162: Chapter 162 The Final Four are Born

The battle between Ye Tian and Liu Jingtao concluded in a shocking manner, with Ye Tian catching the "Guixu Ji" with his bare hands.

After a brief moment of deathly silence, the entire Martial Arts Arena erupted into a long-lasting and heated discussion.

With his indisputable strength, Ye Tian completely shattered all doubts and declared to everyone that he, this dark horse, was by no means a fluke, but possessed strength enough to shake the top ranks of the Heaven Ranking!

On the high platform, the Elders' gazes toward Ye Tian had shifted from initial scrutiny to amazement.

Whether in terms of Heart-Nature, talent, or hidden strength, Ye Tian could be called a Prodigy!

Liu Jingtao left the field dejectedly, his back looking desolate; the blow from this battle would likely take him a long time to recover from.

As for Ye Tian, he calmly walked down the stage, met by the excited gazes of Liu Ruyan and Leng Feng.

"Junior Brother Ye, you..."

For a moment, the beautiful Liu Ruyan didn't know how to describe the shock in her heart.

Leng Feng heavily patted Ye Tian's shoulder and squeezed out a stiff smile: "Good!"

A thousand words were contained within that single word.

Ye Tian smiled slightly and didn't say much.

His gaze was already cast toward the upcoming battles.

The truly strong were still to come.

After a brief rest, the second quarter-final battle for the top four was about to begin.

When the matchup list appeared on the light screen, the atmosphere that had just calmed down tightened once more.

Han Bing versus Luo Qiushui.

Ranked tenth on the Heaven Ranking and one of this year's biggest dark horses, the "Cold Ice Finger" Han Bing, was up against the second-ranked "shadow sword" Luo Qiushui, who was at the Late Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage!

This was also a matchup with great highlights.

Han Bing had defeated the strong as a weakling, possessed extraordinary intellect, and her finger techniques were cold and eerie.

As for Luo Qiushui, she was the acknowledged Peak of the sword Dao among the Outer Sect Disciples, her sword techniques having reached the pinnacle.

The two stepped onto the stage.

Han Bing wore a blue dress, her face as cold as ice, her expression solemn to the extreme.

Facing Luo Qiushui, she felt an unprecedented pressure—an absolute gap in Realm and strength.

Luo Qiushui remained expressionless, simply standing there quietly. The Sword Qi naturally circulating around her had already caused the temperature on the stage to drop sharply.

"Senior Sister Luo, please guide me."

Han Bing spoke first, her posture very humble.

Luo Qiushui nodded slightly in response.

The battle began!

Han Bing didn't dare hold back at all; she went all out from the start!

She pressed her two fingers together, the cold energy at her fingertips condensing into a tangible ice-blue sharp glow. Her figure was elusive as streaks of bone-chilling finger wind attacked Luo Qiushui's major acupoints from various angles!

Her intention was clear!

To win by skill, using speed against slowness, and quickly finding Luo Qiushui's flaws.

However, facing Han Bing's swift and eerie finger techniques, Luo Qiushui didn't even draw her sword.

She merely moved with graceful steps, her figure transforming into dozens of phantoms.

Every time Han Bing's finger wind struck, it hit those blurred phantoms; she couldn't capture where the true body was at all.

In contrast, Luo Qiushui's movements were composed, having long since seen through Han Bing's attack route.

"What fast movement technique!"

"She can't hit her at all! Senior Sister Luo's movement technique is too terrifying!"

Exclamations rose from below the stage.

Han Bing's finger techniques were already extremely fast, but before Luo Qiushui, they consistently yielded no results.

This feeling of being completely seen through caused a sense of powerlessness to well up in Han Bing's heart.

After more than ten consecutive attacks missed, Han Bing's True Yuan was heavily consumed, and her breath had become erratic.

She knew that if this continued, she would lose the chance for victory!

"Soul Freezing Chill!"

Han Bing gave a sharp cry, put forth all her strength, and pointed out!

A streak of deep blue finger force shot toward Luo Qiushui's forehead. Where the force passed, the air left behind a string of ice flowers!

This was her strongest ultimate Move, containing all her current understanding of the Dao of Cold Ice!

Only then did Luo Qiushui finally make a Move.

She joined her fingers and casually pointed forward.

There was no brilliant sword light, nor any sharp Sword Qi to be felt; only a transparent ripple met that deep blue finger force.

"Puff..."

