49: The draw determines the quarterfinal matchups!

The bell rang, and the light screen enveloping the Martial Arts Stage dissipated.

On the Martial Arts Stage, the Top 16 of this year's Inner Sect Grand Competition were sizing each other up.

Zhang Yang was doing the same, observing these potential opponents.

Among these fifteen people, Zhang Yang was most concerned about four, including Du Qi and the person he had encountered at Xuan Yuan Peak.

These four all had Profound Core Realm cultivation and possessed impressive strength; after eliminating all their opponents, they remained as calm as a deep well, seemingly without much exhaustion.

Only one had slightly dirty clothes.

Unlike the rest of the Top 16, who were all panting and pale; their cultivation was at the Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level, and eliminating so many Disciples had exhausted their full strength.

The Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level Disciples on the Martial Arts Stage were praying in their hearts, hoping that in the next round of drawing lots, they wouldn't draw Zhang Yang, Du Qi, or the others.

It would be best if they could draw an opponent of the same Realm!

An Elder came to the Martial Arts Stage and brought out a box.

Zhang Yang and the others stepped forward one by one and drew a transparent sphere with a number inside from the box.

The numbers ranged from one to eight, with two of each type of sphere; those who drew the same number would be opponents in the next round.

Xiao Yu was number two, Du Qi was number five, and the other two in the Profound Core Realm were number six and number four respectively.

After seeing the numbers these people had drawn, those ahead of Zhang Yang began to pray silently, hoping not to draw those numbers.

One person drew number one and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The person in front of Zhang Yang hesitated for a long time before finally drawing number five, and his entire face turned ashen.

However, he didn't say anything; after all, he had drawn it himself, and he just gripped the sphere in his hand without a word.

It was Zhang Yang's turn; he casually took a sphere from the box—number four.

Looking at the number, Zhang Yang thought for a moment; this number four was one of the four in the Profound Core Realm who, like Du Qi, had little exhaustion after eliminating everyone, so he should be an expert.

Soon, the match order and opponents for everyone were finalized, and a light screen rose on the Martial Arts Stage, announcing the results.

“Oh! Zhang Yang actually drew Wei Chen! It seems his luck is bad! Wei Chen is a strong contender for the top three!”

Looking at the results of the draw, some people shook their heads and sighed; Zhang Yang was invincible in the Spirit Aperture Realm.

As long as he didn't draw a Profound Core Realm opponent, advancing to the Top 8 would be as easy as lifting a hand.

But as luck would have it, he drew Wei Chen!

This was a strong contender for the top three!

His cultivation had long since reached the Profound Core Realm Third Level!

He also had a high-grade profound pill; how could Zhang Yang win against such an opponent?

“Yeah! I thought Zhang Yang could make it into the top five. I didn't expect he'd only make it to the Top 16.”

Another person sighed; with Zhang Yang's strength, he could definitely enter the top five, but who would have thought his luck would be so poor!

For a moment, voices rose from the viewing platform, none of them optimistic about Zhang Yang.

Jiang Haochuan, who had been eliminated, looked at Zhang Yang in the middle of the Martial Arts Stage and shook his head upon hearing the words of those around him.

He did not agree with the views of the surrounding Disciples.

He knew Zhang Yang's strength and talent; his father had told him.

Moreover, before returning to the Clear Wind Sect, Zhang Yang had killed a Profound Core Realm Martial Artist; what Realm was he at then?

Now, so many days had passed?

With Zhang Yang's talent, what level of strength could he have reached?

Although this Wei Chen was at the Profound Core Realm Third Level with a high-grade profound pill, he might not necessarily be Zhang Yang's match!

Listening to the surrounding discussions, Wei Chen didn't care at all; in his eyes, there was only Du Qi.

As for Zhang Yang, now that his cultivation had reached a higher level, he was already at the Profound Core Realm Fourth Level!

Even if Zhang Yang achieved a Breakthrough to the Profound Core Realm, he would not be his match!

