Unconvinced

To walk the Invincible Path,

one's Combat Power truly had to be incomparably formidable.

Only those who could remain invincible in their era, gathering achievements to forge the foundation of their Dao Heart,

would, on their later Dao Path, without exception shine brilliantly throughout the Cultivation World.

However,

this path carried equal danger and hardship.

To walk this road,

one had to maintain absolute invincibility in one's era, suppressing cultivators of the same era.

The stronger one became,

the greater the momentum gathered upon oneself.

Upon reaching profound realms,

one could even defeat an opponent of the same level with a single glance, like an immortal god or emperor seated high above the clouds, suppressing an entire era in invincibility.

However,

once one encountered

even a single defeat along the way,

it would deal a devastating blow to the Dao Heart. Even the momentum one had gathered would be seized by the enemy, becoming nourishment for the other party's growth toward higher heavens.

Over these years,

this Outer Sect Disciple named Yao Ping had been bold and ruthless in battle, indeed making something of a name for himself within the Seventeenth Branch.

But if he wanted to walk this Invincible Path,

among the hundred thousand Outer Sect Disciples,

compared to figures like Yan Kuangtu, who truly stood at the summit, he fell short by far more than a single level.

By comparison,

Zhang Qingyuan's cultivation temperament—calm amid storms, steady and grounded—

was instead held in higher regard by Headmaster Liu.

"This is a fine sapling. What a pity. There are only three or four months until the next Outer Sect Grand Competition. Less than half a year is simply not enough time to improve much. With his cultivation at the early Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level, his chances of passing this Grand Competition and entering the Inner Sect are slim. He can only wait for the next one."

A trace of regret arose in Headmaster Liu's heart.

After the Outer Sect Grand Competition half a year later, his assignment as headmaster of the Seventeenth Branch would also expire.

So by the time Zhang Qingyuan participated in the next Outer Sect Grand Competition,

he would no longer be the headmaster of the Seventeenth Branch, and the opportunity would be missed.

Within the Outer Sect Grand Competition,

the vast majority of those able to take part in the arena battles were Outer Sect Disciples at Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level or above.

Zhang Qingyuan's cultivation

placed him among the Outer Sect Disciples qualified to participate in the Grand Competition

almost at the very bottom.

Unless he had heaven-defying luck, it would truly be difficult for him to pass the Outer Sect Grand Competition's assessment and gain the qualifications to enter the Inner Sect.

The people around them

had all manner of reactions to Headmaster Liu's assessment—

surprise, curiosity, contemplation, and more.

Wang Weifeng, first in the Separate Courtyard,

remained expressionless,

as though none of this had anything to do with him.

And indeed,

he had the qualifications to disregard it.

Even if Zhang Qingyuan possessed many advantages, the two-level gap between them was not something a few simple advantages could bridge.

Compared to Wang Weifeng's indifference,

Zhao Yuanyang, ranked second,

had flickering eyes as he looked toward the two fighting in the arena, seemingly deep in thought.

Naturally, the two locked in fierce battle atop the arena had no way of knowing the evaluations of those below.

At this moment,

Yao Ping only felt that he had fallen into an unprecedented crisis.

Attack after attack,

collision after collision,

erupting Spirit Essence rolled up waves of air and smoke and dust across the arena, sweeping outward.

The meridians inside his body

had already been faintly twisted under the repeated eruptions of violent clashes, unable to withstand that impact. A piercing pain followed.

The Spirit Essence cultivated through the Black Fiend Tiger Essence Art,

"Damn it! It has only been two months. How could this guy have improved so quickly?!"

Ever since the seating order had been rearranged that day,

only two months had passed.

Yet facing Zhang Qingyuan,

Yao Ping felt as though he were confronting a veteran cultivator who had long cultivated deeply at Spirit Essence Realm Seventh Level!

Deep and vigorous Spirit Essence,

fist techniques that seemed to have reached perfection,

simple Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills, yet in the other's hands they possessed the power to turn decay into magic!

Suppression—

complete suppression!

As the battle continued,

Yao Ping became even more aware of the current situation.

It was extremely unfavorable to him!

Whether the Black Fiend Tiger Essence Art or the Heavenly Dipper Dragon Tiger Fist, both were considered relatively powerful Cultivation Methods and Martial Skills in the Cloud Water Sect's Outer Sect. When unleashed, their aura was imposing, using wave after wave of violent attacks to suppress the opponent and deny the enemy even the slightest chance to catch their breath.

With ****-like attacks, victory would ultimately be won.

Yet,

Yao Ping's aura had indeed been brought forth.

Zhang Qingyuan could only parry each move, without the slightest counterattack.

If the arena's overall aura were divided into ten parts,

then Yao Ping had taken eight,

while Zhang Qingyuan had only two,

responding to each move as it came, defending with difficulty.

However,

it had no effect whatsoever!

Yao Ping's repeated violent attacks, combining the Black Fiend Tiger Essence Art and the Heavenly Dipper Dragon Tiger Fist, were all neutralized by the other party!

His opponent was simply like a bottomless deep pool,

and every violent attack

was like a stone falling into a lake,

unable to stir up much of a ripple!

Instead, as time passed, Yao Ping's meridians could no longer sustain the unceasing eruptions. The violent Spirit Essence had accumulated no small amount of internal injuries in his meridians.

"Damn it!"

Yao Ping threw an enraged punch into the vacuum, producing a dull explosion of Qi. Black Spirit Essence transformed into a gale that swept forth.

That savage attack was evaded by Zhang Qingyuan with a light push of his feet and a spinning dash. At the same time, his right leg became a series of afterimages as he launched a fierce counterattack.

The whip-like shadow tore through the air, setting off a string of piercing sonic booms as it smashed heavily toward Yao Ping's head.

Yao Ping's pupils suddenly contracted.

At the moment of crisis,

"Shadow Tiger Step!"

His feet stomped heavily upon the ground, erupting with powerful Qi Energy. His entire figure turned into an afterimage and swiftly retreated, dodging Zhang Qingyuan's incomparably sharp counterattack.

Boom!!!

A dull sound rang out.

Zhang Qingyuan's sweeping strike missed, chopping onto the ground. Vigorous Spirit Essence erupted, and under that terrifying force, the arena floor directly collapsed into a small crater, spiderweb-like cracks spreading in all directions.

At the same time, whirlwinds rose around the arena, blasting outward!

"Bastard!"

Seeing this, Yao Ping clenched his teeth tight, a thread of blood seeping from his gums.

That person's deep and vigorous Spirit Essence

had not weakened in the slightest,

just as it had been when they first exchanged blows!

As for himself,

the Spirit Essence inside his body had long been more than half depleted. His meridians had also suffered significant damage from his earlier relentless attacks, as violent Spirit Essence battered through them. He could no longer hold on!

"Bastard!"

Unwilling!

So unwilling!

He, Yao Ping, had entered the Seventeenth Branch nearly six years ago.

In six years,

he had cultivated bitterly, ventured out to gain experience and fight, wandering along the line between life and death.

Only then had he risen from Spirit Essence Realm Third Level to the seventh!

And what about Zhang Qingyuan over there?

In merely two short years,

Yao Ping had never seen him venture out for life-and-death training. He spent every day holed up inside the Seventeenth Branch,

only occasionally going out to help in the Spirit Fields.

He was nothing more than an utterly ordinary Spirit Farmer.

Why was he so powerful?!

Why had his cultivation improved so quickly?!

Why?!

He refused to accept it!