Similar hushed discussions rose and fell among the crowd.
When the contestants with Second Grade cultivation levels glanced at Fang Han, they couldn't help but feel a bit nervous and wary.
Fang Han seemed oblivious to these gazes, simply returning to his previous position and standing with his hands behind his back.
He could feel the weight of those gazes, but they didn't stir any emotion within him.
Just then, a gaze fell from the other side of the crowd, carrying an undisguised sharpness, like a drawn sword, landing directly on him.
Fang Han looked up and met a pair of calm yet sharp eyes.
Bai Yan.
He stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the crowd, his moon-white robe fluttering slightly in the wind.
Those eyes fell on Fang Han, without hostility or fear, only a pure fighting spirit, as if it were the clashing of swords.
Fang Han met that gaze, and the two exchanged a silent look across the crowd for a moment.
A faint smile appeared on Bai Yan's lips before he looked away and returned his gaze to the massive Combat Platform.
His fingers tightened slightly around the sword hilt.
Having witnessed Fang Han's strength, he not only did not back down, but instead hoped even more to meet Fang Han again.
In the audience, murmurs and discussions rose and fell.
A middle-aged man in Brocade Robe, with a prosperous appearance, leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling on Fang Han, clicking his tongue in amazement:
"To unleash combat power comparable to First Barrier Breakthrough at the Second Grade Late Stage... that combat power is four minor realms higher than his cultivation level, Fang Han is truly remarkable."
"This boy's strength is probably the strongest below those eight First Grade martial artists."
Beside him, an elderly man with gray hair and beard stroked his beard and nodded, his voice tinged with a sigh.
"The strongest below the First Grade...?"
On the other side, a woman's eyes flickered, her voice tinged with curiosity.
"So, between him and Bai Yan, who also comes from the Heavenly Origin Sect, who is better?"
" Bai Yan?"
The old man frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping through the crowd.
"That disciple of the Heavenly Origin Sect? I heard he won easily in the previous rounds, and his strength is unfathomable. However, I haven't seen him go all out yet, so it's hard to say."
Just then, the old man in the red robe spoke again:
"Next match: Bai Yan from Heavenly Origin Prefecture versus Liu Zhen from Golden River Prefecture."
Bai Yan stepped out from the crowd in response.
His steps were measured and unhurried, each step carrying a steady rhythm.
Opposite him, a burly figure strode onto the stage.
He was a man nearing thirty, with a rugged face, holding a heavy bronze cudgel.
The staff was as thick as a child's arm and had a dull luster, clearly indicating that it was a heavy weapon.
The old man in red robes glanced at the two of them, then retreated to the edge of the platform, his voice calm:
"Start."
The moment the words left his mouth, Liu Zhen was the first to move.
He took a step forward, and the platform beneath his feet suddenly shook. The bronze rod, accompanied by a Break the Wind, smashed straight towards Bai Yan's head.
The blow was powerful and heavy, the force of the blow causing the air to whistle and groan.
The fine dust on the table was stirred up, leaving a murky trail behind the stick.
Bai Yan drew his sword, the blade imbued with the Wood Sword Intent, and swiftly unleashed a slash.
"Bite--"
A clear, crisp sound, like jade chimes striking each other, echoed through the hall.
The sound wasn't loud, but it pierced through the whistling wind of the stick and clearly reached everyone's ears.
Liu Zhen felt an extremely concentrated force emanating from the staff, which instantly made his entire right arm feel numb and tingly.
The bronze staff flew out of his hand, tumbled several times in the air, and crashed with a loud bang onto the platform three zhang away, its shaft still humming and vibrating.
Liu Zhen looked down at his empty right hand, then looked up at Bai Yan, his dark face filled with disbelief.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then gave up in despair.
Bai Yan had already stopped, standing with his hands behind his back, his expression calm, as if he had merely brushed away a fallen leaf that had landed on his shoulder.
" Bai Yan of Heavenly Origin Prefecture wins."
