Chapter 542: The Great Melee

Before dawn on the third day, the atmosphere on the Flying Boat had already tightened to the extreme.

When Cheng Feng opened his eyes in the Cultivation Room, the morning mist outside the window was still a hazy gray.

Zhou Yanran was still meditating against the wall, her breathing much steadier, and the wound on her lower abdomen had already formed a thin scab under the nourishment of the Spirit Qi.

He did not disturb her, took down the Jade Tablet with light steps, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Someone was standing outside the door.

It was a young man with a face he didn't recognize, having thin eyebrows and a narrow face, wearing a grayish-white short tunic, fiddling with a Jade Tablet in his hand as if waiting for him.

Cheng Feng did not know this person, but the pair of Short Hooks tucked at his waist already explained a great deal.

"Cheng Feng?" the young man asked.

"Looking to challenge me?" Cheng Feng was straightforward.

"Don't be in such a rush." The young man smiled, his smile thin and sharp, like the reflection on a blade.

"I am ranked seventeenth. To fight my way to you, I still have many levels to climb. You just wait."

After he finished speaking, he turned and left, his thin back soon disappearing into the crowd on the third deck.

Cheng Feng frowned slightly. He wasn't afraid of provocation, but there was a sense of certainty in the man's tone that didn't seem like mere posturing.

He glanced at Bai Wugou's Cultivation Room next door; the door was still closed, and the person hadn't come out.

After a moment of thought, he simply went to the corridor railing to observe the situation for the day.

In any case, if it were his turn, it would be last.

In any case, he knew that no one would directly challenge the first and second places.

Those were Gang Qi Realm Martial Artists, after all.

When the bell rang at the Hour of the Dragon, the Ranking Battle began.

It was indeed different from yesterday. From the very beginning, people were issuing consecutive challenges, and their strikes were extremely ruthless.

A tall, thin man named Qi Zhao, holding a Refined Iron Short Spear, fought three matches in a row starting from the nineteenth position, each one faster than the last; by the third match, it took no more than ten moves to press his spear tip against his opponent's throat, forcing the other party to forfeit on the spot.

This person was one of the seeded students who hadn't made a move yesterday; his spear technique was extremely tricky, focusing specifically on the lower body, and three consecutive spear strikes could force a person into a chaotic footwork, followed by a sweep of the spear tail at the ankles, often causing his opponents to fall in a miserable state.

Another seeded student, Guan Rong, also surfaced on the same day. This person was short and sturdy, and the two Tiger Head Copper Maces he wielded were fierce and powerful, all heavy blows.

He challenged two people in a row starting from the fifteenth position, smashing the weapons right out of his opponents' hands, fighting all the way to the ninth position, only stopping when he encountered a True Qi Peak sword cultivator, ending in a draw.

Once these two made their moves, the ranking structure changed drastically. Those originally ranked in the top fifteen were squeezed and forced to retreat repeatedly; those with strength could still counterattack, but those carrying injuries became living targets.

"Truly sinister." Zhou Tieyi appeared beside Cheng Feng, not knowing when; there was a fresh wound on his left arm still seeping blood.

"This bunch specifically picks the places that were injured yesterday, knowing the other side can't use their full strength. I was challenged by the eighth-ranked person this morning, and every strike he made was aimed at my ribs, just because he was certain I had been injured by Song Kui yesterday."

Cheng Feng nodded: "The rules of the third day are just like this."

People who fought and were injured in the first two days are soft persimmons today.

If you can hold on, the position is still yours; if you can't, you can't blame anyone else.

It wasn't explicitly stated, but that is the fact.

The one who lasts until the end is the winner.

"What about you? Has anyone come to provoke you?" Zhou Tieyi asked.

"One came just now, ranked seventeenth, saying he wanted to fight his way to me." Cheng Feng looked down; the young man in the grayish-white tunic was currently challenging the fifteenth-ranked person, the very same Qi Zhao who used the Short Spear.

"That person is called Qin Jiu, and his methods are very sinister," Zhou Tieyi said in a low voice.

"I saw him fight the eighteenth-ranked person with my own eyes this morning, specifically aiming for the opponent's face and crotch."

The eighteenth-ranked person hadn't even reacted before he was already lying on the ground.

