Chapter54: The Ultimate Battle (Part 1)

Watching as Cangyue departed, Aoxue whispered softly, "She finally won, but she's heavily injured. It will greatly affect the next match."

Lunyun looked at the captivating figure departing and smiled lightly, "Perhaps she won't even need to intervene in the next match."

Seeing Lunyun's meaning, Aoxue softly responded, "That's good then. It's all up to you now."

Beside them, others looked on curiously, not understanding their intentions. Just as Yunfeng was about to ask, Li Changchun announced the start of the third match.

With a smile, Lunyun glanced at Aoxue and softly said, "Let's go up and show ourselves. We don't want people to say we lack manners." With that, he gracefully leaped into the arena, landing soundlessly, exuding a casual air.

As Aoxue followed Lunyun's lead, her appearance drew cheers from the crowd, many cheering for her. Ignoring them, she gazed affectionately at Lunyun, her eyes shimmering with allure.

Lunyun, in turn, looked at Aoxue, her white garments like snow, her demeanor as pure as a fairy. Her ethereal presence, accompanied by a faint fragrance, was enchanting and unforgettable.

Without speaking, Lunyun gazed quietly at Aoxue, their eyes meeting, sparking faint flames in the air. In the tranquil atmosphere, a hint of intoxicating scent lingered between them, conveying unspoken affection.

The surrounding clamor gradually subsided as everyone felt the unusual connection between Lunyun and Aoxue. Even in silence, their intense love stirred every heart present.

Seeing the exchange, Xuan Yu and Fa Guo couldn't help but show surprise. From afar, Yu Wushuang watched Lunyun, a slight sigh betraying her emotions. Observing Li Hongfei's worried expression, Zi Yang sighed, understanding that with Lunyun present, there was no hope for Li Hongfei.

With a faint smile, Aoxue's face lit up, eliciting cheers from the crowd. Gently looking at Lunyun, Aoxue spoke, "This match, I voluntarily forfeit. Lunyun wins!" Her words sparked a frenzy of screams and disappointed cries, as many refused to accept the outcome.

At this moment, spectators speculated on who would advance directly. Aoxue's unexpected withdrawal puzzled many. With her possession of the Purple Shadow Divine Sword and the majority of the Lingqi from the Five-Color Fairy Orchid, she should have had an absolute advantage in this match. Yet, why would the Eiyuan voluntarily give up such a rare opportunity to advance and concede to Lunyun? Although Lunyun had defeated Biting Heaven of the Ru Garden, it didn't necessarily mean he was stronger than Aoxue.

Seeing the confusion, Li Changchun announced that Lunyun won the third match. In less than half a day, what was anticipated to be an exciting match ended in an anticlimax.

Apart from the intense battle between Cangyue and Wuwang, the other two matches ended with forfeits, disappointing many spectators.

After the matches, the six school leaders gathered to discuss the next round. Seeing the unexpected results, they agreed to proceed with the playoffs for the third place as usual.

After the decision, the second round of matches began immediately. Soon, Li Changchun announced the start of the second round. He then called Aoxue, Benyi, and Wuwang to the arena, letting them choose their opponents. With only two choices, there was little suspense.

Standing in the arena, the three looked somewhat lost. Seeing this, Seven Xuan approached and said, "For this match, Wuwang will withdraw. You two may proceed with your contest." With that, he led Wuwang, his expression somber, away from the arena.

Aoxue looked at Benyi and calmly asked, "Is it necessary for us to fight?" Benyi shook his head slightly, also sighing. Their battle no longer held any meaning, regardless of the outcome.

Even if he won, with Wuwang's withdrawal, he would still be fourth. If he lost, due to Wuwang's withdrawal, he would still be fourth. What was the point of fighting each other?

With a light sigh, Benyi said, "I won't compete either. Our battle has lost its significance, hasn't it? Whether we win or lose, we both end up fourth. Why must we fight?" With that, he turned and walked away. In just a moment, the second round of matches ended unexpectedly.

