The old man in red robes read out the names of his opponents.
In the first match, Qin Yuan from Dragon Prosperity Prefecture faced off against Han Yu from Golden Mausoleum Prefecture.
In the second match, Lin Qingyin from Skybillow Prefecture faced off against Zhao Ting from Heavenfire Prefecture.
In the third match, Chu Jinghong from Cangwu Prefecture faced off against Liu Yuan from Dragon Capital Prefecture.
One battle after another began.
The expressions of the contestants with Second Grade cultivation levels below the stage grew increasingly grim as the match lists were announced one by one.
As the audience expected, the Martial Arts Tournament did not pit the eight participants with First Grade cultivation against each other.
In every match, it was a contest between First Grade and Second Grade participant, giving them no chance to encounter Second Grade contestant and advance to the next round.
The eight First Grade contestants were like eight insurmountable mountains, while the contestants with Second Grade cultivation were the challengers who tried to climb the mountains but were destined to fall.
"The fourth match is between Zhen Feixuan from Brahma Heaven Prefecture and Zhou Yuan from Red Peak Prefecture."
The old man in the red robe continued to speak.
Zhou Yuan, whose name was called, was a young man with a resolute face. The moment he heard his name called, his expression turned extremely ugly.
He gritted his teeth, gripped the heavy iron spear in his hand, and strode onto the Combat Platform.
Zhen Feixuan was already standing there, her white outfit fluttering slightly in the morning breeze, her expression calm and serene.
The old man in red robes glanced at the two of them, then stepped back to the edge of the platform, his voice calm. "Begin."
The moment the words left his mouth, Zhou Yuan moved first.
He took a step forward, and the platform beneath his feet suddenly shook. The iron spear, with a whistling Break the Wind, shot straight for Zhen Feixuan's throat like a black lightning bolt.
This shot was incredibly fast, the tip of the spear condensing into a tangible spear light, leaving a clear white trail in the air. Its power was already extremely close to that of a martial artist who First Barrier Breakthrough.
However, Zhen Feixuan merely turned slightly to the side, and the sharp spear grazed past her ear, without even touching a single stray hair on her forehead.
The next instant, she drew the soft sword from her waist, channeled her Internal Qi Internal Qi it, and the sword, now perfectly straight, bounced lightly against the spear.
"Bite--"
With a crisp sound, Zhou Yuan felt an overwhelming force emanating from the spear, causing his entire right arm to go numb instantly. The iron spear flew out of his hand and crashed onto a platform several feet away with a loud thud.
" Zhen Feixuan of Brahma Heaven Prefecture wins."
The old man in the red robe spoke calmly.
Zhou Yuan looked down at his empty right hand, then looked up at Zhen Feixuan. His lips moved, but he ultimately said nothing.
He bent down to pick up the iron spear, turned around, and walked off the Combat Platform.
Whispers rose and fell in the audience.
"As expected, the gap between First Grade and Second Grade is too great; Second Grade contestants have absolutely no chance of winning."
"Unfortunately, although Fang Han's Sword Technique is extremely skilled, his cultivation level is ultimately only at the Second Grade Late Stage, and he will inevitably stop at this round."
Amidst the discussions, the competitions on the stage continued one after another.
The First Grade faced off against the Second Grade, and the outcome was a foregone conclusion.
Among the contestants with Second Grade cultivation, some gave it their all, trying to create a miracle, while others, knowing they were no match, were unwilling to admit defeat easily.
But no matter how hard they try, the final result is always the same—defeat.
The last glimmer of hope on the faces of the remaining Second Grade contestants was finally extinguished.
They exchanged a glance, both seeing the same disappointment in each other's eyes.
Eight First Grade contestants will face off against eight Second Grade contestants. This matchup means that none of them will be able to advance to the top eight.
Even Fang Han, the strongest among the eight, would inevitably be the same.
"The seventh match is between Blazing Sun from Heavenfire Prefecture and Fang Han from Qingyang Prefecture."
The voice of the old man in red robes rang out in the hall, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
At this moment, the murmurs in the audience suddenly rose.
" Blazing Sun? Fang Han's opponent is indeed First Grade contestant!"
"Having encountered First Grade contestant, Fang Han will have to stop here!"
"In the end, cultivation has become a burden!"
"In terms of martial arts skills, Fang Han is not necessarily inferior to the eight First Grade contestants, but unfortunately he ultimately suffered from a disadvantage in cultivation level."
Below the stage, Fang Han remained calm as he strode towards the Combat Platform.
Opposite them, a crimson figure also stepped onto the stage at the same time.
He was a young man who looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. He was tall and straight, with a cold and stern face, and his long black hair was flying wildly in the wind.
Dressed in a bright red outfit, he resembled a burning flame, radiating a scorching aura that made even the surrounding air feel hotter.
He was none other than Blazing Sun, True Disciple of the Blazing Flame Sect Overlord-Level Faction in Heavenfire Prefecture.
" Fang Han of Qingyang Prefecture?"
Blazing Sun's gaze fell on Fang Han, his fiery eyes holding a condescending scrutiny.
"It's already astonishing that you've come this far, but your journey in the Martial Arts Tournament ends here."
His voice carried a matter-of-fact certainty, as if stating an undeniable fact.
