Chapter 45: A Genius Returns

"Many thanks for Little Elder Bai’s concern. This disciple will remember."

Bai He’s gaze remained calm.

After Xu Feng’s match concluded, skipping one round, it would be Ye Shiyuan’s turn.

When Zhou Yifei announced Ye Shiyuan’s name, the entire Lingguang Sect, no, even the other sects held a deep impression of this former chief disciple of Lingguang Sect.

Compared to him, Pan Yi was simply not worth mentioning.

Years ago, everyone had believed that Lingguang Sect was truly fortunate to have found such an outstanding successor as Ye Shiyuan.

The future of Lingguang Sect had seemed boundless.

Yet no one could have imagined this outcome.

Had Yao Xiangli grown old and muddle-headed?

To cast aside such an exceptional disciple as Ye Shiyuan and choose another as the Sect Master’s chief disciple, if that disciple had been sufficiently outstanding, it might have been understandable.

But judging from Pan Yi’s performance just now, it was simply beyond words.

"Third Elder, have you made a mistake? Why is Ye Shiyuan allowed to participate in the competition? He is clearly no longer a first-generation disciple."

Pan Yi was the first to stand up and voice his dissatisfaction.

After losing earlier, he had been as quiet as a chicken.

Now, however, he could no longer sit still.

"Ye Shiyuan is permitted to participate in this competition because he is representing my Baize Peak. Pan Yi, do you have anything else you wish to say?"

Although Bai He did not appear physically imposing, his status and position spoke for themselves.

No matter how bold Pan Yi might be, he did not dare to openly contradict him in front of so many people.

If they had been winning all along, perhaps Yao Xiangli might have spoken a few words in Pan Yi’s defense.

But now... Pan Yi himself had already lost.

Although Ye Shiyuan’s cultivation had once stagnated, he was still far stronger than most.

If he could help Lingguang Sect win back its honor, then letting him take the stage was not unacceptable.

Yao Xiangli slowly spoke, "In that case, let the match begin."

With Yao Xiangli’s words, Pan Yi had no choice but to sit back down and fall silent.

With a light leap, Ye Shiyuan landed on the arena stage.

Dressed in green robes, he cut a heroic and dashing figure.

Long before this, many people had already known this former chief disciple of Lingguang Sect.

He was powerful and handsome.

Many young disciples had once hoped to spar with him, even setting the goal of defeating Ye Shiyuan as their personal ambition.

Thus, he captured nearly everyone’s attention the moment he stepped onto the stage.

His opponent was also someone who had competed against him before.

Among Ye Shiyuan’s generation, he had defeated nearly everyone and the man before him had once been among those he had bested.

His name is Huang Yuegong and he’s nother disciple of Xueshan Sect!

Huang Yuegong held a pair of swords in his hands.

Compared to ordinary swords, these two were slightly shorter.

As for Ye Shiyuan, he still held the treasured sword he had brought with him when he first entered the sect.

The sword is called Heavenly Sin Divine Sword.

The Heavenly Sin Divine Sword was an extremely difficult divine weapon to control, yet it had acknowledged Ye Shiyuan as its master.

Even later, when Ye Shiyuan’s spiritual power had remained stuck at a certain stage and was unable to advance, the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword had continued to stay by his side and never once leaving him.

As the match began, Huang Yuegong charged forward at once.

It was evident that both sides were taking this competition very seriously.

Although Huang Yuegong was not as formidable as Xue Yanming, he had already stepped into the Golden Core stage some time ago.

Among disciples of the same generation, he was considered outstanding and rarely encountered worthy opponents.

Ye Shiyuan had not fought for a long time.

Although he was somewhat rusty, he still swiftly blocked Huang Yuegong’s attack.

Bai He could not help but sigh inwardly.

Watching Ye Shiyuan compete was truly a visual pleasure. It was something that could not be found in the matches of others.

His movements flowed like drifting clouds and running water, without the slightest trace of sluggishness.

Of course, some credit had to be given to his opponent who was also a highly capable disciple.

The Heavenly Sin Divine Sword in Ye Shiyuan’s hand possessed immense power and Huang Yuegong was well aware of this.

Naturally, he would not choose to clash head-on with him.

In truth, he knew that Ye Shiyuan had been stripped of his status as chief disciple because his cultivation had stagnated.

Yet even though his cultivation had remained stagnant for years, during those years, no disciple of the same generation had been able to defeat him.

He was a heaven-blessed genius.

But times were different now.

Huang Yuegong had already caught up.

The short swords in his hands whirled at incredible speed, forming a rapid offensive wave.

Ye Shiyuan was forced back step by step, as if he might fall off the arena at any moment.

Everyone watched this scene with great tension, unable to imagine that Ye Shiyuan might one day lose.

But at that very moment, Ye Shiyuan revealed a strange smile.

He halted at the edge of the arena, executed a swift somersault and in an instant appeared behind Huang Yuegong.

Huang Yuegong was no ordinary opponent either.

He reacted quickly, turned around, and flung the sword in his right hand.

The trajectory of the attack clearly showed that he had already anticipated the exact point where Ye Shiyuan would land.

Just as it seemed that Ye Shiyuan had no time to react and evade the attack, even Huang Yuegong himself believed this, Ye Shiyuan’s response surpassed everyone’s expectations.

With a swift movement, he leapt aside, dodging one of the short swords.

At the same time, the other short sword flew toward the very spot where he had avoided.