Chapter 492

Everyone exclaimed in surprise.

Immediately, they saw the two figures constantly flashing on the huge stage; each collision burst out a series of explosive sounds.

The battle was extraordinarily fierce!

At this moment, the immortals on the high platform also focused their attention on the two of them.

Ying Tian Immortal Lord tilted his head to look at Kui Qian Immortal Lord and smiled: "Kui Qian Immortal Lord, your disciple's swordsmanship has reached perfection; they have already grasped sword intent, truly impressive."

Kui Qian Immortal Lord's expression remained calm as he said: "She can still improve."

Ying Tian Immortal Lord smiled.

He said: "The Second Senior Sister of Thousand Jade Mountain also looks strong; no matter who wins or loses, they will both become pillars of the cultivation world."

Kui Qian Immortal Lord remained silent, but obviously acquiesced.

"Why hasn't Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord come?" Fang Tai Immortal Lord sitting nearby asked slowly.

Ying Tian Immortal Lord said: "It is said he is still in seclusion cultivating."

Fang Tai Immortal Lord's gaze shifted to the nearby profile of Formless Immortal Lord and he asked: "Formless Immortal Lord, did you and Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord fight recently?"

Formless Immortal Lord heard this, his expression unchanged, and said: "Yes."

Fang Tai Immortal Lord's face showed doubt: "Why did the two of you start a conflict? Could it be because of the jade…" Qing Xue.

He did not utter the last two words.

"It's nothing." Formless Immortal Lord said lightly, obviously not wanting to mention that matter.

Fang Tai Immortal Lord saw this and did not ask further.

At this moment, Xiao Lingwei and Qiu Fu's match had not yet ended.

Both were injured, their faces pale, but their eyes burned with fierce fighting spirit, as if excited to meet a worthy opponent.

One round…

Two rounds……

…

Time flowed silently in the clash of each move; the spectators below shifted from initial astonishment to rapt attention.

When the two fought tirelessly, after enduring hundreds of rounds of fierce battle, their movements noticeably slowed, their spiritual power nearly exhausted; each whip swing and sword slash required great effort, as if they might collapse at any moment.

This match had already lasted one and a half hours!

At this moment, the crowd felt only shock and admiration.

"Xiao Lingwei and Qiu Fu are amazing!"

"They wouldn't end in a draw, would they?"

"A draw? It's not unprecedented in past grand competitions, unless… they both collapse from exhaustion together." A well‑versed old man stroked his beard and analyzed in a low voice.

"If it really is a tie, how would the points be calculated? Wouldn't both of them be eliminated?"

Just as the crowd debated, the two girls on the stage had already given their all.

Xiao Lingwei suddenly lifted her eyes, the last trace of spiritual power in her body surging wildly into her long whip.

The originally agile whip now seemed to become an angry dragon, howling as it tore through the air, sweeping horizontally toward Qiu Fu.

Qiu Fu forcibly suppressed the surging qi and blood in her chest; her long sword hummed, bursting forth with blinding light.

She advanced instead of retreating, meeting the whip's shadow, gripping her sword with both hands and carving a radiant arc from bottom to top, as if to split heaven and earth!

Boom—

The whip blade and sword blade collided violently; in an instant, a terrifying shockwave centered on them spread outward like ripples, cracking the stage's stone tiles inch by inch and filling the air with dust.

The powerful recoil force sent both of them staggering back several steps.

Xiao Lingwei staggered, a trace of bright red blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Qiu Fu likewise was not faring better; she dropped to one knee, her long sword driven deep into the stone slab to barely keep her balance, her face as pale as near‑transparent.

Their gazes seemed to meet in an instant.

Immediately, they engaged again.

The participating disciples below the stage had varied expressions.

Yuan Yao saw that her Second Senior Sister had acquired many wounds; her furrowed brows never relaxed, and worry showed in her eyes.

After half a quarter of an hour, they finally determined a winner.

Xiao Lingwei won by a narrow margin.

Qiu Fu lost narrowly.

Qiu Fu rose to her feet; her pale face showed no resentment, only composure, and she said to Xiao Lingwei: "I hope we have another chance to fight in the future."

Xiao Lingwei raised a hand to wipe away the blood at the corner of her mouth, gave a light laugh, and said: "I would be delighted."

"Ninth Province Xiao Lingwei, victory! Thirty points!" the referee announced loudly.

Both stepped down from the stage.

Yuan Yao and the others had already been waiting below the stage for Xiao Lingwei.

Cang Li supported Xiao Lingwei: "Second Senior Sister, come on, let me treat you! Now I'm a doctor, you have to listen to me!"

Xiao Lingwei gave him a faint glance: "Are you a quack doctor?"

Cang Li: "…"

Xiao Lingwei said: "Give me some pills that can quickly restore spiritual power."

"Second Senior Sister, will you give me spirit stones?"

"You're only thinking about spirit stones all day." Xiao Lingwei glanced at him and said: "Here."

Cang Li laughed and retorted: "Second Senior Sister, look at what you're saying—who doesn't like spirit stones?"

"Third Senior Brother, stop your nagging already—Second Senior Sister's wound keeps bleeding." Yuan Yao glared at Cang Li.

Cang Li's smile faded a bit, replaced by seriousness.

"Good."

While Cang Li helped Xiao Lingwei treat her injuries, Ying Wuji and the others went up onto the stage one by one to compete.

Among the twelve, Shiziwen, whose cultivation was at the peak of the late Golden Core Realm, was eliminated.

That is to say, the Ninth Province won another eleven matches.

In the first two hundred rounds of matches, the Ninth Province had thirty-seven people left and won thirty-seven matches.

Those thirty-seven people then took turns competing, leaving twelve people, so they won twelve matches.

Those twelve people then took turns competing, leaving eleven people, so they won eleven matches.

Zhai Qingye raised his head and gazed at the floating characters in the sky, "As long as we keep winning, our Ninth Province won't be at the bottom, and we might even let the Ninth Province rise to a higher ranking."

At this moment, the Ninth Province was still in seventh place.

Song Yan's brows showed a hint of worry, "But if we keep participating in so many matches, we will definitely expend stamina and spiritual power, and our bodies will get injured. We might not be able to hold out until the end."

Cang Li reached out and patted Song Yan's shoulder, smiling, "Eldest Senior Brother, don't be so pessimistic! Even if we fall, they won't fall!"

"But..." Song Yan's expression remained grave, his gaze sweeping over his junior brothers and sisters, his tone full of concern, "You will end up seriously injured because of this."

Yuan Yao and the others could not miss the deep meaning in the eldest senior brother's words.

He wasn't afraid they couldn't hold out, but feared that for the Ninth Province's ranking they would push themselves too hard and ultimately damage their foundations.

Yuan Yao spoke up, "Eldest Senior Brother, we will exercise restraint."

Song Yan obviously didn't believe it.

He knew his junior brothers and sisters too well.

Especially Yuan Yao and Xue Jin—the former is stubborn and resolute; once he makes up his mind, he will fight without regard for his own injuries; the latter, if it's for the goal of "winning," will truly fight to the death, not sparing himself even if he is utterly exhausted.

Song Yan let out a deep sigh.

When he was about to say something, Xue Jin said, "In the next round, I'll go first."