King of Creation
Chapter 356 - 352: Battle Against Bu Changtian

Chapter 356: Chapter 352: Battle Against Bu Changtian

Not only was Ye Zhen feeling bored in the group scoring matches, but most of the other martial artists, especially the seeded contestants in each group, were also finding it dull.

Those who had made it to the group stage competitions were the elite of the elite, most of whom were very wise. They all understood that this stage was not about fighting to the death.

However, just because they didn’t fight to the death with the seeded contestants didn’t mean they wouldn’t with others.

For example, a True Disciple from Qiyun Sect, Mei Yuanju, fought fiercely against a fifth-stage Spirit Transformation Realm martial artist in the last round and ended up with a serious injury but a narrow victory.

As a result, his ranking in Group Two rose from fifth to fourth place.

According to the tournament rules, the fifth-place contestants from each group would compete for rankings 49 to 60, but the fourth place would compete for rankings 37 to 48.

With this last desperate fight, his ranking on the Black Dragon Ranking jumped an entire tier.

Of course, more people made rational choices like Wen Zimo.

Without further discussion overnight, nearly everyone was seizing every moment to heal their injuries and restore their cultivation. After three consecutive days of intense battles, practically everyone except the seeded contestants was wounded.

"Ye Zhen, Caiyi, Mei Yuanju, Wu Mingda, remember this! You have all now made it to the Black Dragon Ranking competition. No matter what, you will secure a spot on the ranking list.

But what I want to tell you is, if possible, ensure your safety first and foremost, and try to secure the highest position you can on the Black Dragon Ranking because your position on that list could impact your entire life!" As the sun rose, Second Elder Jis Che spoke with a serious expression.

"Understood!"

"Mm!"

"Alright!"

....

"Do you think Elder Jis’s emphasis on the importance of the Black Dragon Ranking is just the same old story? Everyone says that ranking will affect your entire life, but who knows what that impact will be?" Seventh Elder Zhongli Jing spoke up.

"Let me tell you what kind of impact that is!"

"Do you know of Fuh Dongxing, the Sect Leader of Phantom Divine Sect? Seventy-five years ago, he competed in the Black Dragon Ranking, taking third place. Now, he’s one of the rare Vein Forging Realm powerhouses in the Black Dragon Domain."

Speaking of this, Zhongli Jing sighed softly, "I was in the same cohort as Fuh Dongxing competing for the Black Dragon Ranking; however, I only managed to scrape into the ranking at number sixty-nine."

"Not only that, the well-known powerhouses in the Black Dragon Domain today, like Sect Leader Guo Qijing, Master of Lishui Sect Chu Taiping, Sect Master of Sword Origin Sect Yu Ruhai, were all top ten powerhouses of their year in the Black Dragon Ranking. Yu Ruhai even took first place that same year."

"Do you understand what I mean?" Zhongli Jing asked.

This time, Ye Zhen and the others showed a solemn look in their eyes, and nodded firmly at the same time.

"Alright, off to your respective stages! Oh, I won’t be supporting Ye Zhen and Caiyi in this ranking tournament; with your formidable strength, just be attentive. We will be supporting Mei Yuanju and Wu Mingda instead!"

....

"Ladies and gentlemen, the group scoring matches ended yesterday, and the top six from each group have been determined. Today, the highly anticipated Black Dragon Ranking competition will begin." In the sky, Qingyi spoke again.

"However, I must stress that the competition for the Black Dragon Ranking will be even more brutal. Each martial artist will go all out, and it’s difficult to hold back.

Therefore, once you step onto the platform, it’s considered an automatic consent to a Life and Death Contract. Death will not be discussed!

If any sect causes trouble, I will not show mercy!"

After a pause, Qingyi continued, "Of course, heaven values life, so during this competition, do not intentionally take someone’s life..."

As the temporary Grand Deacon of Black Dragon Ancient Land, Qingyi repeated the same words, but these were all expected and customary reminders.

"Now, the Black Dragon Ranking battles officially begin!"

"Competitors who finished first in their group scoring matches will compete on Dragonhead Stage No.8, which has the widest field of view and the largest surrounding area, for the convenience of all..."

Whoosh!

Before Qingyi’s voice could even fade away, the martial artists who had traveled from afar to watch the matches flocked toward Dragonhead Stage No.8 like a swarm of bees. In a moment, the stage was surrounded completely by the crowd, leaving only family, friends, and sect elders of the competitors around the other stages.

It was clear to everyone that the battles for positions one to twelve would be the most severe and the most spectacular.

The battles for the first to twelfth positions on Dragonhead Stage No.8 would be presided over by Qingyi, the temporary Grand Deacon of Black Dragon Ancient Land.

"The rules of the ranking matches are probably already clear to all of you. Each group of twelve people will have to complete eleven matches. A win counts as two points, a draw as one point, and a loss as zero points. The final rankings will be determined by the points score.

If someone dies in a fight, any remaining competitors who have not yet dueled with that person will have their points allocated to the victor. Allow me to give you an example to explain," said Qingyi.

Qingyi’s gaze shifted to Ye Zhen.

"If Bu Changtian fights against Ye Zhen and Bu Changtian kills Ye Zhen, while Mo Xinsui and Zuo Bin have yet to fight against Ye Zhen..."

As Qingyi spoke, all eyes turned to Ye Zhen, while Bu Changtian looked at Ye Zhen with an amused expression.

