The disciples also nearly dropped their jaws.
Is this a fight between those in the Foundation Establishment Stage?
How could any Foundation Establishment cultivator be so heaven-defying?
At that moment, Ye Feng gradually began to fall into a disadvantage on the stage.
His cultivation level was a persistent weakness.
Although the Canglang Sword Art was incredibly powerful and could forcibly cleave through the fist qi unleashed by the Daozi, the Daozi’s momentum did not falter; instead, it surged forward.
“Let it end here. Vajra Subduing Demons!”
The Daozi seemed somewhat disappointed.
He suddenly stood suspended in mid-air, and a brilliant, solemn phantom of a Buddhist statue materialized behind him!
The statue gripped a vajra pestle, striking down with a force that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth.
“OM!”
Just as Ye Feng was about to dodge, the Daozi spat out a Sanskrit sound.
A single word seemed to possess infinite power, instantly pinning Ye Feng in place.
An elder outside the arena cried out in shock, “The Six-Character Mingwang Mantra! The Daozi… how could he have learned a Buddhist secret technique?!”
Another elder also lost himself for a moment, but he quickly calmed down.
“This is likely a fortuitous encounter the Daozi obtained when he entered the Ancient Buddhist Treasury last time. There is no need to worry.”
The elder beside him, however, looked worried.
It would have been fine if it were only the Prajna Dragon Elephant Technique and the Dragon-Subduing Tiger-Taming Fist, but the Six-Character Mingwang Mantra was a core secret treasury of the Western Buddhist Sect.
He wondered if those Buddhist lunatics, who advocated for salvation through killing, would come looking for trouble.
Ye Feng had no way to dodge.
Everyone watched the Buddhist statue behind the Daozi strike that air-shattering blow, assuming the outcome was decided.
“Sigh, what a pity. That Ye Feng was already quite powerful, but unfortunately, his opponent is our Daozi.”
“Even in defeat, this Ye Feng has earned glory. I had never heard of such a person in our Tianyan Sect before. He is a formidable existence worthy of respect.”
Even Zhu Lan broke into a cold sweat for Ye Feng.
‘Is this a battle between geniuses?’
‘Terrifyingly powerful.’
“Wait, look! Ye Feng hasn’t lost yet!”
Zhu Lan’s sharp eyes noticed that Ye Feng showed no signs of panic.
She could vaguely see an astonishing aura erupting from him and hurriedly called out to warn everyone.
However, before anyone could clearly see the situation on the stage, a warm yellow spiritual energy enveloped the arena, cutting off everyone’s vision from the stage.
“Is this… the Sect Master’s spiritual power?”
“Why did the Sect Master intervene?”
While the disciples were confused and discussing amongst themselves, the elder announced, “The Daozi wins. However, given that Ye Feng’s strength is remarkable, he will enter the losers’ bracket.”
The heavy stones in everyone’s hearts finally settled.
For some reason, they had a strange feeling, a worry that the Daozi might actually lose.
No one knew where that weird sense of dissonance came from, but now that the result was announced, it meant the dust had settled.
The Tianyan Sect disciples sighed in relief in unison.
…
On the stage enveloped by spiritual power and isolated from the outside world, Ye Feng was unharmed.
“Is this… an Ancient Imperial Weapon?” the Daozi asked hesitantly, looking at the longsword in Ye Feng’s hand that radiated a terrifying palpitation.
Ye Feng chuckled, not answering the Daozi’s question.
“I lost. But you wait; on the day I form my Golden Core, I’ll definitely beat you into the ground.”
The Daozi also smiled upon hearing this.
“I know you still have a trump card you haven’t used, but I have one too. Fine, I understand. I’ll wait for that day.”
With that, the Daozi did not linger, turning and leaving gracefully.
Ye Feng stood in place for a long time before sucking in a sharp breath of pain.
At the critical moment just now, he had drawn the Linyuan Sword and used the third form of the Seven Killing Arts, “Moon Severance,” to break the Daozi’s Vajra Subduing Demons.
Though it was only a clash of two moves, Ye Feng had been somewhat affected, and his palm was dripping with blood.
