The new round of draws concluded, and both Qin Hanchu and Axiang had new opponents.
Axiang had somewhat poor luck; she ended up facing Zhuo Yaoyao.
Zhuo Yaoyao was someone who possessed a top-tier divine artifact, making Axiang no match for her.
"Do you yield?" Zhuo Yaoyao asked with a mocking smile.
Axiang smiled and shook her head, "Being able to fight a strong opponent is also a form of tempering."
"Alright, I'll give you a chance to temper yourself."
A mid-tier divine artifact appeared in Zhuo Yaoyao's hand; she intended to have a fair fight with Axiang.
To be honest, the only difference between Zhuo Yaoyao and Axiang was a top-tier divine artifact.
If Zhuo Yaoyao didn't use the top-tier divine artifact, the outcome between her and Axiang would be hard to predict.
Zhuo Yaoyao could defeat Axiang at the Fenghua Banquet by relying on her top-tier divine artifact, but in a life-and-death duel on any other day, Zhuo Yaoyao would definitely not be Axiang's opponent.
After all, Axiang possessed a Primordial Supreme Treasure!
Zhuo Yaoyao thought she could suppress Axiang, but she didn't expect Axiang's Divine Emperor-level divine skills to be endless.
From the beginning of the fight, the battle between the two entered a white-hot stage.
"The strength of this couple is so formidable. If Zhuo Yaoyao doesn't use her top-tier divine artifact, she might not be able to defeat this person."
"If this couple possessed top-tier divine artifacts, they would definitely have a chance to contend for the top spot."
"And that rogue cultivator, his strength is not weaker than these two rogue cultivators." This person was referring to Celestial Majesty Tianmu.
The fierce battle continued. At this moment, Zhuo Yaoyao's expression was solemn; she had to focus entirely on her fight with Axiang.
Once a mistake occurred, she could fall into a disadvantage.
"I didn't expect your strength to be this great. I concede this match!"
To Axiang's surprise, Zhuo Yaoyao conceded once again.
"Zhuo Yaoyao must be trying to hide her top-tier divine artifact."
"With her strength, she has a hundred percent certainty of reviving from a losing match, so conceding again has no impact on her."
Everyone knew that Zhuo Yaoyao had a top-tier divine artifact, but no one knew what it actually was.
Those who had seen her top-tier divine artifact had already been killed by her.
Zhuo Yaoyao's goal was also the Ascension Creation Pill, so she didn't want to reveal her trump card too early.
Axiang thought she would have to go to the losing bracket, but unexpectedly, Zhuo Yaoyao conceded.
If Zhuo Yaoyao had continued the grueling battle, she might have won even without using her top-tier divine artifact.
However, for Zhuo Yaoyao, such a prolonged battle was meaningless.
Since she was confident of returning from the revival match, why expose her true combat power?
Because Zhuo Yaoyao went easy, Axiang successfully entered the top two hundred.
As long as Axiang won one more match, she would be able to enter the top hundred rankings.
At that point, she would gain the qualification to enter the inner sect.
The resources and treatment for inner disciples and outer disciples were worlds apart.
In the Ancient Dao Academy, the status of inner disciples was also much higher than that of outer disciples.
If outer disciples provoked inner disciples, they would be punished.
"Thank you," Axiang said.
Zhuo Yaoyao smiled calmly and was then teleported to the defeated contestants' area.
At the same time, Qin Hanchu had finished his battle.
His luck was good in this match; his opponent was relatively weak.
This fight was quite easy.
Seeing Axiang standing in the winners' area, Qin Hanchu exclaimed in surprise, "You defeated Zhuo Yaoyao?"
Although Qin Hanchu's opponent wasn't very strong, he still didn't dare to slack off, which was why he didn't know the details of Axiang's fight with Zhuo Yaoyao.
Axiang replied, "I didn't defeat her; she conceded herself."
"She's hiding her trump card," Qin Hanchu remarked.
Axiang nodded, "Her goal is the Ascension Creation Pill, after all. She can't let others know her ultimate move so quickly."
"Keep trying, and strive to enter the top hundred," Qin Hanchu said. He and Axiang had come for the resources of the Ancient Dao Academy.
The higher the status, the more resources one could naturally enjoy.
"According to the current rules, I still have to fight about two more rounds," Axiang said.
Qin Hanchu replied, "Just do your best."
In the subsequent revival matches, Zhuo Yaoyao "lived up to expectations" and easily advanced.
In the following few rounds, Qin Hanchu's luck was consistently good.
Although the battles were somewhat difficult, he ultimately emerged victorious.
The rules of the Ancient Dao Academy were truly torturous. To win the championship, one had to fight opponents in a series of rounds.
After several grueling rounds, Qin Hanchu and Axiang finally entered the top one hundred and twenty.
The next battle would determine whether they could enter the inner sect of the Ancient Dao Academy.
As the wooden plaque disappeared, Qin Hanchu entered the battlefield.
Upon seeing his opponent, Qin Hanchu's expression turned solemn.
It was truly a case of enemies meeting on a narrow path; his opponent was Zhan Kuanghu!
Seeing Qin Hanchu, Zhan Kuanghu smiled excitedly, "I never expected you to run into me."
"And then?" Qin Hanchu asked indifferently.
Zhan Kuanghu sneered, "Do you yield yourself, or shall I send you out?"
"Make your move. You're not qualified to make me yield yet."
Hearing Qin Hanchu's words, Zhan Kuanghu's expression grew even angrier, "You ignorant fool!"
Qin Hanchu said no more nonsense. He gripped his mid-grade divine artifact and charged towards Zhan Kuanghu.
Zhan Kuanghu was different from Zhuo Yaoyao; he didn't hide his top-tier divine artifact.
In his previous battles, he had swept through opponents with his top-tier divine artifact.
Facing Qin Hanchu's attack, Zhan Kuanghu swung his axe down.
Under the amplification of the top-tier divine artifact, the power of this axe blow was terrifying.
Qin Hanchu's attack was instantly shattered, and the residual power of the axe beam surged towards him.
Qin Hanchu suddenly vanished from his original spot. When he reappeared, he was already above Zhan Kuanghu's head.
Divine Thunder Killing Array!
Rumble...
In an instant, Qin Hanchu's Divine Thunder Killing Array had coalesced.
Fearsome lightning struck down towards Zhan Kuanghu.
Zhan Kuanghu snorted dismissively. He swung his battle axe towards the sky.
Boom...
The divine thunder and the axe beam clashed fiercely, and both eventually dissipated.
"Use whatever other methods you have!"
"Divine Axe Descends, Slash!"
Zhan Kuanghu leaped up. The top-tier divine artifact in his hand emanated dark mist.
As the mist churned, the shadowy image of a ferocious divine beast emerged.
Accompanied by this divine beast's image, a thousand-zhang axe beam slashed down at Qin Hanchu.
As the axe beam fell, the void seemed to be sliced in two.
This was the attack technique of a top-tier divine artifact, its power earth-shattering.
The space around Qin Hanchu seemed to be sealed; he couldn't even move.
"He's lost!"
"Without a top-tier divine artifact, it's indeed impossible."
"With his strength, he should be able to advance from the revival bracket. Losing to Zhan Kuanghu is not a disgrace."
"Zhan Kuanghu has already set his sights on him. If he cannot become an inner disciple, his situation will become even more perilous."
As the crowd was discussing, dense purple mist, obscuring all sight, suddenly appeared around Qin Hanchu.
"What is this technique?"
"Zhan Kuanghu's divine skill has already imprisoned him. What's the use of covering his form?"