Chapter 57: First Place

Ye Shiyuan’s strength had already been displayed in previous rounds.

If that were truly the extent of his ability, Xue Yanming might not necessarily lose.

But what made Xue Yanming wary was how effortless Ye Shiyuan had seemed in those matches.

So effortless that it felt as though he had used only thirty percent of his strength.

But that was absolutely impossible.

Xue Yanming refused to believe that someone of the same age as him could be so far ahead of him.

The match officially began.

Having reached the Golden Core stage, Xue Yanming struck first.

The Scarlet Sky Sword in his hand shot toward Ye Shiyuan at astonishing speed.

In terms of pure swordsmanship alone, he was even stronger than the young sword expert Ye Shiyuan had faced in his first match.

Compared to their last exchange Ye Shiyuan had to admit that his former self would truly have had no chance of defeating the current Xue Yanming.

But now, Ye Shiyuan had already reached the mid Golden Core stage.

His cultivation speed had risen rapidly; he even felt that he was close to breaking through to the late Golden Core stage.

After taking the medicinal pills Bai He had given him, he genuinely felt that his cultivation advanced a thousand miles in a single day.

Among all the disciples, Ye Shiyuan’s Heavenly Sin Divine Sword was of the highest grade.

The corner of his lips lifted into a faintly disdainful smile.

In an instant, he had already exchanged ten moves with Xue Yanming.

So fast, unbelievably fast.

Far from feeling sleepy during such a match, Bai He found his interest fully piqued.

This was simply too thrilling.

It was undoubtedly the most spectacular match so far.

The battle actually lasted for the time it took an incense stick to burn, had they truly met their equal?

And yet, after that span of time, Xue Yanming began to falter.

In terms of cultivation, he had always been slightly weaker than Ye Shiyuan.

Combined with inferior weaponry and disadvantages in other aspects, the outcome had gradually become inevitable.

But Xue Yanming clearly had no intention of admitting defeat.

He swiftly bit his finger and the Scarlet Sky Sword became stained with bright red blood.

The blood followed the patterns etched along the blade spreading outward.

It emitted a strange glow.

Even so, everyone could sense that the Scarlet Sky Sword was no longer the same as before.

In terms of power, it had risen to an entirely new level.

Not only that, the sword’s enhancement also restored Xue Yanming’s strength at that very moment.

It was as though the match had only just begun.

Just when everyone thought the next phase of the battle would become even more spectacular, the strength Ye Shiyuan displayed surpassed even what he had shown earlier.

Only three moves, three brief moves!

And Xue Yanming was defeated just like that.

He could not believe it, yet it was the undeniable truth.

The one who stood at the very end was still Ye Shiyuan.

For many years now, it had always been him.

It seemed that with his current level of strength, if he were to continue participating in competitions like this in the future, first place would still belong to Ye Shiyuan.

A smile of delight spread across Bai He’s face despite himself.

In the beginning, everyone had looked down on him.

And now, his disciple, Ye Shiyuan, had actually claimed first place.

He even overheard disciples from other sects whispering among themselves.

"Who would have thought that the Fifth Elder of Lingguang Sect would be so formidable? To be able to teach a disciple like Ye Shiyuan."

"Ye Shiyuan was already impressive before. Everyone knew that."

"But he wasn’t this impressive before. Can’t you tell? His cultivation has already reached the mid Golden Core stage, no, perhaps even the late Golden Core stage."

Regardless of whether Ye Shiyuan had been a fortunate acquisition by Bai He, the fact that he had grown stronger and progressed so rapidly must certainly be Bai He’s achievement.

Bai He felt immensely pleased inside, yet he did not show it outwardly, striving to suppress the joy in his heart.

It seemed that he, as a master, was truly well recognized.

"Master, I won."

As always, Ye Shiyuan simply said, "I won."

Yet Bai He could feel just how happy he was to display, before everyone present, that among disciples of the same generation, his strength far surpassed them all.

The last time he had participated in such a competition, his victory had been hard fought and unsteady.

It had never felt like this, like riding alone far ahead of the rest.

"I knew you would win."

Would the male protagonist lose?

Absolutely not.

And after leading by such a wide margin, losing would have made no sense at all.

Ye Shiyuan’s performance ensured that no one dared to belittle him again because of Pan Yi’s earlier mistakes.

With Ye Shiyuan, the future of Lingguang Sect could be said to be boundless.

But for most people, what they felt more than anything was envy, envy that Lingguang Sect’s fortune was so good to possess a disciple like Ye Shiyuan.

...

Baize Peak.

Ye Shiyuan held the token he had won and examined it carefully.

He had possessed a token before.

However, as the Sect Master’s chief disciple at the time, he had not needed such a thing and had returned it to Sect Master Yao Xiangli.

Now, as Bai He’s disciple, his authority within Lingguang Sect was not particularly great.

With this token, however, he could accomplish many things.

Ye Shiyuan also recalled the expression on Yao Xiangli’s face when he had handed over the token, as well as the words he had spoken.

It had been as though nothing had ever happened, as though everything had returned to the way it once was.

"Ahem."

Bai He gave two light coughs.

Ye Shiyuan was sitting there alone, what was he daydreaming about?