Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

The brief respite of half an incense stick's burning was over in an instant. Elder Wudao, holding a jade slip gleaming with spiritual light, stepped onto the arena, his voice resounding throughout the surrounding area: "The top ten will face off, paired by drawing lots. Losers are eliminated, and winners advance to the top five!"

The disciples below the stage leaned forward, their eyes burning as they stared intently at the jade tokens in mid-air. Many clenched their fists, holding their breath as they awaited the outcome of the match.

With the order of draws finalized, the competitions commenced.

Yunxi's swordplay was agile, finding an opening within a few rounds and easily defeating her opponent; Shen Yue's spear technique was fierce and powerful, breaking through the enemy's spiritual arts and steadily advancing; when Lin Yan stepped onto the stage, his opponent knew he was no match and immediately bowed in surrender, winning without a fight. A commotion immediately arose in the stands, and the awe in the eyes of the crowd as they looked at Lin Yan deepened, with whispers constantly escalating.

The other matches also quickly came to a conclusion. Although Yi Azhu and Chen Dagang fought hard, they were ultimately outmatched and stopped at the top ten, ranking in the top twenty. Many familiar disciples in the audience cast regretful glances at them. Although the two were disappointed, they still bowed to the four directions, earning some respect.

The final five have been determined:

Lin Yan, Yun Xi, Shen Yue, and two other newly recruited disciples.

Elder Wudao drew lots again, setting the matchups for the top five: Lin Yan received a bye and advanced directly to the top four; the remaining four would face off in pairs.

The atmosphere in the arena suddenly heated up. The disciples whispered among themselves, guessing who would make it into the top three. Many even stood up and stared intently at the arena.

The competition should be fought with full force, and the contest should be stopped once the competition is over.

After several exchanges, the other two disciples were defeated one after another, and were completely eliminated from the competition for the championship.

The top three have now been officially confirmed: Lin Yan, Yun Xi, and Shen Yue.

Lin Yan qualified directly for the finals with a bye.

Yunxi and Shen Yue will compete in the next round for the qualification to challenge Lin Yan for the top spot.

The crowd below held their breath, everyone understanding that the true showdown was just around the corner. Many disciples held their breath, not daring to even breathe loudly; the square was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The atmosphere in the venue was already incredibly heated.

Elder Wudao flicked his wrist, and three jade tokens were immediately distributed among the three participants. His gaze swept across the audience, and his voice echoed throughout the land: "Lin Yan receives a bye and advances directly to the finals. Yun Xi and Shen Yue will face off; the winner will compete against Lin Yan for the title of champion of this competition!"

As soon as the words were spoken, the audience erupted in cheers and discussions. Many disciples were so excited that their faces turned red as they shouted their support for the two.

Yunxi and Shen Yue simultaneously leaped onto the stage.

One was dressed in white with a long sword, his sword intent pure and ethereal; the other was in black robes with a long spear, his aura fierce and powerful. The two had previously fought side by side to eliminate evil, and now they were each acting for their own opportunities, but there was no personal grudge between them, only a desire to learn from each other as fellow practitioners.

"Junior Sister Yunxi, please." Shen Yue bowed with his spear held horizontally, spiritual energy faintly gathering at the tip of the spear.

"Senior Brother Shen, you flatter me." Yunxi pointed her longsword diagonally, and moon-like spiritual energy slowly spread out.

As soon as the bell rang, the two of them moved at the same time.

Yun Xi moved with lightning speed, her sword light flickering unpredictably, using speed to overcome strength, specifically seeking out gaps in the spear techniques to pounce; Shen Yue, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, his spear coiling like a dragon, the wind from the spear heavy, protecting his entire body from all harm. For a moment, the arena was filled with the shadows of swords and the clash of spears, the spiritual energy surging, leaving the disciples below the stage breathless. Some stared wide-eyed, some cried out in surprise, and some even subconsciously tilted their heads slightly in sync with the rhythm of the moves.

After dozens of rounds, Shen Yue's spear technique began to show signs of fatigue. Yun Xi seized an opening, her sword light suddenly solidified, and a sharp sword aura shot straight at the spear shaft, making his tiger's mouth numb and his spear slightly deflected.

In that instant, Yunxi lightly patted his shoulder with the back of her sword.

Shen Yue staggered half a step, put away his gun, and cupped his hands: "I lost."

"Yunxi wins and advances to the finals!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers and applause that rolled across the square. Many disciples stood up, raising their arms in triumph, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Yun Xi. Some even excitedly exchanged blows with their companions, pushing the atmosphere to a new high. Everyone knew that the true battle of the titans had finally arrived—

Lin Yan, the Elder of the Demon Slayer, who ranks first in merit, faces off against Yun Xi, who possesses unparalleled talent and extraordinary swordsmanship.

Elder Wudao personally set up a thick spiritual light shield, and True Man Xuanyang, Daoist Danxuan, and all the elders focused their attention, their eyes fixed on the arena. The disciples below the stage all stood on tiptoe and craned their necks, crowding around the railings, afraid of missing even the slightest detail. The square was completely silent, with only the sound of rapid breathing.

Lin Yan slowly walked onto the stage.

Clad in simple blue robes, with an upright posture, he exuded no violent spiritual energy; only the Guanhai Inkstone circulated slightly within his dantian, its faint watery light swirling around him, serene as an abyss. In contrast, Yunxi wore snow-white robes, her longsword humming, all seven layers of refined spiritual energy flowing freely, her sword intent as clear and cold as the moon, its sharpness fully revealed.