The old man in the red robe spoke calmly.
A sudden uproar erupted in the audience.
"He disarmed his opponent with a single sword strike; Bai Yan's strength is indeed extraordinary!"
Someone exclaimed.
"They definitely possess combat power comparable to First Barrier Breakthrough!"
Another person chimed in, their voice filled with astonishment.
The elderly man with white hair and beard stroked his beard and nodded, his gaze lingering on Bai Yan for a moment before turning to Fang Han's direction, and slowly said:
"It seems that among the eight first- First Grade martial artists in this Martial Arts Tournament, these two are the strongest. I wonder if they will meet in the upcoming battles. If they do, it will be quite a show."
Upon hearing this, a young martial artist's eyes lit up with anticipation:
"If we really do meet, I'm quite looking forward to seeing whether Fang Han is stronger or Bai Yan will prevail."
Below the stage, the expressions of the contestants with Second Grade cultivation levels grew increasingly solemn.
Fang Han's combat power had already made them feel troubled, and now there was another one, Bai Yan, who was also capable of unleashing " First Barrier Breakthrough " combat power with his Second Grade Late Stage cultivation.
"One wasn't enough, so another one came..."
The young man in the dark blue outfit shook his head bitterly, his voice tinged with helplessness.
"The upcoming matches will probably depend on luck; hopefully, we won't run into those two."
Those he knew beside him also sighed.
Bai Yan stepped down from the Combat Platform and stood at the edge of the crowd.
His gaze swept across the crowd and landed in Fang Han's direction. In his calm eyes, a fighting spirit, like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath, was quietly sharpening its edge.
In his view, the strength of those eight First Grade martial artists was simply because they had cultivated for a few more years and had a higher level of cultivation than him.
He was confident that he would not be weaker than the other eight people in a battle of the same level.
Compared to the eight First Grade martial artists, he preferred to fight Fang Han, whose cultivation was comparable to his and who was known for his Sword Technique.
On the morning of the sixth day, the first rays of dawn broke through the darkness.
When Fang Han stepped into the venue, he immediately sensed an atmosphere completely different from yesterday.
The stands were packed with people, almost completely filling the nearly 100,000 seats. The cacophony of voices echoed through the venue like a tidal wave.
The number of participants has plummeted from 64 yesterday to 32.
Fang Han walked to the left edge of the Combat Platform and stood there, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.
The number of participants with Second Grade cultivation levels who remained yesterday has decreased significantly, and those who remain are all individuals with even stronger auras.
The auras of those eight First Grade martial artists remained as steady as an abyss, standing in various parts of the crowd like eight insurmountable mountains.
Bai Yan on the other side of the crowd, his moon-white robe fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, a long sword hanging at his waist, hands behind his back.
He seemed to sense Fang Han's gaze, turned his head to look at him, and in his calm eyes, a fighting spirit, like a sharp sword hidden in its sheath, was being quietly honed.
The two exchanged a silent glance across the crowd for a moment before looking away.
"Which one of you is Fang Han?"
"The one in white, standing on the left!"
" Fang Han is already the only contestant among the top 32 who is not from Overlord-Level Faction. I wonder how far he can go!"
In the audience, Fang Han's name could be heard mentioned from time to time, even more often than the contestants with First Grade cultivation.
Among the top 32, Fang Han is the only one who is not from Overlord-Level Faction.
Just like a different color in a pure color, it naturally attracts attention.
Before long, the old man in the crimson robe from yesterday slowly walked to the center of the high platform.
His gaze swept over the thirty-two figures below the stage; his voice was not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly:
"The sixth round, the battle for the top sixteen, follows the same rules: the winners advance, and the losers are eliminated."
He took out a scroll from his sleeve, slowly unfurled it, and began to read out the names of his opponents.
The battles unfolded one after another amidst this mundane declaration.
None of those who have made it this far are weak.
