Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 233: Chapter 230: The Top 10

Ge Changming called out ten names, and those named stepped forward one by one.

Of course, while he had called ten names, eleven people actually stepped out, as the Twin Sword Sons were a pair of brothers.

”Sect Leader, I’ve been wondering something. The Twin Sword Sons are two people. Is it really appropriate to count them as one person? Isn’t that unfair to the others?”

A young man asked in confusion. Logically, the Twin Sword Sons should count as two individuals.

”You don’t understand. It’s related to the Cultivation Technique they practice.”

This Sect Leader, an old man, explained, ”The Twin Sword Sons are identical twins. From a young age, they began practicing a Cultivation Technique called Dissimilar Body Unity. After mastering this technique, their thoughts and minds are synchronized. Even their very lives are linked.”

”In other words, if one of them dies, the other will die as well. That is why the two of them can be considered a single entity.”

Upon hearing this, the young man had an epiphany. ”Dissimilar Body Unity, linked by life itself... I see now. Though it has its drawbacks, their combined strength must be incredible when they fight together.”

Once the group had assembled, Ge Changming announced in a loud voice, ”These ten will be the top ten of this Qing Province Convention! If anyone objects, you may challenge them and take their place. If there are no challengers, then we will proceed to the ranking battles among these ten.”

The selection of the top ten was based partly on the results of the arena battles.

However, arena battles can sometimes produce skewed results. To prevent this, anyone who disagreed with the selection could issue a challenge.

”I want to challenge him.”

Immediately, someone stepped forward, targeting the first-place winner from Group Nine.

Among the ten groups, only the winner of Group Nine was not a young giant.

”Me too! I challenge the winner of Group Seven!”

”I’ll challenge the winner of Group Six.”

Subsequently, the three newly promoted young giants from Groups Six, Seven, and Eight all received challenges in quick succession.

The challengers were all Half-Step Giants from other groups.

These individuals might have lost to established giants like Jian Xinghe, Li Kuangba, or the Twin Sword Sons during the arena battles, but they didn’t necessarily believe they would lose to these new up-and-comers.

After all, stories of the weak overcoming the strong have been told since ancient times. Who’s to say the stronger person is guaranteed to win?

A battle requires not only strength but also strategy. If you’re outmatched in power, you can find a way to outsmart your opponent.

”Eldest Brother, are you going to challenge the young giant from Group Seven?”

”That’s right. I was holding back a trump card when I fought Jian Xinghe earlier. Of course, it would have been useless against him; his power is simply terrifying. But against this person, I have at least a forty percent chance of winning!”

The two young men conversed amongst themselves.

Elsewhere.

”Senior Sister, do you have a specific reason for challenging the winner of Group Eight?”

”I observed some of his moves earlier. As it happens, I specialize in dealing with his fighting style. I even have one move that I’m quite certain can overpower him.”

At that moment, the various Half-Step Giants were brimming with confidence, eager to unseat the three new giants and claim a spot in the top ten for themselves.

’Hmph. It seems a lot of people are looking down on me.’

The winner of Group Six was a mature-looking youth named Meng Ji. He snorted coldly, clearly displeased.

’Looks like this spot in the top ten won’t be so easy to hold onto,’

Ying Yuxiao of Group Seven thought with a grave expression. He knew that anyone daring to challenge him would be an expert. One careless mistake and he could suffer an unexpected and humiliating defeat.

”Anyone who wants to steal my spot, bring it on.”

The winner of Group Eight was a fiery woman with a black scorpion tattooed on her cheek. She wasn’t the delicate, beautiful type, but rather exuded the aura of a battlefield general. Dressed as a man, her gender would be completely indiscernible.

Soon, the intense battles began.

”A spot in the top ten... it’s truly a tempting prize.”

Watching the Half-Step Giants issue their challenges, many Martial Artists sighed with emotion.

”Senior Brother Tang Lin, are you going too?” Over with the Yanyue Sect, Zi Yunfei asked in surprise.

”Yes, but I’m not trying to fight for a spot in the top ten,” Tang Lin said. ”My current strength is just a hair’s breadth away from the Half-Step Giant level. I want to use the pressure of fighting them to push myself to the next level.”

Using the pressure of battle to improve one’s strength was a fairly common practice.

”Tang Lin, although killing is forbidden in these challenges, be careful not to get seriously injured,” Grand Elder Meng Nanfeng cautioned.

”Yes, I know what I’m doing,” Tang Lin nodded.

Soon, it was Tang Lin’s turn to enter the arena.

He challenged Meng Ji of Group Six. As soon as the match began, he chose a steady and cautious approach, refusing to attack rashly.

”Defeat!”

After more than fifty exchanges, Tang Lin could no longer hold on and was knocked from the arena in a single blow.

”Senior Brother Tang Lin, are you okay?”

”After this, I’ll go back and enter seclusion. I should be able to break through to the Half-Step Giant level,” Tang Lin said with a smile. Even though he had lost, he had gained something, and that was enough.

After a little while, the established giants from the other groups also began to receive challenges from various Martial Artists.

Most of these challengers were not actually trying to take their places. Like Tang Lin, they simply hoped to use the pressure of fighting a superior opponent to achieve a breakthrough.

