Chapter 48: Planning the Ranking Battle

Chapter 48: Chapter 0048 Planning the Ranking Battle

Editor: Chrissy

In three days, the first stage of the “elimination matches” of the Outer Disciple Tournament finally came to an end.

On the array board.

The names of the top twenty appeared bright and dazzling.

Most notably, the top six were tied for first place, attracting a lot of attention.

"I really didn’t expect him to reach this level

Le Feng took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the words “Chen Yu,” tied with him.

Three months ago, after killing the Iron Brown Bear, he never anticipated reaching this step.

Had he known today’s outcome, Le Feng would never have used the “Cloud Stepping” as a bargaining chip in a deal with Chen Yu.

In terms of movement techniques, it was Le Feng’s major advantage to advance into the top three.

Hu Yiba and Yuan Beiting, two main competitors, were slightly inferior to him in the aspect of movement techniques.

But Chen Yu was different.

He had also mastered the “Cloud Stepping,” and he had learned the more advanced “Cloud Evil Fist,” along with an unknown external horizontal training skill.

Le Feng even felt that Chen Yu’s strength was likely not as simple as it appeared.

While regretting, Le Feng came to a frightening conclusion: Chen Yu would be his greatest threat to entering the top three!

In the Outer Disciple Tournament, the gap between being in the top three and being fourth was immense.

First of all, the top three received twenty thousand contribution points, top-tier martial arts, and a mid-grade Body Nourishing Pill.

Whereas from fourth to tenth, they all received the top ten rewards, which were ten thousand contribution points, high-tier martial arts, and a low-grade Body Nourishing Pill.

The difference in rewards was a whole tier!

Secondly, those ranked in the top three were more likely to be selected into the Inner Sect!

In short, the difference between third and fourth place could determine the fate of people like Le Feng and Hu Yiba.

Hu Yiba was a typical example.

In the last session, he was fourth, while the top three basically entered the Inner Sect.

"It seems I must do something

Le Feng’s eyes flickered as he made a decision.

At this moment, all the disciples on Cloud Sky Peak dispersed one by one.

After the elimination matches, there would be a rest day, followed by the Ranking Competition the next day.

After all, with consecutive battles, many disciples were injured and quite fatigued, needing proper rest.

Chen Yu didn’t think much of it.

After returning to his room, he began to adjust and recuperate, preparing for the decisive battle the next day.

…

At night.

In a deserted courtyard of the Outer Disciple area.

Swish! Swish!

One by one, several figures of Outer Disciples quietly entered the courtyard.

Before long, five people gathered in the courtyard, four men and one woman.

If any other disciples were present, they would be shocked.

At this session of the Outer Disciple Tournament, no less than five of the disciples temporarily ranked in the top ten were present here!

The four men and one woman were Hu Yiba, Yuan Beiting, Cheng Yun, Le Feng, and Tong Yuling.

"Le Feng, we don’t seem to know each other well, and you suddenly called us here tonight. What’s the reason?” Hu Yiba spoke indifferently.

The gaze of the others gathered on Le Feng’s face.

It turned out that Le Feng was the initiator of the gathering of these five elite disciples.

"I won’t beat around the bush. In today’s tenth round, what did you all think of Chen Yu’s strength?” Le Feng said with a faint smile.

Chen Yu!

At these words, there was a spark in the eyes of Hu Yiba and Cheng Yun.

The group exchanged glances and instantly understood.

"Le Feng, are you suggesting we join forces to deal with Chen Yu, so you can make it into the top three?” Cheng Yun sneered.

"No, it’s mutual assistance. According to my plan, there’s a benefit for all of you.” Le Feng said with calm confidence.

Then, Le Feng lowered his voice and let the others draw near, whispering in secret.

Oh?

After listening carefully, Hu Yiba and Cheng Yun soon revealed expressions of interest and anticipation.

"Hahaha… good strategy. Chen Yu is a huge obstacle for us getting into the top three. In tomorrow’s ranking matches, each of us will challenge him once, and this disguised wheel battle will exhaust him.” Hu Yiba laughed heartily, very satisfied.

In previous ranking battles, the preliminary rankings were arranged according to the elimination match results.

Afterward, those not satisfied could challenge those ranked ahead.

Le Feng’s plan was very direct. The five strong individuals present could each issue a challenge to Chen Yu, depleting his stamina and energy.

"Yuan Beiting, Tong Yuling, what do you think?” Hu Yiba shifted his gaze.

"I heard from Wang Lingyun that Chen Yu is very strong, strongly overshadowing my claim as the ‘Strongest Force God’ in the Outer Sect. Of course, I want to challenge him.” Yuan Beiting said in a deep, resonant voice.

Great!

Le Feng and the others were delighted. Yuan Beiting, being somewhat simple-minded, was perfect for leading the charge.

The group’s attention then moved to the last one, Tong Yuling.

"My chances of getting into the top three are slim, so I won’t participate in your actions.” Tong Yuling pondered for a moment and gave her reply.

Her words left Le Feng somewhat disappointed. All along, he had a good relationship with Tong Yuling, and he hadn’t expected her to refuse him this time.

Le Feng did not know that the day they jointly killed the Blood-Handed Bald, Chen Yu had saved Tong Yuling’s life.

The five soon dispersed.

"Le Feng, you’ve changed Tong Yuling watched the handsome long-haired boy leave, softly sighing in her heart.

…

In an elegant pavilion atop the sect’s peak.

"You weren’t lying to me, were you? Last time, that kid successfully mastered the ‘Copper Statue Technique’ and even advanced to the Copper Skin Great Success realm?” A red-faced elder stared wide-eyed at the white-bearded elder in front of him.