Han Bing's Xuanbing Finger Strength, which condensed her entire cultivation, vanished without a trace the moment it contacted the transparent ripple!

"What?!"

Han Bing's face paled, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief!

However, before she could recover, Luo Qiushui's figure had already appeared in front of her.

Two fingers pointed toward her Qi Sea point.

Han Bing desperately tried to retreat and block, but she found that the space around her was actually imprisoned by invisible Sword Intent, and her movements were slowed several times over!

She could only watch helplessly as that jade-like finger tapped her lower abdomen.

A gentle force surged through; Han Bing let out a muffled groan as her body flew backward, landing at the edge of the stage. Her face turned pale, and her aura instantly withered; her defeat was certain.

Luo Qiushui had shown mercy and did not damage her Foundation.

Fifteen Moves!

The second-ranked on the Heaven Ranking had easily defeated the dark horse Han Bing!

Although everyone had anticipated Han Bing's defeat, they hadn't expected it to be so swift. Before Luo Qiushui, she had almost no power to fight back!

This was the absolute strength of the second-ranked on the Heaven Ranking!

Han Bing struggled to her feet, gave a deep bow to Luo Qiushui, and said bitterly, "Thank you, Senior Sister Luo, for showing mercy."

She was thoroughly defeated and had truly seen the gap between herself and a top Prodigy.

Luo Qiushui nodded slightly and floated off the stage. From beginning to end, she hadn't said a word, appearing as cold and aloof as an immortal.

The following third battle drew everyone's attention even more!

Mo Ling versus Lei Zhen!

Ranked fifth on the Heaven Ranking, the crafty "Thousand Machine Guide" Mo Ling, was up against the first-ranked on the Heaven Ranking, a Half-step True Martial, the undisputed king of the Outer Sect, "Tyrant Saber" Lei Zhen!

This was almost the least suspenseful yet most anticipated matchup of this year's competition.

Everyone wanted to see if the mysterious Mo Ling could create a miracle before the overlord Lei Zhen.

Mo Ling stepped onto the stage, that trace of a demonic smile still on her pretty face, but for the first time, her gaze became solemn.

Lei Zhen walked slowly onto the stage, his purple robe fluttering slightly. His face was calm and his gaze deep; he didn't show any ripple of emotion just because his opponent was fifth on the Heaven Ranking.

He hadn't even unstrapped the Tyrant Saber from his back.

"Senior Brother Lei, please guide me."

Mo Ling said with a giggle, but her eyes were as sharp as needles.

"Please."

Lei Zhen spoke indifferently, his words as precious as gold.

The battle began!

Mo Ling was the first to launch an attack!

She knew Lei Zhen's strength was terrifying and could not give him the chance to strike!

She waved her hands repeatedly. In an instant, countless silver needles as thin as cow hair coated in poison, explosive Talismans, smoke bombs to confuse the mind, and several agile metal Puppets attacked Lei Zhen from all directions like a shower of flowers!

The attack was so eerie and dense it made one's skin crawl!

"Thousand Fissures, Hundred Transformations!"

Bursts of exclamations rose from below the stage!

Mo Ling's first Move was an ultimate Move. This overwhelming attack would likely leave any Ningyuan Realm Disciple flustered or even dead!

However, facing this offensive that was enough to make experts of the same rank despair, Lei Zhen only lightly raised his right hand.

He simply pressed forward!

"Buzz!

"An invisible and intangible majestic force erupted from the center of his palm, stirring up massive ripples!

The sky full of silver needles, Talismans, smoke, and Puppets all froze in mid-air the moment they touched this invisible force!

Then, amidst a series of cracking sounds, all the silver needles twisted, the Talismans were annihilated, the smoke dissipated, and the Puppets crumbled into dust, turning to powder!

Mo Ling's eerie and unpredictable Thousand Fissures, Hundred Transformations vanished like smoke under Lei Zhen's casual press!

"Puff!"

Mo Ling's face turned pale, and she staggered back several steps, her eyes filled with horror!

All her methods were actually so vulnerable before Lei Zhen!

"First Move."

Lei Zhen retracted his hand and spoke calmly.

Mo Ling grit her teeth, a look of ruthlessness flashing in her eyes. She formed hand seals, about to launch an even more powerful secret technique.

But Lei Zhen didn't give her the chance.

He took a step forward.

The entire stage trembled!

An indescribable and terrifying pressure crashed down upon Mo Ling!

