Chapter 449 - 448: The Final Round
Ling Zhan’s defeat came as no surprise to the crowd.
Zhao Tieshan’s Cultivation was already a notch higher, and with a Mysterious Technique like that, not even a King could be completely certain of killing him.
Next, Leng Qiushan, Xue Qianlong, and the others took their turns on stage. Their opponents were not weak, and while they faced some perilous moments, they all managed to advance safely in the end.
Soon, it was Qin Ya’s turn to fight.
He leaped onto the stage. Standing before him was a man with long, narrow eyes that gave him a cruel look. A long saber hung at his waist, and his frame was somewhat gaunt.
Upon seeing Qin Ya, a disdainful smile crept onto his lips. "I’m not a good-for-nothing like Qir Meng, who has to bow and scrape, putting on an act even after losing."
"It’s disgusting. You, an Elder? That’s complete bullshit."
At these words, Ming Yue and the others high above frowned, a hint of displeasure on their faces. After all, Ming Yue himself had appointed Qin Ya. How could he be happy when Feng Ba was so blatantly questioning his decision?
’This Feng Ba probably doesn’t even realize he’s already infuriated the current master of Kunyun Palace. If he knew, he’d probably want to slap himself a couple of times.’
"You only got by on your Alchemy Skill, and you only succeeded because you got damn lucky. I bet a little bit of fleeting fame has gone straight to your head."
"I’ll show you what a true genius looks like."
Qin Ya watched Feng Ba with a ghost of a smile. The man’s attitude was hostile and his tone was even worse, but Qin Ya could still detect the undercurrent of jealousy.
And he wasn’t wrong. Feng Ba was, indeed, acting out of pure jealousy.
Feng Ba was petty and exceedingly arrogant. He had always dreamed of becoming a high-ranking figure in Kunyun Palace, wielding the power of life and death. Qin Ya, at such a young age, had achieved everything he had ever dreamed of. How could he not be jealous?
He had once been the center of attention, the rising star everyone talked about. But ever since Qin Ya appeared, all discussion had shifted to him, while Feng Ba was relegated to a mere supporting role. How could someone so proud by nature endure that?
Today, he had to show everyone who the real genius was.
Qin Ya looked at the "genius" before him, his face twisted with envy and resentment. A mocking smile touched Qin Ya’s lips as he said, "A genius proves it with action, not just words."
As he finished speaking, he crooked his finger in a clear gesture of provocation.
"Arrogant bastard!"
Feng Ba roared. His figure flickered, blurring into an afterimage as the long saber at his waist was drawn in a flash, unleashing a dense flurry of blade light!
The light of the blade carried a wind sharp enough to slice through metal and jade, enveloping Qin Ya from all directions. Each strike thrummed with Mysterious fluctuations, powerful enough to slay a Celestial Human.
But amidst the storm of blades, Qin Ya’s footwork shifted. His figure moved like a Ghostly Charm, seemingly ignoring the assault as he weaved between the attacks as if taking a leisurely stroll.
"Is this the extent of your strength? Your skills are nowhere near as sharp as your tongue."
Qin Ya spoke with casual ease, still having the leisure to talk while weaving through the attacks.
"Shut your mouth!"
Feng Ba roared, and his saber danced even faster, fiercer, and more ferociously. It was like he had whipped up a hurricane on the stage, leaving countless slash marks in its wake.
But despite putting forth all his strength, he couldn’t even touch the hem of Qin Ya’s robes.
"Saber Art: Tiger!"
With a low growl, the formless gale coalesced into a giant White Tiger. Its beastly aura shook the surroundings. Then, with a furious roar, it locked onto Qin Ya and lunged!
"Heh, is this the prototype of a Mysterious Technique?"
’A prototype Mysterious Technique formed from the second layer of the Mysterious already possesses a sliver of a True Intent’s power, allowing it to lock onto a target.’ Qin Ya stood his ground, not bothering to dodge.
True Essence circulated through his body as Thunder surged around him. But this was no ordinary lightning; it was dyed a pitch-black, and it radiated a sinister aura.
All at once, the Thunder roared and shot through the White Tiger in an instant, blasting it to pieces!
But the Thunder’s momentum didn’t stop there. Before Feng Ba’s horrified eyes, it slammed directly into his body, sending him flying hundreds of yards as he coughed up blood, his condition unknown.
HISS...
The crowd drew a collective sharp breath, utterly horrified.
It was terrifying! Feng Ba wasn’t weak at all; among all the disciples, he ranked in the top twenty and was a strong contender for one of the ten spots. But who would have thought that in front of Qin Ya, he would be so fragile, defeated in a single blow!
"That lightning... it was black."
"Beyond its ferocity, it gave off a sense of pure Destruction."
"Those were the fluctuations of a Top Level Mysterious... The rumors were true after all."
The eyes of the onlookers flickered, filled with deep apprehension.
"In this match, Qin Ya is the victor!"
The Elder scanned Feng Ba with his Divine Thought. Seeing that he was only injured and his life wasn’t in danger, he breathed a sigh of relief, fed him an Elixir, and had him removed from the grand hall.
"As expected, you’ve gotten even stronger."
"And not just by a little bit, either." After Qin Ya stepped off the stage, Luox Xinyu and the others approached him. A scorching War Intent flashed in Leng Qiushan’s eyes.
"Heh, all of you have improved a great deal as well. I couldn’t afford to stand still."
「Next came the third round, then the fourth...」
The number of contestants dwindled. During one of the rounds, Xue Qianlong encountered an extremely powerful opponent. After a battle that lasted nearly a full hour, she was ultimately defeated by a hair’s breadth.
Meanwhile, Qin Ya, Luox Xinyu, and Leng Qiushan all successfully advanced to the final round. Qin Ya’s performance, in particular, was outrageously effortless.
He defeated nearly every opponent within three moves.
"It’s the final round, and I still haven’t had a chance to face you. I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed." Leng Qiushan said lightly to Qin Ya, looking at the name of his final opponent and sighing softly. The disappointment in his voice was impossible to hide.
"Don’t worry. We’ll have our chance one day."
Qin Ya, however, looked at the name of his own final opponent. A hint of amusement flashed in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth curved up. "Well, what a coincidence. To think I’d run into him."
Not far away, Zhao Tieshan, who had fought his way through several rounds to advance, stared at the name in his hand. His body trembled slightly, and his expression turned utterly grim.
His final opponent was none other than... Qin Ya!
If there was one person he wanted to avoid fighting above all others, it was definitely Qin Ya. The man’s terrifying killing intent had left a deep and chilling impression on him.
’Qin Ya.’
’No, I can’t think like this.’
’He may be powerful, but I’m definitely stronger! Even a King can’t break my Black Steel Divine Armor. How could a mere Celestial Human possibly get through it?’
’Yes, that’s right. I will definitely win.’
This little pep talk actually had some effect. At the very least, Zhao Tieshan was now filled with confidence and no longer so intimidated by Qin Ya.
"Qin Ya versus Zhao Tieshan!"
The Elder shouted, and Qin Ya leaped onto the stage with a faint smile.
Zhao Tieshan snorted and stepped onto the stage as well. Staring at Qin Ya, he said coldly, "I will repay the humiliation you dealt me outside the grand hall a hundredfold. I’ll make you understand that while being an Elder is nice, without sufficient strength, that title will only bring you trouble. You will be defeated by my hand!"
"Heh. Bring it on."
Qin Ya gave an indifferent smile, not taking Zhao Tieshan’s words to heart in the slightest.