Fang Han did not answer, 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 words fell—
The Blazing Sun moved.
He took a step forward, and the platform beneath his feet suddenly trembled, with a scorching wave of air spreading outwards from him.
He threw a punch.
This punch, carrying terrifying power comparable to a martial artist who has broken through two levels, and with a scorching fist intent that could burn everything, was like a burning meteorite, heading straight for Fang Han!
Before the fist even arrived, the scorching heat wave rushed towards him, blowing the hair on Fang Han's forehead backward.
The fine dust on the table was whipped up by the force of the punch, ignited in mid-air by the scorching energy, turning into sparks that dissipated into the air.
The power of that punch caused even the contestants with First Grade cultivation levels below the stage to narrow their eyes slightly.
Exclamations of surprise rose and fell from the audience.
"What powerful fist techniques!"
"The power of Blazing Sun's punch is enough to severely injure an ordinary martial artist who has just First Barrier Breakthrough!"
Fang Han is in danger!
Faced with this earth-shattering punch, Fang Han remained calm.
The Cloud- Cloudsplitter Sword Cloudsplitter Sword was drawn, and the Internal Qi of Second Grade Late Stage and the physical strength of 300,000 jin were poured into it.
The < Void-Sundering Sword Manual > was unleashed, the Dark Cyan sword blade shimmering with profound light as it slashed out.
The sword light was like a rainbow, carrying the Wind Sword Intent could tear everything apart, meeting the scorching fist energy imbued with the intent of a fist.
"Boom--!!!"
Fist and sword clashed, unleashing a deafening roar!
A visible shockwave emanated from the point of impact, spreading rapidly outwards and stirring up the dust on the platform, creating a murky ripple in mid-air.
The shockwave was so powerful that even the contestants standing below the stage involuntarily took several steps back.
Blazing Sun's forward momentum abruptly halted, his punch abruptly stopped.
He looked up and gazed ahead, and for the first time, an expression of disbelief appeared in his fiery eyes.
Fang Han... actually blocked it?
The expressions of the contestants below the stage, who were at the First Grade cultivation level, also changed simultaneously.
"What?!"
Someone couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
"Comparable to a martial artist who First Barrier Breakthrough... and this isn't even Fang Han's limit?!"
"He can actually... unleash combat power comparable to a martial artist who has broken through two levels?!"
" Second Grade Late Stage cultivation level, unleashing combat power comparable to a martial artist who has broken through two levels... How many minor realms has this spanned? Four... five minor realms!"
"There are even minor realms between the three major realms... How is this possible?!"
After a brief moment of deathly silence, the audience erupted in a deafening uproar!
" Fang Han actually blocked it!"
"Isn't he Second Grade Late Stage martial artist? How can he unleash combat power comparable to a martial artist who has broken through two levels?"
"To unleash combat power comparable to a martial artist who has broken through two barriers with only the cultivation level of Second Grade Late Stage, spanning a full five minor realms! Among them are three minor realms between major realms... This is simply unheard of!"
"No wonder he always seemed so relaxed; it turns out... this is his true strength!"
" Fang Han Han's skill in martial arts is simply astonishing!"
As Blazing Sun gazed at the white-robed figure standing with a sword in hand, the composure and disdain on his face vanished completely.
His gaze became more serious than ever before, and a dangerous glint flashed in his fiery eyes.
I underestimated you.
He spoke, his voice low and hoarse, carrying an overwhelming sense of shock.
"I didn't expect... you were hiding your strength. I admit you are qualified to be my opponent."
Fang Han remained silent, simply standing with his sword in hand, his gaze calmly fixed on the Blazing Sun.
Blazing Sun took a deep breath, and his internal Internal Qi erupted once again.
This time, he held nothing back.
Crimson Internal Qi surged from his body like tangible flames, making him appear like a god emerging from flames.
He unleashed both fists simultaneously, two scorching fist energies imbued with his fist intent, like two roaring fire dragons, one on the left and one on the right, sealing off all of Fang Han's space to dodge.
Wherever the fist's energy passed, the air was scorched and distorted, emitting a hissing sound.
Fang Han's eyes narrowed, and he activated the Wind God Step at full power.
He drifted past the gap between the two fist-shaped energy blasts like a gentle breeze.
At the same time, the Cloudsplitter Sword slashed horizontally, aiming for Blazing Sun's waist and abdomen. The sword light was sharp and carried a sharp intent to tear everything apart.
Blazing Sun's pupils contracted slightly, his body spun rapidly, he retracted his fists, and delivered an elbow strike to meet the sword's edge.
"Clang--!!"
A deafening clang of metal clashing.
Both of them swayed simultaneously, each sliding backward several feet.
Blazing Sun steadied himself and looked down at the faint white mark on his right arm—a mark left by the wind from the sword.
If it weren't for the excellent quality of the arm guards on his arms, this sword strike would probably have already broken through his defenses.
"Again!"
Blazing Sun let out a low shout, his eyes burning with even greater fighting spirit.
He dared not hold back in the slightest, pushing his cultivation to its limit, and unleashing a torrent of punches at Fang Han like a storm.
The fists were scorching hot, each punch carrying a terrifying power capable of Mountain-Splitting Stone-Cracking, scorching the air and leaving charred marks on the table.