Due to the varying strengths of the contestants, the first round proceeded quickly.
A total of 940 matches in the first round were completely finished in just over half a day.
Among them, Su Yutong easily defeated her opponent.
Her opponent also had a cultivation base at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
In stark contrast to Wang Yuyao, Su Yutong didn't even use a magical artifact, relying solely on her formidable spell techniques to easily defeat her opponent.
After a brief rest.
The remaining 940 contestants drew lots again.
The second round continued.
This time, Wang Yuyao's opponent was also a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
After a brief exchange, she won easily.
By dusk, the second round ended.
The remaining 470 contestants drew lots once more and began the third round.
This cycle repeated.
By the time the sixth round began, it was already the early hours of the next day.
In this round, Wang Yuyao's opponent was a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refining.
Armed with a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact, his spell techniques were quite powerful.
Wang Yuyao, relying only on her Cloudwater Coldglow Sword, couldn't gain the upper hand. In the end, she had to activate her Amethyst Slippers, dramatically increasing her speed, and barely won by leveraging her speed advantage.
After this battle, Wang Yuyao successfully advanced to the next round, drawing considerable attention.
Magical artifacts are different from elixirs.
In this world, there is no concept of a perfect magical artifact.
A Perfect Intermediate Magical Artifact has power comparable to a High-Grade Magical Artifact, which to outsiders, is seen as a High-Grade Magical Artifact.
In the Outer Sect, the standard equipment for ordinary disciples is a Low-Grade Magical Artifact.
Those who possess a Mid-Grade Magical Artifact are already considered quite wealthy.
As for High-Grade Magical Artifacts, only the top tier of the Outer Sect might have them.
And Wang Yuyao not only had one, but two!
This made almost everyone a bit envious.
Below the arena, Su Yutong looked at Wang Yuyao, her expression extremely unpleasant.
If she remembered correctly, when she first encountered Wang Yuyao at Wang Jianqiang's place, the latter was only at the ninth level of Qi Refining.
But now, Wang Yuyao had already broken through to the perfection of Qi Refining!
She managed to break through because she bought a Perfect Cloudmist Pill from the Hall of External Affairs.
To purchase the elixir, she even sold her only High-Grade Magical Artifact.
And Wang Yuyao?
After being embarrassed by Wang Yuyao, she had investigated her.
Half a year ago, she was only at the sixth level of Qi Refining.
The reason she quickly advanced to the ninth level of Qi Refining was due to luck, stumbling upon a transaction between Wang Jianqiang and the Hall of External Affairs, and purchasing a Perfect Elixir immediately.
However, with her ordinary background, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining likely exhausted her savings.
It's impossible she had more Spirit Stones to continue buying elixirs.
Thus, there could only be one reason Wang Yuyao reached the perfection of Qi Refining.
Wang Jianqiang gave her the Perfect Cloudmist Pill at a low price, or perhaps even for free!
This would also explain her High-Grade Magical Artifacts.
They must have been gifts from Wang Jianqiang.
Although Wang Jianqiang was a waste, his luck was incredible.
He actually researched a Perfect Elixir!
With the Perfect Elixir, he could easily earn a large number of Spirit Stones in a short time.
For other Outer Disciples, a High-Grade Magical Artifact is extremely precious, but for him, he could probably produce one with ease.
Wang Jianqiang's attitude towards Wang Yuyao was in stark contrast to his attitude towards her, making her feel deeply unbalanced.
Why?
Why does Wang Jianqiang treat me so poorly, yet favor Wang Yuyao, a lowly ordinary disciple, so much?
She felt Wang Jianqiang was deliberately targeting her.
Her hatred for Wang Jianqiang grew even stronger.
As the competition continued, it was soon Su Yutong's turn to take the stage.
It must be said, Su Yutong lived up to her name as a new prodigy.
Her opponent was also a cultivator at the tenth level of Qi Refining, equipped with a first-tier Mid-Grade Magical Artifact, quite formidable.
But against such an opponent, she easily defeated him with just a Low-Grade Magical Artifact flying sword.
Her strength was formidable, her beauty unparalleled, ethereal like an immortal.
She drew a lot of cheers.
In the crowd, Wang Jianqiang's gaze lingered on Su Yutong for just a moment before returning to Wang Yuyao.
There were a hundred participants in the sixth round.
Wang Yuyao's victory meant she had successfully entered the top fifty.
However, his expectations for Wang Yuyao were not just the top fifty, but the top ten!
In this Outer Sect Grand Competition.
Those who entered the top fifty would receive a Foundation Establishment Pill and an opportunity to enter the Cold Pool Secret Realm.
And if they could enter the top ten, the rewards would be much richer, including a follower quota for the Cold Pool Secret Realm, equivalent to two entry slots.
The Cold Pool Secret Realm entry slots cannot be given to others, but the follower quota can be freely given.
What Wang Jianqiang wanted was this follower quota.
As long as Wang Yuyao could enter the top ten, he could enter the Cold Pool Secret Realm as Wang Yuyao's follower.
The sixth round finally ended.
In mid-air.
Cloud Sparrow's gaze swept over the crowd below.
"The top 50 have been decided, next is the final round, the Ring-Defense Battle."
"Those confident in their strength can ascend the arena stage to become a Ring Defender, ten arena stages, a total of ten Ring Defenders."
"The remaining forty can choose any Ring Defender to challenge, each person has only two challenge opportunities, failing twice means losing the challenge qualification."
"If a Ring Defender loses a match, they fail to defend the ring but can retain the challenge opportunity to continue challenging other Ring Defenders."
"Those who can hold out until the end or defend the ring for ten consecutive matches will be considered successful Ring Defenders."
"This battle will decide the ten successful Ring Defenders, advancing to the top ten."
"The arena stage number represents the final ranking."
"Now, the competition continues."
As Cloud Sparrow's words fell, a figure shot out, landing on the first arena stage.
A domineering voice spread throughout the venue.
"Interesting rules."
"This first arena stage belongs to Ye Mou, challenge me if you dare."
The scene was silent for a moment.
Several more figures flew out, landing on the other arena stages.
"The second arena stage is mine."
"The third arena stage is mine."
...
In the blink of an eye, all ten arena stages were occupied.
Wang Jianqiang looked at the ninth arena stage, raising an eyebrow.
Su Yutong!
"She certainly is confident."
Wang Jianqiang sneered, looking at Wang Yuyao in the crowd.
Wang Yuyao didn't compete with those people for an arena stage, but Wang Jianqiang wasn't worried.
The initial Ring Defender status doesn't mean anything.
Whether you grab it now or not is meaningless, being able to stand until the end is the true victory.
There were a few other contestants who, like Wang Yuyao, remained motionless.
Clearly, these people had the same idea.
Wang Jianqiang's gaze lingered on these few people, his heart stirred.
"Not simple."
He glanced at the ten Ring Defenders on the arena stages and couldn't help but smile.
These people were certainly confident, but it was uncertain how many could hold out until the end.