Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

The rules of the third trial were simple. By drawing lots, twenty contestants were paired into ten groups for combat. The ten who advanced would then be divided into five groups for battle. The top five would then draw lots again, determining two pairs of combatants and leaving one person with a bye. The final three would draw lots once more, pitting two against each other and giving one a bye. The loser of this fight would take third place, and the winner would face the person with the bye to determine first and second place.

"There's something wrong with these rules, isn't there?" a middle-aged man suddenly called out.

The young man holding a folding fan looked at him and asked, "And what would that be?"

The middle-aged man replied, "There's an obvious loophole. Among the final five contestants, if someone gets lucky and draws two byes in a row, wouldn't they secure at least second place?"

"That's right! That's clearly unfair!"

"What if they're the weakest of the five? How could the others accept that?"

A clamor arose from the crowd.

The young man simply smiled. "Everyone, please calm down.

"The path of cultivation has always been about defying the natural order—struggling against the heavens, the earth, other people, and oneself!

"Therefore, isn't luck also a part of one's strength? If you are strong enough, you can obtain heaven-defying opportunities and soar to new heights.

"So if someone is lucky enough to draw a bye twice in a row, isn't that a testament to their strength as well?"

The crowd was rendered speechless, unable to retort.

"Hmph! Only the weak rely on luck. No matter what lot I draw, the championship of this third round is destined to be mine!" Xiao Qitian snorted, his posture arrogant.

With that, he shot a mocking glance at Zhao Dong. "Kid, you better hope you don't run into me at the start, or you'll die a miserable death!"

"The feeling's mutual," Zhao Dong replied with a casual smile, looking at him as if he were an idiot.

"You dare look at me like that again! Just you try!" Xiao Qitian snarled, looking ready to attack. He had seen that look far too many times today, and every time he did, things ended badly for him.

"Qitian! Calm down!" the Xiao Family elder's sharp reprimand cut through the air.

Xiao Qitian snapped back to his senses. If he started a fight now, he would be disrupting the Sermon Assembly and would surely be disqualified.

"We'll settle this in the arena!" Xiao Qitian said with a cold laugh, then fell silent.

The competition began, and everyone took turns drawing lots. Zhao Dong drew the old man who had questioned the rules, while Xiao Qitian drew a young girl.

One by one, the contestants stepped onto the stage. Since the strength of those who advanced varied greatly, with some not even having reached the Grandmaster level, the fights weren't very spectacular. They were either complete stomps or uninspired duels.

Very quickly, it was Xiao Qitian's turn on stage. However, upon seeing him, the young girl announced her surrender without even trying to fight.

Xiao Qitian curled his lip in disdain and complained, "How boring!"

After Xiao Qitian left the stage, Zhao Dong went up.

In the central area, an old man with a full head of white hair stood opposite Zhao Dong. The old man exuded an extraordinary presence; the aura of a fifth-level Great Grandmaster subtly emanated from him.

"Young man, you are a third-level Great Grandmaster at most. I advise you to concede defeat at once. I have no desire to bully someone so young!" the old man declared haughtily, demanding Zhao Dong's surrender the moment he stepped on stage.

A wry smile twisted Zhao Dong's lips. "I think you're getting senile. I suggest *you* surrender. I respect my elders and don't have a penchant for beating up old men."

His words were met with a wave of laughter from the crowd. Everyone was amused by their exchange. However, in their eyes, Zhao Dong was not favored to win. After all, he was simply too young. While cultivators didn't necessarily get stronger with age, their combat experience and time spent cultivating certainly increased. Reaching only the fifth level of the Great Grandmaster realm at his age wasn't particularly impressive for the old man. However, against someone as young as Zhao Dong, it truly seemed like a case of a senior bullying a junior.

The old man flushed with rage and embarrassment. "Boy, are you refusing the face I'm offering you?"

"My face is my own; I have no need for you to give me any," Zhao Dong retorted impatiently. "If you're going to fight, then hurry up. If not, get off the stage. Enough of your crap!"

"You're courting death!" the old man roared, leaping into the air and aiming a kick at Zhao Dong's head.

Zhao Dong, however, didn't budge an inch.

Just as the old man's kick was about to connect, a wretched cry rang out. The old man was sent flying over ten meters away, spitting blood and cutting a pathetic figure!

Dead silence. The entire arena fell deathly quiet.

The crowd hadn't even seen Zhao Dong move, yet the old man had been sent flying.

"Zhao Dong wins!"

The young man's shout finally snapped the bewildered crowd out of their stupor.

Below the stage, Xiao Qitian showed no surprise, his gaze remaining as grim as ever. Lin Qingyun, on the other hand, was so excited her fists were clenched, her eyes shining like stars.

With ten contestants having advanced, the second round of the competition began. Zhao Dong and Xiao Qitian were once again in different matchups. Zhao Dong was set to fight a middle-aged woman, while Xiao Qitian was up against a middle-aged man.

Xiao Qitian won his match without question.

Soon, it was Zhao Dong's turn to enter the stage again. Seeing the strength of the woman before him, he couldn't help but smile. This woman was merely a Grandmaster. She had gotten lucky in her first match, facing an opponent who wasn't even at the Grandmaster level, which was how she had advanced to the second round.

The woman bowed respectfully to Zhao Dong. "Senior, I ask for your guidance."

Her attitude was sincere; she was clearly hoping to improve her combat skills.

One doesn't hit a smiling face. Seeing her respectful demeanor, Zhao Dong returned the bow. "No need for formalities. Please, make your move."

"Then I shall be so bold!" The woman nodded slightly, drew her longsword, and began her attack.

"Too slow."

"Your openings are too large."

"Your Swordsmanship is fierce, but your moves are monotonous and easily countered. You need to change it."

"Stabilize your stance!"

What should have been a completely one-sided match ended up lasting for a full half-hour. The woman fought more valiantly as the battle progressed, her moves growing increasingly sharp. Her footing became steadier, and her openings grew smaller.

It wasn't until half an hour later, when the woman was gasping for breath with her Spiritual Energy completely drained, that she bowed and conceded defeat.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior!" The woman couldn't hide the excitement on her face. Her bout with Zhao Dong had been immensely rewarding.

Zhao Dong smiled. "Think nothing of it. We all came here to improve ourselves. I'm happy that I was able to help you."

His words prompted many in the crowd to give him a thumbs-up. Such a mindset was truly extraordinary.

The elders of the Qingyun Sect also wore expressions of admiration.

"This young man is quite something. While others are focused only on winning the championship and are reluctant to expend their Spiritual Energy, he is willing to guide others. That is no small feat."

"Indeed. His temperament and perseverance are top-notch. It's a pity his talent is only average. However, if he could wash the essence and marrow in the Spirit Medicine Pool, his future would be very promising!"