Chapter 21

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Although the battles of the remaining eight were still exciting, for Zhuge Xiang and his companions, they were not opponents, so there was no need to pay attention to them. Taking advantage of their battles, Zhuge Xiang and his companions hurriedly adjusted their breathing, striving to restore themselves to the best state on the dueling platform.

The battles of the remaining eight also began one by one. After four consecutive matches, four victors were determined. Then, after two more matches, the top two were decided. Finally, these two would duel, with the winner taking ninth place and the loser taking tenth place. Thus, while the top rankings of the grand competition were not yet decided, the last two places had already been determined. They just had to wait for the end of the grand competition to receive the reward provided by the sect.

Although they had lost in the top eight, being able to stand out from among ten thousand disciples and secure a top ten position was still considered very good. The tens of thousands of disciples in the audience did not hesitate to give them enthusiastic applause.

With the ninth and tenth places determined, the true battle for the top eight was about to begin. The first to step onto the stage was Lei Potian.

Carrying a massive broadaxe, he walked step by step onto the dueling platform. He was tall and robust, though only fifteen years old, his physique was as strong as a bull, looking like he was seventeen or eighteen. His muscles were well-defined, and his arms were almost as thick as the thighs of some of the thinner disciples. The massive broadaxe, just by looking at it, gave a sense of immense pressure.

Lei Potian, one of the most brilliant geniuses of this generation, even as he entered the top eight, his opponent looked at him with a serious expression. Before the match even began, he said directly, "Senior Brother Lei, I know I am not your match. I just want to see clearly how strong you are at your peak, to understand the gap between us."

In the Asura Sect, surrendering without a fight was the most shameful thing. Not only would other disciples look down on you, but the sect would as well. Once such a stain was on your record, it would be difficult to have a good future in the sect. Therefore, even though this disciple believed he was not a match for Lei Potian, he still had to fight.

"Your strength is also good, at the third level of the Qi Cultivation Realm. If I hadn't had a special encounter during my training, I might not have been able to defeat you," Lei Potian said calmly, slowly lifting his massive broadaxe. "However, since you want to see my full strength, I will grant your wish and show you the gap between us."

As Lei Potian spoke, a massive aura emanated from his body, sweeping across the entire venue. Blood-red qi surged from his skin, his long red hair moved without wind, and the blood-red qi formed ghostly faces, terrifying to behold. Lei Potian, who already gave a sense of heavy pressure, seemed to transform into a human beast with the Bloodlust Technique.

Even those who were relatively close to the dueling platform instinctively took several steps back, looking at Lei Potian with fear.

The Bloodlust Technique, at the Mastery Level, was something that Lei Potian had successfully cultivated, but no one had ever seen him use it. In the battle for the top eight, Zhuge Xiang's eyes narrowed slightly. Lei Potian gave him a sense of unprecedented pressure, but it also excited and thrilled him.

The stronger the opponent, the more excited Zhuge Xiang became, because it meant a large amount of experience and a high drop rate of items.

The Bloodlust Technique was at the Mastery Level, and in this aspect, Zhuge Xiang had no advantage. The Blood Lightning Slash of the Blood-Refined Blade, though powerful, required too much preparation time. Moreover, looking at Lei Potian's massive broadaxe, it was clear that he also focused on high attack power, so Zhuge Xiang had no advantage, and was even at a disadvantage. As for cultivation level? Well, the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm against the third level, Zhuge Xiang was at a disadvantage...

As soon as he stepped onto the stage, Lei Potian used the Bloodlust Technique. Combined with his already hot reputation, the first battle of the top eight had already ignited the atmosphere before it even began. There were those who were amazed, those who were moved, those who were shocked, and even those who shouted out loud...

The Bloodlust Technique, with its inherent side effects, meant that Lei Potian could not just stand on the dueling platform after activating it. He charged forward like a mad bull. Lei Potian's strength was already enough to enter the top eight, and with a 50% increase in all attributes, how strong would he be?

The blood-red broadaxe swung, not only with terrifying attack power but also with terrifying speed. One strike, and although the third-level Qi Cultivation Realm disciple blocked with his long sword, he was pushed back seven or eight steps, his face pale, clearly severely injured by the counterforce.

