Chapter 277: Facing the Strongest

"Junior Brother Ye, you really stole the spotlight today! From now on, in the seven great sects, no one will be unaware of your name!" Jiang Yuan praised.

Ye Liuyun sighed, "A tree that stands out in the forest will be torn down by the wind. I'm forced into this, you think I wanted it! This is not a good thing at all!"

After a few cups of Tang Holy Son went down, he had already become familiar with Ye Liuyun and his group. Only then did they learn his real name was Tang Hao.

"Not bad, your troubles won't lessen! Even that Jin Wuyi won't let you off!" Tang Hao reminded him.

"Ha ha, I said that on purpose to provoke him into seeking help from his family," Ye Liuyun laughed.

"I told you so! I knew you kid must have some scheme!" Tang Hao laughed.

For Hao Chengfeng, anyone who cannot sit and drink with him is not a friend. Yet Ye Liuyun's group could sit on the ground and drink with him, so he changed his usually cold attitude.

Ye Liuyun also found that when Tang Hao opens up, he's quite talkative.

After they ate their fill and drank enough, each of them returned to cultivate. After all, there was a competition tomorrow, so they couldn't be careless.

Ye Liuyun took out that Holy-level pill, studied it for a while. He carefully examined it with his Golden Pupil and Divine Sense, confirming the pill was fine.

This is a Gathering Essence Pill, suitable for Sea Transformation realm Martial Cultivators. Its internal energy is ample; although it isn't as good as the Crossing Essence Pill he forged himself, the good thing is that it is a Holy-level pill, so if he takes it and then absorbs some Spirit Stones, breaking through will be no problem.

If he entered the Xuan Kong Shi now and emerged tomorrow morning having broken through, people would find it inconceivable. Moreover, breaking through this First Realm now wouldn't give him a particularly big advantage in the competition.

"Better wait until after the competition to break through!" Thinking this, Ye Liuyun put the pill away again. The other Spirit Stones, Holy Artifacts, and Bloodline Crystal Stones he didn't need for now, so he gave them all to Wu Qingcheng to handle.

That night he only took out the Hell Mingshe's Yuan Pill, entered the Xuan Kong Shi to absorb and refine it, trying to accumulate some progress for the breakthrough.

Through continuous battles and training these days, his realm has risen to the Sea Transformation Eightfold Peak, and now accumulating a bit more will make the breakthrough easier.

Early the next morning, everyone gathered again at the Divine Sword Palace's arena. Jin Wuyi had slipped away quietly last night and did not appear today either.

Mo Ya of the Ancient Demon Sect also arrived at the arena; he himself would represent the Ancient Demon Sect in the final showdown.

Today's final is a round-robin; everyone must fight once, and the top three are decided based on win‑loss records.

When the final began, Mo Ya easily defeated a disciple of Lingyang Academy. As for Hao Chengfeng, his first match was against Tong Wei, a Qingfeng Academy disciple who can use pupil techniques.

Ye Liuyun lent the Holy Artifact of Soul Defense to Hao Chengfeng. At the same time he activated his Golden Pupil to observe their battle.

Tong Wei saw Hao Chengfeng carrying the Holy Artifact of Soul Defense and only gave a faint smile, paying it no mind.

As soon as he stepped onto the stage, before Hao Chengfeng could even act, he launched a pupil technique attack. After three breaths, Hao Chengfeng was drenched in sweat and collapsed on the ground, losing the round outright.

Tong Wei looked disdainfully toward Ye Liuyun's direction, then stepped down from the arena.

Fortunately, Hao Chengfeng only suffered a Soul injury, nothing serious; a few days of rest will heal it, but he will have no chance to participate in the upcoming battles!

Ye Liuyun saw clearly; that was definitely a pupil technique of the illusion type.

"The Holy Artifact had no effect?" Ye Liuyun asked concernedly.

"It worked. Otherwise I might have been more seriously injured, and I couldn't have endured for so long!" Hao Chengfeng answered weakly, returning the Holy Artifact to Ye Liuyun.

Next it was Meng Wuji and Lin Feier's turn; each ended the fight with a single punch or a single sword.

Ye Liuyun and Tang Hao both won their battles. However, Ye Liuyun passed with a single strike, while Tang Hao endured a hard fight.

Actually, by now everyone has some understanding of each other's strength. The top four are Ye Liuyun, Meng Wuji, Lin Feier, and Tong Wei. Tang Hao and Mo Ya are the second tier; aside from those mentioned, there are hardly any opponents.

What no one expected was that Ye Liuyun, in the second round, faced the strongest Meng Wuji. Moreover, Meng Wuji also brought a Holy Artifact that defends against Spiritual Soul Attacks.

The disciples surrounding the Divine Sword Palace who were watching the match all became excited. An underdog dark horse facing the strongest, the battle will surely be intense.

Meng Wuji stepped onto the arena, glanced at Ye Liuyun, and said disdainfully.

"You are indeed strong and flashy, but it's a pity, it's all fleeting like a transient flower. In my eyes, you're just a leaping clown; soon you'll see what true strength is. The first place in the Seven Sects Grand Competition is destined to be ours, Qingfeng Academy!"

This Seven Sects Grand Competition should have been Meng Wuji's glorious moment, but Ye Liuyun stole the spotlight. Of course he wants to seize this chance to trample Ye Liuyun beneath his foot, proving that he is the most dazzling genius of the Seven Sects.

Moreover, he is five realms higher than Ye Liuyun; no matter how powerful Ye Liuyun is, he cannot be a match.

Ye Liuyun looked at the twenty‑five‑six year‑old Meng Wuji and couldn't help laughing. "You've only trained a few more years; if I were your age, you wouldn't even be fit to fetch my shoes. How dare you talk to me about strength?"

"Hmph! That can only be blamed on you being born too late. Meeting me, you're destined to have no chance to rise. Kid, if you dare to clash with me, you'll pay the price!"

Meng Wuji wasn't in a hurry to act, seeming to enjoy this chat with his opponent. Ye Liuyun's Spiritual Soul Attack threatened him, but with the defensive Holy Artifact he was no longer worried.

Ye Liuyun, however, was the first to launch an illusion attack. He has dealt with many such arrogant people. The best way to handle them is to defeat them, to strike them in the face with concrete action, making them realize that what they pride themselves on is actually worthless.

However, the attack Ye Liuyun launched was highly concealed; all his Divine Soul Power was concentrated in his Golden Pupil, weaving an illusion for Meng Wuji.

Meng Wuji's Holy Artifact could indeed block some Spiritual Soul attacks. But against a Divine Soul of Ye Liuyun's level, it was of little effect.

So as they kept chatting, Meng Wuji finally found his opening. The man in the black robe slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

In the illusion, Meng Wuji defeated Ye Liuyun by strength and won, but the crowd erupted, claiming he only won easily because he was older than Ye Liuyun. Everyone unanimously demanded that Ye Liuyun be declared first.

What he cared most about was everyone's opinion. The cheers, admiration, even jealousy he imagined never came; instead he faced condemnation and abuse, making it hard for him to accept the result.

In his fury, he struck at a few of the most vocal disciples, and instantly was hit by the Divine Sword Palace's palace master. That palm, pure True Essence of a Tian Gang Realm strongman, slammed him onto the arena.

Meanwhile, the disciples on the stands only saw Meng Wuji chatting away, then become dazed, and then Ye Liuyun casually swept his palm, crushing him, breaking his tendons and bones, spitting blood as he fell onto the arena.