Chapter 225: Xia Qingyue VS Xiao Kuanglei

"It wasn't Ling Jie who forfeited, but Ling Feiyu, surprisingly..." Yun Che was also taken aback. In previous matches, Ling Feiyu had displayed astonishing power. The number of strong cultivators in this group was far less than in Group Two, and Ling Feiyu was widely recognized as the strongest in Group One. Whether in the Top 32 or Top 16 battles, he had easily defeated his opponents within five moves. Everyone had expected Ling Jie to lose or forfeit this match against Ling Feiyu. No one could have imagined that Ling Feiyu would be the one to concede!

"So, Brother Yun, your opponent tomorrow is Ling Jie?" This result made Cang Yue subconsciously sigh in relief. After all, a cultivator at Profound Spirit Realm Level Six sounded far less threatening than one at Profound Spirit Realm Level Nine.

"Could it be that Ling Jie is the Villa Master's son, and Ling Feiyu didn't dare to defeat him openly, so he forfeited?" Xia Yuanba scratched his head, asking in confusion.

"No! If Heavenly Sword Villa were such a place of superficiality, it wouldn't be the strongest force in the Blue Wind Empire." Yun Che frowned slightly, beginning to re-examine Ling Jie, who was cheerfully walking off the Sword Discourse Arena. "There's only one possibility: Ling Jie's strength surpasses Ling Feiyu's, and by a significant margin... It seems tomorrow will be a tough battle."

His gaze shifted towards Heavenly Sword Villa's seating area, where he found Ling Yuefeng and Ling Yun's expressions calm, showing no surprise at the result.

The second match concluded with unexpected speed and outcome, and the third match quickly followed. The combatants were Ling Yun of Heavenly Sword Villa and Shui Wushuang of Ice Cloud Asgard.

This was a clash between a core disciple of Heavenly Sword Villa and a core disciple of Ice Cloud Asgard. Such a confrontation typically occurred in the final battle, but due to the unbalanced strength caused by the random grouping, this highly anticipated match took place prematurely in the Top Eight battles.

And this match ended even faster than the second.

"Wushuang, forfeit this match directly," Chu Yueli suddenly said just as Shui Wushuang was about to leap onto the Sword Discourse Arena.

Shui Wushuang was silent for a moment but did not resist. She gently replied, "Yes."

"Three years ago, your Senior Sister Mu's strength far surpassed your current level, yet she was miserably defeated by Ling Yun. Now, three years later, Ling Yun's strength has made a huge leap. You simply cannot be his opponent. If he takes it even slightly seriously, you will be utterly defeated within five moves. Since that's the case, it's better to forfeit outright."

Chu Yueli spoke with extraordinary calm as she told what others considered a "core disciple" to forfeit. There wasn't a hint of unwillingness or lament in her beautiful eyes, as if it were a completely insignificant decision.

"Yes, Martial Aunt, this disciple understands." Shui Wushuang slowly nodded, then returned to her seat.

Shui Wugou then announced, "Shui Wushuang of Ice Cloud Asgard forfeits the match. Ling Yun of Heavenly Sword Villa wins without a fight and advances to tomorrow's Top Four battle!"

Although this result sparked much discussion, it wasn't overly surprising. After all, Ling Yun's strength was truly terrifying. Even if Shui Wushuang was Ice Cloud Asgard's core disciple for this event, she simply had no chance of fighting him. Direct forfeiture was the wisest choice. However, this left Ice Cloud Asgard with only one remaining disciple, Xia Qingyue, who also had the lowest profound strength among their three participants. Her opponent was Xiao Kuanglei, a core disciple of Xiao Sect whose profound strength surpassed hers. If she lost, Ice Cloud Asgard would be directly eliminated from the Top Four, and their final ranking would be no higher than fourth.

By now, only Yun Che's match against Fen Juebi had been a truly contested one, but three of the four participants for tomorrow's Top Four battles had already been decided: Ling Yun and Ling Jie, the brothers from Heavenly Sword Villa, and Yun Che from Blue Wind Profound Palace.

It was not surprising that two individuals from Heavenly Sword Villa made it into the Top Four. However, the inclusion of a disciple not from the Four Major Sects, especially one from the Blue Wind Imperial Family, which usually ranked in the middle to lower tiers of the Profound Ranking Tournament, made the entire tournament exceptionally unusual. The Blue Wind Imperial Family, which had historically seen only shame and no glory in the Profound Ranking Tournament, had now, thanks to a completely unknown and only seventeen-year-old disciple, repeatedly created astonishing results, breaking into the Top Four of the individual battles. The Blue Wind Imperial Family's power ranking in this tournament was now guaranteed to be at least Top Three!

Anyone not blind could clearly see that after Yun Che defeated Fen Juebi, the usually composed Qin Wushang was grinning so widely his front teeth almost fell out.

"The fourth battle of the Top Eight — Xia Qingyue of Ice Cloud Asgard versus Xiao Kuanglei of Xiao Sect! Both participants, please enter the Sword Discourse Arena within thirty breaths, otherwise you will be deemed to have forfeited!"

As Ling Wugou's loud announcement echoed, the chatter on the Sword Discourse Arena ceased, and it became completely quiet.

Xia Qingyue and Xiao Kuanglei were the last disciples for Ice Cloud Asgard and Xiao Sect, respectively. Whichever one lost, their sect would be out of the Top Four.

"Although Xia Qingyue of Ice Cloud Asgard possesses astonishing talent, reaching Profound Spirit Realm Level Eight at only seventeen, just one level below Ling Yun at that age, Ice Cloud Asgard is still Ice Cloud Asgard. It's impossible for them to cultivate a true 'Ling Yun.' She's too young, her experience is too shallow, and her profound strength reaching Profound Spirit Realm Level Eight so quickly must be unstable. As long as there aren't too many major surprises, you will win this match easily. But, absolutely do not underestimate her. In past Profound Ranking Tournaments, countless so-called genius disciples have fallen due to 'underestimation.' Do you understand?" Xiao Juetian instructed Xiao Kuanglei.

