by Feng Yise
"Oh? Like that huh. Against No. 31? It feels like a strong person!" Ye Yuan said.
Long Tang replied nonchalantly, "Doesn't matter. Deal with it when it comes."
"Haha! That's good then! With your strength, charging into the top 50 shouldn't be any problem!" Ye Yuan said with a laugh.
"I hope so!"
Long Tang was also someone who made it past the Nine Heavens Road. It could be seen how great his perception was.
This one to two months, Long Tang improved extremely quickly. It was just that he did not have the chance to display it.
Ye Yuan believed that before long, he would surely stand out conspicuously!
"All disciples listen up. The sect grand competition is about to begin. Quickly find your platforms according to your numbers!" a Martial Hall elder mustered up essence energy to shout loudly.
Ye Yuan and Long Tang's eyes met when they heard that and smiled. They each went to their platform.
Ye Yuan was No. 52, which was also at platform No. 52.
When he arrived at his platform, the No. 149 disciple was already there early.
When Ye Yuan saw the other party, he was involuntarily stunned.
There would really be no stories without coincidences!
Chapter 255 - No. 52
Ceng Yu looked at Ye Yuan who was opposite with a green face.
He never imagined that he would encounter this ominous star in the first round.
After Ceng Cheng returned last time, he warned him to absolutely never provoke Ye Yuan again!
You got to be kidding. A newbie disciple with over a million points on him. Who knew what kind of terrifying background he had?
Even ordinary elders did not have so many points, but it was on a Spirit Condensation Realm disciple. This was too peculiar.
Listening to his elder brother's words, Ceng Yu also knew that Ye Yuan was not someone he could afford to offend.
It was just that he never expected he would bump into Ye Yuan so coincidentally in the first round.
"The sect's grand competition begins now!"
The Martial Hall elder's voice resounded once more. The grand competition officially began.
Fierce fighting sounds rose one after another, instantly enveloping the entire arena. However, some platforms were silent, such as platform No. 52.
Ye Yuan did move. Neither did Ceng Yu.
Ceng Yu was no fool. Ye Yuan could defeat him at Second Level Spirit Condensation Realm, let alone now that he was already Fourth Level Spirit Condensation Realm.
"I concede!" Without much hesitation, Ceng Yu admitted defeat very decisively.
"Platform No. 52, No. 52 wins," the elder's voice sounded out again.
Every platform had an array installed. The elder could understand the activity on the platforms at the first moment through the array center.
The elder's voice was slightly hesitant. He clearly did not think that the first to win would actually be the unknown No. 52.
Normally, the first platform to win would either be No. 1 or No. 2, because the difference between both parties was too great.
However, the sect grand competition was also hard to come by chance to temper one's self. To be able to seek guidance from the number one or two ranked core disciple was something that other disciples wished for. Remarkably few people would concede.
Ceng Yu admitting defeat directly also resulted in Ye Yuan become the first to win among the 100 platforms.
"Who is on platform No. 52? The opponent didn't purposely give up, right?"
"Yeah! In the past grand competitions, it's basically always No. 1 who wins first. The gap between Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu's strength and ours is too far! What the hell is with this No. 52 who popped out this time?"
"Who knows! Logically speaking, other than those few sickos in the top 10, the disparity in strength for those behind would not be too ridiculous. Even if they lose, it's impossible to be faster than Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu, right?"
"Who cares? After this first round is over, we'll naturally know which deity is this No. 52."
The worst of the Heaven Barracks' rank one was quasi-elite disciple strength. They were existences like cranes among chickens among the core disciples.
Hence, every grand competition, it was basically always No. 1 who won first.
But a little hiccup happened right from the start today. An unknown No. 52 was the first to win. This attracted quite a few curious eyes.
Although winning first did not mean anything, this sort of hiccup that subverted the past could still add conversational topics for the grand competition.
The disciples started the competition directly after drawing lots, so apart from the first ten who were predetermined, others did not know who had which number.
