The crowd erupted. Only now did they realize that Dahe Yidao's inscrutable slash had been so fast it had reached the pinnacle. The most outstanding disciple of Qingcheng Dojo's generation hadn't even managed to draw his sword before he lost.
"How could the gap be this huge?"
"That Sanggui cheated, using words to distract Yu Qingfeng. Otherwise, even if Yu Qingfeng had lost, he wouldn't have gone down so miserably."
"A loss is a loss. There are no rules against trickery. Ah, what a pity. Are we really just going to watch this Sanggui swagger around?"
The crowd sighed, seething with indignation. But when it came to stepping up to challenge Dahe Yidao, none of them had the courage.
"Mr. Yu, now that the winner has been decided, please give me the seed contestant's token." Dahe Yidao spoke slowly. He wasn't acting high and mighty. Though arrogant, he wasn't a fool. He knew that, here on Human Realm soil, winning was enough. If he dared to provoke them further, he might not make it back to Sang World alive.
Yu Qingfeng's face turned ashen. After a long while, he sighed and tossed the seed contestant's token to Dahe Yidao.
"Thank you." Dahe Yidao knew when to quit while he was ahead. He took the token and prepared to leave.
"Truly a peerless talent of your generation, needing only one slash. Dahe Yidao, how many slashes could you manage in front of me?" A voice suddenly rang out. Without a sound, someone appeared before Dahe Yidao, standing with his hands behind his back. His face was as flawless as jade, his beauty unmatched. The hearts of many girls watching raced.
"So handsome. Who is he? Is he going to challenge that Sanggui?"
"Where did this guy come from? And he's so handsome. Well, let's just hope he isn't all show and no substance. He's talking so big—what if he loses in two or three moves?"
"I think I've seen him before."
Seeing someone step forward to challenge Dahe Yidao, the crowd began buzzing excitedly.
"Who are you?" Dahe Yidao's expression turned grave. Anyone who could appear in front of him without a sound was not to be underestimated.
"If you can draw your sword, I'll tell you my name." The handsome young man spoke indifferently, then suddenly gave a mocking smile. "The trouble is, you might not even be able to draw it. What makes you worthy of knowing my name?"
"Bakayarou!" Dahe Yidao suddenly cursed in Sang language. He used the same move, his sword leaving its sheath faster than the words could be spoken.
"I told you, you wouldn't be able to draw it." The handsome young man's words hung in the air, each syllable distinct. His figure, however, blurred and wavered, impossible to make out. He reached out and pressed down, forcing Dahe Yidao's half-drawn Sang sword back into its sheath.
That one move chilled Dahe Yidao to the bone. He couldn't believe that anyone of his generation could be fast enough to stop him from even drawing his sword.
"That's impossible!" Dahe Yidao roared. He kicked repeatedly, unleashing the Sanggui Clan's secret escape technique. In an instant, dozens of Dahe Yidaos came running out, reaching for their swords.
"The Light-Splitting Shadow Technique, capable of transforming one breath into three thousand, and you Sanggui can only split yourselves into a few dozen shadows. You're an embarrassment to Human Realm." The handsome young man gave a disdainful smile and tapped his foot. In an instant, One Breath Transforms into Three Thousand. Three thousand figures surrounded the shadow forms Dahe Yidao had created, blotting out the sky with one hand. No matter how Dahe Yidao roared and bellowed, he still couldn't draw his sword.
"Are you still not admitting defeat? Sanggui really do have thick skin."
The handsome young man furrowed his brow and mocked him.
"Psst, just admit defeat! You can't even draw your sword. What's the point of fighting?"
"Exactly. What a shameless guy. The gap is so obvious, and you still have the nerve to keep fighting?"
"Get down! Get down!"
The spectators shouted. Seeing Dahe Yidao suffer, they couldn't help feeling exhilarated.
Dahe Yidao ignored them and unleashed everything he had learned. Finally, he gritted his teeth and even used the divine art he had secretly learned. "Sang God, in your name, grant me reality."
Amid the low prayer, Lin Huang's eyes lit up, and he looked up at the sky. A ripple imperceptible to anyone else stirred through the void, then descended upon Dahe Yidao.
"A divine art?" Lin Huang mused. Unfortunately, the ripple vanished in a flash, and he couldn't make anything of it. He lowered his head and continued watching.
In an instant, bolstered by the divine art, the dozens of shadow forms Dahe Yidao had split off became real, like true bodies, and their strength surged. With a loud roar, they shattered the handsome young man's three thousand figures. He sneered and drew his sword at the same time as all the others.
