192: The Champion is Born! (Fifth Update!)

Fang Yuan stood rooted to the spot, Xie Wangsheng's last words echoing in his mind repeatedly.

"That is foolish."

Foolish... really?

Was it truly foolish to risk everything for a result with almost zero chance of success?

He couldn't understand, nor could he accept it.

Liu Lian, standing nearby, nudged him with his elbow.

"Hey, Old Fang, why are you spacing out? Old Xie is just like that, don't take him seriously."

Fang Yuan opened his mouth but couldn't say anything.

He watched Xie Wangsheng's retreating back, a figure so calm it showed no ripple of emotion, completely out of place amidst the fervent and boisterous Martial Arts Training Ground.

The entire audience, and billions of netizens in the global live broadcast room, were in an uproar over Xie Wangsheng's forfeiture.

"What's going on? He just conceded?"

"I was waiting to see the God of Formations battle the Humanoid Vicious Beast! I took my pants off for this?"

"So disappointing! Coward!"

"The one upstairs doesn't know anything! This is called a tactical retreat! Going in when you know you can't win is just asking to be defeated!"

Han Li stood in the center of the arena, somewhat at a loss.

This caused all the passionate commentary he had prepared to be stifled, leaving him in an awkward and uncomfortable position.

"Ahem!"

Han Li cleared his throat, attempting to regain control of the situation.

"Although the process... uh, was a bit unexpected, the result has been determined!"

"Let us congratulate the Refining System for successfully advancing to the finals!"

In the Refining System's preparation area, Chen Pingan and Wu Gang exchanged glances; the victory came so suddenly that it felt unreal.

Lu Miaomiao, however, was very calm. She glanced in the direction of the Formation System but said nothing.

"Alright, family members (audience)! Don't dwell on that little interlude!"

Han Li quickly adjusted his state, his voice soaring again, "Because the highly anticipated final battle of the first Kunlun Cultivation Academy General Election is about to begin!"

"The opposing sides are —"

"The Sword Cultivation Department! Versus! The Refining System!"

Boom!

Han Li's words completely ignited the entire venue.

All the confusion, all the doubts, at this moment transformed into the purest fervor and anticipation.

"It's the finals! It's finally the finals!"

"Sword Immortal versus Martial God! This is the true Peak showdown!"

"I'm betting on the Sword Cultivation Department! Who can withstand Lin Xiao's 'Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate'!"

"I'm betting on the Refining System! Lu Miaomiao is invincible! Last time, the arena limited her performance!"

In the Sword Cultivation Department's preparation area, Liu Lian rubbed his hands together, his face full of excitement.

"Hehe, it's finally our turn to go on stage! Watch me take down three opponents this time, win the championship, and reach the Peak of my life!"

Gu Qinghan glanced at him but said nothing.

Lin Xiao didn't even lift an eyelid, simply focusing on wiping his sword.

Soon, the match order was delivered to Han Li.

"The first match of the finals! Wu Gang of the Refining System, against Liu Lian of the Sword Cultivation Department!"

Liu Lian's smile instantly froze.

"What the heck? Why is it Wu Gang, that big simpleton?"

He let out a wail.

Wu Gang, the type with a hardened Body Refining physique, was his most difficult opponent.

Wu Gang stepped onto the arena, giving Liu Lian a simple, honest smile, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.

"Student Liu Lian, we meet again."

"Meet your big head!" Liu Lian muttered under his breath, but still bit the bullet and walked onto the arena, striking a pose he considered incredibly cool.

"Come on! Let me show you my true strength!"

The match began.

Liu Lian was smarter this time, not bothering with any flashy "Light-Splitting Shadow-Transforming Sword Technique," but instead rode his Flying Sword into the air, using his speed advantage to constantly move around, his Flying Sword transforming into a streak of light, harassing Wu Gang from various tricky angles.

Wu Gang stood his ground, his fists weaving an impenetrable defense, blocking every attack.

"Too slow!"

Wu Gang roared, stomping his foot hard, and shot into the sky like a cannonball, heading straight for Liu Lian.

"Holy crap!"

Liu Lian was startled and quickly ascended higher.

But he was fast, and Wu Gang was even faster!

Wu Gang made an incredible turn in the air, throwing a punch, and the violent force of the punch directly knocked Liu Lian off his Flying Sword.

Liu Lian flailed in the air, finally landing in a very disheveled manner at the edge of the arena.

Wu Gang won.

Liu Lian clutched his sore backside, on the verge of tears.

"Damn it! Just a little bit more! Just a little bit more and I could have unleashed my hidden ultimate move!"

His words drew a burst of laughter from the audience.

"Second match! Wu Gang of the Refining System, against Gu Qinghan of the Sword Cultivation Department!"

Gu Qinghan ascended the stage with her sword, dressed in white, as cold as snow.

Wu Gang, having just won a match, was full of Aura. Facing Gu Qinghan, he showed no trace of underestimation, going all out from the start, his fist winds howling, determined to take another victory in one go.

However, Gu Qinghan's sword was colder and faster than he imagined.

Her sword technique was agile and deadly, each sword strike carrying an bone-chilling coldness, constantly leaving white marks on Wu Gang's body.

Wu Gang's fists, though powerful, always missed by a hair, unable to touch the hem of Gu Qinghan's clothes.

This was an ultimate clash of strength and skill.

Finally, after dozens of rounds of intense fighting, Wu Gang's Qi and blood were severely depleted, causing a slight delay in his movements.

Gu Qinghan seized this fleeting opportunity, tapping his chest with her sword.

Wu Gang's body stiffened, he took two steps back, and shook his head with a bitter smile.

"I lost."

Gu Qinghan won.

"Third match! Chen Pingan of the Refining System, against Gu Qinghan of the Sword Cultivation Department!"