"Senior Brother Lin Yan, please." Yun Xi bowed solemnly, holding her sword.

"Junior sister, be careful." Lin Yan replied softly, raising her right hand slightly, with water condensing at her fingertips.

"start!"

As soon as Elder Wudao finished speaking, Yunxi made the first move.

Her figure transformed into a white rainbow, her sword light cascading like a waterfall. Her sword moves were agile and continuous, alternating between reality and illusion. Her cold sword intent almost enveloped the entire arena. Her speed, skill, and control of spiritual energy were all at the pinnacle of the younger generation. The crowd below felt as if the moonlight filled the sky, making it almost impossible to see the trajectory of the sword. Many people gasped and showed surprise.

Faced with this thunderous attack, Lin Yan neither dodged nor evaded.

With a flick of his fingertips, a wisp of soft yet resilient water spirit spread out in the air, instantly transforming into an invisible water curtain.

"clang--"

The sword light struck the water curtain, as if piercing into the vast ocean. The fierce sword force was deflected layer by layer, stirring up a misty spray.

A commotion erupted in the stands. The disciples, their faces filled with disbelief, whispered amongst themselves: "How could he so easily block Junior Sister Yunxi's full-force sword strike?"

Yunxi was slightly startled. She changed her sword moves again, her figure spinning in the air. Three sword energies broke through the air at the same time, attacking from the upper, middle and lower paths, sealing off all escape routes.

Lin Yan remained calm, his steps light, his figure moving leisurely through the gaps in the sword energy, as if taking a stroll in a garden. Every sidestep and flick of his sleeve perfectly avoided the sharp edge, the spiritual energy of Guanhai Moyan moving with his will, gentle yet omnipresent.

The disciples below the stage were dumbfounded. Some clenched their fists and their palms were sweating, while others muttered to themselves, marveling at Lin Yan's high level of skill and mastery.

Yunxi grew increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed.

Her sword was fast, skillful, and agile, but whenever it landed in front of Lin Yan, it was always neutralized by a gentle force, like a heavy punch hitting water, finding no foothold. Lin Yan never launched a fierce attack, only using defense as his offense, yet all her attacks were rendered useless.

After several dozen rounds, Yunxi's breathing became slightly short, and her swordplay slowed down.

In that instant, Lin Yan moved.

He raised his right hand slightly, and the spiritual energy of the Guanhai Inkstone suddenly condensed. A gentle, water-like spiritual light surged from his palm, unhurriedly and directly towards Yunxi. This strike did not possess violent destructive power, but it contained a spiritual energy as steady as a mountain, making it impossible to dodge or block.

Yunxi parried with her sword, only to feel a gentle yet powerful force surge towards her. Her wrist went slightly numb, and she involuntarily took several steps back.

Before she could gather her strength again, Lin Yan had already gracefully stepped forward, his fingertip gently tapping the sword with spiritual energy.

"Buzz—"

The longsword trembled violently, and the spiritual energy was instantly diverted.

Yunxi could no longer hold the sword hilt, and the longsword almost slipped from her hand. Her spiritual energy stagnated, and she lost all power to attack.

Lin Yan withdrew his strength at the opportune moment, took half a step back, and bowed with his hands clasped, saying, "Thank you for your humility."

Yunxi looked at the trembling longsword in her hand, then at the composed Lin Yan. There was no disappointment in her eyes, but rather admiration. She shook her head and smiled gently, "I accept my defeat wholeheartedly."

The arena fell silent for a moment.

Everyone was stunned by this silent yet profound duel—there were no earth-shattering roars, no brutal collisions, yet the absolute difference in their cultivation levels was fully revealed. The disciples stood frozen in place, eyes wide, faces filled with astonishment, even forgetting to breathe.

Elder Wudao laughed loudly, raising his whisk high, his voice resounding throughout the hall:

"Lin Yan wins this battle! The champion of this Laoshan Disciple Selection Ceremony is—Lin Yan!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

Cheers, applause, and gasps of amazement soared into the sky, almost lifting the air above the square. The disciples raised their arms and shouted wildly, their applause thunderous. Many were so excited that their faces turned red, and they shouted Lin Yan's name loudly. The atmosphere was boiling over with excitement.

On the high platform, Master Xuan Yang stood up, his gaze falling on Lin Yan with full approval. He said loudly, "Lin Yan possesses extraordinary character and outstanding strength. He not only protected the reputation of Laoshan but also bravely won the championship. He should be a role model for us disciples!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Xuanyang raised his hand and waved it. A golden light flew out from his sleeve and hovered above Lin Yan's head.

"The champion's reward is hereby granted! You are granted access to the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, the freedom to choose any ancient cultivation technique, and three days of personal instruction. I hope you will diligently cultivate and live up to your talent and the expectations of Laoshan!"

As the golden light shone down, Lin Yan's spiritual energy suddenly flowed freely, and the Guanhai Inkstone's spiritual light shone even brighter.

He bowed deeply, his clear voice carrying far and wide: "Disciple Lin Yan will certainly live up to the sect's high expectations, uphold my Daoist heart, and diligently cultivate!"

The young man in the green robe stood atop the arena, bathed in sunlight and surrounded by shimmering water. His posture was upright, and he exuded confidence and spirit. The cheers from below continued unabated, and the disciples looked up at him with eyes full of admiration and longing.