Besides, challenging them was a great opportunity to make a name for oneself, especially with a good performance.

In Group Ten, a challenger appeared before Ning Jiang.

”I know I am no match for you. I’ve come up here simply to experience for myself how powerful the top experts of Qing Province’s younger generation are. I ask for your mercy.”

The man was very polite, cupping his fist to Ning Jiang in a gesture of respect.

”Very well.”

Ning Jiang didn’t mind. He simply treated these battles as a warm-up.

BAM!

Three moves later, the man was defeated and sent out of the arena.

”Thank you.” He cupped his fist toward Ning Jiang again. Despite his defeat, he was almost completely unharmed.

This, however, made Ning Jiang seem all the more unfathomable. To defeat an opponent without injuring them required an exceptionally high level of power and control.

”Get lost.”

Elsewhere, a figure was sent flying backward, spitting blood, his skin nearly scorched black.

”Hiss... That Yuwen Chi is truly ruthless! The guy was just issuing a challenge. Did he really need to injure him so severely?”

”He’s too vicious. I’d rather challenge someone from Group Ten. That Ning Jiang fellow seems decent. He’s strong, but he knows how to hold back.”

Instantly, Ning Jiang’s reputation soared in the eyes of many, and he won a great deal of goodwill.

Group One.

Someone walked up to the arena and cupped his fist toward Jian Xinghe. ”I humbly dare to challenge Young Master Jian Xinghe.”

However, Jian Xinghe stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze aloof. ”Challenge me? Are you worthy? If you have a death wish, feel free to try.”

”This...” The man’s face turned pale. Not daring to make a move, he retreated in humiliation.

”Jian Xinghe is just as the rumors say—unbelievably arrogant. He completely looks down on anyone weaker than him. Fighting them would probably feel like a disgrace to him.”

At that, many who had considered challenging Jian Xinghe gave up the idea.

If Jian Xinghe really killed them, who could they possibly complain to?

Could the ”no killing” rule really restrain someone like Jian Xinghe? He was from the Star Sword Sect, after all.

”I am Yu Weidong of the Star Sword Sect.” After a short while, a heavyweight challenger arrived before Ning Jiang.

”Interesting. Yu Weidong is ranked third among the Star Sword Sect’s younger generation, second only to Jian Xinghe and the Twin Sword Sons. This is bound to be a spectacular fight.”

”With Yu Weidong’s strength, he’d have a much better chance of winning if he challenged one of the other groups. He’s probably doing this to sound out Ning Jiang’s true abilities.”

The crowd murmured amongst themselves.

In the Star Sword Sect’s viewing area, the Vice Sect Leader said, ”I hope Weidong can force him to reveal some of his trump cards. That way, Jian Xinghe and the others will have a better chance in the ranking battles later.”

Know your enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without defeat.

To everyone present, the most mysterious person in the top ten was undoubtedly Ning Jiang. Very little was known about his background or his limits.

In the eyes of the Star Sword Sect, Ning Jiang was currently the greatest threat. After all, like Jian Xinghe, he had also stepped into the nine-li range. He could not be taken lightly.

That was why they had sent Yu Weidong, hoping to get a clearer picture of Ning Jiang’s techniques before the ranking battles began.

”DIE!”

Yu Weidong brandished his longsword, unleashing a vicious Sword Technique that swept toward Ning Jiang.

”Take this! Great Hurricane Sword!”

His Sword Qi spun, forming a veritable hurricane of incomparably sharp blades that converged like a meat grinder, tearing through the air.

Such a Sword Technique was the very definition of ferocious.

Ning Jiang struck out casually. A bolt of pure, violet Thunderbolt, the embodiment of raw power, annihilated his opponent’s hurricane.

When Yu Weidong was knocked from the arena, the crowd of Martial Artists was stunned.

Ning Jiang had defeated Yu Weidong in fewer than ten moves.

Moreover, he had stood in the same spot from beginning to end, not moving his feet in the slightest.

”Truly terrifying. I wonder how much of his true strength he just used?” a Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert remarked.

”This kid is indeed a threat.” The Star Sword Sect’s Vice Sect Leader’s gaze hardened. After a moment, he added, ”No matter. We don’t need to concern ourselves with him. We just need to have faith in Jian Xinghe. He will definitely defeat him.”

”Indeed. Jian Xinghe’s true rivals are in the other five provinces. No one in Qing Province can stand in his way.” The other Elders all nodded in agreement.

”Alright, the challenge period is now over.”

An hour later, the lineup for the top ten was finally set.

The winner from Group Nine was replaced by a Half-Step Giant who had been famous for a long time.

The winners from Groups Six, Seven, and Eight managed to successfully defend their positions after a series of grueling battles.

Of course, it had been a close call. All three were seriously injured and had nearly been replaced. The Half-Step Giants who had challenged them were no simple opponents.

”Next up, the top-ten ranking battles!”

As the final top ten were confirmed, a wave of excitement washed over the crowd.

The top ten—the ten most elite experts of Qing Province—would now clash to determine their final rankings.

Who among Qing Province’s younger generation would reign supreme this year?