Yu Xiaogang Acts, Shocks the Entire Audience

The Loose Cultivator Selection Tournament soon drew to a close. Yu Tianlong advanced with an undefeated record, a result that surprised no one. Every match had been decided in a single strike—clean, crisp, and leaving his opponents no chance to react.

The other two loose cultivators who stood out were a level 46 agility-attack system Soul Ancestor, whose martial soul was a Gale Falcon, and a level 48 power-attack system Soul Ancestor, whose martial soul was an Iron-Back Gray Wolf. The latter was only a step away from becoming a Spirit King, possessing truly formidable strength.

Yet, under that one casual punch from Yu Tianlong, both men had shed all their arrogance, their gazes now filled with deep wariness as they looked at him.

"That masked guy, what exactly is his background?" the level 48 Gray Wolf Soul Ancestor whispered to the Gale Falcon Soul Ancestor beside him. "I couldn't even take a single punch from him."

"I don't know, but his strength is definitely not as simple as it looks on the surface." The Gale Falcon Soul Ancestor shook his head, his expression grave. "I have a feeling he didn't even use his full strength."

The two exchanged a look, both seeing the same thought reflected in the other's eyes—this dark horse was not someone to be trifled with.

After the Loose Cultivator Selection Tournament concluded, the atmosphere at the venue became even more heated, for everyone knew the real main event was about to begin.

The selection tournament was merely an appetizer; the clash between the core disciples of the three great sects was the true highlight of this grand competition.

The host walked onto the ring and announced in a booming voice, "The Loose Cultivator Selection Tournament has ended. Congratulations to the three winners for earning the right to compete alongside the geniuses of the three great sects! Next, we enter the main event of this competition—the Sect Challenge Tournament! Taking the stage first is a core disciple of the Clear Sky Sect!"

As the host's voice faded, a tall youth rose from the Clear Sky Sect's camp.

He appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a resolute face, sharp eyes, and an aura of fierce intensity radiating from his body. He strode onto the ring, each step steady and powerful, like a tiger ready to pounce.

"Clear Sky Sect, Tang Tian, level 45 power-attack system battle Soul Ancestor. Please, enlighten me!"

Tang Tian announced his name and rank, his gaze sweeping over Yu Tianlong and the other two, carrying the pride inherent to a disciple of a great sect.

Although he was merely a core disciple of the Clear Sky Sect and not a top-tier genius like Tang Hao or Tang Xiao, his level 45 cultivation already placed him among the elite of the younger generation.

"I'll be the first to test you!"

The level 48 Gray Wolf Soul Ancestor could no longer restrain himself and was the first to leap onto the ring.

He was only a step away from the Spirit King realm and believed he had the strength to fight any Soul Ancestor.

However, reality soon dealt him a heavy blow.

Once the battle began, Tang Tian did not even use his martial soul; he suppressed the Gray Wolf Soul Ancestor using only the Clear Sky Sect's fist techniques and footwork.

His punches were fierce and overbearing, each one whistling through the air and forcing the Gray Wolf Soul Ancestor to retreat repeatedly.

The Gray Wolf Soul Ancestor was forced to release his martial soul, his claws covered in a layer of gray soul power as he attempted to counterattack, but Tang Tian's hammer was faster, crueler, and more precise.

Tang Tian also released his martial soul: the Clear Sky Hammer.

Two yellow and two purple soul rings appeared.

Three minutes later, Tang Tian landed a heavy, powerful hammer strike squarely on the Gray Wolf Soul Ancestor's chest, blasting him directly off the ring.

"Next," Tang Tian said, retracting his Clear Sky Hammer without changing his expression.

The Gale Falcon Soul Ancestor gritted his teeth and jumped onto the ring. His speed was indeed fast, leaving behind trails of afterimages as he attempted to use his mobility to exhaust Tang Tian.

But Tang Tian's combat experience was incredibly rich. He was in no rush to pursue, instead fighting steadily and step-by-step, gradually compressing the Gale Falcon Soul Ancestor's room to maneuver.

Finally, during a brief pause after one of the Gale Falcon Soul Ancestor's high-speed movements, Tang Tian seized the opportunity and kicked him off the ring with a single hammer strike.

In less than the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, both winners of the loose cultivator selection had been defeated.

The entire arena was in an uproar.

"Is this the strength of a Clear Sky Sect core disciple? Too strong..."

"Those two loose cultivators were already top-tier among their peers, yet they were no match at all."

"The gap between the great sects and the loose cultivators is truly not so easily bridged..."

The performance of the Clear Sky Sect disciple, Tang Tian, won thunderous applause from the entire hall.

"The Clear Sky Sect is worthy of being the number one sect in the world! A single core disciple possesses such strength!"

"He defeated two loose cultivator Soul Ancestors without even fully utilizing his martial soul. Too powerful!"

"Is this the foundation of a great sect? It's truly beyond reach..."

However, within the camp of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

This was their home turf, yet they were being upstaged by a core disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, which made them feel quite embarrassed. Several elders turned their gazes toward Yu Xiaogang in the main seat, their eyes filled with expectation and urgency.

"Young Master, it is time for you to take the stage."

"Show the people of the Clear Sky Sect who the true number one of the younger generation is!"

A faint, confident smile curled the corners of Yu Xiaogang's mouth. This was the moment he had been waiting for. He stood up slowly, straightened his robes, and strode toward the ring.

Every step he took was steady and powerful, his gaze sweeping over the crowd like a monarch surveying his domain. The eyes of every spectator in the arena naturally focused on him.

"Look! Yu Xiaogang is going up!"

"The True Dragon of the Yu family! He's finally going to make a move!"

"I heard he's already a level 51 Spirit King! A thirteen-year-old Spirit King! It's simply unbelievable!"

"I wonder what his Luo Sanpao has evolved into? They say it's turned into a Golden Dragon!"

Under the gaze of the masses, Yu Xiaogang stepped onto the ring. He did not look at Tang Tian opposite him, but instead surveyed the entire arena, savoring the looks of worship, envy, and awe before speaking slowly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching every corner of the venue:

"Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Xiaogang, level 51 assault-system Spirit King. Please, offer your guidance."

A level 51 Spirit King!

When those words left his own lips, the entire arena erupted once more in deafening exclamations.

Although there had been rumors that Yu Xiaogang had already reached the Spirit King level, hearing him confirm it himself carried an entirely different kind of impact.

A thirteen-year-old level 51 Spirit King—such a thing was an extremely rare existence in the history of the entire continent!

Tang Tian's expression turned grave. Although he was confident in his own strength, he dared not show the slightest carelessness when facing a Spirit King ten levels above him. He gripped his Clear Sky Hammer tightly, assumed a defensive stance, and said in a deep voice, "Please!"

Yu Xiaogang smiled slightly, then slowly raised his right hand, his voice carrying a hint of pride: "Sanpao, come out!"

Golden light flashed!

A dazzling golden radiance erupted from his body, condensing into a massive figure above the arena. As the golden light gradually dissipated, a behemoth appeared before everyone's eyes.

It was a giant beast over eight meters in length. Its body was covered in pale golden scales that shimmered with a metallic luster under the sunlight.