Sighing, Master Jingyue said, "This is the first time such a situation has occurred in many years. In previous tournaments, it was unheard of for two groups to automatically withdraw without fighting. And for the second round of matches to end in all withdrawals is also unprecedented. Let's hope the final battle won't be the same."

"I believe it won't be. At least Lunyun won't give up. The key lies in the battle between him and Jian Wuchen. Whether Lunyun can defeat him not only concerns Eiyuan but also affects the entire cultivation world. If Lunyun wins, it will change the face of the cultivation world because of Eiyuan. Of course, this is just speculation. If he fails, it's also normal. So, Lunyun shouldn't feel pressured. Just fight with all his might," Zi Yang said, looking at Master Xuan Yu.

Master Xuan

 Yu didn't respond, just glanced at Jian Wuchen across from Lunyun, then back at Lunyun beside her. She couldn't help but feel a hint of regret. At first glance, Jian Wuchen seemed much stronger, and winning against him would be difficult for Lunyun. Although she hoped Lunyun would win, many objective factors were beyond her hopes.

Lunyun looked at Jian Wuchen, retracting his aura and concealing himself completely, leaving no room for scrutiny. Many small details on the battlefield were crucial, and one careless move could lead to trouble. Therefore, Lunyun was extra cautious before facing Jian Wuchen.

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Changchun announced that the third round of matches would be held in the afternoon. Then, the school leaders took their disciples back to their quarters to heal the injured. In a blink of an eye, only Eiyuan remained at the venue.

After a glance at everyone, Master Xuan Yu spoke, "Let's go back. Some things are better discussed in private to avoid misunderstandings." With that, she gave Lunyun a glance and then left.

In the Heavenly Fire Cave, all of Eiyuan's disciples gathered, quietly awaiting Master Xuan Yu's words. Since their arrival at Mount Taixuan, the round-robin tournament had reached its climax. Along the way, they had experienced many things, and achieving their current results far exceeded Master Xuan Yu's expectations.

Looking at everyone, Master Xuan Yu seemed somewhat excited as she spoke, "The final battle is about to begin. Regardless of the outcome, we are guaranteed at least third place now. To be honest, this is beyond our expectations. For Eiyuan to have Lunyun and Aoxue break into the top six is unexpected for everyone. Regardless of the outcome of the upcoming matches, Eiyuan will regain its prestige in the cultivation world. The key to this final battle lies with Jian Wuchen. Whether Lunyun can win is not only crucial for Eiyuan but also for the entire cultivation world. If Lunyun wins, the cultivation world will change because of Eiyuan. Of course, this is just a hypothesis. If he fails, it's also normal. So, Lunyun, don't feel pressured. Just fight with all your might."

Feeling everyone's blessings and expectations, Lunyun couldn't help but feel a surge of warmth. His entire being burst with a powerful aura, filling every corner of the cave. Looking at everyone, Lunyun confidently said, "Rest assured, I won't disappoint you. I promised Yunfeng that I would retrieve the Universe Pouch for him, and I will fulfill that promise."

Seeing Lunyun's determination, Master Jingyue glanced at Master Xuan Yu, a hint of sigh in her eyes. Confidence was important, but what did Lunyun have to win against Jian Wuchen? Master Xuan Yu understood her expression and shook her head slightly, as if telling her not to dampen Lunyun's morale now. Without comparing to the previous battles, the outcome of victory or defeat was unpredictable, and who dared to say that this time, Lunyun wouldn't create a miracle?

Time passed silently, and before they knew it, it was time for dinner. After dinner, everyone returned to the Heavenly Mystery Cave to watch the final battle. The question of who would emerge as the champion of this tournament would be answered this afternoon.

In front of the Heavenly Mystery Cave, all the disciples from the other five schools had already arrived, except for those from the Phoenix Academy. Everyone understood that Yu Wushuang must be making the most of every moment to help Cangyue regain her strength, giving her a better chance in the afternoon's match. After all, everyone cared about the outcome of this final battle.