My Martial Dao Has No Bottlenecks

On the other arena, the match between Xiao Qingxue and Zheng Xiao had also ended.

Although Zheng Xiao was also at the True Essence Realm Early Stage and was quite formidable, he barely lasted for just over thirty exchanges against Xiao Qingxue’s refined and relentless Swordsmanship. In the end, a strand of Ice Blue Sword Qi struck a vital point on his chest, and with the frigid qi invading his body, he had no choice but to concede defeat.

Xiao Qingxue sheathed her sword, her cool gaze turning to Arena A-3 just in time to see Liang Cheng put away his saber as Qin Wentian conceded.

An extremely subtle flicker of emotion crossed her face.

The Black-robed Steward took a deep breath and announced loudly, "Arena A-3, Liang Cheng wins! Arena A-5, Xiao Qingxue wins!"

"Next up, Liang Cheng versus Xiao Qingxue! This match will decide the number one newly-admitted disciple!"

The crowd erupted once more!

Who would have thought that these two would be the ones facing off in the final match for the new disciples!

Liang Cheng and Xiao Qingxue faced each other, standing fifty feet apart.

"Senior Sister Xiao, please."

"Junior Brother Liang, please."

With no further pleasantries, Xiao Qingxue drew her longsword. Its blade shimmered with an ice-blue luster, and a palpable chill instantly filled the air.

Her Swordsmanship was a stark contrast to Qin Wentian’s. It didn’t rely on speed and explosive power, but was instead intricate and relentless. Each strike carried an icy Sword Qi that could slow an opponent’s movements and erode their Meridians.

Liang Cheng dared not be careless. He pushed his Wandering Dragon Step to its limits, the gleam of his saber crackling with wind and thunder as he engaged her.

However, after a dozen or so exchanges, Liang Cheng keenly realized that while Xiao Qingxue’s sword was undoubtedly refined and her icy Sword Qi was troublesome, it posed a slightly lesser threat than Qin Wentian’s Cyan Rainbow Piercing the Sun with its extreme speed and explosive power.

’Xiao Qingxue’s strength lies in endurance and control, similar to my own Broken Wave Technique,’ Liang Cheng thought. ’If I get caught in a prolonged fight, her icy Sword Qi will steadily build her an advantage.’

’But if I aim for a swift conclusion...’

A glint appeared in Liang Cheng’s eyes. He feigned a mistake, deliberately leaving a small opening at his left shoulder.

Sure enough, Xiao Qingxue’s blade shifted, and a stream of Ice Blue Sword Qi shot straight toward his left shoulder!

Just as the tip of her sword was about to strike, Liang Cheng twisted his body in an uncanny way, evading the blade by a hair’s breadth. His left hand shot out, forming a Finger Sword that struck like a viper’s tongue!

Profound Yin Sword Technique·Bone Penetration!

This time, the Gray-Black Sword Qi wasn’t concealed. Instead, he pushed its speed to the absolute limit, so fast it left only a faint afterimage as it shot toward the wrist of Xiao Qingxue’s sword hand!

Startled but not panicked, Xiao Qingxue swung her sword around to block.

But only now did Liang Cheng unleash his true killing blow!

The ground beneath him shattered as he shot forward like a cannonball. Wielding his Zhenxian Saber with the force of wind and thunder, he brought it down in the most direct and ferocious vertical slash imaginable!

Wind and Thunder Slash·Thunderbolt!

The arc of the blade descended like a thunderbolt from the heavens, its power absolute!

Xiao Qingxue had just blocked his Finger Sword. Her previous move was spent, and she had yet to begin another. Facing this overwhelmingly powerful slash, she could only muster the strength to raise her sword in a horizontal block.

CLANG—!!!

The longsword shuddered violently, its ice-blue glow shattering.

Xiao Qingxue let out a muffled grunt and stumbled back five steps. Her sword hand trembled, the webbing between her thumb and forefinger completely numb.

The tip of Liang Cheng’s saber had stopped a foot from her brow.

"I was fortunate."

Liang Cheng sheathed his saber and stood tall.

Xiao Qingxue was silent for a moment before sheathing her sword. "Junior Brother Liang, your Saber Technique is ferocious and your Finger Sword is unpredictable. I lost."

Her tone was as cool as ever, showing no sign of dejection.

Having now defeated the two top prodigies, Qin Wentian and Xiao Qingxue, in succession, Liang Cheng had claimed the title of number one new disciple!

The Black-robed Steward announced the result, his voice booming across the grounds, "The winner of this mid-month competition for newly-admitted disciples is Liang Cheng! He is awarded three thousand Contribution Points!"

A tide of applause and astonished cries washed over him from the audience below.

In the crowd, Ye Zhiqiu pumped his fist, looking even happier than if he had won himself.

Fu Qingyun’s face was ashen as he clenched his jaw, while Shi Jun simply narrowed his eyes, staring at Liang Cheng’s back with an unreadable expression.

On the high platform, Chen Xuanfeng stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes filled with deep satisfaction.

"The competition for newly-admitted disciples is over!"

The Steward’s voice rose again, silencing the din. "Next, the Hero Ranking placement challenges will officially begin! Challengers, announce your name and the rank you wish to contest!"

Before the words had even faded, a figure leaped onto the central arena platform.

It was none other than Qin Wentian.

Though he had lost to Liang Cheng, he showed not a hint of dejection. On the contrary, his Sword Intent seemed even sharper as he announced loudly, "I, Disciple Qin Wentian, challenge the sixtieth-ranked on the Hero Ranking, Senior Brother Zhou Tong!"

The crowd below erupted in an uproar once more.

"Sixtieth place? Senior Brother Zhou Tong is at the True Essence Realm Middle Stage! I heard he’s already got one foot in the Late Stage!"

"Qin Wentian just lost a match, yet he still has this much fighting spirit!"

"As expected of a Sword Cultivator. Their willpower is truly formidable!"

Soon, a stocky young man wielding a Copper Rod leaped onto the arena. It was none other than Zhou Tong, ranked sixtieth on the Hero Ranking.

The two stated their names and immediately clashed.

Although Qin Wentian’s Cultivation was slightly lower, his Swordsmanship was incredibly fast and he was brimming with fighting spirit, allowing him to trade blows evenly with Zhou Tong.

After a hundred exchanges, Zhou Tong sent Qin Wentian’s longsword flying with a strike of his rod. But instead of retreating, Qin Wentian advanced, his blade flashing past the Copper Rod and aiming straight for Zhou Tong’s throat.

In the end, the Copper Rod crashed down on Qin Wentian’s left shoulder, but Qin Wentian’s longsword stopped an inch from Zhou Tong’s throat. Zhou Tong could only give a wry smile, cup his fist, and concede defeat.

Due to his shoulder injury, Qin Wentian issued no further challenges. However, by defeating the sixtieth-ranked Zhou Tong as a new disciple, he had already proven that his strength was not to be underestimated.

Immediately after, Xiao Qingxue also gracefully took the stage.

"I, Disciple Xiao Qingxue, challenge the fifty-eighth ranked on the Hero Ranking, Senior Sister Chen Yao."

A woman in red robes, wielding two Short Swords, leaped onto the arena.

Though both were women, their styles were vastly different. One was icy and methodical, the other swift and aggressive. Their clash was a spectacular sight.

After more than 120 exchanges, Xiao Qingxue’s sword struck Chen Yao’s left shoulder. The icy Sword Qi invaded her body, causing her movements to falter, and she had no choice but to concede defeat.

Xiao Qingxue was victorious!

She replaced Chen Yao, now ranking fifty-eighth on the Hero Ranking!