At the critical moment, Wang Yuyao no longer cared about her injuries.
She hastily summoned the Perfect Minor Mountain Seal and infused it with the power of the Perfect Profound Water Ring.
The very next instant, Ye Lingyun's attack struck.
Boom!
A terrifying blast of spiritual force erupted.
Wang Yuyao let out a muffled groan, her body flung away like a ragdoll, crashing toward the stands.
Just as she was about to hit the ground, a figure shot across the air and caught her in his arms.
"Senior Brother Wang…"
The pale-faced Wang Yuyao's eyes lit up.
Wang Jianqiang nodded slightly, descending slowly to the ground.
"Focus on healing."
He released his arm from around her waist.
Ye Lingyun's strike had indeed been domineering and brutal.
Yet despite how miserable she appeared, thanks to the protection of the Perfect Water-Moon Skirt, her injuries were far less severe than they looked.
Wang Yuyao nodded and sat down cross-legged without hesitation, entering recovery.
Seeing this, Wang Jianqiang lifted his head toward the ninth arena.
At that moment, Ye Lingyun was standing at the edge of the stage, gazing coldly down at him, his face full of disdain and mockery.
A useless waste like him, daring to oppose me again and again? Truly overestimating himself.
If it weren't for the sect rules, Ye Lingyun would've already made sure this waste regretted ever being born.
Wang Jianqiang, however, only gave him a passing glance before turning his gaze to the sky.
"Elder, Wang Yuyao had already jumped down from the stage, clearly admitting defeat, yet Ye Lingyun still chased her and struck ruthlessly. Doesn't that violate the rules?"
High above, Elder Yun Que's face was unreadable. After a short silence, he said flatly:
"She had not yet touched the ground, so it does not count as leaving the stage. Since Ye Lingyun's last strike landed before that, it is not a violation."
According to the official rules, once a contestant admitted defeat, the opponent was forbidden from continuing their assault.
This was clearly Elder Yun Que twisting words to cover for Ye Lingyun.
Yet Wang Jianqiang showed no anger at all. He merely smiled faintly and cupped his hands.
"Disciple understands. Many thanks for Elder's clarification."
That calm, unconcerned tone only made Elder Yun Que frown. For some reason, he felt an uncomfortable irritation in his chest.
His brow furrowed, and he said coldly, "The sect tournament strictly forbids outside interference. You've already violated this rule once. If there is a next time, you'll be punished by sect law."
Wang Jianqiang sneered inwardly.
I didn't even step onto the stage—just caught her when she fell. And that counts as interference?
What a ridiculous excuse.
But facing a Core Formation elder, he dared not argue.
This wasn't a matter of courage.
It was a matter of intelligence.
On the ninth stage, Ye Lingyun, watching Wang Jianqiang get reprimanded, only grew more contemptuous.
Not only was this man a waste—he clearly didn't even have a brain.
He himself was among the sect's strongest outer disciples, while Su Yutong was a peerless genius who had risen to astonishing heights in just three short years.
In Elder Yun Que's eyes, Wang Jianqiang and Wang Yuyao weren't even worthy of comparison.
And yet this fool kept running to the elder, begging for "fairness"?
Truly laughable.
Ye Lingyun's eyes slid back to Wang Yuyao.
"With me here, don't even dream of entering the top ten."
His domineering declaration spread clearly across the arena.
Wang Yuyao's eyes opened, her face flushing with anger.
"Don't let him distract you. Focus on recovery."
Wang Jianqiang's calm voice pulled her back.
She nodded, closed her eyes again, and resumed her meditation.
Ye Lingyun sneered and swept his gaze over the challengers below.
"The ninth arena belongs to Su Yutong. Anyone who dares take it is my enemy."
With that, he transformed into a streak of golden light and shot back to the first arena.
When he left, the ninth arena was left completely empty.
Down below, the remaining challengers glanced at it, eyes flickering.
But no one dared step forward against Ye Lingyun's warning.
Time slipped by.
At the very end of the tournament, Wang Yuyao finally finished her recovery.
"How's your condition?"
Wang Jianqiang asked.
"The injuries are suppressed. My spiritual power is back to seventy percent." Wang Yuyao replied.
Wang Jianqiang nodded. "Go. Take the ninth arena."
Wang Yuyao blinked in surprise, but she did not ask questions. She leapt onto the vacant stage without hesitation.
She had heard Ye Lingyun's arrogant warning.
But so what?
If Senior Brother told her to go, she would go.
The spectators stirred as she reappeared on the ninth stage.
This woman is insane—doesn't she fear Ye Lingyun at all?
Meanwhile, Ye Lingyun, seated cross-legged on the first arena, opened his eyes, his expression darkening.
"Courting death."
He snorted coldly and shot out like a golden arrow, streaking toward the ninth stage.
As Ye Lingyun approached, Wang Yuyao's expression grew solemn.
The Perfect Minor Mountain Seal shimmered into view, spinning before her, ready to block.
Just as she was about to unleash her strike, a voice whispered directly into her mind.
She paused, glancing instinctively toward the stands.
There sat Wang Jianqiang, who merely gave her a small nod.
Taking a deep breath, Wang Yuyao looked back at Ye Lingyun.
By now, he had already landed on the ninth stage, surging toward her like a golden bolt of lightning.
Everyone thought the clash was about to explode.
But then—Wang Yuyao did something no one expected.
She turned around and jumped off the stage.
"She… she ran away?!"
The crowd erupted in confusion.
"That's way too cowardly!"
"If she was just going to flee, why bother stepping onto the stage in the first place?"
…
"No, wait. She hasn't used up her challenge attempts yet… She's forcing Ye Lingyun to spend his second one!"
At that realization, the crowd roared with excitement.
That's right!
Each contestant only had two challenges.
Ye Lingyun had already used one earlier—this was his second.
Which meant now he was stuck on the ninth arena.
But Wang Yuyao still had one attempt left. She could now turn around and snatch the first arena instead!
What a clever scheme!
As the whispers spread, Ye Lingyun's face turned ugly.
He had been so focused on avenging Su Yutong that he hadn't even considered this possibility.
Only now did he realize he'd been set up.
"Bitch… you dared to trap me like this!"
He gnashed his teeth, stepping to the edge of the stage, glaring down.
But then—he froze.
"Where is she…?"
Whoosh!
The look of confusion had barely formed on his face when a flying sword and a stone seal shot toward him from below.
"Her artifacts?!"
"Damn it—I've been tricked!"
"She never intended to just waste my challenge chances… she wants to trap me and eliminate me completely!"
Ye Lingyun's expression twisted into rage.
"Bitch—you're dreaming!"
"Detonate!"
At that very instant, a sharp cry rang out.
The Perfect Cloud-Water Sword and the Perfect Minor Mountain Seal both exploded at once!