Spar

But... is it impossible, so why not challenge?

Regardless of whether it can be done, one must at least fight before saying anything.

Trying is always better than giving up outright.

Number Ninety-Nine had no reason to concede directly either, so he stepped onto the stage.

After the referee announced the start of the duel, the two immediately began to fight.

Chen Xuan also watched the challenge patiently from below the stage.

The strength of these two was not particularly strong.

However, both Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms and Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping had reached proficiency.

Being able to enter the top hundred certainly meant they were not simple.

The two were evenly matched in strength.

As time passed, Number One Hundred failed the challenge.

Next, Number Ninety-Nine challenged Number Ninety-Eight.

Number Ninety-Eight challenged Number Ninety-Seven, and the matches proceeded in order.

Yet, almost every time, the challenge ended in failure.

Only in a few instances did someone succeed.

The grand formation of the White Jade Staircase was still very powerful, almost entirely capable of determining the level of their strength.

However, the outcome of a duel sometimes does not depend on that slight difference in strength.

Thus, there were still those who could succeed in their challenges.

Match after match concluded.

Soon, it reached the fourth-place challenger against the third-place holder.

This could be considered the most anticipated match.

After all, the reward for third place was a spiritual object, while fourth place only received a Spirit Sea Pill.

Third place was Li Junmo.

Fourth place was a disciple of Jade Firmament named Wang Yu.

After the two stepped onto the stage.

Wang Yu looked at Li Junmo and said, "Brother Li, no offense."

"Junior Brother Wang, make your move."

Li Junmo and Wang Yu stood opposite each other, both of their expressions extremely serious.

Around the dueling stage, the watching disciples also quieted down, watching the stage intently.

The moment the referee's voice announcing the start fell, the two moved almost simultaneously.

Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping!

Two figures instantly blurred, leaving several afterimages on the dueling stage.

Both of their speeds were extremely fast, making it difficult to track their forms.

The air was stirred by their high-speed movement techniques, creating a faint whistling sound.

"So fast!"

A disciple below the stage could not help but exclaim.

"Both of their Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping have reached minor accomplishment; their speeds are almost neck and neck."

Before the words had even faded, Li Junmo had already changed his move first.

His figure suddenly paused, his hands formed seals, and clouds instantly permeated his surroundings.

Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms!

He was seen as the clouds around him rapidly condensed, transforming into dozens of tiny flying needles of cloud energy, each one seemingly glinting with cold light, shooting toward Wang Yu like a rainstorm.

The coverage of the flying needles was vast, almost sealing off all of Wang Yu's room for evasion.

Seeing this, Wang Yu's pupils constricted, but his reaction was not slow in the slightest.

He also unleashed Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms, and cloud energy rapidly gathered in front of him, condensing into a thick shield of cloud energy.

Ding ding ding ding!

A dense sound of impacts rang out as the cloud energy needles struck the cloud shield like raindrops.

The cloud shield trembled violently, ripples spreading across its surface, showing signs of barely being able to hold on.

Li Junmo's Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms had actually reached great accomplishment!

Soon, cracks rapidly appeared on the cloud shield under the dense barrage. Wang Yu's expression tightened, and he attempted to change moves to counterattack, but it was already too late.

Li Junmo's spiritual power surged, and the cloud needles shattered the shield instantly.

The moment the shield broke, he moved again, combining Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping with a long sword formed from cloud energy to strike directly at Wang Yu's face.

Wang Yu barely managed to dodge to the side, but Li Junmo's sword momentum shifted abruptly, the cloud sword transforming into several chains that instantly bound Wang Yu's limbs.

Wang Yu struggled in vain as Li Junmo closed the distance, turning his Floating Cloud Sword to tap the hilt lightly against his opponent's chest.

"Brother Wang, I concede the advantage."

A smile appeared on Li Junmo's face.

Finally... there were no surprises this time.

Even if he didn't beat the number two seed in the end, he was guaranteed a top-three finish.

