The battle had been decided, and a flurry of discussion erupted below the stage.
“Ye Ling is way too strong, isn't she? She took down Ye Long with just a single strike of her sword.”
“Your news is outdated. Ye Ling defeated Ye Long in a single strike six months ago, too.”
“She should definitely have a place among the top five this time.”
On the high platform, the elders were also whispering to one another, their eyes falling upon the cool and indifferent young girl in the center of the arena.
Clan Leader Ye Zhenhong nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of surprise. “That child has just turned fifteen, hasn't she? That sword strike just now was truly exquisite.”
“She barely used any spiritual energy when she struck. Breaking Ye Long's Houtian Sixth Layer offensive purely with a sword technique is no simple feat.”
Several elders chimed in. One of them turned to look at the Fifth Elder and teased with a smile, “Fifth Elder, Ye Ling is your granddaughter, and she has truly surpassed the master. With the strength she has shown, making it into the top five shouldn't be a problem.”
The Fifth Elder could not hide the astonishment on her face. As the person in charge of the family discipline, she was always busy and had not inquired about her granddaughter's cultivation progress for over six months.
In her memory, Ye Ling's cultivation had still been stuck at the Houtian Fifth Layer half a year ago. In just six short months, not only had her realm advanced by leaps and bounds, but her sword skills had also been polished to such a degree.
This speed had long since exceeded the growth rate of an ordinary junior.
Suppressing the waves of emotion in her heart, she spoke slowly, “I haven't paid attention for a long time either. I didn't expect her to have quietly progressed to such an extent.”
Round after round of matches proceeded in an orderly fashion.
More than sixty participating disciples took turns on the stage, and the gap between the strong and the weak became increasingly obvious.
While the ordinary disciples fought with all their might to secure a spot to advance, the top geniuses fought steadily throughout, ending their matches almost instantly.
In just two short hours, the noisy preliminary rounds came to a complete end. After rounds of elimination, only five geniuses remained to make it onto the final list.
First was Ye Ling, the Clan Leader's son, twenty years old, at the Houtian Ninth Layer.
An established top genius of the clan, he had crushed his way through the brackets and was universally recognized as the absolute favorite to win the championship.
Second was Ye Fei, the Great Elder's granddaughter, nineteen years old, at the Houtian Eighth Layer.
With outstanding talent and exquisite martial arts, her strength was second only to Ye Ling, making her the only established genius capable of competing with him.
Third was Ye Chen, a lone wolf, fifteen years old, at the Houtian Seventh Layer.
Having laid low for two years before suddenly rising, he possessed exquisite sword techniques and astonishing combat power, making him the biggest dark horse of this tournament.
Fourth was Ye Ling, the Fifth Elder's granddaughter, fifteen years old, at the Houtian Ninth Layer.
However, she had concealed her aura the entire time. She never unleashed violent bursts of spiritual energy when she struck, always defeating her opponents with exquisite sword moves, never revealing her true cultivation.
Everyone present, including most of the elders, only assumed she was at the Houtian Seventh Layer with extraordinary sword skills.
Fifth was Ye Yin, a genius from the branch family, eighteen years old, at the Houtian Eighth Layer.
A rare genius from the branch family, she had cultivated bitterly for many years. With a solid foundation, she had squeezed into the top five purely through her hard strength.
With this, the top five of this tournament were decided.
In the martial arts arena, the eyes of all the clan members were focused on the five people on the stage. Many whispered among themselves, debating who would have the last laugh in the final round.
“Ye Ling is definitely getting first place. Does that even need to be said?”
“Ye Fei isn't bad either.”
“Did you guys get a clear look at Ye Chen's sword technique? I always feel like he still has some trump cards he hasn't shown yet.”
“Ye Ling's sword strike was indeed stunning, but she's the youngest. It'll be a tough fight for her no matter who she faces.”
“Ye Yin is from the branch family. It's already amazing that she has made it this far.”
On the high platform, the elders stared deeply at the stage, silently evaluating the competitors.
The Great Elder nodded slightly and sighed softly, “The quality of the juniors this year far exceeds that of the previous generation.”
The Fifth Elder's gaze fell upon her granddaughter, her heart still filled with shock.
Just what on earth had this child gone through in these six short months?
On the stage, the five stood apart, each exuding a different aura.
