Martial Saint with Passives

But...

That Jiang Che!

That guy from Cangzhou Prefecture, who’s only at the Second Layer of True Master Realm!

Why is his name still lit up?!

Why is he still ranked above me?!

”CLANG!”

A crisp sound rang out.

At that moment, Lei Kuang’s grip on his Nine-Ring Saber failed. The blade he had carried into battle for years, the weapon he treasured as his own life, crashed heavily onto the bluestone floor.

He stared blankly at the name, his mind a complete blank. He felt as if the entire world had become utterly absurd.

What in the world...

What the hell is going on?!

...

「Asura Illusion Realm, deep within the mist.」

”HUFF... HUFF...”

Long Yu’er’s light robes were stained with blood. Her once exquisitely beautiful face was now covered in fine beads of sweat, her exhaustion impossible to hide.

At her feet lay the corpses of Illusion Beasts, which were slowly dissipating into black smoke.

That was a full forty-eight Illusion Beasts, each possessing the terrifying strength of the Early-stage Sixth Layer of True Master Realm!

Relying on the unpredictable Illusion Technique Body Method of Penglai Island and the extraordinary Soft Sword in her hand, she had managed to slaughter every last one of them, wiping out a beast tide that should have been impossible to overcome!

However, before she could even catch her breath, the mist before her began to churn violently once again!

ROAR!!!

A roar even more furious and despair-inducing than before echoed out.

This time, what emerged were fifty...

terrifying behemoths at the Mid-stage Sixth Layer of True Master Realm!

Feeling the suffocating pressure wash over her, the hand Long Yu’er used to grip her sword finally fell limply to her side.

’This is my limit...’

She sighed to herself.

The True Qi within her body had run dry, and her Divine Soul was so exhausted it felt as if it might shatter.

Faced with this new beast tide, she no longer had any strength to fight.

’But...’

A smile, proud even in defeat, appeared on her face.

’Even here in the Capital City, where all the great talents of the world have gathered, getting this far is enough to make me proud!’

’Aside from those two freaks... I should be third, right?’

With this sense of confidence and acceptance, she stopped resisting, allowing the overwhelming beast tide to engulf her.

”VWOOM—”

The light of the Teleportation Array flared.

In the next instant, Long Yu’er’s figure appeared on Xuanwu Plaza.

She still carried herself with the grace and poise befitting an heir of a major Noble Family and Sect.

However, when she looked around, she couldn’t help but freeze.

In the plaza, tens of thousands of pairs of eyes were fixed on her!

But their gazes held none of the admiration and respect she expected. Instead, they were...

filled with shock, astonishment, and a bizarre look, as if they had just witnessed the impossible!

”Hm?”

Long Yu’er was completely baffled.

’Why are they looking at me like that?’

’Could it be...’

A wild thought suddenly surfaced in her mind, causing her heart to skip a beat!

’Were those two eliminated before me?’

’Could it be... I’m first?!’

The moment the thought occurred to her, her breathing grew rapid, and a flash of incredulous joy glinted in her eyes!

If that were true, Penglai Island’s fame would resound throughout the world!

Filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation, she whipped her head around to look at the massive ranking Jade Disc on the far side of the plaza!

However, the moment her gaze fell upon the rankings, the smile on her face instantly froze!

It was as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head; she froze completely in place!

[Long Yu’er]

[Rank: Four]

[Remaining Participants: Xiong Tong, Nalan Ruoshui, Jiang Che]

Fourth place?!!

There were... still three people ahead of me?!

It would be one thing if it were just Xiong Tong and Nalan Ruoshui—they were widely acknowledged as monsters.

But...

that third name...

Jiang Che?!!

The light faded from Long Yu’er’s eyes. Her mouth fell slightly open, but no sound came out.

’How... could it be him?!’

’That kid from Cangzhou Prefecture... with a cultivation at only the Second Layer Peak of True Master Realm?!’

’He’s actually... ranked ahead of me?!’

’How is this possible?!’

It was only then that she could finally make out the roaring clamor of the crowd.

She realized that their shocked gazes weren’t because of how outstanding her performance had been.

It was because...

she had been eliminated, while that Jiang Che had not!

”Gods! Long Yu’er was eliminated! But that Jiang Che is still in there!”

”Third place! He’s locked in third place for sure!”

”Second Layer Peak of True Master Realm, crushing Lei Kuang, overtaking Long Yu’er, and breaking into the top three! This... this is the stuff of legends!”

”Is this kid even human?! How on earth did he do it?!”

The entire plaza was in an uproar!

The voices of doubt had long since faded away.

In their place was a soul-deep shock and reverence for the figure still holding on inside the Illusion Realm!

At that moment, everyone was frantically discussing and speculating.

Just how much further could this young man, who had performed one miracle after another, possibly go?!

「Within Cangzhou Prefecture’s preparation area.」

Whether they were from the Cangyun Sect or the other sects, everyone was trembling with excitement, their faces flushed bright red!

The feeling was like a long-suppressed volcano that had finally, in this moment, been allowed its most cathartic eruption!

”Third! Third place!!”

”Our Cangzhou Prefecture has produced a prodigy who’s in the top three of all of Great Chu!!”

”Hahahaha! Let’s see who dares call Cangzhou a backwater now!”

This was the pride of Cangzhou Prefecture!

This was a point of honor for the entire Cangzhou Martial World!

Even Qin Xuange, who had always been cold and arrogant and viewed Jiang Che as his greatest rival, was now staring intently at the Array. His lips moved slightly, silently cheering Jiang Che on!

’Hold on... Just a little longer!’