Swords flashed and shadows danced on the stage, the explosive sounds of clashing energies echoing throughout the venue.
The cheers from the audience rose and fell with the outcome of each battle.
Fang Han stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the crowd, his gaze calmly sweeping across the stage, while silently memorizing the strength and characteristics of each winner.
Each of these winners could potentially become your opponent.
After several rounds, the old man in the red robe spoke again:
"Next match: Fang Han from Qingyang Prefecture versus Bai Yan from Heavenly Origin Prefecture."
The moment the words were spoken, a thunderous murmur erupted from the audience, so loud that it almost drowned out all the other noise in the hall.
" Fang Han and Bai Yan actually faced off!"
Whether it was luck or the royal family knowing that the audience wanted the two to face off, they were deliberately paired up as opponents.
Regardless, the two faced off as the audience had expected.
"I didn't expect the two of them to actually face off; what an interesting battle!"
"One is a dark horse from Qingyang Prefecture, winning every round with ease; the other is True Disciple of the Overlord-Level Faction, Heavenly Origin Sect, also winning easily all the way. Who is stronger?"
" Bai Yan comes from the Heavenly Origin Sect, and the martial arts he cultivates are definitely among the best in their level. I think Bai Yan should be even stronger."
"Now that you mention it, Bai Yan's chances of winning are indeed much greater."
The murmurs surged like waves in the stands, and countless gazes converged from all directions, landing on the two figures who were walking towards the Combat Platform at the same time.
Fang Han walked with ease, the hem of his white robe fluttering slightly with each step, the Cloudsplitter Sword at his waist swaying gently, his expression calm as still water, revealing not the slightest ripple.
Bai Yan was equally unhurried, his moon-white robe fluttering in the wind, and the Plain Longsword at his waist swaying gently with his steps.
His gaze fell on Fang Han, and in those calm eyes, fighting spirit burned fiercely like a blazing flame.
The two stood on the platform, facing each other, about ten feet apart.
"I never thought we'd actually run into each other."
Bai Yan spoke, his voice not loud, but carrying an irrepressible fervor.
"I've always regretted not having the chance to spar with you during our trip to the Ancient Ruins."
Fang Han looked at Bai Yan without saying much, but slowly raised his right hand and placed it on the hilt of the Cloudsplitter Sword at his waist.
The old man in red robes glanced at the two of them, then retreated to the edge of the platform, his voice calm:
"Start."
The moment the two words were uttered, the two figures moved simultaneously!
Bai Yan's sword-drawing movement was astonishingly fast. A streak of green light flashed in the morning light, and the Plain Longsword was already unsheathed, its blade a pale green, shimmering with a warm glow.
He thrust out his sword without testing or building up momentum, unleashing his full power without reservation, demonstrating a combat strength comparable to First Barrier Breakthrough.
The sword light was like a rainbow, carrying a vigorous and inexhaustible meaning— the Wood Sword Intent.
Where the sword's edge passed, faint, verdant shadows appeared in the air.
Like spring grass and trees breaking through the soil, full of vitality, yet also carrying the tenacious and resilient life force of wading through water, piercing through stone, breaking through all shackles.
This sword strike was so fast that it exceeded the visual capture limits of most Second Grade martial artists.
The fine dust on the table was stirred up by the Sword Qi, leaving a white trail several feet long behind the sword light.
The sharp sword wind caused the contestants watching from below the stage to squint slightly.
Exclamations of surprise rose and fell from the audience.
"Such powerful Sword Intent! He has definitely cultivated a Low-Grade Artistic Conception Sword Technique to an extremely high level!"
" First Grade Late Stage martial artist probably couldn't even withstand a single sword strike!"
For ordinary cultivators, comprehending the Artistic Conception is extremely difficult.
However, for the most outstanding talents present, it was not considered difficult; quite a few of the contestants had grasped the essence of the Artistic Conception.
However, very few people can cultivate a Low-Grade Artistic Conception Sword Technique to such a level.