228: Chapter 228 Unrivaled Shadow

Xu Ying won.

The discussions below the arena were like an exploding pot; everyone was stunned by the speed Xu Ying had displayed.

That Shadow Movement Technique, with the scene of over a dozen afterimages striking simultaneously, made people's scalps tingle.

Someone couldn't help but exclaim: "It's too fast. Apart from Cao Yun and Senior Brother Wang Yidao, I'm afraid no one can suppress this kind of speed."

Someone nearby immediately chimed in: "Indeed, he should be third place. The two at the 5th Grade Peak are fighting for first place, Xu Ying firmly occupies third, and the rest can only fight for fourth and fifth."

This theory quickly gained the approval of the majority. After all, Xu Ying's strength was plain to see; even a sword technique expert like Xuan Fei had been defeated by him, to say nothing of the others.

The competition continued.

The following few battles remained intense as Geniuses from each peak took turns on stage; some were on a winning streak with a soaring Aura, while others were on a losing streak with ashen faces. The numbers on the leaderboard kept jumping, and every point tugged at the hearts of the Disciples from each peak.

Not long after, Xu Ying's name was called out again by the Referee Elder.

This time, his opponent was Qiao Yiyi.

The people from Zixia Peak felt their hearts tighten. The Elders looked solemn, and the Disciples involuntarily clenched their fists. Their goal was also third place, and Xu Ying was precisely the biggest obstacle standing in the way of that position.

Whether Qiao Yiyi could cross this hurdle concerned Zixia Peak's final ranking.

Qiao Yiyi took a deep breath and stepped onto the arena.

She knew the weight of this battle. Xu Ying's speed was too fast; to beat him, she had to suppress his movement technique. She made no unnecessary movements and drew her longsword as soon as she stepped on stage.

She unleashed the Xiaguang Sword Technique with full force, thrusting her sword out as seven sword lights blossomed simultaneously.

One sword, seven lights!

The seven sword lights were like seven streaks of flowing clouds tearing through the air, crossing and slashing down from different directions with infinite power.

The attainment of this sword strike far exceeded that of ordinary Late Stage 5th Grade Disciples; even the few Elders below the stage nodded secretly when they saw it.

However, Xu Ying only swayed his figure, unleashing the Shadow Movement Technique, transforming himself into several afterimages as he wove and maneuvered between the seven sword lights, his movements so fast it was dazzling. The seven sword lights slashed down, only shattering a few afterimages; his true body remained unscathed.

Qiao Yiyi gritted her teeth, her sword momentum unceasing as she thrust sword after sword; sword lights crisscrossed the arena, almost enveloping the entire stage.

Xu Ying, meanwhile, wandered amidst the sword lights, occasionally closing in to strike with a palm; that pitch-black, ink-like palm carried an eerie force, forcing Qiao Yiyi to retract her sword to defend herself every single time.

The two fought for dozens of moves, sword lights and palm shadows intertwining and colliding, with the roaring sounds never ceasing. The Disciples below the stage didn't even dare to breathe, their eyes fixed on the arena without blinking.

However, in the end, Xu Ying's movement technique was superior. During one dazzling transformation of afterimages, his true body silently circled behind Qiao Yiyi, and his pitch-black palm lightly imprinted onto her back.

Qiao Yiyi's body trembled, her longsword slipped from her hand, and she stumbled a few steps before dropping to one knee on the arena.

"Moxia Peak's Xu Ying, wins!"

As the Referee Elder's voice fell, Zixia Peak fell into dead silence. When Qiao Yiyi was helped off the arena, her eyes were red, her lips tightly pursed, and she couldn't say a word. She had lost, and she had lost without any excuse.

The Elders of Zixia Peak sighed, and the Disciples were all dejected.

"Even Senior Sister Qiao lost; this Xu Ying is just too strong."

"His movement technique is truly too fast; it's impossible to hit him."

Someone muttered in frustration: "Senior Sister Qiao lost... can Lin Tian's movement technique compare to his?"

This remark caused many people's gazes to drift involuntarily toward Lin Tian. After all, in the earlier elimination round, Lin Tian had defeated Xu Fei by relying on his movement technique.

Although Xu Ying was much stronger than Xu Fei, Lin Tian's movement technique was also not weak; perhaps he might have the strength to fight him.

