The third stage of the advancement match ended with the outcome of the 143rd and 144th contestants.
Some of the matches were ordinary. After all, when there was a huge disparity in strength, the opponent would usually be defeated in one move. However, some of the matches were very intense. When both parties were of similar strength, they had to give it their all in order to win.
As the third stage of the advancement match ended, the seventy-two people on the Cloud Roll were born. However, these seventy-two people had yet to be ranked.
The final match of the fourth stage was the Cloud Roll Ranking Match. It would determine everyone's ranking on the Cloud Roll.
Among the 72 people who were listed on this year's Cloud Roll, a total of 54 of them were from the previous Cloud Roll while 18 of them were from this year's newcomers. From this point, it could be seen how powerful the previous Cloud Roll was and how extraordinary this year's newcomers were.
Among the eighteen people, Chen Zong was one of them. Yu Nianxin was also one of them. Xia Minglang was also one of them.
"Those who lost in the advancement match might not necessarily lose because of their strength. It could also be due to luck." The elder spoke in a loud voice. "Therefore, before the final match of the fourth stage, those who lost will have a chance to challenge someone on the Cloud Roll. If they win, they will be listed on the Cloud Roll. If they lose, they will be eliminated completely."
No one was surprised. It had been the same for the previous Outer Sect Competition. This was also the reason why no one was too upset after being defeated. It was because there was still a chance to salvage the situation.
The challenges had begun.
Although it was said that everyone who lost in the third stage had a chance to challenge, not everyone would do so.
They knew their own strength and the opponent's strength.
However, there were also some who felt that they were not weak but were unlucky to have drawn a strong opponent. Those who lost were full of confidence.
There were seventy-two people on the Cloud Roll. The difference in strength between the first and the last was huge.
Although the final match had yet to be determined and the ranking was not clear, it could be seen who was stronger and who was weaker among these people.
Naturally, one would challenge those who were weaker so that one could be listed on the Cloud Roll.
When the challenge match ended, there was another change in the Cloud Roll. Nine people were defeated. They had really failed to make the Cloud Roll. The nine of them looked upset.
Being listed on the Cloud Roll was an honor in itself. One could also receive a handsome reward from the Sect. Now, they had no chance.
As for the nine people who won the challenge, they were overjoyed. Regardless of their final ranking on the Cloud Roll, at least they were listed on the Cloud Roll.
Some were happy while others were sad. The fourth stage of the finals began.
"It's finally starting."
"I feel like I've been waiting for a long time."
"The most exciting part is about to come."
The group of outer sect disciples were all excited and filled with anticipation.
In the Outer Sect Tournament, the first elimination round and the second preliminary round were nothing much to watch. The third round of the promotion round was starting to get exciting, but the fourth round of the finals was the most exciting part of the tournament.
The reason why the inner sect disciples had come to spectate was for the finals of the fourth stage.
The fourth stage of the finals was not as simple as the previous stages. It used a point system.
The so-called point system meant that one point would be awarded for each victory, and no points would be awarded for a loss or a draw. The final ranking would be based on the number of points one had.
The one with the highest number of points would naturally be ranked first, while the one with the lowest would be ranked last.
As for how to earn points, it was very simple.
Every person on the Cloud Roll had to fight with 71 people other than themselves. The highest score they could get was 71 points.
Everyone had to fight seventy-one times. No matter how much they tried to hide their strength, they had no choice but to reveal it one by one and even use all of their trump cards.
Each of the seventy-two people on the Cloud Roll received a number plate. It was a public number plate. Chen Zong's number plate was number 18.
Starting from number one, he could choose his opponent. Other than himself, he could challenge anyone from number two to seventy-two.
Seventy-two white clouds floated in the air around the ten-thousand-meter arena. The disciple on the first white cloud swept his gaze across, looking for an opponent.
Although everyone had to go through seventy-one battles and fight with the other seventy-one people, no one liked to lose. Therefore, they had to choose a suitable opponent from the start and obtain victory. This would build up their confidence and momentum. To a certain extent, it would raise their fighting spirit and allow them to unleash their strength more fully.
If they were defeated from the start, it would affect their fighting spirit.
They did not have to wait for long. In just ten breaths, number one had chosen his opponent.
Number seven!
Number seven's cultivation was not as good as number one. Secondly, from the previous battles, number seven's strength was not as good as his.
Number one and number seven both leaped from the white clouds and landed on the arena.
Fight!
There was no need to say anything.
As number one had expected, number seven's strength was indeed inferior to his. After a fierce battle, number one gained the upper hand. In less than sixty breaths, number seven was defeated and number one won.
Number two chose his opponent.
While number one was observing and choosing his opponent, number two had already chosen his opponent, number ten.
Unfortunately, after a fierce battle, number ten won by a narrow margin.
Number three versus number thirteen, number three won.
Number four versus number twenty, number four won.
Number five was called Hou Wu. He ranked 24th on the previous Cloud Roll and had extraordinary strength. The opponent he chose was number eighteen, Chen Zong.
"I know that you have yet to use your full strength. However, you can only unleash your full strength now. Otherwise, you will lose without a doubt." Hou Wu stared at Chen Zong as he firmly declared. His tone was filled with confidence.
