Lin Yi Wins!

"You're courting death!"

Hearing Lin Yi's words, Wan Yong was instantly enraged.

He swung his long staff, churning the surrounding air. Combined with his terrifying, ape-like appearance, he truly resembled a fearsome, peerless demon ape as he ferociously smashed the staff toward Lin Yi.

Fourth-Rank Martial Art, Ape Demon Great Strength Staff, Seventh Form—Ape Demon Strikes Heaven!

"BOOM!"

The terrifying long staff instantly shattered layers of air, its immense power causing the very void to ripple.

This strike was Wan Yong's full-power blow, a strike of extreme explosive force!

Furthermore, since the Ape Demon Great Strength Staff was a martial art that specialized in power, the might of this strike reached a peak state.

Under this terrifying blow, even an ordinary Fifth Rank Early Stage martial artist would likely be beaten to death, and even a Fifth Rank Mid Stage martial artist would suffer heavy injuries.

However...

"CLANG!"

The two weapons collided, producing a deafening sound like a great bell tolling in a temple.

The next moment, under the shocked gazes of the crowd, Wan Yong—who possessed infinite strength like a demon ape—actually retreated!

"THUD! THUD! THUD!"

Heavy footsteps echoed through the air.

On the arena, under Lin Yi's blade, Wan Yong's figure faltered, and he stumbled back three steps.

His massive feet slammed into the ground, even cracking the specially-made, incredibly hard bluestone floor of the arena with tiny fissures.

"Late Sixth Rank!"

Looking at the still-composed Lin Yi opposite him, Wan Yong widened his eyes, his gaze filled with disbelief.

"What! Late Sixth Rank! Lin Yi, he broke through to the Late Sixth Rank?"

"This... how is this possible! Wasn't this Lin Yi only at the Sixth Rank Early Stage a month ago?"

"Even if he was at the Sixth Rank Early Stage and infinitely close to the Sixth Rank Mid Stage, how could he cross two realms in just one month to reach the Late Sixth Rank? Even Lin Tianqing's physical aptitude isn't nearly this strong! Could it be that he was hiding his strength before?"

"Right! He must have been hiding his strength! Otherwise, how could he have broken through so quickly?"

"This Lin Yi is so cunning. He acted so aggressively before, making everyone think that was the extent of his strength, but who would have thought he was secretly concealing his cultivation? Wan Yong is going to suffer for this."

The disciples exclaimed in shock one after another.

In the surrounding spectator stands, the audience was one after another stunned.

Even Zhao Hai Hong on the viewing platform had a look of shock in his eyes:

"This little guy's physical aptitude is actually this terrifying? To break through two levels in a single month using only twenty thousand taels of silver—could it be that he was truly hiding his strength before?"

Zhao Hai Hong muttered to himself.

To advance from the Sixth Rank Early Stage to the Late Sixth Rank in just one month with a mere twenty thousand taels of silver—let alone Lin Tianqing, even the experts of the Tianshan Sect who were above the First Rank could not compare to this when they were young!

If this Lin Yi had not been hiding his strength before, then his physical aptitude was truly too frightening.

Reason told him that all of this had to be fake, that Lin Yi must have been hiding his strength all along, but subconsciously, he wanted to believe that Lin Yi's physical aptitude was truly this terrifying.

"Sigh! Forget it."

Thinking of this, Zhao Hai Hong let out a soft sigh.

"Regardless of whether he was hiding his strength or not, physical aptitude alone is not enough; without sufficient comprehension, one cannot become a true powerhouse."

"After all, the further one goes in martial arts cultivation, the more it depends on comprehension. No matter how strong one's physical aptitude is, it is merely the icing on the cake."

"Without enough comprehension, one cannot break through the Limit Breaking First Layer, nor the higher second or third layers of the Power Exertion Realm. Everything would be in vain, and the sect would not place much importance on him."

