Yuwen Jie's Breakthrough

The cheers had yet to fully subside when the Outer Sect Deacon's resonant voice rang out again:

"Second match, Zhang Heng versus Yuwen Jie!"

Yuwen Jie, clad in black, strode onto the stage, each step seemingly measured with precision.

He glanced indifferently at the young man holding a sword opposite him. "Surrender. You are no match for me."

Zhang Heng tightened his grip on the Frost Sword, its blade emitting a faint blue glow. "On the path of martial arts, how can one be timid before even fighting?"

Before his words could fully land, Yuwen Jie had already closed the distance like a phantom.

The first stance of the Mad Demon Fist, Mad Demon Break, was unleashed with a roar. The air distorted and warped in its wake!

"Frost Condense!"

Zhang Heng's sword tip spun rapidly, erecting three ice walls before him. However—

Crack!

The first punch cracked the ice wall.

The second punch shattered it into flying shards.

The third punch sent Zhang Heng, sword and all, flying backward, crashing heavily at the edge of the arena.

He struggled to rise, only to spit out a mouthful of blood.

Yuwen Jie wins!

This crushing victory didn't elicit much surprise.

The disciples in the stands were already accustomed to Yuwen Jie's power. Some even quipped, "It's quite impressive that Zhang Heng lasted three punches."

In the subsequent matches, Su Yu also defeated Zhang Heng with ease.

When the Azure Edge Sword stopped three inches from Zhang Heng's throat, the stubborn swordsman finally conceded with a wry smile.

The most regrettable match, however, was between Lu Zi'ang and Yuwen Jie.

Lu Zi'ang, once the proud second-ranked disciple of the Outer Sect, now lacked his usual sharpness.

Facing Yuwen Jie's tempestuous assault, he could only hold on for seven moves before being defeated.

"Your mind is unsettled," Yuwen Jie stated coldly as he withdrew his fist. "A martial artist's greatest weakness is impatience."

The final match for third place was exceptionally fierce.

Zhang Heng's Frost Sword and Lu Zi'ang's Meteor Sword wove dazzling patterns of light across the arena.

Both had already lost two matches; this fight was about their final shred of dignity.

"Star Burst!"

After more than thirty exchanges, Lu Zi'ang finally found an opening.

His sword, like a meteor falling from the sky, pierced Zhang Heng's defense with a final surge of defiance.

The Frost Sword flew from Zhang Heng's grasp, embedding itself deeply into a stone pillar at the arena's edge.

Lu Zi'ang wins!

Amidst the roaring cheers of the crowd, Zhang Heng painfully got to his feet and cupped his fist in salute to his opponent.

Lu Zi'ang, however, stared at his own trembling hands.

Though he had won this battle, he knew that the proud self he once was had died with Su Yu's sword.

On the martial arts field, as the Outer Sect Deacon's booming voice fell silent, the entire venue erupted in excitement.

"Yuwen Jie versus Su Yu!"

The announcement of this matchup was like a spark falling onto dry tinder, instantly igniting the atmosphere.

Deafening cheers erupted from the audience, everyone eager to witness this peak battle.

As the two men slowly walked onto the martial arts stage, Yuwen Jie's hawk-like eyes fixed directly on Su Yu.

His voice was low and filled with pressure. "Your previous move did indeed make me feel threatened. Unfortunately..."

A cold smile touched his lips. "If it were yesterday, you might have had a chance to fight. But today, you are destined to fall before me."

Su Yu's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

He keenly sensed the change brewing within Yuwen Jie, the continuously rising aura making him instantly grasp the opponent's intention.

In the stands, Grand Elder Mo Yuan's gaze sharpened. "Yuwen Jie is about to break through to the Spirit Condensation Realm on the spot," he stated gravely.

Elder Li Xun sighed, shaking his head. "Su Yu might have had a chance originally, but this is dangerous now."

Elder Lu Yue, however, looked thoughtful.

