Martial Arts Overlord

On the platform, sword light ran rampant, crisscrossing.

Each clash of blades resulted in a strong impact, causing the air to ripple like water waves.

The sharp sword light had, in an instant, shaved down the platform by three meters!

The crowd could no longer distinguish which figure was Bing Ruolan and which was Gu Yunfei. They just stared wide-eyed, unblinking, at the rampant sword light, afraid to miss the most exciting moment.

Ten moves!

Twenty moves!

Forty moves!

Eighty moves!

The two had exchanged nearly a hundred moves in a flash, yet the outcome was still undecided.

Gu Yunfei's Hengtian Swordsmanship was sharp and ruthless, while Bing Ruolan's Floating Cloud Sword Technique, coupled with the Phantom Phoenix Sky Cloud Dance, was light and elegant, with infinite variations.

Both were masters who had immersed themselves in the Sword Dao for many years. For a time, neither could gain an advantage over the other.

Both sides were waiting for an opportunity—a chance to win with a single strike!

"More than a hundred moves! And there's still no winner! The Sword Dao cultivation of these two is truly terrifying!" a heroic swordsman from the pugilistic world exclaimed in amazement, watching the two fierce combatants on the platform.

"Yes. Especially that female student, Bing Ruolan. She appears to be less than sixteen years old, with unlimited potential. She might even comprehend Sword Intent in the future!"

"I wonder who will have the last laugh."

As the crowd discussed, Gu Yunfei suddenly took a step back, clasping his sharp sword to his chest. A mighty aura surged from within his body, merging with his sword as one!

BUZZ!

The snow-bright sharp sword trembled slightly as rings of powerful aura soared into the sky.

At this moment, Gu Yunfei's aura reached its peak! He stomped hard on the platform, his entire body spinning into the air as he rushed towards Bing Ruolan.

"Sky Heart Sword!"

Gu Yunfei rotated faster and faster in mid-air, eventually forming a small tornado. Wherever it passed, sand and stones flew, and the ground was slashed with terrifying sword marks!

What a formidable aura! Luo Feng squinted slightly.

Gu Yunfei had performed this move earlier, but at that time, he had no sword in hand, so it lacked some of its piercing power. Now that he performed it with a sword, its power was thirty percent stronger than before!

On the platform, Bing Ruolan watched Gu Yunfei charge towards her, her sapphire-like eyes showing a hint of solemnity.

With a glint in her beautiful eyes, Bing Ruolan's figure suddenly split into three, each one vivid and lifelike, as if real.

"Illusion Phoenix Three-piece!"

With a focused gaze, the three figures simultaneously raised their slender swords, the sword gleams extending into three-foot sharp auras. Bing Ruolan's feet lightly tapped the platform, and she shot towards Gu Yunfei like an arrow.

BOOM!

The first figure was instantly shattered by the hurricane Gu Yunfei had become. The violent shockwave caused the surrounding ground to collapse instantaneously, and Gu Yunfei's momentum faltered for a moment.

The second and third figures intercepted him almost simultaneously.

Two snow-bright sword lights seemingly merged in an instant, striking precisely on the tip of Gu Yunfei's sword.

BOOM!

The two sides parted upon contact. Gu Yunfei plunged headfirst towards the platform, and the ten-meter-high structure immediately collapsed by half.

As the dust settled, Gu Yunfei stood up from the rubble, covered in blood. He looked at the unharmed Bing Ruolan and smiled bitterly. "I lost. What kind of Martial Arts did you just use? You can even split your Gang Qi."

"Phantom Phoenix Sky Cloud Dance. It can use Gang Qi to create illusory clones, and each clone can increase strength by ten percent. I've only cultivated it to the third level."

Bing Ruolan's pretty face was somewhat pale; the Illusion Phoenix Three-piece consumed a vast amount of energy. She was still feeling the strain and had barely managed to execute it.

Gu Yunfei nodded. "I see."

