Top Nine

Top Nine

At this crucial moment, only nine contenders remained atop the platforms, their fates hanging in the balance. Among them were Qin Wentian, Luo Qianqiu, Sikong Mingyue, 2nd Sword, Orchon, Hou Tie, Leng Ya, Chu Chen, and Jiang Feng.

Two of these nine would soon find themselves facing the challenges of Luo Huan and Gu Xing. The victorious fighters would earn the right to advance to the next round, basking in the glory of being the top nine contestants.

Interestingly, some participants in this group hadn't seen action in the second round. They either chose not to engage or simply didn't have anyone daring enough to challenge them. Notable examples included Luo Qianqiu, Orchon, and Hou Tie.

In contrast, Qin Wentian was a common sight in the battles of the second round. His performances garnered him newfound respect from the spectators. At this point, it was safe to say that he already had one foot firmly in the top nine rankings, or perhaps he was already there.

Impressions of him among the audience were shifting dramatically. In the Royal Capital, nearly everyone knew about Qin Wentian, the young talent hailing from Sky Harmony City. Astonishingly, he had joined the Emperor Star Academy only a year ago, a full year less than the two-year journey undertaken by Luo Qianqiu.

The aged figure standing beside Chu Tianjiao, the host of this event, signaled the next phase. "The two of you, select your opponents."

Luo Huan, having fully recuperated, opened her eyes and offered a charming smile. She stood up and nodded in gratitude toward Mo Qingcheng. The second-grade top-tier medicinal pill Mo Qingcheng had provided was nothing short of a miracle. It had swiftly healed her injuries from the earlier battle, restoring her to her original peak strength within a remarkably short period.

Gu Xing, on the other hand, had emerged from his previous battle unscathed. He had chosen to voluntarily withdraw after Qin Wentian's victory. According to the crowd's predictions, Gu Xing was highly likely to secure a spot among the final top nine. Despite his low-key demeanor, nobody dared to underestimate his potential.

Both Luo Huan and Gu Xing ascended their respective platforms. In a predictable move, Luo Huan picked the 6th-ranked prodigy, Jiang Feng, as her opponent. Meanwhile, Gu Xing opted for a duel with Leng Ya, a formidable martial artist from the Godly General Martial Palace.

These choices hardly surprised the onlookers. If they were in the spectators' shoes, they would likely have made similar selections. The only other contender, Chu Chen, was presumed to have numerous hidden cards up his sleeve, making Luo Huan and Gu Xing's decisions logical.

In the final battles that followed, Gu Xing emerged victorious over Leng Ya, while Luo Huan, freshly recovered from her injuries, triumphed over Jiang Feng.

Luo Huan's victory over Jiang Feng was swift and decisive, a testament to her formidable strength. Yet, it was a stark reminder of the vast chasm that separated them when she went up against Sikong Mingyue. Even among these remarkable talents, the disparity was staggering.

With Luo Huan's triumph over Jiang Feng, all the prodigies who had graced this year's Jun Lin Banquet had been eliminated. This outcome was hardly a shock in the unforgiving world of cultivation. In this realm, stagnation meant regression, a brutal but undeniable truth.

The 10 prodigies that once held the spotlight were now history. The first five had ascended to the rank of Yuanfu, while the latter five met their end in the Jun Lin Banquet.

Among these fallen stars, the likes of Luo Qianqiu, Orchon, Qin Wentian, Luo Huan, Hou Tie, and Chu Chen stood poised to fill the void left behind.

With the unveiling of the top nine rankings, the moment of truth had arrived. The distinguished nine contestants were now revealed: Sikong Mingyue, 2nd Sword, Luo Qianqiu, Orchon, Qin Wentian, Luo Huan, Hou Tie, Chu Chen, and Gu Xing.

Notably, two formidable contenders hailed from Snowcloud Country: Sikong Mingyue and 2nd Sword. Both were incredibly potent, and the chances of them securing top-three positions were highly likely.

Meanwhile, seven contestants represented Chu, highlighting its martial prowess. Yet, the Emperor Star Academy continued to shine the brightest, boasting four of the top nine talents: Luo Qianqiu, Orchon, Qin Wentian, and Luo Huan. These four were undeniably elite.

The Emperor Star Academy had indeed earned its reputation as Chu's premier martial institution. Its legacy was forged over years, attracting talents from every corner of the kingdom. These promising martial artists chose the academy, driven by the desire to shine among the stars.

Chu's other academies, like the Godly General Martial Academy with Hou Tie and the Royal Academy with Chu Chen, couldn't quite rival the Emperor Star Academy's illustrious tradition. However, they still had their moments of glory.

The wildcard in the group was the enigmatic Gu Xing, a youth with an undisclosed background.

The nine remaining contestants wore no traces of satisfaction on their faces. They understood that the battles in the third round would be even more brutal, as they vied for the ultimate rankings in the Jun Lin Banquet. Among their potential opponents loomed the daunting figures of Luo Qianqiu, Sikong Mingyue, and 2nd Sword, promising fierce clashes and unpredictable outcomes.