With an unprecedentedly serious expression, Lei Potian's opponent unleashed his sword technique, attacking fiercely. However, when Lei Potian's broadaxe swung down, it transformed into a blood-red streak, overpowering the opponent's technique with sheer force. Another strike, and the opponent was pushed back even further. Not letting up, the third strike was even more devastating, and the opponent was directly sent flying off the dueling platform...

Silence. Lei Potian's overwhelming strength shocked everyone. After activating the Bloodlust Technique, he sent his opponent flying off the dueling platform with just three strikes. This display of power deeply impressed everyone. The entire battle, from start to finish, lasted only three breaths.

It wasn't that the opponent was too weak, but that Lei Potian was too strong. After all, who among the top eight would be a weakling?

Clever and strategic, facing a top-eight opponent, Lei Potian knew that without using the Bloodlust Technique, he would have to engage in a prolonged battle, which would be more exhausting. Instead, by using the Bloodlust Technique, he could quickly end the battle, not only intimidating his opponent but also preserving his own fighting strength. After all, the side effects of the Bloodlust Technique, which lasted only three breaths, were not significant. As the first to fight in the top eight, he had plenty of time to rest and recover before his next match.

Rough but meticulous, this was Lei Potian. Before stepping down from the platform, he pointed his massive broadaxe at Zhuge Xiang in the audience, making a throat-cutting gesture, clearly a provocation and a threat. Many people turned to look at Zhuge Xiang, but he showed no fear or bravado, his face instead filled with excitement and a strong fighting spirit...

"Truly a genius in battle, his thirst for combat is unmatched," many people thought, especially Lei Potian's opponent, who was deeply moved. He had no fighting spirit against Lei Potian, but Zhuge Xiang, who was only at the second level of the Qi Cultivation Realm and even injured, showed such a strong fighting spirit, making him feel inferior.

As Lei Potian stepped down, the next to step onto the stage was Ling Wufeng. With the atmosphere set by Lei Potian, the audience was even more eager for the next battles. However, this match disappointed them...

It wasn't that the match was boring, but that it ended too quickly. A flying knife flashed, and Ling Wufeng's opponent was severely injured, not even having time to dodge.

Seeing the flying knife embedded in his shoulder, Ling Wufeng's opponent knew that Ling Wufeng had held back. The speed of the flying knife was faster than his reaction. If it had aimed for his heart or throat, he would already be dead. Knowing when to retreat, he did not continue to struggle, and the match ended with just one flying knife.

Before Lei Potian sent his opponent flying off the dueling platform with three strikes, and after Ling Wufeng's opponent retreated after one flying knife, who was stronger? Many people discussed this, but no one could come to a conclusion.

Lei Potian's strength was deeply ingrained in everyone's mind, while Ling Wufeng, from the start of the grand competition, had used a flying knife in every match. No one knew his limits, so his strength was mysterious and unpredictable.

"The third battle of the top eight, Lu Yuling against Hua Nongying," the host on the dueling platform announced after declaring Ling Wufeng's victory.

Hearing this, Zhuge Xiang's expression became more serious. The strength of Lei Potian and Ling Wufeng was indeed as he had expected. What about Hua Nongying and Lu Yuling? Who was stronger?

Not only did Zhuge Xiang become more serious, but everyone else did as well. Lu Yuling was a genius on par with Lei Potian, and with her appearance and the ethereal, moon-like aura, she was always the center of attention among all the disciples.

Hua Nongying was not far behind. Though her appearance was slightly inferior to Lu Yuling's, she had a lively and cheerful personality, like a skylark. In terms of aura, they each had their own charm. Moreover, she was the only one among the ten thousand disciples to have cultivated martial arts to the Mastery Level, her understanding of martial arts was unmatched. The third battle of the top eight, a duel between two beautiful disciples, naturally attracted a lot of attention.

A white dress fluttered, and Lu Yuling appeared on the stage, standing quietly, giving a sense of calm and a distance that dared not be crossed. As Lu Yuling appeared, a ghostly shadow appeared in front of her without warning, as if it were a real ghost.

Wearing a light green dress, Hua Nongying's face was filled with a lively and cheerful smile: "Hehe, Senior Sister Lu Yuling, I have long wanted to spar with you. Today, I finally have the chance. Don't hold back, please."

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