"Ye Tian has triumphed!"
"What an incredible turnaround! Who could have anticipated that Wu Ding would fall to Ye Tian?"
"He's undoubtedly a dark horse, and a thoroughly formidable one at that. This is the rhythm of a champion!"
"With a single punch, he defeated Wu Ding, who is at the second level of the Martial Spirit realm. Did he truly just ascend to this level?"
"The top ten inner disciples should be concerned; once this extraordinary prodigy enters the inner sanctum, they might find themselves overshadowed!"
"The inner sanctum is bound to become lively!"
…
As this battle concluded, the result was astonishing: Wu Ding was eliminated, leaving everyone in shock.
Even some inner disciples who had come to spectate were taken aback. Although Ye Tian still had a distance to cover before reaching the older inner disciples, given his terrifying potential, that gap would soon vanish.
At this moment, Ye Tian had already been dubbed an unparalleled prodigy; the term 'genius' seemed insufficient to describe him.
"His foundation is remarkably solid, combined with his extraordinary talent, thus upon breaking through to the Martial Spirit realm, he can engage in battles beyond his level," many marveled, even as Ye Tian stepped down from the arena, he remained the focal point of everyone's attention.
Even those currently engaged in combat on the stage were overlooked.
"Zang Lao, how do you believe he compares to my family's Seventh Prince?" On the stands, King Nanlin withdrew his gaze from Ye Tian and turned to Zang Lao beside him.
Zang Lao slowly opened his eyes, which sparkled with a lightning-like brilliance. He pondered before replying, "In terms of combat prowess at the same level, he surpasses your Seventh Prince. However, your Seventh Prince has a greater chance of advancing to Martial King, so their talents are not easily comparable."
"Martial King... It has been a long time since our Great Yan Nation has seen a new Martial King. My Seventh Prince only has a slightly better chance; ultimately, it will depend on his future path," King Nanlin replied with a slight shake of his head, then continued, "In comparison, I have higher hopes for this Ye Tian."
A glint of light flashed in Zang Lao's eyes as he teased, "If your Seventh Prince were to hear this, he might resent you for such a statement, as his father."
"Hehe!" King Nanlin chuckled lightly at this.
…
On the plaza, the arena battles continued unabated. With Wu Ding's defeat, Ye Tian's group now had the opportunity to secure another spot in the top ten, making the battles particularly fierce.
After vanquishing Wu Ding, Ye Tian enjoyed a considerable respite, as all of his potential opponents promptly chose to forfeit.
It was laughable; everyone now regarded Ye Tian as the frontrunner for the championship. These individuals were self-aware enough not to dare confront him.
Seeing this, Ye Tian could only shake his head in resignation and decided to leave the area to watch other matches.
Lin Fei and Yun Shuiyao were pitted against each other on one of the platforms, and soon they would face off. Ye Tian felt a pang of regret, as this was an elimination round; regardless of who won, the other would be ousted from the top ten.
From Ye Tian's perspective, Lin Fei, having just ascended to the Martial Spirit realm, was clearly no match for Yun Shuiyao.
However, Ye Tian was unconcerned; they had both already reached the Martial Spirit realm, and even if they did not make the top ten, they would still become inner disciples.
Indeed, once they took to the stage, Lin Fei decisively forfeited, much to the chagrin of the onlookers, who had eagerly anticipated a clash between the two. Who would have thought Lin Fei would concede without a fight?
Even Ye Tian was somewhat surprised, smiling as he looked at Lin Fei, who was stepping down from the platform, "What's this? You forfeited without even striking a blow? That hardly seems like your style."
"She's already at the second level of the Martial Spirit realm; what's the point? We sparred yesterday. Do you think I want to be humiliated in front of everyone?" Lin Fei rolled his eyes at Ye Tian, looking at him as if he were foolish. He was no masochist; he wouldn't engage in such a foolish act.
Ye Tian was momentarily taken aback, rubbing his nose with a wry smile. He had spent the past three days sequestered in his room cultivating the Nine Transformations Battle Body and had not realized that Lin Fei had already sparred with Yun Shuiyao privately.
"You coward! Who told you to forfeit? Couldn't you let me have my moment of glory?" Yun Shuiyao approached, clad in a flowing white robe, looking ethereal, though her large, expressive eyes were filled with indignation.
"Do you not feel a twinge of shame for deriving pleasure from the suffering of others?" Lin Fei retorted, pursing his lips.
"Care to repeat that?" Yun Shuiyao's eyes widened as she raised her tiny fists, her expression threatening.
Lin Fei immediately ducked behind Ye Tian in fright.
"Hehe, what are you two discussing? You seem quite merry!" A hearty laugh echoed from nearby as Prince Thirteen approached, beaming.
"With that radiant glow about you, you must have made it into the top ten," Lin Fei remarked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.
"Haha..." Prince Thirteen laughed heartily, casting a smug glance at Lin Fei as he said, "I was fortunate not to encounter a monster like Junior Brother Ye."
Ye Tian, overhearing, could only feel speechless; it seemed he was being caught in the crossfire.
Nonetheless, it was true that Prince Thirteen had been fortunate. The Seventh Prince and Bai Yunfei were on the same platform, while Meng Shiyun and Prince Thirteen were on two others, both managing to enter the top ten without facing formidable opponents.
