The atmosphere at the center of the Martial Arena was somewhat silent, and the outer sect disciples below who had the strength to challenge the top ten but considered themselves unlucky were eyeing the top ten contestants on the platform.
To be precise, they were looking at the three Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer disciples and one Lu Yi.
The three Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer outer sect disciples standing on the platform had cold expressions, their gazes sweeping over the restless fellow disciples below, emanating an aura intending to make those guys think twice about the consequences of choosing to challenge them.
As for Lu Yi, he didn't emit any aura at all, looking like a harmless little white rabbit.
At this moment, Mo Lingxi stepped forward first and said, "Yu Ming, I want to challenge you!"
Yu Ming, a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer disciple with thick eyebrows and ordinary looks, frowned at Mo Lingxi, "Mo Lingxi, are you sure you want to challenge me?! Do you think I'm the weakest?!"
Mo Lingxi grinned and said, "I can't help it, I feel I'm still a bit lacking compared to Tian Lu and Lin Yu. Junior Brother Lu Yi...hey, I already lost to Junior Brother Lu Yi just now, and I believe Junior Brother Lu Yi is a bit stronger than Tian Lu and Lin Yu... You're the only one I think I have a chance against."
Hearing this, many people's expressions changed slightly, looking towards Lu Yi.
"What?! Mo Lingxi just lost to Junior Brother Lu Yi?!"
"Is it true? Junior Brother Lu Yi's strength is that strong?"
"Don't you know? Junior Brother Lu Yi and Senior Brother Mo Lingxi were fighting for a top ten spot on Platform 9. Junior Brother Lu Yi's strength is incredibly strong, that White Cloud Sword Technique really opened my eyes."
"Didn't know, we were at Platform 4, which is just over the Central Platform from Platform 9, so we didn't pay attention."
"Then you missed a good show. I think Junior Brother Lu Yi is stronger than Senior Sister Tian Lu and Senior Brother Lin Yu."
"Hiss..."
Everyone gasped, and those disciples who had originally been eager to challenge looked at Lu Yi with caution, quickly turning their gaze away.
If that's the case, it seems they'll have to challenge someone else.
Lu Yi felt everyone's gaze and felt numb all over.
He looked at Mo Lingxi and those disciples below who were talking, feeling quite desperate. What grudge do I have against you?!
He had hoped to earn some Perfect-Grade Qi Condensation Elixirs, but now?!
Why are you making me seem so powerful???
I'm actually very weak!
Lu Yi saw the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer disciples avert their gaze and felt disheartened.
Yu Ming, hearing Mo Lingxi and the disciples below, had a change of expression, glanced at Lu Yi, and bit his lip, huffing coldly at Mo Lingxi, "Then let's try! I'm not easy to mess with either!"
Dugu Fang saw this and laughed, "Since that's the case, then go ahead and challenge."
The top ten challenge was held on the Central Platform, with Lu Yi and others stepping down. Dugu Fang floated in the air, personally acting as the referee, while Mo Lingxi and Yu Ming ascended the platform.
Below the platform, Lu Yi's expression was numb and devoid of passion, feeling like a joke.
If he had known earlier, he would have given Mo Lingxi a harder time. This bastard exaggerated his abilities so much; if no one comes to challenge him, it's all Mo Lingxi's fault!
Then Lu Yi thought, if he had really gone all out, others might be even more afraid to challenge him.
Thinking of this, Lu Yi felt even more dejected.
Beside him, Lin Wan'er giggled at Lu Yi, saying, "Junior Brother Lu Yi, I didn't know you were that strong?"
Lu Yi snapped out of his thoughts and saw several Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer disciples eyeing him. He smiled shyly, "Senior Brother Mo Lingxi exaggerated. I'm just average."
Jiang Fan, standing next to him, chuckled, "Junior Brother Lu, no need to be humble. I've seen your strength myself; your White Cloud Sword Technique is probably close to its limit, right?"
Hearing this, everyone else's expressions changed, looking at Lu Yi with more surprise.
"Cultivated basic arts to their limit?" The cold young man with double blades looked at Lu Yi, eyes glittering with the desire to fight, "Interesting. Looking forward to facing you in tomorrow's top ten ranking battle."
The expressions of other Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer disciples also became more serious as they looked at Lu Yi.
Seeing their expressions, Lu Yi felt a bit more relaxed. Although he lost the chance to spar with the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer seniors, tomorrow's top ten ranking battle would undoubtedly involve some fights, and there would definitely be some rewards, right?
Thinking of this, Lu Yi's mood improved.
He cheerfully said, "Senior Brother Jiang Fan, you're too kind. In tomorrow's ranking battle, I hope you all will go easy on me."
As they spoke, the battle on the platform had already begun.
Lu Yi was familiar with Mo Lingxi's strength; he was top-tier in the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, but Yu Ming's strength was equally formidable.
Watching the battle, Lu Yi realized that Yu Ming had also cultivated his arts to the Transformation stage. The most notable advantage was Yu Ming's long saber, a Low Grade magic tool, something Mo Lingxi lacked.
Their fight was intense, and Yu Ming finally won by leveraging his magic artifact.
Mo Lingxi was somewhat unwilling but had no choice.
After Yu Ming and Mo Lingxi's fight, more challenges followed, but thanks to Mo Lingxi's previous statements, all challengers avoided Lu Yi.
Perhaps Yu Ming was the weakest among the three Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer disciples, and he faced the most challenges. Eventually, an outer sect disciple wielding dual swords defeated Yu Ming, becoming the new top ten.
Lu Yi knew this dual-sworded disciple, Wan Hua, who was a notable talent formerly at the forefront of the outer sect.
Yu Ming, comparatively weaker, made it to the top ten through both strength and luck.
Unfortunately, he ended up losing to Wan Hua, making way for another.
After Wan Hua's challenge, no one else continued, solidifying the top ten.
By this time, it was already evening, marking the end of the day's contests. Tomorrow was the last and most crucial day of the grand competition.
The top ten ranking would be decided.
Although the final challenge matches had some surprises, Lu Yi still managed to receive five Perfect-Grade Qi Condensation Elixirs, which was a good harvest, making him quite happy.
Dugu Fang, as usual, announced the end of the day's grand competition. Everyone dispersed, and Lu Yi didn't follow Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi back but went home by himself.
......
Early the next morning.
Almost all outer sect disciples, stewards, and elders woke up early and went to the Martial Arena.
Lu Yi was no exception. Upon arriving at the Martial Arena, he found more people floating in the sky than before.
Lu Yi understood that some were elders from the Inner Sect who had come to observe.
After all, the top ten disciples could enter the Inner Sect without examination and could be considered Inner Sect disciples. Some Inner Sect elders would come to evaluate these disciples' strengths, and if pleased, they might even approach and take them as disciples.
Of course, the elders who came to observe the outer sect assessment were just ordinary elders. The powerful elders and Peak Masters wouldn't bother to come.
No matter how talented outer sect disciples were, only a few could truly excel in the Inner Sect, as Inner Sect disciples were usually promoted from the outer sect, where everyone was a genius.
Some were even brought back by important figures from outside and cultivated from a young age, having extraordinary talents.
To those elders, the outer sect's top ten competition was trivial. Only after entering the Inner Sect and displaying extraordinary talent would these prominent figures pay attention.