Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 485

Ye Qingchen took out his Token, ready to exchange it with Liu Feng. At that moment, the host, growing impatient from the wait, had already begun announcing the competition rules to the other contestants. One particular statement immediately caught Ye Qingchen’s attention.

The host began excitedly, "Contestants, we’ve just received a message from the organizers! The top twenty finishers in this competition will not only receive the original ranking rewards but will also earn the opportunity to go and observe the Ten Ancient Clans. This is an excellent chance for you to learn and advance. I don’t need to elaborate on the prestige of the Ten Ancient Clans, do I?"

The host’s words sent a ripple of excitement through the contestants. The reputation of the Ten Ancient Clans was simply too immense.

Ye Qingchen’s eyes narrowed. The top twenty can visit the Ten Ancient Clans... isn’t this what I’ve been searching for all this time?

Seeing Ye Qingchen lost in thought, Liu Feng urged him impatiently, "Ye Qingchen, hurry up. I’m in a rush to get on stage."

Ye Qingchen clenched the Token he had been about to hand over, shook his head, and said to Liu Feng, "Sorry, I’ve had a last-minute change of heart. I’m going to participate in this competition myself!"

Ye Qingchen’s words completely blindsided Liu Feng. After a brief moment of shock, however, he thought he understood. He must have thought he was getting a bad deal since I offered five hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones so easily. By refusing now, he’s simply trying to jack up the price.

This realization only increased Liu Feng’s disdain for Ye Qingchen. He sneered, "Trying to jack up the price, are you? Fine, I’ll offer one million Low-grade Spirit Stones!"

Ye Qingchen just shook his head again, ignoring Liu Feng as he started walking toward the arena.

Now truly frantic, Liu Feng shouted after him, "Ye Qingchen, don’t push your luck! Five million Low-grade Spirit Stones for the Token in your hand!"

His words made Ye Qingchen stop in his tracks.

Seeing this, Liu Feng was filled with contempt. What’s with the high-and-mighty act? The price was just too low.

But what Liu Feng didn’t expect was for Ye Qingchen to turn around, his gaze resolute as he declared, "I wouldn’t sell this Token, not for five million Low-grade Spirit Stones, not for fifty million, and not even for five hundred million. I told you, I’m participating in this competition myself!"

With that, Ye Qingchen turned and walked onto the arena without a backward glance.

Although getting into the top twenty in this gathering of the sects’ finest new disciples was as difficult as ascending to the heavens, Ye Qingchen would never give up as long as there was a glimmer of hope.

This dedication was for Qin Yue, as well as for the conviction held deep within his own heart.

This was a feeling Liu Feng would never understand. Ye Qingchen would never turn back, not just in a competition, but even in the face of death.

Watching Ye Qingchen’s determined back, Liu Feng’s expression shifted from astonishment to fury. He spat viciously and snarled, "Bastard! Since you’ve chosen to make a fool of yourself, don’t you dare regret it! When you get eliminated in the first round, you won’t get a single Spirit Stone!"

Seeing Ye Qingchen climb onto the arena, Xiao Xiao waved at him excitedly, and Ye Qingchen went over to her side. The host was still announcing something, but Xiao Xiao wasn’t paying attention. Instead, she whispered to Ye Qingchen, "Young Master, you really didn’t disappoint me. I knew you would compete."

Ye Qingchen nodded and took a deep breath.

Xiao Xiao’s excitement was plain to see. "Young Master, I’m really looking forward to facing you in a duel! But don’t take me lightly, alright? I won’t hold back. I will definitely defeat you!"

Her words left Ye Qingchen speechless. Now that he was competing, it was entirely possible they would be matched against each other.

Xiao Xiao was at the Ninth Layer of the Martial King Realm and the wielder of the ten-star Vermilion Bird Holy Soul. Combined with the focused training she received from the nine-star sect, Wuji Immortal Palace, she was indeed a rare and formidable opponent.

However, Ye Qingchen wasn’t discouraged. No matter who his opponent was, he would fight with everything he had for a spot in the top twenty. He would never admit defeat.

Just then, the host finished his speech. Several lightly-dressed attendants, swaying alluringly, walked onto the stage. They carried special trays, upon each of which rested a delicate wooden box. The contestants then began to walk up one by one to draw their numbers from the boxes.

Because Ye Qingchen had been dealing with Liu Feng earlier, he hadn’t listened closely to the rules and was a little confused by the current procedure.

Noticing his confusion, Xiao Xiao thoughtfully explained, "Young Master, there are five hundred participants, so we’ve been divided into five groups. It’s a single-elimination tournament with one-on-one duels. The top ten from each group will advance to the finals. The final rankings will be decided among those fifty contestants."

Ye Qingchen frowned and asked, "If there are a hundred people per group, how can they determine the top ten with just one-on-one duels?"

Xiao Xiao nodded and continued, "The organizers already have a plan for that. For the first round, sixty contestants will receive a bye, which means only twenty people from each group will be eliminated in the initial duels. In the end, only the top one hundred participants receive rewards anyway, so this format isn’t considered unfair. After all, luck is a part of one’s strength. Securing a top rank ultimately comes down to your own power."

Ye Qingchen nodded, having a better grasp of the competition format now.

Soon, it was his and Xiao Xiao’s turn to draw. Xiao Xiao drew number seventy-six in Group B. According to the rules, this meant she had a bye for the first round and would advance directly to the second.

She shook her head, a little disappointed. I wanted to show the Young Master my strength as soon as possible, but it looks like I’ll have to wait a little longer now.

When it was his turn, Ye Qingchen reached into the wooden box. The box itself was unassuming, but it had clearly been specially treated to block Divine Sense. As soon as he put his hand inside, the small spheres within began to spin rapidly, shuffling themselves. Ye Qingchen didn’t care which group he was in, so he let the spheres fly around without actively trying to grab one. Finally, a single sphere fell into his hand, and he withdrew it.

"Group D, number twenty-eight."

Xiao Xiao leaned over to look at the sphere in his hand. Seeing that he wasn’t in her group, she felt another pang of disappointment. This means I won’t get to face him before the finals!