He ranked 24th on the previous Cloud Roll and his cultivation was at the peak of the Transcendent Realm. His strength was far superior to ordinary peak Transcendent Realm cultivators.
With great strength came great self-confidence.
Hou Wu was very confident in himself.
Even if his opponent was in the top ten of the previous Cloud Roll, he was confident he could challenge them.
Chen Zong had also seen Hou Wu's battle and knew he was indeed extraordinary. Although he hadn't used his full strength, he was still able to see the big picture.
"I hope you won't let me down," Chen Zong responded unhurriedly.
These were sincere words. He hoped that Hou Wu would use his full strength, but when they fell into the ears of others, they inevitably sounded a little arrogant, especially Hou Wu, who was very unhappy.
Smiling coldly, a trace of ferocity flashed across his eyes. Hou Wu made up his mind to teach this arrogant man a lesson.
Bending his knees slightly and lowering his body, Hou Wu looked like a beast that had locked onto its prey. A tyrannical Spirit Energy burst out from his body like a volcanic eruption, causing the entire ring to shake and space to shatter. Hou Wu's entire body transformed into a meteor, carrying an earth-shattering momentum as he mercilessly slammed towards Chen Zong.
Amidst the blazing light, Hou Wu's bent arms suddenly straightened, his five fingers forming claws that tore through the sky. Like a tiger's claws, as sharp as an eagle's claws, there was even a trace of cloud energy swirling around them, giving off a bewildering aura.
Profound Martial Arts, tyrannical strength, and the power of an eighth-order Wild Beast, this blow was extremely powerful. It was Hou Wu's full strength.
Like a tiger, like an eagle, like a cloud, Hou Wu's attainments in Martial Arts were extremely profound.
At the Transcendent Realm, the truly profound masters often absorbed the essence of the Martial Arts they cultivated and evolved them to better suit themselves, allowing them to display greater power.
Hou Wu was such a profound master.
Hou Wu's aura covered his entire body and a pair of gloves instantly appeared on his hands, releasing a tyrannical aura.
A Seventh-Grade Spirit Artifact!
A Seventh-Grade Spirit Artifact possessed the strength of an ordinary Seventh Layer Transcendent Realm cultivator. Although it was nothing to a Ninth Layer Transcendent, when superimposed on one's own body, it was still a considerable strength, especially in certain combat situations where it was enough to turn the tide of a battle.
Hou Wu had to admit that he was a very scheming person. As soon as he attacked, he was empty-handed at first, and only when he was about to hit Chen Zong did he use his Seventh-Grade Spirit Artifact and superimpose his strength, hoping to destroy all of Chen Zong's defences in one fell swoop and defeat Chen Zong with absolute strength.
If Chen Zong's strength was similar to Hou Wu's, then Hou Wu might have been able to succeed.
This blow also allowed Chen Zong to see Hou Wu's true strength. Hou Wu was indeed not weak, but compared to himself, there was still a big gap.
However, Chen Zong didn't show any intention of using his full strength, instead only using his Qi Refining cultivation.
The Profound Light Sword transformed into a dazzling beam of light and shot out from its scabbard, instantly piercing through the sky. Its aura was incomparably sharp, and its sword light fluctuated unpredictably.
Chen Zong's current Qi Refining cultivation was at the peak of the Eighth Layer Transcendent Realm, which wasn't high. It could be said that he had the lowest cultivation on the Cloud List. Even in the Outer Sect, there were several hundred disciples whose cultivation was higher than Chen Zong's.
However, Chen Zong had cultivated the White Cloud Extreme True Art to the seventeenth layer, which was one of the best among all the Outer Sect disciples.
After all, it was extremely difficult to cultivate the eighteenth layer of a Spirit Grade Secret Art, much more difficult than cultivating the seventeenth layer because once one succeeded, they would be able to grasp the Secret Art's meaning and increase the purity of their Spirit Qi by one fold.
Even with Chen Zong's amazing perception, after more than a year of cultivation, he had only managed to raise the White Cloud Extreme True Art from the fifteenth layer to the seventeenth, still a thin line away from the eighteenth layer.
Chen Zong estimated that this thin line would take at least half a year to break through, but there was a possibility that it would take even longer.
Of course, if he could find an opportunity, he might be able to break through in a shorter time.
Because of the Purple Cloud Black Star Flame's purification, the purity of Chen Zong's White Cloud Extreme True Spirit Qi was comparable to that of an eighteenth layer White Cloud Extreme True Spirit Qi.
Chen Zong had also cultivated the Heart Sword's Force to the eighth layer.
Chen Zong had cultivated the Force of White Cloud to the seventh layer.
Chen Zong had also cultivated the Force of Flame to the seventh layer.
With the fusion of these three Transcendent Forces, their power increased by several times.
However, Chen Zong didn't fuse these three Transcendent Forces, only fusing the Heart Sword's Force and White Cloud's Force while concealing the Force of Flame.
Combining these two forces together with his brilliant Sword Art and the Third Great Accomplishment Stage of the Sword Dao, the power he displayed was incomparably astonishing.
As the sword pierced out, the tip of the sword trembled slightly and changed unpredictably.
Two crackling sounds could be heard. Hou Wu's all-out attack of a brilliant Martial Art was hit by the tip of the sword in an instant. Like a popped bubble, the power dissipated.
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