Champion

On the fourth day of the Sect Minor Competition, Fang Xiao arrived at the plaza early. It was still packed with a surging sea of people.

Because yesterday's group battles had been too fierce, some disciples had won their matches only to suffer grievous injuries, while others had left the Dueling Platform with both sides badly hurt. Of the original 120 competitors, only forty-seven disciples had come to fight today. As for how the missing three would be filled in, Fang Xiao could not care less.

Next, the Outer Court arranged the forty-seven contestants. It was still head-to-head matches: forty-six down to twenty-three, with one receiving a bye; then twenty-four down to twelve, twelve down to six, six down to three, and finally a round-robin battle among the three.

Fang Xiao remembered the betting matter. He immediately found Fatty Han, took out one thousand Spirit Stones, and had him place a bet for him. He also checked his odds. Based on them, if he took the championship, he would receive nearly thirty thousand Spirit Stones. That was an enormous sum. He had to show a bit of his strength.

It was still the drawing-lots stage. He infused the token with spiritual power and checked his number.

"Bye."

Fang Xiao had not expected such luck. Though he had absolute confidence in his own strength, having no opponent meant skipping a round, and his potential earnings would drop by more than ten thousand Spirit Stones. His heart suddenly ached. Why did he have to get a bye?

With the facts already set, he did not dwell on it. After calming himself, he used the spare time to observe whether there were any opponents worth taking seriously.

Among the many disciples present, several dozen had reached the Qi Refining Late Stage. Yet only two of them were worth Fang Xiao paying even slight attention to. He took out a Jade Slip and looked over their information.

Ye Qingqing

Spirit Root: Water-Earth Dual Spirit Root

Cultivation Art: Azure Water True Art

Realm: Qi Refining Sixth Layer

Techniques: Water Snake Technique, Water Spirit Shield

Magic Tools: Top-grade magic tool Azure Wave Sword, High-grade magic tool Crystal Shield, High-grade magic tool Water Control Robe

Li Daozhen

Spirit Root: Gold-Fire Dual Spirit Root

Physique: Three Yang Spirit Physique

Cultivation Art: Blazing Sun True Art

Realm: Qi Refining Sixth Layer

Techniques: Firebird Technique, Fire Snake Technique, Fire Whip Technique, Fire Wall Technique, Flame Rocket, Explosive Flame Bullet

Magic Tools: Top-grade magic tool True Yang Furnace, High-grade magic tool Heart Protecting Mirror

Fang Xiao knew full well that although these Dual Spirit Root disciples had not entered the Inner Court, they had already caught the sect's eye. The cultivation arts they practiced were all top-tier inheritances of the sect, ensuring they would not take a winding road when choosing cultivation arts.

The Azure Water True Art cultivated by Ye Qingqing was a simplified cultivation art of the Azure Sea Blue Sky True Skill, one of the sect's thirteen foundational arts. It cultivated both cultivation art and swordsmanship. In particular, the Golden Core Stage divine ability Sea Calm River Clear was renowned throughout the Cultivation World for its formidable defensive power.

Her techniques were ordinary, but her swordsmanship was astonishing. The Wave Listening Sword Art she cultivated drew upon the momentum of rushing waves. Unless one crushed it head-on, each wave would be stronger than the last, unceasing and endless, until it suppressed the opponent to the point where they could no longer resist.

Her astonishing swordsmanship was only relative, however. Her Sword Dao Realm was still at the first level, Practicing Sword to Form Qi, far behind his own. Defeating her would not be difficult. Fang Xiao had great confidence in his offensive power. He simply would not give her the chance to build momentum and would end the battle quickly.

Looking at Li Daozhen's information, his cultivation art was likewise a simplified version of one of the sect's thirteen foundational arts—the Great Sun Golden Crow Profound Art. It possessed the might to burn the heavens and boil the seas. If he could cultivate the Golden Crow True Form in the Nascent Soul Realm, his chance of breaking through to Spirit Transformation would increase by ten to twenty percent.

Moreover, this man was highly gifted in techniques, likely due to his special physique. He excelled in numerous fire-element techniques, and paired with the Top-grade magic tool True Yang Furnace, their power was even more astonishing.

