"What a Rending Sky Blade!"
From the viewing platform, Sect Leader Li and the elders nodded in praise when they saw Lin Han use this move.
"Lin Han is exceptionally gifted and naturally attuned to sharp Metal Qi. If The Way of the Sword Cultivator had not been lost since ancient times, he might have become another peerless Sword Immortal. What a pity..."
"The world has changed. Many cultivation paths that once stood supreme in their time have already declined."
Sect Leader Li sighed softly and turned to Elder Liu.
"Among the Immortal Seedlings Elder Liu brought back last time, wasn't there an unprecedented World-shattering Saintly Body? If the world had not changed, that Sacred Body alone would have been enough to make our Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven renowned throughout the land. What a pity!"
"It truly is a pity!"
Elder Wu Changfeng also sighed. "That child Ye Fan possesses top-tier temperament and perseverance alike. Unfortunately, he is a Sacred Body. Even a holy land cannot afford to nurture one Sacred Body. How could our Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven possibly support him with what little we have?"
While the elders were discussing matters, the situation on the arena had already changed.
"Clang..."
The short sword in Zhou Yi's hand suddenly let out a shrill sword cry.
A watery sheen of sword light rose over the blade. Facing Lin Han's thirty-meter blade aura, Zhou Yi brought his sword down!
"Pfft!"
A soft sound rang out.
The thirty-meter blade aura shattered beneath that single strike.
"Ah!"
Lin Han cried out in pain and crouched down, clutching his head.
This Rending Sky Blade had condensed all of Lin Han's focus. After Zhou Yi destroyed it with one slash, Lin Han's mind was injured, and his head felt as though it were splitting apart.
"Ah! How is that possible?"
"Senior Brother Lin's Rending Sky Blade was broken so easily?"
"Where did this Zhou come from? He's this strong? Dao Sect? What kind of sect is that?"
The highly anticipated Lin Han had been instantly defeated by Zhou Yi in a single move. The disciples below erupted into an uproar, hardly able to believe what they were seeing.
"Zhou Yi has become this strong?"
Pang Bo's mouth hung wide open for a long while.
"He's already far surpassed us."
Ye Fan's face remained expressionless, but stormy waves churned in his heart.
They had come from the same place and shared the same origins. Yet after just one month apart, their former classmate now stood far above them. How could Ye Fan remain calm?
No! I can't keep going like this!
Ye Fan clenched his fists tightly, having already made up his mind.
On the viewing platform.
Sect Leader Li and the elders all drew sharp breaths at the sight.
"A... a sword cultivator?"
"There is still a legacy of sword cultivation in this age?"
The elders were greatly startled by Zhou Yi's sword strike. It was not because the strike itself was particularly powerful, but because sword cultivation had nearly vanished in the present age. The sudden appearance of a sword cultivator shocked them deeply.
Sect Leader Li and Elder Liu exchanged a glance. Both understood, yet neither dared to speak of it openly.
As a disciple of the Celestial Venerable, it was hardly surprising that Zhou Yi knew some sword cultivation techniques.
On the arena.
A steward hurried onto the stage and helped Lin Han down.
Zhou Yi had indeed exchanged for several sword cultivation techniques and spent energy cultivating a thread of sword Qi. However, his cultivation in this regard was still quite shallow. If Lin Han had not imbued his mind within the blade aura, he would not have been injured at all.
Even now, although Lin Han's mind had been harmed, he only needed to rest and recuperate for a few days to recover.
However, in the eyes of the disciples who did not know the truth, Zhou Yi was simply far too arrogant!
Not only had he come to challenge them at their own gates, he had even struck so heavily. Was he looking down on Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven? If they did not teach him a lesson, how could they vent the anger in their hearts?
"Sect Leader, this disciple wishes to exchange pointers with Young Master Zhou. I ask for your permission!"
The one stepping forward was the foremost of the Spirit Void Ten Elites, whose cultivation had broken through the Wheel Sea realm and entered the Dao Palace realm.
Seeing him step forward, the other eager Spirit Void Ten Elites retreated. With Senior Brother taking the field, what could anyone else say?
"Yu Dao? He wants to fight?"
