"That, Elder Duan, where is the guy I was fighting?" Li Xuan's eyes slowly opened, and he looked at Duan Ya Zi with some surprise.
Duan Ya Zi glanced at the wisp of sword energy on Li Xuan's finger that would disappear and reappear, and let out a bitter smile.
Fortunately, the sword energy that erupted from Li Xuan's body earlier had not caused too much backlash. At this moment, Duan Ya Zi had suppressed the churning of his blood and Qi.
Duan Ya Zi took a deep breath and said, "Gong Jun Feng is out."
"Out?" Li Xuan immediately looked down upon hearing this.
Indeed, Gong Jun Feng was sitting cross-legged on the plaza below, with an elder sitting behind him.
The elder was currently healing Gong Jun Feng. Li Xuan recognized him at a glance as Elder Zhuo Le Xin, who had joined the Seventh Peak from the Second Peak.
As Li Xuan's gaze shifted, Zhuo Le Xin also withdrew his hand. He then looked at Li Xuan, stood up, and cupped his fists towards Duan Ya Zi, saying, "Elder Duan, how do you rule on this match?"
"This..." Duan Ya Zi was stunned.
If Gong Jun Feng had won, but he had actually fallen out of the ring. If Li Xuan was declared the winner, Gong Jun Feng could have completely killed Li Xuan when he was frozen.
This match, however, could only have a winner or a loser, and could not be declared a draw. Thinking of this, Duan Ya Zi became quite troubled.
"The outcome of this battle is difficult to determine. What are your thoughts on this matter, Peak Master Luo Kang?" After much deliberation, Duan Ya Zi found it impossible to declare a winner that would satisfy everyone, so he cupped his hands towards the pillar where Luo Kang was located and asked,
"The battle between the two was indeed difficult to decide. If it were a draw, it would have been acceptable. However, due to the rules, this match will be invalidated, and we will start again." Luo Kang's voice descended after a moment of silence.
Duan Ya Zi nodded immediately. It seemed that only by starting anew could a victor be determined. Luo Kang's judgment was fair and impartial.
With this thought, Duan Ya Zi looked at Gong Jun Feng, who was beside Zhuo Le Xin. The latter had already recovered with Zhuo Le Xin's help.
"Gong Jun Feng, did you hear Peak Master Luo Kang's decision?" Duan Ya Zi asked.
"Disciple, I heard," a trace of fear flashed across Gong Jun Feng's face, and he seemed to struggle slightly before bowing and cupping his fists in response.
Duan Ya Zi nodded and then looked at Li Xuan, saying, "Li Xuan, do you have any objections?"
Li Xuan shook his head. This judgment was reasonable, and he nodded in response, "Disciple has no objections."
Duan Ya Zi nodded again and said, "In that case, you may begin again now."
Li Xuan nodded slightly and then looked at Gong Jun Feng below. Gong Jun Feng hesitated for a moment before biting his lip and leaping onto the stage.
Seeing Gong Jun Feng enter, Duan Ya Zi said, "Begin."
Upon hearing this, Gong Jun Feng's hand flashed, and the Ice Soul Silver Spear instantly appeared in his hand. Seeing this, Li Xuan moved his mind, and the wisp of sword energy appeared at his fingertip.
Looking at the sword energy on Li Xuan's finger, Gong Jun Feng's breathing visibly slowed. A trace of struggle flashed across his face, and he shook his head with unwillingness in his eyes. Finally, he slowly said, "I... I surrender!"
As soon as Gong Jun Feng finished speaking, Li Xuan was stunned.
What was Gong Jun Feng's situation? He chose to surrender just by seeing the sword energy on Li Xuan's finger.
Not only Li Xuan, but even Duan Ya Zi almost spat out a mouthful of blood. The surrounding disciples and the leaders of various factions also shook their heads.
Clearly, Gong Jun Feng had been intimidated by Li Xuan's wisp of sword energy.
Seeing Gong Jun Feng surrender, Duan Ya Zi had no choice but to say, "Li Xuan wins this match."
Gong Jun Feng cupped his fists towards Duan Ya Zi as if he had been granted a great pardon and instantly disappeared downwards.
Li Xuan smiled bitterly. The way Gong Jun Feng left made him look like a resentful woman.
In fact, if they had fought again, the power of the sword energy within Li Xuan would not have been as strong as before.
After all, Li Xuan had rarely used his identity as a sword cultivator after joining the Green Hall, and the suppressed sword energy had naturally reached its peak. It had been unleashed to some extent when it erupted from his body upon sensing Li Xuan's crisis.
Of course, if they had fought again, Li Xuan was confident he could defeat Gong Jun Feng. Now that his sword energy had appeared, his identity as a sword cultivator no longer needed to be hidden.
One person, one sword, was enough to look down on all heroes.
After all, the sword cultivator was Li Xuan's strongest trump card identity.
"Congratulations, Fifth Junior Brother." As Li Xuan stepped down, Su Yue Ze and the other two surrounded him, smiling.
