Advancement (Thanks to labula for the 100-coin tip)

On the arena stage, Ye Xingyu, as a Spirit Talisman Master, spoke first.

He was considered the youngest of the Xing Generation, only a little older than Ye Jingteng, the eldest of the Jing Generation, and he was also a renowned Spirit Talisman Master.

Once he said this, the other cultivators frowned, but none of them felt there was much of a problem.

After all, among skilled craftsmen, perhaps only Alchemists were at a slight disadvantage.

Ye Xinghe beside them said nothing either, clearly acquiescing.

In the Ye Family's philosophy, preserving equal conditions as much as possible was already the greatest fairness.

"Xingyu Uncle, naturally I have no objections!" Ye Jingcheng had no other thoughts on the matter.

If Ye Xingyu had been a First-Order Grade-High Spirit Talisman Master, he might have been wary. But in the profession of Spirit Talisman Masters, without mastering the corresponding spells, one could not create talismans.

Ye Xingyu was at Qi Training Stage 6. The Spirit Talismans he crafted could at most be First-Order Grade-Middle, so Ye Jingcheng had little to fear.

Moreover, Ye Jingcheng noticed that the other man had not even brought out a Spirit Beast.

Whether this was arrogance or not, at least Ye Jingcheng could seize the initiative.

"Xingyu Uncle, your nephew is a Beast Tamer. Please show me some leniency, Xingyu Uncle!" Ye Jingcheng released the Crimson Flame Fox and spoke with cupped hands.

He was exceedingly polite.

The moment the enormous Crimson Flame Fox appeared, countless cultivators were shocked. Even Ye Xinghe was no exception! Ye Jingcheng's Crimson Flame Fox had grown far too quickly. Judging by its spiritual energy, it already seemed to have reached Qi Training Stage 7.

Ye Jingli and Ye Jingyong, who had been looking pleased with themselves, instantly had their faces fall! Ye Jingcheng's Crimson Flame Fox had been raised in the same batch as theirs.

Yet now, the gap was simply too obvious.

Ye Xingyu's expression changed, but it was already too late to say anything.

With the ring of a bell, the match officially began! Four enormous Fireball Spells shot out in rapid succession, hurtling toward Ye Xingyu's face!

The speed at which it spat fireballs was something Ye Xingyu had never seen before. He hurriedly took out several Fireball Talismans and several Ice Shield Talismans.

The talisman spells and fireballs exploded in midair like dazzling fireworks!

What made Ye Xingyu wary was that these Fireball Spells were clearly far more powerful than those used by ordinary cultivators. Though his Spirit Talismans were also instant-cast, the difference between them was immediately apparent.

Those enormous fireballs still bore down on him. At that moment, he was frightened by their power and could only slap down two Swift Steps Talismans, dodging again and again!

The remaining fireballs exploded upon the arena stage. Even the stage forged with black iron mixed into it was blasted red-hot, as though it could barely endure.

Ye Xingyu hurriedly unleashed several more Spirit Talismans. A palm-leaf fan also appeared in his hand, and with a single wave! The speed of those talismans surged once more! Clearly, he intended to catch Ye Jingcheng before he could cover his ears! Yet Ye Jingcheng had already waved out a small shield, while the Crimson Flame Fox spat out another three fireballs. The blazing fireballs made even the temperature of the air shudder!

At the same time, everyone noticed that the Spirit Pattern on the Crimson Flame Fox's forehead seemed to have ignited! The clash of talisman spells gradually returned to calm, but while Ye Xingyu was not paying attention, Ye Jingcheng's Ironwood Vines had already wrapped around him.

The Ironwood Vines were dense and numerous. As they bound him, an Ice Seal Talisman bloomed beneath his feet.

Ye Xingyu had nowhere to dodge.

A massive fireball emerged above the Crimson Flame Fox's head! "I concede!" Ye Xingyu shook his head helplessly!

The Crimson Flame Fox was simply too terrifying. Its casting speed was faster than even Spirit Talismans, and its power was immense.

Combined with Ye Jingcheng's control, he might still have had a chance in varied terrain. But on an arena stage, it was useless.