The forthcoming battles in the third round promised to be a spectacle of unprecedented intensity and difficulty, pushing the remaining contestants to their limits.

As anticipation swelled in the arena, nine figures emerged from behind the Chu Emperor Seat. Each one carried a small case containing a precious jade token, one designated for each of the nine survivors.

Approaching Qin Wentian, a bearer held out the token and instructed, "Engrave your name onto it."

Qin Wentian, well-versed in the rules of the Jun Lin Banquet, complied without a word. His hand deftly etched the three words, 'Qin Wentian,' onto the smooth surface of the jade.

The bearer retrieved the token and moved on. Once all nine tokens were collected, the bearers assembled and placed them together into a single case. With a practiced motion, they flipped the tokens over and shuffled them, obscuring the order.

After concluding their task, they withdrew from the platform, leaving the case with the nine tokens resting on its surface.

"Who would like to do the honors?" Chu Tianjiao, seated on the Chu Emperor Seat, scanned the crowd and extended a gracious smile.

"I shall, Your Highness," declared a formidable figure from the Ye Clan.

"Then, we entrust this task to Senior Liuyang," Chu Tianjiao replied, acknowledging the volunteer.

Liuyang selected three jade tokens at random and held them in his palm. With a gentle push, the tokens hovered in mid-air, revealing the names engraved upon them to the expectant audience.

"Luo Qianqiu, 2nd Sword, Luo Huan."

As the names were revealed, a collective sigh of regret rippled through the crowd. Luo Huan, they felt, had drawn the short straw, pitted against the formidable duo of Luo Qianqiu and 2nd Sword.

The third round of the Jun Lin Banquet introduced a thrilling twist – group battles. The nine remaining contestants would be divided into three groups, pitting them against each other within their respective groups to vie for first, second, and third positions.

Once the group battles concluded, the victors of each group would move on to the ultimate stage, where they would contend for the coveted top three positions.

Second-place finishers within their groups would engage in battles to determine the fourth through sixth rankings. As for those who finished last in their groups, they would battle for the seventh through ninth positions.

Luo Huan found herself in a particularly challenging group, facing off against formidable competitors in Luo Qianqiu and 2nd Sword. Her chances of securing a favorable ranking appeared rather slim.

Ye Liuyang retrieved another set of three jade tokens, elevating them into the air. A peculiar atmosphere permeated the audience, and many couldn't help but steal glances at Qin Wentian.

Earlier, Qin Wentian had pointed his ancient halberd at Sikong Mingyue, radiating an unmistakable desire for battle. Now, at last, his wish would be granted. The second group consisted of none other than Sikong Mingyue, Qin Wentian, and Chu Chen.

Though the spectators had already deduced the composition of the last group, Ye Liuyang maintained the suspense by allowing the jade tokens to hover once more. The final trio was revealed to be Orchon, Gu Xing, and Hou Tie.

The revelation of the groupings ignited intense anticipation among the spectators. No matter the lineup, it filled them with a thrilling sense of excitement and anticipation.

Luo Qianqiu, 2nd Sword, Luo Huan.

Sikong Mingyue, Qin Wentian, Chu Chen.

Orchon, Gu Xing, Hou Tie.

As Qin Wentian occupied his platform, he felt a piercing, malevolent gaze lock onto him. Shifting his gaze, he found Sikong Mingyue making his way towards him. Even before the battle commenced, an aura laden with killing intent hung thick in the air.

Over in the Emperor Chu District, seated on the Azure Dragon Jadeite Throne, Chu Tianjiao stood up with a smile. "Let's kick off this final round of the Jun Lin Banquet by clarifying the rules. All contestants will engage in battles within their respective groups to determine first, second, and third place."

"The three first-place finishers will then compete for the top three ranks of the Jun Lin Banquet."

"The three second-place finishers will vie for the 4th to 6th positions."

"And the three third-place finishers will be contending for the 7th to 9th positions."

"Additionally, the contestant ranked 7th will have a single opportunity to challenge one of those in the 4th to 6th ranks. Similarly, the 4th-ranked contestant will have the chance to challenge someone within the top three ranks."

Chu Tianjiao elucidated, confirming the rules for the final round.

"Alright, that's all for today. We will resume the final round of the Jun Lin Banquet tomorrow," Chu Tianjiao announced, much to the dismay of the spectators.

Their dissatisfaction was palpable. The groupings for the final round had already been unveiled, yet they were forced to wait another day to witness the conclusive battles. This anticipation was almost unbearable.

"Let's go, we should check out Drunken Wonder. With the groupings determined, the odds might change. It's our chance!"

"Absolutely, my opportunity has arrived. Once the new payout rates are calculated, I'm going to try my luck."

As a result, many in the crowd flocked to Drunken Wonder, eager to place their bets. Among them, most had already made a small fortune by betting on the top nine rankings. How could they pass up the chance for another profitable venture this time around?