On the stage, Xiao Ye glanced at Xiao Dashan beside him. "Uncle Shan, can we announce the results?"
Xiao Dashan snapped out of his daze, leaped onto the stage, and declared loudly, "I pronounce Xiao Ye the winner! He advances to the finals for the top six and claims the sixth Tiger Throne!"
Boom!
The crowd erupted into deafening cheers, chanting Xiao Ye's name with fervor. A single warrior defeating three hundred peers—such dominance ignited admiration in every young spectator, who now saw Xiao Ye as their idol. The unmarried women in the crowd longed to stand by his side, their dreams of becoming a strong man's partner burning brighter.
"Damn it! How could he be this strong?!" Wu Meier stomped her feet in frustration. He had been unconscious for three months, yet after waking, he'd skyrocketed to a level far beyond his peers.
Xiao Ye glanced indifferently at the crowd below, then descended the stage and strode toward the sixth Tiger Throne.
Xiao Teng stared coldly at Xiao Ye, sitting stiffly in the sixth throne. "I'll show you what true despair is!" he growled, clenching his fists.
Xiao Dashan raised a hand, silencing the roaring crowd. "After a half-hour break, the finals begin." He stepped down, leaving the stage buzzing with anticipation.
The half-hour pause was meant for fighters to recover, but everyone knew Xiao Ye had scarcely expended energy in the earlier chaos. Still, rules were rules. As the crowd waited, they debated heatedly.
"Who do you think will win the finals?"
"Xiao Ye's got this. Fifteen years old and already at Peak Ninth Level Body Refinement—what a prodigy!"
"Hmph. Xiao Ye's talented, but the other five aren't pushovers. Take Xiao Teng—after using the Jiaoshe Blood, his strength rivals Xiao Ye's."
"And Shi Bo from Shi Clan Village—the man's a genius, hitting Ninth Level Body Refinement peak at nineteen!"
The consensus was clear: the finalists were titans of Qingyang Town, each a pinnacle of their clans. Xiao Ye, though gifted, was still young and untested.
The Finals Begin
Half an hour later, Xiao Dashan returned to the stage. "Let's get started. First match: Wu Daniu of Wu Clan Village vs. Shi Wei of Shi Clan Village!"
A burly man with sun-darkened skin lumbered up from the fourth Tiger Throne. "Shi Wei! Let's see if you live up to your reputation!" he bellowed.
Shi Wei, a plain-looking man, smirked. "You're all brawn and no brains, Wu Daniu. I'll send you home crying to your mother!"
"Cry? I'll marry your wife if I can't find my own!" Wu Daniu roared, his temper flaring.
The crowd chuckled, but their eyes sparkled with excitement. Wu Daniu's brute strength was legendary, while Shi Wei relied on cunning. Their clash promised fireworks.
On the stage, Wu Daniu charged like a raging bull, shaking the floor with each step. Shi Wei darted sideways, narrowly avoiding the onslaught. The stalemate drew boos from the crowd.
"C'mon, Daniu! Smash that weakling!" someone shouted.
Wu Daniu finally cornered Shi Wei, landing a thunderous punch to his ribs. Shi Wei stumbled, and Wu Daniu unleashed a flurry of blows, sending him flying off the stage.
"Wu Daniu advances to the top three!" Xiao Dashan announced.
Xiao Ye's Easy Victory
"Next match: Xiao Ye vs. Li Wubo of Li Clan Village!"
The crowd turned to Xiao Ye, who rose lazily from his seat. Li Wubo, a wiry man from a tiny clan, climbed the stage with a resigned expression.
"I'm not your match. I yield," he said quietly, bowing.
A fifteen-year-old defeating a twenty-three-year-old prodigy? The crowd murmured in disbelief before nodding. Li Wubo's Ninth Level Body Refinement middle stage was no match for Xiao Ye's peak.
Xiao Ye claimed the third Tiger Throne, his expression calm.
Clash of Titans
"Final match: Xiao Teng vs. Shi Bo!"
The arena exploded with energy. Shi Bo, nineteen and poised, stepped onto the stage. His quiet confidence contrasted with Xiao Teng's fiery glare.
"You're the only one worthy of me," Shi Bo said coolly.
Xiao Teng sneered, strolling forward. "You're not even worth my time."
The crowd fell silent. What arrogance!
Shi Bo's eyes narrowed. "Have you reached External Cultivation?"
Xiao Teng's lips curled. "Not quite… but I've crossed the threshold."
Boom! A surge of power radiated from Xiao Teng, silencing the crowd.
"Half-step to External Cultivation!"
Gasps echoed. To breach the Body Refinement-External Cultivation barrier was a monumental feat, one Shi Bo himself had failed multiple times.
Shi Zhan trembled. "Elder Xiao… your clan's prodigy rivals Shi Bo!"
Xiao Tianxiong smiled faintly. "His progress surprises even me."
Wu Lion's face blossomed like chrysanthemums. "Xiao Tianxiong, you've given me a grandson-in-law worth bragging about!"
Fifteen years old and halfway to External Cultivation—unprecedented in Qingyang Town's history.
Shi Bo's confidence wavered. "So… you're the real deal."
Xiao Teng cracked his knuckles, his aura darkening. "Let's see if you can handle this."
The stage braced for a storm.