My Brother's the Protagonist? Good Thing I Awakened My System!

Chapter 201 Dragon and Phoenix Competition - Fifth Round Begins

Chapter 201  Dragon and Phoenix Competition - Fifth Round Begins

The fourth round ended amidst excitement and anticipation.

By now, it was clear that if one had to name a dominant party in the Competition, it would undoubtedly be the Feng Clan, with six participants advancing to the fifth round.

Of course, this count included Feng Mei, who was representing the Icy Veil Sect. But that didn't change the fact that she hailed from the Feng Clan.

Next was the Mystic Flame Sect, with three participants, including Yuan Ziyan and Ling Meiyu.

The fifth round would determine the Top 10 and showcase the strongest of their generation.

Meanwhile, merchants were still setting up betting shops with the remaining participants.

However, compared to before the Competition began, the odds had shifted significantly.

For instance, betting on Feng Yun now offered a 1:1 reward ratio. This decrease was not only due to the reduced number of participants but also because of Feng Yun's soaring reputation.

By the fifth round, only 16 participants remained, all in the Grand Qi Condensation Realm.

Ling Meiyu was still regarded as the strongest, holding the coveted number-one spot on the Dragon and Phoenix List.

Gao Mingrui followed as second, with Yuan Ziyan, Feng Yun, and Feng Mei completing the top five.

Nevertheless, every sect and clan with participants in this round felt immense pride.

One such clan was the Shen Clan!

Although Shen Rui had been easily defeated by Feng Mei, the Shen Clan still had Shen Ming.

The Shen Clan believed Shen Ming could easily secure a spot in the Top 5. They felt his ninth-place ranking on the Dragon and Phoenix List underestimated his abilities.

Fueled by this belief, the Shen Clan was eager to prove the rankings wrong—and to take revenge on the Feng Clan for humiliating Shen Rui.

Fortunately for them, they wouldn't have to wait long.

The first match of the fifth round was between Shen Ming and Feng Jianhong.

The announcement drew a mix of cheers and murmurs from the crowd. The Shen Clan erupted in applause, their excitement palpable.

"Ming'er crush that Feng brat!" An elder declared, his voice dripping with disdain.

"He's not even Feng Mei or Feng Yun," another sneered. "This will be over in seconds!"

Shen Rui approached her older brother, her expression filled with bitterness and hatred. She had not forgotten her humiliating defeat at the hands of Feng Mei in the earlier rounds.

"Brother," Shen Rui said, her voice low but venomous, "don't just finish the fight quickly—humiliate him. Show the Feng Clan they are nothing compared to us. Make them regret it!"

Shen Ming smirked, his sharp features twisting into a look of arrogance.

"You don't need to tell me twice, little sister. That fool isn't even worth my time, but for you, I'll torment him a bit!"

He turned his gaze to the arena, narrowing his eyes as Feng Jianhong stepped onto the stage.

( So this is my opponent? ) Shen Ming thought, his lips curling into a sneer. ( How unlucky. It would have been better if it were Feng Mei or Feng Yun. I would have crushed those overrated geniuses and shown them what a real prodigy looks like! )

Shen Ming's ninth-place ranking on the Dragon and Phoenix List felt like an insult. He considered himself far superior to someone like Feng Jianhong, who barely made the list.

It is ironic that the same list Shen Ming scoffed at when it ranked him ninth suddenly seemed accurate when it placed Feng Jianhong at the bottom.

The Shen Clan elders shouted words of encouragement as Shen Ming entered the arena.

"Show them what the Shen Clan is capable of!"

"Don't hold back, Shen Ming. Crush him!"

Feng Jianhong stood calmly on the other side of the arena, his expression unreadable.

"Don't disappoint me and get knocked out in a second!" Shen Ming taunted arrogantly.

Despite the Shen Clan's taunts, Feng Jianhong exuded quiet confidence.

Although his cultivation was at the Early Grand Qi Condensation Realm, while Shen Ming was in the Mid-Level, Feng Jianhong believed in his victory.

From his perspective, it was already a miracle that he had made it this far.

Three years ago, he couldn't have imagined being an audience member, much less a participant who made it to the Top 16 of the Dragon and Phoenix List.

But now was not the time to be satisfied. It was time to show the results of his training and prove that the Feng Clan was not to be underestimated.

The referee raised his hand, signaling the start of the match.

"Begin!"

Shen Ming wasted no time, unleashing a powerful wave of qi that surged toward Feng Jianhong like a tidal wave.

"This is the strength of the Shen Clan!" Shen Ming declared, his voice echoing across the arena.

CLANK! CLANK!

Feng Jianhong stood his ground, his sword flashing as he parried each of Shen Ming's attacks with precision.