Platform No. 1, Tian Yu was just about to attack when he heard the elder's voice. His heart involuntarily jolted.
I heard that two core disciples who made it through the Nine Heavens Road were brought over recently. One of them succeeded in clearing the challenge with Essence Qi Realm cultivation! Could it be that this No. 52 is one of them? Tian Yu thought to himself.
Those who cleared the Nine Heavens Road all knew that one could obtain enormous rewards from there!
To challenge the Nine Heavens Road at the Essence Qi Realm, the difficulty was far beyond imagination!
Even Tian Yu himself only dared to challenge it after reaching the Spirit Condensation Realm.
Without question, Ye Yuan's emergence gave Tian Yu intangible pressure.
Now that such a peculiar situation occurred in the grand competition, it really stirred Tian Yu's curiosity.
Tian Yu looked at his opponent opposite him and said coolly, "Sorry, let's end like this!"
Finishing, only to see a streak of sword beam flashed over. His opponent flew out.
The No. 200 drawn today was not mediocre. He could not help that the disparity between him and Tian Yu was too great!
He did not even get a clear look at how Tian Yu attacked just now as if he did not even move before!
Such strength was too terrifying!
No. 200 struggled to his feet and said respectfully, "Many thanks for Senior Apprentice Brother Tian Yu showing mercy. I lost!"
Tian Yu nodded and walked down the platform. Such an opponent simply could not draw his interest.
If he were willing, that move just now would have already killed the other party. However, this was the sect grand competition. The other party was only slightly injured.
Within the Spirit Condensation Realm, Tian Yu was virtually invincible!
His opponents had never been Spirit Condensation Realm martial artists. Only those people among the elite disciples were his rivals.
And in the not too distant future, he would also trample those people underfoot.
However, that youth who challenged the Nine Heavens Road at the Essence Qi Realm still made him garner some curiosity.
Although he did not think that the other party was stronger than him, he could not deny that the other party should not be inferior to him!
In reality, Tian Yu was also prepared to challenge the Nine Heavens Road at the Essence Qi Realm. But at that time, he did not feel very confident, so he gave up.
The other party being able to clear the Nine Heavens Road at the Essence Qi Realm at best only meant that his luck was slightly better than his.
He heard that the State of Qin youth called Ye Yuan was forced to enter the Nine Heavens Road. He must have stimulated his potential in a hopeless situation before he could successfully clear it.
Tian Yu strolled leisurely to the center of the array formation. He came to find the elder hosting the array formation.
"It has been tough on you, Elder Feng," Tian Yu gave a bow and said.
"Oh, it's Tian Yu. How is it tough to serve the sect? Hur hur, you came to ask about that No. 52, right?" Elder Feng said with a chortle.
Tian Yu did not conceal it and nodded slightly.
"I thought that you wouldn't pay attention to this sort of minor matter. After all, it's only a matter of moments if you want to beat your opponent."
Tian Yu smiled and said, "I only want to confirm something."
Ye Yuan and Long Tang passed the Nine Heavens Road. While it was not considered confidential information, reports from the secular world dojos were generally straight to the top.
Ordinary elders did not know nor were they interested in knowing this kind of stuff.
Tian Yu was the grand elder's grandson. His identity was extraordinary. This bit of special privilege was naturally there. Elder Feng would not refuse to give him this face either.
He was just rather curious that this sort of small thing like No. 52 winning would actually draw Tian Yu's concern.
The way Elder Feng saw it, Tian Yu should be going over to the elite disciples' platforms right now.
The battle situation over there was very intense. It currently should not have ended yet.
"No. 52 is called Ye Yuan, a newcomer core disciple. Speaking of which, it's kind of strange. This boy is actually only Fourth Level Spirit Condensation Realm while his opponent is already at the peak Sixth Level Spirit Condensation Realm, yet he actually conceded straight away."
Elder Feng talked about the situation he understood from the array formation but did not notice that Tian Yu's expression became increasingly uglier.