"Now this is getting interesting." The handsome young man gave a soft laugh and suddenly inhaled. The shattered three thousand figures were sucked back into his body. He waved his hand, unleashing three thousand palms, each faster than the last. Every palm pressed against one of Dahe Yidao's shadow forms, its force neither light nor heavy. The dozens of Dahe Yidaos staggered backward, then merged into one. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and from beginning to end, he had never managed to draw the Sang sword in his hand.
"I lost." Dahe Yidao's expression was bitter. He stared at the handsome young man in disbelief, then bowed deeply. "Please, you have to tell me your name. I beg you."
"What, are you going to send someone after him?"
"Sanggui really are shameless. Handsome, don't tell him."
"Right, don't tell him."
Dahe Yidao didn't so much as furrow his brow at the crowd's jeers. He simply looked at the handsome young man.
"I told you, if you can't even draw your sword, you have no right to know my name." The handsome young man spoke coldly, unmoved.
"Ah! I remember now. He's Feng Hai, the Sea God Physique! I saw him in my first preliminary round!"
Someone suddenly shouted, recognizing the handsome young man.
The man immediately realized he had let the cat out of the bag. Sure enough, Dahe Yidao solemnly said, "Mr. Feng, I'll remember what you've given me today. If I break through someday, I'll come challenge you again."
Feng Hai didn't seem to mind. He reached out and took the token that had originally belonged to Yu Qingfeng. Without sparing Dahe Yidao a glance, he turned to leave.
"Sea God Physique?" Lin Huang stood among the crowd, having watched both duels. Yu Qingfeng and Dahe Yidao hadn't caught his attention, but Feng Hai had piqued his interest.
"Actually, it should be the Wind God Physique." Lin Huang spoke softly. Those words made Feng Hai stop in his tracks.
"Which friend said that?"
Feng Hai was intrigued that someone could see the origin of his Divine Body at a glance. His gaze shifted, locking onto Lin Huang. Then his expression turned grave, and shock filled his heart, because as far as he could sense, Lin Huang didn't exist.
"How is this possible?" Feng Hai was stunned and couldn't believe it. He could see Lin Huang, but couldn't sense him. This disorienting illusion of the five senses made it impossible for him to keep his composure.
Realizing that another formidable figure had appeared, the crowd hurriedly cleared a path. When they saw Lin Huang, they were all startled. One thought filled their minds: this was someone who shouldn't exist.
They could see him, but couldn't sense him.
Lin Huang slowly raised his hand and looked at Feng Hai. "You were born with the Wind God Physique. Good. I have a fist that comprehends the Dao of Wind. With your innate Wind God Physique, you're just what I need to deepen my understanding."
With that, Lin Huang clenched his hand and threw a punch.
This fist was called Wind. The moment it was thrown, it became a gust.
The wind rose from the earth, slipping through every crack.
Wuuuu—it sounded like a Divine Being keening. Everyone broke out in goosebumps, feeling wind seep into them from every direction, from the sky and the earth. It bored into their bodies, their blood vessels and marrow, slipping through every crack, impossible to resist.
With just one punch, Feng Hai's expression changed dramatically. He couldn't believe it. His entire body exploded, but no blood burst forth—only a passing breeze, and then he vanished from the spot.
Lin Huang remained expressionless and slowly drew back his hand. A drop of azure blood danced and spun in his palm, moving of its own accord without any wind, carrying the profound truth of wind.
"Peak Divine Body. Who are you?! Don't get complacent. We'll settle this in the main tournament." Feng Hai's voice carried from far away. His tone was still bold, but everyone could hear the shock in his heart.
Lin Huang paid no attention to Feng Hai's words. All he wanted was the meaning of wind inscribed in a drop of true blood from an Innate Wind Divine Body. Otherwise, even if Feng Hai truly became wind, he still wouldn't escape Lin Huang's palm. Before him, the moment murderous intent arose, ten Feng Hais would die.
With a palm, Lin Huang obliterated the true blood Feng Hai had left behind. His expressionless face unchanged, he took a step and was already back at his residence. He'd gone out for a look today and come back with another gain. It had been well worth it.
With that faint sense of satisfaction, Lin Huang brought the final day of the preliminary rounds to a close.
Of the thirty billion contestants, only three thousand remained by today. Add the two hundred seed contestants, and there were just three thousand two hundred left. Among them were more than a hundred prodigies from various races who had come from other realms.
So the main tournament attracted more than just Human Realm's attention. The Myriad Worlds were watching to see who would rise above the rest and become the champion of the Myriad Worlds First Genius Tournament—the first in history that truly deserved the name.
That person would sweep across their generation, stand above the rest, and become the brightest genius of this era.
Before you continue