Qiao Yiyi heard this, raised her head, glanced at Lin Tian, and then lowered it again. She thought silently in her heart: she herself had lost, so how could Lin Tian possibly succeed?

His movement technique was fast, but could it be faster than Xu Ying's? If anyone could defeat Xu Ying, it should be Shen Haoran, definitely not Lin Tian.

She bit her lip, not saying these words out loud, but the meaning in her eyes was already very clear.

The competition continued to progress. After a few more battles, the Referee Elder called out Shen Haoran's name.

"Zixia Peak's Shen Haoran, versus Bixia Peak's Chu Ling'er."

Chu Ling'er was Bixia Peak's number one Genius, her cultivation also at the Late Stage 5th Grade, and her Jade Water Sword Technique was agile and elegant, having performed extremely brilliantly in previous matches. This match was also crucial for Zixia Peak.

Shen Haoran walked onto the arena expressionlessly, his longsword already unsheathed. He didn't waste words; after the Referee Elder announced the start, he thrust his sword out.

Thunderclap Sword Technique.

With one sword thrust, seven thunder-like explosions resounded in the Void Realm. The seven sword lights, wrapped in muffled thunderous sounds, slashed toward Chu Ling'er like seven bolts of lightning.

The power of this sword technique was more fierce and overbearing than the Xiaguang Sword Technique; every strike was heavy and powerful, full of oppressive force.

Chu Ling'er's pretty face was solemn as she unleashed her Jade Water Sword Technique with full force; the sword light was like water, layered and overlapping, attempting to overcome hardness with softness. But Shen Haoran's Thunderclap Sword Technique was truly too overbearing, the seven thunderous sword lights bombarding round after round, tearing the water-like sword light apart layer by layer.

The two exchanged over thirty moves before Shen Haoran seized a gap, using one strike to shake open his opponent's sword momentum, his sword tip stopping three inches before Chu Ling'er's throat.

"Zixia Peak's Shen Haoran, wins!"

A burst of cheers finally erupted from the Zixia Peak side. The gloom after Qiao Yiyi's loss was swept away by this victory; the Disciples excitedly clapped their hands, and smiles reappeared on the Elders' faces.

"Haoran is too strong! He has already practiced the Thunderclap Sword Technique to the Realm of Seven Thunders Resonating Together; perhaps he really has the qualifications to compete for third place!"

"Indeed, as long as he avoids those two 5th Grade Peaks, Haoran has a chance against anyone."

Shen Haoran walked down from the arena, his expression calm, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly into an arc.

He returned to the Zixia Peak team, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Lin Tian. He didn't speak, but everyone could see the meaning in his eyes—the hope of Zixia Peak still has to rely on me.

The competition continued, match after match. The flames of war on the arena burned ever brighter, and the rankings on the leaderboard kept changing. Some were injured and withdrew, while others fought with increasing courage, the atmosphere of the entire martial arts arena constantly maintained in a scorching state.

Finally, the Referee Elder called out Lin Tian's name again.

"Zixia Peak's Lin Tian, versus Moxia Peak's Xu Ying."

Once these two names were spoken, a low gasp swept through the entire venue. Everyone's gaze fell squarely upon these two people.

Everyone still remembered clearly the previous battle between Lin Tian and Xu Fei. Lin Tian had defeated Xu Fei in one move by relying on his movement technique; at that time, Xu Ying had even specifically gone on stage to check his younger brother's injuries,

And said to Lin Tian: "I look forward to competing with you in the finals." Now, those words had become reality.

On the Moxia Peak side, the Disciples all clenched their fists, and someone shouted loudly: "Senior Brother Xu, defeat him!"

On the Zixia Peak side, the atmosphere was tense. The Elders looked solemn, and the Disciples' palms were full of sweat. This match was too critical—if Lin Tian could win, Zixia Peak would take the initiative in the race for third place.

Qiao Yiyi stood in the crowd, watching Lin Tian's back as he walked toward the arena, shook her head, and said in a low voice: "I estimate he will lose."

Shen Haoran stood to the side with his arms crossed, adding indifferently: "It doesn't matter. If he loses, there's still me. As long as I am here, third place will definitely be Zixia Peak's."