"Third Brother, do your best. Burning Heaven Clan has suffered a terrible defeat. If you win this match, our overall ranking will be guaranteed Top Three, with over a ninety-nine percent chance of ranking second. This would be a historic breakthrough for our Xiao Sect!" Xiao Kuangyu slapped Xiao Kuanglei's shoulder, speaking solemnly.

"Don't worry, in this battle, I will only win; I can never lose! Don't forget, I haven't even brought out my Startling Dust Sword yet. If I reveal the Startling Dust Sword, let alone Xia Qingyue being only at Profound Spirit Realm Level Eight, even if she were at the peak of Profound Spirit Realm Level Ten, I still wouldn't lose," Xiao Kuanglei said, brimming with confidence.

"We may not have the advantage when it comes to weapons," Xiao Wuji said with a deep frown. "We have the Startling Dust Sword, but don't forget, Ice Cloud Asgard has the 'Ice Phoenix Jade Silk.' Shui Wushuang had no choice but to concede, so Ice Cloud Asgard can afford to lose this match even less than us. That Sky Profound Artifact of Ice Cloud Asgard will undoubtedly be given to Xia Qingyue."

"Hmph, that's completely unnecessary worry. The 'Ice Phoenix Jade Silk' requires at least Earth Profound Realm profound strength to fully control. Even in Xia Qingyue's hands, it can at most unleash thirty percent of its power. And even if it could unleash a hundred percent, so what? Both will have a Sky Profound Artifact, but Kuanglei surpasses Xia Qingyue in both experience and profound strength. Could he possibly still lose?" Xiao Boyun retorted irritably.

Xiao Boyun was naturally furious about his grandson Xiao Zhen losing to Xiao Kuanglei, but with the reputation and honor of the entire Xiao Sect at stake, he certainly didn't want to see Xiao Kuanglei lose.

"Everyone, please rest assured. If I lose this match, I'll have no face to return to Xiao Sect." Xiao Kuanglei nodded, then leaped up, crossing over thirty zhang in the air. After landing with a light touch, he jumped high again, soaring another thirty zhang, finally landing steadily in the center of the Sword Discourse Arena. Before he landed, a long sword had already unsheathed with a whistle. Both the sword's aura and his personal aura were incredibly imposing, drawing waves of admiration.

"I heard Xiao Kuanglei's talent is no less than his elder brothers Xiao Kuangfeng and Xiao Kuangyu. This match, I'm afraid, holds no suspense."

"What if his talent is high? He's still illegitimate. At most, he'll become an elder in the future."

"That's different. Fen Duanhun's youngest son, Xiao Kuangyun, is the only legitimate one, but Xiao Kuangyun's reputation as a good-for-nothing is known throughout the world. He's about the same age as Xiao Kuanglei, and I heard Fen Duanhun spent countless resources on him, but he supposedly hasn't even reached the Profound Spirit Realm. If Xiao Sect were to be inherited by Xiao Kuangyun in the future, it would probably be completely ruined. Xiao Sect couldn't possibly do something so foolish. The future Sect Master will definitely be one of Xiao Kuangfeng, Xiao Kuangyu, or Xiao Kuanglei. I'm afraid there will be a fierce internal struggle then; it might even turn into fratricide..."

As Xiao Kuanglei ascended the stage, the focus of the discussion was not the upcoming match, but Xiao Kuanglei himself, because in most people's eyes, the upcoming match held little suspense.

"Try to conserve your strength as much as possible; don't expose too much, to prevent tomorrow's opponent from being prepared." Chu Yueli's only instruction to Xia Qingyue was this single sentence.

"Yes, Master."

Xia Qingyue gracefully bowed, then turned her slender body. With her exquisite movement, she lightly floated to stand before Xiao Kuanglei. Her movements and posture were unmatched in their ethereal beauty. A transparent ice sword silently appeared in her hand. Ice swords had almost become the iconic weapon for Ice Cloud Asgard disciples. Ice Cloud Asgard's primary weapon was also the sword, but their swords were entirely ice-like and emitted varying degrees of cold. Chu Yuechan's sword was like this, and so was Xia Qingyue's. However, Xia Qingyue's ice sword was not of the same grade as the one Chu Yuechan used in her desperate battle against the two蛟 dragons in the Death Wilderness.

"Good!" Ling Wugou nodded, then raised his right hand. "The final match of the Top Eight battles, Xia Qingyue of Ice Cloud Asgard versus Xiao Kuanglei of Xiao Sect! Let the battle begin!"

"I am Xiao Kuanglei, and I've come to witness Fairy Xia's Ice Cloud Art!" Xiao Kuanglei smiled casually, pointing his long sword forward. A rapidly spinning emerald green profound cyclone swirled around his body. Behind him, an exceptionally domineering image of an eagle flickered faintly, and his entire aura, at this moment, surged to an astonishing degree.

Ice Cloud Asgard was known for its abundance of beauties. Although Xia Qingyue's face was veiled by white gauze, simply seeing her figure, her eyes, and the glimpse of her fair skin was enough to determine that she was undoubtedly a peerless maiden of enchanting beauty. In front of a beautiful woman, any normal man with some strength would naturally want to show off. If he could win her favor or even adoration, it would significantly satisfy his vanity.

Xia Qingyue's movements were much more nimble than his. She thrust a simple sword strike towards him. From the tip of her ice sword, a magnificent ice lotus bloomed.