“Du Qi! I'll wait for you in the finals!” Wei Chen stared intently at Du Qi and said word for word, then turned and left immediately.

As for Du Qi, he remained expressionless; to him, any provocation was not worth noting.

He had only one purpose on the Martial Arts Stage: to defeat his opponent.

The Top 8 matches wouldn't start until the afternoon, leaving some time to meditate and recover one's state.

After the grouping results were announced, many Spirit Aperture Realm Ninth Level Martial Artists on the Martial Arts Stage took out some Medicinal Pills and Purple Sun Pills to begin their recovery.

Zhang Yang returned to the viewing platform and continued to comprehend his Saber Intent.

As for recovery?

It wasn't needed at all!

Zhang Yang kept taking deep breaths, and his Bright Moon Art was constantly running to restore his Origin Power and physical strength.

On the viewing platform, the Disciples around Zhang Yang looked at him with a hint of pity and regret in their eyes.

It was Zhang Yang's misfortune to encounter Wei Chen in the Top 8 Battle!

This time, he could only stop at the Top 16!

“Brother Zhang Yang! Good luck! Eliminate Wei Chen!” At this time, Jiang Haochuan came to Zhang Yang's side to encourage him.

“That's right, Zhang Yang! We all have confidence in you!”

A group of middle-aged and elderly Spirit Aperture Realm Disciples came to Zhang Yang's side and said with a smile, led by Cang Lingchuan.

“Mm.” Zhang Yang looked at everyone, revealed a smile, and nodded slightly.

At the top of the viewing platform.

“What do you think? Wei Chen fighting against the Zhang Yang you chose?” Sect Master Ling Yue asked the two people beside him.

“Zhang Yang wins!”

“Zhang Yang wins!”

Jiang Dao and Elder Wang Xiao replied without a second thought; they were full of confidence in Zhang Yang.

Although Elder Wang knew that Zhang Yang had only recently achieved a Breakthrough to the Profound Core Realm, after Zhang Yang's performance just now, he was startled to realize he had misjudged Zhang Yang's talent!

He had completely underestimated Zhang Yang's talent!

In just a few days, he had practiced the Dragon Elephant Fist to Perfection!

Then what about other Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques?

Elder Wang thought back to the Martial Skills and Cultivation Techniques Zhang Yang had taken from the Scripture Pavilion; if he really practiced those Martial Skills to absolute Perfection!

It would be enough to crush Wei Chen!

“So much confidence?”

Ling Yue looked at Zhang Yang below; was this kid really that powerful, making Junior Brother Jiang Dao and Junior Brother Wang Xiao so confident?

Although after watching Zhang Yang's previous performance, he knew Zhang Yang's physical strength was quite strong, Wei Chen was no pushover either... Not long after, Yu Feng ran over, holding a large Jade Box with both hands.

“Here, Senior Brother Zhang Yang! This is four thousand Purple Sun Pills.”

“Mm.” Zhang Yang nodded, then took the huge Jade Box with one hand and placed it beside him.

The surrounding Disciples looked at the Jade Box with burning eyes and couldn't help but swallow their saliva.

These were four thousand Purple Sun Pills; how long would it last them?

“Are you fighting Wei Chen?”

Yu Feng looked at the match table on the Martial Arts Stage and turned to Zhang Yang: “Do you need me to give you some information on Wei Chen?”

“No need.” Zhang Yang's expression was calm as he shook his head and refused.

“That works too! It's better to experience it for yourself.” Seeing Zhang Yang refuse, Yu Feng nodded.

He had faced Zhang Yang at close range; with that kind of power, facing Wei Chen, it was hard to say who would emerge victorious!

“The items have been delivered, so I'll be going now.” After saying that, Yu Feng left.

The Martial Arts Stage had been cleared, the Formation restarted, and a huge light screen enveloped it.

The Top 8 Battle was unlike the previous battle for the Top 16; they didn't all compete together, but one by one according to their numbers.

The bell rang.

The Top 8 Battle had begun!

Two contestants who drew the number one ball ascended the Martial Arts Stage.