32: Chapter 32 Gradually Revealing Talent

Ye Chen's single-move victory instantly ignited the atmosphere of the entire arena. The previously dismissive and curious gazes were now mostly replaced by shock and scrutiny.

Who could have thought that this "Trash," who had been expelled from the Ye Family and was rumored to be only at the First Level of Meridian Opening, possessed such strength?

Wang Mang's face darkened to the point of dripping water as he heavily sat back in his chair, his fingers gripping the armrest until it creaked.

When Wang Lie was carried off the stage, his rigid body and terrified eyes were like a resounding slap across the face of the Wang Family.

Wang Teng stared at Ye Chen's back, the killing intent in his eyes almost solidifying into substance, yet the corner of his mouth curled into a cruel arc, as if saying,

Now this is getting a bit interesting.

Ye Rushan's eyelids twitched. His face was expressionless, but the knuckles of the hand resting on his knee were slightly white.

Behind him, Ye Hu gnashed his teeth and growled in a low voice, "Damn luck!"

Lin Qingxue picked up her teacup, took a gentle sip, concealing a faint trace of a smile at the corner of her lips.

The Scar-faced Guard stood behind her. His gaze towards Ye Chen now held a few more traces of genuine acknowledgment.

The matches continued.

With Ye Chen as the dark horse, the following matches seemed to become more intense.

Disciples from various Families brought out their true abilities. True Qi collided on the stage, and shouts filled the air.

Two direct descendants of the Lin Family took the stage, resulting in one win and one loss. The victor was named Lin Dong, at the Early Stage of the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening.

He wielded the Lin Family's "Greenwood Sword Art" with considerable agility, barely defeating a Ye Family opponent of the same Realm, but his own energy consumption was significant.

The one who lost was defeated by a female cousin of Wang Teng, using an elusive movement technique.

Soon, another round of draws began. Ye Chen drew number "fifteen" this time.

"Match fifteen, number fifteen, Ye Family, Ye Chen! Versus number sixteen, Ye Family, Ye Ming!"

Another internal Ye Family battle!

And the opponent was Ye Ming, the biological grandson of Grand Elder Ye Rushan, one of Ye Hu's loyal followers, at the Middle Stage of the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening!

Another wave of commotion rose from below the stage.

This draw was truly "coincidental"!

Many people cast meaningful glances towards Ye Rushan in the Ye Family section.

Ye Ming rubbed his hands together eagerly, his gaze towards Ye Chen filled with venom and excitement. Clearly, he had received instructions from Ye Rushan to cripple Ye Chen in this round and wash away the shame.

Ye Chen's expression remained calm as he ascended the stage once more.

Ye Ming was already waiting on the stage, holding a fine steel longsword. He sneered coldly,

"Ye Chen, I didn't expect you to have some skill. A pity, but it ends here! Today, I'll teach you, this ungrateful wretch, a proper lesson on behalf of Brother Hu!"

Ye Chen couldn't be bothered with words, merely watching him quietly.

"Match begin!"

As soon as the referee's voice fell, Ye Ming let out a fierce shout, flicked his longsword, and conjured three green sword blossoms, thrusting towards Ye Chen's upper, middle, and lower paths!

It was precisely the killing move of the Ye Family's "Greenwood Sword Art," "Three Stars Chasing the Moon." The sword momentum was fierce, sealing off all of Ye Chen's retreat paths!

He was determined to press his advantage in cultivation and crush Ye Chen in one go!

Facing this swift sword technique, Ye Chen finally moved.

He did not draw his sword, only his footwork changed, his body swaying like willow catkins in the wind.

He weaved through the gaps in the sword light, each time narrowly avoiding the blade, appearing quite "disheveled."

"Hmph! Only know how to dodge? Trash!"

Seeing this, Ye Ming felt reassured and intensified his assault. Each strike aimed at Ye Chen's vital points, forcing him to retreat repeatedly, seemingly about to be driven to the edge of the stage.

Below the stage, a pleased smile appeared on Ye Hu's face.

Wang Teng curled his lip disdainfully. Lin Qingxue frowned slightly.

Just as Ye Ming thrust his sword towards Ye Chen's heart, believing victory was assured, a sudden change occurred!

Ye Chen, who had been evading all along, flashed a cold light in his eyes, and his figure abruptly stabilized!

Instead of retreating, he advanced, sidestepping the sword's edge. His left hand shot out like lightning, index and middle fingers together, striking Ye Ming's sword-wielding wrist with pinpoint accuracy!

*Clang!* A crisp sound rang out!

Ye Ming felt a sharp pain in his wrist, as if struck by iron pliers. His entire arm instantly went numb and sore, the longsword nearly flying from his grasp!

Panic surged in his heart. He wanted to change his move, but it was already too late!

At the same time Ye Chen struck his wrist, Ye Chen's right palm had already silently pressed towards his lower abdomen!

Before the palm wind arrived, a piercingly cold, bone-chilling sensation had already penetrated his body!

"Profound Ice Palm!" Ye Chen inwardly shouted, his palm force surging forth!

*Thud!*

Ye Ming flew backwards like a kite with a severed string. While still in the air, he spat out a mouthful of blood mixed with ice shards, heavily crashing below the stage and curling into a ball.

A layer of white frost covered his body. He shivered uncontrollably, unable to even speak.

Another single move!

The entire arena fell into dead silence once more!

If defeating Wang Lie could be attributed to some cleverness, then this time, defeating Ye Ming at the Middle Stage of the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening head-on was a genuine display of overwhelming strength!

That bizarre footwork, the precise counter, and that fierce, overbearing icy palm force all indicated that Ye Chen possessed combat power far exceeding his apparent Realm!

"Ye Ming!" Ye Hu abruptly stood up, his eyes wide with fury.