"Ugh!"

Mo Ling let out a muffled groan, feeling her entire body's True Yuan instantly freeze. She couldn't even Move a finger, as if suppressed by a ten-thousand-foot mountain!

All her backup plans died in the womb under this pressure!

"Second Move."

Lei Zhen's voice remained flat.

Then, from a distance, he lightly flicked his sleeve.

A strong wind brushed past, and Mo Ling was sent flying out of the stage. She landed on the ground, and though not injured, she had been thoroughly defeated.

Only three Moves!

The first-ranked on the Heaven Ranking, Lei Zhen, had defeated the fifth-ranked Mo Ling in a crushing manner!

Everyone was shocked into silence by Lei Zhen's unfathomable strength!

Half-step True Martial, how terrifying!

Before him, what tricks, what mechanisms—they all became a joke!

Mo Ling stood up, her expression shifting before finally turning into a helpless sigh. She cupped her hands to Lei Zhen and turned to leave.

She had nothing to say about her defeat.

The final quarter-final battle began amidst everyone's anticipation.

Lie Yang versus Shi Gandang!

Ranked fourth on the Heaven Ranking, "Yan Yang Hand" Lie Yang, was up against the third-ranked "Immovable Wisdom King" Shi Gandang!

Both were outstanding figures of the Body Refining lineage; it was destined to be an ultimate collision of strength against strength!

Sure enough, as soon as the battle began, it reached a fever pitch!

There were no fancy Moves or eerie movement techniques, only the most primitive and violent clash of power!

Lie Yang's palms were as red as branding irons. His Yan Yang palm force was peerlessly fierce, every strike carrying a high temperature capable of burning mountains and boiling seas!

Shi Gandang was like a human-shaped tyrannosaur. With his Immovable Wisdom King Body pushed to the limit, his skin took on a bronze hue as he took Lie Yang's palm strikes head-on, producing muffled "thud-thud" sounds. His Mountain Shaking Fist force was as overwhelming as a collapsing mountain!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Energy exploded on the stage, debris flew everywhere, and the two figures constantly collided, separated, and collided again!

The pure clash of power made people's blood boil!

The cheers and shouts from below the stage were deafening!

This battle lasted for over three hundred rounds!

Both sides pushed their physical strength and True Yuan to the absolute limit!

Lie Yang's ferocity and Shi Gandang's heaviness were displayed to the fullest!

However, Shi Gandang's cultivation was ultimately superior, having reached the Middle Stage of the Ningyuan Tenth Stage; his True Yuan was more profound and lasting.

After a long and fierce battle, Lie Yang's True Yuan began to fail, and his offensive slowed slightly.

Shi Gandang seized the opportunity. With a "Wisdom King Prison-Suppressing Fist" that condensed his entire strength, he broke through Lie Yang's defense and struck his chest!

"Bang!" Lie Yang spat out a mouthful of blood and flew backward. Though he struggled to stand up, he no longer had the strength to fight.

"I lost!"

Lie Yang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Although defeated, he laughed heroically, "Shi you blockhead, your turtle shell has gotten even harder! Let's fight again next time!"

Shi Gandang grinned, revealing his white teeth: "Anytime!"

Though they were opponents, they shared a sense of mutual respect.

With this, all four soul-stirring quarter-final battles were over!

When Elder Zhao Wuji solemnly announced the final list of the top four, the atmosphere of the entire Martial Arts Arena reached its Peak!

"Ranked first on the Heaven Ranking, 'Tyrant Saber' Lei Zhen!"

"Ranked second on the Heaven Ranking, 'shadow sword' Luo Qiushui!"

"Ranked third on the Heaven Ranking, 'Immovable Wisdom King' Shi Gandang!"

And... "New Disciple, Ye Tian!"

The first three names were like three towering mountains weighing on everyone's hearts, the top experts everyone expected.

But the last name brought unparalleled shock!

A new Disciple who had joined for less than a year, a youth whose surface cultivation was only the "Ningyuan Fifth Stage," had fought his way through, defeating strong enemies one after another, and finally stood on the stage of the final four, alongside three legends of the Outer Sect!

At this moment, all eyes were focused on Ye Tian. Besides disbelief, there was also a hint of anticipation!

Everyone wanted to know how far this biggest dark horse of this year's competition could go before the top three experts of the Heaven Ranking.

Could he continue to create miracles and challenge those three insurmountable Peaks?