Arena No. 9.
Boom!
A terrifying blast erupted like a storm, sweeping across the stage.
The supposedly indestructible arena crumbled inch by inch like fragile tofu.
The violent shockwaves surged outward, wreaking havoc in every direction.
Spectators close to the platform turned pale in fright, scrambling to escape.
The terrifying energy raged on for several minutes before it finally subsided.
When the dust settled, the crowd turned toward Arena No. 9 in shock and doubt.
To their astonishment, the towering, solid stage had already been reduced to a heap of rubble.
Above the ruins, a lone figure floated gracefully in the air.
Her robes fluttered, bathed in a halo of cold moonlight.
It was Wang Yuyao.
On the ground a hundred meters away stood Ye Lingyun. At some point, a crimson armor had appeared around his body, radiating scorching heat. His face was pale, and his expression was dark and stormy.
The stands erupted at once.
"Hiss—she just self-detonated two high-grade artifacts in one go! Those are precious treasures!"
"If I had even one, I'd hug it while I slept. How could she bear to destroy them? What a waste!"
"Still, Ye Lingyun's strength is insane. Even two self-detonating artifacts couldn't seriously wound him!"
…
"Another talisman treasure? This guy really is loaded!"
Among the crowd, Wang Jianqiang's eyes locked onto the crimson armor around Ye Lingyun, his face showing faint regret.
This fellow really did have the capital to be arrogant.
His reaction speed was astonishing.
At the very instant Wang Yuyao triggered the explosions, he had managed to react, activating his defensive talisman treasure just in time.
The voices of the crowd made Ye Lingyun's face grow darker still.
His bloodshot eyes glared at Wang Yuyao.
He had never imagined she would be willing to destroy not one but two high-grade artifacts in one strike!
If not for his quick reflexes, he would have been crippled if not dead.
For a top outer-sect expert like him to be outmaneuvered by an unknown woman—how could he possibly swallow this humiliation?
"Bitch! I'll kill you!"
His eyes turned scarlet as he shot forward like a streak of light toward Wang Yuyao.
"Ye Lingyun, you've already lost."
A calm voice suddenly came from the audience.
Ye Lingyun froze mid-charge, his twisted face turning toward Wang Jianqiang. "She admitted defeat first. I haven't lost!"
"Admitted defeat?"
Wang Jianqiang let out a cold laugh. "Who heard her admit defeat?"
"She jumped off the platform. As long as you step down, it counts as surrender."
At that, Wang Jianqiang smiled faintly, a trace of mockery on his lips. "Didn't Senior Yun Zhongque just say it himself? As long as the contestant hasn't touched the ground, it doesn't count as a surrender."
"Wang Yuyao did leap off the stage, but she still hasn't landed."
"And you, you've already touched the ground."
"So… the one who lost is you."
Ye Lingyun's face stiffened. His gaze instinctively flicked toward Yun Zhongque.
The elder gave Wang Jianqiang a deep look.
Others might not have noticed, but how could his cultivation fail to detect that earlier transmission?
Wang Yuyao was merely the executor. The true mastermind behind the scheme was this young man.
And to shut him up, preventing him from favoring Ye Lingyun again, the boy had thrown his very own words back in his face.
With so many outer-sect disciples watching, if he continued to openly take sides, would he not be slapping himself in the face?
Such profound calculation.
Not only had Ye Lingyun been outmaneuvered, but even he had been dragged into the trap.
But in the end, while Ye Lingyun had talent and strength, he was still far too green.
Shaking his head, Yun Zhongque looked at him. "Ye Lingyun, you've lost."
At the elder's verdict, Ye Lingyun's face turned ashen, his heart full of unwillingness.
He cast Wang Yuyao a cold glare. "Wang Yuyao, is it? Fine. You're ruthless. Just wait."
Before she could reply, Wang Jianqiang's indifferent voice followed, "You've already been eliminated. Don't waste any more of the competition's time."
Ye Lingyun stiffened, his eyes flashing with killing intent toward Wang Jianqiang.
With a cold snort, he transformed into a streak of light and flew off.
The top favorite to win the championship, brought down by an obscure woman, and not even able to make the top ten.
He no longer had the face to remain here.
After Ye Lingyun's departure, Wang Yuyao glanced at Wang Jianqiang.
He understood her meaning and slowly shook his head.
With Ye Lingyun eliminated, the strongest contender for the championship was gone. It was the perfect chance to seize victory.
But the championship was not so easily claimed.
Wang Jianqiang's eyes swept discreetly across the remaining challengers, pausing briefly on two figures.
Two young women.
One wore a pale yellow dress, tall and graceful, her features bright and exquisite.
The other looked much younger, her figure petite. Yet her tender face already bore a beauty that could topple nations.
Since the start of the arena battles, neither had lifted a finger, yet both radiated an aura of danger.
The sense of threat they gave off was even greater than Ye Lingyun's.
Even if Wang Yuyao still held her perfect artifacts intact, she would be no match for them—much less now.
Though she didn't know Wang Jianqiang's thoughts, she trusted him unconditionally.
Seeing him shake his head, she immediately abandoned the idea of contending for Arena No. 1.
But if Wang Yuyao could resist the lure of the championship, others could not.
Those confident in their strength surged forward to fight.
The competition sped up dramatically.
Within just half an hour, only two challengers remained.
The very two women Wang Jianqiang had noticed.
The girl in the pale yellow dress glanced at the petite girl, then moved first.
With a graceful leap, she landed on Arena No. 1.
"It's Bai Xiruo!"
"She finally took the stage!"
"She's the number one beauty of the outer sect!"
…
Amidst the cries of excitement, Bai Xiruo landed lightly on the platform.
The battle began instantly.
With just a single strike, the defending fighter of Arena No. 1 was sent tumbling off the stage in disgrace.
"So strong!"
The crowd gasped in disbelief.
Bai Xiruo's fame as the foremost of the outer sect's three beauties stemmed mostly from her appearance. Her talent was only above average, far beneath prodigies like Su Yutong.
She rarely displayed her skills in public, and in earlier rounds her performance had not been particularly outstanding. The fact she had even reached the top fifty was already surprising to many.
No one had imagined her true strength to be so overwhelming.
Even Wang Jianqiang's heart gave a jolt.
Anyone bold enough to challenge Arena No. 1 could not be weak.
The previous defender, while inferior to Ye Lingyun, was still a famed figure of the sect, known for defeating multiple challengers and holding his ground until now.
His strength even surpassed Su Yutong's.
Yet such a formidable fighter was defeated in a single effortless blow?
Her power was truly terrifying.
Right after Bai Xiruo, the petite girl also made her move.
She did not challenge Bai Xiruo.
Instead, she ascended Arena No. 2.
With the same casual ease, she struck once.
The defender who had lasted through six rounds coughed up blood and hastily conceded defeat.
The breathtaking display drew another uproar from the crowd.
From the surrounding voices, Wang Jianqiang realized in surprise that no one recognized the petite girl.
It was as though she had appeared in the outer sect out of thin air.
This piqued his curiosity, and he focused intently on her.
The next moment, the girl's status panel unfolded within his mind.