Sect Leader Li suddenly found himself in a difficult position.
He understood Yu Dao's intentions and knew Yu Dao's strength. But he was worried about Zhou Yi! If Yu Dao failed to control himself, things might become troublesome.
"Since this Brother is interested, Sect Leader Li, why not let us exchange pointers?"
Just as Sect Leader Li hesitated, Zhou Yi spoke from the arena.
"Very well!"
Sect Leader Li nodded, thinking, It would do you good to learn a lesson, lest you think our Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven has no one capable.
Having received the Sect Leader's permission, Yu Dao tapped the ground with his foot. His body drifted and turned through the air like a falling leaf in the wind before landing on the arena.
"Excellent!"
"Senior Brother Yu's Autumn Leaves Dance with the Wind is truly lifelike!"
At the sight of Senior Brother Yu Dao's entrance, the disciples below immediately cheered loudly. They were both encouraging their Senior Brother and placing pressure on Zhou Yi.
"Mm! This Autumn Leaves Dance with the Wind truly has impressive mastery. Rising with the wind without leaving a trace—his proficiency is considerable!"
On the viewing platform, an elder nodded in praise.
"Having only just entered the Dao Palace realm, yet already cultivating Autumn Leaves Dance with the Wind to this level—Yu Dao's talent is indeed extraordinary."
On the arena.
When Zhou Yi saw Yu Dao's entrance, he could not help but laugh. Such an ostentatious pose really made him look like he was begging for a beating!
"What are you laughing at? Did I perform Autumn Leaves Dance with the Wind incorrectly?"
Yu Dao looked at Zhou Yi and frowned.
"No! No! Mm, it's a very beautiful movement technique!"
Zhou Yi also felt that he had acted somewhat frivolously and hurriedly smoothed things over.
"Beautiful?"
Hearing that word, Yu Dao raised a brow. Anger rose in his heart, and he stopped wasting words before issuing his challenge directly.
"Please!"
"Please!"
After the formalities were done, Yu Dao's figure flashed, and he waved his hand, scattering a wash of light.
In an instant, the autumn wind turned bleak, and fallen leaves drifted through the air.
Countless fallen leaves floated across the entire arena. They drifted in the wind as though an autumn breeze had blown through, carrying falling leaves everywhere. They appeared utterly natural and seemed to possess no destructive power at all.
Yet every one of those leaves was as sharp as a blade. With a single thought, any leaf could transform into a fierce killing strike.
This was Yu Dao's killing move: Boundless Falling Leaves Rustle Down! Once caught within the attack, one would have to face the assault of countless leaves at every moment—endless and impossible to guard against.
The instant this move appeared, the entire Martial Arts Field fell silent!
"Senior Brother Yu actually has such a killing move? Has Senior Brother never used his true strength before?"
The disciples were filled with shock, while their confidence in Yu Dao's victory surged.
"It really is beautiful!"
Watching the leaves drift down and sensing the chilling killing intent hidden within them, Zhou Yi remained entirely unmoved. He merely praised the magnificent sight of the move.
"You'll soon learn that it is more than merely beautiful."
Yu Dao sneered. His spiritual power surged, and countless leaves shot through the air with a whoosh.
"To defeat an enemy, a single strike is enough! With so many tricks, your strength is only scattered."
Zhou Yi shook his head. His entire body trembled, and brilliant divine radiance lit up around him. A vast spectacle manifested at his side.
Within a boundless ocean, a bright moon slowly rose. Its dazzling radiance illuminated the entire sky. Every leaf that flew toward Zhou Yi was instantly ground to dust within that light.
Amid the boundless moonlight, Zhou Yi gently pressed down his palm.
A gigantic handprint descended, blotting out the sky and covering the earth.
"Pfft!"
The spectacle of endless fallen leaves shattered instantly, and Yu Dao spat out a mouthful of blood as he was sent flying backward.
"Ocean Surfaces, Bright Moon Ascends! A Divine Body Phenomenon!"
"Void Great Handprint!"
"Isn't his surname Zhou? How could he..."
Everyone on the viewing platform was so shocked that they sprang to their feet.