By observing the duels of others, Wang Hao gained a lot of insight. In truth, most Qi Refining cultivators didn't possess many techniques, and their moves were quite ordinary. Many won simply by relying on superior cultivation to achieve quick victories. Only a few evenly matched battles dragged on for longer periods.

Of course, it was also possible that everyone was holding back, saving their trump cards for the later, more critical battles.

After one shichen (two hours), the first round of duels concluded, producing sixty-one winners. After drawing lots again, Wang Hao luckily drew a bye, directly advancing to the top thirty-one.

In the third round, Wang Hao drew lot number three. He was matched against a late-stage Lei family cultivator whose cultivation was one layer higher than his own.

"You are not my match," said the Lei family cultivator, wearing a standard blue Daoist robe, his tone arrogant.

"How would we know without trying?" Wang Hao was somewhat speechless. These youngsters really loved to boast, each one more talkative than the last.

"Then I'll oblige you." The Lei family cultivator seemed provoked. With a wave of his hand, he commanded five flying swords to attack Wang Hao—they were actually a matching set of magical instruments.

Wang Hao swiftly slapped five Earth Wall Talismans onto himself, erecting barriers in front. Not feeling entirely secure, he then activated the Wooden Shield Technique to form a protective dome around himself.

The five flying swords easily shattered the earth walls but lost momentum afterward, failing to breach Wang Hao's protective dome.

Having gauged their power, Wang Hao felt much more at ease. "Is that all? Who gave you the courage to boast so grandly! Now take one of my attacks."

Wang Hao repeated his old trick, unleashing thirty Fireball Talismans in succession.

The Lei family cultivator's face immediately darkened. He hadn't watched Wang Hao's first-round duel, and Wang Hao had a bye in the second round. However, before his own match, someone had informed him about Wang Hao's performance. He hadn't paid it much mind, not believing Wang Hao would waste so many Fireball Talismans just to win a single match—that was spirit stones down the drain!

But reality had truly slapped him in the face.

Still, his methods were far superior to the Li family female cultivator from before. He held a small green shield in his hand that grew with the wind; judging by its aura, it was unmistakably a top-grade first-tier defensive magical instrument.

A series of Boom! Rumble! explosions rang out. Although the Lei family cultivator was left in disarray, he didn't suffer much harm. However, the small green shield in his hand was significantly damaged, making him grit his teeth in pain.

Wang Hao smiled slightly and took out another stack of Fireball Talismans and a stack of Earth Wall Talismans, openly counting them right there on the dueling platform!

"Stop! I admit defeat!" The Lei cultivator chose to concede with immense frustration, but his resentful glare clearly showed he didn't believe he had truly lost to Wang Hao's skill—just his wallet.

On the viewing platform, Lei Liheng couldn't help but frown. "Fellow Daoist Wang, your junior's methods seem somewhat... less than honorable in victory!"

Although Wang Yanzhao was also dissatisfied with Wang Hao's performance, he had to defend his own. "Within the rules, what's improper about it?"

Seeing the tension between them, Li Yaozu hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "Ah, Fellow Daoists, why let this matter harm our harmony over a mere win or loss? It's just some fireball techniques. Against juniors with rich combat experience later on, such tricks might not work!"

In the fourth round, Wang Hao faced a rogue cultivator at the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

This rogue cultivator had watched Wang Hao's duel with the Lei family cultivator. As soon as he stepped onto the platform, he took out a yellow banner from which yellow sand surged forth, forming an impenetrable defense in front of him.

Seeing his opponent adopt a purely defensive stance, Wang Hao didn't waste words either. He directly released ten Fireball Talismans to test the waters. Unfortunately, as soon as the ten small fireballs entered the area of yellow sand, they rapidly disintegrated without even touching a hair on his enemy.

The rogue cultivator sneered coldly. "Use whatever other tricks you have. If you only know how to use talismans, you might as well admit defeat now."

Wang Hao waved both hands. Instantly, a giant fireball materialized before him—at least ten times larger than those produced by the Fireball Talismans.

"Go!"

The giant fireball grew larger and larger as it rolled forward. By the time it reached the rogue cultivator, it was about five meters in diameter, radiating overwhelming waves of heat.

Boom! Rumble!

A massive crimson mushroom cloud rose from the dueling platform, drawing everyone's attention.

The yellow sand barrier before the rogue cultivator noticeably thinned.

"Grand Completion Fireball Technique!" someone in the audience couldn't help but exclaim.

"Who is this guy? First a pile of talismans, now a Grand Completion Fireball Technique? Does he have that much free time usually?"

"Right! Everyone knows cultivating a spell technique to Grand Completion allows instant casting and increases its power significantly. But who would actually do it? That wastes several years! With that time, you might as well earn some spirit stones and buy ready-made talismans!"

"I heard his name is Wang Hao; probably from the Wang family—must be a core disciple!"

"Heh, if I had clan support—not even much, just some—give me one year and I could cultivate the Fireball Technique to Grand Completion too!"

"Alright, stop bragging. With your fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivation, you'd only be doing odd jobs even within a clan!"

Wang Hao fired with both hands continuously. One giant fireball after another shot out and smashed towards his opponent!

Giant fireballs rained down on the other side. Continuous explosions boomed; flames surged violently. Faint screams from the rogue cultivator could be heard from within the inferno.

"Wang Hao wins!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing the match promptly announced and hurriedly cast a spell to extinguish the flames and rescue the rogue cultivator.

"Damn! A sixth-layer Qi Refining defeating an eighth-layer! This Wang junior is too monstrous!"

"Can't compare... can't compare... Wonder if the Wang family is still recruiting sons-in-law..."

...

Not just Qi Refining cultivators; even the Foundation Establishment cultivators were quite shaken. Wang Yanzhao's face beamed with joy. "Fellow Daoist Lei, are my son's methods somewhat acceptable now? Does your Lei family cultivator still feel unjustly defeated?"

"Hmph! It's merely offensive prowess. If that rogue cultivator had attacked first, relying on that significant cultivation gap wouldn't be something a few Earth Wall Talismans could block!"

"But victory is victory; defeat is defeat. What 'ifs' are there?" Wang Yanzhao laughed triumphantly.

Having won this match, Wang Hao was now among the top eight—completing Old Wang's assigned task. So for what followed, he planned to fight if he could and concede if he couldn't. Going all out was out of the question; these few matches had already cost him over five hundred spirit stones worth of resources—he was almost tapped out.

But not getting at least the top three rewards felt like too much of a loss... So far he'd only used the Fireball Technique; five other Master-level spells remained hidden. Maybe there was still a chance!

The top eight were gradually determined: only one rogue cultivator remained; two from the Wang family; two from the Li family; and one each from the other three families.

The other Wang family cultivator was from the Yan generation—Wang Yanping. He was only thirty years old this year, not much older than Wang Hao, but ranked as Wang Hao's nineteenth uncle according to seniority. He had eighth-layer Qi Refining cultivation and was extremely Proficient in combat.

The two Li family members were named Li Derong (female) and Li Dedao (male). The man looked over thirty; the woman younger—around twenty! Of course, these were just appearances; their actual ages were impossible for Wang Hao to discern.

Li Derong had an overall cold demeanor but her face was round with cute little dimples, creating a strong contrast with her personal aura... though Wang Hao only glanced at her a few extra times without any particular thoughts.

He'd watched this woman fight—she was a fierce character with ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivation, using a yellow silk ribbon as a weapon. In several matches, she nearly suffocated her opponents by wrapping them up... She was not someone Wang Hao wanted to provoke!

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