When Ye Chen's ranking at the top was announced, the entire arena, both inside and outside the Void Heaven Sword Valley, was astounded!
This shock persisted for dozens of breaths, and then an earth-shaking disturbance began to sweep through all three of the major sword-fighting zones of the Void Heaven Sword Valley. One could only see that as the Void Heaven Sword Ranking above the void in the three major sword-fighting zones flashed brightly, countless flying leaves burst forth from the Sword Pits below the entire Void Heaven Sword Valley.
These flying leaves fluttered between heaven and earth in the Void Heaven Sword Valley, drifting among the myriad Sword Cultivators.
As these leaves took flight, all the Sword Cultivators felt that with the newly condensed clusters of Void Heaven Sword Qi around their bodies, they could sense the locations of all the other cultivators within their fighting zones.
Each of the three major fighting zones spanned thousands of miles, but this sense of perception completely enveloped the entire zones, allowing all Sword Cultivators to locate their opponents within their respective zones.
At the same time, the swords in the hands of the cultivators began to move wildly, as if preparing for the imminent battles.
The flying leaves of the Sword Pits, the illuminated figures of opponents by the Sword Qi clusters, and the swords in their hands were all eager for battle.
All these signs indicated that after the Void Heaven Sword Qi had been fully condensed, the true highlight of the sword-fighting tournament, the sword combat challenge, would begin!
"Sword Leaves Fly, Sword Fighting Begins!"
"The Spirit Sea Realm Sword Fighting Tournament, with three days of sword-fighting time, starts now!"
"The results on the Void Heaven Sword Ranking are just your initial results and do not reflect your final rankings. Defeat other Sword Cultivators, seize their Void Heaven Sword Qi to enlarge your own Sword Qi cluster. Battle will change the rankings."
"Who can truly stand until the end, who can be the first when the sword-fighting tournament concludes. After three days, all will become clear."
"Now, begin your battle!"
As Elder Xiao Supreme Elder's voice echoed through the three major regions of the Void Heaven Sword Valley once again, all the Sword Cultivators stirred with Sword Intents.
Sword fighting!
The true sword-fighting had finally started!
Sword Cultivators, by nature, advance forward with their swords, clearing thorns and brambles as part of their cultivation!
As Sword Cultivators participating in the sword-fighting tournament, nobody would feel fear, nobody would evade; even if they could not seize first place or stand till the end, they would still defeat several other cultivators to battle for the honor of their swords.
"Ye Chen, you're currently in first place."
"But that doesn't mean you'll still be first at the end!"
In the later stage Spirit Sea Realm fighting zone, Mo Beiling's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"We are now in different fighting zones, and it won't be until the third day that we can meet. For now, let me accumulate my own Sword Qi. On the third day, I'll compete with you for the top spot!"
Mo Beiling, with a fighting spirit ablaze, sensed the position of a Sword Cultivator closest to him through the cluster of Void Heaven Sword Qi outside his body, and then he blasted towards that cultivator at high speed.
"Sword fighting!"
"Sword fighting has begun!"
"Rush for more Void Heaven Sword Qi. Without fighting to the very end, no one knows who will have the last laugh!"
As per the traditions of the swordfighting tournament, the loser will also leave their treasured sword behind as a sign of respect to the victor and to the more powerful Sword Cultivators!
At that moment, as Jiang Yao and Liu Qingmei began their battle, more than a thousand duels were taking place simultaneously across the three major swordfighting arenas.
Some had even been eliminated, leaving behind their treasured swords and being sent to the losers' area.
While countless battles raged like wildfire.
Ye Chen watched the many Sword Cultivators nearby, his eyes brimming with a fighting spirit.
Although he had secured first place in the first step of gathering Sword Qi, Ye Chen was far from complacent and wouldn't stop there.
Ye Chen hadn't forgotten why he was participating in the swordfighting tournament.
He was here to exchange blows with Sword Cultivators from all over, and more importantly, to hone his swordplay and advance toward a higher realm of the sword path.
Just over forty million strands of Void Heaven Sword Qi?
Of course, Ye Chen wasn't satisfied.
He intended to win even more Void Heaven Sword Qi, defeat more Sword Cultivators, accumulate truly astonishing Sword Qi, and eventually, transform that Sword Qi into true Qi to make a bid for the late Spirit Sea Realm, or even the Rotating Pill Realm!
Ye Chen was incredibly eager to reach the late Spirit Sea Realm—perhaps the Void Heaven Sword Valley would be the very place he broke through!
"Come on!"
"Swordfighting!"
With a whoosh, Ye Chen unsheathed his Black Fire Sword.
Black Fire Sword, his weapon for the swordfighting tournament, Ye Chen wouldn't let this sword be defeated by anyone. He would carry this sword, along with a Sword Cultivator's glory, to battle Sword Cultivators from all around.
Boom!
As Ye Chen drew the Black Fire Sword, the floating leaves around him seemed to be stirred by Sword Intents, swirling around him.
Amidst the swirling leaves and surging battle intent, a young Sword Cultivator who had been sitting near Ye Chen flew towards him first.
This youth, having watched Ye Chen's final gathering of Void Heaven Sword Qi, naturally knew that Ye Chen was currently the top figure on the Void Heaven Sword Ranking!
Despite his immense respect for Ye Chen, the youngster wouldn't truly fear him without engaging in real combat.
After all, possessing strong talent and gathering much Void Heaven Sword Qi didn't mean one's actual sword skills were perfected already.
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This youth also entertained the thought of taking away half of Ye Chen's Void Heaven Sword Qi.
Without any unnecessary words, after flying opposite Ye Chen, the young Sword Cultivator simply said, "Central Region, Fang Ming, currently thirty-ninth on the Void Heaven Sword Ranking, here to challenge!"
Ye Chen observed the young man's circumference of over two thousand feet of Void Heaven Sword Qi and nodded. Without wasting words, he responded, "Southern Territory, Ye Chen, challenge accepted. Make your move!"
As Ye Chen's words fell, the myriad of sword leaves swirling in the void around the two soared even higher.