Hope is gone, but the light flashes

After the first round, each sect had a rough understanding of the others, even if some might have hidden their strength and not revealed their trump cards. It was clear who would be tough to deal with.

By the first round, the mere spectators were mostly eliminated, and the second round started to heat up.

However, Little Yu and Li Siyi managed to get through, though from this round on, things started to get a bit tougher.

In the third round, Li Siyi faced Yao Hanmei.

"Sister, I see you have real talent. Come to our sect. We can help you even better."

Yao Hanmei was speaking the truth. Being a sect of women, they certainly had something special.

"You make a good point, and I'm tempted, but no."

Li Siyi had no intention of leaving her current sect. She wanted to become stronger, but her sect had treated her well. Why would she switch?

"What a pity. Then let me show you the gap between us."

Indeed, at this stage, Li Siyi was no match for Yao Hanmei.

Even with Li Siyi's skillful sword Qi, she only managed to inflict a minor injury on Yao Hanmei.

"Honestly, your sword Qi is quite impressive for your cultivation level. Unfortunately, now it's my turn."

Yao Hanmei moved at high speed, launching continuous attacks around Li Siyi.

Falling Blossom Strike!

With her final move, Yao Hanmei ended the battle.

Li Siyi was utterly defeated.

As Yao Hanmei's master, Huang Yanqian was quite proud, especially since she had beaten Nangong Xiyun's disciple.

"Tsk tsk, Nangong Xiyun, your disciple lost to mine."

"Within three years, your disciple won't be able to beat Li Siyi."

"Hmph, we'll see about that."

Even if it were true, Huang Yanqian would never admit it now. She just wanted to gloat.

Nangong Xiyun, however, didn't take it to heart. Such matters didn't bother her, nor did she feel the need to shield her disciple.

After all, a single battle's outcome was just a blip. To reclaim victory, one had to rely on themselves.

Li Siyi went to Su Luo.

Su Luo was about to say something when Li Siyi spoke first.

"Don't comfort me. I just need some quiet."

Li Siyi rested her head against Su Luo's back.

Su Luo sighed. Given Li Siyi's pride, she was probably on the verge of tears.

Indeed, Li Siyi had been feeling particularly defeated lately. And according to her diary, Su Luo was about to leave.

Li Siyi had tried multiple times to stop him but always stopped herself.

She was very clear that trying to prevent Su Luo's departure would only make him dislike her.

...

Next up was Little Yu.

Her opponent was a Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Heavenly Light Sect.

"Little Yu, use that move."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. It's time for you to shine."

"Alright."

Little Yu took the stage, not daring to be careless. She started with her signature Seven Star Convergence.

However, since this technique had been seen before, the Heavenly Light Sect had made preparations.

Still, the Seven Star Convergence was too ingenious, and they couldn't entirely defend against it.

But it was enough. The Heavenly Light Sect disciple took advantage of Little Yu's momentary pause after using the technique, launching a 360-degree all-out attack, forcing her to defend.

The Heavenly Light Sect disciple's strategy was to withstand the first move, then apply full cultivation pressure throughout, leaving no chance for Little Yu to use Seven Star Convergence again.

He succeeded, and now it was about draining Little Yu's stamina.

Little Yu knew that if she stopped, she would suffer a heavy blow, so she had to keep going, looking for opportunities.

If no opportunity presented itself, she would create one herself.

With her superior martial skills, Little Yu finally found a chance to counterattack, forcing the Heavenly Light Sect disciple to retreat.

He immediately sensed trouble and unleashed his full cultivation power, attacking once more.

But it was too late.

Little Yu was ready.

Seven Star Convergence · Double Force!

Little Yu understood that for her, challenging someone higher-ranked was all about output.

Seven Star Convergence was nearly invincible at the same level, and even effective when stepping up a rank, but surpassing two ranks was difficult.

That's why she had developed this move: a Seven Star Convergence with double the power.

Little Yu pointed her sword at her opponent, with glowing orbs floating and circling around her.

