Chapter 402 - 149: Ranking 2
The Main Peak Steward paused, then clearly announced the first name: "From the Main Peak, Inner Sect Disciple, Li Wenjie!"
Having made the announcement, he turned and walked off the Cyan Qilin Platform, his movements clean and decisive.
At the same time, a figure strode out from the ranks of the Main Peak disciples below and headed straight for the Cyan Qilin Platform.
According to the traditions of the Cyan Qilin Battle, the strength assessment typically began with the Main Peak disciples, followed by the disciples from the other six peaks like Celestial Derivation Peak and Thunder Peak, who would take their turns on the platform for assessment.
Yang Jing’s gaze fell upon the figure ascending the platform. He raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
He had assumed that the first person called, Li Wenjie, would be a well-built, handsome young male disciple. He never expected the one walking onto the platform to be a slender female disciple.
She wore a white robe that was faded from many washings. Her features were delicate, and she looked frail, but her steps were steady and forceful, showing no trace of fear.
Just as Li Wenjie took her position in the center of the Cyan Qilin Platform, a Main Peak Steward strode forward, holding a large, man-sized iron cage in one hand. Tapping a foot on the ground, his body leaped up gracefully and landed steadily on the Cyan Qilin Platform.
Through the gaps in the iron cage, the figure of a striped tiger could be vaguely seen.
This tiger was a full size larger than an ordinary one, and the character for "king" on its forehead gave off a somewhat demonic aura.
Its bronze-bell-sized eyes glinted with savagery, and its fangs were exceptionally sharp, flashing with a cold light. The aura it emitted was far more terrifying than that of a common wild animal; it was clearly an extremely ferocious exotic beast.
Seeing this striped tiger beast, some of the spectating outer sect disciples let out low gasps of alarm.
The Main Peak Steward’s expression didn’t change. He raised a hand and undid the cage’s lock, then circulated his Inner Qi and slapped a palm against the iron bars.
A powerful surge of force flooded the cage, violently flinging the striped tiger beast out.
The tiger beast let out a deafening roar. It landed on all fours, its eyes wide and fixed on Li Wenjie not far away, a threatening growl rumbling in its throat.
After doing all this, the Main Peak Steward picked up the empty cage and walked back down from the Cyan Qilin Platform.
In an instant, the atmosphere on the Cyan Qilin Platform grew taut, a battle ready to erupt at any moment.
"ROAR—"
The striped tiger beast was the first to attack. Its massive body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, bringing with it a foul wind as its sharp claws aimed straight for Li Wenjie’s throat in an utterly ruthless strike.
Li Wenjie, however, remained calm and unhurried. Her figure floated backward, and with a light tap of her toes on the stone slabs, she dodged the tiger’s sharp claws with feather-light grace.
Yang Jing could see clearly that while Li Wenjie’s attack power seemed average, lacking any overwhelming force, her speed was quite remarkable.
Her Body Technique was astonishingly nimble, like a swallow in the wind, always allowing her to evade the tiger beast’s attacks by a hair’s breadth.
Of course, this ’average attack power’ was merely Yang Jing’s assessment.
To the other Inner Sect disciples and outer sect disciples watching from below the railings, every one of Li Wenjie’s strikes was extremely fierce.
Her palm strikes, wrapped in Inner Strength, landed on the tiger beast’s fur with dull thuds that forced it back again and again.
"Such a fast Body Technique!"
"Senior Sister Li Wenjie is so strong! That tiger beast looks tough to deal with, but she’s handling it with ease!"
"I’ve heard of her. Her strength is truly formidable!"
Cries of admiration rose one after another. Many of the spectating disciples were amazed and impressed by Li Wenjie’s performance.
Yang Jing, however, did not join in the cheering. He simply focused on observing Li Wenjie’s techniques and the trajectory of her Body Technique, his mind racing with calculations.
’If I were to face Li Wenjie, with my current strength, how many moves would it take for me to defeat her?’
After a dozen or so moves, Li Wenjie finally found an opening.
The striped tiger beast, frustrated by its inability to land a hit, suddenly whipped its tail in a horizontal sweep, exposing the front of its body.
A glint flashed in Li Wenjie’s eyes. Her figure abruptly accelerated, surging forward like a white shadow. Her right hand formed a blade and, wrapped in thick Inner Strength, she viciously chopped at the tiger beast’s neck.
A crisp "CRACK" was clearly audible.
The striped tiger beast’s neck suddenly went limp, its bones obviously shattered.
Its massive body twitched a few times, then went still, completely lifeless.
Li Wenjie slowly withdrew her hand. Her breathing was slightly ragged, but she still stood perfectly straight.
In the viewing seats beside the Cyan Qilin Platform, several Main Peak Elders and the Stewards from the various peaks exchanged a few words in low voices, their gazes thoughtful. They had clearly reached a conclusion about Li Wenjie’s performance.
They quickly reached a consensus and gave her performance a comprehensive evaluation, though it was not announced on the spot.
The evaluations and rankings for all disciples would only be announced together after the entire strength assessment was complete.
Following this, Li Wenjie bowed to the viewing seats and then turned to leave the Cyan Qilin Platform.
A Main Peak Steward waiting below the platform immediately went up, deftly loaded the striped tiger beast’s corpse into the iron cage, and carried it back down.
Next, the second Main Peak Inner Sect Disciple strode onto the platform. His name was Zhou Yu.
He was burly and well-built. The moment he stepped on stage, he began to circulate his Inner Strength, his fists whistling powerfully through the air.
In just four moves, he had smashed the skull of the massive, tusked bear from the cage, killing it on the spot. It was a clean and decisive victory.
With precedents now set, the disciples who followed also began to show off their skills.
For these elite Inner Sect Disciples at the Inner Strength Level, killing an exotic beast was not a particularly difficult task to begin with.
Some disciples fought steadily, winning through skill and cunning.
Others were incredibly fierce and brave, ending their fights in four or five moves and earning round after round of cheers from the spectating disciples below.