Wang Yu offered a wry smile at the sight.

"Brother Li, impressive. I didn't expect your Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms to have reached Great Completion; I don't feel wronged by this loss."

A difference of one step, a world of difference.

He felt a pang of reluctance, already contemplating waiting another three years to participate in the next Outer Sect Grand Competition.

Seeing this, the referee immediately declared the match over, with Li Junmo as the victor.

Chen Xuan watched their duel and noticed that, gradually, fewer and fewer people were using the Floating Cloud Sword.

He understood why.

The Floating Cloud Sword was only a mid-grade magical artifact; if one's mastery of Daoist arts was insufficient, using the sword could still be helpful.

But if one's mastery of Daoist arts was profound enough, using the Floating Cloud Sword was inferior to simply casting the arts directly.

Simply put, the Floating Cloud Sword was too mediocre; if they could use top-grade artifacts, they wouldn't rely on Daoist arts so exclusively.

On the dueling platform, the referee looked at Li Junmo and asked, "Do you wish to challenge the number two seed?"

Li Junmo nodded.

The second-ranked disciple stepped onto the stage; his name was Lu Lingxiao, a disciple of the Divine Firmament.

Lu Lingxiao possessed an air of cold detachment.

"Senior Brother Li, please."

Lu Lingxiao gestured for him to begin.

Lu Lingxiao's talent was comparable to Li Junmo's, but his comprehension was even stronger.

He had entered the sect three and a half years ago, and during the last Outer Sect Grand Competition, he had only been there for six months, missing his chance to participate.

This was his first time competing, and he had already secured second place in the second round.

The two were well-acquainted, and Li Junmo knew Lu Lingxiao's strength all too well.

Lu Lingxiao's Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms and Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping had both reached Great Completion. He had even placed in the top three of the Floating Cloud Trial and mastered a top-tier Daoist art, which he had also brought to Great Completion.

Li Junmo had only placed fourth in the Floating Cloud Trial, forcing him to choose a high-grade Daoist art, which he had also mastered to Great Completion.

Yet, there was still a significant gap between him and Lu Lingxiao.

They had sparred privately many times, and Lu Lingxiao had won every single one.

"Junior Brother Lu, even though I know it is difficult to defeat you, I must still try."

A fierce fighting spirit welled up within Li Junmo.

The referee ignored them and announced, "Begin!"

Li Junmo unleashed Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms, repeating his previous tactic as countless cloud needles shot toward Lu Lingxiao.

Facing Li Junmo's assault, Lu Lingxiao's expression remained calm.

He did not strike first, waiting until Li Junmo activated Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms and the cloud energy transformed into dozens of flying needles before he moved.

Executing Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping, Lu Lingxiao's figure seemed to turn into a wisp of light smoke, weaving nimbly through the gaps between the needles.

His movement technique was incredibly elegant and agile; despite the needles being as dense as rain, not a single one could touch the hem of his robes.

"The Great Completion of Flowing Cloud Moon-Stepping is truly extraordinary."

Seeing this, Li Junmo felt a chill in his heart and changed his hand seals.

The cloud needles suddenly converged, forming a massive long sword of cloud energy that descended toward Lu Lingxiao.

The strike was heavy and powerful, accompanied by a whistling wind.

Lu Lingxiao finally made his move.

He gripped the air with his right hand, and Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms responded to his will. The surrounding cloud energy condensed instantly—not into a shield for defense, but into a long sword of cloud energy of his own, the blade more solid and shimmering with faint light.

The two swords clashed in mid-air!

"Clang!"

A crisp sound of impact rang out, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

Li Junmo's cloud sword trembled violently, while Lu Lingxiao's cloud sword remained as steady as a mountain.

Although both had reached Great Completion in Flowing Cloud Myriad Forms, there was still a disparity.

Immediately following, Lu Lingxiao shifted his sword momentum, and his cloud sword split into three, stabbing toward Li Junmo from three treacherous angles.