74: Chapter 74 Battle against Ye Hongyu

In the other semi-final, Xie Guangkun fought Chu Yueyue.

Holding a golden flame spear and wearing a golden brocade robe, Xie Guangkun possessed an extraordinary demeanor.

His opponent, Chu Yueyue, was a petite woman holding a pair of silver short daggers, her figure agile.

However, the disparity in strength was far too obvious.

"I lost." Chu Yueyue said with a pale face, lowering her head to concede defeat.

Xie Guangkun withdrew his spear and stood with a calm expression, as if he had just done something utterly negligible.

His gaze swept past Chu Yueyue and landed on Baili Yunche on the other side of the arena, a trace of Battle Intent flashing through his eyes.

...

With this, the top three were born.

Baili Yunche, Ye Hongyu, Xie Guangkun.

The three of them stood in the center of the arena, and the sunlight shone upon them, casting a layer of golden radiance over their bodies.

Steward Wang Ganju stepped forward and said in a clear voice, "The top three have been decided. Next, the three of them will engage in a round-robin battle."

"Each person will fight the other two once respectively, and the champion, runner-up, and second runner-up will be decided based on the number of wins and losses."

"For the first match, Xie Guangkun will fight Ye Hongyu. Will both of you please prepare to take the stage."

Xie Guangkun and Ye Hongyu stepped onto the arena.

Ye Hongyu wore a set of snow-white robes and held the bingpo sword. A faint chill circulated along the blade, causing the surrounding temperature to drop by several degrees.

Xie Guangkun held the golden flame spear, with golden flames dancing on the tip of the spear. The scorching aura formed a sharp contrast with Ye Hongyu's chill.

"Begin!"

Steward Wang Ganju gave the order.

Ye Hongyu made the first move.

Her figure flashed, and the bingpo sword transformed into a silver-white ribbon, carrying a bone-piercing chill as it stabbed straight at Xie Guangkun's throat.

Xie Guangkun neither dodged nor evaded, sweeping out with the golden flame spear!

"Clang!"

Spear and sword intersected, and sparks flew in all directions!

The chill and the flames collided, producing a sizzling sound and evaporating a sheet of white mist.

Ye Hongyu's expression changed slightly as she felt an immense force transmitted from the blade, numbing her arm.

She hurriedly retreated, wanting to widen the distance.

But Xie Guangkun did not give her the chance.

"Golden Spear Fire-Breaking Art — Dragon-like Spear Thrust!"

Xie Guangkun let out a low shout, and the golden flame spear thrust forward fiercely!

The golden flames on the tip of the spear suddenly surged, transforming into a golden Dragon that roared towards Ye Hongyu!

That Dragon bared its fangs and brandished its claws, carrying a world-destroying might that caused the air to crackle and pop.

Ye Hongyu's pupils shrank sharply, and she waved the bingpo sword repeatedly, setting up walls of ice in front of her.

But that Dragon was far too overbearing—the ice walls were like paper in front of the Dragon, shattering at the slightest touch!

"Boom!"

The Dragon slammed into Ye Hongyu, blasting her flying!

"Pff—"

Ye Hongyu spat a mouthful of fresh blood, heavily crashing onto the arena. The bingpo sword flew out of her hand, obliquely embedding itself into the stage surface several zhang away.

"I lost."

Ye Hongyu struggled to stand up, her face pale and her voice weak.

Xie Guangkun withdrew his spear and stood with a calm expression.

Off the stage, there were gasps of amazement.

"Xie Guangkun is too strong! Ye Hongyu couldn't even last three moves in his hands!"

"The Golden Spear Fire-Breaking Art truly lives up to its reputation! The power of that spear strike is probably already comparable to the Second Layer of the Golden Core!"

"As expected of the number one person of the inner sect!"

...

Ye Hongyu was supported down to heal her injuries.

Half an hour later, her injuries had mostly recovered, and she stepped back onto the arena.

