Tie Man, who was on the stage, had a stiff expression on his face, still bearing a look of shock. After making eye contact with Lu Yi for a moment, he grinned and said, "Returning True Realm's White Cloud Stance?"
"Yes." Lu Yi nodded with a smile and retracted his long sword.
Tie Man scratched his head and cupped his hands towards Lu Yi. "I admit defeat, Junior Brother Lu Yi. You're incredible. I lost."
With that, Tie Man jumped off the stage and began regulating his breath. The top ten competition was not just a single match; losing this one meant no chance for the top five, but he still had to fight for the remaining spots. If he didn't recover now, his condition would worsen later.
Lu Yi also jumped off the stage. Seeing Jiang Fan and the others looking at him, Lu Yi gave a shy smile. "Senior brothers and sisters, what's up?"
Bai Yulong coughed lightly, shaking the folding fan in his hand, and asked, "Junior Brother Lu Yi, be honest with us. Has your White Cloud Qi Refining Art also reached the Returning True Realm?"
Lu Yi was stunned for a moment, then said in surprise, "Senior Brother Bai Yulong, you're really smart. You guessed it."
"..." Bai Yulong and the others fell silent.
Even Tie Man, who had started regulating his breath, had fluctuating breaths, clearly hearing this statement.
In the midst of the silence, Dugu Fang had already arrived on the stage and said, "Number 2, come up."
Everyone snapped back to reality. Lin Wan'er and a senior brother at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer jumped onto the stage simultaneously.
The senior brother at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer was very calm. Knowing he was no match for Lin Wan'er, he didn't plan on putting up a fight. He performed to his best ability and conceded decisively when he saw it was futile, causing barely any ripple in the match.
Next was the third match between Jiang Fan and the senior sister at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. The senior sister in white had excellent swordsmanship and movement technique, reaching the transformation stage, but Jiang Fan's strength was clearly superior.
Jiang Fan practiced a saber technique called the Sharp Gold Saber Technique. It was extremely sharp and unmatched, entirely different from his ordinary appearance. As soon as the battle started, he gained control of the situation, forcing the senior sister in white to retreat continuously until she was ultimately slashed off the stage with a single strike.
Lu Yi watched Jiang Fan's saber technique, his gaze flashing. He noticed that Jiang Fan seemed to be holding back and wasn't using his full strength.
Senior Brother Jiang Fan's Sharp Gold Saber Technique might have reached the Returning True Realm.
Lu Yi felt a bit emotional. As expected, a senior brother who could make him feel a slight threat was genuinely powerful.
The fourth match was between Bai Yulong and another senior brother at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Bai Yulong used a rare folding fan as his weapon, which surprised Lu Yi.
At the Foundation Establishment Realm and above, the usage of various cultivation treasures made weapons incredibly diverse, but in the Qi Cultivation Realm, more people used conventional weapons like swords, sabers, and spears.
However, Bai Yulong's folding fan was a Low Grade magic tool, extremely powerful. The attacks unleashed with the fan carried a sharp saber intent, incredibly formidable.
Watching the white-clad Bai Yulong, Lu Yi's mouth twitched. He found that this senior brother was quite narcissistic.
Clearly, using a saber for saber techniques would be better, but this guy insisted on using a folding fan, probably because he thought it looked cooler?
As he watched the posturing Bai Yulong, Lu Yi pondered if he should also find some stylish arts and magic artifacts to wield.
After all, being strong is a temporary thing, but being handsome is a lifelong matter.
Bai Yulong's strength was indeed formidable; the senior brother at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer barely struggled before being knocked off the stage by Bai Yulong's fan.
Remaining was Senior Brother Li Yun, who wielded dual blades, against a senior sister at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.
Li Yun was not the type to be lenient with women. His saber techniques were equally ruthless; he sent the senior sister flying out of the stage with just two strikes, making her eyes red with tears, almost about to cry.
Lu Yi glanced at the expressionless Li Yun, thinking this guy might end up alone forever.
After determining the top five, they had an hour for regulation.
Next, the second round of the competition began, with five people fighting in pairs, while one would get a bye, determined by drawing lots.
Dugu Fang stood on the stage with Lu Yi and the other four, with five Jade Tokens floating in front of them. Dugu Fang smiled. "Choose one."
The five looked at each other, and then Bai Yulong smiled. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, you're the youngest, so you go first."
Lu Yi smiled, with no objections. "Sure."
He looked at the five Jade Tokens and silently prayed, "Don't give me a bye! Don't give me a bye!"
He still planned to compete for another round to get the reward!
Lu Yi directly chose the Jade Token on the far right. When it landed in his hand, he turned it over: 1.
He immediately smiled. Not a bye! Wonderful!
The four others glanced at Lu Yi's Jade Token and then chose their own Jade Tokens.
After choosing, Jiang Fan exclaimed with a grin, "Looks like I'm lucky."
He turned over his Jade Token, which was blank, without a number.
A bye.
Bai Yulong's mouth twitched slightly and silently revealed his Jade Token: 1.
He looked at Lu Yi and smiled. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, I didn't expect us to meet."
Seeing Bai Yulong's Jade Token, Lin Wan'er and Li Yun's expressions relaxed slightly.
Lin Wan'er spoke with a cheeky smile. "Good thing I didn't face Junior Brother Lu Yi or this flashy guy Bai Yulong. These two are real headaches."
Li Yun glanced at Lin Wan'er and said coldly, "What do you think? Am I weaker than them?"
Lin Wan'er took one look at Li Yun and laughed, making Li Yun's demeanor turn even colder.
At this moment, Dugu Fang spoke calmly. "The others, step down. Lu Yi and Bai Yulong, stay."
Lin Wan'er smiled at Lu Yi. "Junior Brother Lu Yi, go get him! Give that pretentious guy a good beating!"
Lu Yi glanced at Bai Yulong's stiff expression and couldn't help but laugh inwardly. It seemed that Senior Sister Lin Wan'er knew Senior Brother Bai Yulong's arrogance quite well?
Jiang Fan patted Lu Yi on the shoulder and smiled. "Go for it."
Li Yun didn't say anything, still brooding over Lin Wan'er's disdain. He quietly left the stage.
After the three left the stage, only Lu Yi and Bai Yulong remained on it.
The disciples below were in an uproar.
"So soon we have the match between Junior Brother Lu Yi and Senior Brother Bai Yulong?!"
"Junior Brother Lu Yi's White Cloud Sword Technique and White Cloud Stance are both so powerful, and Senior Brother Bai Yulong is one of the top three Outer Sect disciples. Their match will surely be thrilling!"
"Yes, both are Outer Sect geniuses; I wonder who is stronger?"
The many disciples watching were filled with anticipation.
Not only them, but the Elders and Stewards in the sky were also looking forward to it. Lu Gaoyang and Wang Siqi, because Lu Yi had made it to the top ten, were no longer worried. No matter what, he was sure to enter the Inner Sect. Winning was a bonus, no pressure. They were equally eager to see just how powerful Lu Yi could be.
On the stage, Lu Yi looked at Bai Yulong and murmured to himself, "I will defeat Senior Brother Bai Yulong."
In the next moment, words appeared in front of Lu Yi.
He glanced at the words and was stunned. Then, overjoyed in his heart, he couldn't believe such a reward?!