And then she moved. A single slash.

The Heavenly Light Sect disciple tried his best to resist, but when his defenses met Little Yu's sword, he was sent flying as if struck by a massive force.

He was sent soaring into the air, then fell back down.

His eyes had already rolled back.

No one saw this reversal coming.

How could a Middle Foundation Establishment cultivator defeat a Peak Foundation Establishment expert? It was bizarre. Yet, seeing what had just happened, it seemed that move was indeed powerful enough.

Everyone expressed their admiration, and the crowd erupted in applause.

Little Yu ignored the onlookers and went straight to Su Luo, giving a cheerful victory sign.

(＾－＾)V

Su Luo gave her a thumbs up.

The Seven Star Convergence · Double Force was a little trick Su Luo had taught Little Yu to double the damage output.

It was hard to learn, but it wasn't an issue for Little Yu. The problem was that it drained her stamina significantly.

So, although she won, the effort took a huge toll, and in the next round, Little Yu was unable to continue, forcing her to forfeit.

The competition wasn't just about showcase moves like Seven Star Convergence.

Members of the Yuexing Gate were also making waves.

The Seven Stars Sword Sect's Triple Talent faced them, and they decided to bring up the sore subject of Qin San.

It worked.

Han Ying'er and Yuan Jie both lost. The opponents were strong enough to win even without mentioning Qin San, but they just wanted to annoy the Seven Stars Sword Sect.

The Seven Stars Sword Sect disciples were ready to go to war with the Yuexing Gate.

Of course, such a thing wasn't going to happen. Since the higher-ups refused to act, they had to endure.

They pinned their hopes on Zhuo Mingyuan.

He was slightly stronger in terms of both skill and mental fortitude compared to the others, so he managed a win, albeit a very messy one.

But in the next round, he ran into the Yuexing Gate again, and this time, it was the strongest one—Liang Gaozhan.

Zhuo Mingyuan was defeated, and the Seven Stars Sword Sect's last hope was gone.

Now, only the Heavenly Light Sect had the most disciples left, followed by the Yunyan Sect, and then the Yuexing Gate.

This scene seemed to confirm that saying:

"The Seven Stars Sword Sect is falling."

But there was no time for sorrow, as someone stood up.

Lin Xuan defeated his opponent once again, securing victory.

In this stage of the competition featuring only Gold Core cultivators, Lin Xuan's Late Foundation Establishment cultivation stood out.

Previously, Lin Xuan hadn't faced any Gold Core cultivators, so others thought he was just lucky. But his luck ran out.

From here on, every opponent he faced would be at the Gold Core level.

He was done for.

But so what? Lin Xuan wasn't afraid. Facing a Gold Core cultivator, he fought anyway.

First up, Liang Gaozhan from the Yuexing Gate.

"The Seven Stars Sword Sect has only you left, eh? Tsk tsk, it seems fate has arranged this. Every last hope your sect had has fallen to us. Your glory has been taken by us."

"I heard your sect talks a lot of trash. Looks like it's true."

"Hmph, you're just stubborn."

"My sword, however, is tougher."

The battle began.

The Seven Stars Sword Sect disciples didn't hold out much hope, feeling Lin Xuan should just forfeit to avoid being tormented by the other side.

But gradually, they began to notice something different.

Technically, Lin Xuan had already subdued Liang Gaozhan.

Liang Gaozhan then unleashed his full Gold Core power, trash-talking the Seven Stars Sword Sect and Lin Xuan.

Then Lin Xuan broke through, reaching Peak Foundation Establishment.

The tide turned, with Lin Xuan once again suppressing Liang Gaozhan.

From his previous condescending and confident demeanor, Liang Gaozhan was reduced to the role of a clown.

Until finally, Lin Xuan claimed victory.

No one understood how it happened.

Was this even fair?

But for the Seven Stars Sword Sect, a win was a win.

In that moment, Lin Xuan became the light of the Seven Stars Sword Sect.

Just one battle wiped out all the efforts the Yuexing Gate had made previously.