Ye Rushan's face turned livid. The teacup in his hand shattered with a *crack* under his grip.

Wang Mang's eyes grew solemn. For the first time, he truly regarded Ye Chen as a threat.

Wang Teng licked his lips, the Battle Intent in his eyes growing stronger.

A flash of surprise passed through Lin Qingxue's eyes, soon turning into appreciation.

The speed of Ye Chen's progress in strength far exceeded her expectations.

That icy palm force seemed even more refined and overbearing than before.

The referee stepped forward to check on Ye Ming. He found that Ye Ming's Meridians were eroded by cold qi. Although there was no life-threatening danger,

it would likely take several months of recuperation to recover. He gave Ye Chen a deep look and announced loudly,

"Match fifteen, Ye Chen, victorious!"

Ye Chen didn't even glance at Ye Ming, who lay like a dead dog below the stage, before turning and leaving the platform.

As he passed the Ye Family section, he could feel the almost fiery gazes of Ye Rushan and Ye Hu, but he paid them no mind.

Returning to his seat, Xiao Yu's face flushed with excitement. "Brother! You won again! That was amazing!"

Ye Chen smiled slightly and turned his gaze back to the stage.

Two consecutive, clean victories were enough to make many people reassess his strength.

But it also meant that his future opponents would be stronger and more cautious.

Sure enough, in the subsequent matches, Ye Chen could clearly sense that those who might become his opponents now regarded him with wariness in their eyes.

Round after round passed, with people continuously being eliminated. Wang Teng and Ye Hu also took the stage in succession.

Wang Teng's opponent was a Lin Family disciple at the Early Stage of Fifth Level. He didn't even draw his sword, relying only on a set of scorching, overbearing palm techniques.

Within three moves, he blasted his opponent off the stage. His aura was powerful, eliciting gasps of surprise.

Ye Hu, relying on brute force and a set of sinister claw techniques, also severely injured and defeated a Wang Family disciple, his methods ruthless.

On the Lin Family's side, apart from Ye Chen, only Lin Dong and another young girl named Lin Xue, also at the Early Stage of Fifth Level, advanced.

The situation was not optimistic.

After several rounds of fierce competition, the list of the top eight was finally determined.

Ye Chen, Wang Teng, Ye Hu, Lin Dong, Lin Xue.

Along with a Wang Family disciple named Wang Yan at the Late Stage of Fifth Level, and a Ye Family branch disciple named Ye Qing at the Middle Stage of Fifth Level.

And one lucky contestant who received a bye was a black-clad youth from the City Lord's faction, named Zhao Feng. He had kept a low profile throughout, and no one knew his true depth.

For the quarterfinals, opponents would be decided by draw.

The atmosphere instantly grew tense to the extreme.

Ye Chen took a deep breath, stepped forward, and drew a wooden plaque from the stone box.

"Number three."

His opponent was... Wang Yan! The Wang Family's Genius second only to Wang Teng, at the Late Stage of the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening!

In the spectator stands, a cold smile curled at the corner of Wang Mang's mouth.

Wang Teng also looked at Ye Chen and made a throat-slitting gesture.

Clearly, the Wang Family intended for Wang Yan to exhaust or even severely injure Ye Chen in this round, clearing the way for Wang Teng.

Ye Chen's expression remained unchanged as he put away the plaque. Late Stage of Fifth Level was indeed a formidable opponent, but he felt no fear.

This battle would serve perfectly to test his current true strength!

The first match of the quarterfinals was a major event: Wang Teng versus Ye Hu!

The two stepped onto the stage. Meeting as enemies, their eyes blazed with hatred. Without any wasted words, they directly engaged in combat!

Wang Teng's "Blazing Sun Art" was supremely Yang and unyielding, his palm winds scorching. Ye Hu's Cultivation Technique leaned towards the sinister and ruthless, his claw winds sharp.

The two fought fiercely, evenly matched. Qi energy overflowed, and cracks appeared on the stage floor from the shockwaves.

Ultimately, relying on superior cultivation and the advantage of his Cultivation Technique, Wang Teng seized a flaw in Ye Hu's defense.

A single "Blazing Sun Palm" sent him flying, securing victory, though Wang Teng himself expended significant energy.

Defeated, Ye Hu descended the stage with a livid face. His gaze towards Wang Teng and Ye Chen grew even more venomous.

The second match: Lin Dong versus Ye Qing.

After a hard-fought battle, Lin Dong narrowly defeated Ye Qing thanks to the sophistication of his swordplay, preserving a sliver of hope for the Lin Family.

The third match: Lin Xue versus the previously exempt Zhao Feng.

Zhao Feng finally made his move. He used a set of bizarre movement techniques and finger techniques, elusive and unpredictable, his finger winds sharp. Lin Xue exerted her full strength,

yet couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes. Finally, she was struck by a finger on her shoulder acupoint and defeated.

The strength Zhao Feng displayed was unfathomable, causing waves of exclamations.

Finally, it was Ye Chen's turn to take the stage.

His opponent, Wang Yan, was already waiting on the platform.

This man was tall and sturdy, with rugged features, holding a broadsword that shimmered with faint flames.

His eyes were fierce, his aura surging. He had indeed reached the Late Stage of the Fifth Level of Meridian Opening!

"Ye Chen, making it this far was your good luck! However, meeting me means your luck has run out!"

Wang Yan pointed his broadsword at Ye Chen and sneered viciously.

"I'll make you know the consequences of offending my Wang Family!"

Ye Chen slowly drew his ice scar sword. The dark blue blade gleamed with a cold luster under the sunlight. He pointed the tip diagonally towards the ground, cold qi spreading around him.

"Enough talk. Let's see what you're truly made of."