It was indeed this Ye Yuan! I didn't think that he broke through to middle-stage Spirit Condensation Realm so quickly already! Looks like the benefits he obtained on the Nine Heavens Road was even more than me! As expected, I should have challenged it at the Essence Qi Realm! Tian Yu sighed quietly to himself.
Chapter 256 - Future Strongest Powerhouse
On the martial path, the earlier and the more Heavenly Daos comprehended, the greater one's future accomplishments would naturally be too.
All the myriad cultivation methods under the heavens all matched a certain area of understanding towards Heavenly Dao.
The Azure Dipper Purple Yang Sword Art was an extremely profound sword art. If he could have comprehended it at the Essence Qi Realm, Tian Yu's future accomplishments could possibly be even higher!
It was exactly because Tian Yu felt the sword intent on the Nine Heavens Road that his cultivation, later on, became increasingly faster.
Because the Heavenly Dao that he comprehended far exceeded his present realm. It allowed his cultivation speed to far surpass ordinary people.
Of course, this kind of cultivation speed was not limitless. As the speed he comprehended Heavenly Dao decreases with time, and his realm and comprehension of Heavenly Dao gradually reached an equilibrium; his cultivation speed would naturally drop too.
This was a definite result no matter how much more monstrous Tian Yu was.
The higher the realm, the more difficult it was to comprehend Heavenly Dao. Even those peak geniuses in the Divine Realm felt times where human effort just won't do, let alone the Lower Realms.
Ye Yuan naturally could not escape this fate either. But the Heavenly Dao that he comprehended was not even on the same level as the Endless World's martial artists. Hence, he did not need to worry about this problem now.
Furthermore, the reason why Ye Yuan was not in a hurry to raise his realm was that he was comprehending and understanding Heavenly Dao anew!
Ji Qingyun's realm was virtually piled up using medicinal pills. At that time, he did not use any effort to understand Heavenly Dao. He knew the how but not the why.
Now that Ye Yuan was resolved to step onto the martial path, he obviously would not make this kind of mistake again.
Otherwise, with Ye Yuan's Heavenly Dao realm, he could return to the pinnacle in just a few years using medicinal pills to pile on the entire way.
But that way, he would become a power level 5 trash again.
Ye Yuan's improvement speed was already so rapid that it was implausible in other peoples' eyes, but he himself knew just how slow it was!
Ye Yuan was making up for the homework he did not do in his previous life at 'tortoise speed.'
. . . . . .
Ye Yuan did not imagine that Ceng Yu conceding straight away would cause a moderate disturbance. He arrived at platform No. 31 directly after winning.
Since he was unoccupied and had nothing to do, he and the Nanfeng aunt and niece came to watch Long Tang's match together.
Right now, Long Tang was currently in the midst of a fierce battle with the other party on the platform!
Ye Yuan's opponent was the No. 31 Liu Fang, a Seventh Level Spirit Condensation Realm martial artist!
Among the sect core disciples, a martial artist with such strength should by right crush a newcomer like Long Tang.
But the reality was that although he held the initiative, he kept being unable to take down Long Tang.
Long Tang was not those genius type martial artists. Instead, he was a tenacious and perceptive martial artist.
Although signs of defeat gradually showed on the platform, he still held onto that last breath and refused to breathe his last. Liu Fang was also rather anxious after not taking him down despite attacking for so long.
Ye Yuan's worldview was amazingly high. He understood the situation in the arena with a single glance.
"Sigh, it doesn't look good for Senior Apprentice Brother Long anymore. This is his first battle after entering the sect. If he were defeated, it would be quite a huge blow to him, right?" Nanfeng Zhirou clearly also saw through Long Tang's bad situation and said somewhat worriedly.
Ye Yuan smiled and said, "Relax. Long Tang's strength should be greater than this. He's definitely hiding some cards."
"En? How do you know? Senior Apprentice Brother Long wouldn't tell you what trump cards he has, right? Didn't you guys not fight?"