The scene of Su Yu's battle against Lin Tian flashed through his mind.

Even when Lin Tian used the Blood Burning Technique to forcibly raise his realm, he still lost to Su Yu's sword.

Perhaps this young man could truly create another miracle?

Below the arena, the audience was in an uproar.

Some shook their heads regretfully, "What a shame. If Yuwen Jie hadn't broken through at the last moment, Su Yu might have actually made history."

Others sighed, "The gap between the Spirit Condensation Realm and the Qi Refining Realm is ultimately not something talent can bridge."

Su Yan and Su Mei stood at the edge of the arena, their gazes fixed on the figure on the stage.

Even with the situation so unfavorable, they still firmly believed Su Yu could create a miracle.

Ye Xuan clasped her hands together, silently praying for Su Yu.

Although they hadn't known each other long, Su Yu gave her the same feeling as her exceptionally talented elder brother, making her feel an involuntary closeness.

Yunxi pursed her lips, her beautiful eyes filled with worry.

On the arena stage, Yuwen Jie's aura had already surged to its peak.

Spiritual power surged around him, his robes fluttering without wind, and an oppressive aura far exceeding the Qi Refining Realm swept across the entire venue. Spirit Condensation Realm, achieved!

On the arena stage, Su Yu stood still as a pine tree, his gaze as calm as an ancient well.

Even facing Yuwen Jie, who had already broken through to the Spirit Condensation Realm, his expression remained composed, as if this vastly unequal duel was merely an ordinary scene on his cultivation journey.

A flicker of surprise flashed in Yuwen Jie's eyes, followed by a cold laugh.

His body didn't move, but his right fist already shot through the air. Where the fist wind passed, the air itself seemed to distort.

The oppressive power contained within this punch made everyone below the stage involuntarily hold their breath.

Mountain Suppression!

Su Yu's sword intent surged, and a profound sword intent, like a collapsing mountain, swept out.

However, Yuwen Jie merely snorted lightly. His fist's momentum didn't decrease but instead increased, tearing apart the majestic mountain-like force.

"Futile," Yuwen Jie's voice was ice-cold.

Before his voice even fell, his figure suddenly accelerated, and a Mad Demon Break struck directly at Su Yu's heart.

The fist wind hadn't arrived yet, but Su Yu already felt his chest struck by a heavy hammer.

At the critical moment, he shifted his sword tip, executing a move like a sudden thunderclap. The sword light and the fist shadow collided violently in mid-air.

Amidst the surging airwaves, Su Yu's figure retreated rapidly, his long sword almost flying from his grasp.

Just as he was about to fall out of the arena, he lightly tapped his toes and unleashed Fleeting Light Shadow.

His body spun like a willow catkin in the wind several times, finally stabilizing himself at the edge of the arena.

Without waiting to catch his breath, Su Yu's sword intent changed again.

As the move began, his entire body rose like a lone peak emerging from the ground, his sword tip pointing directly at the sky, and then he swooped down with immense force.

A sharp light flashed in Yuwen Jie's eyes. He didn't dodge or evade.

He lightly raised his left hand, a dark glow emanating from his palm, and directly caught the earth-shattering sword strike.

At the same time, his right fist shot out again, the fist wind like a raging tide crashing against the shore, heavily striking the sword body.

A clear sword cry echoed throughout the arena.

Su Yu's long sword flew from his hand, tracing a beautiful arc in the air.

He himself was struck by the immense force and sent crashing to the ground, leaving a trail several dozen feet long on the bluestone floor.

The crowd below erupted in an uproar.

Yunxi unconsciously clenched the sleeves of her robe, Ye Xuan's prayers abruptly stopped, and Su Yan and Su Mei's faces turned deathly pale.

Everyone understood that a sword cultivator without their weapon was no different from an eagle with broken wings.

However, as the dust settled, everyone saw Su Yu slowly stand up.

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his eyes brighter than before.