"He's actually facing Liu Yeye!"
The Institute Master, Gong Yuan, and the others could not help looking grave when they saw the matchup.
Liu Yeye of Luoqiu Academy had reached the ninth transformation. She had made it to the finals last year, only to suffer a narrow defeat at the hands of the previous Tournament Champion.
Rumor had it, however, that she had already possessed a champion's strength then. She had voluntarily yielded because her will to fight had fallen short of her opponent's.
Her primary Spirit Creature was the mid-grade Iron Chain Vine. Her Azure Sky Subduing Dragon Chain combined offense and defense flawlessly, making her virtually invincible among those of the same cultivation level.
Even tenth-transformation experts like the Institute Master and Gong Yuan only held an advantage through their higher cultivation and deeper foundations. Had they faced her back when they were at the ninth transformation, they would have been far from her match.
Now, after another year of tempering, her cultivation had become more refined and complete, and her strength had grown as well. Long before the Sect Grand Tournament, many had predicted that she had the makings of a Tournament Champion. Whoever encountered her could consider their journey through this tournament at an end.
"This makes things difficult. Qianyuan as he is now, I fear..."
The Institute Master's expression darkened, and he did not finish.
"I fear he's no match for her!"
Gong Yuan sighed and reluctantly spelled it out.
"There's no need to be so dejected. Aren't you just bolstering someone else's spirit while crushing our own?" The elder from Heavenly Workshop Hall was more philosophical as he spoke to them.
The Institute Master and Gong Yuan exchanged glances and smiled wryly. "We've become too fixated on appearances. Qianyuan has already reached the top