"I'm guessing," Ye Yuan said honestly.
"Tch, guessing again! You can even guess that others have trump cards! That No. 31 is at the Seventh Level Spirit Condensation Realm! Whatever trump cards Senior Apprentice Brother Long has, it's most likely all used up already. Could it be that he hasn't even used his trumps cards despite fighting up to now?" Nanfeng Zhirou said somewhat disbelievingly.
A very long time had already passed since the match started. It was long past the stage where they probed each other out.
Encountering an opponent that was so much stronger than him, it was impossible for Long Tang to not use any trump cards, right?
"Used is definitely used. But Long Tang definitely won't expose his strength to his foe all at once. Carrying on watching and you'll see." Ye Yuan no longer looked at Nanfeng Zhirou but focused on the match in the arena.
Back then when Yao Qian warned Ye Yuan at the State of Qin, there was one thing which was right, and that was the strength of sect core disciples were indeed formidable.
Long Tang's combat strength was originally very powerful already. Leaping ranks to battle was like having a meal.
Now that he made it past the Nine Heavens Road and was in seclusion to comprehend for more than a month, his strength increased by who knew how much.
If it was the standard of the State of Qin's Dan Wu Academy, Long Tang challenging a Seventh Level Spirit Condensation Realm as Fifth Level Spirit Condensation Realm was something that could be easily accomplished.
But now, facing Liu Fang, Long Tang had exhausted virtually all of his moves, but could not gain any advantages.
If Long Tang did not have any more moves, defeat was sooner or later.
From this, it could be seen just how powerful sect core disciples were.
Of course, this was Ye Yuan sensing on behalf of Long Tang. When he was facing his opponent, he really did not feel that the other party was very strong.
After all, Ye Yuan was not even in the same world as these so-called geniuses.
On the platform, Long Tang was already forced into a corner by Liu Fang. The situation looked very desperate, and there was the danger of losing any time.
> "Haha, what a troublesome newcomer! To actually be able to force me to such an extent. You can be amply proud! After this, go to the loser group! Burning Flame Palm!"
Seeing as Long Tang's defeat was imminent, Liu Fang decided to take the other party down in one fell swoop!
This Burning Flame Palm was a fire attribute superior-grade Tier 2 martial technique. Its might was incredible! Under a single palm move, a stretch of red actually flooded Long Tang's corner. It could be seen how high the temperature was.
The way Liu Fang saw it, Long Tang absolutely only had the outcome of defeat under this palm!
But right then, Liu Fang's eyes revealed gaping astonishment!
Long Tang shut his eyes and threw a punch forward just like that.
A very ordinary punch that seemingly did not have the slightest bit of force.
But it was this punch that easily crushed the high temperature created by his Burning Flame Palm.
It was this simple punch that broke his defense with unstoppable momentum, smashing onto his c.h.e.s.t!
Bang!
Liu Fang flew out backward and became unconscious . . .
After several breaths of time, Elder Feng's voice sounded again, "Platform No. 31, No. 170 wins!"
Ye Yuan looked at this fist from Long Tang and could not help smiling faintly.
This fellow's comprehension abilities were truly not an ordinary kind of powerful! Long Tang actually comprehended some superficial knowledge from that finger he used to give pointers to Wu Luochen with!
Furthermore, Long Tang successfully converted Ye Yuan's sword intent into his fist intent, and he trudged out a path that belonged to himself!
In future, if Long Tang could perfect this fist intent, his accomplishments would surely be extraordinary!
However, this kind of self-created fist intent road was not easy to walk. The difficulty was ten times, even tens of times greater than ordinary people!
But once he walked finish this road, Long Tang would surely be a powerhouse of a region in the future!
At least, shattering the void and entering the Divine Realm should not be an issue.
"Ah! Senior Apprentice Brother Long actually won under such a circ.u.mstance! Really amazing!" Nanfeng Zhirou exclaimed in shock.