Invincible Soul Emperor-Chapter 300: Winning Without Fighting

"Champion?"

Li Qingfeng savored the word, realizing he had always underestimated his disciple. However, as he recalled Ye Qingchen’s various accomplishments, his gaze hardened with resolve.

Indeed, it was Ye Qingchen’s fearless battle spirit that had allowed him to advance this far.

Meanwhile, Hei Ze patted Ye Qingchen’s shoulder and said, "I also believe you can definitely win the championship!"

The matches to narrow the top ten down to five had been fierce, so the remaining competitors needed time to rest and recover.

In the following days, with no matches scheduled, Ye Qingchen stayed in his room to solidify his cultivation. If he wanted to win the championship, he needed at least enough strength to defeat an expert at the Second Layer of the Martial King Realm.

After all, Li Chenyang of the Ziyun Sect was a bona fide Second-Layer Martial King.

Several days later, the two decisive matches ended. That afternoon, Hei Ze knocked on Ye Qingchen’s door, informing him that it was time to attend the lot-drawing ceremony.

"Venerable One, who ended up making it into the top three?" Ye Qingchen asked on the way. Knowing his opponents would allow him to prepare in advance.

Hei Ze sighed and replied, "Aside from you, who advanced directly with a bye, Li Chenyang of the Ziyun Sect and Lin Xiaoqing of the Yuhua Sect both defeated their opponents to enter the top three."

Ye Qingchen nodded. It was reasonable for Li Chenyang, a Second-Layer Martial King, to advance.

However, Lin Xiaoqing of the Yuhua Sect was a bit of a surprise.

After all, the Yuhua Sect was the one that had eliminated the Qingyun Sect during the team competition.

Lin Xiaoqing hadn’t appeared during that match. Otherwise, with her strength as a First-Layer Martial King, the Yuhua Sect wouldn’t have had to resort to stalling tactics to claim victory.

However, Ye Qingchen wasn’t overly concerned. No matter who his opponent was, he was confident he would win the championship!

When the two arrived at the venue, it was still packed with a sea of people.

The audience’s usual cheers were absent when they saw Ye Qingchen appear; it was hard for them to stay enthusiastic about someone who had advanced purely by luck.

This time, the lot drawing was again presided over by Ling Xiaoyu, who gestured for Li Chenyang, Lin Xiaoqing, and Ye Qingchen to come to the referees’ stand.

To prevent Ye Qingchen from getting another bye, Ling Xiaoyu had him draw first. True to form, he drew lot number one.

Lin Xiaoqing drew number three, while Li Chenyang got number two.

This meant the next match would be Ye Qingchen versus Lin Xiaoqing, while Li Chenyang received a bye, advancing directly into the final two.

No one had any objections to Li Chenyang receiving a bye.

After all, Li Chenyang was a bona fide Second-Layer Martial King. He would have certainly advanced even if he had to fight.

After Ling Xiaoyu announced the results of the draw, the day’s events officially concluded. The duel between Ye Qingchen and Lin Xiaoqing would be held after a three-day rest. The final battle of the individual competition would take place the day after that.

When the audience heard that Ye Qingchen would be fighting in the next round, they erupted in cheers.

Among the top three, Ye Qingchen was undoubtedly the weakest link.

The thought of this lucky contender finally getting thrashed by Lin Xiaoqing filled the audience with anticipation.

Faced with this reaction, Ye Qingchen simply shook his head and returned to his lodgings with Hei Ze.

On the way back, Hei Ze wanted to offer a few words of comfort, but seeing Ye Qingchen’s nonchalant expression, he didn’t know how to begin.

After bidding Hei Ze farewell, Ye Qingchen returned to his room to continue cultivating. Hei Ze could only sigh and report the day’s news to Li Qingfeng.

「Soon, the day of the match arrived.」

Early in the morning, Ye Qingchen stepped out of his room. Today was the day he would fight Lin Xiaoqing. Facing a First-Layer Martial King, Ye Qingchen was fully prepared.

The members of the Qingyun Sect were all present to cheer for Ye Qingchen.

But as soon as Ye Qingchen stepped onto the arena stage, the crowd erupted in a chorus of jeers, with some even shouting mockery.

"Kid, get ready for a beating today! Sect Leader Lin is a First-Layer Martial King. What makes you think you can fight her?"

"Kid, once your luck runs out, you’ll learn just how cruel these elimination rounds are! I’d advise you to get down from there now and save yourself the humiliation!"

Faced with the endless taunts, Ye Qingchen simply smiled them off, not taking them to heart.

Li Zongrui, however, shouted out to defend Ye Qingchen, but his lone voice was completely drowned out by the cacophony of jeers.

Xiao Xiao, sitting at the referees’ stand, frowned and said, "Senior Brother Xiao Yu, make these people be quiet! The match hasn’t even started. Such behavior is outrageous!"

Ling Xiaoyu, however, just smiled and shook his head. "Junior Sister Xiao Xiao, aren’t you making things difficult for me? These spectators all paid Spirit Stones to be here, and the tournament rules don’t forbid talking!"

Hearing Ling Xiaoyu’s words, Xiao Xiao huffed coldly and said unhappily, "These short-sighted fools... Just you wait. When the Young Master reveals his true strength, let’s see what you have to say then."

As time ticked by, those mocking Ye Qingchen gradually lost interest when he refused to respond.

Puzzlingly, however, Sect Leader Lin Xiaoqing of the Yuhua Sect had still not appeared.

Ye Qingchen also frowned. Logically, she should have taken such an important match seriously; it was unthinkable that she would be late.

Moreover, less than five minutes remained before the match was scheduled to start.

Is she just trying to act aloof, waiting to make an entrance at the last possible second?

Ye Qingchen chuckled and shook his head, dismissing the impractical thought.

No matter when his opponent arrived, he would face the match with composure.

Yet, when the bell signaling the start of the match rang, Lin Xiaoqing had still not appeared.

This situation was a first in the history of the Sect Advancement Tournament. Even Ling Xiaoyu couldn’t help but stand up and demand, "Where are the people from the Yuhua Sect? Why haven’t they appeared yet?"

As Ling Xiaoyu’s voice fell, an Elder from the Yuhua Sect came rushing over.

Ye Qingchen looked closely and recognized the man as the Ninth-Layer Martial Spirit Realm expert he had faced in the team competition.

The Elder first bowed toward the members of the Wuji Immortal Palace on the referees’ stand. Then, glaring resentfully at Ye Qingchen, he announced, "Our Sect Leader was severely injured in her previous match and is unable to continue. She is forfeiting this match!"

The Elder’s words left everyone, including Ye Qingchen, gaping in astonishment.

Severely injured? Forfeiting the match? I’m advancing without a fight... again? Since when has my luck been this good?

He instinctively glanced at Xiao Xiao, but seeing her innocent and guileless expression, he shook his head. It couldn’t have been Xiao Xiao who helped me in secret.

But regardless of the reason, he had advanced to the final two!

We’ll see who the ultimate victor is in tomorrow’s final match!

At this thought, Ye Qingchen couldn’t help but turn and look toward Li Chenyang, who had come to watch the match. At the same time, Li Chenyang was also looking at him. A smile spread across Li Chenyang’s face, his entire being radiating an eagerness to fight.