Chapter 417 - 152: Peak Master Lingxi’s Mind
The Main Peak Steward strode onto the Cyan Qilin Platform, coming to a stop in the center. His torch-like gaze swept slowly over the crowd below, who were holding their breath in rapt attention.
Only when the uproar had completely subsided did he circulate his Inner Qi, projecting his voice so everyone could hear. "The rankings for the top nine of this Cyan Qilin Battle round," he announced, "have now been decided!"
"First place: Yunxi Peak, Yuwen Mingjue!"
"Second place: Celestial Derivation Peak, Zhao Chong!"
"Third place: Thunder Peak, Qin Wenbao!"
"Fourth place: Main Peak, Wei Dongting!"
"Fifth place: Zhenyue Peak, Zhou Tong!"
"Sixth place: Lingxi Peak, Yang Jing!"
"Seventh place: Main Peak, Lin Chunyu!"
"Eighth place: Fen Yang Peak, Wang Lie!"
"Ninth place: Celestial Derivation Peak, Jiang Lin!"
Each name announced by the Steward was like a pebble dropped into a still lake, instantly sending ripples of commotion through the crowd below.
A murmur of discussion swept through the crowd. Disciples huddled together, whispering amongst themselves, their faces a mix of emotions.
"Yuwen Mingjue is still number one! As expected of the favorite to win it all!"
"Gao Yang and Xu Ziqiang aren’t competing this time, so the others are probably all planning to seize this opportunity and go for it. Just you watch, tomorrow’s going to be a good show."
"I think Zhao Chong has been holding back. If he really went all out, Yuwen Mingjue might not be his match."
"Wei Dongting is fourth? That palm strike he used to defeat Shen Yurong earlier was incredible. He totally deserves that spot!"
"Yang Jing is sixth? Now this is going to be good. He’s up against Wei Dongting in the next round. I wonder who’s stronger?"
Standing below the platform, Yang Jing’s brow twitched slightly when he heard his ranking.
According to the rules of the Cyan Qilin Battle, which paired contestants from the top and bottom of the rankings, his sixth-place finish meant his next opponent was none other than the fourth-ranked Wei Dongting.
He recalled the earlier match between Wei Dongting and Shen Yurong. As Wei Dongting’s palms flew, the wind they generated carried a scorching heat like the blazing sun. His techniques were fierce and domineering, and his defense was utterly impenetrable.
Shen Yurong’s Swordsmanship was exquisite, but she had been completely unable to break through Wei Dongting’s palm techniques and was ultimately defeated.
Without a doubt, Wei Dongting was a formidable opponent not to be underestimated.
"Junior Brother Yang."
Zhang Hengyi, who was standing beside him, suddenly spoke. His tone was grave as he looked intently at Yang Jing. "You must be extremely careful in tomorrow’s match. That Wei Dongting is incredibly strong. He’s mastered the Fiery Sun Palm, and his Palm Force is immense, imbued with a searing power. Once he gets close, it’s nearly impossible to break away."
Yang Jing nodded, a serious look flashing in his eyes. "Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother Zhang. I understand."
According to the rules of the Cyan Qilin Battle, the top nine would again be paired top-to-bottom tomorrow to determine the top five.
After that, the fourth and fifth-ranked disciples would have another match, with the winner advancing to the final four.
The final four disciples would then be paired off. The winners would fight for the championship and runner-up positions, while the losers would compete for third place. This would determine the final rankings, and the top three would receive rewards from the sect.
Yang Jing understood. He was already silently devising a strategy to deal with Wei Dongting.
...
「Meanwhile.」
In the area designated for the disciples from the Main Peak, Wei Dongting had also heard the new rankings and knew his next opponent was Yang Jing.
His perpetually stern face showed not the slightest ripple of emotion, as if he had just heard some insignificant name.
A fellow disciple beside him, however, frowned. Leaning in, he whispered a warning, "Senior Brother Wei, be careful in your match against Yang Jing tomorrow. Even though this is his first Cyan Qilin Battle, he’s incredibly strong. He defeated Zhang Han and Li Mao back-to-back, and it looked like he wasn’t even going all out. He’s no pushover; you can’t afford to underestimate him."
By now, no one in the sect dared to underestimate Yang Jing.
His string of victories on the Cyan Qilin Platform, where he repeatedly crushed his opponents with overwhelming dominance, had long since convinced everyone of his true strength.
Wei Dongting just snorted at the warning. The corner of his mouth curved into a cold smile as he said dismissively, "As long as I don’t run into Yuwen Mingjue or Zhao Chong, I’m confident I can handle anyone else in this Cyan Qilin Battle. Some rookie isn’t going to cause any trouble. He’s just a stepping stone on my path. In tomorrow’s battle, I will crush him beneath my palm!"
As his words fell, the aura around him grew sharp and intense, causing the nearby disciples to fall silent, not daring to speak further.
...
On the Cyan Qilin Platform.
Having announced the top nine rankings, the Main Peak Steward raised his voice once more. "This concludes today’s Cyan Qilin Battle! The matches to determine the final four and the ultimate rankings will begin tomorrow at 7:00 AM. Do not be late!"
With that, he turned and descended from the Cyan Qilin Platform, his figure quickly vanishing into the crowd.
As the Steward departed, the disciples surrounding the Cyan Qilin Platform also began to disperse, leaving in pairs and small groups while still fervently discussing the day’s matches.
A mixture of gasps, sighs of regret, and exclamations of wonder filled the air, echoing for a long time.
Yang Jing turned and cupped his hands in a salute to Steward Zheng, who was standing beside him. "Steward, I won’t be returning to Lingxi Peak with you right now. I’d like to take a walk around the sect and reflect on the martial insights I gained today."
Steward Zheng nodded at his words, then raised his eyes with a knowing smirk, glancing in Sun Ningxiang’s direction.
The young woman was standing not far off, her sparkling eyes fixed on Yang Jing, a faint blush on her cheeks.
How could Steward Zheng not understand Yang Jing’s intentions? He burst out laughing and clapped him on the shoulder. "Go on, then! I won’t meddle in the affairs of you young folk. Just remember to get some rest. You’ve got a tough fight ahead of you tomorrow."
Yang Jing grinned but offered no explanation. He simply bowed to Steward Zheng once more before striding off toward Sun Ningxiang.