First Place in the Grand Competition

As Lin Tian's cultivation at the peak of Qi Refining Level 9 erupted, his emerald sword intent surged like a raging tide, engulfing the entire arena in a terrifying pressure.

Su Yu's fierce wind sword intent began to falter, his sword strikes momentarily losing their flow.

With another heavy blow, Su Yu retreated several steps, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

But the fighting spirit in his eyes intensified, and his sword intent suddenly shifted—

Cloud Vortex!

Nine cloud patterns, solid as substance, bloomed at the tip of his sword, now faintly showing signs of merging.

Seeing this, Lin Tian's attacks grew fiercer, each strike carrying the force to shatter mountains and break seas:

"Break for me!"

The cloud patterns were shattered again and again, only to reform each time.

Su Yu was like a lone boat in a storm, seemingly on the verge of capsizing at any moment, yet always managing to escape danger at the last possible second.

On the stage, as the ninth cloud pattern shattered once more, a sudden change occurred!

Boom—

All the cloud pattern fragments suddenly surged back, coalescing around Su Yu into a vast, ethereal sea of clouds.

Flowing Cloud Sword Style perfected, Flowing Cloud Sword Intent formed!

"This child..."

Lu Yue leaned forward involuntarily, his eyes flashing.

He actually achieved a breakthrough under pressure!

As an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, he knew too well what kind of talent was required for such a mid-battle breakthrough.

Su Tianheng's teacup cracked.

Perfecting the Flowing Cloud Sword Style in a month? This simply defied his understanding.

Recalling his own words to Su Yu, his face suddenly felt hot.

With another heavy blow, Lin Tian staggered to the edge of the stage.

His handsome face was now contorted in disbelief, his eyes filled with it.

As the undisputed top genius of Skywind City's younger generation, the future leader of the Lin Family, he was actually pushed to such a state by someone he once...

"Impossible... this is absolutely impossible..."

Lin Tian growled in a low voice, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.

Blood dripped from his wrists, but it inexplicably floated in mid-air, transforming into wisps of blood mist that coiled around him.

The audience erupted in commotion:

"That's... the Blood Burning Technique?"

An elderly Martial Artist shot to his feet, his voice trembling.

"The Lin Family's secret forbidden art! Legend has it that using it can temporarily elevate one's realm, but it severely damages one's vital energy..."

"But Lin Tian is only in the Qi Refining Realm, how could he..."

Amidst the murmurs, thick blood mist enveloped Lin Tian.

His aura surged, breaking through the shackles of Qi Refining in an instant and reaching the Spirit Condensation Realm!

"Brother Yu..."

Su Yan's relieved heart leaped back into his throat, the wounds beneath his bandages oozing blood again from excessive tension.

The crowd in the audience exchanged bewildered glances; the direction of this duel had completely exceeded expectations.

"It's not too late to kneel down now."

Lin Tian's voice was hoarse, inhuman, with blood foam spilling from his lips with every word.

"Otherwise... I will make you wish you were dead."

Su Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, his aura suddenly shifting.

The left half of his body radiated the Flowing Cloud Sword Intent like smoke and mist, while the right half churned with the roaring wind sword intent. These two entirely different sword intents began to intertwine under his exquisite control.

"What is this...?"

The audience was in an uproar.

Someone exclaimed, "What kind of martial skill is this? Its aura is not inferior to the Spirit Condensation Realm!"

However, no one could provide an answer, as no one had ever seen such a peculiar sword intent.

On the high platform, Lu Yue's teacup shattered.

He stared intently at the swirling blue and white energies on Su Yu's body, his eyes blazing: "A High-grade Human-tier sword skill? No... that's not right..."

Even with his Essence Transformation Realm vision, he couldn't discern the origin of this sword skill.

Putting on an act!

Lin Tian grinned menacingly and lunged, his bloody Spirit Snake Sword Intent transforming into a ten-zhang giant python, its fangs spitting out the terrifying pressure of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

The power of this strike made all the Qi Refining Realm Martial Artists present feel suffocated.

Wind Rolls Flowing Clouds · Combine!

Su Yu's sword tip spun lightly, and the two Sword Intents finally merged perfectly.

In an instant, the stage's winds and clouds changed color. A green tornado, entwined with cloud patterns, rose from the ground and collided violently with the bloody giant python!

Rumble—

Amidst the deafening explosion, the protective formation trembled violently.

When the smoke and dust cleared, everyone was horrified to discover.

Su Yu hadn't retreated even half a step!

How is this possible!

Lin Tian's pupils constricted, the color draining from his face.

He frantically activated the Blood Burning Technique, his attacks becoming fiercer with each blow.

However, Su Yu remained calm and composed, his every block and counterattack precise to an infuriating degree.

Deep within Su Yu's soul, the pale yellow light sphere continued to emit a gentle radiance.

Under this light, every flaw in Lin Tian's attacks was laid bare, every move as clear as lines on his palm.

The one hundred and eighth move...

Su Yu suddenly whispered, his eyes flashing with brilliance.

He swung his sword once more, and the Wind Rolls Flowing Clouds Sword Intent abruptly converged into a single line.

The sword light was like a rainbow, piercing through heaven and earth.

Lin Tian was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily outside the stage.

He struggled to get up, but instead spat out a mouthful of blood, his blood armor shattering inch by inch.

The entire venue fell silent.

A moment later, thunderous cheers echoed through the sky.

No one had expected this battle to end in such a shocking manner.

Su Yu, at Qi Refining Level 8, had defeated Lin Tian, who was at the Spirit Condensation Realm!

The winner... Su Yu! The referee's voice trembled slightly.

On the Su Family's seating, Su Yun gazed at the figure standing proudly on the stage. Instead of defeat, his eyes burned with unprecedented fighting spirit.

Su Mei clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, starlight twinkling in her eyes.

She looked at Su Yu's figure, as if seeing a towering mountain that needed to be looked up to.

Brother Yu... Brother Yu won!

Su Yan suddenly stood up from his wheelchair, completely disregarding the blood seeping through his bandages.

This usually strong young man was now in tears, as if he were crying out all the grievances he had suffered over the years.

He wiped his tears haphazardly, but they only increased, and finally, he burst into laughter: I knew it! I knew it!

On the Lin Family's seating, Lin Xuan slumped onto his chair as if he had lost his parents.

He stared blankly at the unconscious Lin Tian, then at Su Yu, who stood tall like a sword on the stage, feeling as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

It's over... it's all over...

He nervously gnawed on his fingernails until his mouth was full of the taste of blood.

At this moment, he secretly vowed: From now on, if I encounter Su Yu, no, I must steer clear of anyone from the Su Family...

On the high platform, Lin Zhentian's face was ashen, his withered fingers digging deeply into the sandalwood armrest.

This child... must die!

He roared in his heart.