The Paladin Haven was led by Grace and one thing they shared in common was the lightweight golden armour, that could protect them from fatal attacks when the time comes. With just a glance, one could see the confident demeanour from these young paladins, that have brandished their weapons on the platform.
The Iniquity Sect, on the other hand, had stepped onto the platform with their weapons thirsting for blood. These psychopaths were licking their lips in a wicked manner that garnered disgust. Immorality was a part of them, but because the Iniquity Sect knew their limits and never harmed the innocent, the cultivation world closed one eye to their behaviour.
"The battle begins now!" The Announcer said as he backed off from the stage immediately. Spirit energy was gathered around his palm, just so that he could react to any unexpected situation that arose.
The Iniquity Sect wasn't one to care about moral values and the moment the battle started, the seven of them had already gotten into formation and advanced towards the Paladin Haven's team.
The member of the Iniquity Sect that was holding an iron spike whip lashed it towards the Paladin Haven's team mercilessly, the lash was swift and ferocious and even though it missed its target, he had fulfilled his goal of disrupting them from getting into formation.
They've underestimated us, Grace smirked to herself. Spirit energy was infused into her sword that was glowing golden, with the increasing spiritual energy.
The members of the Paladin Haven got into their positions, surrounding the disciples of the Iniquity Sect as spiritual energy gathered into their individual weapons, drawing up a vortex that was going to collapse on the disciples of the Iniquity Sect.
All Elite Paladins of the Paladin Haven were making their move at the same time and by the time the Iniquity Sect reacted to this, they had already lost the advantage and were forced to defend passively, but what could they do against the flurry of attacks that pincered them in the middle?
*Boom*
Six of the seven disciples crashed against the ground and even though their injuries weren't severe, they had already lost their combat strength. The strongest disciple of the Iniquity Sect was the only one left standing as he sighed and said, "The Iniquity Sect surrenders."
The top disciple of the Iniquity Sect then left the stage with his juniors without turning back, their heads lowered when they approached their sect masters with the top disciple speaking up for them, "I'm sorry sect master, but the Paladin Haven was just stronger than us."
The Iniquity Sect Master looked at the disciple he was proudest of in the sect and gave him a pat on the shoulder and an affirmative gaze, "It's fine, I know you tried your best."
Ace and the other sect masters saw this, but none of them approached them to comfort them. Firstly, there weren't close enough to be considered friends. Secondly, this was the reality of the cultivation world. The weak lost to the strong, there was nothing wrong with this.
The next battle was between the Absolute Sword Sect and the Crouching Tiger Sect. The difference between their top disciples was more than just vast, which already sealed the results of the battle from the beginning. As for the strength of their disciples on average, the Absolute Sword Sect crushed the Crouching Tiger Sect as well, the difference between the two sects were just too enormous.
The next battle was between the Hexagram Sect and the Floating Cloud Sect and after a gruelling battle that lasted for half an hour at the very least, the Hexagram Sect came up on top with the difference of half a move between their strongest disciples.
The Hexagram Sect was glad that they made it into the top five, but they knew for sure that this was as far as they would go.
The Hexagram Sect Master then stepped up and said, "The Hexagram Sect will be withdrawing from the Annual Cultivation Forces Tournament with our current placing. I believe that the Nirvana Sect, the Absolute Sword Sect, the Moonlight Cult and the Paladin Haven are the most qualified to contend for the top four."
Ace and the other sect masters then turned towards the Announcer who then asked everyone else, "What do the other sect masters think about this?"
The other cultivation forces leaders and their disciples that have already been eliminated nodded their head in approval considering the vast difference in strength between the top eight and the top four. The top eight cultivation forces were of a totally different calibre compared to the other cultivation forces.
But the difference between the top four cultivation forces and the top eight cultivation forces right now was unfair, to begin with. In fact, it was impossible to even see the difference between them because it was already out of sight,
"Very well, the semi-finals shall take place right now. Are the four cultivation forces fine with this decision?" The Announcer decided even though the semi-finals was supposed to take place tomorrow based on the initial schedule drawn up.
"I have no problems with it." Ace was the first to express his opinion.
"The Paladin Haven shares the same opinion as to the Nirvana Sect Master." Malene stepped out and agreed on the behalf of the Legacy Paladin, who she had just contacted before this.
"The Absolute Sword Sect is fine with this as well." The Absolute Sword Sect Master agreed as well, leaving the Moonlight Cult Master the last to express his stand.
"The Moonlight Cult is fine with this, but only if one disciple from any of the other three cultivation forces are able to defeat Gusion, who's the weakest and youngest of my seven disciples." The Moonlight Cult Master demanded as Gusion jumped onto the combat platform elegantly.
"Sora, Lancelot, Alexander and Grace, only the four of you stand a chance against me. Of course, anyone else who wants to test the waters can attempt to challenge me first, but if you perish under thirty percent of my strength even after I hold back, then you can only blame yourself for your foolishness."
Gusion declared arrogantly, releasing the cultivation aura of a Martial Lord Seventh Realm.
"The three of you are younger than me, save your strength for the upcoming battles, I'll handle this fly by myself," Sora said towards Lancelot, Alexander and Grace as he stepped onto the stage and brandished his sword.
His cultivation aura was of the Martial Lord Sixth Realm, but to everyone else present, Sora's cultivation aura was completely superior to Gusion.
"This is thirty percent of my strength," Sora said coldly as he slashed towards the empty space in front of him. The slash was slow and even the disciples of those cultivation forces below the platform were able to trace the trajectory of this sword.
Sora then turned around and leapt off the platform, leaving only the top sect masters that claimed a throne for themselves capable of understanding the situation.
The others looked in confusion, but when they reacted, they realised that an explosive force had formed in the empty space that Gusion was standing on just a moment ago. Everyone present wasn't a fool and they knew what this meant, Sora had just shown strength that exceeded what they could comprehend, it was as simple as that, but one had to know, Sora was only twenty years old.
The next moment, Gusion was sent flying towards the Moonlight Cult disciples who caught him.
The Moonlight Cult Master looked at his situation calmly and stood up, "Absolute Sword Sect Master, you have raised a good disciple," he commented.
"Thank you for the compliment." The Absolute Sword Master returned, the bland conversation between the two sparking the start of bad blood between the two cultivation forces.
Sora's sword wasn't slow or weak, it was because the sword incorporated the law of slowness to the law of extreme speed, resulting in it appearing slow to the opponent, even though it was actually only an instant by the time the slash of his defeats his opponent.
"I have underestimated Sora, he was someone who's going to be my lifetime rival…" Ace murmured to himself, relieved that he wasn't going to be alone when he stood at the top one day.
"Since this is the case, the Absolute Sword Sect shall go up against the Moonlight Cult first," the Announcer decided as the two teams stepped onto the platform.. A battle that was going to open the eyes of these cultivators below the platform was going to take place.
One was a team that was led by Sora, whose strength was comparable to the first ladder geniuses of the Divine Realm.
One was a team that was led by a Cult Master from the Divine Realm, who led his seven personal disciples to the Fragmented Cultivation World with a clone of his to lead them.
"Come at me with all you've got!" Sora taunted as he brandished his sword and sheathed it.