I Can Upgrade My Talent Infinitely

Chapter 129: No One Is Optimistic

Yesterday, Song Qiaoqiao was unfortunately defeated, her journey ending in the round of 32.

The opponent who defeated her is currently ranked twenty-seventh on the Inner Sect Ranking.

Fang Yun had heard from Bai Qinying that with Song Qiaoqiao’s current strength, she was already capable of competing for a spot on the Inner Sect Ranking.

To get on the Inner Sect Ranking, one must first challenge the person in last place. That’s the rule.

Only after making it onto the ranking can one begin to challenge others for their positions.

Wu Junxin’s opponent yesterday was also on the Inner Sect Ranking—the seventh-ranked disciple, in fact. Wu Junxin successfully defeated him and advanced to the current round.

As for the opponent Wu Junxin was about to face in this round, it was someone Fang Yun knew quite well.

Yuan Yunfan, ranked sixth on the Inner Sect Ranking.

Yuan Yunfan was now at the peak of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. After the Inner Sect Grand Competition, he should be able to smoothly break through to the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

Fang Yun had heard from Wu Junxin.

After defeating him, Yuan Yunfan had challenged the fifth-ranked disciple on the Inner Sect Ranking twice, losing both times.

Currently, of the top five on the Inner Sect Ranking, besides Bai Qinying, the other four were all at the true Peak of Qi Refining—in other words, the peak of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

One could already be considered at the Peak of Qi Refining upon reaching the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, but adding the word "true" specified that the person was at the absolute peak of the Tenth Layer.

The first and second-ranked disciples on the Inner Sect Ranking had both failed at Foundation Establishment once. Since their core foundations were not damaged, such cultivators could be called Half-Step Foundation Establishment.

Cultivators like them had a good chance of succeeding at their second attempt at Foundation Establishment.

On the other hand, failing Foundation Establishment and damaging one’s core foundation would lead to a decline in strength. Such cultivators rarely get a second chance, unless they could use special Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures to repair the damage.

Yesterday, two Dueling Platforms had been in use simultaneously.

Today, only Dueling Platform One was left.

Moreover, starting today, the matches would be presided over by Elder Feng Tianrui.

Miao Qinghong and Long Xiangwen were no longer on the main stone dais either, but were now seated on either side of Dueling Platform One.

Temporary Elder seats had been set up there.

Fang Yun and the four others arrived at Battle Peak before 7:45 AM.

Of the sixteen disciples who had successfully advanced to the fifth round, he and two others were the only ones not on the Inner Sect Ranking.

Just like yesterday, the first match of the day was still Bai Qinying’s.

Her opponent was the winner from group fifteen, and also on the Inner Sect Ranking. However, there was a full thirty-place gap between their ranks.

This match was the longest Bai Qinying had fought so far.

The eventual winner was, of course, Bai Qinying.

As the strongest contender for first place in the Inner Sect Grand Competition, the grand prize was essentially prepared just for her.

"Junior Brother, you’d better not disappoint me."

After her victory, the first thing Bai Qinying did upon stepping off the Dueling Platform was to speak to Fang Yun.

Of all Fang Yun’s matches, this was the one she was most concerned about.

"Rest assured, Senior Sister Bai. Senior Sister Song has already gathered plenty of information for me. Just watch me win."

"Good! If you fail, you’ll be in for it later." Bai Qinying added a threat, which was both a form of encouragement and a way to put pressure on him.

Even though his opponent was ranked sixteenth on the Inner Sect Ranking, Fang Yun didn’t feel much pressure.

The only fight that could truly pressure him would likely be his match against Bai Qinying tomorrow.

"Number one sixteen, Fang Yun! Number one eighty-three, Dong Hongwen! To the Dueling Platform!" Feng Tianrui’s resonant voice boomed across the area.

As his voice faded, Elder Feng Tianrui even glanced in their direction.

’Is Elder Feng Tianrui looking at me, or at his own disciple?’ Fang Yun wondered.

"Here we go, here we go! It’s Senior Brother Fang’s match!"

"I wonder if Senior Brother Fang can still pull off a win against a senior brother from the Inner Sect Ranking."

"That might be tough. The gap between the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and the Tenth Layer is huge. I know Junior Brother Fang is extraordinary, but any senior brother on the Inner Sect Ranking is bound to be stronger than other cultivators at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer."

It’s true that Fang Yun’s previous performances were stunning, but he has yet to face an opponent at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

The gap between the Ninth and Tenth Layers is the largest minor realm disparity within the entire Qi Refining Stage.

Despite this gap, Yuan Yunfan was able to defeat multiple cultivators at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer to claim sixth place on the Inner Sect Ranking. This was the source of his pride.

Once he broke through to the Qi Refining Tenth Layer, he planned to skip challenging the fifth-ranked disciple and go straight for the fourth.

"It’s fine if Senior Brother Fang loses. He’s already amazing, practically unrivaled below the Qi Refining Tenth Layer."

"Whoa, Junior Sister, watch what you’re saying! Senior Brother Yuan is only at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer."

"Oh, right, I forgot. Senior Sister, I wasn’t speaking too loudly just now, was I?"

"Not really."

"That’s good." The female Outer Sect disciple breathed an inward sigh of relief. She was a staunch supporter of Fang Yun, but also a moderate.

Whether he was on the attack or on defense, she just thought Senior Brother Fang looked so cool.

"But... Senior Brother Yuan is right behind you."

"Ah!"

The female Outer Sect disciple turned her head, and sure enough, there was Yuan Yunfan.

Somehow, he had appeared right behind her.

"It’s fine. I’ll be at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer soon enough." Yuan Yunfan seemed unconcerned. He even deigned to reply, perhaps because the comment had been about Fang Yun.

After he spoke, the two female Outer Sect disciples moved away from him and began to whisper.

"I thought Senior Brother Yuan wasn’t one to talk to people."

"Yeah, so why did he speak up just now?"

"..."

Yuan Yunfan turned his attention to the Dueling Platform.

’I don’t feel like talking.’

He was born with exceptionally good hearing.

Leveraging this ability, he had cultivated a Secret Technique, which was one of the sources of his formidable combat strength.

On the Dueling Platform, Fang Yun and Dong Hongwen had both taken their positions.

The voices from below the Dueling Platform were not optimistic about Fang Yun’s chances, and that included his own supporters.

The gap between the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and the Qi Refining Tenth Layer was immense.

Take Magical Artifacts, for instance. A cultivator at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer could barely manage to use a supreme-grade Magical Artifact, while someone at the Ninth Layer would find it exceedingly difficult to control one.

At this point, only his most fanatical supporters would be able to blindly stand by his side.

So far, no such supporters had appeared.

’It’s probably hard for a cultivator practicing an orthodox Cultivation Technique to attract such fanatical supporters. Things might be different in the Evil Sects, though...’

For a moment, Fang Yun’s mind began to wander.

He considered himself very lucky to be in the Celestial Cloud Sect. ’If I were in one of the Evil Sects,’ he thought, ’I’d probably have been devoured, with not even my bones left, long before I had a chance to grow stronger.’

"Dong Hongwen, Qi Refining Tenth Layer."

As his opponent offered a salute, Fang Yun gave a slight bow, mirroring the gesture.

"Fang Yun, Qi Refining Seventh Layer."

"Junior Brother Fang, when the match officially begins in a moment, you’d best not let your mind wander."

’His powers of observation are sharp. As expected of a senior brother on the Inner Sect Ranking.’

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Dong," Fang Yun replied.