Before the crowd's shock and sighs of admiration could even dissipate, Elder Leng Yue's voice rang out once more above the arena, commencing the third battle of the genius internal matches.
“The third match: Zhou Ruoxuan versus Su Wanqing.”
Two figures swept onto the arena in response. Standing on opposite sides, their temperaments were completely different, yet each possessed her own unique charm.
On the left, Zhou Ruoxuan wore a light-pink ribbed martial arts attire. Her eyes were gentle and lively, her face cute and elegant.
On the right, Su Wanqing was dressed in a light-purple gauze sword-skirt. She was beautiful and refined, with fair skin and a gentle demeanor.
The two were already close friends who shared a mutual appreciation and got along like two peas in a pod.
The moment they stepped onto the stage, they exchanged a knowing look and quietly transmitted their voices using spiritual energy, having already reached an agreement in private.
In today's internal match, they had no intention of fighting to the death or getting genuinely angry. They would purely coordinate their moves as a friendly sparring session.
As the match began, both drew their swords simultaneously. There were no earth-shattering clashes of energy, nor were there any fierce, life-threatening killer moves.
The pink and purple figures danced and crossed paths gracefully on the wide arena.
The sword light was soft and winding, the moves elegant and agile. Their advances and retreats flowed like water, presenting the entire audience with an exceptionally beautiful sword dance duel.
The tens of thousands of disciples below the stage, who had still been immersed in the shock of the previous Sword Force suppression, now had their attention entirely captivated by the aesthetic battle on stage, watching with delight.
Although this match lacked the danger and intensity of the first two, it possessed its own light, elegant charm.
The shadows of the two beauties' swords fluttered as their sleeves flew. The sword light flowed like clouds, and their figures resembled dancing butterflies—a truly pleasing and breathtaking sight.
After dozens of exchanges, Zhou Ruoxuan smoothly found a harmless opening in her opponent's moves.
With a light flick of her sword and perfectly controlled force, she suppressed Su Wanqing's sword path with the slightest of advantages.
“I lose,” Su Wanqing said, cooperatively sheathing her sword with a gentle smile as she gracefully conceded.
And so, a beautiful internal match between geniuses came to a swift end.
With all three matches concluded, the top three of this year's new disciple tournament were finalized.
They were Ye Ling, Leng Xuerou, and Zhou Ruoxuan.
Standing on the high platform, Elder Leng Yue's clear voice resounded across the entire martial arts grounds.
“Next, the three remaining participants will face each other in turn to determine the final rankings.”
The moment she finished speaking, Zhou Ruoxuan in the waiting area below immediately raised her hand high and spoke up to interrupt.
“Elder, this disciple voluntarily forfeits.”
She secretly calculated in her heart that she could never defeat Leng Xuerou anyway, and she had no guarantee of victory against Ye Ling, whose trump cards were unpredictable.
Rather than stepping onto the stage only to suffer an embarrassing defeat, she might as well stay below to watch.
Besides, both Ye Ling and Leng Xuerou were exceptionally beautiful, so their clash would undoubtedly be spectacular.
Sitting below to enjoy the show was far more comfortable than fighting to the death herself.
Zhou Ruoxuan turned her head to exchange a glance with Su Wanqing. Both of their eyes were filled with amusement; their thoughts had clearly aligned, and they shared a soft smile.
Seeing this, Elder Leng Yue nodded slightly and announced in a clear voice,
“Since Zhou Ruoxuan has voluntarily forfeited, the final battle will be between Ye Ling and Leng Xuerou.
“They will fight to determine the first and second place of this year's new disciple tournament.”
On one side of the arena, Leng Xuerou, standing quietly in her white dress, helplessly pressed her hand to her forehead and sighed in her heart.
The Zhou family's younger sister was still as casual and lazy as ever.
Having grown up with Zhou Ruoxuan, she knew the other girl's temperament all too well.
The moment the elder's voice fell, Ye Ling, standing quietly in the corner of the arena, did not hesitate for a second.
