Deciding Victory or Defeat
"'Qiu Niu Lock'? What's that?"
Upon hearing Qiu Niu's words, people focused their attention. In fact, they could not see anything on the arena, but by concentrating their senses, they could feel an unusual fluctuation of primordial energy in the center of the Divine Desolation Stage!
These vital energies gathered together, solidifying and not dissipating!
"The Qiu Niu Lock'? It used compressed energy to trap Yi Yun?"
Several experienced trial participants had a more acute sense of vital energy, and they understood Qiu Niu's plan. Yi Yun's Movement Technique was too powerful, so Qiu Niu used the "Qiu Niu Lock" to lock Yi Yun up.
Even if it only locks Qiu Niu in place for a few breaths, that's enough!
Because Qiu Niu's frontal attacks are too terrifying, no one can stop them! As long as Qiu Niu Yi Yun to take a hit, they can win this battle!
"This tactic is very effective. Qiu Niu really won't let Yi Yun exhaust himself like this. Yi Yun is in danger now!"
People held their breath; Qiu Niu's attack could easily kill someone if he wasn't careful!
Below the arena, physicians were already on high alert. Most of these physicians were previous graduates of the Tai'a Divine City Trial, serving as senior brothers Senior Disciple Sister to the newcomers present. Their job was to treat the seriously injured participants and ensure their safety.
But weapons have no eyes, and every year in the arena, some people die due to accidents.
People like Qiu Niu are dangerous individuals who require extra attention; those who confront him are highly likely to be killed or injured!
Qiu Niu slowly circulated the power within his body, staring intently at Yi Yun like a hungry tiger.
"My 'Qiu Niu Lock' isn't strong; you can break it in just two breaths. However... I won't give you that chance! I will use all my strength, my strongest attack, to defeat you!"
"This attack is a move from the last three levels of the 'Divine Ox King Power.' I can barely execute it myself. Its power is too great; even I cannot fully control it. Once unleashed, it could be fatal. It's not too late for you to admit defeat now!"
As Qiu Niu spoke, he slightly squatted down, kneeling on one knee. In this strange posture, he gripped the shaft of the great halberd with both hands, and the vital energy within his body was like a volcano brewing!
Facing Qiu Niu, Yi Yun remained silent. He gently flipped the Thousand Army Saber, its tip aimed at Qiu Niu.
This was Yi Yun's answer.
Qiu Niu laughed. "You really don't admit defeat! Otherwise, you wouldn't deserve to be an opponent I take seriously and respect. Now, take this strike!!"
"Boom!"
The vital energy within Qiu Niu's body erupted, and the surging vital energy condensed behind Qiu Niu, slowly forming the phantom of a one-horned blue bull!
At this moment, Qiu Niu's body seems to be slowly growing taller, giving people the illusion of standing tall and upright.
"Azure Ox Hegemony Blood!"
Qiu Niu roared, his aura reaching its peak. He charged out with unstoppable force, Qiu Niu the Purple Tungsten Steel arena with a single stomp, leaving a footprint!
Qiu Niu, wielding a massive halberd and carrying surging power, slammed the halberd down at Yi Yun with the support of the phantom of the Azure Ox!
No one doubted that this strike could absolutely cleave the arena in two!
Faced with this storm of attacks, Yi Yun remained surprisingly calm. He gripped the sword with both hands, the tip of the Thousand Army Saber Blade pointing diagonally at the ground. At this moment, Yi Yun was like an ancient well, his mind completely integrated with the Thousand Army Saber.
The various insights gained from being in the Blade Tomb surged into Yi Yun's heart.
After many days of arduous study in the Blade Tomb, Yi Yun Yi Yun memorized the energy flow trajectory within those thirty-two characters.
That energy, those strokes of the calligraphy, all contain the essence of the sword!
And this moment is the time to verify your understanding!
Just as Qiu Niu's halberd fell like a mountain, a glint flashed in Yi Yun's eyes, and he unleashed Thousand Army Saber, its Mysterious Jade Color blade light soaring straight into the sky!
At that moment, it seemed as if everything in the world dimmed, time stopped, sound fell silent, leaving only this blade of light, tearing everything apart with unstoppable momentum!
The Thirty-two Sword Dao Characters -- King's Reign Over the World!!
"Snap!"
As the blade and halberd clashed, Yi Yun, like a god, wielded the Thousand Army Saber and passed right by Qiu Niu! Alone with his blade, he charged directly into the roaring phantom of the blue bull!
This illusory image of the Azure Ox was the condensation of all the vital energy within Qiu Niu's "Azure Ox Hegemony Blood"! However, Yi Yun's blade fell with unstoppable force.
The phantom of the Azure Ox was cleaved in two by the Thousand Army Saber!
"Boom!"
The energy exploded, and the energy wall of the Qiu Niu Lock burst open. A vast amount of energy swept out, and the weapon racks around the Divine Desolation Stage were pushed away by the shockwave. Even the Purple Tungsten Steel protective wall trembled violently!
However, Yi Yun's Thousand Army Saber had already broken through all the energy, and his body was several dozen feet away from Qiu Niu, landing steadily.
The tip of Thousand Army Saber touched the ground, and Yi Yun turned around.
On the arena, Qiu Niu to Yi Yun, his body completely frozen.
He held the halberd in his hand, maintaining the downward-falling posture, his entire body frozen in place, as if petrified.
His gaze was fixed, his facial muscles twitched, and he lowered his head with great difficulty, staring at his chest in disbelief.
A line of blood appeared between Qiu Niu's eyebrows, running diagonally down his nose, cheek, chin, and chest.