As the blood flowed over the Linyuan Sword, the blade vibrated slightly, as if expressing its unyielding nature.
“My cultivation is still a bit lacking. Next time, after I form my Golden Core, I’ll definitely flatten him.”
Whether Ye Feng was talking to himself or to the Linyuan Sword in his hand was unclear.
The sword vibrated for a moment as if it understood its new master’s intent, then returned to its normal state and ceased its movement.
Just as he was about to leave, a vigorous middle-aged man landed beside him.
“Sect Master.”
Ye Feng greeted him with a bow.
The Sect Master’s gaze was complex.
He did not say much, only pointing at the Linyuan Sword in Ye Feng’s hand.
“Such a thing must not be exposed, nor the ancient secret technique you just used.”
Ye Feng nodded and smiled.
“I know. Didn’t I know you would intervene, Sect Master? I was just a little willful. Please punish me, Sect Master.”
The Sect Master tucked his hands behind his back and shook his head.
“There is no need for punishment. I will ask you one last time: do you truly want to stay at Yushou Peak?”
Ye Feng’s expression turned serious.
“Reporting to the Sect Master, I am indeed not staying at Yushou Peak for the path of beast taming. However, I have my own considerations. I hope the Sect Master will grant me this.”
Facing such a great figure, Ye Feng chose to state his reasons candidly.
“Fine. I only acted out of appreciation for your talent. If you have any needs regarding your cultivation, feel free to come to me.”
The Sect Master said no more.
With a wave of his hand, he withdrew the spiritual energy covering the stage and vanished instantly.
“By the way, you don’t need to participate in the rest of the Sect Competition. You are counted among the top ten.”
Hearing the voice echoing in his ears, Ye Feng smiled and gave his thanks.
“My thanks to the Sect Master!”
As long as the others in the top ten didn’t possess the Daozi’s level of strength, Ye Feng would have made it anyway.
With this guaranteed spot, Ye Feng could afford to take up one less spot in the top ten, leaving it for someone else.
The Sect Competition was a grand event held once a year, and it always lasted for a period of time.
Now that Ye Feng was free, he thought of the person he bullied every day.
He knew that the new reward for the first place in this Sect Competition, an Ancient Divine Tool, was a damaged chain.
It was actually custom-made for the Daozi.
Ye Feng wanted it too.
If Zhu Lan ever tried to run away again, he would use that chain to bind her to his side.
…
“How is it? Are your injuries serious?”
Ye Feng skillfully opened the door to Zhu Lan’s cultivation room once again.
Zhu Lan was already used to it and even asked a few questions out of concern.
“It’s no big deal. The Sect Master said I’m counted as one of the top ten in the Sect Competition.”
Ye Feng naturally wrapped his arm around Zhu Lan’s slender waist and kissed her soft cheek.
“Aren’t there only ten spots? Now there are eleven people. How will the spots for the Jade Lake Holy Land be allocated then?”
Zhu Lan asked, feigning casualness.
“I don’t know. Anyway, the Sect Master arranged it. He can’t exactly kick me out when the time comes, can he? Aside from the Daozi, I don’t feel like there’s anyone I can’t beat right now.”
To others, Ye Feng’s statement might have seemed arrogant, but Zhu Lan knew clearly that it was just well-founded confidence.
“What is the Jade Lake Holy Land like? I heard that by drinking from the Spiritual Spring and eating the Spiritual Peaches, one can expel impurities from the body and advance their cultivation.”
Zhu Lan slowly steered the conversation toward her goal.
Whether it was to act as a wingman to bring the male and female leads together at the Jade Lake Holy Land, or to drink the spring water and eat the peaches, these were all goals Zhu Lan wanted to achieve.
If the male lead was happy, he might just give her a little boost.
She didn’t need to be in the top ten; she could at least strive for the top fifty.
Ye Feng looked at the woman in his arms and said with amusement, “Do you want to go to the Jade Lake Holy Land?”
Zhu Lan didn’t understand his intention, but she still nodded. “I do.”
“Then take the initiative to kiss me, and I’ll take you with me.”
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