Chapter 192: Easy Advancement

“Captain, this guy’s defensive techniques are too powerful. Let’s deal with those four women behind him first!”

The speaker was the second-in-command of Xuanyuan Empire’s second team. Unable to defeat the man, who was too resilient, he instinctively turned his gaze towards the women behind.

“Hmph,” Long Kun sneered, “To be frank with you, those women are far more terrifying than me. If you truly face them, you will be utterly defeated! What’s more, if you can’t even defeat me alone, you don’t deserve to do anything else. Now, behold my true power.”

As Long Kun finished speaking, he soared into the air. A vast surge of crimson flame erupted from within him. Little did they know that the True Phoenix Fire was his signature technique.

“What?!”

When the incredibly dense flames erupted without warning, the Third Prince and his four companions fell into complete despair. They had never dreamed that this individual, proficient in the power of the Black Tortoise, could also wield the power of the Phoenix!

“How remarkable… To think the Yuanyang Empire harbored such a master. There was no information about these individuals in previous intelligence reports. This person alone possesses two schools of the long-lost Four Symbols Limitless Technique. It’s terrifying!” Elders from various empires and sacred sects around them exclaimed in admiration. How could they have known that the old woman who had always looked after Long Kun belonged to the continent’s most elite Phoenix clan?

The power of the True Phoenix Fire was undeniable. Originally, the technique had a clear flaw: it required a two-second charging period. Against top masters, without the assistance and coordination of teammates, Long Kun would find it very difficult to unleash this technique.

However, this time he seized the opportunity presented by Xuanyuan’s second team, who were arrogant and knew nothing about him. He perfectly unleashed a wave of the earth-shattering True Phoenix Fire, achieving his primary goal of making an overwhelming statement.

“Aargh!!”

The Third Prince’s delusions were finally extinguished with the arrival of this wave of True Phoenix Fire. As he was engulfed and sent flying back as a human-shaped fireball, the expressions of the Xuanyuan Imperial family members turned extremely grim.

“Useless!”

“Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This is only the second team. Our first team, led by the Second Prince and Xuanyuan Empire’s strongest five-member youth group, is personally overseeing things. They will surely reach the final!”

After some appeasement, the Xuanyuan Emperor finally somewhat quelled his rage. He cast a disappointed glance at the center of the battlefield, as if lamenting their failure, and then dismissed the matter.

The Third Prince and his four companions completely lost their combat ability. Although powerful medical cultivators from the Thousand Cloud Sect immediately provided treatment outside the arena, the five of them would be unable to use their cultivation techniques or spiritual power for a short period.

“First match: Yuanyang Empire Team One, victorious!”

The announcer’s declaration of this result sparked widespread discussion among countless observers from all ten factions in the arena.

“Everyone said the Yuanyang Empire was doomed, but it seems that was all false information. With a guard of a thousand cultivators and such astonishing new generation of powerful disciples, it looks like their legacy will endure for a long time.”

“One person… my heavens, one person defeated five opponents, and four others preserved their strength. That’s a bit much, isn’t it?!”

“It seems this year, the Yuanyang Empire might just be aiming for the championship!”

Most reactions were exclamations of awe and praise. Only among the Northern Jin Empire’s high-ranking officials were expressions mostly grim.

“With such profound heritage in the Yuanyang Empire, do you truly have the confidence to defeat them?” Emperor Tuoba Yun of the Northern Jin Empire asked chillingly, addressing Feng Xiu, the seated leader of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance beside him.

Feng Xiu sat with his eyes closed, in a meditative, half-cultivating posture. He hadn’t opened his eyes to watch the match at all. Firstly, because he clearly understood that the strength of Yuanyang Empire’s first team was far beyond what their opponents could match. Secondly, as the leader of the Northern Jin Sword Alliance and the primary instigator behind the recent ambush on Yuan Haotian, this individual knew very well that the most formidable person in the Yuanyang Empire’s team wasn’t any of those on the field, but Xu Yang, who was strategizing from the sidelines.

“Your Majesty, rest assured. Once they reach the finals, those individuals will surely face certain death.”

With Feng Xiu’s words, Tuoba Yun seemed much more at ease.

The Yuanyang Empire shared a direct border with Northern Jin. Among the five major empires present, they were the only top power with long-standing military conflicts against Yuanyang. It would be no exaggeration to call the two sides mortal enemies. Their purpose in attending the competition was never to win the championship. Their sole objective was to uncover the Yuanyang Empire’s true capabilities and seize an opportunity. Of course, given the strength of the team they dispatched, the championship was merely a byproduct.

Because the tournament had a very tight schedule, competitors had limited time to rest and recover. Most factions brought their own medical cultivators and teams of cultivators proficient in recovery techniques. Only the Yuanyang Empire had no special provisions. In fact, they didn’t need any. In the first round, the Three Goddesses and Little Tuantuan didn’t even make a move, and Long Kun’s True Black Tortoise Technique inherently possessed powerful self-recovery attributes, giving him a considerable advantage in prolonged battles.

“Hehe, Boss, how was my performance?” Long Kun was in high spirits after leaving the arena. He quickly went up to Xu Yang, eager to show off. Xu Yang simply smiled, offering no other comment.

“Your strength has undoubtedly been acknowledged by everyone,” Xu Yang said, “but the first round is just for eliminating mere participants. The intensity of the next match will increase by more than one level. You can’t fight alone anymore. Furthermore, Little Tuantuan needs protection. It’s impossible for you all to exert your maximum combat power individually. This is something you need to pay attention to.”

Long Kun chuckled, “Don’t worry, Boss, this championship is definitely ours!”

Everyone took their positions. Immediately following, the third match began, featuring Yuanyang Empire’s second team in their first round. Their opponent happened to be the Northern Jin Empire’s top-seeded team.

“Huh, where are the Northern Jin Empire’s contestants?” The crowd in the arena was momentarily bewildered. After looking around for a while, they finally saw a handsome young man with flowing long hair slowly approaching from the Northern Jin faction. He was exceptionally handsome, his long hair a mix of black with hints of white. His azure robe swayed in the wind, as if every movement was imbued with natural Dao rhythm. This was precisely Feng Xiu’s chief disciple—Feng Qingyao.

“A sword realm of peak sword dao! A cultivation of perfected primordial spirit! My heavens… this guy!” Long Kun and his companions were stunned. Little did they know that this individual was the most formidable opponent in the entire martial arts competition.

“Yuanyang Empire’s second team? Such trash doesn’t even warrant our presence,” Feng Qingyao declared. “If you can just move my sword, make it leave this spot, then you win.”

“What?! He’s so arrogant? Damn, that kid really dares to talk!”

“He wants to fight five opponents with just one sword? That’s too insulting, isn't it?”