The atmosphere in the arena suddenly froze.
The gray-robed steward's voice rang across the grounds: "Anyone who wishes to contend for the top three, step forward and register!"
Before his words had faded, a black-robed young man walked out.
His steps were steady, and his aura was as deep as an abyss and vast as the sea, as though he had no part in the arena's clamor.
"It's Yuwen Jie!" someone cried.
No one was surprised.
The top-ranked Outer Sect Disciple had long been recognized as a force at the pinnacle.
It would have been stranger if he had stayed back.
Next, a young man in dark robes gave a cold laugh and strode forward.
His gaze swept across the crowd like a blade, pausing for an instant on Su Yu. A mocking smile curled his lips.
"Lu Zi'ang is entering too!"
The crowd nodded. They had expected that as well.
After all, though Lu Zi'ang stood a shade below Yuwen Jie, his strength was just as unfathomable. No one doubted he could contend for the top three.
Just as everyone thought registration was about to close, a peaceful-looking young man in gray robes stepped out.
His expression was calm. He had neither Yuwen Jie's aloof pride nor Lu Zi'ang's sharp edge, but his aura was no weaker than theirs.
"Zhang Heng? He's entering too!"
Zhang Heng ranked third in the outer sect. Usually quiet and reserved, he rarely competed with anyone.
But today's rules left him no choice but to step forward.
If he did not fight, someone else might well take third place from him.
"Zhang Heng may not match those two, but his strength is nothing to scoff at," someone said quietly.
Just when everyone thought registration was over, a figure in white stepped forward.
"That's... Su Yu?!"
An uproar swept through the arena!
"He actually dares to contend for the top three?"
"He might have defeated Zou Lintian in an instant, but the top three are no joke!"
"Yuwen Jie, Lu Zi'ang, Zhang Heng—which of them isn't among the outer sect's finest? What makes him think he can compete?"
Voices rose on every side. Some marveled, some questioned him, and others sneered.
Su Yu was strong, but reaching the top three would be harder than climbing to heaven!
"If he fought for fourth or fifth, he might have a chance. But the top three... heh."
Su Yu remained calm in the face of their doubts. He simply walked to the registration desk and wrote his name on the roster.
Once Su Yu had registered, several disciples who had been itching to try gave up the idea entirely.
"The fight for the top three is too fierce. Better to aim for the top ten."
"Exactly. Yuwen Jie, Lu Zi'ang, and Zhang Heng have practically claimed the top three already. Su Yu is strong, but forcing his way in will be too hard."
"Why take the risk? The rewards for the top ten aren't bad either."
For a time, no one else stepped forward to register.
In the end, only four contenders entered the fight for the top three—Yuwen Jie, Lu Zi'ang, Zhang Heng, and Su Yu.
"The matches begin!" the steward announced loudly.
In the arena, the battles for fourth through tenth place were in full swing.
Though these bouts drew less attention than the fight for the top three, they were thrilling in their own right, showing everyone the true strength of the Yunlan Sect's Outer Sect Disciples.
The results largely matched expectations. Veteran disciples who had ranked in the outer sect's top twenty for years fought steadily, and several of the strongest held on to high placements.
Competition for the lower places was especially fierce, however, with upsets breaking out now and then.
The greatest surprise was the performance of the new disciple Su Yun.
The young man, who had usually kept a low profile, showed astonishing strength in the battle for tenth place.
His Blazing Sun Sword Style had reached Lesser Accomplishment. His sword strikes swept forward like Raging Fire Scorches the Wilderness, and he defeated three veteran disciples in succession.
Though he ultimately lost a narrow match to a senior fellow disciple who had been in the sect for nearly three years, his fierce sword moves and steady bearing had already won cheers from the entire arena.
The elders in the stands nodded repeatedly, appreciation in their eyes.
Even the ever-strict Elder Li Xun had to admit, "Besides Su Yu, this group of newcomers has another outstanding talent."
Watching below the stage, Su Yan and Su Mei felt their blood surge with excitement. But when they remembered that their sword arts had yet to reach Lesser Accomplishment, they restrained the urge to step onto the stage.
Yunxi kept glancing toward Su Yu, who stood quietly to one side. The white-clad young man had kept his eyes closed as he rested, and she looked forward all the more to the clash at the pinnacle that was to come.
A bell rang out to the heavens, and the arena fell silent in an instant.
"The first match of the second stage—Su Yu versus Lu Zi'ang!"
