359: Chapter 359 Hidden Waves Overlapping with Clear Understanding

In the afternoon, the competition continued.

"Group C, Number Twenty-two, Dongfang Xinghe, versus Group D, Number Twenty-two, the descendant of the Mohist Mechanical Fortress, Mo Xuan!"

On the arena, Dongfang Xinghe still wore his usual look of being obsessed with research, holding a jade plate with constantly changing runes. Opposite him was a cold-faced youth covered in exquisite mechanical parts.

"Mohist Mechanism Art? I've heard much about it! Fellow Daoist, for the third joint linkage of your 'Thousand Machine Transformation,' did you use the 'Suspended Pivot' rune? Brilliant! However, could the spiritual energy conduction be further optimized..."

As soon as Dongfang Xinghe stepped onto the stage, he actually began critiquing his opponent's mechanical parts.

Mo Xuan said with a cold face, "Less nonsense!"

With a shake of his hands, dozens of mechanical parts flew out, assembling and transforming in mid-air into three mechanical wolves and two Iron-Winged Eagles, pouncing toward Dongfang Xinghe. At the same time, he himself extended arm blades and launched a close-quarters assault!

"Interesting!" Dongfang Xinghe was not flustered. The jade plate in his hand flashed, and several pre-prepared Talismans flew out, turning into light ropes, mires, and phantom mists, which interfered with and slowed down the mechanical beasts' movements.

His movement technique was also profound, always avoiding Mo Xuan's close-range attacks by a hair's breadth. He kept talking: "The gliding trajectory calculation for this Iron-Winged Eagle is incorrect; it will lose thirty percent of its speed in a headwind."

"The gear meshing in this Mechanical Wolf's left front limb is too tight, it will wear out quickly..."

While dodging, he used Talismans and small Formations to interfere, all while pointing out the weaknesses and improvement plans for the opponent's mechanisms one by one.

Mo Xuan became increasingly alarmed and frustrated as the fight went on, feeling like he was being stripped bare for research. His mechanical beasts frequently "erred," and his own offensives were being predicted.

Ultimately, Dongfang Xinghe quietly slapped an "Immobilization Talisman" onto the core of one Mechanical Wolf, causing it to lose control and crash into another, triggering a chain reaction of malfunctions.

Taking advantage of the opening, he used a "Clear Breeze Sending Talisman" to push the caught-off-guard Mo Xuan out of the arena's boundary.

"Good match, good match! Fellow Daoist's mechanism arts are very imaginative; could we exchange some ideas after the match?" Having won, Dongfang Xinghe didn't forget to call out.

Mo Xuan's face flushed between red and white. He packed up his damaged mechanical beasts and left without looking back.

The audience below was also between laughter and tears; this win... was too "characteristic."

Next, Feng Xuan took the stage. His opponent was a Loose Cultivator with a violent saber style.

Feng Xuan did not fight head-on. He first used a Jade Slip to cast a small trapping Formation to restrict his opponent, then tapped his finger force against the circulation nodes of the other's saber technique. Consolidating every gain, he eventually exhausted his opponent and won easily, winning with a graceful and composed style that fully displayed his demeanor.

By now, five people from the Liuli Xuan Sect (Ye Tian, Yu Miaoqing, Pei Tieshan, Shui Qingdie, Dongfang Xinghe, Feng Xuan) had advanced. Only Yun Wuji, whose lot number was the very last, had yet to appear.

The next day, the competition continued.

"Group I, Number Nine, Yun Wuji, versus Group J, Number Nine, Nangong Xiao!"

As soon as this lot was drawn, it immediately attracted countless eyes!

The head of the True Disciples of the Liuli Xuan Sect, ranked first on the golden gate list!

On the arena, Yun Wuji was dressed in white, aloof and indifferent, standing with his hands behind his back.

Nangong Xiao was in reddish-gold martial attire, holding a Crimson Flame Spear.

"Yun Wuji, I've long wanted to experience the skills of the head of the Liuli Xuan Sect's True Disciples!" Nangong Xiao pointed his spear as flames rose. "Today, I shall first sacrifice you to my spear, and another day I will slay Ye Tian!"

Yun Wuji didn't even lift an eyelid, much less speak.

But this indifference made the opponent feel like a buffoon!

"Let's see how long you can stay arrogant! Burning Heaven Prairie Fire!"

Nangong Xiao was furious. His spear thrust out like a dragon, and the crimson flames surged, turning into a sea of fire that swept across.

Yun Wuji did not draw his sword. He simply raised his right hand and made a slicing motion with his fingers toward the oncoming sea of fire.

Sshhh!

Sword Qi sliced into the sea of fire, splitting it down the middle and diverting the flames!