In contrast to Ye Tian and Lin Fei, Prince Thirteen's luck was remarkable, which left Lin Fei feeling frustrated; had he been in the same situation, he too could have made it into the top ten.
"Go ahead and revel in your triumph!" Lin Fei scoffed.
"Look! The Seventh Prince and Bai Yunfei are facing off. Who do you think will win?" Suddenly, Yun Shuiyao pointed to a nearby arena and exclaimed.
Ye Tian and the others turned to look, instantly spotting the Seventh Prince and Bai Yunfei locked in a standoff on the stage, drawing a crowd of spectators.
"Let's go see!" Lin Fei said, his interest piqued.
The group nodded in agreement and made their way toward the arena.
"Though Bai Yunfei is formidable, I doubt he can match my Seventh Prince!" Prince Thirteen stated gravely, a flicker of reluctance crossing his eyes.
Lin Fei patted his shoulder, nodding in understanding, "I've seen your Seventh Prince in action; he is incredibly domineering, capable of defeating foes with a single strike."
As fellow sons of King Nanlin and among the most outstanding of his offspring, Prince Thirteen was often compared to the Seventh Prince, leading to his own feelings of inadequacy. Living in the County King City, Lin Fei was well aware of Prince Thirteen's inner turmoil.
"What do you think, Ye Tian?" Yun Shuiyao asked, her curiosity piqued as she glanced at the silent Ye Tian.
"The Seventh Prince has already reached the third level of the Martial Spirit realm," Ye Tian mused before responding calmly.
"What?!"
A chorus of gasps erupted around them.
Prince Thirteen, Lin Fei, and Yun Shuiyao were all visibly astonished.
"Look, they're beginning..." Ye Tian's gaze shifted to the arena.
At that moment, on the stage, the Seventh Prince cast a disdainful glance at the somewhat anxious Bai Yunfei, arrogantly waving his hand, "Surrender! You are no match for me!"
Bai Yunfei, upon hearing this, nearly spat blood in indignation, retorting furiously, "You speak so boldly! Defeat me first before boasting!"
"Since you seek punishment, do not blame me for being merciless," the Seventh Prince replied with a cold smile, unleashing a formidable aura of the third level of the Martial Spirit realm that surged toward Bai Yunfei.
A wave of astonishment swept through the crowd, and the square buzzed with excitement!
The third level of the Martial Spirit realm!
The Seventh Prince's cultivation was likely the strongest among this batch of outer disciples, many speculated.
Those who had previously supported Ye Tian's claim to victory now hesitated, for the gap of two levels made it hard for them to believe Ye Tian could possibly defeat the Seventh Prince.
Shortly thereafter, the Seventh Prince decisively defeated Bai Yunfei, causing calls for his victory to eclipse those for Ye Tian.
Thus, the ten strongest competitors in this arena battle were determined: the familiar faces of the Seventh Prince, Ye Tian, Yun Shuiyao, Prince Thirteen, and Meng Shiyun, along with five fortunate half-step Martial Spirit contenders.
As the Seventh Prince descended from the stage, he approached Ye Tian, lifting his chin with an air of superiority and declaring, "Mark my words, you will inevitably submit before me."
The onlookers rolled their eyes; the Seventh Prince was notorious in Nanlin County, not only for his remarkable talent but also for his arrogance and tyranny.
Rumor had it that the Seventh Prince once compelled a Martial Monarch to bow to him, only to be soundly thrashed by the same Martial Monarch. If it weren't for the presence of the Nanlin King, the Seventh Prince would have likely suffered dire consequences.
"Fool!" Ye Tian glanced at the Seventh Prince with disdain, snorting before turning away.
Unfazed, the Seventh Prince shifted his attention to Lin Fei and Prince Thirteen, coldly stating, "Lin Fei, have you made your decision? I will not offer you another chance. And you, Old Thirteen, it would be wise to concede early. As brothers, assist me well, and I will not treat you poorly."
"If you defeat Ye Tian, I shall follow you!" Lin Fei replied with a laugh.
"That's a promise!"
The Seventh Prince narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as he declared, "Just wait, I will demonstrate my strength to you. Trust me, your choice will bring you lifelong fortune."
"Arrogant fool!" Prince Thirteen could no longer contain himself, snorting disdainfully as he turned to leave in Ye Tian's direction.
Lin Fei hurriedly followed suit, while Yun Shuiyao stuck out her tongue at the Seventh Prince and chased after Lin Fei.
"Hmph, how could a sparrow comprehend the aspirations of a swan? You will soon realize that submitting to me is your wisest choice; I am destined to become a Martial God!" The Seventh Prince observed the retreating figures of Ye Tian and the others, hands clasped behind his back, brimming with pride.
The surrounding crowd could not help but roll their eyes, shaking their heads in disbelief at his boundless arrogance.
Soon, amidst a sea of eager gazes, the rankings of the top ten began.
This time, there would be no elimination rounds; each participant was to face the other nine competitors in individual matches to determine the strongest among them.
Ye Tian, the Seventh Prince, Yun Shuiyao, and the other seven stepped onto the arena, ready to draw lots to select their opponents in front of the assembled crowd.