439: Chapter 439 The Final Battle of the Supreme Ranking

"Everyone, perk up."

Elder Qinglan turned back, her gaze sweeping over the group, her tone gentle but carrying a reminder:

"This is the Imperial Capital, watched by countless eyes. Remember that you represent the Liuli Xuan Sect. Go to the guesthouse to rest first. The final stage of the Supreme Ranking begins tomorrow, and the organizing committee will notify you of the specific arrangements."

"Yes, Elder." The group responded.

The group walked through the parking area, boarded the carriages that had been waiting, and drove toward the Liuli Xuan Sect's guesthouse in the Imperial Capital.

The atmosphere in the carriage was somewhat dull. Everyone was tired; some closed their eyes to rest, while others tended to their unhealed wounds.

Shui Qingdie sat opposite Ye Tian, occasionally stealing glances at him.

Seeing that his complexion was still somewhat pale, and that the bandages on his neck and shoulders were stained with faint blood, her lips tightened involuntarily, and her hand gripped a jade bottle inside her sleeve.

The carriage soon arrived at the guesthouse.

This was a secluded courtyard that had already been cleaned.

Everyone was assigned rooms and dispersed to rest and heal.

Ye Tian returned to his room, closed the door, and let out a long sigh of relief.

His tense nerves could finally relax a little.

He didn't lie down immediately, but instead sat cross-legged on the bed and introspected.

His injuries were not light, but his confrontation with Li Xuanxiao before the ruins core and the teleportation through the Gate of the Ruins Abyss had also given his body and True Qi a special tempering.

His cultivation at the Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm was extremely stable, and there were even signs of a Breakthrough to the Fifth Stage.

But he forcibly suppressed this urge.

Now was not a good time for a Breakthrough; his injuries hadn't healed, and the environment was not right.

He took out a few Medicinal Pills to heal his injuries, then took out that Chaos mark.

Inside the mark, the light of Chaos and the Five Elements flowed slowly.

In his mind, the Profound Truth of the prologue of the Chaos Dao Derivation Technique flowed slowly.

This Legacy was vast and profound, far from something he could fully comprehend in a short time.

The Chaos Thunder Emperor Sword Scripture he had cultivated before was more inclined toward offense and combat, while this Chaos Dao Derivation Technique was more like a fundamental Dao method; the two complemented each other perfectly.

It was just...

The warning of the "Upper Realm gaze" at the end of the ruins core, and Li Xuanxiao, all made his heart feel heavy.

The next morning, the atmosphere in the guesthouse was clearly different.

Everyone rose early and gathered in the hall.

Elder Qinglan and Elder Xing Tiexin had also arrived.

"We just received notification."

Elder Qinglan looked around at everyone: "The final stage of the Supreme Ranking, the 'Top Ten Defense Battle,' officially begins at noon today at the central ring of Huangji Square. The rules are very simple: the current top ten on the leaderboard are the defenders and must accept wheel-style challenges from all other promoted participants. Each person can accept up to five challenges per day. Consecutive wins count toward the final ranking, and the top ten positions will also be finalized based on the results of the defense. If the defense fails, the ranking will be swapped with the challenger, and they must continue to accept challenges."

"Wheel battles?"

Xiahou Ba scratched his head: "Does that mean if we make it into the top ten, we'll be beaten in turns? Until we get knocked down or hold out until the end?"

"You can understand it that way."

Elder Xing Tiexin nodded, his expression serious: "This battle tests not only strength but also endurance, recovery, and willpower. You all have gained something in the Secret Realm; this is an advantage, but the consumption is also great. Be cautious and act according to your ability. Especially you, Ye Tian,"

He looked at Ye Tian: "Your injuries are not light. If you feel you cannot hold on, do not force it. Preserving yourself is the priority."

"This Disciple understands." Ye Tian nodded.

"In addition,"

Elder Qinglan added: "Among the top ten, there are several who did not enter the Secret Realm this time but were directly promoted due to their outstanding performance in previous rounds. Their strength should not be underestimated. Li Xuanxiao, Qin Pojun, Han Xiao, Xiahou Ba, Ghost Girl... and you few,"

She looked at Yun Wuji, Ye Tian, and the others: "You all need to be prepared for a bitter battle."

