Jiang Liu unleashed the Eight Steps of Trampling, taking six consecutive steps downwards, his entire body's energy condensing into an invisible storm that struck directly at Wang Yisheng.
Wang Yisheng paused slightly, then recovered, but Jiang Liu's broadsword attack had already arrived, so he had no choice but to hurriedly raise his short spear to meet it.
"Bang!" As the swords and spears clashed, Wang Yisheng's figure shot straight toward the edge of the arena. Jiang Liu flashed in front of Wang Yisheng and swept his broadsword horizontally.
Wang Yisheng dodged the sweeping attack, but Jiang Liu's left fist, already poised to strike, blasted Wang Yisheng off the stage.
Wang Yisheng stood below the arena, looking at Jiang Liu in disbelief. He never expected to be defeated, so he immediately went up to the stands next to him without saying a word.
Jiang Liu nodded to Wang Yisheng and turned back to the stands.
Since Han Kesong has given up fighting, the next match will be between Xiahou Yi and Ji Feng to compete for sixth or seventh place.
Ji Feng held his long sword behind his back and leaped onto the arena, while Xiahou Yi gracefully flew onto the arena as well.
Upon seeing Xiahou Yi step onto the arena, Ji Feng didn't even bother to greet her and immediately attacked with his longsword. After all, he had never had any goodwill towards these witches from the heretical cult.
Xiahou Yi looked at Ji Feng with a spring-like gaze, dodged Ji Feng's attack by turning to the side, and then pulled out the ribbon in her left hand to entangle Ji Feng.
Ji Feng used his inner energy to shake off the ribbons binding the longsword, then lunged forward, a short sword appearing in his left hand as he thrust it straight forward.
Xiahou Yi, with the ribbon in his right hand already prepared, wrapped it around Ji Feng's left-hand short sword. Then, he shot three thin needles from the end of the ribbon, which shot towards Ji Feng's chest without making a sound.
Ji Feng activated his Yuan Qi shield, threw his right sword into the air, and thrust it straight down towards Xiahou Yi. His left sword drew a semi-circle, freeing itself from Xiahou Yi's ribbon entanglement, and then thrust straight at Xiahou Yi.
Xiahou Yi turned his body, dodging the long sword falling from mid-air and the short sword thrusting straight at him. Before he could even rejoice, Ji Feng's right palm struck him. Instantly, Xiahou Yi was hit in the chest, and he spat out blood as he flew out of the arena.
As soon as Ji Feng saw Xiahou Yi fall outside the arena, he turned around and went back to the stands. Xiahou Yi looked at Ji Feng, flicked his tongue to wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth back into his mouth, and went back to the stands.
"Jiang Liu, Blade Fiend," Meteor continued calling out names.
Jiang Liu and Blade Fiend stepped onto the arena at the same time. After Jiang Liu stepped onto the arena, he clasped his hands together in a fist salute, while Blade Fiend nodded and then began to gather his strength, leaning on his broadsword.
Jiang Liu ignored him and drew his broadsword, unleashing a Demon-Suppressing Blade Fiend Demon Suppression Blade Technique.
Blade Fiend raised his left palm and channeled his energy, creating a palm shadow that struck Jiang Liu directly.
The palm shadow of the Blade Fiend clashed with Jiang Liu's Demon Suppression Blade Technique. The palm shadow dissipated, and Jiang Liu's greatsword came to a standstill.
Jiang Liu then released his Divine Sense, his spiritual power enveloping the entire arena.
The Grandmaster in the stands immediately noticed and looked at Jiang Liu with disbelief. Only the Feng Family Old Ancestor and Murong Aotian remained calm, because they knew that Jiang Liu's spiritual power had already reached the Grandmaster Realm.
Jiang Liu held the broadsword in both hands and poured his vital energy into it. Gradually, a phantom image of a broadsword appeared on the blade.
Jiang Liu leaped forward, wielding his Blade Fiend at Jiang Liu. Dao Blade Fiend, in turn, raised his broadsword to meet Jiang Liu's attack.
The two men's broadswords clashed with a loud "bang!" and both swords flew backward.
Jiang Liu continued his Blade Fiend, but the greatsword in his hand was formed from Yuan Qi, making it seem as if it were a tangible object as he continued to slash at Blade Fiend.
A large sword formed from Blade Fiend also appeared in Dao Kuang's hand, but as soon as this Yuan Qi sword came into contact with Jiang Liu, it immediately turned into Xu Wu.
Jiang Liu continued to Blade Fiend with his Yuan Qi Greatsword. Just as Jiang Liu was about to Blade Fiend Kuang in two, a Grandmaster suddenly erupted from the stands and enveloped Jiang Liu.
Jiang Liu paused for a moment, and then three Grandmaster- level pressures erupted from the stands, blocking the pressure that was heading towards Jiang Liu.
