Chapter 1785: Peak Showdown

The competition format featured 200 contestants facing off in an elimination style.

Five rounds of elimination challenges were held, leading to the final five participants who would compete in a free-for-all PK in the grand finals. The last martial artist standing would be declared the winner of this alliance gathering.

In fact, Xu Yang, Long Kun, and others had participated in similar martial arts competitions countless times hundreds of thousands of years ago, during that continental era.

They were already intimately familiar with such rules. Furthermore, with their overwhelming strength, these so-called competitions were merely a formality. Xu Yang's true purpose in participating in this alliance gathering was to find traces of the truly powerful martial artists hiding in the shadows.

As expected, in the initial rounds, Xu Yang and Long Kun defeated their opponents with minimal effort.

Once the list of the final twenty powerful martial artists advancing to the finals was announced, the competition entered its true heated phase. Each peak showdown was scheduled separately, and all elite martial artists from the two major empires attended in person to observe.

The first of these top twenty peak showdowns featured Qing Ya against a powerful martial arts archer from the opposing empire.

Although this individual did not possess the same fortuitous opportunity as Qing Ya to enter the unique Lingxu Realm, their strength had already reached the peak of the Huashin Realm, and the bow and arrow they wielded was a divine artifact of superior quality.

Moreover, this person held the official position of a Commander of Ten Thousand within the empire, commanding a powerful archer team of ten thousand that was renowned throughout the empire.

This time, this individual was essentially here to elevate their status. If they achieved a good ranking in the competition, they would surely be promoted three ranks upon returning to the imperial army.

As he and Qing Ya stood on opposite sides of the arena, a chilling aura of hostility emanated from his cold eyes.

"It's regrettable, little girl, that you are my opponent. This battle is my limit; if I can make it into the top ten, I will voluntarily withdraw.

A tenth-place ranking is a long-desired honor for me, and in this final battle, I will certainly fight with all my might, holding nothing back.

If you are the loser in this battle, I'm afraid you might lose your life."

Perhaps sensing the intense murderous aura emanating from the opponent, Xu Yang temporarily decided to entrust his main divine artifact, the Cold Spring, to Qing Ya.

After all, the Cold Spring was Xu Yang's natal divine artifact, connected to his will. Even with the divine sword in Qing Ya's hands, its power would still be controlled by Xu Yang's spiritual energy.

Therefore, when Qing Ya drew the Cold Spring on the battlefield, a powerful icy aura immediately stunned the martial artists observing from all sides.

"My goodness, what powerful sword energy! Who is this woman? Could she be a princess or royal descendant from the opposing empire? How else could she possess such a peerless divine artifact of this quality?"

Everyone voiced such questions, and their attention became fixated on the Cold Spring divine artifact. Few remained overly concerned with the archer wielding the precious bow.

As Qing Ya gripped the Cold Spring, her heart surged with an intense desire to fight. She could also clearly sense the terrifying power boost the sword granted her.

"Fellow Daoist, don't speak too soon. It's not yet certain who will have the last laugh in this battle."

With thunderous drums echoing in their ears, both sides immediately launched their attacks, unleashing powerful martial arts auras and engaging in fierce combat.

Initially, both sought a close-quarters combat rhythm, but after a few rounds of clashes, the sword light unleashed by the Cold Spring divine artifact proved utterly terrifying.

Every time Qing Ya swung her sword, it would shatter the opponent's protective skills, directly impacting his physical body.

Although Qing Ya's cultivation level surpassed her opponent's, her practical combat ability was still somewhat weaker compared to the battle-hardened killer she faced.

As soon as the opponent let out a furious roar and the bloodthirsty glint in his eyes ignited, Qing Ya would immediately break off her offensive rhythm.

As they traded blows, there was no obvious advantage or disadvantage between them.

Xu Yang, watching from the sidelines, meticulously controlled every detail on the battlefield, constantly using his powerful influence to adjust the Cold Spring divine artifact's operational rhythm.

While everyone perceived Qing Ya as wielding the sword with effortless mastery and divine skill, it was, in fact, Xu Yang using his spiritual energy through the Cold Spring to guide Qing Ya's attacks toward her opponent.

Unfortunately, mobilizing the Cold Spring divine artifact consumed immense energy. After hundreds of rounds of intense fighting, Qing Ya showed clear signs of breathlessness, and even her movement speed slowed. While her opponent was not in a much better state.

However, the opponent's most obvious advantage seemed to have just revealed itself: the individual leaped into the air. Drawing his bow and nocking an arrow, he demonstrated a clear advantage in attack range!

Arrow after arrow whizzed from the precious bow, flying toward Qing Ya.

As expected, this quickly and severely restricted her range of movement, forcing her to passively and continuously swing her main divine artifact to defend against the barrage of incoming arrows.

"Damn it, boss, if this continues, Qing Ya probably won't gain any advantage. Don't you have another way to directly activate the Cold Spring divine artifact to its full potential?"

Faced with Long Kun's question, Xu Yang's expression immediately turned cold.

"The power I choose to use for an attack depends entirely on the opponent's stance. If this individual truly decides to use a fatal attack on Qing Ya, I will not hesitate to intervene and end him."

As Xu Yang spoke, he seemed to once again embody the overwhelming presence of the Son of the Human Emperor. The innate aura emanating from him influenced the surrounding martial artists, who cast astonished glances his way.

As expected, after firing several powerful arrows consecutively, the murderous glint in his eyes ignited once more. He began to gather energy, preparing for his ultimate and most powerful death-dealing arrow.

"Be careful! He's about to unleash his ultimate technique!"

Xu Yang's voice once again entered Qing Ya's mind. The girl did not disappoint him; she gritted her teeth and also began to gather energy for the final stage.

She was preparing the final stage of the War Heaven lineage's ultimate technique, the War Heaven Thunderclap Palm. However, the terrifying arrow released by her opponent unleashed a power that seemed to far exceed her previous estimated limits.