22: "Clothes-Rending Divine Fist" advances to the semi-finals

As the number of times each Disciple could go on stage to challenge decreased, Ji Daofeng sensed a different vibe.

“You lost to those three on purpose, didn't you?” Ji Daofeng asked in a low voice.

“Is that so?” Jiang Yan feigned confusion. “Not at all. Look, when you went on stage, I didn't challenge you. This shows that I really need to preserve my strength.”

Ji Daofeng pointed at Jiang Yan and teased, “Keep pretending. You're definitely protecting those three.”

Jiang Yan smiled and didn't explain further. After all, the more one tries to explain, the more they are trying to hide something, so he simply ignored it.

Seeing that it was about time, Gao Li stood on the high platform: “Are there any more Disciples who want to challenge? If not, we will tally the points and proceed to the next round.”

As the Disciples remained silent, Gao Li nodded to Wang Zheng.

Entering the bottom-out elimination, Jiang Yan's points put him in sixth place, while Ji Daofeng was fourth, Qin Shuang was fifth, and the first, second, and third places were the grandsons of the three Elders.

“I want to challenge Qin Shuang,” the last Disciple said, raising his hand.

“Qin Shuang, take the stage!” Wang Zheng shouted.

As Qin Shuang and the challenging Disciple took the stage, this bottom-out elimination match began.

Qin Shuang's strength could only be described as upper-middle; her actual combat power was more than enough to enter the top ten.

But after defeating the challenging Disciple, Qin Shuang actually raised her hand:

“I want to challenge Jiang Yan in the sixth position!”

“Are you sure you want to challenge a lower rank?” Gao Li asked.

“Yes, I want to challenge him,” Qin Shuang confirmed.

Gao Li looked at Jiang Yan; the implication was clear—he was asking for Jiang Yan's opinion.

A higher-ranked challenger can be rejected by a lower-ranked one. After all, this was a bottom-out elimination mechanism; the one with lower points had the final say.

Conversely, if a lower-ranked person challenges a higher-ranked one, the higher-ranked person cannot avoid the battle.

Qin Shuang, who was originally full of confidence, thought Jiang Yan would agree, but Jiang Yan refused decisively.

“Why did you refuse?” Qin Shuang questioned with a gloomy face.

“No reason, I just refuse.” Jiang Yan shrugged.

“Qin Shuang, your turns are used up. Please leave the stage!” Gao Li said.

Hearing that she had to leave the stage, Qin Shuang flicked her sleeves in anger.

“You're really something!” Ji Daofeng secretly gave Jiang Yan a thumbs up.

“As long as I make it into the top eight, there's no need to waste energy,” Jiang Yan replied helplessly.

“I really couldn't tell you were this kind of person,” Ji Daofeng said in a Yin and Yang manner.

While the two were chatting, another Disciple raised his hand, and his target was also Jiang Yan.

“Hehe, you're going to be squeezed like a soft persimmon.” Ji Daofeng laughed triumphantly.

“Sigh...” Jiang Yan sighed helplessly and then slowly walked onto the stage.

As the match between the two began, Jiang Yan punched instantly, sending the Disciple flying straight off the stage.

The Disciples who saw this scene were instantly terrified. They thought choosing Jiang Yan was the right choice, but as it turned out... he went flying!

“Oh, are you doing this so they choose me?” Ji Daofeng showed a teasing expression. “I really couldn't tell, you're quite a devious one.”

“Likewise, likewise.” Jiang Yan smiled and cupped his hands.

“I want to challenge Ji Daofeng in the fourth position!”

While the two were still chatting, the tenth Disciple immediately raised his hand.

“It's your turn to go up.” Jiang Yan said sourly, imitating Ji Daofeng's manner.

“Wait for me, I'll be right back!” Ji Daofeng waved his hand lightly and walked toward the stage.

Ji Daofeng didn't give the opponent any chance at all. As soon as the match started, he placed his sword against the opponent's neck.

“I... I lose,” the challenging Disciple said helplessly.

Gao Li nodded and then turned his gaze to the last Disciple.

That Disciple was very smart and didn't want to lose face, so he simply raised his hand and forfeited.

Thus, the top eight Disciples were instantly decided.

“Next, you will draw lots yourselves.” After Wang Zheng finished speaking, he handed the lot container to everyone.

The three little powerhouses had good luck; two of them were especially lucky, directly drawing the last two Disciples, but Jiang Yan drew Qin Shuang! The White-Robed Youth drew Ji Daofeng!

“Oh, you can't escape this time, can you?” Ji Daofeng laughed triumphantly.

“Sigh, wait for me. I'll be right back.” Jiang Yan patted his backside and walked onto the stage.

Seeing Jiang Yan walk up, a smile appeared on the corner of Qin Shuang's mouth: “On the flying boat, you were quite the poser. Although your strength is decent, you might not necessarily be able to beat me.”

“Are you done? If you're done, let's begin.” Jiang Yan waved his hand dismissively.

“You're asking for it!” Qin Shuang was extremely angry.

