Martial Conquest of the Nine Desolates
Chapter 146 - 144: Back on Stage Again

Chapter 146: Chapter 144: Back on Stage Again

"Seems like you’re very confident. I hope you’re lucky enough not to get eliminated before you face me."

"At that time, I’ll personally crush your confidence and show you the insurmountable gap between us. The so-called one-year agreement is just a boring joke." Zhao Qian, with his cold demeanor and fluttering white robe, appeared as arrogant as ever.

Zhao Qian, the Heavenly Pride of the Chongyang Sect, had trained rigorously for over a year, and now nobody could gauge his Cultivation. Even the oldest Direct Disciples had to give him a sidelong glance due to his invincible aura.

Xiao Ye gave a cold smile, retracted his gaze, and then walked to the edge of the square.

"This brat!" Wentian, who was completely ignored by Xiao Ye, was burning with rage, his fists cracking.

"In the next round, you better not face me!" Wentian’s eyes flashed fiercely.

"Sister, you performed quite well," Bing Ya said gently when Xiao Ye returned. Beneath the light veil that covered her face was a tender smile.

"That’s right, also don’t forget who your disciple is." Xiao Ye grinned proudly, feeling unusually smug.

Bing Ya rolled her eyes at Xiao Ye and huffed, "Don’t get cocky. The opponents in the next round are even more terrifying. If you encounter Zhao Qian and Wentian, you’ll end at the top 20."

"So, if you want to break into the top three, you cannot afford to meet them," Bing Ya analyzed carefully.

Xiao Ye smiled slightly, gazing at Bing Ya, "Sister, you don’t have much faith in me, huh? What if I defeat both of them?"

"Defeat them both?" Doubt filled Bing Ya’s tone, "If you can do that, I will let you decide what to do with me!"

No sooner had she spoken did she realize her slip of the tongue, her cheeks blushing red. Fortunately, her face was covered by the light veil and Xiao Ye did not see it, but his heart began to heat up from her words.

"Let me decide?" Xiao Ye’s eyes roamed playfully over Bing Ya’s frame, causing her delicate body to stiffen, a sensation she had never felt before arising in her heart.

Just as Bing Ya was about to get angry, Xiao Ye withdrew his gaze, chuckling, "If I defeat them, how about you remove the veil and let me see your true face?"

Bing Ya’s holy and cool temperament, like a woman not of this world, made her face behind the veil all the more mysterious, and thus Xiao Ye was very curious about her appearance.

"Aren’t you afraid I’m an ugly monster?" Bing Ya gazed deeply at Xiao Ye.

"If I have an ugly monster for a sister, I’ll accept it," Xiao Ye feigned resignation.

Boom!

Suddenly, an intensely cold Martial Arts True Intent struck, making Xiao Ye shiver, and he quickly started to apologize with a wry smile.

Arguing with a woman – it’s like a scholar encountering a soldier; logic does not prevail. Xiao Ye spent a long time placating, and only then did Bing Ya grudgingly turn her head away.

"Let’s talk about it when you defeat them."

Hearing this, Xiao Ye was taken aback, then grinned, recognizing that Bing Ya had agreed.

"I really want to see what Sister looks like," Xiao Ye’s eyes filled with anticipation.

The first round was for newbies, and the second round needed to eliminate half of the contestants to select the top twenty. Liu Yiyi definitely had the strength to push into the top twenty, but unfortunately because of Xiao Ye, she was eliminated early.

It wasn’t long before Xiao Ye saw Zhao Qian stepping onto the stage, and everyone’s eyes brightened.

They were all very curious about what Zhao Qian’s current level of Cultivation was.

"Little brother, you are the Heavenly Pride of our Chongyang Sect, your brother really wants to see your strength." Zhao Qian’s opponent, also a Direct Disciple of the Great Elder.

His Cultivation had reached the Early Stage of Innate Realm Ninth Layer, a powerful Young Talent strong enough to be listed on the Hidden Dragon List of Black Dragon Country.

"Hmph!" Zhao Qian stood with his hands behind his back, his white robe billowing, still proud even facing his brother, giving no face at all.

The young man’s face shifted slightly, a hint of annoyance flitting across his eyes, before he charged at Zhao Qian with a roar.

"They’ve started!"

The watching disciples all widened their eyes, ready to enjoy a fierce fight.

However, contrary to their expectations, Zhao Qian’s face was filled with disdain. He pushed a palm towards the young man, with terrifying power surging in his palm center, the brilliant light intertwining, nearly turning his hand to light.

Bang!

Before the young man even reached Zhao Qian, his body, like it had been hit by a hammer, spat out blood and fell hundreds of meters away, unconscious.

Hiss!

Many watching disciples gasped, an Early Stage Innate Realm Ninth Layer Martial Artist could not even block a single palm from Zhao Qian.

They hadn’t even seen the full extent of Zhao Qian’s real strength!

"Hmph, trash!" Zhao Qian coldly uttered without any mercy, then turned around under the shocked gazes of the crowd and walked back.

The Great Elder’s dry face showed a hint of a smile, obviously very satisfied with Zhao Qian’s performance.

"Big brother, what exactly is Zhao Qian’s Cultivation level now?" The Second and Third Elders were also full of shock; Zhao Qian’s strike was too astounding.

"Just keep watching and you will know," the Great Elder said indifferently, his gaze sweeping over the calm Vice Sect Leader.