After finishing the eighteenth, he fought the sixteenth; that sixteenth-ranked person still had an injury on his leg from yesterday, and he used his hooks to snag the ankle, tearing the old wound wide open.

Cheng Feng didn't speak, just watched quietly.

Qin Jiu's weapons were a pair of Short Hooks, and every move was tricky.

Qi Zhao's Short Spear thrust out several times, but each was hooked by the spear shaft, neutralizing the force. The two fought for over twenty rounds when Qi Zhao suddenly closed in, sweeping his Short Spear horizontally, trying to break finesse with brute force.

Qin Jiu didn't retreat but advanced instead, his left-hand hook snagging Qi Zhao's ankle, while his right-hand hook handle smashed directly into the outside of his knee.

Qi Zhao let out a cry of pain, knelt on one knee, and was kicked off the deck by Qin Jiu, falling into the crowd.

And this was a seeded student!!

Qin Jiu stood on the deck panting for a few breaths, then suddenly looked up, flashing a mocking expression at Cheng Feng on the second-floor corridor.

Zhou Tieyi cursed: "This grandson is really latching onto you."

Cheng Feng ignored him.

He noticed another movement—Bai Wugou had been challenged.

The challenger was Chen Jiuling. Yesterday he fought his way to the fifth position, rested for a night, and today he was directly challenging the fourth-ranked Bai Wugou.

This person had just warmed his seat in the fifth position and already wanted to go a step further.

Bai Wugou walked out of the Cultivation Room, his white clothes fluttering without wind, still clutching that ancient Long Sword in his arms.

Chen Jiuling still held his blade, his Clear Wind Body operating at full power, the blade light swirling like willow leaves, so fast it was almost invisible in the sunlight.

As soon as the two engaged, Bai Wugou no longer used his movement technique to dodge but drew his sword.

The moment that sword left its sheath, everyone on the deck felt a wave of scorching heat rush toward them, as if the midday sun of midsummer had suddenly drawn a few steps closer.

The sword body was wreathed in a layer of White Flame, and every time it swung, tongues of fire spat from the tip.

Chen Jiuling's blade wind, upon touching the White Flame, was swallowed up entirely.

"White Flame paired with this sword is truly formidable," Cheng Feng realized in his heart.

"But why didn't he bring it out during the Martial Arts Tournament??"

Bai Wugou's constitution was fire-attributed, and that ancient sword seemed to be an extension of his Different Body.

Chen Jiuling's Clear Wind Body had an advantage in speed, but facing this kind of all-encompassing flame coverage, he found it increasingly difficult to fight.

The two fought fiercely for over forty rounds, until Chen Jiuling, finally unable to sustain his True Qi, had his Narrow Saber swept away by a sword strike from Bai Wugou and was defeated.

Bai Wugou sheathed his Sword, nodded slightly at him, and turned to return to the Cultivation Room.

Chen Jiuling knelt on one knee, clutching his wrist and panting for a long while before picking up his saber and silently retreating.

The fifth-place spot was one he had earned himself, and today he had only wanted to raise his position a little higher, but Bai Wugou's strength far exceeded his expectations.

He was thoroughly convinced by this defeat.

But Bai Wugou's trouble was not yet over.

Just as Chen Jiuling retreated, Qin Jiu had already squeezed out from the crowd on the fourth level and walked toward the third-level deck. He first challenged the thirteenth-place fighter, a burly man who had been injured by Lu Zhen the day before.

That man barely put up any resistance before being hooked to the ground by Qin Jiu. The Jade Tablets were exchanged, and Qin Jiu won again.

"Qin Jiu is ranked twelfth now," someone whispered.

Qin Jiu did not stop.

Next was the eleventh-place Mu Qing. Mu Qing had exhausted herself greatly in a battle with Zhou Yanran yesterday, and her right knuckles were covered in sword marks, making it difficult even to clench her fist.

She only lasted ten moves after entering the arena before Qin Jiu used the back of his hook to smash her old wrist injury, causing her to drop her short sword.

Mu Qing conceded and retreated with an expressionless face.

"Eleventh place, Qin Jiu."

Zhou Tieyi's expression changed: "Is this bastard really going to fight his way all the way up?"

