Top Disciple Rudolf Mair's expression turned exceedingly ugly at the abrupt realization of his defeat.
Blood was dripping out of his mouth, seemingly the backlash of having his domain broken in an instant. The next second after having his domain broken, a crimson sword conjured from her concentrated burning phoenix flames was resting on his forehead, threatening to exterminate his soul.
One move!
It was a single move if one excluded the fact that she used a single finger to break his domain into smithereens.
His face couldn't help but twist with diverse emotions! He knew that he was going to lose one way or another, but how can it be that he was defeated in a single move even though he was wary of it!?
He wanted to avoid what happened to Top Disciple Arno Schatz from happening to him!
He found it difficult to digest as his entire body kept trembling from humiliation and shame. However, the shaking stopped, and after what seemed like a long time of contemplation, he let out a long sigh and spoke.
"I accept defeat..."
"Excellent!~"
Shirley's melodious voice echoed as she waved her hand, the burning phoenix flame sword dissipating in an instant, allowing Top Disciple Rudolf Mair to relax as he plunged to the ground, taking in deep breaths to calm himself down before he clasped hands and left.
The crowd was utterly dumbfounded as they looked at the scene, not knowing from right to left as they failed to comprehend how Top Disciple Rudolf Mair could've lost so easily. He had numerous female disciples as his fans as well for his amicable character, and his conduct was known to be the easiest to socialize amongst top disciples.
For such a person to have been instantly defeated and humbled, they couldn't help but feel intense pity welling up within them, that is, until a voice echoed.
"Winner of the battle, Top Disciple Shirley Ashton!"
At the next second, Shirley's name moved up in the rankings as she entered the eleventh rank!
The crowd's atmosphere shifted, making them raise their voices for Top Disciple Shirley as the battle arena once again became filled with boisterous cheers.
"How powerful!"
"Senior sister Shirley is extremely beautiful!"
"So this is what senior sister Esvele meant when she said for senior sister Shirley to showcase the difference between heaven and earth... Truly, senior sister Shirley is a fairy who had descended from the heavens with this kind of prowess..."
A pretty female disciple absentmindedly spoke, causing the people surrounding her to nod their heads in approval and awe. The thought of instantly defeating an opponent who had been ready and poised for aggression was exhilarating for them!
It was different for Top Disciple Arno Schatz because he had totally underestimated senior sister Esvele and got defeated, while Top Disciple Rudolf Mair had attacked with his full prowess and still lost easily. The two of their battles couldn't be spoken of at the same length.
And indeed, Esvele's eyes glowed in fervor as she witnessed the one-sided battle, still reveling in it.
She knew that she couldn't easily break that Impeccable Domain with her current prowess. However, she wasn't disheartened as she believed that she still had some room for growth in the Law Dominion Stage. It was just, it was going to be more expensive than she could afford, but since she had become a top disciple, she mused that she would be able to get more points and, in turn, boost her growth.
While all this was happening, Shirley stayed in the battle stage, immersed in the loud applause of her fellow disciples. However, her gaze and focus weren't on anyone else but Davis, wanting to garner his reaction to her victory.
Seeing him smile and nod gave her the greatest satisfaction as she felt elated with this easy victory.
Indeed, Davis felt that her posing was so cool, especially when she used a single finger to break the Impeccable Domain. He didn't know how she did that but still had an idea as he knew about her prowess.
The Elders, Grand Elders, and Sect Master all possessed contemplative looks on their faces. Some were even frowning a bit, wondering how Top Disciple Shirley could have managed to shatter an Impeccable Domain with just a tap of her finger.
Of course, if she overlayed Top Disciple Rudolf Mair's domain with her own Supreme Domain, it was possible that the sheer pressure of her own complete domain could break it without a doubt. However, she didn't do so unless...
A few Grand Elders and the Sect Master instantly noticed the discrepancy when she broke her opponent's domain. It was as if a tiny hole had formed at the point of her finger tap.
The first thought that came to their mind was the legendary spatial collapse technique that the spatial cultivators used to threaten their opponent's attacks, rendering them useless as they could be pulled into the void, but then they noticed a flicker of powerful essence energy, almost like as if a domain had formed in that tiny space, causing the outward domain to be shattered by its sheer pressure.
If that was the case, then...
Sect Master Lea Weiss's brows were narrowed as she silently muttered in confusion and disbelief, "Perfect Domain...?"
A few other Grand Elders also thought the same, but they didn't say anything as they couldn't see through what happened in that instant. Their hearts skipped a beat even while they maintained their calm.
As the battle stage calmed down, everyone noticed that Top Disciple Shirley did not return to her seat and was looking towards her next opponent.
