The victor was Lin Yi!

"Looking for death!"

Hearing Lin Yi say that, Wan Yong instantly flew into a rage.

He swung his long staff, churning the air around him. With his terrifying, ape-like appearance, he truly seemed like a fearsome demon ape, and he viciously brought his staff crashing down on Lin Yi.

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

BOOM!

The terrifying staff smashed through layer after layer of air, its immense force making even the void seem to ripple.

This strike was Wan Yong's all-out attack, a strike that unleashed the utmost explosive power!

On top of that, Ape Demon Great Strength Staff was a martial art that excelled in strength, pushing the power of this strike to its peak.

Beneath this terrifying blow, even an ordinary Fifth Rank Early Stage martial artist would likely be beaten to death on the spot, while a Fifth Rank Mid Stage martial artist would be gravely injured.

But...

CLANG!

The two weapons collided, and a deafening crash rang out, like the deep toll of a great temple bell.

The next moment, under the crowd's stunned gazes, Wan Yong—who possessed boundless strength like a demon ape—actually retreated!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Heavy footsteps rang through the air.

On the arena, Lin Yi's strike made Wan Yong lose his footing and stumble back three steps.

His enormous feet stamped into the ground, leaving tiny cracks in the specially reinforced, exceptionally hard bluestone floor of the arena.

"Late Sixth Rank!"

Staring at Lin Yi, who remained calm across from him, Wan Yong's eyes widened in disbelief.

"What! Late Sixth Rank! Lin Yi has broken through to Late Sixth Rank?"

"Th-this can't be possible! A month ago, wasn't Lin Yi only at Sixth Rank Early Stage?"

"Even if he was infinitely close to Sixth Rank Mid Stage, how could he cross two realms and reach Late Sixth Rank in just one month? Even Lin Tianqing's physical aptitude isn't anywhere near that impressive! Could he have been hiding his strength all along?"

"That's it! He must have been hiding his strength! Otherwise, how could he have broken through so quickly?"

"Lin Yi's so sneaky. He'd already been showing off his strength, making everyone think that was all he had, but who knew he'd secretly been concealing his cultivation, too? Wan Yong's probably going to suffer this time."

The disciples cried out in shock.

The spectators in the stands were equally stunned.

Even Zhao Hai Hong, seated on the viewing platform, looked shocked.

"This young fellow's physical aptitude is actually so terrifying? With only twenty thousand taels of silver, he broke through two realms in a month. Could he really have been hiding his strength before?"

Zhao Hai Hong murmured under his breath.

To go from Sixth Rank Early Stage to Late Sixth Rank in a month with a mere twenty thousand taels of silver—forget Lin Tianqing, even the young powerhouses Above First Rank in Tianshan Sect couldn't match that pace of cultivation!

If Lin Yi hadn't been hiding his strength before, then his physical aptitude was truly frightening.

Reason told Zhao Hai Hong that this had to be false, that Lin Yi must have been concealing his strength all along. Yet deep down, he wanted to believe that Lin Yi's physical aptitude really was this terrifying.

"Ah, forget it."

At that thought, Zhao Hai Hong sighed softly.

"Whether he's been hiding his strength or not, strong physical aptitude alone won't make him a true powerhouse if his comprehension is lacking."

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

"Without sufficient comprehension, he won't break through to Limit Breaking First Layer, or the higher Second and Third Layers of the Power Exertion Realm. It'll all be for nothing, and the sect won't pay him much attention."

Zhao Hai Hong shook his head slightly, then continued watching.

On the arena, after knocking Wan Yong back, Lin Yi didn't hold back in the slightest. He turned the long saber in his hand.

In an instant, the snow-white saber seemed like a falling meteor, hurtling down with terrifying speed and force as it crashed toward Wan Yong.

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

"Block!"

Seeing this terrifying strike, Wan Yong's eyes bulged. Like a furious giant ape, he swung his staff across his body, then raised it high and desperately tried to stop Lin Yi's attack.

CLANG!

Another tremendous clash of weapons rang out.

This time, caught off guard, Wan Yong couldn't hold on. Lin Yi's strike sent him stumbling back seven steps, and his dark complexion turned bright red. His blood and qi churned through his body, leaving him in a wretched state.

Before he could catch his breath—

Suddenly—

Whoosh!

The snow-white saber light tore through the void once more, tracing a graceful arc through the air as it slashed viciously toward Wan Yong.

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

"Block it!"

Seeing this, Wan Yong ignored the churning blood and qi within him and raised his staff to block again.

BOOM!

The air itself exploded. Under Lin Yi's fierce strike, Wan Yong was nearly sent flying. Fortunately, at the critical moment, he used Thousand Catty Drop to barely steady himself. Even so, he staggered back nine steps before finally dispersing the force.

But the moment he stopped on the arena, Lin Yi's elusive figure was already upon him again.

"Stars Fall!"

"Moon Falls Stars!"

"Stars and Moon Shine Together!"

"Bright Moon Dark Star!"

On the arena, Lin Yi unleashed one form after another of Full Moon Star Saber, each approaching Fourth-Rank perfection. His attacks battered Wan Yong like a raging storm, leaving him unable even to catch his breath.

By now, Wan Yong no longer had any thought of defeating Lin Yi. He only wanted to hold on a little longer, then a little longer! At the very least, he couldn't let Lin Yi defeat him in three breaths!

But his hopes were beautiful; reality was cruel.

Lin Yi was simply too strong. Under his relentless assault—

After just one breath, Lin Yi had shaken Wan Yong until his blood and qi boiled and his face turned crimson.

After a breath and a half, Wan Yong felt as if the immense force had nearly cracked his internal organs.

Finally, after two breaths—

BOOM!

The long saber cleaved through the air, setting it off with another astonishing burst.

On the arena, Lin Yi drew on his greater Minor Accomplishment in Extreme Strength and unleashed another strike infused with Extreme Strength. By then, Wan Yong could no longer summon Extreme Strength to resist.

"Ah! Block it!"

Seeing the almost unstoppable strike, Wan Yong roared. His eyes bloodshot, his face filled with unwillingness, he raised his staff to meet it.

But without Extreme Strength, the gap between them was simply too great.

Lin Yi's strike rang out with a CLANG! The next moment, Wan Yong's hulking, ape-like body was blasted backward, staff and all. He sailed through the air like a kicked ball, then crashed off the arena with a thud. His face was ashen, and he coughed up blood again and again. He looked at Lin Yi, his eyes full of unwillingness.

Lin Yi merely looked down at him coldly, then shook his head faintly.

"I said I'd finish you in three breaths. I didn't expect you to give out after just two. Looks like I overestimated you."

"What! You—you..."

Hearing those words, Wan Yong was so furious that his head spun. He felt as if he couldn't draw another breath. Then his head lolled to the side, and he passed out.

"Lin Yi wins this match!"