Immediately after, the Sword Qi pointed straight at Nangong Xiao's throat!

Nangong Xiao was horrified and hastily pulled back his spear to block.

Clang!!!

Nangong Xiao was shaken back along with his spear, his tiger's mouth split open, and the flames on the Crimson Flame Spear weakened considerably.

His face instantly flushed red, his eyes filled with shock and anger.

"Hmph, that was just because I was careless!" he shouted unyieldingly.

"Noisy." Yun Wuji's tone remained indifferent. He took a step forward, closing the distance, and once again swung out several strands of Sword Qi, crushing Nangong Xiao's Burning Heaven Spear Shadows.

Nangong Xiao roared repeatedly, even performing a life-risking secret technique, but he could never break through Yun Wuji's Sword Qi.

In less than ten moves, he was covered in blood, wounded in multiple places by the Sword Qi.

"Let it end." Yun Wuji seemed to have grown tired of the fight and swung out a strand of Sword Qi even stronger than before!

"Burning Heaven Body Protection!" Nangong Xiao roared wildly as blood flames ignited on his body.

Pfft!

The sword light easily pierced through the blood flames and shot directly through Nangong Xiao's chest.

Nangong Xiao sprayed blood and flew backward, sliding down after hitting the light barrier. The spear flew from his hand, and a charred sword hole appeared on his chest. Although not fatal, he had completely lost his ability to fight.

"Yun Wuji, winner!"

Yun Wuji lowered his fingers and turned to float off the stage, as aloof as ever.

This invincible Aura left the people below dumbfounded. They all stood there frozen until, after a long while, earth-shaking cheers erupted.

"Too... too strong. Is he really just a Disciple?"

"I feel like he's almost caught up to the Sect Heads of some Sects!"

"What's the point of competing? With him here, even if the others fight to the death, they can only hope for second place, right?"

"I bet he didn't even give it his all; he probably didn't even use a third of his strength."

The crowd discussed animatedly, all shocked by Yun Wuji's strength. Even the Sect Elders had looks of approval on their faces.

Clang!

The great bell rang again, its sound reaching the nine heavens.

Upon the Main Platform, the eunuch stepped forward once more: "The third round of the Supreme Ranking, the Top 100 Arena Battle, concludes here. The top fifty winners have been decided."

"His Majesty has decreed that the fifty Prodigies are to be bestowed one 'Spirit-Accumulating Pill' to help them regulate their breathing and recover to reach full strength. Two days from now, in this same place, we shall proceed with the second half of the third round: the battle to narrow the fifty down to twenty-five."

"Everyone may return to your residences to rest, or you may observe and rest within the designated areas of the Imperial City while waiting for the appointed time."

As the decree was announced, court attendants holding jade trays delivered brocade boxes containing ethereal Medicinal Pills to the fifty winners.

The Spirit-Accumulating Pill was a fourth-grade Spirit Pill, effective for quickly recovering True Essence, calming the Divine Soul, and stabilizing one's Realm. It was of considerable value, and the royal family's generosity was evident.

Ye Tian took the brocade box; it felt warm to the touch, and the pill's fragrance was refreshing.

He did not take it but instead put it into his storage ring. After all, he hadn't expended much energy.

"Junior Brother Ye, congratulations," Feng Xuan said with a smile as he walked over.

"Senior Brother Feng is overpraising me; I will certainly do my best." Ye Tian nodded. Two days was enough for him to adjust his state to its Peak.

"Bei Minghong's 'Eternal Silence Ice Soul' is extremely difficult to deal with. It's said he has already preliminarily condensed an 'Ice Prison' Domain. Junior Brother, you must not be careless." Yu Miaoqing also rarely spoke up to remind him, a hint of solemnity in her eyes.

She herself was an ice-type Sword Cultivator and felt the power of Bei Minghong's cold ice even more deeply.

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister Yu."

The other fellow Disciples also came forward to offer congratulations and advice. Yun Wuji only gave Ye Tian a slight nod.

Dongfang Xinghe, meanwhile, was holding his newly acquired Spirit-Accumulating Pill, muttering about wanting to study its ingredients, before being dragged away by Pei Tieshan.

Two days' time passed quickly amidst intense preparations and the clamorous discussions of the outside world.

Ye Tian's "Chaos Power," Bei Minghong's "Eternal Silence Ice Prison," Li Xuanxiao's Unparalleled Sword Dao, Qin Pojun's Iron-Blood Domineering Aura, the Ghost Girl's eerie and unpredictable nature, Han Xiao keeping his strength well-hidden, Xiahou Ba's frenzied and domineering style... all became focal points of heated discussion.

As for who could join the ranks of the top twenty-five, or even vie for the top ten or top three, betting markets were rife with undercurrents, and opinions were divided.