Chapter 382 - Advancing into the Finals

“Senior Sister, I have shattered your token. You have lost.”

That cracking sound had come from Xu Jing’s token shattering.

Xu Jing stood on the spot, stunned, as she hadn’t expected to lose to Chen Fan.

She soon looked up at Chen Fan and nodded. “I lost. I didn’t expect you to be so strong. Your strength took me by surprise. Even using the ninth layer of the Three Heavens Golden Ksetra Cultivation Technique, I couldn't match you. I accept my loss gracefully.”

“You’re very impressive too, Senior Sister. I had the upper hand with my weapon,” Chen Fan replied courteously.

Xu Jing shook her head and said, “A loss is a loss. I won’t find any excuses. Even though your cultivation is lower, I couldn’t gain an edge. I’m convinced of my loss. I hope you achieve the ranking you aspire to.”

“Of course. I’m aiming for first place!” Chen Fan said confidently.

“I’m looking forward to it,” said Xu Jing, leaving with those hopeful words.

Meanwhile, the central battlefield hummed with excitement as conversations filled the air with speculation.

“Oh my god, I’m not dreaming, am I? Senior Sister Xu Jing lost!”

“Punch me, quick! I want to see if I’m dreaming.”

“Alright...”

“

Hiss

, you! You really hit me! Freaking hurts... but that proves it. This is all real!”

𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

“Senior Sister Xu Jing’s illusory core is fifty percent solid, yet she lost! Is Chen Fan as strong as Yuan Kun and the others?”

“I’m starting to hope Chen Fan clinches first place in this competition.”

“If Chen Fan takes the top spot while being at the ninth level, wouldn’t he make history? No one has done that since the inception of the Four Sects Martial Arts Competition!”

“That’s right. I heard Senior Brother Duan Jingtian dominated the competition and took the first place, but he had Illusory Core realm cultivation.”

“......”

“Damn it! How is he that strong?! That makes no sense!” Yuan Kun’s eyes flickered, his expression ugly. Chen Fan’s strength had exceeded everyone’s expectations.

If Xu Jing were to use her full strength, Yuan Kun knew that she could even threaten him. She was just that strong.

So, he simply couldn’t believe that she lost to Chen Fan. He wondered if she had deliberately lost the match.

“Senior Brother Yuan Kun, it might be advantageous that this little bastard won. You could face him in the competition. With your formidable strength, he wouldn’t stand a chance” remarked an alliance executive at the ninth level.

Yuan Kun’s gaze darkened, and he said coldly, “True enough. I now have a chance to slaughter him with my own hands that way.”

......

“Hahahaha, Fengyunzi, Chen Muyang, what do you say? As I said, Chen Fan can reach the top three. I’ll gladly accept your wagers now.” Wei Buyu laughed loudly, feeling incomparably joyful.

When Chen Fan was matched with Xu Jing, Wei Buyu had sweated bullets, worried that she would defeat him. After all, his disciple was only at the ninth level.

“Hmph, Wei Buyu, aren’t you counting your chickens before they have hatched? He still hasn’t entered the top three!” Fengyunzi snorted coldly, his tone incredibly rude and his expression incredibly ugly.

They had all been confident that Chen Fan wouldn’t enter the top three; therefore, they had wagered their greatest treasures. Now, a hint of anxiety and doubt crept in.

“Wei Buyu, Xu Jing isn’t as strong as Yuan Kun, Li Wangsheng, and the others. No matter how you look at it, Chen Fan won’t enter the top three,” said a grand elder from the Floating Cloud Sword Sect.

“That’s right. Chen Fan's chances are slim,” concurred another elder.

Wei Buyu curled his lips and said, “I see that you're just being stubborn. Let's wait and see. You'll change your tune when Chen Fan enters the top three.”

“Let's see him make it to the top three first.”

......

Chen Fan's victory over Xu Jing sent shockwaves through the spectators.

Regarded as the competition's dark horse, Chen Fan now had a shot at claiming the top spot. His performance had silenced all doubters.

Before long, the next round began.

The remaining ten contestants were the top experts from the four great sects. They were all in the Illusory Core realm—except for Chen Fan.

To the spectators, this was nothing short of a miracle. No one had anticipated Chen Fan making it into the top hundred, let alone the top ten.

However, as Chen Fan fought in numerous rounds, his terrifying strength became evident.

He even defeated Xu Jing; she had the potential to enter the top five. Who could underestimate him now?

Chen Fan’s next opponent was an Illusory Core realm expert from the Mountain River Sect.

This person’s cultivation was inferior to Xu Jing’s. However, he hoped to get lucky, thinking that Chen Fan had exhausted most of his energy in the previous battle, which offered him a chance for victory.

However, Chen Fan shattered such hopes with his iron spear.

As soon as he executed Prairie Fire Hundred Strikes, it seemed as if dozens, if not hundreds, of meteors had sealed off heaven and earth, threatening to destroy the world. It immediately overwhelmed his opponent, leaving him shocked.

Chen Fan’s opponent used all his strength and even ignited a bit of his illusory core; ultimately, he was defeated.

“So strong. Chen Fan is too strong. Heavens, is he really at the ninth level?”

“He's a strong contender for the top five. With a bit of luck, he might even break into the top three.”

“He will make history in this Four Sects Martial Art Competition!”

“......”

The anticipation among the crowd was palpable.

Swish!

A figure appeared across from Chen Fan.

Whoa!

The entire battlefield erupted in excitement as spectators rose to their feet, creating an intensely passionate scene.

Chen Fan's opponent for this round was none other than Yan Hong from Burning Incense Valley—one of the competition's top four favorites.

“Kid, I have to admit, you have created history. With just your ninth-level cultivation, you defeated Xu Jing and came this far. This... This will be recorded in the history books.

“Unfortunately, you met me in this round. Your luck has run out. You have no choice but to stop here, because I’m a very tall mountain.”

Yan Hong looked at Chen Fan. He was still confident, feeling a sense of superiority over Chen Fan.

“Save your nonsense. Thinking you can halt my momentum? You’re delusional”

Chen Fan raised his arm, pointing the iron spear straight at Yan Hong. His tone was simply arrogant beyond words in the eyes of the crowd.

Yan Hong did not get angry. His gaze turned cold, and he said, "Then allow me to bring you back to reality.”

He rushed toward Chen Fan, bringing about a violent storm of energy.