The Crimson Flame Fox's Greater Fireball Spell blasted into the sky as well, turning into an incomparably huge fireball that exploded in the air, as though announcing the victor of this fiery feast.

"Ye Jingcheng wins!" Ye Xinghe nodded, confirming Ye Jingcheng's advancement!

He had directly advanced into the top six.

He would have a bye this round.

"Jingcheng, you hid yourself far too well!" Ye Jingli looked at Ye Jingcheng with considerable envy, though he also felt somewhat relieved.

Fortunately, Ye Jingcheng had a bye. Otherwise, he might not even have made it into the top six.

"Sixth Brother, you flatter me. The Crimson Flame Fox itself is formidable, and I also have the family to thank!" Ye Jingcheng waved his hands repeatedly as he spoke.

Ye Jingli remained half-convinced. He moved closer to Ye Jingcheng and transmitted his voice to him.

"Sixth Brother's Serpent Armor isn't bad, right? Sell Sixth Brother some more Spirit Feeding Pills, and Sixth Brother will arrange a set for your Crimson Flame Fox!" Ye Jingli spoke rather urgently.

Ye Jingcheng had long wanted to bring this up as well.

Although his Treasure Book could heal Monster Beast injuries, it could not save them from fatal wounds. It was also extremely necessary to fit the Crimson Flame Fox's neck with black iron armor.

"Then I'll trouble Sixth Brother!" Ye Jingcheng nodded.

This counted as confirming the transaction between him and Ye Jingli.

While the two were transmitting their voices, the matches onstage began once more. This time, there was no suspense. Ye Jingyong faced Ye Jingcheng, a Jing Generation clansman at Qi Training Stage 5.

The match ended quickly with Ye Jingyong's victory.

His Flying Dagger Dharma Artifact and Flying Cloud Leopard displayed their advantages to the fullest. Added to that was his Small Seal—ordinary Spirit Shields would shatter directly beneath a single strike from it.

In the end, Ye Xinghe had to intervene and catch Ye Jingyong's Small Seal. Otherwise, Ye Jingcheng's life would have been in danger.

Ye Jingcheng was not the slightest bit upset by his defeat. Being able to rank among the top ten already made him quite delighted.

Moreover, he had enjoyed this match. Having suffered the humiliation of the three families coming to their door to force them into submission, every Ye Family member now thought only of becoming stronger!

In their eyes, gaining something from the matches was what mattered most.

Ye Jingli soon went up again. His opponent was also at Qi Training Stage 6 and possessed an Azure Cloud Wolf Spirit Beast, with no lack of combat experience.

However, Ye Jingli ultimately still relied on the Azure Scale Python's Thorn Armor, launching a frenzied assault and winning with difficulty.

After all, the Azure Cloud Wolf did not dare attack recklessly, but the Azure Scale Python did.

The top six were soon decided as well. After they had been determined, Ye Xinghe had everyone rest for two hours to recover their spiritual energy.

As the one with a bye, Ye Jingcheng naturally had the advantage. He also looked toward the Qi Refining Late Stage arena.

There were only ten people in the Qi Refining Late Stage, yet every match was extremely intense.

Only Ye Jingteng crushed his opponents throughout. However, what puzzled Ye Jingcheng was that Ye Jingteng had not used a Spirit Beast.

He did not know whether Ye Jingteng simply had no need to use one, or whether he did not have one at all.

As the Ye Family's number one genius of the Jing Generation, Ye Jingcheng felt the latter possibility was unlikely.

This time, Ye Jingyu also brought out a new Spirit Beast. It was called the Golden Feathered Eagle, and it was at the First Rank Late Stage, equivalent to Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

The Golden Feathered Eagle was clearly an inherited Spirit Beast. Together with Ye Jingyu's Flying Cloud Leopard, few cultivators in the arena could compare. In the end, Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingteng, and three Xing Generation cultivators entered the top five of the Qi Refining Late Stage.

After watching all these matches, Ye Jingcheng had gained a great deal. Time passed quickly, and the sky was beginning to darken as dazzling Moonlight Stones lit up across the square.

The top-six matches of the mid-stage Qi Training cultivators were about to begin! Please support next Tuesday's Follow-up Reading.