Ye Ling was calm and confident, a hint of pride between his brows.
Ye Fei looked solemn, her silver whip hanging at her side, ready to strike.
Ye Chen's gaze was restrained and determined, his hand holding his sword as steady as a rock.
Ye Yin had a serene expression, her narrow-bladed long saber held horizontally in front of her, neither arrogant nor humble.
Only Ye Ling stood quietly with a cold, detached posture, showing no desire to compete. Though she appeared to be the weakest, she actually possessed the deepest hidden strength of them all.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the Fifth Elder walked to the center of the stage, holding a wooden box containing five bamboo slips. She looked around and announced in a resonant voice, “The rules for the final stage are as follows: the five will draw lots. One person will receive a bye and advance directly, while the remaining four will fight in pairs. The winners will enter the top three, while the losers will enter the losers' bracket to compete for fourth and fifth place.”
The crowd below instantly fell silent, everyone staring at the wooden box.
Ye Ling was the first to step forward. He casually drew a slip, glanced at it, and stepped aside expressionlessly.
Ye Fei went second. After drawing hers, she frowned slightly and said nothing.
Ye Chen went third. After drawing his, his expression remained calm, revealing no emotion.
Ye Yin went fourth. After drawing hers, her lips pursed slightly, and her hand holding the saber hilt tightened instinctively.
Ye Ling was the last. She reached inside and casually pulled out a slip.
The Fifth Elder took everyone's bamboo slips, held them high above her head, scanned them, and announced loudly: “The results of the draw: Ye Ling versus Ye Fei, Ye Ling versus Ye Yin. Ye Chen receives a bye and advances directly!”
The crowd below instantly erupted into a frenzy.
“Ye Chen got a bye? Talk about incredible luck!”
“Ye Ling and Ye Fei are matching up? Now this is going to be a good show!”
“Ye Ling is fighting Ye Yin? Ye Ling is only at the Houtian Seventh Layer—does she even stand a chance?”
“My bet is on Ye Ling. His cultivation level speaks for itself. No matter how strong Ye Fei is, she's still a layer behind.”
“Ye Fei has great movement techniques, so she might still have a chance. She fought Ye Ling in the last tournament and only lost by a single move.”
“That was three years ago. Ye Ling has been gaining experience outside these past few years, so he has made significant progress.”
“Although Ye Fei hasn't been idle either, the gap has probably widened.”
“Either way, Ye Chen hit the jackpot, cruising right into the top three.”
“Luck is also a part of one's strength, after all.”
“Who do you think has a better chance of winning between Ye Ling and Ye Yin?”
“I think Ye Yin. She is at the Houtian Eighth Layer, after all, with a solid foundation. Having practiced saber techniques for so many years, her experience is also far superior to Ye Ling's.”
“I'm actually rooting for Ye Ling. There's something different about her vibe. I keep feeling like she hasn't used her full strength yet.”
“Hasn't used her full strength? Her opponent was already at the Houtian Sixth Layer, and she could still hold back?”
“I can't explain it, it's just a feeling.”
Everyone chimed in with their own opinions. The match between Ye Ling and Ye Fei was universally acknowledged as the strongest matchup of this round and the most highly anticipated focus of the entire crowd.
The outcome of the match between Ye Ling and Ye Yin, on the other hand, was unpredictable. Both sides had their supporters, making the debate over it the most heated.
Ye Ling raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Ye Fei as the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. “I didn't expect we'd be settling who is stronger so soon.”
Ye Fei's expression was calm, her tone indifferent. “We had to fight sooner or later; it makes no difference. Let's do this.”
Standing to the side, Ye Chen had no expression on his face, but a sharp glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Receiving a bye meant he didn't have to expend any stamina to enter the top three directly.
He glanced at the four people on the stage, silently calculating his potential opponents.
Ye Yin turned to look at Ye Ling, her expression serious as she cupped her fists. “Sister Ye Ling, please guide me.”
Ye Ling nodded slightly, returning the gesture.
The Fifth Elder raised her hand, signaling for silence. She announced in a clear voice, “First match: Ye Ling versus Ye Fei. The rest of you, please step down and wait.”
Ye Ling and Ye Fei remained on the stage while the other three walked down.
The crowd's excitement had already been ignited, their cheers and chatter blending into a lively din.
First match, about to begin.
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