The group nodded with solemn expressions.

Noon was approaching, and Huangji Square was already a sea of people.

The area around the central Formation ring was divided into different zones.

On the high platform, representatives of the imperial family, Elders of various Sects, and members of the organizing committee were all seated.

Prince Rong was still sitting in the main seat.

Ye Tian and the others arrived at the area belonging to the Liuli Xuan Sect.

He immediately saw the Heavenly Sword Sect group in the opposite area. Li Xuanxiao stood alone at the front, holding his sword, his eyes indifferent.

Their gazes collided in the air for an instant, then moved away.

On the other side, people from the Zhenbei Princes Mansion, Xiahou Family, Xuanming Way, and other forces also arrived one after another.

Qin Pojun, Xiahou Ba, and Han Xiao had also arrived, nodding to each other.

Ghost Girl was still unconscious, being cared for by an Elder of the Xuanming Way.

It was just that Xiahou Ba's walking seemed a bit awkward, and he was grumbling; he must have fallen quite hard in the Earth Path.

"Quiet!"

An imperial advisor flew above the ring, his voice spreading across the square: "The Great Yan Supreme Ranking, the final Top Ten Defense Battle, begins now! First, please have the top ten Prodigies on the leaderboard take the stage!"

Following the advisor's words, ten figures swept out from different areas and landed on the ring.

They stood from left to right according to their points.

Ye Tian's gaze swept over them.

Among the ten, Li Xuanxiao was first, Qin Pojun was second, he himself was third, Yun Wuji was fifth, Xiahou Ba was sixth, and Han Xiao was eighth.

There were also three unfamiliar male and female Cultivators, whose Aura were not weak, at least at the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation.

Among them, a youth in purple robes with a sinister face was fourth in points.

"The order of defense is decided by the defenders themselves. Now, please have the first defender choose whether to defend, or let the challenger challenge first!"

The advisor announced the rules.

As soon as the words fell, Li Xuanxiao, who was first in points, stepped forward.

"I'll go."

"Good! The first defender, Li Xuanxiao of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the defense begins! Which Prodigy wants to challenge first?" The advisor shouted.

The audience below quieted down slightly.

Li Xuanxiao had been extremely powerful in his previous performance, and after the Secret Realm, his Aura seemed even more profound. No one wanted to be the first to touch bad luck.

After a brief silence, a burly man holding a pair of bronze hammers jumped onto the ring, his voice like a bell: "I'll come and try! Tieshan Sect, Tie Yan, Middle Stage of the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation! Please enlighten me!"

This Tie Yan was also somewhat famous in previous battles; his strength was fierce, and his defense was not bad.

Li Xuanxiao glanced at him and only said two words: "Make your move."

Tie Yan did not stand on ceremony either. With a roar, his muscles bulged, earth-yellow True Qi erupted, and his double hammers danced with the sound of wind and thunder, rushing toward Li Xuanxiao like a wild bull, his Aura terrifying.

Many people below held their breath.

Tie Yan's strength looked scary.

Li Xuanxiao stood in place without moving.

It wasn't until the double hammers, carrying the force of ten thousand jun, smashed three feet above his head that he raised his right hand and swiped his two fingers at the giant hammer.

A white Sword Gang burst from his fingertips.

"Clang!"

The giant hammer stopped abruptly in mid-air!

A smooth cut appeared where the hammerhead touched the Sword Gang.

Immediately after, in Tie Yan's horrified eyes, his pair of heavy black iron hammers were actually split in two!

And the Sword Gang, still with residual force, swept past Tie Yan's chest.

His protective True Qi shattered like paper, a cut appeared on the clothes on his chest, and a white mark appeared on his skin, oozing blood beads.

Tie Yan stood frozen in place, maintaining the posture of swinging the hammer, his face pale, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

In that instant just now, he had truly felt the breath of death.

If the opponent hadn't shown mercy, he would have been in two halves by now.

"Clatter."

The bronze hammers, cut into two, fell to the ground.

The ring and the area below were dead silent.

Firing Sword Gang with bare hands, cutting heavy iron hammers with one finger!

What kind of terrifying Dao of the Sword cultivation was this?!