The white-bearded elder was the Elder Nangong, Nangong Li’s grandfather.

"Why would I lie? That kid not only achieved success in the ‘Copper Statue Technique,’ but he also reached at least the Small Success Realm in the ‘Cloud Evil Fist. Elder Nangong Bai Xu expressed admiration.

"For only two or three months, it’s unbelievable given the half spirit body’s aptitude.” The red-faced elder had a peculiar expression.

If it were an Inner Sect genius who managed this, they could barely accept it.

But the subject was an ordinary disciple of half spirit body.

"No matter how, the plan for the ‘Ancient Moon Well’, therefore, has some feasibility.” Elder Nangong laughed.

"Heh, who would have thought a seed I randomly scattered that day would succeed? Apart from you, me, and Junior Brother Pan, no one else in the sect knows about the ‘Ancient Moon Well’ secret.” The red-faced elder reveled in pride.

"This matter must be kept confidential.”

The two reached an understanding, their conversation growing quieter.

…

The next morning.

Dang! Dang! Dang! Dang!

The Shaking Cloud Bell tolled four times, echoing through the sky, reverberating among the mountains.

On Cloud Sky Peak.

The A and B martial arts stages were combined into one larger stage, twice the size.

In front of everyone stood an “array board,” showcasing twenty bright names.

From first, second… all the way to the twentieth, listed in order.

Among them.

The first place had six people tied, namely, Duan Xiaolong, Nangong Li, Hu Yiba, Le Feng, Chen Yu, and Tong Yuling.

A crowd of shadows gathered at the peak.

Because it was the day of the final battle, there were many more attendees than the previous three days.

Besides the Yunyue Sect Master, Fairy Xia Yu, and Elder Nangong Bai Xu, two or three more elders had arrived.

"Hehe, I heard the aptitude of this batch of Outer Disciples is quite good, so I came to try my luck.” One red-faced elder laughed and approached.

"Eh! Elder Mao, you have always been indifferent to external matters, yet today you have time to watch the Outer Disciple Tournament.” The Yunyue Sect Master and several other elders expressed surprise.

Hmm?

Chen Yu’s gaze fell on the red-faced elder. He recognized: Wasn’t this Elder Mao the very person who had recommended the “Copper Statue Technique” to him at the Heavenly Martial Pavilion?

Apart from the sect’s high-level figures, some Inner Sect Disciples also came to observe the Outer Disciple Tournament.

There were six or seven Inner Sect Disciples in total; not many, but compared to before, it was already a lot this time around.

"Xueqing, you actually have leisure to come watch the ‘Outer Disciple Tournament’?” The Seventh Prince’s languid voice came over.

He wore a luxurious robe, different from the standard disciple attire, standing out from the crowd.

Beside him, a serenely beautiful young girl stood, her exquisite long skirt highlighting her slender figure, with waterfall-like waist-length black hair, gently swaying in the wind, stunningly graceful.

The girl’s delicate face was akin to a rain-washed peony, her skin like white porcelain with a rosy tint, that blossoming purity and fragrance making one’s heart pound.

"Mu Xueqing!”

"The Outer Sect’s number one beauty! Didn’t she enter the Inner Sect?”

Mu Xueqing’s appearance attracted much attention, her popularity nearly overshadowing the twin dragons Nangong Li and Duan Xiaolong competing for supremacy.

The girl’s eyes, as bright as the dawn, were fixed on the rankings on the array board.

First place, Chen Yu, 10 points.

That name made the girl’s long eyelashes tremble lightly, with a hint of complexity in her expression.

She still remembered the words the boy left behind on the day they parted: “And, let’s meet again in the Inner Sect.”

At this moment.

The boy’s name was number one; though shared with five others, it temporarily held the first position.

"Interesting.”

The Seventh Prince grinned lazily, his gaze skimming over some names on the array board.

He remained nonchalant.

Pursuing Mu Xueqing had been ongoing for a while, though difficult to succeed, he enjoyed the process.

Should success come too easily, it would instead feel boring to him.

As for Chen Yu, this potential “rival in love,” would serve merely as a bit of spice.

"The ranking matches begin.”

Before the array board, the Black Robed Elder announced loudly.

On the field, the disciples fell silent.

"The competition rules are that those with lower ranks can challenge those with higher ranks. Everyone has only two challenge opportunities, lose once and a challenge opportunity is deducted, win and no challenges are deducted. The winner exchanges ranks with the challenger, and if they lose, their rank remains unchanged.”

The rules were the same as past years, very simple.

Everyone had two challenge opportunities, with no deduction for winning and a deduction for losing.

Thus.

The challenge target had to be chosen carefully.

If the challenge target were too high and both attempts were unsuccessful, no progress would be made.

"Everyone has two opportunities, starting now!”

The Black Robed Elder shouted firmly.

As soon as the words fell.

Chen Yu suddenly felt an influx of fighting intent and animosity locking onto him.

These gazes came from Hu Yiba, Yuan Beiting, Cheng Yun, and even Le Feng.

He suddenly sensed that something was off.

"Junior Brother Chen, you should be careful. Hu Yiba and the others will team up against you, intending to kick you out of the top three competition.”

A familiar female voice sounded in Chen Yu’s ear.

Unnoticed, Tong Yuling stood beside Chen Yu, whispering quietly.

"Kick me out of the top three?”

Chen Yu’s lips curled into a cold smile: “But my goal isn’t the top three!”

What!

Not the top three?

Could he possibly be thinking…

Tong Yuling’s heart surged with waves of emotion, looking at Chen Yu in disbelief, finding it increasingly hard to fathom this young man.