At this moment, the voice of the Valley Master of Exotic Weapon Valley rang out, "Brother Jiang, on behalf of my disciple, I concede defeat. Please show mercy!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Liu dissipated the Yuan Qi Greatsword in his hand, turned around and nodded to the Valley Master of Exotic Weapon Valley. Then he looked at the other three who were radiating the pressure of Grandmaster. It turned out to be the Feng Family Old Ancestor, Murong Aotian, and Liuxing.
Jiang Liu nodded to the three Grandmaster, then with a flick of his right hand, he caught the flying broadsword and returned to the stands.
The four Grandmaster nodded and then sat down again.
Blade Fiend stood on the stage expressionlessly for a while before recovering, then picked up his broadsword and left the arena.
As soon as Jiang Liu returned to the stands, Murong Yin and Cuier came up to him, pulling Jiang Liu around to look him over as if they were worried he might be injured somewhere.
Jiang Liu slapped their hands away impatiently, sat down in the stands, and watched the upcoming duel.
"He Wentian, Zheng Hanwei," Meteor continued calling out names.
He Wentian Zheng Hanwei leaped onto the arena one after the other, and the two drew their weapons to fight.
Zheng Hanwei powerful straight slash at He Wentian, He Wentian simply flicked his longsword aside, deflecting Zheng Hanwei's broadsword.
Jiang Liu's eyes lit up. He hadn't expected He Wentian's swordsmanship to be so exquisite. He had done a great job of using minimal force to deflect great force.
Then one of them swung his knife straight at the other, while the other, relying on skillful maneuvering, engaged in a prolonged and entangled fight.
Ultimately, Zheng Hanwei's skill was more profound, He Wentian gradually showed signs of fatigue.
Sure enough, it wasn't long before Zheng Hanwei knocked the longsword out of He Wentian's hand. He Wentian then conceded defeat, Zheng Hanwei turned and left the arena.
"The final match, Blade Fiend, Wang Yisheng," Meteor announced loudly.
As soon as the two stepped onto the arena, they each took out their weapons. This time, Blade Fiend didn't gather his strength; he simply picked up his broadsword and started slashing, as if he wanted to vent the anger he felt from losing to Jiang Liu on Wang Yisheng.
Wang Yisheng was not one to be trifled with. He dodged and weaved, but his short gun was always looking for an opportunity to thrust straight at the first chance.
Immediately, on the arena, the figures of the two became increasingly elusive, with only the occasional sound of weapons clashing rang out.
About a quarter of an hour later, Blade Fiend's figure gradually came to a stop, until finally he gripped his large sword, the blade pointing diagonally downwards, waiting for Wang Yisheng's attack.
Wang Yisheng thrust his spear towards Blade Fiend's face. Dao Kuang raised his broadsword to block, and with a clang, the Blade Fiend clashed. Suddenly, the tip of Wang Yisheng's short spear detached and continued flying towards Blade Fiend's face.
As if he had been prepared, Blade Fiend punched the spearhead with his left hand. Instantly, the spearhead bounced back and shot straight at Wang Yisheng. Blade Fiend then gathered his energy and slashed at Wang Yisheng with his broadsword.
Caught off guard, Wang Yisheng hastily leaned back, but before he could react, Blade Fiend kicked him off the stage.
With that, the Yunzhou Martial Arts Tournament came to an end. Meteor then announced the rankings, which are as follows:
First, the Jiang Liu
Second, the Blade Fiend
Third, Wang Yisheng
Fourth, Zheng Hanwei
Fifth, He Wentian
Sixth, Ji Feng
Seventh, Xiahou Yi
Eighth, Han Kesong
Ninth, Duo Yi
Tenth, Li Wenyuan
After announcing the rankings, Meteor turned and left with the other Grandmaster. As for the rewards, they would be delivered to each of them the next day.
Before leaving, the Old Ancestor of the Feng Family nodded to Jiang Liu and then told him to visit the Feng Family when he had time. Jiang Liu nodded in agreement.
The crowd below the arena dispersed, while those who had bet on Jiang Liu went off to collect their bets with great joy. Cuier also went off with a happy expression.
Before long, the details and rankings of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Tournament spread like wildfire throughout the state, especially Jiang Liu, who won first place, attracting much attention.
Although some people had predicted that Jiang Liu would win first place, after seeing Blade Fiend's strength, most people guessed that Blade Fiend would win first place.
In the end, Jiang Liu won first place. Thinking that Blade Fiend was saved by his master, one could feel Jiang Liu's great strength even more at that moment.
Jiang Liu returned to Ascension Tower with Murong Yin and Cuier, feeling exhausted. Although the battles seemed harmless, a single misstep could have been disastrous.
Jiang Liu deeply felt the shortcomings of his martial arts foundation. If it weren't for his superior mental strength and the fact that he had cultivated the Five Elements Primal Qi from the beginning, he would have had a hard time winning first place today.
Immediately, Jiang Liu put away his contemptuous heart, and his ego, which had been swelling with the increase of his strength, gradually sank down.