He and Bing Ruolan were of equal strength. An increase of thirty percent, even for a moment, was enough to defeat him.

Many in the audience looked astonished and slightly taken aback.

Just moments ago, when Gu Yunfei executed the Sky Heart Sword, its powerful momentum had made many believe that Bing Ruolan was sure to lose.

Who knew the final result would be so unexpected?

"The Purple Sun School truly has many talents this year. Given time, this Bing Ruolan will also become a master!"

"Indeed! That technique of creating illusory clones just now was truly superb!"

...

"Bing Ruolan's challenge is successful! She ranks fifth!"

The elder in charge of the competition announced Bing Ruolan's victory.

Bing Ruolan remained calm, stepping down from the platform gracefully. As she passed Luo Feng, her beautiful eyes glanced at him.

"Congratulations," Luo Feng said with a smile.

He was also a bit surprised that Bing Ruolan had cultivated the Phantom Phoenix Sky Cloud Dance to the Small Success stage in such a short time.

But thinking about her tireless efforts day and night, he found it understandable.

"Thank you."

Their eyes met. Bing Ruolan gave a slight smile and then walked to stand behind Zi Yuan.

After Bing Ruolan's successful challenge, several others also issued challenges.

The first match was Wu Fei, ranked tenth, challenging Chen Wan, ranked ninth.

The second match was Lu Ye, ranked eighth, challenging Hu Yidao, ranked seventh.

Wu Fei and Chen Wan were both peak masters of the seventh level of the Essence Storage Realm. Wu Fei, known as 'Wind Traveler', possessed extraordinary skill in Qinggong. It was rumored that when he was at the sixth level of the God Bravery Realm, he had crossed a kilometer-wide river by treading on the wind, a feat that was widely praised for a time.

As soon as he stepped onto the platform, Wu Fei displayed his Qinggong, his figure flickering as he attacked Chen Wan from all directions.

Chen Wan knew her Qinggong was no match for Wu Fei's, so she remained stationary.

Her Saber Technique was crisp and decisive, each strike kicking up a gust of wind, forcing Wu Fei to keep his distance.

The two remained at a standoff on the platform for a quarter of an hour, neither able to overcome the other. Finally, Zhou Zhiyun had to declare it a draw because too much time had passed, meaning Wu Fei's challenge had failed.

Compared to Wu Fei and Chen Wan's match, the bout between Lu Ye and Hu Yidao was far more intense.

Lu Ye was the only student from Wanluo School to make it to the challenge competition.

He was eight feet tall, with half-foot-long hair standing erect on his head, large eyes, and square lips, giving him an incredibly wild appearance. Moreover, he practiced the Iron Shirt Refining Body technique of Wanluo School. His aura was like a tiger's; anyone he gazed at felt as if targeted by a starving tiger—truly terrifying.

Lu Ye was wild and violent by nature, while Hu Yidao was not one to be intimidated. When they stood on the platform, it was like a blade's edge against a sword's gleam, their auras clashing, neither giving way.

"Blizzard Saber Technique!"

As soon as he got onto the platform, Hu Yidao took the initiative to draw his saber and attack fiercely, its snow-bright saber light howling toward Lu Ye like a raging storm.

With a loud roar, Lu Ye's clothes instantly shattered, revealing pitch-black, gleaming muscles underneath. Like a furious beast, he swung his fists and smashed the saber light to pieces.

For a moment, explosive sounds rang out continuously on the platform, and the powerful shockwaves stirred up gusts of wind across the entire martial arts plaza.

Lu Ye's Iron Shirt Refining Body technique had reached Great Accomplishment, and he showed no fear of Hu Yidao's saber light. Like a wild ox, he charged around the platform, nearly knocking Hu Yidao off several times.

Seeing that his regular Saber Technique could not overcome his opponent, Hu Yidao suddenly restrained his aura, his eyes shining like blades. His Refined Iron Treasured Saber struck six times in quick succession.