The three of them had all entered the sect in the same batch and had cultivated for roughly the same amount of time. It proved that those blessed with extraordinary talent could not be hidden away. Wherever they went, they were the most dazzling.

Based on the odds, Fatty Han and the others judged that Fang Xiao could defeat Ye Qingqing, but that he did not have much chance of winning against Li Daozhen.

As the number of contestants dwindled, the pace of the battles gradually quickened. Today, the top three would definitely be decided.

Before long, Fang Xiao's bye round ended. In the next three rounds, he finally took the stage as he wished. Yet of his three opponents, two had already been severely injured, while the last was mediocre in strength. Once they stepped onto the stage, none had the power to fight back against him, and they surrendered early.

These people could be considered elites among the sect disciples, but unfortunately, they had encountered Fang Xiao. Their strength simply was not on the same level as his.

Thus, he smoothly advanced into the top three. As expected, the other two opponents were Ye Qingqing and Li Daozhen. The three of them would determine victory and defeat on the final day of the Sect Minor Competition.

On the final day, since Fang Xiao had received a bye in one round, the three matches were arranged in the first two slots for fairness. He would fight Ye Qingqing first, then Li Daozhen. This arrangement suited him perfectly.

The two stepped onto the stage and announced their names. Both slapped their Storage Bags and sent out their flying swords.

Ye Qingqing understood where her advantage lay. As she raised her flying sword, she also sent out the Crystal Shield in a defensive stance. Then, using the Wave Listening Sword Art, she began building momentum. As her sword art moved, rippling blue patterns like rolling waves formed around her body, and the faint sound of crashing surf reached the ears of everyone present.

Seeing this, Fang Xiao could not be bothered to circle around her. He poured spiritual power into his flying swords. The twin swords flew together, and with his Sword Dao Realm of Practicing Qi to Transform Qi, the Sword Qi condensed upon their blades was nearly tangible. One crimson and one silver, they became two streams of light that tore through the sky and reached Ye Qingqing in an instant.

The blue ripples around Ye Qingqing rose and flowed. Whether against magic tools or techniques, these ripples possessed the marvelous effect of deflecting attacks and dispersing their force. Wave upon wave stacked together; if they could not be broken through, one could only follow the sword momentum and drift with the waves in the end.

The instant the twin swords touched the blue ripples, their sword momentum collapsed at first contact. Crimson and silver followed one after the other. One sword cleaved apart the Crystal Shield, while the other had already stopped before Ye Qingqing's brow.

Silence fell beneath the stage. Ye Qingqing's chances of victory had indeed been low, but she was still quite formidable. No one had expected her to lose so quickly. It was truly hard to believe.

"How is that possible? That's Practicing Qi to Transform Qi. Even among Qi Refining Late Stage Sword Cultivators, very few can grasp it."

Ye Qingqing's beautiful eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Want to learn it? If you want to learn, I'll teach you."

Fang Xiao deliberately teased Ye Qingqing, then turned his gaze toward Li Daozhen. Their eyes met, and battle intent surged in both of them. He had barely expended any spiritual power in the last battle, so he had no intention of wasting time.

"Come up, Li Daozhen. Let's finish this early. Don't delay my return to cultivation."

"As you wish."

Li Daozhen leaped onto the stage.

Fang Xiao completely unleashed his sword momentum. The air around him filled with a grim, murderous chill. Even the wind began to sharpen, like the sound of sword cries striking the heartstrings of the spectators.

On the other side of the Dueling Platform, the air around Li Daozhen also began to heat up. His entire body resembled spiritual flames that burst without end—surging and violent. The disciples standing on Li Daozhen's side all felt their mouths grow dry and their tongues parched.

Before either had moved, their auras had already begun to clash. Beneath the Dueling Platform, it was exceptionally quiet, with only the sounds of sword cries and heat waves intertwining.

The two moved at the same time, as if by mutual understanding. Fang Xiao unleashed all his spiritual power. The twin swords hovering above his head flashed with spiritual light, and the spiritual power within his body flooded into them like water released from a dam. Sword Qi shot forth like a great crimson-and-silver torrent, vast and mighty as it surged toward his opponent.

