104: First in the standings

When the vast starry sky, filled with endless profound mysteries and an ancient aura, suddenly unfolded beneath Sword Without Dust's feet without warning, his eyes, already bloodshot from extreme rage, were filled with horror!

He couldn't understand it!

How could this young man, who in his eyes should have been as fragile as an ant, possess such elusive and endless bizarre methods?!

Two steel torrents, filled with endless killing intent, had already collided head-on from his front and back!

"Kill!!!"

The Disciples of Qingyun Sect and Hundred Illusions Pavilion, with an indomitable and resolute stance, fiercely plunged into the midst of Heavenly Sword Manor's Disciples!

Swords flashed and blood splattered!

Screams instantly echoed throughout the entire mountain hollow!

Those Heavenly Sword Manor Disciples, who were usually high and mighty and excelled in swordsmanship, were like sheep scattered by tigers and wolves, utterly defenseless!

Their proud and exquisite swordsmanship appeared so... pale and powerless in front of Qingyun Sect's death Formation, which had been practiced countless times and was balanced in offense and defense!

Their incomparably sharp Sword Qi was even more restricted and full of flaws under the bizarre and ever-changing illusion attacks of Hundred Illusions Pavilion!

In just the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn!

That previously arrogant and conceited Heavenly Sword Manor team was already... severely wounded and suffered heavy casualties!

Streaks of white light, representing "elimination," continuously lit up within the Formation, mournful and... despairing!

"Lin... Ye!!!"

Trapped within the Nine Heavens Star Array, Sword Without Dust's eyes were about to burst!

He could clearly hear the agonizing screams of his fellow Sect members outside the Formation!

He could clearly feel his Sect's points, representing honor, plummeting wildly at an avalanche-like speed!

This humiliation was a hundred times more unbearable than death!

"Break... for me!!!"

A roar filled with endless rage and killing intent suddenly erupted from his mouth!

"Clang—!!!"

The ancient sword in his hand, which had previously been sheathed and subdued, finally... fully unsheathed at this moment!

An indescribable, brilliant sword light, as if it would tear apart this entire world, shot into the sky!

Immediately, Lin Ye's " 入門" Realm Nine Heavens Star Array let out a groaning cry of unbearable strain! The vast starry sky instantly became covered in cracks!

"Not good! He's about to break the Formation!"

Lin Ye's heart suddenly sank!

He never expected Sword Without Dust's strength to be so terrifying! Not even an Earth Rank Formation could trap him!

"Retreat!"

Lin Ye made a decisive decision without any hesitation!

He knew that the purpose of his battle had been achieved!

"Everyone! Immediately disengage from combat! Retreat to the dense forest on the east side...!"

At his command, the Qingyun Sect members, who had been like tigers descending a mountain, showed no desire to linger in battle. Like a receding tide, they instantly disengaged from the enemy, transforming into a torrent of green and retreating without looking back.

And the Hundred Illusions Pavilion members, likewise, transformed into elusive specters, vanishing without a trace.

"Boom—!!!"

Almost at the very same moment they had just retreated!

A terrifying sword light, powerful enough to eclipse the sun and moon, struck down with a roar!

Lin Ye's already precarious Nine Heavens Star Array shattered with a crash!

The dust settled.

Sword Without Dust looked at the ravaged battlefield before him, at the less than ten remaining fellow Sect members, all wounded and filled with fear and confusion, and then at the two groups of "prey" that had vanished without a trace.

"Pfft—!"

A mouthful of scarlet blood suddenly gushed from his mouth!

...Time flew by amidst the bloody struggle.

Soon, the three-day deadline had come to an end.

When the massive, continuously rotating seven-colored light gate reappeared in the vast sky of the Linglong Secret Realm, all the Disciples who had survived in this hunting ground subconsciously let out a long sigh of relief.

This hunting game, filled with blood and sin, was finally... over... The Wentian Platform was already a sea of people.

Tens of thousands of spectators, as well as the Sect Masters and Elders of the seven great Sects, were staring intently at the huge points board, formed by spiritual power, suspended in the center of the plaza!

Over these three days, their emotions had been like a rollercoaster, constantly fluctuating!

They had witnessed firsthand how Xuanhuo Sect, on the very first day, seemed to have suffered divine punishment, with its points plummeting and nearly half of its Disciples eliminated!

They had also witnessed firsthand how Heavenly Sword Manor, on the second day, similarly encountered a mysterious ambush, suffered heavy casualties, and fell from being the biggest favorite to win the championship to becoming a... laughingstock!

In stark contrast to the dismal performance of these two great powerhouses was a team that had consistently appeared extremely "low-key" yet also extremely... bizarre!

Qingyun Sect!

Although their points did not experience the significant ups and downs of other Sects, they steadily, even at a "snail's pace," climbed higher and higher.

What made them most incredible, even... fearful, was this!

From beginning to end, the column representing "eliminated members" next to Qingyun Sect's name had always been a... glaring... zero!

Zero casualties!

In this bloody and cruel battle royale, not a single one of them was eliminated?!

This... how was this possible?!

"Buzz—"

Just as everyone was filled with doubt and surprise at this bizarre record, the ancient bronze altar in the center of the Wentian Platform once again glowed brightly!

Figures, disheveled and covered in blood, were teleported out of the seven-colored light gate like dumplings falling into a pot.

When the last Disciple stepped onto the solid ground, the huge points board suddenly trembled!

The final... ranking was set!

In that instant, the entire world seemed to have been muted!

Everyone's gaze subconsciously moved upwards from the bottom of the list.

Seventh place... Xuanhuo Sect!

Sixth place... Fifth place... Fourth place... Heavenly Sword Manor!

Seeing this result, everyone's hearts sank!

These two great favorites, who should have been vying for the championship, both fell out of the top three?!

Then... who would be in the top three?!

Their gazes continued, upwards!

Third place... Hundred Illusions Pavilion!

Second place... Beast Taming Sect!

When they saw this, everyone's hearts were in their throats!

They seemed to have already anticipated the most impossible outcome!

Their gazes moved with difficulty, inch by inch, towards the... very top of that list!

There, in the position symbolizing supreme glory, the first place!

—Qingyun Sect!!!

Total points: seven hundred eighty-five!

Eliminated members: zero!

Boom!!!

"First... first place?! Qingyun Sect?! Am I... am I dreaming?!"

"Zero casualties?! How... how did they do it?!"

The Sect Masters and Elders from the six great Sects all rose abruptly from their seats as if they had seen a ghost. Their eyes, which had been filled with majesty, now only held endless horror and... disbelief!

Only Su Changqing, he sat quietly on the Sect Master's throne belonging to Qingyun Sect.

He looked at that ranking, worthy of being recorded in history, and at the slender figure, still calm as water under the gaze of countless fervent eyes.

A layer of... moist mist slowly rose in his old eyes, which had previously been as still as an ancient well.