These six slashes were incredibly fast. Each slash followed so closely that the light from the previous one hadn't even dissipated before the next arrived. In the end, they merged, forming a gigantic saber light three meters high!

SWISH!

The saber light shot forward, creating sonic booms as it completely enveloped Lu Ye.

Lu Ye roared, his feet stomping hard on the ground. His sturdy legs sank half a foot into the platform as he crossed his arms before his chest, forming a black Gang Qi shield.

RUMBLE!

The saber light cleaved into the Gang Qi shield. The shield held for an instant before shattering. Lu Ye spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and was sent flying backward more than ten meters, landing heavily on the ground.

"Your Iron Shirt Refining Body technique is still a bit lacking," Hu Yidao said, sheathing his saber. He spared Lu Ye a single sentence before turning and walking off the platform.

Lu Ye's challenge against Hu Yidao failed. Lu Ye remained in eighth place, while Hu Yidao ranked seventh.

So far, only Bing Ruolan had succeeded in her challenge.

It was clear to everyone that the rankings below fourth place were unlikely to change.

Any potential changes in ranking now concerned only the top four.

"The bottom six places are confirmed. I wonder if the top four will change."

"Who do you think will issue a challenge?"

"Zi Yuan can't compete with the top three, so she definitely won't challenge. There's a certain gap in strength between Luo Feng, Heavenly Fragrant Woman He Qin, Traceless Young Master Ji Wufa, and the very top, so I'm afraid they won't issue challenges either. It just depends on whether Ji Wufa will challenge He Qin."

"Hmm. I hope he does. I want to see if Sword Intent can defeat He Qin, who's at the eighth level of the Hell Realm."

In the audience stands, many people were chanting Ji Wufa's name, hoping he would go onto the platform to challenge Heavenly Fragrant Woman He Qin.

Luo Feng touched his nose, his gaze falling upon Ji Wufa.

His goal was to be the top new talent. If Ji Wufa were to challenge Heavenly Fragrant Woman He Qin now, it would actually be advantageous for him.

Ji Wufa opened his eyes, held his sword, and in a flash, appeared on the high platform.

Seeing Ji Wufa actually ascend the high platform, the surrounding audience immediately erupted into sky-high cheers, the waves of sound growing louder and louder.

「Only now did the real peak battle begin!」

"Ji Wufa, who do you wish to challenge?" the elder in charge of the competition asked, following the rules.

All eyes turned to He Qin, as only Ji Wufa, who possessed Sword Intent, had the power to threaten Heavenly Fragrant Woman He Qin.

Ji Wufa stood on the platform, his sharp gaze sweeping past He Qin, then angling to the side, finally resting on Luo Feng.

"I challenge the one in third place, Luo Feng."

As soon as Ji Wufa's words fell, the entire martial arts plaza instantly erupted in an uproar.

"Did I hear that right? Ji Wufa is actually challenging Luo Feng? Isn't Luo Feng in third place? Why would he challenge him?"

"Could it be that he has some grudge against Luo Feng and wants to take this opportunity for revenge?"

A wave of discussion rippled through the audience stands; Ji Wufa's decision was beyond everyone's expectations.

Challenge me? Luo Feng also showed a hint of astonishment.

He also hadn't expected Ji Wufa to challenge him.

"Ji Wufa, are you sure you want to challenge Luo Feng?"

The elder overseeing the competition was taken aback, then asked with a frown, "If you challenge Luo Feng and lose, he will take your place, and you will lose your qualification to challenge further. Even if you win, you will still remain in second place. This offers you no benefit whatsoever."

According to the competition rules, those ranked higher could indeed challenge those ranked lower.

However, doing so had more risks than benefits.

If they failed the challenge, not only would their ranking be taken by the opponent, but they would also lose all further rights to challenge.

Ji Wufa glanced at Luo Feng, his gaze as sharp as a sword, and affirmed, "I'm sure."