Under the immense pressure of Qiu Niu's swollen muscles, the wound paused for a few breaths before fresh blood splattered from the bloodline, making a hissing sound.
Qiu Niu was slashed by Yi Yun's blade, the cut running from his brow to his left ribcage, a gash over two feet long, severing each rib cleanly!
This strike cleaved through the illusory image of the Azure Ox, severed the Protective Vital Energy of the Qiu Niu, and simultaneously severed the Qiu Niu's iron-solid muscles and nine ribs on its left chest!
The blood flowed more and more, covering Qiu Niu's face, neck, and chest, making Qiu Niu look incredibly ferocious.
He clearly felt that Yi Yun's knife cut through his ribs and then grazed along the wall of his heart muscle!
If he had gone in just one more inch, his heart would have been ripped open, and he would have died!
However, Yi Yun controlled the power of his blade perfectly, not cutting even a fraction too much!
That strike was terrifying!
Qiu Niu felt his palms sweating. Among the newcomers of Tai'a Divine City, there was such an opponent—one strike was all it took to utterly defeat him!
Moreover, Yi Yun directly accepted his "Azure Ox Hegemony Blood"!
This was Qiu Niu's strongest attack, one that even he couldn't fully control. He was defeated while unleashing this attack, and he accepted his defeat wholeheartedly!
"Yi Yun versus Qiu Niu, Yi Yun wins!"
The referee gave Yi Yun a deep look and announced the result of the match: Qiu Niu had nine broken ribs, and his chest muscles had been cut open by the Thousand Army Saber. His left lung and heart were unprotected. He could barely breathe and naturally lost the ability to fight.
At this moment, four doctors who had been prepared rushed onto the stage, took out the healing medicine they had prepared, and treated Qiu Niu's injuries.
Of the four doctors, three were women and one was a man. They all initially thought that this time they were going to treat Yi Yun's injuries, and that it might even result in someone's death.
But unexpectedly, the result was completely the opposite. The one who was injured was Qiu Niu.
Upon seeing Qiu Niu's wound, they were speechless with astonishment. The control over the cut was so precise, it was as if they had made it with a scalpel.
A terrifying slash!
Several doctors looked at Yi Yun, increasingly convinced that this junior was unfathomable. They suspected he might soar to great heights in the future!
"You're too kind!"
Yi Yun, holding the Thousand Army Saber, clasped his hands in a fist salute, turned around, and walked down from the Divine Desolation Stage!
He knew Qiu Niu would be alright; his final strike avoided all of Qiu Niu's vital points.
This strike was something he comprehended in the Blade Tomb. Yi Yun had spent so much time comprehending in the Blade Tomb, and he had only managed to comprehend two strikes in total.
This "King's Reign Over the World" is the first strike. This strike cannot actually capture the essence of the Thirty-two Sword Dao Characters. If one were to insist on the true meaning contained in this strike, it would probably only possess one-thousandth or even one-ten-thousandth of the Mysterious Charm of the Thirty-two Sword Dao Characters.
Even so, combined with Yi Yun's Pure Yang Vital Energy, it still possesses such power!
At this moment, the way people looked at Yi Yun from the surrounding stands had completely changed.
Recalling the final blow, they felt as if they were in a dream, and they still hadn't recovered.
Qiu Niu's move "Azure Ox Hegemony Blood" was earth-shattering, but Yi Yun actually blocked it with his long and narrow Thousand Army Saber, and even cut through Qiu Niu's Protective Vital Energy with one strike, directly securing the victory!
An incredible reversal!!
People thought that Qiu Niu's attack was impossible to withstand head-on, but Yi Yun not only withstood it head-on, but also defeated Qiu Niu directly!
Imagine an ancient bull charging menacingly at a person, but the person stands still and kills the ancient bull with a single punch!
This is absolutely outrageous!
Even after Yi Yun had returned to his seat, many people still had their mouths agape in surprise.
"This is incredible... incredible... Is Yi Yun going to take first place among the newcomers!?"
Yi Yun's victory over Qiu Niu with such power was beyond all expectations.
Who else can compete with him?
Previously, Yi Yun knocked out one opponent after another with just a brick. Being able to do that is certainly impressive, but it doesn't inspire fear.
Yi Yun didn't draw his sword then, so no one knew how good his swordsmanship was. Now, however, they had witnessed it.
It's absolutely terrifying!
"How can there be such a huge gap between him and me... I really... can't believe it..." Among the crowd, Gu Mu, whose prestige was originally no less than Yi Yun's, turned pale after witnessing this battle.
Such strength was simply beyond his comprehension!
He had always wanted to fight Yi Yun, but now it seemed like a complete joke.
Meanwhile, in the elders' seats on the arena, an Enforcement Envoy, after watching the match, revealed a strange expression on his face, which was covered by a black cloak.
"That swordsmanship... did I see wrong? He's so young, and he's only been in Tai'a Divine City for three months, it shouldn't be possible..." He raised an eyebrow and asked the arena steward beside him, "Was a record of this battle made on the array plate?"
"Of course..." the steward said respectfully. Every important battle in the arena was recorded using array plates and then stored in the archives for future reference.
"Give me a copy!" the Enforcement Envoy said. Unsure, he planned to give the image of the array plate to the elder of the Divine City to confirm his guess...
He actually felt the chances were slim, but it would be better to confirm with the elders.
[Second update, finally before midnight. I was exhausted from the car ride yesterday, and then I had to write another update, which really took a toll on my health. Since I didn't have any drafts saved, please don't wait too late for updates. Seeing everyone posting in the book review section is putting so much pressure on me! /(ㄒoㄒ)/~~~~~~~~~.]
...(To be continued~^~)