"I haven't practiced any techniques; I was merely attempting to break through to the Martial Spirit realm, but unfortunately, I failed."
Observing the curious expressions on Lin Fei, the thirteenth prince, and Yun Shuiyao, Ye Tian smiled and deftly shifted the topic. "In just a couple of days, the arena competition will commence. What ranks are you all aiming for?"
Seeing Ye Tian change the subject, Lin Fei and the others ceased their inquiries.
The thirteenth prince replied with a grin, "I harbor no grand ambitions; if I can secure a spot in the top ten and enter the inner sect, that would suffice."
"Likewise, my goal is simply to become an inner sect disciple of the Divine Star Sect," Lin Fei nodded in agreement.
In truth, their lack of ambition stemmed not from a deficiency in desire, but from the overwhelming number of prodigies in this generation; they felt they could barely squeeze into the top five.
Yun Shuiyao, however, brimmed with confidence. Her eyebrows arched slightly, and a self-assured smile graced her lips. "I am determined to place in the top three!"
"That won't be an easy feat. The seventh prince, Wu Ding, Bai Yunfei, and Meng Shiyun are all exceptionally formidable," Ye Tian remarked with a chuckle.
"How could that possibly matter? I am no weaker than them!" Yun Shuiyao declared proudly, lifting her chin defiantly.
"Hehe!" Ye Tian offered a faint smile. Truth be told, he did not hold high hopes for Yun Shuiyao's chances of making it to the top three. It wasn't that she lacked strength, but rather that she was too innocent and naive; in a real battle, she would struggle against the likes of Wu Ding and the seventh prince.
After their exchange, they each returned to their training, eager to enhance their abilities before the arena competition.
Ye Tian continued to refine the Nine Transformations of the Battle Body, progressing swiftly thanks to his blue martial soul talent. At this pace, he was confident he would master the first layer within three months.
Lin Fei and the thirteenth prince, having ascended to the Martial Spirit realm, focused on honing the Stellar Hand martial skill while stabilizing their newly achieved cultivation.
Like Ye Tian, Yun Shuiyao secluded herself in her room, engrossed in her own mysterious endeavors.
Similar to Ye Tian and the others, the outer sect disciples of this generation were diligently striving to enhance their strength, preparing to make a remarkable impression during the arena competition.
...
Time flowed like a river, and in the blink of an eye, two days had elapsed.
On this day, the autumn breeze whispered through the trees, scattering fallen leaves, as the resonant chimes of bells echoed continuously.
The arena competition was officially underway!
Numerous outer sect disciples hastened to the square, and even some inner sect disciples gathered to witness the spectacle. The South Forest King, accompanied by several city lords from South Forest County, also arrived to observe the event.
"Has Ye Tian arrived?"
"Where could he be?"
Xue Yuhai and Liu Hongwu were also present, scanning the crowd for Ye Tian's figure.
The vast square was teeming with people, encircling the fifty arenas, creating a sea of dark silhouettes.
Finding Ye Tian among such a multitude was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack, prompting Xue Yuhai and Liu Hongwu to abandon their search and patiently take their seats, awaiting the competition's commencement.
"I've heard that the top ten not only gain direct admission to the inner sect but also receive generous rewards. The first place winner might even acquire a Blood Bodhi, a rare fruit that can elevate a Martial Spirit's strength by one level."
"There's a rumor that the silver-robed elders of the Divine Star Sect are observing from the shadows, possibly to recruit some talented individuals as disciples. These are Martial Lord-level experts!"
"Who do you think has the best chance of winning this time? Who are the top three contenders?"
"Wu Ding, without a doubt. He ranked first in contribution points during the previous two assessments and possesses immense strength!"
"The seventh prince is no slouch either. A high contribution score doesn't necessarily equate to formidable strength; in direct confrontation, it's hard to predict the victor."
"Bai Yunfei, Yun Shuiyao, and Meng Shiyun are also exceptionally strong. Unless something unexpected occurs, they will likely occupy the top five."
"What about that Blood Blade Ye Tian? I believe he is quite powerful; he might even secure a spot in the top three."
"Impossible! I've inquired, and even the thirteenth prince and Lin Fei have ascended to the Martial Spirit realm, while that Blood Blade is still half a step away. He might barely make it into the top ten, and even then, he would be at the bottom."
"He's a dark horse; I've heard many are keeping an eye on him."
...
The outer and inner sect disciples engaged in lively discussions, while the city lords surrounding the South Forest King conversed among themselves, and the elders of the Divine Star Sect whispered quietly.
Dressed in a white robe and carrying a large iron box containing a mysterious iron blade, Ye Tian navigated through the crowd. His expression was calm, his gaze steady, and his mind remained perfectly composed, his spirit at its peak.
The thirteenth prince, Lin Fei, and Yun Shuiyao had been assigned to different arenas. With a total of fifty arenas, they were deliberately separated, clearly indicating that the elders of the Divine Star Sect were aware of their strengths and wished to prevent them from clashing before the finals.
As time passed, the square became increasingly crowded, the cacophony of voices rising like thunder, creating an ear-piercing din reminiscent of a bustling marketplace.
Approximately three hours later, the number of people in the square reached its saturation point and ceased to grow.
