surrounding region, and displaying the strength and talent of its disciples was the best way to do so.

Today, many Outer Sect disciples could already be seen arranging the venue.

Lu Ming did not look any further, because someone was calling him. It was Chu Yunxiao.

"You came really late. Did you read the competition format?"

Lu Ming shook his head and asked, "Have you drawn your number?"

Chu Yunxiao nodded. "Go draw first, then I'll explain the details."

"Alright."

Lu Ming did not delay. He headed straight to the place for drawing numbers, where there was a large box. After his identity was verified, he reached his hand inside.

Then he drew out a small ball.

Opening it, he saw the words: Group Eleven, Number Seven.

After it was recorded, he walked out.

"How was it?" Chu Yunxiao immediately asked.

Lu Ming raised the token in his hand. "Group Eleven, Number Seven. What about you? Don't tell me we ran into each other from the start?"

Chu Yunxiao smiled and shook his head. "I'm Group Thirteen, Number Three."

"What does that mean exactly?"

Chu Yunxiao explained. The three hundred participants had been divided into thirty groups, with ten people in each group. The current top thirty on the rankings served as seeded contestants.

Lu Ming was in Group Eleven, so the seeded contestant was naturally Feng Chao, ranked eleventh.

"Him?"

Lu Ming suddenly recalled the figure in the Mission Hall. He had not expected to encounter him at the very beginning of this competition, and found it interesting.

Without thinking further, he continued listening to the competition rules.

The competition was divided into three stages. The first stage was the elimination round, leaving only thirty people.

The second stage was the semifinals, eliminating fifteen people.

The third stage was the finals, where the remaining fifteen would compete for the top fifteen rankings.

In short, the rules were extremely detailed. It seemed unlikely that the competition could even be finished in a single day.

After learning the format, Lu Ming did not chat much more with Chu Yunxiao. After all, each of them needed to adjust his condition for tomorrow's matches.

Returning to his small courtyard, Lu Ming still only cultivated his internal art before resting.

Just like that, the next day arrived in the blink of an eye. Before dawn had even broken, many disciples were already awake.

Some had come as spectators to watch the excitement. Moreover, betting pools had been opened for many dark horses, and they wanted to see how the people they had wagered on would perform.

In short, before the sky had fully brightened, the sect had already become lively.