Cheng Feng's gaze darkened slightly: "In the Ranking Battle, everyone is limited to three matches per level, but those on a winning streak are not restricted by the number of matches. As long as he keeps winning, he can keep fighting his way up. He came prepared today."

Qin Jiu's footsteps did not stop.

The tenth-place fighter was a man who wielded dual sabers, at True Qi Peak, and had not suffered any major injuries.

Qin Jiu grappled with him for thirty rounds, and at the cost of taking a saber strike to his left shoulder, he forcefully used his hook to entangle the opponent's wrist, causing the dual sabers to fall, and the man was defeated.

"Ninth place, Qin Jiu." The voices of the onlookers grew louder.

Eighth place. Zhou Tieyi.

Just as Zhou Tieyi was about to enter the arena, Cheng Feng held him back: "You have an injury on your left arm; you won't be able to beat him."

"That doesn't mean I should let him step on my head to get up there!" Zhou Tieyi growled.

"Let him go up," Cheng Feng said in a flat voice. "He has already used up seventy percent of his stamina; if you force a fight, you will only be injured more severely. Don't worry, he won't make it to me."

Zhou Tieyi gritted his teeth for a long time, but in the end, he did not enter the arena.

He directly threw his Jade Tablet to the opponent.

Someone nearby called out: "Zhou Tieyi forfeits, Qin Jiu advances to eighth."

For the following seventh, sixth, and fifth places, Qin Jiu fought even more smoothly.

The seventh-place fighter had been injured in the left arm while fighting someone the day before and only blocked six moves.

The sixth-place fighter was Qi Zhao; Qi Zhao's spirit had already been broken after being beaten down by Qin Jiu earlier, and in their second encounter, he only lasted fifteen moves before conceding.

"Fifth place, Qin Jiu."

"Those on a winning streak may continue to challenge."

The spectators nearby shouted and jeered.

Qin Jiu looked up at Bai Wugou's number four Cultivation Room and licked his chapped lips.

"Fifth place Qin Jiu, challenges fourth place—Bai Wugou."

Bai Wugou walked out of the Cultivation Room, his white clothes like snow, though a patch of dark red seeped through the cuff of his left sleeve.

Although he had won the battle against Chen Jiuling earlier, Chen Jiuling's saber wind had been too dense, and one of the strikes had grazed his left arm; the wound was not deep but had not yet stopped bleeding.

Bai Wugou did not treat it, only tucking his left hand behind his back and holding his Sword in his right hand, the blade still sheathed.

Qin Jiu did not waste words; he swung his dual hooks, lowered his body, and attacked Bai Wugou's lower stance close to the ground.

Bai Wugou parried with his Long Sword, the White Flame rising like a wall, forcing Qin Jiu not to dare get close.

But Qin Jiu had a strange movement technique, darting left and right like a slippery loach, always able to drill through the gaps in the flaming sword momentum.

His hook technique was insidious, specifically targeting Bai Wugou's sword-wielding wrist and the injury on his left arm; the hook tips grazed that saber wound several times, tearing open the wound that had originally stopped bleeding.

Bai Wugou frowned slightly, his sword momentum becoming more urgent.

White Flame surged out from the sword, baking the entire deck until it was scorching hot.

Qin Jiu wove through the rain of fire, his body scorched with several charred marks, but instead of retreating, he advanced, taking another sword strike to his right shoulder to finally hook Bai Wugou's left wrist with his left-hand hook.

Fresh blood splattered. Bai Wugou's left arm went limp, and his sword momentum faltered for an instant.

Qin Jiu seized the opportunity, smashing the handle of his right-hand hook onto Bai Wugou's sword-wielding wrist. The Long Sword fell to the ground with a "clang," and the White Flame suddenly extinguished.

"Stop." Bai Wugou stepped back, pressing his left arm wound, his expression calm to the point of indifference, "You won."

Qin Jiu grinned and exchanged his Jade Tablet with Bai Wugou's.

Bai Wugou bent down to pick up his Long Sword, not even looking at his wound, and turned to walk back to the number five Cultivation Room.

The deck was deathly quiet. Zhou Tieyi's knuckles turned white as he gripped his fists, whispering: "This bastard, if he really gets to you..."

"He has already arrived," Cheng Feng said faintly.