At that moment, a silver-robed elder ascended into the air, his authoritative gaze surveying the crowd below. As his piercing eyes swept over the assembly, the clamor gradually subsided, until silence reigned.
"Let the competition begin!" the silver-robed elder declared coldly, announcing the commencement of the arena battles.
Subsequently, fifty black-robed elders soared to their respective arenas, each holding a roster.
"Zhang Wei!"
"Huang Ao Long!"
A booming voice from the black-robed elder echoed across the arena where Ye Tian stood, and two figures leaped into the air, facing each other.
"This competition prohibits killing; let the match commence!" The black-robed elder cast a cold glance at them and intoned.
Instantly, the two combatants charged toward one another, engaging in a fierce battle.
Simultaneously, the other arenas also commenced their matches.
With fifty arenas hosting five thousand outer sect disciples, each arena accommodated precisely one hundred participants.
With only two combatants per match, there would be merely fifty bouts, and soon it was Ye Tian's turn to take the stage.
"Ye Tian!"
"Zhou Yun!"
Upon hearing his name, Ye Tian leaped onto the arena. Simultaneously, a youthful figure also landed opposite him.
"Ah! Half-step Martial Spirit?" Ye Tian glanced at the young man, Zhou Yun, somewhat surprised; he hadn't anticipated that his first opponent would be a half-step Martial Spirit.
"Blood Blade? Hmph! A high contribution score doesn't necessarily mean you're stronger than me. As a fellow half-step Martial Spirit, I will not be defeated by you!" Zhou Yun shot Ye Tian a cold glance, confidence radiating from his expression.
"Is that so?" Ye Tian replied with a faint smile.
"Let the match begin!"
The black-robed elder commanded softly.
Boom!
Almost as soon as the black-robed elder's words fell, an image appeared before Ye Tian—Zhou Yun, grinning savagely, launched a powerful punch toward him.
However, in the next moment, Zhou Yun's pupils dilated in disbelief as he realized that his fist had passed right through Ye Tian's chest.
"Wait!"
"Is that an afterimage—"
Zhou Yun's expression shifted dramatically, his eyes filled with incredulity as Ye Tian slowly began to fade away. A fierce gust of wind rushed in from the side, accompanied by a sharp sound of cutting air.
"Only now do you realize? Too late!"
As a mocking voice echoed in his ears, Zhou Yun was sent flying, propelled by a tremendous force, landing more than ten feet away.
"You are far too weak!"
Ye Tian approached Zhou Yun, shaking his head nonchalantly.
Zhou Yun's pupils constricted, his face drained of color, and he couldn't suppress a mouthful of blood, collapsing into unconsciousness.
The crowd of Divine Star Sect disciples surrounding the arena erupted in astonishment, their faces painted with shock. Although both were half-step Martial Spirits, Zhou Yun was utterly outmatched by Ye Tian, defeated in a single move.
"City Lord, look! It's Ye Tian! He won!" In one corner of the square, Liu Hongwu cheered with delight, her face beaming with excitement.
Beside her, Xue Yuhai nodded, equally exhilarated. "Yes, it's Ye Tian! He's truly impressive; that last palm strike's power was comparable to a first-level Martial Spirit!"
"Indeed!"
"Amazing!"
"Such an incredible strike, rivaling a first-level Martial Spirit!"
...
The surrounding city lords, the South Forest King, and the elders of the Divine Star Sect all wore expressions of astonishment.
As the sixth-ranked genius in terms of contribution points for this assessment, Ye Tian garnered significant attention as soon as he took the stage, especially from the elders of the Divine Star Sect, who regarded him as a key figure alongside Wu Ding and the seventh prince.
"Ye Tian wins!" the black-robed elder announced loudly. Ye Tian walked off the arena with an air of indifference; with his strength, he deemed everyone else insignificant, save for Wu Ding and the seventh prince.
Time flew by, and Ye Tian made no effort to conceal his power, defeating each opponent with a single strike. Ultimately, he triumphed over all challengers, emerging as the strongest in this arena and securing a place among the top fifty.
At this juncture, the silver-robed elder made adjustments, distributing the top fifty evenly across five arenas for further competition, with the two strongest contenders earning the right to advance to the top ten.
"Ye Tian, I never expected us to be placed in the same arena. You'd better pray that you don't encounter me too soon, or you won't stand a chance of making it into the top ten," Wu Ding remarked with a chilling smile.
"Is that so? Those are precisely the words I wished to convey to you!" Ye Tian retorted sharply, his fierce gaze brimming with combat spirit.
"Hmph, arrogant! You think you can challenge me without having ascended to the Martial Spirit realm? You are destined to fail!" Wu Ding sneered.
"A half-step Martial Spirit can still defeat you!" Ye Tian countered coldly.
Whether by coincidence or deliberate arrangement, just as Ye Tian's words fell, a resonant voice rang out.
"Ye Tian! Wu Ding!"
As the black-robed elder's announcement echoed, the crowd fell silent, only to erupt into a frenzied uproar that reverberated through the air.
"Ye Tian? Wu Ding? Surely I must be mistaken!"
"This is a clash of titans; how did they end up facing each other so early? It's both surprising and exhilarating!"
"This is bound to be exciting!"
The square buzzed with chatter, all eyes drawn to the impending confrontation, while the other four arenas garnered little attention.