For the second match, Baili Yunche fought Ye Hongyu.

Baili Yunche walked onto the arena, his gaze falling upon Ye Hongyu on the opposite side.

Ye Hongyu wore a red long dress, her appearance fresh and refined, her facial features as delicate as a painting, and her brows carrying a hint of icy coldness and arrogance.

Most eye-catching were the two peaks on her chest, propping up her white dress into an astonishing arc. Her neckline was slightly open, revealing a large expanse of snow-white skin that shimmered with a lustrous gloss under the sunlight.

Baili Yunche's eyes went straight.

He had seen quite a few beauties—Liu Ruyan's seductive charm, Su Bingqing's gentle elegance, Xu Yuehuan's cold and noble aloofness.

But Ye Hongyu's beauty was different from theirs.

That was a transcendent and ethereal beauty, like a snow lotus at the peak of a snowy mountain, which could be viewed from afar but not profaned.

"Baili Yunche, have you seen enough?"

Ye Hongyu's voice was icy cold, carrying a hint of annoyance, "If you've seen enough, let the match begin."

Baili Yunche's old face blushed, and he quickly withdrew his gaze, nodding awkwardly.

Ye Hongyu let out a cold snort and wasted no more words.

With a wave of her right hand, the bingpo sword flew up from the ground and landed in her palm.

"bingpo sword Technique!"

Ye Hongyu let out a low shout, and the bingpo sword thrust forward fiercely!

A silver-white sword radiance shot out from the tip of the sword, transforming into an ice Dragon that roared towards Baili Yunche!

Wherever the ice Dragon passed, the moisture in the air condensed into ice crystals, fluttering down like a snowfall.

Baili Yunche did not dare to be arrogant.

He gave Ye Hongyu full respect, neither using his Physical Body strength nor mobilizing the flame prison void-breaking saber.

He swiped his right hand across his waist, and the chiyang sword clanged as it was unsheathed!

When facing a Sword Cultivator, the best course was to use a sword to counter the enemy.

"Setting Sun Sword Technique!"

The chiyang sword traced a crimson arc in the air, and a blood-colored phantom of the setting sun emerged at the tip of the sword.

That setting sun was like a real sunset, emitting a warm radiance that formed a sharp contrast with the ice Dragon's chill.

The ice Dragon and the setting sun collided violently in mid-air!

Rumble!

Two completely opposing forces collided together, erupting into a deafening roar!

Ice crystals splattered, sparks danced, and a large expanse of white mist evaporated, enveloping the entire arena.

Within the white mist, two figures were moving rapidly.

The sword radiances of the two intertwined in the white mist, producing dense sounds of metal clashing and sparks flying in all directions.

Off the stage, all the Disciple watched in dumbfounded amazement.

"Such formidable sword technique! Ye Hongyu's bingpo sword technique has been Cultivated to the realm of Perfection, and every sword strike contains the true intent of ice!"

"Baili Yunche's sword technique is not bad either! The Concept of that setting sun is clearly at the Perfection level of sword technique! Just how old is he for his sword technique to reach this degree?"

"These two are both Genius of the Dao of the sword!"

After a dozen breaths.

A bright light flashed in Baili Yunche's eyes, and he captured a tiny flaw in Ye Hongyu's sword moves.

The chiyang sword thrust out fiercely, precisely flicking at the hilt of the bingpo sword!

"Clang!"

The bingpo sword flew out of her hand, tumbling a few times in the air before obliquely embedding itself into the stage several zhang away, its blade vibrating with a hum.

Ye Hongyu froze in place, looking at her empty right hand, and fell silent for a moment.

"I lost."

Her voice was calm, with neither joy nor anger audible.

Baili Yunche sheathed his sword, cupped his fists and said, "You flatter me, Senior Sister Ye."

Ye Hongyu glanced at him, her gaze complex.

She did not speak, turning around to walk down the stage, her white robes fluttering and her back carrying an icy coldness.