Shaking his head slightly, Zhao Hai Hong continued to watch.

On the arena, after repelling Wan Yong, Lin Yi did not hold back in the slightest, flipping the long saber in his hand.

In an instant, the snow-white blade resembled a rapidly falling meteor, fast and fierce, as it crashed down toward Wan Yong.

Fourth-Rank Martial Art, Full Moon Star Saber, Second Form—Stars Fall!

"Block!"

Seeing this terrifying strike, Wan Yong's eyes widened. Like a furious giant ape, he held his long staff horizontally, then raised it high, struggling to block Lin Yi's attack.

"Clang!"

Another massive sound of weapons colliding rang out.

This time, because Wan Yong had met the enemy in a rush, he could not hold his ground. Under Lin Yi's blade, he stumbled back seven steps with a series of heavy thuds. His dark complexion flushed red, and he felt his blood surging, looking utterly disheveled.

Then, before he could even catch his breath—

Suddenly—

"Whoosh!"

A snow-white blade light tore through the void once more, tracing a graceful arc in the air as it slashed fiercely toward Wan Yong.

Fourth-Rank Martial Art, Full Moon Star Saber, Third Form—Moon Falls Stars!

"Block it for me!"

Seeing this, Wan Yong disregarded the surging blood in his body and raised his staff to block once again.

"Boom!"

The air exploded. Under this ferocious strike from Lin Yi, Wan Yong was nearly sent flying. Fortunately, at the critical moment, he utilized the Thousand Catty Drop to barely stabilize his stance. Even so, he was forced back nine steps before he could finally dissipate the force.

However, the moment he stopped on the arena, Lin Yi's ghostly figure arrived once again.

"Stars Fall!"

"Moon Falls Stars!"

"Stars and Moon Shine Together!"

"Bright Moon Dark Star!"

On the arena, one form after another of the Full Moon Star Saber, nearing the perfection of a Fourth-Rank martial art, was unleashed by Lin Yi. Like a violent storm, it pressed down on Wan Yong, leaving him unable to even catch his breath.

At this moment, there was not a shred of desire left in his heart to defeat Lin Yi; he only wanted to hold on a little longer, just a little longer! At the very least, he couldn't truly be defeated by Lin Yi within three breaths, could he?

However, while the idea was beautiful, reality was harsh.

Because Lin Yi's strength was simply too overwhelming, and under his ferocious onslaught:

Only one breath of time passed before he was shaken by Lin Yi, his blood boiling and his face turning beet red.

One and a half breaths passed, and he felt as if his internal organs were about to be shattered by that immense force.

Finally, after two breaths.

"Boom!"

The air was directly split and exploded by the long blade! A shocking sonic boom rang out once again.

On the arena, relying on the higher proficiency of his Minor Accomplishment Force Extremity, Lin Yi unleashed another Force Extremity strike. But this time, Wan Yong could no longer muster a Force Extremity to defend himself.

"Ah! Block it for me!"

Seeing this terrifying strike that seemed impossible to block, Wan Yong let out a roar, his eyes bloodshot and filled with unwillingness as he raised his staff to defend in a rage.

But without the ability to unleash Force Extremity, the gap was simply too vast.

Under Lin Yi's blade, a "clang" rang out. The next moment, Wan Yong's burly, ape-like body was sent flying backward along with his staff. He soared through the air like a ball before crashing heavily off the arena with a "thud." His face was as pale as gold paper, and he coughed up blood continuously. As he looked toward Lin Yi, his eyes were filled with nothing but unwillingness.

However, Lin Yi merely looked down at him coldly, then shook his head indifferently:

"I said I would finish you off within three breaths. I didn't expect you to collapse after only two. It seems I overestimated you."

"What! You, you..."

Hearing this, Wan Yong was instantly so enraged that his head spun. Feeling as though he couldn't catch his breath, his head lolled to the side, and he passed out cold.

"In this match, Lin Yi is the winner!"