27: Fighting Zhao Tian

The third day of the Minor Competition, the day of the sixteen-to-eight Decisive Victory, finally arrived.

After two days of brutal elimination, those who remained on this Martial Arts Training Ground were all true elites among the Outer Sect Disciples. They were either highly cultivated or possessed unique skills, and in each of their eyes burned a desire for victory and ambition for a higher ranking.

The Aura was more solemn and intense than any previous day.

When the Disciple in charge of drawing lots, holding the wooden box that would decide their fate, slowly walked onto the central Arena, the entire Martial Arts Training Ground instantly fell silent. Thousands of gazes focused intently on that ancient wooden box, and everyone's heart was in their throat.

The top sixteen, this was already a glorious Peak that Outer Sect Disciples could reach. To advance further, into the top eight, not only meant a massive amount of Sect rewards, but also meant that one would truly enter the view of the Sect's high-level members, and the future path of cultivation would be smooth sailing.

The drawing of lots proceeded slowly in a near-suffocating silence.

"Arena Number One, Li Changfeng, versus, Chen Mo!"

"Arena Number Two, Wang Qilong, versus, Sun Feifei!"

One by one, resounding names were called out, and bursts of low exclamations occasionally erupted from the crowd. These were all hot favorites to win this Minor Competition, and the strong matchups between them were destined to be spectacular.

However, everyone was still waiting for one name.

A name full of controversy and mystery.

Finally, the voice of the Disciple in charge, after a slight pause, announced in a slightly peculiar tone:

"Arena Number Seven... Lin Ye, versus..."

At this point, he seemed to find it somewhat unbelievable himself, confirming the bamboo slip in his hand again before shouting out the name that instantly ignited the entire venue, in an even louder voice!

"— Zhao Tian!"

Boom!!!

As soon as this matchup was announced, the entire Martial Arts Training Ground was like a depth charge had been thrown into it, instantly erupting into a clamor like a mountain roaring and a sea raging!

"What? Lin Ye against Zhao Tian?"

"My heavens! Is this... is this a fated showdown?"

"There's a good show to watch! Now there's really a good show to watch! One is the biggest dark horse of this Minor Competition, and the other is the person with the deepest grudge against this dark horse!"

"Senior Brother Zhao's right hand was crippled by this Little Bastard! Now that they've met in the Arena, Senior Brother Zhao might just skin him alive!"

All eyes, in an instant, simultaneously turned to the two focal points below the stage.

Lin Ye, still looking half-asleep, leaned against a stone pillar in the corner. Hearing his name, he merely lazily lifted his eyelids, as if none of this concerned him.

On the other side of the venue, when he heard this result, Zhao Tian was first stunned. Then, a ferocious, ecstatic smile, twisted slightly by venom, suddenly bloomed on his face!

"Haha... Hahahaha!"

He laughed up to the sky, his laughter filled with uncontrollable delight and killing intent, "Heaven truly helps me! Heaven truly helps me! Even Heaven can't stand it and wants to give me an opportunity to personally take revenge and expose this Little Bastard's disguise!"

He no longer waited, pushing through the crowd in front of him, and swaggered towards Arena Number Seven, surrounded by his worshipful and excited followers.

With each step he took, his Aura intensified. A spiritual pressure belonging to the Peak of the third level of the Qi Refinement Stage was unleashed without reservation, causing the surrounding Disciples to change their expressions and instinctively retreat, clearing a path for him.

"Little Bastard, get up here and die!"

Zhao Tian leaped, landing agilely on the Arena. He pointed his intact left hand at Lin Ye below the stage, his killing intent almost materializing in his eyes!

He wanted revenge!

He wanted even more to force out all the secrets hidden within Lin Ye in the most cruel and bloody way, in front of everyone! To ruthlessly trample him underfoot and wash away all the humiliation he had previously suffered!

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Ye slowly straightened his body. He first habitually yawned, then took seemingly unsteady steps, and amidst undisguised mockery and pity, he walked step by step onto the Arena that would soon decide his fate.

"Match start!"

With the referee's command, the atmosphere in the Arena instantly became tense!

However, to everyone's surprise, Zhao Tian did not launch a storm-like attack immediately, as everyone had imagined.

He merely stood in place, staring intently at Lin Ye with his aggressive eyes, a cruel, cat-and-mouse smile playing on his lips.

He was waiting for Lin Ye to make the first move; he wanted to see what kind of "disguise" this cunning Little Bastard would use when facing him!

"What's wrong, my 'lucky' Junior Brother?" Zhao Tian slowly rotated his left wrist, his tone full of mockery, "Not going to make a move? What are you waiting for? Waiting for a bolt of lightning to strike me dead, or for a crack to suddenly open beneath my feet and swallow me?"

Facing his provocation, Lin Ye still maintained his timid demeanor, head bowed, not daring to meet his gaze, his body even trembling slightly.

"Hmph! Still acting!"

Zhao Tian sneered inwardly, his patience finally exhausted.

"Since you refuse to tear off your disguise, then I will personally peel it off for you, layer by layer!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly pushed off with his foot, his figure like lightning, but instead of a direct charge, it was a strange sideways slide, instantly closing in on Lin Ye's side!

"Black Tiger Steals the Heart!"

His left hand formed a claw, bringing with it a fierce wind that tore through the air, aiming directly for Lin Ye's soft ribs at the waist!

This move was insidious and vicious!

However, Lin Ye's reaction was still the same as before — no dodging, no evading!

"Bang!"

Zhao Tian's claw struck Lin Ye's waist squarely.

But the scene of blood and gore he had anticipated did not appear at all!

He only felt as if he had grabbed an extremely tough piece of old cowhide; a huge rebound force came back, making his five fingers numb!

Lin Ye's body only swayed slightly.

"Indeed!"

Zhao Tian's eyes shone brightly, and his conjecture became even more certain!

His first strike missed, and he immediately changed his move. His figure, like a maggot in the bone, circled Lin Ye, launching a storm-like attack!

Fists, palms, claws, fingers!

Every move aimed at Lin Ye's vital points!

And Lin Ye, like a wooden dummy completely stunned, passively endured it all on the Arena. He clumsily waved his arms, trying to block, but was always half a beat too slow, looking extremely disheveled.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Intense striking sounds echoed throughout the Arena.

The crowd below was once again dumbfounded.

"This... this Lin Ye, he really is an iron turtle! Senior Brother Zhao's attacks are so fierce, yet he's taking all of them head-on?"

"Look! That layer of bronze light on his body, it seems... even brighter than yesterday!"

On the high platform, the faces of several Elders also became unprecedentedly solemn.

"Something's not right..." Elder Liu's hand, stroking his beard, paused slightly, "Zhao Tian's 'Black Tiger Fist' is ruthless in every move, specifically targeting soft spots. An ordinary Body Cultivator would have long had their defenses broken! But this Lin Ye... he's actually... completely unharmed?"

Only Zhao Tian himself felt a monstrous wave of shock in his heart!

Every one of his attacks was like hitting a copper wall and an iron fortress! That indestructible defensive power was several times more terrifying than he had imagined!

"I don't believe it! I don't believe you have no limit! Break for me!!!"

Zhao Tian went completely mad. The spiritual power within him was unleashed without reservation, and dazzling white light illuminated his fists!

This was his trump card, his ultimate skill!

"Fierce Tiger Descends the Mountain!"

He roared, both fists striking out simultaneously, like two howling cannonballs, fiercely smashing towards Lin Ye's seemingly wide-open chest!