Lie Buqun was different from Feng Xingpo. Although both despised the Qingyun Sect, Lie Buqunâs fiery temperament meant he wouldnât resort to the same insidious, drawn-out torment Feng Xingpo favored.
Therefore, as soon as the battle started, Lie Buqun used his Fire-Attribute Martial Techniques to launch a fierce attack on Hei Ze.
Flames engulfed the sky, shrouding the entire arena as two figures flickered and darted amidst the blaze.
Lie Buqun cultivated a Fire-Attribute Technique, and his own Martial Soul was a six-star Flame Leopard. The two complemented each other, and the power he unleashed was extraordinary.
Furthermore, Lie Buqun was at the peak of the Ninth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm, while Hei Ze was only at the Ninth Layer. Although the distinction seemed minor, the gap in their strength was vast.
Under Lie Buqunâs full-force onslaught, Hei Ze was quickly put at a disadvantage. Lie Buqun grew more ferocious as the battle progressed, unleashing various Martial Techniques and Martial Soul skills at Hei Ze as if they cost him nothing.
Hei Ze could only defend with difficulty. Soon, Lie Buqun landed a palm strike on his shoulder, injuring him.
This only exacerbated Hei Zeâs plight. Faced with Lie Buqunâs relentless attacks, he kept retreating until he could no longer hold on and was blasted off the stage by a single punch.
"Sect Leader Lie, why didnât you play with him a little longer?" Feng Xingpo asked with a laugh, seeing Lie Buqun step down from the stage.
Lie Buqun laughed heartily and replied, "I forgot, I forgot! I was enjoying the fight so much that I lost track of myself. But really, these people from the Qingyun Sect are pathetically weak. I wasnât even at full strength, and he was knocked off the stage."
Lie Buqun and Feng Xingpo went back and forth, continuously shaming and mocking the Qingyun Sect.
The faces of the Qingyun Sect members turned ashen, but they couldnât refute anything. After all, their own Sect Leader and Venerable Elder had been defeated by the two men.
Ye Qingchen took out a Spirit Pill and handed it to Hei Ze to treat his injuries. He then watched coldly as Lie Buqun and his companion mocked the Qingyun Sect before saying, "Donât celebrate so soon. If you encounter me in the later matches, I will make you pay a hundredfold for the humiliation youâve brought upon the Qingyun Sect!"
Ye Qingchen normally disdained such verbal sparring, but seeing their disgusting expressions made him unable to resist striking back.
However, his words only provoked a roar of laughter from Lie Buqun and Feng Xingpo.
"Sect Leader Lie, did you hear that? This little guy at the Fourth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm wants to avenge his Sect Leader. How terrifying!" Feng Xingpo clutched his stomach, laughing exaggeratedly, his eyes filled with scorn for Ye Qingchen.
Lie Buqunâs sneer was even colder as he said disdainfully, "Just a Fourth Layer Martial Spirit Realm cultivator who got lucky and made it into the top twenty. How dare he be so arrogant? You had better pray you donât run into me. Otherwise, I will shatter your foundation and make sure you can never be a Martial Artist again!"
After saying their piece, Feng Xingpo and Lie Buqun turned and left.
Due to Li Qingfengâs severe injuries, the members of the Qingyun Sect were no longer in the mood to watch the battles. They helped Li Qingfeng and Hei Ze back to their lodgings to rest.
"Xiao Xiao, it looks like the Qingyun Sectâs prospects are grim this time!" Ling Xiaoyu said with a smile, watching their retreating figures.
Xiao Xiao smiled noncommittally and did not respond.
What does it matter if Li Qingfeng and Hei Ze lost? My young master has yet to make a move!
Based on the previous matches, Xiao Xiao had absolute confidence in her young masterâs ability to fight above his level.
Ling Xiaoyu was unfazed and continued, "Initially, the Qingyun Sect ranked eleventh in the team competition. If they had scored a few more points in the individual matches, they might have had a chance to advance. But now their Sect Leader only placed fiftieth, and their Venerable Elder placed fortieth. The Qingyun Sectâs overall ranking has fallen even further!"
Xiao Xiao pouted and replied, "As long as Young Master can get into the top five of the individual competition, the Qingyun Sect can still advance!"
Ling Xiaoyu chuckled and shook his head. "I admit your young master has some strength, but heâs been lucky so far. The opponents he faced were only at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of the Martial Spirit Realm. Now, in the top twenty, all the remaining contestants, aside from your young master, are experts at the Ninth Layer! For Ye Qingchen to reach the top five is nothing but a foolâs dream."
Xiao Xiao knew Ling Xiaoyuâs analysis was reasonable, but her young master was no ordinary person. She gave a slight smile, shook her head, and said, "Brother Xiao Yu, you donât understand. Young Master has always been one to create miracles. I believe he is capable of anything! Not just the top fiveâif he wanted to win the championship, he could very well achieve it!"
Ling Xiaoyu simply laughed and shook his head again, somewhat speechless at Xiao Xiaoâs blind adoration.
Besides, among the experts who made it into the top twenty, there are two or three masters at the Martial King Realm! Even if Ye Qingchen is extraordinary, I donât believe he stands a chance against a Martial King Realm cultivator! Making it into the top twenty was already a massive stroke of luck. As for winning the championship, he shouldnât even dream of it!
ă...ă
Though Pavilion Master Zhang wasnât a strong fighter, his skills in Alchemy and medicine were absolutely top-notch.
Li Qingfengâs injuries were indeed severe, but under Pavilion Master Zhangâs careful attention, he was able to barely stand by the next day.
Afterward, against everyoneâs advice, Li Qingfeng insisted on going to the arena to watch Ye Qingchenâs match. Unable to dissuade him, they all helped him to the venue.
Slightly different from the previous matches, there were now only twenty contestants remaining. The Wuji Immortal Palace decided to have these twenty redraw lots to determine the new battle order.
As luck would have it, the opponent Ye Qingchen drew was none other than Feng Xingpo, the man who had injured Li Qingfeng.
"Haha, youâve run into me again! You people from the Qingyun Sect are truly unlucky!" Feng Xingpo sneered, his eyes full of contempt as he recognized the insolent brat from yesterday.
He felt even more triumphant when he saw Li Qingfeng being supported to the side of the stage to watch.
Feng Xingpo looked down at Li Qingfeng and said disdainfully, "I must say, Li Qingfeng, your strength is nothing special, but you sure can take a beating. You were thrashed so badly yesterday, yet you can already walk today! It seems I was too merciful. But no matter. Your disciple was unfortunate enough to be matched with me. Iâll take out on him all the frustration I couldnât vent yesterday!"
After speaking, Feng Xingpo burst into loud laughter, never once deigning to look Ye Qingchen in the eye.
Li Qingfeng was still gravely injured and couldnât speak easily, but Li Zongrui, who stood beside him, pointed at Feng Xingpo and began to curse furiously. "You old coot! You old bastard! Itâs your bad luck to run into our Qingchen. Just you wait, youâre about to get a beating!"
After his tirade, Li Zongrui turned and shouted to Ye Qingchen, "Ye Qingchen, give this old fool a proper thrashing! Show him that our Qingyun Sect is not to be trifled with!"
For the first time ever, Ye Qingchen nodded in agreement with Li Zongruiâs words. "Donât worry," he said. "For the injuries he inflicted on Master, I will repay him double now that I have come across him."
With that, Ye Qingchen turned his attention from Li Zongrui and mocked Feng Xingpo directly, "Look at you, with your old arms and legs. Letâs hope I donât knock you down before you can even make a move. Iâll give you a chance. You go first."