Li Xuan smiled slightly and then looked at Su Yue Ze, saying, "Likewise, Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, how were your matches?"
"Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother, like you, have entered the next round of matches. My luck was not very good; I was defeated by that Wang Cheng Hua," Song Wu Wen said with a bitter smile.
"Fourth Brother, that Wang Cheng Hua is a very strong existence on the First Peak. Moreover, Wang Cheng Hua has the strength of a peak-level Beyond the Shore Realm. Losing to him is not shameful. You don't need to feel burdened by this," Su Yue Ze said.
Song Wu Wen nodded and then smiled at Li Xuan, saying, "That's right! Although I lost, three of us among our five junior brothers have entered the next round. Moreover, the sword energy that Fifth Brother controls is probably something even Wang Cheng Hua would not dare to touch.
"The upcoming battles will undoubtedly be more exciting. Fifth Brother, you must do your best. I am pinning all my hopes on you."
"I will do my best. But I don't know if I can reach the end," Li Xuan said with a bitter smile and a nod.
Buzz.
As Li Xuan finished speaking, a buzzing sound echoed in the sky. Everyone looked up.
At this moment, Duan Ya Zi once again floated in the air and slowly said, "After two rounds of matches, there are now eight disciples remaining for the final competition."
"However, since Du Yu Xing, Murong Xiong, Xi Zi Ming, and An Wen Xuan were all seriously injured in the second round and are unable to continue participating in the upcoming matches, the third round of duels will only involve the six of you."
"And for the third round of matches, Peak Master Luo Kang has just sent me a message. The six of you will ascend the Heavenly Staircase formed by the Seventh Peak's镇峰之宝 (zhen feng zhi bao - treasure that guards the peak), the Seven Treasures Hall, together. Until only one disciple remains, they will become the new Saint Son of the Seventh Peak."
"You will now be given the time it takes for one incense stick to burn to recover yourselves. After one incense stick, the competition for the position of Saint Son will begin!"
As Duan Ya Zi finished speaking, Li Xuan, Su Yue Ze, and the others exchanged glances. Clearly, Li Xuan and the other two were somewhat puzzled by Luo Kang's arrangement.
However, no one said anything at the moment. Li Xuan, Su Yue Ze, and Chai Jing Yuan sat down and quickly began to recuperate.
Furthermore, Luo Kang's arrangement was relatively advantageous for Li Xuan, Su Yue Ze, and Chai Jing Yuan.
After all, if the rules of the first and second rounds had been followed, there would have been a high probability of Li Xuan, Su Yue Ze, and Chai Jing Yuan being matched against each other. Changing the nature of the competition had undoubtedly increased their chances of winning.
At the same time, not far from Li Xuan, Su Yue Ze, and Chai Jing Yuan, three other figures also sat down.
Clearly, these three were the disciples who would compete with Li Xuan and the other two for the position of Saint Son.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, the time it took for one incense stick to burn had passed.
Li Xuan and the others opened their eyes. A sharp glint flashed in each of their eyes. For the position of Saint Son, the six of them had adjusted their states to the best possible condition.
"Time is up," Duan Ya Zi said, then bowed slightly towards the pillar where Luo Kang was located in the sky and called out, "We invite Peak Master Luo Kang!"
As Duan Ya Zi finished speaking, a ray of spiritual light shot down from Luo Kang's pillar. Then, in the eyes of Li Xuan and the others, it instantly transformed into a huge heavenly staircase that slanted downwards. The staircase connected to the plaza, as if it had always been there.
Li Xuan looked up and found that even with his eyesight, he could not see the end. It could be imagined how high this heavenly staircase was.
Seeing the staircase solidify, Duan Ya Zi looked at the six of them and waved his hand, saying, "Each step of this heavenly staircase has a different pressure. The higher the step, the stronger the pressure. The longer you can endure, the greater your chance of winning. Of course, the highest climber will ultimately win. Now, begin."
The six of Li Xuan's faces became solemn. They exchanged glances and then stepped onto the first step.
Boom!
As the six of them stepped onto the first step, the heavenly staircase formed by the Seven Treasures Hall erupted with a brilliant light. Then, a terrifying pressure descended upon them.
"This pressure is too strong!"
As the pressure enveloped him, Li Xuan was shocked. This was only the first layer of pressure, and it already had the intensity of a peak-level True Self Realm.
If calculated this way, some people would not be able to hold on before reaching a hundred steps. However, after looking around, Li Xuan shrugged helplessly. Among these six people, his strength seemed to be only at the intermediate level of the Beyond the Shore Realm.
While Li Xuan was thinking, Su Yue Ze and Chai Jing Yuan had already taken three more steps. On the other side, the three people had already advanced rapidly, reaching the fifth step.
Li Xuan looked up, then withdrew his thoughts and took his second step. After feeling it for a moment, Li Xuan took another step towards the third step.
Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, Li Xuan had reached the fifty-sixth step.
Su Yue Ze and Chai Jing Yuan had already reached the sixty-second step.
The other three were also no lower than them.
Li Xuan smiled bitterly and began to climb again.