Chen Pingan stepped onto the stage and cupped his fists towards the somewhat drained Gu Qinghan.

"Student Gu, please enlighten me."

This battle was a pure war of attrition.

Neither of them used any flashy ultimate moves, but instead competed with the most basic fist techniques and sword moves, each clash filled with power and beauty.

Finally, both exhausted their last shred of strength simultaneously, collapsing onto the arena.

A draw!

"Oh my god! The battle is intense! The score is now one-to-one, plus a draw! The match has reached its final point!"

Han Li's voice trembled with excitement.

"Next, will be the final battle to determine the champion!"

"Lu Miaomiao, chief of the Refining System! Against Lin Xiao, chief of the Sword Cultivation Department!"

The atmosphere of the entire venue reached its Peak at this moment.

It's those two again!

The scene of the previous "Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate" versus "Eight Desolations, Six Extremes Fist" was still vivid.

This time, who would be the ultimate victor?

Lin Xiao and Lu Miaomiao simultaneously walked onto the arena.

They stood facing each other, without a single wasted word.

"Match start!"

As soon as the words fell, Lin Xiao's figure vanished from his original spot.

Lu Miaomiao's eyes narrowed slightly, she didn't retreat but advanced, punching an empty space beside her.

"Clang!"

Fist and sword tip collided, stirring up a visible ripple.

Lin Xiao's figure reappeared. He used the force to retreat, and seven Flying Swords once again formed the Big Dipper Formation, whistling away.

Lu Miaomiao repeated her trick, her Martial Dao True Body reappearing, a golden phantom firmly protecting her, enduring all the Flying Swords' attacks.

"It's like this again!"

"Lin Xiao's attacks can't break Lu Miaomiao's defense!"

Just as everyone thought the battle would fall into a stalemate, Lin Xiao made an unexpected move.

He recalled all his Flying Swords, holding only his main sword in hand, its tip pointing diagonally to the ground.

"A Hundred Swords Roar."

He calmly uttered four words.

Buzz —

Inside the Martial Arts Training Ground, all the Sword Cultivator students' swords trembled violently at this moment, emitting waves of submissive hums.

"Borrow a sword!"

Lin Xiao raised his long sword.

Dozens of long swords flew out of their scabbards, transforming into streaks of light, merging into his sword.

"Sword Opens the Heavenly Gate!"

The same move, but this time, the white Sword Qi was more condensed, more brilliant than last time, and the destructive power it contained made everyone's heart palpitate.

Lu Miaomiao's expression was unprecedentedly solemn.

She let out an unyielding roar, pushing her Nine Revolutions Body Refining Art to the extreme, her golden Martial Dao True Body almost materializing.

"Eight Desolations, Six Extremes, Heaven Opener!"

The golden fist Aura and the white Sword Qi once again collided with a thunderous crash.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a field of extreme pure white.

When the white light dissipated, the arena had completely vanished, leaving only a bottomless giant pit.

Lin Xiao stood with his sword, his clothes slightly torn, but his Aura was still stable.

On the other side of the giant pit, Lu Miaomiao knelt on the ground, a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, and the golden phantom on her body had dissipated.

She looked up at Lin Xiao, her eyes showing no resentment, only pure Battle Intent.

"I lost."

Lin Xiao won.

The Sword Cultivation Department became the ultimate champion of the first Kunlun Cultivation Academy General Election!

The Refining System students rushed up to help Lu Miaomiao and Chen Pingan.

Although they lost, there was no sense of defeat on their faces; instead, they were filled with soaring fighting spirit.

"Damn it, these guys from the Sword Cultivation Department are too strong! We need to train twice as hard when we go back!"

"Exactly! Next time! Next time we'll definitely win it back!"

Li Heng's figure appeared silently in the center of the Martial Arts Training Ground.

He nodded with satisfaction; this was the result he wanted to see.

Only healthy competition can foster true powerhouses.

"I announce that the champion of the first Kunlun Cultivation Academy General Election is — the Sword Cultivation Department!"

The entire venue cheered.

Especially the students of the Sword Cultivation Department, each of them flushed with excitement, shouting madly.

"The champion's reward," Li Heng continued, "Lin Xiao, Gu Qinghan, and Liu Lian of the Sword Cultivation Department, each of you will receive a golden core stage magic treasure personally forged by me."

Boom!

The entire venue erupted!

golden core stage magic treasure!

Personally forged by the Principal!

What an honor!

Liu Lian was so excited he almost jumped up on the spot. He was already fantasizing about holding a Golden Core Magic Treasure and showing off in front of Mortals.

"Furthermore," Li Heng dropped another bombshell, "starting next week, the Sword Cultivation Department will have an additional sword Dao class each week, personally taught by me."

"Ow — !"

The Sword Cultivation Department students went completely wild; the happiness came so suddenly that they felt like they were dreaming.

Students from other departments looked on with complex emotions of envy, jealousy, and hatred.

"Alright." Li Heng raised his hand, and the entire venue instantly quieted down.

"This Kunlun Cultivation Academy General Election and Global Press Conference concludes here."

The live broadcast screen froze at this moment.

Billions of viewers, still wanting more, frantically spammed "one billion more times" in the bullet comments.

This was the most exciting, most shocking, and most worldview-shattering live broadcast they had ever seen in their lives.

The students in the Martial Arts Training Ground also gradually began to disperse, discussing the match in small groups, their faces beaming with excitement and longing.

Li Heng looked towards the Sword Cultivation Department's preparation area.

"Lin Xiao, Gu Qinghan, Liu Lian, the three of you, come with me."

With that, he turned and walked towards the Principals Office.

The three exchanged glances, seeing each other's excitement, and quickly followed.