Chapter 180

Chapter 180: Song Wei Yan Beats a Higher Rank and Enters the Final

Song Wei Yan’s path to the top four was not smooth.

In the earlier rounds, he had already defeated three Late Golden Core cultivators.

When he first met an opponent one stage above him, most of the crowd thought he would stop there.

But he kept turning the tables with battle experience and skillful control of spellcraft.

Watching him succeed at a cross rank challenge for the third time, the cultivators in the stands could only mutter: “Ninghua Sect really does love fighting above their level.”

The first round’s Ye Huai had already left a deep impression, and now Song Wei Yan made everyone realize Ninghua Sect should not be underestimated.

Someone warned: “But his next opponent is Jiang Chu. Young Lord Jiang is different from those first three. He has stayed in Late Golden Core for a long time.”

The three he beat had just broken through to Late Golden Core.

“Even so, one person in the final and one in the top four is already great for a sect like Ninghua Sect.”

On the platform, Song Wei Yan’s lips moved nonstop as his hands flashed through seals.

He looked up, and golden light burst before him as waves of spiritual power shot toward Jiang Chu. The Red Desert Jiang Clan has trained body cultivators for generations, and Jiang Chu, as the Young Sect Master, had a very strong body. With a realm gap on top of that, he easily canceled the waves.

Song Wei Yan did not look surprised. He narrowed his eyes, kept forming hand seals, and switched to another spellcraft.

In just a few breaths, he cycled through dozens of spellcrafts.

Even the Elders from top sects were amazed by how many spells he knew and how well he used them.

If they hadn’t known his realm, they would have thought he was a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator.

The onlookers could not help marveling: what kind of monsters does Ninghua Sect raise?

In truth, this was only a small part of his spellcraft. Other, stronger spells were still out of reach because of his realm.

After constant testing, Song Wei Yan finally found a spellcraft that Jiang Chu struggled to handle. He had found Jiang Chu’s weak spot.

Jiang Chu felt it too and became eager to end the match quickly.

He moved incredibly fast and almost appeared in front of Song Wei Yan in an instant.

His fists were as quick as wind. Song Wei Yan barely kept up, and a sharp punch grazed his face.

The wind cut like a blade and opened a thin line on his cheek.

Song Wei Yan pulled away fast, and while he moved he kept pushing out spellcraft.

He snapped: “Go!”

He had to dodge Jiang Chu’s sudden attacks while casting an extremely complicated spell. If he slipped even a little, Jiang Chu would punch him off the platform.

Song Wei Yan frowned tight, but his hands and feet stayed calm and orderly.

They fought hard for nearly half a shichen (about one hour), draining almost the last drop of spiritual power.

The person still standing on the platform was Song Wei Yan.

“Song Wei Yan wins! He advances to the final!”

His fingers trembled from constant hand seals, and the tight string in his heart since the second round finally loosened a little.

He stepped off the platform, reached a hand to the fallen Jiang Chu, and asked: “Are you okay?”

After all, this was someone his Junior Sister had social ties with, so there was some friendship.

Jiang Chu did not hold a grudge. He took the hand, stood with help, then pointed at his own ear.

Song Wei Yan looked shocked and blurted: “Did I… break your head?” [No way, right?]

Jiang Chu snorted a laugh and said: “You sing very well. Just don’t sing next time.”

Song Wei Yan realized he meant his “special” chanting style of spellcasting, then he laughed too and said: “You’ll get used to it, you’ll get used to it.”

When they saw Jiang Chu fly off the platform, the crowd exploded.

Song Wei Yan had really pulled off another cross rank win.

“Ninghua Sect now has two people in the final matches!”

“So far, everyone in the last showdown is either from Flying Cloud Sect or Ninghua Sect.”

They had even outshone Heavenly Sword Sect, Beast Taming Sect, and other top sects. This scene was unheard of.

No one dared to look down on Ninghua Sect anymore.

They might be few, but every one of them was elite.

Even Sect Master Ming Xi, Beast Taming Sect’s Sect Master Guan, and the Jiang Clan Patriarch, those high leaders, now looked at Ninghua Sect with real seriousness.

They officially saw Ninghua Sect as a rival.

Among them, Shen Dao Chen’s eyes were the most complicated. The joy from Bai Mu Mu’s strong showing could not cover his gloom.

Things were moving in a way he had not planned.

[It must be pulled back onto the path I set.] Luckily, Bai Mu Mu’s casual words last night gave him an idea, and he had already arranged it with Master Ling Xiao.

Ninghua Sect must not be allowed to rise.

Song Wei Yan returned in glory and said: “At least I didn’t let everyone down.”

Shen Sang Ruo smiled and praised him, saying: “As expected of Second Senior Brother. All those spells really dazzled me.”

“Keep it low key, keep it low key, we still have one tough fight left,” Song Wei Yan said as he took the water Su Xi Yu handed over, then his face wrinkled up: “Huh, what is this taste?”

“It’s a special drink to refill your spiritual power. Don’t worry, it won’t poison you,” Su Xi Yu said.

Bai Ruo An glanced at the arena and said: “Next is the third round. It’s Junior Sister’s turn.”

“Junior Sister will be fine,” Su Xi Yu said as she hooked arms with her and rested her chin on her shoulder.

“Junior Sister is the strongest of us. We believe in you,” Song Wei Yan chimed in as he leaned closer.

Ye Huai agreed and said: “Mm, we believe in you.”

Her Senior Brothers and Senior Sister always had faith in her.

The trio of Elders, resting nearby, also gave her firm looks of support.

Across the way, Flying Cloud Sect’s Feng He Yun and the others saw this warm scene and looked like sparks would fly from their eyes.

Jealousy and unwillingness were written on every face.

Shen Sang Ruo curved her lips into a smile and said: “I will take all fifteen points. I won’t let my Senior Brother and Senior Sister down.”

Her group included Luo Chu, Dong Fang Xu, Mei Mei, and Ji Zi Cang.

It had the Young Heirs of the sects that ranked second and third last time, so the pressure was clear.

But her goal had always been only one: first place.

Everyone standing in her way would be cut down one by one.

Because Song Wei Yan’s fight with Jiang Chu lasted long, less than half a shichen later the third round began.

Under Ninghua Sect’s steady gazes, Shen Sang Ruo walked onto the platform.

“Ye Huai and Song Wei Yan don’t seem to be Ninghua Sect’s Young Sect Master. So this female cultivator must be the Young Sect Master,” someone said.

“Her strength should be even higher. I’m excited to see her performance.”

The two before her had brought so many surprises.

“Right, what was her name again?”

Shen Sang Ruo placed her token into the stone slot, and her name began to appear.