Chapter 486

In the upcoming matches.

The number of eliminations kept rising, while the points of each province and island kept increasing.

After five hours, the hundredth round of one-on-one platform matches just ended.

The number of disciples eliminated from the Ninth Province reached as high as ninety.

In other words, in the first hundred one-on-one platform matches, they from the Ninth Province almost always lost.

Meanwhile, the First Province had only five disciples eliminated, meaning they won ninety-five matches, and their points instantly increased by two thousand eight hundred fifty.

Now, the First Province's ranking has already surpassed that of the Ninth Province.

The First Province's total points: three thousand seven hundred twenty.

Ranked first.

The Ninth Province's total points: three thousand three hundred one.

Ranked second.

Flying Cloud Island ranked third, with total points of two thousand nine hundred seventy.

Seeing the First Province's ranking finally return to first, everyone began to discuss.

"The First Province truly lives up to being the First Province! In a hundred matches, only five were eliminated! Amazing!"

"Look at the Ninth Province, they've already had ninety eliminated, hahaha..."

"The Ninth Province should be renamed the Twelfth Province, placed at the bottom!"

"I estimate that after the first two hundred rounds of matches end, the Ninth Province will have only twenty people left!"

"At least Fusang Island still won twenty-five matches."

The mocking and contemptuous voices at the scene kept drilling into the ears of the Ninth Province crowd, making them unable to lift their heads.

At this moment—

The Ninth Province people watching the Immortal Sect Grand Competition everywhere couldn't help but show utterly disappointed expressions, and they gradually accepted in their hearts that the Ninth Province would only end up at the bottom.

Moreover, some spoke up mockingly: "In this Immortal Sect Grand Competition, our Ninth Province getting twelfth place is wholly deserved!"

"Exactly, which province's performance could be so stable?"

The Ninth Province people self-deprecatingly laughed, then treated it as a joke to tell.

…

On the martial arena of the floating capital.

The matches continued.

Yuan Yao and the others, seeing the Ninth Province lose several matches in a row, had faces almost filled with solemnity.

Shiziwen looked at Yuan Yao, "Senior sister, let me go up."

Yuan Yao turned her head to look at him, seeing his solemn expression, she nodded and agreed: "Okay."

After a pause, she added, "You must be careful in your response, and also, don't strike too ruthlessly."

Shiziwen, hearing that, lightly nodded.

Soon, Shiziwen went up onto the stage.

Shiziwen's cultivation was at mid Golden Core Realm, while the opponent he drew came from the First Province, and the opponent's cultivation was at early Nascent Soul Realm.

Everyone felt the outcome of this match was already obvious.

But what no one expected was that Shiziwen's strength far exceeded his cultivation, and his strikes were fast, fierce, and precise, invisibly carrying a chilling killing intent.

That First Province disciple originally thought Shiziwen was not worth a blow, but the longer they fought, the more startled he became, as the opponent's fighting style was extremely ruthless, and carried an unyielding viciousness.

Although he had already severely injured Shiziwen, Shiziwen could still stand up like nothing happened after vomiting blood, that one eye bearing a chilling cold light, staring straight at him.

The crowd also had their full attention drawn by this intense battle.

"This one-eyed kid is absolutely a ruthless person!"

"He's already suffered heavy injuries, yet he hasn't fallen down nor admitted defeat!"

"Shiziwen, go for it!" Many Ninth Province people, seeing this scene, felt their dead‑still hearts, like being struck by a boulder, stir up countless ripples, giving them a surge of hot‑blooded, unyielding enthusiasm!

"Shiziwen, defeat him!"

Countless pairs of eyes were nervously fixed on this moment.

Shiziwen's face was as pale as paper; at this moment he had only one thought: he must win!

This match actually dragged on for half an hour, both sides consuming enormous spiritual power, the scene once reaching a stalemate.

Finally, at the instant when the opponent's spiritual power was nearly exhausted and his movements slightly slowed, Shiziwen seized that fleeting opportunity and struck decisively!

He gathered all his remaining spiritual power into his palm, exerted his full strength, and suddenly slapped out a palm toward his opponent!

Boom!

The palm wind was fierce, with the force of a thousand jun.

The opponent was already at the end of his rope; at this moment he had no time to dodge, and the palm wind struck his chest solidly.

Only a crisp "crack" was heard as his ribs broke, his whole body flew out like a broken‑string kite, heavily crashing onto the edge of the platform, spurting a large mouthful of fresh blood from his mouth, staining the ground before him red.

And before he could recover, Shiziwen had already gathered a second palm ready to strike him—

"Junior brother!"

A voice came from below the platform, with a hint of urgency.

Upon hearing that sound, Shiziwen quickly withdrew his hand and turned his head to look down at Yuan Yao.

The girl's brows slightly furrowed, she shook her head.

Shiziwen's heart jolted, as if doused with cold water, and he instantly came to his senses.

Only then did he realize that, immersed in the contest, he had almost lost his composure.

If that palm had really landed, the opponent would likely not die but suffer grave injury, his meridians severed, his cultivation ruined.

At this moment, the opponent's face was pallid, with a trace of unsettled panic, he barely crawled up from the ground, clutching his throbbing chest, his breath feeble.

Shiziwen still stared at him with heavy eyes, his gaze sharp as an eagle's, like a lurking hunter fixated on wounded prey, without any relaxation.

The opponent gritted his teeth and said, "I… I concede!"

The onlookers, seeing this, were filled with emotion.

And the Ninth Province crowd began to cheer.

"Shiziwen!"

"Shiziwen!!"

Many people shouted Shiziwen's name, making Shiziwen, who stood on the arena, feel somewhat dazed and a bit unreal.

"Ninth Province Shiziwen, victory! Gains thirty points!" the referee announced.

As Shiziwen strained his wounded body to walk down from the arena, the Ninth Province disciples had already come forward to greet him.

Shiziwen felt their enthusiasm and pursed his lips.

And when he saw Yuan Yao's figure, a hanging heart seemed finally to settle, and his expression involuntarily softened.

"Quick, quick, quick!" Cang Li rushed over, helped him to the side, and then directly examined his injuries, applying medicine and bandaging.

The tearing pain of the wound made Shiziwen frown slightly.

Yuan Yao crouched down, her expression serious as she said to him, "Junior brother, you really have become much stronger!"

Then, she shifted her tone, "However, it seems you forgot what I told you before stepping onto the arena."

"Senior sister, I'm sorry." A flash of panic crossed Shiziwen's face.

Yuan Yao let out a light sigh, "No need to apologize to me; just be more careful next time. Also, always consider your own physical condition; if in future contests you face opponents far stronger than you, remember to stop at a point and not let yourself become riddled with scars."

"I understand." A faint smile spread across Shiziwen's pale lips as he stared at Yuan Yao without blinking, "Senior sister."

Yuan Yao returned a smile.

And this scene was captured by a white‑robed youth in the distance.

Then, Yuan Yao seemed to sense something, stood up, took a few steps, and subtly extended her spiritual perception into the emerald jade tablet.

"Yuan Yao, look at me."