The sound of metal clashing reverberated across the arena, and not a single strike managed to reach him.

"Hmph! I'd like to see how much longer you can last."

Shen Ming snarled, his eyes flashing with fury as his relentless strikes were met with effortless deflections.

The Shen Clan cheered loudly, their confidence in Shen Ming unwavering.

"Shen Ming is just toying with him!"

"Feng Jianhong won't last long at this rate!"

However, despite their confidence, it was Shen Ming who grew increasingly frustrated.

CLANG! CLANG!

Their weapons clashed again, and sparks flew as the sheer force of their strikes sent ripples of qi through the arena.

"You're not bad," Shen Ming admitted begrudgingly, his tone laced with irritation and condescension.

"But let's see how you handle this!"

With a flourish, Shen Ming stored his weapon back into his spatial ring.

The crowd watched in confusion as Shen Ming pulled out a gleaming sword radiating an oppressive aura.

The blade Shen Ming revealed was exquisite and emitted a powerful aura.

The moment it appeared, the temperature in the arena seemed to drop, and the crowd erupted in gasps.

"A Low Earth-Grade weapon!"

"That's a treasure only clan leaders or grand elders possess!"

"How did Shen Ming get his hands on something so rare? Do Shen Clan temporarily lend it to Shen Ming?"

The Shen Clan elders smirked, their pride evident.

"That's right! Our Shen Clan spares no effort in nurturing its geniuses!"

"With this sword, Shen Ming's victory is assured!"

Shen Ming's confidence soared as he tightened his grip on the sword. The weapon's aura merged with his own, amplifying his already formidable strength.

"Feng Jianhong," Shen Ming said, his voice dripping with arrogance, "you should feel honored. I rarely have to use this sword, but you've earned the privilege of being defeated by it."

Without waiting for a response, Shen Ming surged forward, his sword cutting through the air with a menacing hum. The blade's energy left a trail of destruction in its wake, and the crowd held their breath, certain that Feng Jianhong was finished.

But just as Shen Ming's attack was about to land, Feng Jianhong moved.

CLANG!

The two swords collided, sending a shockwave rippling through the arena. Shen Ming smirked, certain his Low Earth-grade weapon had overpowered whatever inferior blade Feng Jianhong was using.

But then he noticed something strange.

The force of the clash didn't send Feng Jianhong stumbling back. Instead, it was evenly matched or a bit on the losing side.

The crowd murmured in confusion, and then someone shouted, "Wait! Look at his sword!"

All eyes turned to Feng Jianhong's weapon, and gasps echoed across the arena.

"That's… that's a High Earth-Grade weapon!"

"How is that possible? High Earth-grade weapons are so rare that even the top clans and sects might not possess one!"

"Where did Feng Jianhong get such a treasure?"

"How can these two brats possess weapons that even I, Three Elements Divine Realm cultivator couldn't?"

Even Shen Ming was momentarily stunned, his confidence wavering.

Feng Jianhong's expression remained calm as he held the High Earth-Grade sword with ease.

"Did you think only the Shen Clan had good artifacts?" Feng Jianhong asked, his voice steady.

Unbeknownst to the crowd, Feng Jianhong was unaware of the commotion caused by his weapon. To him, it was just another tool. Like most Feng Clan members, they had such weapons and had little understanding of their rarity.

Shen Ming gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on his own sword.

"This changes nothing!" He roared, launching another attack with even greater ferocity.

The clash of their weapons sent sparks flying once more, and the crowd watched in awe as the two combatants fought on equal footing.

However, while Shen Ming had the upper hand in cultivation, his Low Earth-Grade weapon was no match for Feng Jianhong's High Earth-Grade sword. The difference in their artifacts became increasingly evident as the battle progressed.

Shen Ming's strikes began to falter, his movements growing less fluid as the strain of the fight took its toll.

Feng Jianhong, on the other hand, seemed to grow stronger with each exchange. His calm demeanor never wavered, and his swordsmanship was precise and unrelenting.

Finally, Feng Jianhong decided to end the fight.

He activated the Heavenly Emperor's Sword Technique and his attack power increased several folds.

The air around him shifted, and a golden light enveloped his blade. The sheer pressure of the technique forced Shen Ming to take a step back, his confidence giving way to fear.

Feng Jianhong raised his sword, and with a single, fluid motion, he unleashed a devastating slash.

The attack tore through Shen Ming's defenses, sending him flying across the arena. His Low Earth-grade weapon clattered to the ground, its aura dimmed.

The arena fell silent as Shen Ming lay sprawled on the ground, defeated.

The referee raised his hand, his voice ringing out.

"Winner: Feng Jianhong!"