Wang Jian staggered back several steps, each one leaving an inch-deep footprint in the ground. Only then did he barely bleed off all the force. His face was slightly flushed; he had suffered a small loss in that exchange.
A figure descended into the crowd, carrying an extraordinary bearing. It was Ye Kongming.
The surrounding disciples watched without blinking. This was a battle between the upper echelons of two great academies, a clash between Xiantian Experts—not something one could see whenever one pleased.
"Ye Kongming, do you intend to shield your son?" Wang Jian shouted.
"You old bastard Wang, do you think I don't know? You're plainly using public office to avenge a private grudge. My son was merely defending himself, yet you dare turn black into white and falsely accuse him!" Ye Kongming snorted coldly.
"I am the Hall of Punishments' master. By the sect rules, behavior like your son's warrants having his martial arts abolished and being expelled from the sect!" Wang Jian said sternly.
"Hmph, since when did our Yi Yuan Sect punish self-defense? My son merely defended himself. With so many witnesses watching, all can testify for him, yet you dare turn black into white. Just watch me take this to the Sect Master and have your position as Hall of Punishments master stripped away!" Ye Kongming refused to yield in the slightest.
All sorts of thoughts raced through Wang Jian's mind. Others might not know who was right and who was wrong, but did he not know himself? It was only because of his old grudge against Ye Kongming that he had vented it on his son. He had originally thought to catch Ye Xiwen off guard and seize him; then he could say whatever he wanted. Yet Ye Xiwen had actually evaded him. If this reached the Sect Master, Wang Jian would gain no advantage. Ye Xiwen's attack had been somewhat heavy-handed, but it had been self-defense. What could anyone do about it?
"Hmph, shield your son like this today, and sooner or later you'll regret it!" Wang Jian snorted, then turned and left. As for Ma Ying, he did not even spare him a glance. He had not stepped forward just now out of concern for Ma Ying's life or death; he had merely used him as a pretext.
"Ye Xiwen is incredible! Who would have thought there was such a hidden expert among the Inner Disciples? Why have we never heard of him before? Even a Xiantian Expert couldn't take him down in one strike!"
"Tut, tut, that slash was simply invincible. Even Houtian Seventh Stage experts probably couldn't escape it. It was like a prison between heaven and earth!"
"What kind of monster is he? His Thunderclap Hand has been cultivated to an extremely profound level, and that saber technique is even more terrifying!"
"Wen'er, I never expected that in such a short time, you would possess such combat strength. That saber technique should be an intermediate-grade technique, right?" Ye Kongming asked.
"Yes. Your son has mastered this Cold Moon Slash!" Since it had already been exposed, Ye Xiwen had nothing left to hide. Of course, he would not voluntarily mention that this saber technique was not actually intermediate-grade, but a Xiantian-level technique with two more moves yet to come.
"Good, good!" Seeing the combat strength Ye Xiwen had suddenly displayed, Ye Kongming felt like bursting into laughter. Every one of Ye Kongming's children was a genius.
"Haha, I underestimated you before. With this level of strength, you can contend even for first place!" Ye Kongming laughed loudly. "Perform well!"
Ye Kongming did not remain any longer, returning instead to the elders' seats and leaving Ye Xiwen alone. Because of the series of disruptions, quite some time had already passed. The fourth round had begun, and a young man of around twenty stood on the stage. He was Ye Xiwen's opponent this round, Tang Nian.
Ye Xiwen leaped onto the arena and cupped his hands. "Ye Xiwen! I've kept Brother Tang waiting!"
Tang Nian's expression was complicated. He had witnessed Ye Xiwen defeat Ma Ying with a single move and his clash with Wang Jian. He understood that he was absolutely no match for Ye Xiwen. With his strength, Houtian Sixth Stage, he should have been able to break into the top ten, and next time he might even have had hope of becoming a Core Disciple. He had thought he would shine gloriously, only to run into Ye Xiwen and find himself unable even to reach the fifth round.
After struggling for a while, Tang Nian finally cupped his hands and said, "Brother Ye, I admit that I am no match for you. I willingly concede defeat!"
The many watching disciples were surprised by Tang Nian's surrender, yet it was also within their expectations. Tang Nian was someone capable of squeezing into the top ten, but Ye Xiwen's crisp and decisive defeat of Ma Ying had thoroughly established his position.
Ma Ying had originally been one of the Inner Gate Five Great Disciples, yet he could not withstand even one move from Ye Xiwen. Naturally, Ye Xiwen had taken Ma Ying's place, becoming one of the new Five Great Disciples in the hearts of countless disciples.
Thus, Tang Nian's surrender was unexpected, yet also entirely expected.
After Tang Nian conceded, the next disciple was also at Houtian Sixth Stage and still unwilling to accept it. Yet Ye Xiwen sent him flying off the arena with a single move as well.
After passing two rounds in succession, Ye Xiwen easily broke into the top six. Besides Ye Xiwen, the original five great Inner Disciples were all among them. Apart from those five, one other person had also made it into the top six, with strength at Houtian Sixth Stage Late Phase. He was quite formidable as well.
Ye Xiwen finally encountered a true expert: Zhang Xiang, ranked third among the Five Great Disciples. As long as he defeated him, he could enter the top three.
"Ye Xiwen. Please enlighten me," Ye Xiwen said.
"Junior Brother Ye, your cultivation is impressive. You even defeated Ma Ying," Zhang Xiang said. "But Ma Ying was merely the weakest among us Five Great Disciples. I wonder whether you can defeat me!"
Ye Xiwen also knew of Zhang Xiang. Despite his young age, he had encountered one fortuitous opportunity after another, and he had become one of the Inner Gate Five Great Disciples long ago.
Zhang Xiang released every bit of his aura without restraint. He was actually a Houtian Seventh Stage Middle Phase expert. No wonder he had said Ma Ying was merely the weakest among them.
Many of the watching disciples cried out in amazement. An Inner Disciple had actually reached Houtian Seventh Stage? Weren't all Houtian Seventh Stage disciples already in the core ranks?
"Falling Rock Fist!" Zhang Xiang shouted. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and he shot forward. A faint layer of earth-yellow true qi wrapped around his fists. This was a fist technique recorded in a damaged Fist Scripture he had obtained during one of his fortuitous encounters, and its power was immense.
In an instant, Zhang Xiang attacked before Ye Xiwen. His fists came crashing down like two small mountains.
"Thunderclap Hand!" Ye Xiwen shouted softly. A layer of lightning-like true qi wound around his hands as he met the attack head-on.
Ye Xiwen's hands produced six resounding bursts.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
The two clashed, their figures crossing. Ye Xiwen was fast beyond measure, while Zhang Xiang carried the momentum of using one force to break ten thousand techniques, doing nothing but smashing fiercely with his fists.
"Rumble!" Ye Xiwen's Thunderclap Hand rang out once more, its power surging sharply. The palm wind tore directly through Zhang Xiang's fists, and one palm struck squarely against Zhang Xiang's chest.
"Bang!" Zhang Xiang was struck by the palm and flew straight off the arena.
"This match goes to Ye Xiwen!"
Ye Xiwen smoothly entered the top three.
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