Chapter 430 - 154: Securing Second, Vying for First
Meanwhile, below the Cyan Qilin Platform, a wave of discussion erupted, a mixture of astonishment and awe.
"He’s too strong! Yuwen Mingjue’s power is on a whole other level—it’s a complete stomp!"
"Qin Wenbao is a veteran Inner Strength master, yet he couldn’t even last twelve moves against him. The gap is just too wide!"
"Looks like the top spot in this Cyan Qilin Battle is as good as Yuwen Mingjue’s!"
Down in the audience, Zhao Chong watched Yuwen Mingjue’s pretentious act and curled his lip in disdain, a mocking smirk playing on his face.
’Go on, keep pretending.’
’If Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang were here, you think you’d get a chance to show off like this?’
’If you really had to face them, your fate wouldn’t be much better than Qin Wenbao’s!’
...
On the other side, Yang Jing had been focused on the fight from the very beginning, his gaze fixed on every detail on the platform without blinking.
Watching Yuwen Mingjue defeat Qin Wenbao with such devastating force, a grave expression couldn’t help but surface on his calm face.
Yuwen Mingjue’s All Things Return to Origin Fist was deceptively contained, yet its power lingered. The moves linked together seamlessly, hinting at an artistic conception of returning to a unified origin. It was far more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.
Beside him, Zhang Hengyi and Zhao Xuexiang were already stunned into silence by the tyrannical power Yuwen Mingjue had displayed, their faces filled with shock.
In their eyes, Qin Wenbao’s Sea-Covering Palm was already top-tier. To train one’s Palm Force to the point where it felt like massive waves crashing against the shore was no easy feat.
Yet even an expert like that had been so utterly fragile before Yuwen Mingjue.
At this thought, both of them turned to look at Yang Jing, a hint of worry in their eyes.
Zhao Chong’s strength was comparable to Yuwen Mingjue’s; both were top-tier existences among the disciples of their generation.
Yang Jing was up against Zhao Chong next. Wouldn’t he suffer the same fate as Qin Wenbao and be swiftly defeated?
Lin Ziheng also frowned deeply, his heart pounding with anxiety, so much so that he hardly dared to breathe.
Yang Jing, however, remained calm. But in the depths of his profound eyes, amidst the gravity, a flash of fiery battle intent appeared.
He mused to himself, ’Yuwen Mingjue’s strength is truly impressive. If I were to face him, it would be a tough fight.’
Beyond the railings, the spectating disciples were still abuzz with discussion, and the topic slowly shifted to the next match.
"Next up is Zhao Chong versus Yang Jing. Who do you think will win?"
"Is that even a question? Zhao Chong, obviously! Yang Jing is strong, but compared to Zhao Chong, he’s still a long way off!"
"I’d say Yang Jing will last a dozen moves at most before he has to admit defeat!"
"Zhao Chong’s Sky-Splitting Fist is notoriously domineering. Even if Yang Jing’s skills are extraordinary, he won’t be able to withstand it!"
In the crowd of spectators, Sun Ningxiang had squeezed her way to the front. Hearing the surrounding disciples’ confident assertions that Yang Jing would lose, her delicate brows knitted together instantly, her heart in turmoil.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t accept Yang Jing losing—after all, Zhao Chong’s strength was plain to see—but she was worried he would get hurt.
The image of Qin Wenbao being beaten by Yuwen Mingjue until he vomited blood was still fresh in her mind. If Yang Jing ended up in the same state...
Sun Ningxiang didn’t dare to think about it any further. She could only stare fixedly in the direction of the Cyan Qilin Platform, silently breaking into a cold sweat for Yang Jing.
Just then, the Main Peak Steward in charge of the Cyan Qilin Battle strode onto the stage again. He cleared his throat, infused his voice with Inner Qi, and announced loudly, "The first match of the semi-final rankings: Yuwen Mingjue of Yunxi Peak is the victor! Next up, the second match: Zhao Chong of Celestial Derivation Peak versus Yang Jing of Lingxi Peak!"
As his voice fell, two figures moved at the same time.
Yang Jing, dressed in white robes, stepped onto the Cyan Qilin Platform with a steady gait. His expression was calm, and the aura around him was restrained.
Zhao Chong, on the other hand, wore black martial attire. His steps carried the force of wind and thunder, and with each footfall, the cyan stone slabs seemed to tremble slightly. His face was a mask of flagrant battle intent.
...
At the judges’ area to one side of the stage, several Main Peak Elders were seated together, quietly exchanging their opinions.
A middle-aged Elder with a square face stroked his beard, his tone tinged with approval. "That boy, Yuwen Mingjue, is truly formidable. Among the younger generation of the Xuanzhen Sect’s Inner Strength Realm, he is second only to Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang. The top spot in this Cyan Qilin Battle is almost certainly his. He’s worthy of the sect’s focused cultivation."
A lean old Elder beside him nodded at his words but added, "Zhao Chong is not bad either. He has mastered the Sky-Splitting Fist to perfection, and its explosive power is astonishing. His strength is comparable to Yuwen Mingjue’s. Even the Sect Leader himself has praised him as a promising talent."
At this moment, an Elder with white hair and a white beard spoke slowly, his gaze falling upon Yang Jing on the Cyan Qilin Platform, a hint of admiration in his eyes. "In my opinion, Yang Jing isn’t bad either. To fight his way into the top four in his first-ever Cyan Qilin Battle... the Xuanzhen Sect hasn’t seen a newcomer with such talent, temperament, and track record in a very long time."
The middle-aged, square-faced Elder followed his gaze and saw the figures of Yang Jing and Zhao Chong facing each other from a distance on the stage. He then smiled and asked the white-haired Elder, "Elder Sun, you have a sharp eye. Who do you think will win this battle, Zhao Chong or Yang Jing?"
Hearing this, the white-haired Elder’s gaze swept over the two of them. His fingertips tapped lightly on the stone table as he pondered for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "Although I am quite optimistic about Yang Jing’s potential, in terms of current strength, Zhao Chong should be stronger. Yang Jing’s foundation is ultimately lacking. There is still a considerable gap between him and Zhao Chong. I’m afraid Zhao Chong will be the one to win this fight."