After all, most of those present knew of the enmity between Bu Changtian and Ye Zhen, and if they were to compete, it would undoubtedly be a fight to the death.

By this time, Qing Yii’s direct statement that Ye Zhen was slain by Bu Changtian had a playful meaning, almost like a curse.

Ye Zhen’s eyes narrowed slightly, flickering with a dangerous light.

However, Caiyi’s pretty face by Ye Zhen’s side suddenly fell, ready to erupt on the spot. You can make an analogy, but you can’t use an irrelevant person—it’s tantamount to cursing Ye Zhen, and Caiyi cannot tolerate this.

Seeing Caiyi about to erupt, Ye Zhen gently took Caiyi’s hand and pulled it downwards, calming her down.

"And because Ye Zhen was slain, both Mo Xinsui and Zuo Bin didn’t get to compete against Ye Zhen, thus missing out on the points for that round."

"Therefore, the points for the match that Mo Xinsui and Zuo Bin missed will fall onto the person who killed Ye Zhen, Bu Changtian. If Mo Xinsui and Zuo Bin manage to defeat Bu Changtian, who killed Ye Zhen, they will gain an additional victory point for that round. If they can’t, well, everyone knows the result."

Ye Zhen gently pinched Caiyi’s fingers, soothing her emotions, but his expression became even more serious. Although Ye Zhen was very displeased with Qing Yii using him as a dead man’s example, from Qing Yii’s words and between the lines, Ye Zhenheard a thick scent of blood!

Even such a scenario of martial artists dying ahead of their matches and others missing their turns had rules to compensate—this final ranking competition would be unimaginably bloody.

"Regarding the order of the matches, this final ranking competition is quite casual. Since everyone must challenge each other, feel free to challenge at will, but each person can only initiate up to six challenges.

Additionally, in principle, within one round, a person can only challenge or be challenged once, of course, unless they themselves wish to do otherwise!"

"Let’s begin!"

Qing Yii’s figure soared abruptly, hovering above Dragonhead Stage No.8.

All around the stage, countless discussions had already begun.

"Who do you think will be number one on the Black Dragon Ranking this time?"

"Is that even a question? Other than the Young Master Huaa from Tiannan Hua Family, who else could it be?"

"What about those below Huaa Wushuang?"

"That’s hard to say. ’Hand Extreme’ Bu Changtian, Mo Xinsui, Tao Hui, and the strength displayed by Yem Yuan have all been very powerful, with perhaps Bu Changtian holding a slight edge?"

"What about Ye Zhen then? Ye Zhen is also very formidable, and that Caiyi, so mysterious."

"Are you dumb? Didn’t you just hear Elder Qingyi say that Bu Changtian is going to slay Ye Zhen?"

"Wasn’t that just an example?"

"The words and actions of important figures are the result of careful consideration and deep meaning, do you think they speak off the cuff like us?" The speaking martial artist was given a disdainful look.

While everyone was discussing, no martial artists had yet taken the stage on Dragonhead Stage No.8.

The reason was simple—no one wanted to be the first to go up.

At this level, no one could afford to hold back; those who went up later had the advantage of observing their opponents’ weaknesses and formulating strategies accordingly.

Feeling the absence of challengers, Huaa Wushuang, who was sitting with his eyes half-closed, suddenly opened them, ready to take the stage.

But at that moment Ye Zhen’s figure moved, and he was the first to leap onto Dragonhead Stage No.8.

Seeing Ye Zhen ascend the stage, everyone’s expressions tensed as they watched, wondering who Ye Zhen would challenge first.

Ye Zhen did not verbalize his challenge, but his razor-sharp gaze was aimed at one person below the stage.

The next moment, under Ye Zhen’s scrutiny, ’Hand Extreme’ Bu Changtian from Phantom Divine Sect, the True Inheritor, leaped onto the Martial Combat Platform.

"Ye Zhen, the unfinished battle between our two demon servants, let us complete it!"

"Actually, the outcome is predestined! The Cloud Winged Tiger has become the Cloud Winged Tiger King, and the Wind Winged Thunder Hawk is already dead!" Ye Zhen provocatively taunted Bu Changtian without any politeness.

In a high-level clash, any significant psychological or emotional fluctuation can affect the display of one’s strength.

Bu Changtian’s eyes turned red for a moment, and then a fierce light flashed, "Is that so? I don’t think so. In fact, your death has already been prophesied by someone!"

"Take this!"

Bu Changtian’s palms shimmered, his massive spiritual power bursting forth instantaneously. Layers upon layers of Palm Shadows swept toward Ye Zhen like surging rivers, shaking the platform with their force.

Right off the bat, Bu Changtian used his signature move, Thousand Extremes Palm!

"Good move!"

Clang!

The Profound Yang Sword suddenly unsheathed, its Sword Light flickering like illusionary lightning. Waves of Wind-Thunder Sword Qi, roaring like muffled thunder, surged towards those layers of Palm Shadows.

Almost simultaneously, Ye Zhen’s Divine Sense sharply descended toward the First Sword Vein to achieve Sword Heart Enlightenment.

From the very moment he stepped onto the stage, it was destined that the battle between Ye Zhen and Bu Changtian would be a fight to the death, necessitating their full efforts! (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to recommend, vote for the month, and support me at qidian.com. Mobile users can read at m.qidian.com.)