In fact, before this Direct Disciple competition, Zhao Qian had been personally taught by the Vice Sect Leader for a period, aiming for him to secure first place and then smoothly become the Young Master.

Even he himself could not precisely gauge Zhao Qian’s real strength.

"Really strong." Battle intent emerged in Xiao Ye, feeling his blood boil.

If Zhao Qian’s strength were too weak, he would actually be somewhat disappointed.

"Zhao Qian, let me see if you are qualified to contend with me," Xiao Ye muttered inwardly.

The second round of the competition continued, and soon another young man took the stage, heating up the atmosphere in the arena.

He was a towering young man with long hair casually draped, his exposed muscles exuding a fierce aura.

Wentian, the strongest direct disciple of the Third Elder, was the most anticipated candidate to snatch one of the top three spots this time!

Upon his arrival, he immediately captured everyone’s attention.

Indeed, Wentian was formidable. Bursting into the mid-stage of the Innate Realm Ninth Layer, he effortlessly defeated his opponent in a few moves, easily making it into the top twenty.

"Next, the disciple who drew number eighteen, come forward for the match," the Great Elder’s commanding voice resonated throughout the venue.

"Sister, prepare to be surprised," Bing Ya smiled at Xiao Ye, then lightly touched the ground with her foot and gracefully landed in the square.

Xiao Ye watched Bing Ya’s retreating figure and whispered to himself, "Sister’s cultivation level must have reached the mid-stage of the Innate Realm Ninth Layer by now."

The crowd looked at Bing Ya’s stature and began whispering among themselves.

"It’s Bing Ya, the direct disciple of the Fourth Elder!"

"I heard she is very powerful."

"How strong can a woman be?" someone quickly questioned.

Although Bing Ya rarely exhibited her skills within the Sect, her saintly aura had left a lasting impression on many.

The four Black Robed Elders, including the Vice Sect Leader, all turned their gaze towards Bing Ya.

Before accepting Xiao Ye as a direct disciple, Bing Ya had shocked them profoundly, displaying a talent that was no less than Zhao Qian’s.

"Bing Ya Sister, you need to be careful," her opponent, a direct disciple under the Second Elder and resembling a scholarly gentleman, advised gallantly.

"Cut the nonsense!" Bing Ya coldly interrupted and promptly attacked.

The direct disciple’s expression changed slightly, not daring to be careless, he pushed his cultivation to its peak and engaged in a fierce battle with Bing Ya.

Boom boom boom!

An ice-cold aura swept through the void, and terrifying waves of power erupted from Bing Ya.

"Innate Realm Ninth Layer Middle Stage!" The direct disciple’s pupils contracted violently, his face filled with disbelief.

The young woman before him, who appeared much younger, possessed such high-level cultivation.

"Bing Ya Sister, no need to fight anymore, I admit defeat," the direct disciple said with a wry smile and a salute, acknowledging his cultivation was slightly lower than Bing Ya’s.

"Bing Ya Sister, I’ve long heard of your prowess, truly as impressive as Zhao Qian’s Brother," he said, his face abeam with a smile.

However, Bing Ya paid him no heed and turned around, drifting away, leaving her direct disciple counterpart awkwardly exiting the stage.

"Sister, how did I perform?" Bing Ya walked over to Xiao Ye, her eyes twinkling playfully, like a little girl eager for praise.

Xiao Ye rarely saw Bing Ya like this and was amused inwardly, yet he maintained a serious face and said, "Impressive."

For some reason, despite how other men complimented her, Bing Ya remained unmoved, but she seemed to really care about Xiao Ye’s praise.

Bing Ya sported a proud smile and walked over to Xiao Ye, the two of them started chatting and laughing.

Having taken an Elixir to stabilize her condition temporarily, Liu Yiyi suddenly witnessed this scene and experienced an indescribable surge of emotions.

Indeed, ever since she joined the Chongyang Sect, she had always considered Bing Ya a rival.

However, as time passed, she realized that whether in terms of cultivation, talent, or even aura, she was far inferior to her.

Bing Ya even possessed a mysterious aura, inspiringly exceptional that she could only look up to.

And now, such an outstanding woman was being intimate and jovial with Xiao Ye.

"Hmph, Bing Ya, your vision is not as good as mine," Liu Yiyi bit her red lip, her eyes turning to the unconventionally extraordinary Zhao Qian standing with his hands behind his back, suddenly feeling a surge of confidence.

Finally, the second round of the competition concluded.

"After a moment of incense burning time, the third round will begin, continuing to eliminate half of the competitors. Those who defeat their opponents will advance to the top ten," the Great Elder announced.

After the incense burning time, twenty direct disciples began drawing lots.

"Number One?"

"I actually am the first to compete in the third round," Xiao Ye looked at the bamboo slip in his hand, slightly startled.

"Brother, there are only ten matches in the third round. You are very likely to face Zhao Qian or Wentian, I hope your luck isn’t that bad," Bing Ya expressed her concerns.

If Xiao Ye couldn’t break into the top three, his fate would be quite miserable.

As Bing Ya’s words fell, a towering young man already stepped into the square.

Wentian!

Seeing the young man, Bing Ya was greatly startled, and it really was a case of fearing what might come true.

"Wentian, huh?" Xiao Ye’s eyes narrowed slightly, a strong war intent emanating from his body, it appeared he would need to utilize his Physical Body Power.