With a light tap of her toes against the ground, her figure transformed into a swift green shadow, leaping through the air to land steadily in the center of the arena.
Seeing Ye Ling take the stage, Leng Xuerou, her white dress fluttering, also moved gracefully, leaping onto the arena with light steps.
On the vast arena, only two figures remained, facing each other from a distance.
One in green, one in white; one quiet, one restrained. Both possessed peerless beauty and ethereal temperaments.
The scene of their quiet confrontation made the tens of thousands of disciples in the audience instantly hold their breath, plunging the entire venue into dead silence.
Leng Xuerou's dark hair was bound with a jade hairpin, and her plain white dress was spotless. In her eyes swirled a stubbornness and obsession invisible to others, entirely devoid of her usual calm and indifference.
She stared intently at the calm Ye Ling across from her, her thin lips moving slightly as she transmitted her voice with spiritual energy, audible only to the two of them.
“Actually, I had already anticipated that my final opponent in this new disciple tournament would be you.
“But standing here now, facing you across the stage, I still can't help but feel surprised.”
She lowered her eyes slightly, and when she looked up again, there was a touch of self-deprecation and stubbornness in her gaze, her cold face tinged with a subtle complexity.
“Others say I have outstanding talent and a calm nature, but only I know how obsessive I am deep down—perhaps even despicable.
“Ever since you entered the sect and emerged out of nowhere, completely overshadowing the five of us, a single thought has been hidden in my heart.
“In today's new disciple tournament, I must defeat you once.
“Even if this is the only match I win in my entire life, even if it is only this once, I will have no regrets.”
No one knew that this normally calm and composed proud daughter of heaven, whose talent surpassed her peers, had always harbored such resentment and obsession.
Today's battle had nothing to do with sect rankings or others' opinions.
It was simply an ultimate clash between top geniuses, purely between her and Ye Ling.
Facing Leng Xuerou's stubborn obsession and resolute declaration, Ye Ling's expression did not waver in the slightest from beginning to end.
Her eyes were cold and indifferent as she stood in place, her posture as steady as a majestic mountain.
Meeting Leng Xuerou's stubborn gaze, Ye Ling spoke calmly, her voice clear and steady.
“Then let our swords do the talking.”
Hearing this, Leng Xuerou's mind focused. She suppressed all stray thoughts, a burning battle intent thoroughly igniting in her eyes.
She slowly raised her hand to grasp the hilt of the sword at her waist, her Xiantian true spirit gradually rising around her.
Although the tens of thousands of disciples below the stage had already been certain of Leng Xuerou's victory, seeing the two peerless figures in green and white facing each other from afar still sent an invisible wave of tension sweeping through the venue.
In the waiting area, Wang Jingyuan gently massaged his still-aching shoulder while gazing up at the white-clad figure on the stage, silently hoping in his heart.
“Sister Xuerou, I hope you win.”
Beside him, Zhou Ming also stared unblinkingly at the arena, his expression grave.
Having personally lost to Leng Xuerou, he knew her terrifying strength better than anyone present.
Breaking through to the Xiantian Realm at such a young age, and touching the threshold of Sword Force that countless sword cultivators could only hope to glimpse after decades of bitter cultivation.
Such heaven-defying talent had already left the other geniuses of her generation far behind.
Yet, despite knowing Leng Xuerou's strength, Zhou Ming still could not come to an absolute conclusion.
Ye Ling's counterattack all the way to the top had brought too many shocks, her layers of trump cards constantly overturning everyone's understanding.
He pondered silently. Leng Xuerou's talent was indeed terrifyingly peerless, but he wondered if she could secure the victory once again this time.
On the periphery of the crowd, Su Qinghan, Su Qinghe, and Nalan Yanli all knit their brows, staring with deep worry at the green-clothed girl standing alone on the arena.
High up amidst the clouds and mist, Leng Zhiwei and the various Peak Masters also looked down with focused attention.
Quietly waiting for the peak final duel of this year's new disciple tournament to officially begin.
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