That person possessed a contemplative expression on his face before he reluctantly stood up with a sigh.
"It is obvious fellow disciple Shirley has become extremely powerful after exiting the mini-realm, so I don't want to waste my essence energy on a battle I can see myself losing without a doubt. I need it to defend my position that would become eleventh. Therefore, I accept defeat."
With a clasp of his hands, he sat back.
At the same time, Shirley's name moved up a rank as she occupied the tenth place! Rising up two ranks in an instant!
"Woah!~~~"
Another tumultuous uproar began to echo in the battle arena as the spectators became utterly astonished. They didn't expect a top disciple to surrender before the fight even happened. Of course, it was something understandable if their cultivation bases are too far away, but their cultivation bases were basically the same at Peak-Level Law Dominion Stage.
No, it couldn't even be said the same as it was obvious that Top Disciple Shirley's Essence Gathering Cultivation was quite unstable from the looks of it. They all knew that she hadn't even consolidated her foundation yet. Therefore, it became a surprise for them to see the tenth place readily give up his position. However, his reasoning made sense.
After all, the entire competition would be over within a day, at least, if the top disciples didn't intentionally drag it in the name of exploring their strength.
Nevertheless, another person's expression became ugly.
Naturally, it was the top disciple who was in ninth place. He didn't expect for the tenth place to give up just like that, making him be caught off-guard as he was now the center of attention.
Top Disciple Shirley's beautiful ruby-like eyes were now focused on him, beckoning him to step up on this battle stage. However, his legs didn't move as he didn't want to be the sacrificial lamb to test her prowess. He was hoping for the tenth place to test her prowess and move, but it was unexpected that he would give up without even putting up a fight.
"Evald, could it be that you are afraid?"
A sound suddenly echoed, causing Top Disciple Evald to come out of his reverie before he noticed that almost all the gazes on the battle arena were now gathered on him. It was such intense pressure that made his heart skip a beat. Nevertheless, he looked at the source of the voice and saw that it was none other than the top disciple who was in the eighth place.
Top Disciple Vito Rein, the second son of Grand Elder Valerian Rein!
Top Disciple Evald's expression froze. The enraged words about to come out of his mouth were suppressed in his throat before they faded into nothingness. He forced a smile and spoke.
"Of course not. I was just flabbergasted at how much of a coward the one who gave up could be..."
The previous tenth-ranked top disciple looked at him before he smirked, "Go ahead. Show me how cowardly I was..."
Top Disciple Evald's face slightly twitched. He reluctantly stood up and flew towards the battle stage, possessing a feeble smile on his face. He arrived at the northern area while Shirley took the position in the southern area, maintaining her position from the previous battle.
The battle arena became silent as the crowd held their breaths.
"Fellow disciple Shir-"
"There's no use talking, Evald. Just be prepared for the worst..." Shirley's eyes coldly flashed as she readily raised her hand, her fingers spread out as if she had the entire space under control.
Top Disciple Evald's expression twisted under her provocation. His manliness took a hit as he growled, "Don't become arrogant just because you took down Rudolf in a single move. His domain is trash compared to mine, while he didn't even utilize his other two cultivations! You can't easily defeat me like you defeated him!"
'No matter how fast you may have grown, your Essence Gathering Cultivation is unstable. You will make a mistake somewhere, so watch out because I won't hold back when I get the chance!' He inwardly thought as he readied himself.
Top Disciple Rudolf Mair had a frown on his face, but he didn't say anything. The crowd couldn't help but nod their heads as they knew that Top Disciple Evald's domain was way more powerful than Top Disciple Rudolf's.
For a Law Dominion Stage Cultivator, their domain was the most versatile and dependable ability that they could rely on. Their uses could range from support, defense, and offense, depending on the type of domain they conjure. Of course, if they had a technique that allowed them to emerge with even more power than using a domain, it was well and good, but those who did not have and could not use their powerful techniques relied on their domains to win their fights.
Therefore, they could understand why Top Disciple Evald had confidence that his domain wouldn't easily get broken. A few top disciples already figured out his plan was likely to exhaust Top Disciple Shirley and take advantage of the flaws of her unstable cultivation base.
However, Shirley's eyes were a bit icy.
"You're merely a dog growling for his master, yet you dare to talk as if you're a confident man who can hold his head high among the hundreds and thousands of disciples. If it weren't for the rules, I would kill you and rid this world of vermin!"
"You...!"
Everyone became flabbergasted at Top Disciple Shirley's words.
Could it be that they had a feud?
"Start the battle..."
Shirley uttered, to which the referee instantly raised and dropped his hand.
"Let the battle begin!"
Top Disciple Evald's crimson eyes went wide as he instantly summoned his domain!