The announcement cracked like thunder, sending the stands into an uproar.
Countless disciples craned their necks, afraid to miss a single detail of this showdown between bitter rivals.
"Now this will be worth watching!"
"Senior Brother Lu has been nursing his anger for a whole month..."
Amid the noisy discussion, Su Yu's blue robes fluttered as he landed on the platform like a drifting cloud.
Across from him, Lu Zi'ang already stood with sword in hand. The meteor patterns embroidered in silver thread on his dark fighting clothes glittered in the sunlight.
"Newcomer, you'll pay for your arrogance that day." Lu Zi'ang's sword tip trembled, tracing cold points of starlight through the air.
Su Yu slowly drew his sword. "As I recall, I never went out of my way to provoke any of you."
"You're asking for death!"
Lu Zi'ang sprang forward, unleashing the Meteor Sword Style with all his strength.
A streak of silver light fell like a meteor. In the blink of an eye, it had pierced to within three inches of Su Yu's throat—the killing move, Meteor Chasing Moon!
In the stands, Elder Li Xun clapped his hands in admiration. "What a Meteor Chasing Moon! Lu Zi'ang's sword has grown even faster since last month!"
At the moment of utmost peril, Su Yu's sword strike abruptly changed.
Mountain Suppression!
The Azure Edge Sword seemed to grow immeasurably heavy in an instant, bearing down with the weight of a towering mountain.
Lu Zi'ang's Fast Sword struck as though it had collided with an invisible peak. Not only did his attack collapse, but the backlash drove him seven steps back and split the skin between his thumb and forefinger!
"That's..." Elder Lu Yue shot to his feet. "The Lone Peak Sword Art!"
Grand Elder Mo Yuan narrowed his eyes. "That impractical sword manual none of the Outer Sect Disciples can master?"
On the platform, Lu Zi'ang's expression shifted between dark and pale.
He shook out his numbed arm, then gave a sudden cold laugh. "Interesting."
Before his words had faded, his figure split into seven afterimages—Phantom Body!
Seven streaks of Sword Light stabbed at Su Yu from different angles, each thrust aimed at a vital point.
Yet Su Yu's figure grew just as elusive. He used Fleeting Light Shadow, dissolving every attack within that tiny space.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal rang against metal like rain striking banana leaves. In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than a dozen moves.
The longer they fought, the more alarmed Lu Zi'ang became.
Su Yu seemed able to predict his every move. The feeling of being seen through completely sent a chill down his spine.
Now! Lu Zi'ang suddenly changed his attack. In the instant before Su Yu's sword strike had fully spent its force, Lu Zi'ang slipped behind him like a ghost.
Star Burst!
His sword, wrapped in violent spiritual power, stabbed straight for Su Yu's back. The force of the strike made even the air explode!
Cries of alarm rose from the stands. Su Yan nearly rushed into the arena.
In that flash of lightning—
Soar to the Heavens!
Su Yu rose from the ground like a lone peak thrusting skyward, narrowly evading the fatal blow.
At the highest point, he suddenly reversed course. His sword blade came down at Lu Zi'ang's head with the force to split mountains and sever peaks!
Lu Zi'ang hastily raised his sword to block. With a sharp crack, the blade that had accompanied him for years snapped in two.
The remaining Sword Qi blasted him more than a hundred feet away, slamming him hard into the protective barrier.
The arena fell silent as a graveyard, then erupted in cries that shook the heavens.
A moment later, the referee elder announced in a trembling voice, "Su... Su Yu wins!"
At the edge of the arena, Zou Lintian's already pale face turned white as paper.
He gripped the railing of the stands so tightly that his knuckles turned blue-white.
The instant he saw Lu Zi'ang sent flying by a single sword strike, Zou Lintian looked as though lightning had struck him. His legs buckled, and he nearly dropped to his knees.
"How... how is this possible..." he murmured, his lips trembling, his voice barely louder than a mosquito's buzz.
In the stands, the teacup had already fallen from Elder Lu Yue's hand, though he had not noticed.
He muttered, "The third move of the Lone Peak Sword Art... He actually mastered it..."
Grand Elder Mo Yuan's long beard stirred without a breeze, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes. "With that boy's comprehension, I fear few in the inner sect could surpass him."
At the center of the platform, Su Yu sheathed his sword.
Sunlight gilded him in gold. His upright figure truly resembled a lone peak, standing proud between heaven and earth.
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