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Jiu turned around, his gaze piercing toward Cheng Feng like a blade.

"Winning streak, fourth place, Qin Jiu." His voice rose, carrying an irrepressible excitement, "Challenges third place—Cheng Feng."

Every gaze on the ship focused on them. Cheng Feng did not hesitate, leaping off the deck and landing steadily opposite Qin Jiu. Zhou Tieyi urged from behind: "Watch out for this kid!"

Cheng Feng only nodded.

Qin Jiu crossed his dual hooks in front of him, his smile sinister: "You saved Wang Ji last night; I thought you would help her recover for another half day. What, no need to continue being a physician?"

Cheng Feng looked at him faintly: "For trash like you, there's no need to prepare."

Qin Jiu's expression sank, his figure suddenly lunging, his dual hooks like two venomous snakes, slashing toward Cheng Feng's throat and waist from left and right.

His speed was extremely fast, and as he attacked Cheng Feng's waist, he used the same trick again, the hook tip veering mid-way to strike directly at his crotch.

Cheng Feng's eyes turned cold, a golden light flashed over his entire body, his scales vanished, and instead of retreating, he advanced, striking his right palm between the two hook shadows and landing it precisely on Qin Jiu's left wrist bone.

With a crisp "Crack!" sound, Qin Jiu's left hand went limp, and the Short Hook flew out of his hand.

Qin Jiu let out a miserable shriek, and regardless of anything else, he hacked his right-hand hook toward Cheng Feng's face.

Cheng Feng didn't even blink, charging straight into it.

The hook collided with his head, producing the sound of metal striking metal.

At the same time, Cheng Feng's left fist had already slammed into Qin Jiu's chest.

One punch.

Qin Jiu was sent flying backward as if struck by a galloping horse, rolling several times on the ground before hitting the ship's railing and coming to a stop.

He tried to prop himself up, but his chest throbbed with intense pain, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood, unable to speak another word.

"The moves you just used on Bai Wugou don't work on me," Cheng Feng said calmly, withdrawing his fist.

"You can't even break my defense."

Qin Jiu looked down at his limp left hand, then back at Cheng Feng, his eyes filled with venomous hatred, yet he ultimately dared not move again.

"Third place, Cheng Feng has defended his ranking."

"Is his physical body really that strong? That was a Martial Artist's weapon imbued with True Qi!"

Cheng Feng did not care at all about the rustling discussions all around.

Cheng Feng only wanted to keep his position.

He had snatched a position in a daze the moment he boarded the ship.

What would it look like if someone else snatched it away?

It would be one thing if I truly couldn't beat them, but I occupied this spot first by luck.

Even if they wanted to come for me, there is still Bai Wugou, the fourth place, standing in their way!

Do they not understand the principle of first come, first served!!!

Wait???

Cheng Feng seemed to understand a little why the Immortal Sect Envoy handled the rankings this way.

The deck was quiet for a moment, then suddenly someone clapped.

Cheng Feng turned around and saw Zhou Tie standing on the second-floor corridor at some point, clapping his hands slowly with a look of approval on his face.

Cheng Feng ignored him and turned to walk onto the corridor.

Zhou Tieyi caught up and lowered his voice, saying, "Impressive, taking a hit head-on without a scratch?"

Cheng Feng did not deny it: "Beating him isn't hard."

Zhou Tieyi opened his mouth, but in the end, he only managed to squeeze out: "Third place is secure this time."

Cheng Feng glanced at him: "Not necessarily. There is still half a day left; if someone wins several matches in a row, they still have the qualifications to challenge me. However..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence and suddenly fell silent.

However, at least for today, if one comes, he will beat one.

The sunlight moved to the center of the sky, and the sounds of challenges on the Flying Boat gradually thinned out.

The Ranking Battle of the third day had not yet ended, but Cheng Feng had already returned to the Cultivation Room, inserted the Jade Tablet back into the Array Eye, and sat down to enter meditation.

Zhou Yanran was still leaning against the wall healing, her eyes closed and silent.

The door to the number three Cultivation Room was tightly shut, like a silent declaration.

Unless someone wants to be carried out, don't come knocking.

And Cheng Feng seemed to have caught a glimpse of the microcosm of the world of cultivators through the rankings on the Flying Boat.