NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 154: Wang Yi vs Ai Chen
The Next Day
In the blink of an eye, the next day arrived. Early in the morning, the central square was once again filled with 1,000 peerless geniuses who had gathered for the decisive trials.
High above them stood Venerable Nine Swords, a man clad in a cyan tabard adorned with purple scales, accompanied by 1,008 immortals. His presence radiated authority as he looked down at the 1,000 young geniuses, including Wang Yi.
"Today," Venerable Nine Swords announced, his voice resonating throughout the square, "we will determine the top 100, the top 10, and the first, second, and third places among you."
The atmosphere grew tense, and many geniuses wore serious expressions. The stakes were clear, and the pressure was immense.
With a simple wave of his hand, Venerable Nine Swords caused 100 massive arenas to appear across the square. Each arena was surrounded by a black silk barrier that concealed its interior. In the blink of an eye, 200 young men and women, including Wang Yi, Luo Feng, and Other geniuses, were teleported into the arenas.
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The Battles Begin
Each arena held only two participants, ensuring one-on-one combat. The silver-white arenas, each spanning about ten kilometers in radius, were completely enveloped by the black silk barriers.
Wang Yi found himself facing a three-eyed, alluring woman with brown skin and purple lips. Her expression, however, was far from confident. She seemed to realize the inevitability of her defeat.
Among the gathered geniuses, Wang Yi and Bolan were widely regarded as the strongest contenders. No one wanted to face them in battle.
Without wasting a moment, Wang Yi launched his attack. Flames erupted behind him as he surged forward, a blazing force aimed directly at his opponent.
The result was instantaneous. His opponent, though determined, was utterly outmatched and fell in a single move. The gap in strength was insurmountable.
With this victory, Wang Yi secured a spot in the top 100. His rewards increased to 100 Universe coin, and he earned access to the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm of the Virtual Universe Company.
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The Top 20
Once the 100 victors were decided, Venerable Nine Swords reappeared before them, his faint smile giving little away. "Congratulations," he said, addressing the group. "You have all qualified to enter the Heaven and Earth Secret Realm of the Virtual Universe Company. Now, the Virtual Universe System has selected the best 20 among you."
He began announcing the names of the top 20 participants:
Bolan
Wang Yi
Luo Feng
Rong Jun
Gale
Wu Ka(female)
Qian Shui
Ai Chen...
As the list was read aloud, the remaining 80 participants wore grim expressions. Though many felt bitter, none dared to voice their frustration. The lessons of humility had already been learned in prior rounds.
Once the names were announced, the selected 20 were given time to rest and prepare for the next stage: the decisive battles to determine the top five and, ultimately, the top three.
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The Showdown
After half an hour, the central square began to rumble. Ten colossal arenas rose into the air, each surrounded by black silk screens. The 20 finalists, now rested, were instantly teleported into the arenas.
The spectators began murmuring in anticipation:
"Bolan's opponent is Tao? That poor guy has no chance."
"Whoever faces Bolan is doomed. Only Wang Yi stands a chance against him."
"Wang Yi's opponent is… 'The Blade of life,' Yi Feng? Both are unlucky!"
Wang Yi stood across from Yi Feng, a slim young man with purple hair. Despite the overwhelming odds, Yi Feng maintained a calm demeanor. His eyes gleamed with passion for the fight ahead.
"I know I'm no match for you," Yi Feng said softly, drawing his sword, "but I'll show you my swordsmanship… the essence of my life."
With that, Yi Feng moved like a gentle breeze, his blade radiating vitality and purity. The air shimmered with sword light, each strike a testament to his philosophy of life. Yet, despite the beauty of his technique, the result was inevitable. Wang Yi ended the duel swiftly, his power leaving no room for resistance.
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The Top Ten Decided.
As the battles progressed, one name after another was declared victorious:
Bolan
Wang Yi
Luo Feng
Qian Shui
Jiang Mo
Wu Ka
Long Yun
Ai Chen
Rong Jun
The winners stood in silence as Venerable Nine Swords addressed them once more. "Congratulations to the ten of you. You are now the top ten geniuses. Your rewards have increased to 1,000 Universe coin, and you have earned entry into the Primal Secret Realm. However, the true battle is just beginning."
The crowd buzzed with excitement as he continued. "We will now determine the top five, and subsequently, the first, second, and third places. The pairings for the next round have been decided based on your performance."
The matchups were announced:
Borlan vs. Rong Jun
Wang Yi vs. Ai Chen
Luo Feng vs. Long Yun
Wang Yi's mind raced as he noted the familiar pattern of events. It seems fate's inertia remains strong… yet my presence has caused subtle changes.
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Toward Destiny
The immortals observing the matches couldn't help but marvel. The towering figure of Thirteen, a giant clad in scaled armor, focused on Wang Yi, Luo Feng, and Rong Jun.
"This year's genius battle has been extraordinary," he said. "Three of the top ten hail from the Ganwu Universe Country. And Wang Yi… he might just win it all. A genius like him is born once in a million years."
The next battles would not only decide rankings but also reshape the destiny of the participants—and perhaps, the universe itself.