Chapter 973: Grand Momentum

Oh!

Ye Liuyun figured that as a princess, Ling Shuang would surely find a way into the inner door, so he didn't need to worry.

"When can I challenge?" Ye Liuyun asked Xia Tianqiong again.

"Anytime! How about we go after we eat? I also want to see how strong you are after breaking through your realm!" Xia Tianqiong suggested.

"Yuan Datou, when are you planning to enter the inner door?" Ye Liuyun turned to ask.

"You go first; I need to wait until my realm rises another level before I have more confidence!" Yuan Datou was quite self-aware, knowing he currently couldn't challenge the top three.

"Alright, let's go challenge after we eat. I'll go to the inner door and wait for you!"

Ye Liuyun said, while secretly thinking how to help Yuan Datou a bit.

Although Ling Shuang knew Lei Ming and Long Nv were monster beasts, she still had strong objections to them. Thus, this barbecue meal was eaten rather awkwardly.

Ye Liuyun also felt the atmosphere a bit awkward, so he hastily ended the meal and rushed with them to the challenge arena.

The elder in charge of arranging challenges, seeing Ye Liuyun come again with his realm increased, smiled and asked him proactively: "Who do you want to challenge this time?"

Ye Liuyun bowed and said: "Elder, I want to enter the inner door and challenge the top three on the ranking!"

"Alright! I'll arrange it; please wait a moment!"

That elder was actually eager to see what level Ye Liuyun had reached, and immediately summoned the steward to call the top three.

Ye Liuyun's original intention was that as long as he entered the inner door, defeating any opponent would suffice.

"Elder, does defeating any one of the top three suffice to enter the inner door?" Ye Liuyun asked, puzzled.

The elder's face flushed slightly embarrassed: "No problem—since you can fight, what's there to fear in a try? As long as you beat one, I'll count you as passed."

Upon hearing that, Ye Liuyun dropped the pretense and thought it wouldn't be bad to gauge the strength of the outer door's strongest.

Ling Shuang frowned, somewhat dissatisfied with the elder's arrangement. Xia Tianqiong and Lei Ming, however, didn't mind.

They also believed Ye Liuyun could win; fighting a few more would let them enjoy the spectacle.

News of Ye Liuyun challenging the outer door's top three spread quickly.

Immediately, many outer door disciples rushed over to watch the excitement.

They also wanted to see how much Ye Liuyun had improved.

Even some inner door disciples came over to watch the fun, wanting to see just how much real ability this outer door disciple—who had relied on a treasure to slaughter all sides inside the secret realm—actually possessed.

Ye Liuyun's female fans also swarmed in, occupying the best spots on the viewing platform to cheer him on; some lovesick female disciples even started shouting.

Shouts of "I want to marry Ye Liuyun!" filled the venue; some remarks were even quite explicit!

"Shameless!" Ling Shuang heard through gritted teeth, her face flushed.

"Haha, this just shows he's charming!" Xia Tianqiong didn't mind at all, watching with great relish!

"I didn't expect the little brother to be this popular!" Lei Ming and Long Nv were also shocked, never imagining Ye Liuyun would be so famous.

Yuan Datou wore an expression of admiration and envy.

"When will I ever get such treatment!"

"Then you should go challenge too!" Lei Ming immediately urged Yuan Datou.

"Uh… I'll pass for now—I'd rather watch the boss fight first!" Yuan Datou immediately fell silent.

Not long after, the top three on the ranking had all arrived.

After they arrived, seeing the scene, they were all startled.

They also asked the elder in charge of challenges: "Elder, isn't entering the inner door just a matter of defeating one person? Why did you summon all three of us?"

"I arranged it. I want to see what rank he can actually achieve!" The elder readily took responsibility: "What? Are you afraid of a newcomer disciple? If you're scared, just forfeit!"

"……"

Those disciples were also speechless.

They had long heard of Ye Liuyun's strength and felt uncertain; they weren't sure whether he relied on a treasure or pure skill to fight them.

Although the academy stipulates that such challenges must rely on strength, weapons and defense artifacts are also permitted.

So they waited anxiously at the side; added to the crowd's cheers for Ye Liuyun, they all felt great pressure.

What pushed the atmosphere to its climax was the arrival of the Demon Race's Holy Son, Zuo Mu.

As soon as Zuo Mu arrived, he went straight to sit on the viewing platform to watch the match.

He had recently been hunted down, but under such a public gathering, it was actually relatively safe.

He came to watch Ye Liuyun's match mostly for the excitement; during this period he had kept a low profile and was feeling a bit bored.

He didn't know Ye Liuyun had already broken through to the Zao Hua Realm, and didn't consider Ye Liuyun his opponent.

But after arriving and seeing that Ye Liuyun's realm had indeed broken through, he became interested, wanting to see how much a Zao Hua Realm Ye Liuyun could differ from him.

He thought Ye Liuyun had merely just broken through and still posed no threat to him.

Ye Liuyun's mentor, Li Qingyun, also arrived.

"Haha, you little rascal, you didn't even notify me about the inner door challenge! Since you're a disciple I trained, I want to share in this glory!"

Li Qingyun greeted Ye Liuyun, then sat beside Ling Shuang and Yuan Datou.

"Who are you two? I've never seen you before."

Li Qingyun saw Lei Ming and Long Nv and realized they weren't academy disciples.

This batch of disciples were all personally brought by him; it's impossible for there to be someone he doesn't know.

Moreover, he faintly sensed that the two of them carried some monster beast aura.

"We are the little brother's spirit beasts!"

Lei Ming saw his attire and knew he was an elder‑level figure; not wanting to cause trouble for Ye Liuyun, she passed herself off as a pet beast so he wouldn't drive them away!

"This little rascal actually collected two monster beasts!" Li Qingyun sighed, then said no more.

Then he again shouted at the elder in charge of challenges: "You've made such a fuss and still won't start? Are you waiting to sell tickets?"

That elder smiled and immediately announced: "Outer sect disciple Ye Liuyun applies to enter the inner sect; the challenge officially begins. First opponent, third place on the outer sect ranking, Tao Lin. The match begins!"

As his words fell, the entire venue fell silent.

Ye Liuyun and Tao Lin both stepped onto the platform, standing opposite each other.

Tao Lin seemed a bit uneasy.

Because Ye Liuyun was simply too calm. It even gave people a feeling of a transcendent aura; just standing there made him feel pressured.

So, feeling nervous, he decided to strike first, using his full strength to take down Ye Liuyun first.