Breaking Into The Top Three

Wang Jian retreated several steps, each one leaving a deep footprint in the ground, only then managing to fully dissipate the force. His face was slightly flushed; he had suffered a minor disadvantage in this exchange.

A figure descended into the crowd, exuding an extraordinary presence. It was Ye Kongming.

The surrounding disciples watched intently. This was a battle between the high-ranking members of two academies, a fight between experts of the Xiantian realm. It wasn't something they could witness anytime.

"Ye Kongming, are you going to protect your son?" Wang Jian shouted.

"You old fool, do you think I don't know? You're simply seeking personal revenge. My son was merely defending himself. How dare you twist the truth and slander him!" Ye Kongming said with a cold snort.

"I am the Hall Master of the Hall of Punishments. According to sect rules, your son's actions warrant the abolishment of his martial arts and expulsion!" Wang Jian said sternly.

"Hmph, since when does our Yi Yuan Sect punish self-defense? My son was merely defending himself. Everyone here can testify for him. How dare you twist the truth? I'll report this to the Sect Leader and have your position as Hall Master abolished!" Ye Kongming retorted without yielding.

Wang Jian's mind raced. Others might not know right from wrong, but he himself did. This was all due to his old grudge with Ye Kongming, which he was now taking out on his son. He had intended to capture Ye Xiwen by surprise, leaving him at his mercy. But he hadn't expected Ye Xiwen to evade him. If this escalated to the Sect Leader, he wouldn't come out favorably. Although Ye Xiwen had struck with some force, it was ultimately self-defense, so what could be done?

"Hmph, you'll regret shielding your son like this today sooner or later!" Wang Jian snorted and turned to leave. He didn't even glance at Ma Ying. His earlier intervention wasn't about Ma Ying's life or death, but merely a pretext.

"This Ye Xiwen is so powerful. I never knew there was such a hidden expert among the Inner Disciples. How come I've never heard of him before? Even a Xiantian expert couldn't take him down in one blow!"

"Tsk tsk, that saber technique was simply invincible. Even a Houtian Seventh Stage expert probably couldn't escape it. It was like a cage of heaven and earth!"

"What kind of monstrous talent is he? His Thunderclap Hand is incredibly profound, and that saber technique is even more terrifying!"

"Wen'er, I didn't expect you to possess such combat strength in such a short time. That saber technique should be a mid-level one, right?" Ye Kongming asked.

"Yes, your son has mastered this 'Cold Moon Slash'!" Since he had been exposed, Ye Xiwen had nothing to hide. Of course, he wouldn't volunteer that this saber technique was actually a Xiantian-level technique with two more moves yet to come.

"Good, good!" Seeing Ye Xiwen's sudden burst of combat power, Ye Kongming felt like laughing. His children were all geniuses.

"Haha, I underestimated you earlier, father. With this combat strength, you can even contend for first place!" Ye Kongming laughed heartily. "Perform well!"

Ye Kongming didn't stay any longer and returned to the Elder's seating area, leaving Ye Xiwen alone. Due to the series of events, a considerable amount of time had passed, and the fourth round of matches was about to begin. A young man around twenty years old stood on the stage. He was Ye Xiwen's opponent, Tang Nian.

Ye Xiwen leaped onto the stage and cupped his fists. "Ye Xiwen! Apologies for making Brother Tang wait!"

Tang Nian's expression was complex. He had witnessed Ye Xiwen defeat Ma Ying in one move and his confrontation with Wang Jian. He knew he was no match for Ye Xiwen. With his previous strength, he could have definitely entered the top ten at the Houtian Sixth Stage, and even had a chance to become a Core Disciple next time. He had expected to be glorious, but he never imagined he would encounter Ye Xiwen, unable to even advance to the fifth round.

After struggling for a moment, Tang Nian cupped his fists. "Brother Ye, I admit I am not your opponent. I concede defeat!"

While many of the observing disciples were surprised by Tang Nian's surrender, it was also within their expectations. Although Tang Nian was capable of breaking into the top ten, Ye Xiwen's swift and decisive victory over Ma Ying had thoroughly solidified his position.

Ma Ying was one of the top five Inner Disciples, yet he couldn't withstand a single move from Ye Xiwen. Ye Xiwen had naturally taken Ma Ying's place, becoming the new top five disciple in the hearts of countless disciples.

Therefore, Tang Nian's surrender was both unexpected and, in a way, predictable.

After Tang Nian surrendered, a disciple behind him, also at the Houtian Sixth Stage, was still unwilling. However, he too was knocked off the stage by Ye Xiwen in a single move.

Winning two consecutive rounds, Ye Xiwen easily advanced to the top six. Besides Ye Xiwen, the original top five Inner Disciples were all present. In addition to those five, another individual had also made it into the top six, possessing strength at the Houtian Sixth Stage Late Phase, and was quite formidable.

Ye Xiwen finally encountered a true expert, the third-ranked among the top five experts, Zhang Xiang. If he defeated him, he would enter the top three.

"Ye Xiwen, please guide me!" Ye Xiwen said.

"Junior Brother Ye, your cultivation is impressive. You even defeated Ma Ying!" Zhang Xiang said. "However, Ma Ying was merely the weakest among our top five disciples. I wonder if you can defeat me!"

Ye Xiwen also knew Zhang Xiang. He had encountered many fortuitous encounters from a young age and had been one of the top five Inner Disciples long ago.

Zhang Xiang unleashed his aura without reservation. He was actually a Houtian Seventh Stage Middle Phase expert, no wonder he said Ma Ying was the weakest among them.

Many of the observing disciples exclaimed in admiration. How could an Inner Disciple reach the Houtian Seventh Stage? Weren't all Houtian Seventh Stage disciples already Core Disciples?

"Falling Rock Fist!" Zhang Xiang shouted, his eyes suddenly sharpening. He charged forward, his fists wrapped in a faint earthy yellow Zhenqi. This was a boxing technique recorded in a damaged boxing manual he had obtained through a fortuitous encounter, possessing immense power.

Zhang Xiang instantly attacked Ye Xiwen, his fists smashing down like two small mountains.

"Thunderclap Hand!" Ye Xiwen lightly shouted, his hands wrapped in lightning-like Zhenqi as he met the attack.

Ye Xiwen's hands struck six times.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The two clashed, figures intertwining. Ye Xiwen was at the peak of speed, while Zhang Xiang adopted a stance of overwhelming force with brute strength, smashing his fists relentlessly.

"Boom!" Ye Xiwen's Thunderclap Hand struck one more time, its power greatly increasing. The palm force directly shattered Zhang Xiang's fists, and a palm strike landed directly on Zhang Xiang's chest.

"Bang!" Zhang Xiang was struck by the palm and sent flying off the stage.

"Ye Xiwen wins this match!"

Ye Xiwen successfully advanced to the top three.

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