Chapter 496: Sensory Deprivation

Yuan Yao temporarily muddles this matter to get through.

In the upcoming trial, Ying Wuji and the other six participants will win without doubt.

As time passes, the situation of the sect's Grand Competition becomes clearer.

When everyone's eyes scan the scoreboard and see the Ninth Province still firmly holding a top‑three spot, then look at the merely eight remaining contestants from that province, a mix of feelings wells up inside.

"Is it really that no one can shake those eight?" many Cultivators mutter, their faces full of confusion and incomprehension.

At that moment, a startled shout rings from the audience seats: "Look! The last disciple from Fusang Island has been eliminated!"

People turn toward the voice and indeed find Fusang Island's name has slipped to the very bottom of the scoreboard, completely losing any chance to compete.

"Now the Ninth Province can't possibly finish last! How unexpected! Before the competition began, who didn't think the Ninth Province was the sure‑fire candidate for dead‑last?" someone sighs, a hint of lament in the tone.

"Currently, the Eighth Continent has three people left, the Seventh Continent five, the Sixth Continent six, and the Fifth Continent eleven."

"Even the powerful First Continent now has only thirty disciples left. Yet their foundation remains; there are still eleven disciples in the Spirit Transformation Realm!"

Mention of the First Continent makes everyone's gaze grow solemn again.

Those eleven Spirit Transformation Realm disciples are all renowned: Xie Zixu, Sikong Banxue, Bian Chen, Ying Wuhuan, Feng Xuanji, Jiang Shuai… each name represents a force not to be underestimated.

In the next round, Fusang Island has no contestants, so only eleven participants will step onto the stage.

Eleven is an odd number, meaning someone will draw a blank.

The blank‑draw receives no points and will not be eliminated.

Soon, the Ninth Province sends Zhai Qingye.

Zhai Qingye draws Sikong Banxue from the First Continent.

Zhai Qingye is suddenly shocked; he knows Sikong Banxue's strength is unfathomable and has no chance of winning against her.

Ling Huya on the arena floor exclaims, "Qingye ran into Sikong Banxue, that's it!"

In the First Continent, Sikong Banxue is undoubtedly the strongest young female cultivator.

She is not only a prodigiously talented sword cultivator but also a Grand Master of Speech Spirits!

Sikong Banxue, nineteen, is at the mid‑stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm, hails from the prestigious Sikong family of the First Continent, and is a disciple of the Formless Immortal Patriarch.

She stands on the arena, cloaked in a white fox‑fur mantle, slender in build, her clear visage showing a hint of sickness, her chin sharp, giving an impression of fragility.

Yet no one dares to underestimate Sikong Banxue.

Zhai Qingye stands opposite Sikong Banxue, inexplicably feeling tense.

With the judge's shout of "Begin," Zhai Qingye already summons his great sword.

But before he can execute a technique—

"Senses."

"Deprivation."

In an instant the air subtly warps, and Zhai Qingye loses all senses—sight, hearing, smell, and perception.

A strong panic surges in Zhai Qingye's heart.

Acting on instinct he swings his blade, but shortly after he seems to be blasted away, crashing heavily to the ground.

When his senses return, fierce pain shoots through his body, and his limbs are weak, unable to stand at all!

Meanwhile, Sikong Banxue remains where she is, coughing a few uneasy coughs, heartbreaking to hear.

This match was undeniably a loss for Zhai Qingye.

Zhai Qingye didn't even unleash a single move.

Below the arena, Ling Huya's expression turns grave, "Sikong Banxue is too strong; if we face her, we have no way to counter."

Ying Wuji says, "She is strong."

Song Yan asks, "Wuji, if you faced her, what odds would you have?"

Yuan Yao and the others look at him curiously.

Ying Wuji lowers his eyelids slightly and conservatively replies, "Five points."

Hearing this, Yuan Yao and the others can confirm that Sikong Banxue's strength is not below Ying Wuji's.

Xiao Zhufeng says slowly, "Next round, I'll go."

The others raise no objection.

Soon, Xiao Zhufeng steps onto the arena.

This time the First Continent sent Jiang Shuai, one of the Seven Unparalleled Talents.

Feiyun Island: Qian Yunzhou.

Sixth Continent: Yu Jing.

Seventh Continent: Wei Yanqing.

Eighth Continent: Hua Chengyan.

All eleven contestants draw lots simultaneously.

Qian Yunzhou draws a blank.

The people of Feiyun Island feel a wave of disappointment upon seeing Qian Yunzhou draw a blank, because given his strength, whoever he faced would be a guaranteed win.

Yu Jing faces Wei Yanqing and wins.

Hua Chengyan faces a Wuliang Island disciple and wins.

Xiao Zhufeng and Jiang Shuai stand on the arena together.

Both are at the early stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

However, Jiang Shuai doesn't consider Xiao Zhufeng a threat.

But Xiao Zhufeng, knowing he's met a formidable opponent, does not slack off.

After the judge announces the start, the two draw their swords and battle, the fight extremely fierce, with sword techniques flowing continuously!

It left everyone in awe.

You say, who is slightly better between the two of them?

No need to say, it's definitely Jiang Shuai!

I think it's not necessarily Jiang Shuai who will win; Xiao Zhufeng is not inferior to him at all.

The crowd discussed heatedly.

The immortals on the high platform were also discussing who would win between the two of them.

In their eyes, every match of Xiao Zhufeng was strikingly outstanding; he seemed born for the Sword Dao.

Meanwhile, Jiang Shuai cultivates the Ruthless Sword, his strikes are more decisive and ruthless, and his sword techniques are even more vicious.

The two are evenly matched!

However…

Having gone through so many rounds of matches earlier, Xiao Zhufeng no longer displays the strength he had at his peak.

As time went on, Jiang Shuai began to suppress Xiao Zhufeng.

After a quarter of an hour, the outcome was decided.

Jiang Shuai won, Xiao Zhufeng lost.

Jiang Shuai sheathed his sword, let out a faint snort from his nostrils, then arrogantly glanced at the wounded Xiao Zhufeng before stepping down from the platform.

Xiao Zhufeng's face was deathly pale, his lips stained with blood, fresh and old wounds covering his body; he propped himself up with his sword, then staggered slightly as he walked down the platform.

Meanwhile, Yuan Yao and the others had already been waiting below the platform to receive him.

Xiao Zhufeng pressed his lips, his voice weak but firm: "Now it's up to you."

"Don't worry." Yuan Yao nodded solemnly, "We will give it our all."

Xiao Lingwei said: "Go find Ali first to treat your wounds."

Xiao Zhufeng agreed: "Okay."

…

Ying Wuji looked up at the golden characters floating in the sky.

At this time, the Ninth Province remained in third place.

The top two were the First Province and Flying Cloud Island.

But now, the Ninth Province and Flying Cloud Island differ by only over three hundred points.

Yuan Yao also followed her youngest senior brother's gaze; after a few seconds, she tilted her head and asked, "Youngest senior brother, what place did our Ninth Province used to hold?"

Ying Wuji paused, having understood her implication.

In the previous lifetime's Immortal Sect Grand Competition, the Ninth Province ranked only tenth.

Because back then, the Eldest Senior Brother and the others lost their competitive drive due to the presence of Lu Xiangxiang.

He answered truthfully.

"Tenth."