Seeing this, Li Daozhen continuously formed hand seals. The True Yang Furnace above him began to enlarge, flames rising within it. Firebirds, fire snakes—every technique Li Daozhen was proficient in could be seen inside. Then, all manner of fire-element techniques within the furnace poured into the sea of flames. The furnace tilted, and the fiery sea came crashing down like a waterfall.

Sword Qi and flames finally met. The two torrents collided, splashing countless waves of sword-fire. They crushed against each other but failed to cancel one another out. Instead, they crossed past each other at the same time and struck at the two men behind them.

The Spirit Bewildering Bell in Fang Xiao's hand instantly enlarged, blocking the crimson sea of flames before him. The bell rang, and explosions sounded without end, yet Fang Xiao within the bell was not harmed in the slightest.

Looking at Li Daozhen, the True Yang Furnace above his head descended. The river of Sword Qi poured into the furnace. This furnace was actually a magic tool that combined offense and defense. The Sword Qi inside struck the furnace walls, producing piercing explosions, yet it left not a single mark. The cries of the swords gradually weakened within the True Yang Furnace until they vanished.

Dong.

Seeing this, Fang Xiao planned to use the Spirit Bewildering Bell's Mind Attack to secure victory. The bell's chime spread outward. Li Daozhen's body swayed, yet he remained conscious. Fang Xiao immediately understood: his opponent's High-grade magic tool Heart Protecting Mirror protected his mind. Still, it was only a High-grade magic tool, and the Spirit Bewildering Bell had nevertheless made him suffer a small loss.

Li Daozhen already knew why Lei Ming had been defeated. He had long been prepared for Fang Xiao's Mind Attack, but it still affected him. He immediately circulated his cultivation art to remove the aftereffects, realizing that he could not win without using his trump card. He promptly activated the secret art of the Blazing Sun True Art.

Radiance and flames slowly rose around him. His entire person became solemn and majestic, like a fire god descending into the world. Then he extended both hands and pressed them against the True Yang Furnace. Within the furnace, a wisp of flame was born. Even the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator overseeing the match was startled. It carried a trace of True Fire. One had to know that only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators could produce True Fire in their Dantian. Yet the simplified cultivation art of the Great Sun Golden Crow Profound Art possessed such an extraordinary effect.

The crimson-gold flames within the True Yang Furnace gradually took shape. Li Daozhen did not employ any other transformation. He simply fired them at Fang Xiao in the form of a Fireball Technique.

Fang Xiao sensed that something was amiss. He had not expected his opponent to be hiding a trump card. He did not dare be careless and hastily sent out his crimson High-grade Flying Sword, empowering it with the Sword Nurturing Gourd, and shot it toward the flames. The moment the two met, the disturbance was tiny, yet both attacks had nearly broken through the limits of Qi Refining. After struggling against each other for a time, the crimson-gold fireball was successfully scattered. However, Fang Xiao's High-grade Flying Sword was directly vaporized by the fireball's intense heat.

Li Daozhen did not hesitate upon seeing this. He pressed both hands against the furnace again, and another crimson-gold flame appeared.

Fang Xiao's expression changed. Up until now, aside from that earlier strike, Fang Xiao had never used the Sword Nurturing Gourd to empower his weapons during the Sect Minor Competition. Even if he used it now, though, the power of his attack would only equal that of his opponent's technique. Yet the material of his magic tools could not withstand the scorching of that crimson-gold flame. If this continued, all his magic tools would be destroyed.

At this point, the Light Condensing Mirror was his only chance. He no longer hesitated. Before the radiance and flames inside the furnace could fully form, Fang Xiao directly sent out the Light Condensing Mirror. Green mirror light shot straight at Li Daozhen. After being struck by the Light Condensing Mirror's spiritual light, Li Daozhen's body and magic power were temporarily frozen, and the radiance and flames inside the furnace slowly dissipated. He absolutely could not be given a chance to break free. The Silver Edge Sword transformed into silver light and shot toward him.

As expected, the sword blade was held under control. Li Daozhen, having broken free from the Light Condensing Mirror, revealed a look of disappointment and dejection.

"You let me win."

Thus, the Sect Minor Competition came to an end. Champion—Fang Xiao.