The match began, and Qin Shuang was the first to swing her longsword, a meteor-like strike heading straight for Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan yawned, gripped his longsword, and simultaneously circulated the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber.

“Clang!”

When the two swords clashed, Qin Shuang felt a powerful force transmit through, her arm going numb as she retreated repeatedly.

How is this possible?

Qin Shuang was shocked; she couldn't believe it was real.

“I'll give it my all against you!”

Qin Shuang felt that a Utility Disciple couldn't possibly be stronger than her; she had superior Aptitude.

Jiang Yan originally thought about finishing the opponent quickly, but then he withdrew that thought. He wanted to use Qin Shuang to practice his combat skills and also test out the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber.

With that thought in mind, the two fought back and forth, and the battle appeared exceptionally fierce.

“I say, your fiancée is being a bit overconfident,” the Green-Robed Youth said.

“It's fine. It's a good chance to suppress her temperament, so she doesn't always think of herself as a Prodigy in the future,” the Black-Robed Youth said.

Watching the fierce fight below, the White-Robed Youth suddenly became puzzled: “Eh... this kid really has something, but why do I feel like this Move is a bit like the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber from the Great Gan Northern Prince Mansion?”

“Senior Brother Zhuang, are you sure?” the Green-Robed Youth asked.

“The sword Moves he's using, if they were converted back to saber Moves, they should be,” the White-Robed Youth confirmed.

“Then that's interesting.” The Green-Robed Youth looked at Jiang Yan below with a meaningful gaze.

As time passed, Qin Shuang's breathing gradually became disordered. She hadn't expected Jiang Yan's endurance to be so strong.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yan was enjoying himself because he noticed his attribute panel was constantly changing.

Especially the proficiency of various weapons and the growth speed of the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber.

Below the stage, Ji Daofeng was very confused. Earlier, Jiang Yan had said he'd be right back, so why was he still playing around?

Just as Jiang Yan saw that the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber was no longer growing, he decisively seized the opportunity, parrying with the sword in his right hand and throwing a punch toward Qin Shuang with his left.

This punch carried a powerful Aura, as if it were about to tear the air apart.

Qin Shuang's expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly used her left hand to block.

“Bang!”

Qin Shuang gave a miserable cry and flew backward, spitting blood and fainting. Her original immortal white dress was instantly reduced to shreds.

“Wow!”

“What a Clothes-Bursting Divine Fist!”

The Disciples marveled, their eyes never leaving Qin Shuang's body.

But in the next moment, the Disciples let out a chorus of “boos.”

“Jiang Yan, you've gone too far.” The Black-Robed Youth took off his long robe to cover Qin Shuang's body.

Jiang Yan scratched his head awkwardly: “If I say I didn't do it on purpose, would you believe me?”

Before the Black-Robed Youth could speak, Ji Daofeng immediately shouted: “I believe you!”

“You guys... just you wait.” The Black-Robed Youth left a parting word, picked up Qin Shuang, and left.

Jiang Yan was speechless. He could have explained further, but unfortunately, the other party had already left.

“This is getting interesting,” the White-Robed Youth laughed.

“Yeah, Yu Xian is someone who never forgets a grudge,” the Green-Robed Youth added.

As Jiang Yan walked off the stage, the Disciples immediately gave him a thumbs up.

Jiang Yan was dying of embarrassment. He had intended to keep a low profile, but while practicing, he had forgotten all about it.

Ji Daofeng cupped his fists with a serious expression and said, “Senior Brother Jiang, you really are amazing!”

“Senior Brother Jiang, you're in trouble,” Liang Jian said helplessly.

Jiang Yan sighed helplessly. What could he do?

Gao Li went onto the stage with a smile and immediately started the next round.

After Yu Xian took Qin Shuang to his aunt's room, he returned to the competition grounds.

And when he returned, it just happened to be his turn.

Yu Xian's strength was indeed decent, but compared to the Green-Robed Youth from before, he was a notch lower.

“It's your turn to go up,” Jiang Yan said to Ji Daofeng.

“Don't worry, I can't beat him.” After Ji Daofeng spoke, he walked straight onto the stage.

Ji Daofeng indeed couldn't beat the White-Robed Youth. Every time Ji Daofeng made a Move, he would be suppressed by the White-Robed Youth.

Below the stage, Jiang Yan broke into a cold sweat at the White-Robed Youth's Moves, because the Moves the other party used were too similar to the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber, yet they were much more advanced.

‘Could it be that the Seventeen Forms of Breaking Saber can also be upgraded?’

Just as he was thinking this, Ji Daofeng lost, and it was a crushing defeat.

With the four matches concluded, the final four were born.

And among the final four, Jiang Yan had become the biggest dark horse.

Gao Li walked onto the stage and took out the lot container: “Draw lots to decide the four-player matches!”

After the four had finished drawing lots, Jiang Yan was matched against the Green-Robed Youth Ouyang Feng, while Yu Xian was matched against the White-Robed Youth Zhuang Yu!”