Li Xingyun naturally exited the arena after defeating Zhou Feng.
As for the subsequent matches, Wu Tian had no interest and left early, then found Li Xingyun.
Seeing Wu Tian approach, Li Xingyun immediately smiled and said, "How about it, did my move not disappoint you?"
Wu Tian smiled and replied, "Indeed, it did not."
"Not only did it not disappoint me, but it also opened my eyes."
"You hid such abilities, and yet you told me you didn't want to compete."
"Tell me, were you playing a trick on me?"
Li Xingyun put on an aggrieved expression and said, "Don't say that, I had no intention of fooling you."
"Defeating Zhou Feng is nothing, I knew long ago he wasn't my match."
"But you must understand, if I continue fighting, I will face high-grade Immortals, and even True Immortals."
"How could I possibly compete with them?"
"That's why I didn't participate in the tournament initially, I just didn't want to waste my time."
"Since it would all be in vain in the end, why should I strive for anything?"
Wu Tian smiled and said, "You truly are wasting your excellent talent."
"Do you have confidence in the upcoming matches?"
Li Xingyun thought for a moment and said, "I'm confident in the quarterfinals, but the semifinals are uncertain."
"As you saw, if I reach the semifinals, I'll likely face Zhang Qi."
"Zhang Qi is very annoying, but he is still a high-grade Immortal!"
"As I said, I have no confidence in going head-to-head with a high-grade Immortal!"
Wu Tian smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about that. Just find a way to advance to the semifinals."
"As for Zhang Qi, I'll figure something out for you then."
"If nothing else, getting you into the finals won't be a major problem."
Under normal circumstances, Li Xingyun should have been tempted by such an offer.
However, he was a person who had taken pessimism to the extreme, and his thoughts were completely different from ordinary people.
He sighed and said, "Alas, even if I can reach the finals, what then?"
"I can guarantee that the finals will be against a True Immortal."
"A True Immortal fighting an Immortal is like a Golden Immortal fighting a True Immortal; it's a complete stomp."
"In the end, I still won't win, will I?"
"So, rather than making the process so thrilling, it's better not to have any hope from the start. It's meaningless."
Wu Tian genuinely wanted Li Xingyun to win and enter the Sword Tomb.
Because Li Xingyun was the most outstanding talent he had ever seen.
If such a person could be properly nurtured.
He might play a huge role in the future fight against the demon race.
Therefore, his attitude became much more serious, and he said sternly:
"No, I said you need to take it seriously, so you must take it seriously."
"If you dare to be flippant, with my abilities, I can ensure you can't drink alcohol for the rest of your life."
Li Xingyun had no other hobbies, but he was addicted to alcohol.
So, upon hearing Wu Tian's words, he immediately became a little flustered.
He quickly said, "No, no, no, brother, let's talk properly. Not letting me drink is too much, isn't it?"
"I understand, I understand. I'll do whatever you say, brother."
"Is that good enough?"
Seeing Li Xingyun's reluctant state, Wu Tian suddenly felt like an old woman.
However, regardless, it was a good thing that Li Xingyun was willing to compete seriously.
And so, the matter was settled.
The next day, the quarterfinals were held as planned.
This time, Li Xingyun's opponent was also a mid-grade Immortal.
Furthermore, his mastery of swordsmanship was a notch higher than Zhou Feng's.
This battle forced Li Xingyun to draw his sword, and they fought fiercely for a long time.
In the end, Li Xingyun did not disappoint Wu Tian and successfully defeated his opponent.
This battle also made Li Xingyun's reputation even more renowned.
After all, even though Li Xingyun had previously defeated Zhou Feng.
Everyone, upon reflection, believed that Li Xingyun had won through intelligence.
If he were to truly go head-to-head with a mid-grade Immortal, he would still be unable to win.
But this battle showed everyone that Li Xingyun possessed the strength to defeat a mid-grade Immortal head-on.
This fellow, who had gained fame for drinking in the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect, was not as incompetent as they had imagined.
That evening, after the match, Wu Tian and Li Xingyun met again.
They drank and began to discuss the next day's matches.
"Brother, I truly gave it my all today," Li Xingyun said, draining a cup of white wine.
"You have no idea how difficult that guy was to deal with. Purely based on immortal energy, I was no match for him."
"Do you know how I won in the end? It was entirely through skill."
"In the final move, thankfully, my understanding of the techniques was deeper than his."
"Otherwise, I would have been the one flying out of the combat arena!"
Listening to Li Xingyun's heartfelt sentiments, Wu Tian smiled and said, "Alright, alright, I know it was difficult for you."
"But the final result was quite good, wasn't it?"
"So the process doesn't matter, as long as the outcome is good."
Li Xingyun rolled his eyes at Wu Tian's words and said, "You say that so easily."
"In any case, my winning this time was a stroke of luck. Don't expect me to do well next."
"After all, you know Zhang Qi has already advanced to the semifinals, and I'm bound to face him."
"Seriously contending with a mid-grade Immortal has already taken half my life."
"Fighting a high-grade Immortal, no matter what you say, don't expect me to create a miracle."
Li Xingyun's complaining tone made Wu Tian chuckle, "Alright, alright, I know you're very tired today."
"Since you've done your part, I naturally won't treat you unfairly."
"Actually, you don't need to feel pressured. I watched Zhang Qi's match today."
"Although he is a high-grade Immortal, he is not truly a high-grade Immortal."
"If nothing else, if he were to fight someone of the same rank, he might very well lose."
"What did you say?" Wu Tian's words made Li Xingyun curious.
He couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"
"Zhang Qi didn't achieve his status through pills, but through actual cultivation."
"How can he not be considered a true high-grade Immortal?"