Chapter 95: First Person Battle

“Wait. In my view, today's competition is utterly pointless and there's no need to continue.”

From high above, a voice gently descended. It wasn't a thunderous roar, yet it reached everyone's ears with undeniable clarity.

Everyone gazed upwards, as Xu Yang and Huang Tian landed steadily in the center of the battle arena.

“It's him! Xu Yang from the Tianlan Sect! He's been the talk of the town recently. Rumor has it he's an ancient, almost ancestral-level figure within the Tianlan Sect, truly unfathomable!”

“What's happening? I thought the Tianlan Sect's registered participant was their current Sect Master, Ling Qingshu. Are they making a last-minute change?”

Xu Yang chuckled softly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and then he addressed their unspoken questions.

“That's because someone ambushed and abducted our Tianlan Sect's Master en route, intending to claim first place in this competition for themselves!”

Xu Yang's declaration was startling. The Eighth Prince's brow furrowed in fury. He slammed his hand on the table and rose, exclaiming, “Who dares to act so presumptuously at my Great Xia Dynasty's martial arts competition? Apprehend them at once!”

“Hold on! Eighth Brother, the essence of this competition is absolute fairness and justice. If this person's claims are true—if someone genuinely tampered with other participants to secure first place—and it's proven, it would be a severe blow to our imperial family's reputation. We must proceed with extreme caution!”

The Fifth Prince, a rival and competitor of the Eighth Prince, naturally seized this opportunity, immediately siding with Xu Yang.

The Third Prince, standing nearby, nodded calmly and turned his attention back to Xu Yang.

“Sir, you may as well point out your suspect now. If your accusation proves true, this Prince will ensure the Tianlan Sect receives justice!”

These were the very words Xu Yang sought. He slowly raised a hand, pointing directly at Zhao Tianxun.

“It's the Grand Sect Master of the Tianwu Sect, Zhao Tianxun!”

“What?! This... how can this be?”

“Zhao Tianxun of the Tianwu Sect is already recognized as the strongest in Tianwu Commandery and the top contender for this competition. With his power, he wouldn't need to resort to such a scheme. This doesn't add up!”

“Exactly! You're slandering the Tianwu Sect with baseless accusations. What evidence do you have?”

Many voiced their skepticism, and numerous Cavern-Heaven realm experts from the Tianwu Sect faction echoed their sentiments, clearly intending to intimidate the opposition.

Xu Yang didn't bother explaining to them. He simply stomped his foot, unleashing a vast, ocean-like surge of spiritual energy that rippled outwards in all directions. All cultivators below the Cavern-Heaven realm were swept off their feet and sent flying. Even the Cavern-Heaven realm experts experienced spasms in their meridians and surging blood, their fundamental spiritual energies nearly destabilized.

“Such formidable cultivation! The rumors are indeed true; this individual is far more than a simple Qi Refining realm cultivator!”

“This is terrifying... Does this mean he intends to challenge everyone present?”

Xu Yang observed the stunned expressions on everyone's faces and simply offered a calm smile. “Is there anyone here,” he asked, “who dares to challenge Grand Sect Master Zhao of the Tianwu Sect?”

Initially, leaders from various factions had entertained the thought of challenging him. However, after witnessing Xu Yang's casual display of power, they realized their own foundations were shallow and utterly insignificant compared to his. Naturally, they abandoned any notion of stepping forward and embarrassing themselves.

“If not, then I will directly face Zhao Tianxun in a final duel. Once I personally subdue him, the truth will naturally become clear to everyone.”

“Hmph, you speak with great arrogance, young man! No matter how strong a mere Qi Refining realm cultivator you are, can you truly defeat the foremost expert of Tianwu Commandery, a peak Cavern-Heaven master?”

The speaker's affiliation was unknown, but they were clearly one of the Tianwu Sect's adherents.

Xu Yang, realizing there were individuals like this in the crowd, decided to make an example. He extended a palm through the air. The white-haired elder who had spoken instantly had his Daoist robe shredded, and he was sent flying like a madman, instinctively clutching his body and screaming as he vanished from sight.

“My goodness! This... this is utterly incredible, isn't it?”

“A force unleashed from hundreds of meters away, effortlessly shattering a Cavern-Heaven realm expert's protective qi, yet controlled with such exquisite precision that it shredded his robes without inflicting the slightest physical harm! Such mastery over spiritual energy is simply beyond anything we can contend with!”

Many of the curious onlookers finally settled down, their eyes wide and their mouths clamped shut.

It was at this precise moment that the Third Prince directly addressed Zhao Tianxun, simultaneously reiterating his support for Xu Yang's stance.

“My dear brothers, in my view, our imperial father organized this competition to select the preeminent leader of the cultivation world within our domain. As long as the strongest emerges victorious, the process itself becomes secondary. The clash between Xu Yang and Zhao Tianxun should ultimately be the result we seek.”

The Fifth Prince immediately bowed and clasped his hands. “Third Brother speaks truly,” he affirmed. “Let them begin their match directly. If Zhao Tianxun prevails, then we shall simply consider this young man a meddler. However, if Xu Yang truly wins, then his claims of abduction will be thoroughly investigated and verified. I doubt he would dare trifle with the dignity of our imperial family.”

Huang Tian chuckled dismissively from the side, thinking to himself, “Before Xu Yang, what significance does the Great Xia Dynasty truly hold?”

Seeing no other option, Zhao Tianxun reluctantly stepped onto the battle stage. At the same time, he genuinely wished to witness Xu Yang's true capabilities.

After all, if he intended to absorb the Tianlan Sect, he would have to overcome Xu Yang, sooner or later.

Rumble!

A powerful surge of aura erupted, astonishing everyone present!

Behind Zhao Tianxun, a dark, long blade materialized.

“It's that! The Meteorite Blade, renowned as the Great Xia's foremost treasure! Legend has it that its previous wielder once cleaved a massive peak in two with a single strike!”

Zhao Tianxun smirked, gently caressing the blade and basking in the murmurs of praise from the onlookers, before fixing an indifferent gaze on Xu Yang.

“Are you not using a weapon? A mere mortal body cannot withstand the Meteorite Blade's edge. I fear you won't even realize how you died.”

Xu Yang merely smiled. “Go ahead and strike me with that piece of scrap metal,” he challenged. “If I so much as twitch, I lose.”

The smile on Zhao Tianxun's face vanished instantly. He didn't believe Xu Yang's words were genuine; he merely took them as an act of contempt and mockery. Raising his blade, he brought it crashing down towards Xu Yang's face.

CRASH!

The wild and unparalleled blade edge hummed, then descended with unswerving precision towards Xu Yang's face.

How concentrated was that dark, ominous glow? Had it been anyone else without a cultivation level matching Zhao Tianxun's, that single strike would undoubtedly have reduced them to a bloody pulp.

A supreme cultivation realm, combined with a top-tier weapon, cemented Zhao Tianxun's formidable reputation as the foremost expert in Tianwu Commandery.

However, after this particular match, none of that would matter to him any longer.

BOOM!

The blade plunged down, stopping an inch above Xu Yang's head, but was met by an unimaginable, starlight-like radiance that repelled it outwards.

Zhao Tianxun had no escape. He absorbed a tremendous force head-on, and both he and his blade were sent hurtling hundreds of meters away.

“Wh-what?!”

“That Xu Yang... he didn't even move, and he sent the Meteorite Blade flying?!”