Chapter 17: Top 50

Due to the uneven strength of the contestants, the first round proceeded very quickly.

The first round totaled nine hundred and forty matches, and it concluded completely in just over half a day.

Among them, Su Yutong easily defeated her opponent.

Her opponent was also at the Qi Refining Layer Nine cultivation level.

In stark contrast to Wang Yu Yao, Su Yutong did not even use a Magic Tool, relying only on powerful spells to easily defeat her opponent.

After a short rest.

The remaining nine hundred and forty contestants drew lots again.

The second round of matches continued.

This time, Wang Yu Yao's opponent was also a Qi Refining Layer Nine Cultivator.

After a brief exchange, she won easily.

By dusk, the second round of matches ended.

The remaining four hundred and seventy contestants drew lots again and began the third round of matches.

This repeated over and over.

By the time the sixth round of matches began, it was already the early morning of the next day.

In this round, Wang Yu Yao's opponent was a Qi Refining Tenth Layer Cultivator.

He possessed a Middle Grade Magic Tool, and his spell power was quite strong.

Wang Yu Yao was unable to gain the upper hand relying only on her Cloud Water Cold Light Sword; in the end, she had to activate her Purple Jade Shoes, causing her speed to surge, and only then did she manage to win by relying on her speed advantage.

After the battle, Wang Yu Yao successfully advanced to the next round, while also attracting a great deal of attention.

Magic Tools are different from Pills.

In this world, there is no concept of a Perfect Magical Tool.

A Perfect Intermediate Magical Tool has power comparable to a High-grade Magical Artifact; to outsiders, that is simply a High-grade Magical Artifact.

In the Outer Sect, the standard equipment for ordinary Disciples is a Lower Grade Magic Tool.

Those who can possess a Middle Grade Magic Tool are already extremely wealthy existences.

As for High-grade Magical Artifacts, only the very top tier of the Outer Sect are likely to possess them.

Yet Wang Yu Yao not only had one, she possessed two!

This made almost everyone unable to help but feel a bit jealous.

Below the ring, Su Yutong looked at Wang Yu Yao, her expression extremely ugly.

If she remembered correctly, when she first met Wang Yu Yao at Wang Jianqiang's place, the other party was only at Qi Refining Layer Nine.

But now, Wang Yu Yao had already broken through to Qi Refining Consummation!

She was able to break through because she had bought a Perfect Cloud Glow Pill from the Outer Affairs Hall.

To purchase the Pill, she had even sold the only High-grade Magical Artifact she possessed.

And Wang Yu Yao?

After being slighted by Wang Yu Yao, she had also investigated the other party.

The other party was just an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.

Half a year ago, she was only at Qi Refining Layer Six.

The reason she was able to quickly break through to Qi Refining Layer Nine was because she was lucky and accidentally ran into a transaction between Wang Jianqiang and the Outer Affairs Hall, allowing her to be the first to purchase a Perfect Pill.

However, given the other party's ordinary background, she must have exhausted her savings to cultivate to Qi Refining Layer Nine.

It was impossible for her to have any more Spirit Stones to continue buying Pills.

Thus, there could only be one reason Wang Yu Yao was able to reach Qi Refining Consummation.

Wang Jianqiang had given her the Perfect Cloud Glow Pill at a low price, or perhaps even for free!

In that case, the High-grade Magical Artifacts on her person could also be explained.

They must have been gifted by Wang Jianqiang as well.

Although Wang Jianqiang was a piece of trash, his luck was just too good.

He had actually managed to research Perfect Pills!

Relying on Perfect Pills, he could easily earn a large number of Spirit Stones in a short period of time.

High-grade Magical Artifacts, which were incomparably precious to other Outer Sect Disciples, were likely things he could produce at will.

Wang Jianqiang's attitude toward Wang Yu Yao compared to her was a stark contrast, causing a serious sense of imbalance to grow in her heart.

Why?

Why is your attitude toward me, Wang Jianqiang, so terrible, yet you treat Wang Yu Yao, a lowly ordinary Disciple, with such favor?

She felt that Wang Jianqiang was deliberately targeting her.

The hatred in her heart for Wang Jianqiang became even more intense.

As the matches continued, it was soon Su Yutong's turn to compete.

It must be said that Su Yutong lived up to her name as a Newcomer Heaven's Pride.

Her opponent was also a Qi Refining Tenth Layer Cultivator, and he carried a First-tier Middle Grade Magic Tool, possessing considerable strength.

But facing such an opponent, she only needed to control a Lower Grade Magic Tool Flying Sword to easily defeat him.

Her strength was formidable, her appearance stunningly beautiful, and she looked as graceful as an immortal.

For a moment, it drew numerous cheers.

In the crowd, Wang Jianqiang's gaze lingered on Su Yutong for only an instant before falling back onto Wang Yu Yao.

There were one hundred people participating in the sixth round of matches.

Wang Yu Yao defeating her opponent meant she had successfully made it into the top fifty.

However, his expectations for Wang Yu Yao were not merely the top fifty, but the top ten!

This Outer Sect Competition.

Those who enter the top fifty can obtain one Foundation Establishment Pill and one opportunity to enter the Cold Pool Secret Realm.

And if one can enter the top ten, the rewards will not only be much more generous, but one can also obtain a follower quota to enter the Cold Pool Secret Realm, which is equivalent to two entry quotas.

The Cold Pool Secret Realm quota cannot be gifted to others, but the follower quota can be gifted to anyone at will.

What Wang Jianqiang wanted was precisely this follower quota.

As long as Wang Yu Yao can enter the top ten of the competition, he can enter the Cold Pool Secret Realm in the capacity of Wang Yu Yao's follower.

Another hour passed.

The sixth round of the competition finally ended.

In mid-air.

Yun Zhongque swept his gaze across the crowd below.

"The top 50 have been decided; next, we will conduct the final round of the competition, the Defender Battle."

"Those who are confident in their own strength may ascend the ring to become a defender; there are ten rings, totaling ten defenders."

"The remaining forty people may choose any defender to challenge; each person only has two challenge opportunities, and failing two challenges means losing the qualification to challenge."

"If a defender loses one match, they fail to defend the ring, but they may retain their challenge opportunities and continue to challenge other defenders."

"Those who can persist until the end or successfully defend the ring for ten consecutive matches will be considered to have successfully defended the ring."

"This battle will determine the ten successful defenders who will advance to the top ten."

"The ring number represents the final ranking."

"Now, the competition continues."

The moment Yun Zhongque's voice fell, a figure flew out and landed on the number one ring.

An overbearing voice immediately spread throughout the entire venue.

"Interesting rules."

"This number one ring belongs to me, Ye; if you are unconvinced, come and fight."

The scene was quiet for a moment.

Several more figures flew out one after another and landed on the other rings.

"The number 2 ring belongs to none other than me."

"The number 3 ring is mine."

In the blink of an eye, all ten rings were occupied.

Wang Jianqiang looked at the number nine ring and raised an eyebrow.

Su Yutong!

"She is certainly confident enough."

Wang Jianqiang sneered and looked at Wang Yu Yao in the crowd.

Wang Yu Yao did not compete with those people for a ring, and Wang Jianqiang was not anxious about this.

The initial status of a defender does not represent anything.

At this moment, grabbing or not grabbing has no meaning at all; only being able to stand until the end counts as a winner.

There were a few other contestants who, like Wang Yu Yao, had not moved at all.

Clearly, these people also held the same idea.

Wang Jianqiang's gaze swept over these few people, and his heart stirred.

"Not simple."

He looked at the ten defenders on the rings again and could not help but smile.

These people are certainly confident enough, but it is unknown how many can persist until the end.