Chapter 50

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Chapter 50: Humility

"Brother Ye, I also made it into the top four!"

A familiar voice reached Ye Yun’s ears.

"Hm?"

Having just leaped down from the platform, Ye Yun turned toward the voice and saw Yu Minghong’s delighted face. Though he’d hoped for Yu Minghong’s victory, he felt surprised to see his fellow disciple completely unharmed and seemingly at ease.

"Hahaha! I always said Qu Yiping was worthless. Even with a spiritual weapon and Celestial Techniques, you knocked him out with one punch, Ye Yun. Pathetic!"

The arrogant voice could only belong to Duan Chenfeng.

He swaggered over, a defeated disciple coughing blood on the platform behind him.

"Still, Ye Yun, you’ve drained yourself too much. With matches happening back-to-back, you’ll get no recovery time. What a shame—even if you reach the finals, our fight won’t satisfy me now."

The competition’s brutal pace allowed no rest—new matchups were drawn immediately after each round until a champion emerged. This tested both strength and sheer luck.

Ye Yun responded with a cold snort. He pulled out two middle-grade spirit stones, sitting cross-legged to absorb their spiritual energy without regard for bystanders.

"What good is recovering now? You’ll barely regain any spiritual power. Though if you faced someone weaker than me, maybe…" Duan Chenfeng shook his head, arms folded behind his back.

"Brother Duan, don’t disturb Brother Ye’s rest. Elder Lan will draw lots soon—let’s hope you two don’t meet early." Yu Minghong’s quiet voice held nervous courage.

"You dare interfere? Pray you don’t face me next." Duan Chenfeng’s sideways glare carried icy mockery.

"I know I can’t match you. But if fate decides, I’ll fight my hardest." Yu Minghong’s flushed face contrasted with his steady tone.

"Bold words! If we clash, I’ll leave you half-alive." Duan Chenfeng’s eyebrow twitched before he turned away laughing.

"Not enough time… unless I take more spiritual liquid."

As energy flowed from the stones into his body, Ye Yun knew he wouldn’t reach full strength before the next match.

White light beams suddenly struck the ground before the final four competitors.

Liu Yunsong—the fourth finalist—bitterly laughed after checking his jade tablet. His opponent: Duan Chenfeng.

Having barely reached the fifth stage of body refinement, Liu’s path to the semifinals relied on luck avoiding strong foes. He’d hoped to face the drained Ye Yun or steady Yu Minghong—not this nightmare.

"Why stare? Luck won’t save you now." Duan Chenfeng vaulted onto his platform, sneering. "Get up here so I can finish this quickly."

Liu’s face burned crimson. Duan Chenfeng’s arrogance grew with each victory, yet none could deny his superior cultivation. Forced onto the platform, Liu dared not forfeit under Elder Lan’s watchful gaze.

"Brother Duan… show mercy."

"Mercy? We’re not friends." Duan Chenfeng turned his back completely.

Liu’s hands shook as light and shadow coalesced into a teal battle knife. The blade trembled in his grip—whether from fear or rage, none could tell.

Since you were so arrogant and kept insulting me, even if I lost and ended up heavily wounded, I’d still fight you.

Liu Yunsong gripped his battle knife tightly, his figure darting forward like lightning as he slashed toward Duan Chenfeng.

On the second platform stood the remaining two disciples, Ye Yun and Yu Minghong. Neither had moved to fight. Ye Yun remained seated, regulating his breathing to recover, while Yu Minghong watched quietly beside him.

"Why haven’t you begun?" Elder Lan’s voice carried a cold edge as he observed their delay.

Ye Yun furrowed his brows. With only half his spiritual power restored, he couldn’t guarantee victory against Yu Minghong. Liu Yunsong was mistaken if he thought Yu Minghong relied solely on endurance. Ye Yun noticed Yu Minghong hadn’t unleashed his full strength during previous matches – holding back lethal strikes, perhaps out of kindness toward fellow disciples.

In his current state, Ye Yun stood no chance against him.

Yet they had to step onto the platform. Neither could withstand Elder Lan’s wrath if they refused.

As Ye Yun moved to rise, Yu Minghong suddenly pressed a hand on his shoulder. The younger disciple turned and bowed toward the elders’ platform. "Brother Ye’s cultivation far surpasses mine. I concede this match."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Conceding without even fighting? Had Yu Minghong forgotten Elder Lan’s decree about life-and-death combat? Such boldness!

"Junior Brother Yu, you…" Ye Yun stared in shock.

A thunderous voice boomed overhead. "So you dare defy me!" Elder Lan’s eyes narrowed to slits.

Yu Minghong maintained his bow. "With respect, Elder. First, Brother Ye’s strength eclipses mine. Second, he needs time to recover fully. Third, as Brother Murong Wuhen said – though this trial permits lethal force, shouldn’t we preserve sect brotherhood? How can we unite for the sect if we slaughter each other?"

"Hmph!" Elder Lan’s cold snort echoed across the square but no punishment came.

"Moreover," Yu Minghong continued, "everyone wants to see the true final clash – between our strongest new disciples, Brother Ye and Brother Duan. Let Brother Ye recover properly for that decisive battle." He bowed deeper. "I beg Elder Lan and the Grand Elder’s approval."

Murmurs spread among the outer disciples.

"He’s right! Ye Yun versus Duan Chenfeng will be legendary!"

"This year’s recruits are extraordinary. Even Yu Minghong shows astonishing character."

After a theatrical pause, Elder Lan declared, "Very well. An exception this once." Privately, he knew better than to antagonize Elder Seven, who already treated Ye Yun as a personal disciple.

Ye Yun shot Yu Minghong a grateful look before sitting cross-legged. He gripped two middle-grade spirit stones, their energy flooding into him ten times faster than normal. Through his closed eyelids, he glimpsed the familiar black-and-white light near his heart, its golden flicker purifying the incoming energy.

His acupuncture points tingled – the precursor to reaching the Connecting Orifices stage. Though the sensation faded before breakthrough, Ye Yun remained calm. This taste of higher cultivation would serve him later.

A beam of light struck the main platform as Elder Lan’s voice shook the arena:

"Final match! Duan Chenfeng versus Ye Yun!"