When the results for the seventh round draw were announced, even the announcer sounded a bit helpless.
"Unbelievable! Ladies and gentlemen, I don’t even know what expression to make while announcing this... In the seventh round, contestant Qin Feng... has received his third bye!"
The brutal elimination tournament, like a giant sieve, had filtered thousands of contestants down to the final ten.
High above the arena, most of the several hundred floating rings, once brightly lit, were now dark, like fading stars.
Only a scattered few still glowed.
On the massive holographic screen in the center of the "Crown of the North Pole," the portraits and names of the final ten were listed one by one, basking in the gazes of the hundreds of thousands of spectators.
Qin Feng, Lei Yi, Li Qing, Shi Potian... One shining name after another was on the list.
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In a luxury suite in the "Qiming View" building, Hongye Commercial District.
Qin Dahai’s face was flushed with excitement. He completely forgot his composure as the head of the family, slapping his brother-in-law Wang Ming’s shoulder, his voice trembling.
"Old Wang! Did you see that? Did you see it?! Top ten! He’s in the top ten of all the geniuses on Planet Qiming!"
Wang Ming was just as thrilled, nodding repeatedly. "I saw! I saw! That kid, he’s really made us proud!"
His aunt and two younger brothers erupted in joyous cheers.
Even his youngest sister, who didn’t really understand what was happening, knew that her big brother on the screen was the best.
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Observation Tower, top floor.
The atmosphere here had become incredibly tense.
A staff member looked at the list on the screen and analyzed in a low voice:
"These final ten are clearly divided into tiers. Qin Feng from Qiming First High School, Lei Yi from Dubhe, and Li Qing from Golden Dragon—those three are monsters in a league of their own. Especially Qin Feng and that Lei Yi. They’re unfathomable."
"The rest, like Shi Potian from Qiming First High School and the two kids from our school, are all at the level of just reaching Initial Success with their killing techniques. They’re the second tier."
He added, "There’s one more... Zhao Kai from Chenxi Third High School. The guy’s strength is poor, but his luck has been heaven-defyingly good. He hasn’t faced a single tough opponent on his way here."
"Arrange for him to be eliminated. His luck has been good enough," an Advanced Martial Artist said.
"Alright."
"..."
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The eighth-round draw began.
All eyes were glued to the large screen, eager to see what kind of high-stakes duels this round would feature, or who would be unlucky enough to draw one of the two monsters, Qin Feng or Lei Yi.
The system’s light flashed. The first two portraits were drawn and locked together.
Qin Feng (Qiming First High School) vs. Zhao Kai (Chenxi Third High School)
Immediately after, another highly anticipated matchup was born!
Lei Yi (Dubhe Martial High School) vs. Li Qing (Golden Dragon Martial High School)
The moment the draw was finalized, the camera immediately focused on the "lucky" Zhao Kai.
First, a look of bewilderment flashed across his face. Then, upon seeing his opponent’s name was "Qin Feng," his expression instantly turned ashen.
But just a second later, as if he’d had a sudden realization, the bitterness and fear vanished from his face, replaced by a smile of broad-minded acceptance and relief.
Under the watchful eyes of the entire audience, he didn’t even walk toward the ring. Instead, he went straight to the referee at the side of the arena and casually spread his hands.
"Referee, I forfeit."
From a great distance, he cupped his fists toward Qin Feng’s direction and called out with a laugh, his voice not loud but clear:
"Brother! I was already incredibly lucky just to make it into the top ten! I won’t go up there and humiliate myself, and I won’t waste your time! I wish you the best of luck in winning the championship! May your martial path prosper!"
His straightforward and carefree actions first quieted the entire arena, then drew a wave of good-natured laughter and applause.
And just like that, Qin Feng won without a fight, advancing directly to the top five.
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The attention of the entire stadium naturally shifted to the other ring—this round’s central main stage.
Lei Yi and Li Qing.
The two long-established favorites to win the championship had finally met on a narrow path.
The moment the battle began, Li Qing instantly displayed the terrifying strength befitting a top-tier genius.
His figure moved like a phantom. Empowered by [Illusion Step], he dissolved into a series of indistinguishable afterimages, darting east and west across the ring, impossible to track with the naked eye.
At the same time, dozens of flying knives, each as thin as a cicada’s wing, shot through the air from all sorts of tricky angles, forming a silver storm of death that enveloped Lei Yi from every direction!
The incredibly fierce assault made the entire audience hold their breath subconsciously.
Faced with such a desperate situation, Lei Yi, wielding his dual batons, was initially forced into a passive defense.
He spun his batons so fast they formed an impenetrable barrier, like a black shield, deflecting the vast majority of the flying knives.
The announcer’s voice was filled with tension:
"Li Qing is too strong! The coordination between his Body Technique and Flying Knife Skill is absolutely seamless! Is Lei Yi going to lose? He seems to be completely suppressed!"
The audience also broke into discussion.
Lei Yi was completely suppressed by the flying knives.
Just as everyone thought Lei Yi was about to be defeated, the situation on the ring changed in a flash!
Lei Yi, who had been on the defensive, suddenly had a change in aura. The dual batons in his hands grew fiercer, their overlapping shadows faintly carrying the sound of wind and thunder!
His movements also accelerated abruptly. Not only could he keep up with Li Qing’s [Illusion Step], he even seemed to surpass it!
"It’s... Wind Thunder Step. His baton technique has reached Great Success."
"Yes, that’s the mark of Great Success—the Body Technique and the martial skill have been mastered and integrated into one."
"Tsk, to reach Great Success as a freshman... what a monster. His comprehension is terrifying."
Some sharp-eyed upperclassmen had recognized the signs of a Great Success technique.
After all, the hallmark of Great Success for any entry-level killing technique is the complete integration of its innate Body Technique with its various skills, allowing the user to wield it as effortlessly as their own limbs.
The upperclassmen at least had that much discernment.
After all, any upperclassman who dared to register for the senior tournament had mastered at least one Perfect Killing Skill.
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Back on the stage—facing several more flying knives coming from tricky angles, Lei Yi, this time, didn’t dodge or evade!
His dual batons began to spin at high speed along a profound trajectory that was incomprehensible to outsiders, striking the side of each and every flying knife with perfect precision and knocking them all back!
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
After a series of crisp, piercing sounds, the dozens of flying knives were actually sent flying back along their original paths, but at an even greater speed!
This sudden turn of events made Li Qing’s face fall in shock.
Forced to deal with his own rebounding knives, he was thrown into a panic, his footing completely disrupted.
Lei Yi seized this fleeting opportunity!
Executing Wind Thunder Step, his figure became like a bolt of lightning, instantly crossing dozens of meters to appear before Li Qing.
His short batons, carrying devastating power, struck twice in succession—a high blow followed by a low one—slamming viciously into Li Qing’s light armor!
"BANG! BANG!"
As if struck by lightning, Li Qing violently spat out a mouthful of blood. His body, like a kite with its string cut, was sent flying out of the ring, crashing heavily to the ground.