Crushing Rot

The second round of the tournament began quickly.

This time, Li Xiaoyu's opponent was a disciple from Wind Return Peak, at the fifth level of the Jade Purity Realm.

Having learned from the previous match, this disciple dared not be careless and immediately summoned his strongest defensive magic treasure, a Tortoise Shell Shield.

At the same time, the flying sword in his hand transformed into a sky full of sword shadows, enveloping Li Xiaoyu from all directions.

It was an attack and defense in one, with no flaws to be found.

However, Li Xiaoyu's response remained simple.

He finally drew his Autumn Water Sword.

"Clang!"

The sword light was like water, cold and bright.

He ignored the sky full of sword shadows and instead slashed casually at the seemingly indestructible Tortoise Shell Shield.

He did not use Geng Metal Sword Qi, but merely infused the blade with pure Spiritual Energy from the Taiji Profound Clarity Path.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound shocked the entire arena once again.

The Tortoise Shell Shield, which was capable of withstanding a full-force blow from a cultivator of the same rank, was sliced in two like tofu before the Autumn Water Sword.

The sky full of sword shadows came to an abrupt halt.

The Wind Return Peak disciple stared blankly at his severed magic treasure, then looked at the Autumn Water Sword pressed against his brow, his face filled with despair.

"I... I concede." He spat out the three words with great difficulty.

Another one-hit victory.

Still just one move.

If some had thought the victory in the first round was mere luck or that his opponent was too weak, then this second round—defeating an opponent a full realm higher with a single strike—was enough to prove everything.

This Li Xiaoyu possessed terrifying strength that far exceeded his own cultivation level.

He was the biggest dark horse of this Seven Meridians Martial Arts Tournament.

On another inconspicuous arena, a match was also proceeding with great difficulty.

Zhang Xiaofan was facing another disciple from Wind Return Peak.

His opponent's cultivation was similar to his own, both at the fourth level of the Jade Purity Realm.

However, the opponent's mastery of Daoist techniques was clearly more refined, and his sword moves were far more fierce.

From the start of the match, Zhang Xiaofan fell into a disadvantage, being suppressed by his opponent and having only the power to parry, with no strength to fight back.

He looked clumsy and disheveled.

Jeers erupted from the crowd once again.

"Hahaha, this silly boy from Big Bamboo Peak! He got a bye in the first round, and now he's being revealed for what he really is!"

"Look at that magic treasure of his? A pitch-black Fire Poker? It's hilarious!"

The disciples of Big Bamboo Peak felt humiliated, wishing they could find a hole to crawl into.

Tian Ling'er furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with disdain.

Only Tian Buyi and Su Ru wore solemn expressions, watching the situation on the field with tension.

Li Xiaoyu stood off the stage, watching quietly with a frown.

He could see that Zhang Xiaofan's situation was indeed dangerous.

But Li Xiaoyu also saw something that others had missed.

Although Zhang Xiaofan looked disheveled, his footsteps were exceptionally steady, and his breathing maintained a unique rhythm throughout.

The strange power within his body was circulating in a slow yet firm manner, supporting him and allowing him to stand tall under the storm-like attacks.

Zhang Xiaofan was like a tough, unyielding rock.

Let the wind blow and the rain lash, he remained unmoved.

Furthermore, the "Fire Poker" in his hand exuded an eerie aura.

Every time it collided with the opponent's flying sword, it emitted a humming sound.

That aura, though faint, effectively disrupted the opponent's circulation of Spiritual Energy, significantly weakening the power of his attacks.

This magic treasure is truly bizarre, Li Xiaoyu thought to himself.

Moreover, the energy within his body is quite complex, yet it has formed a marvelous balance.

On the arena, the battle grew increasingly intense.

Zhang Xiaofan had been forced to the edge of the arena and looked on the verge of defeat.

His opponent, frustrated by the inability to secure a quick victory, grew impatient and decided to end the fight with his strongest strike.

"Take this! Wind Sweeping Scattered Clouds!"

With a loud shout, the flying sword in his hand transformed into a cyan tornado, sweeping toward Zhang Xiaofan with fierce, cutting power.

There was no dodging this move.

Everyone assumed Zhang Xiaofan was finished.

Yet, at this critical juncture, a flash of resolve suddenly appeared in the eyes of Zhang Xiaofan, who had been defending passively until now.

Instead of retreating, he took a step forward.

Zhang Xiaofan gripped the Fire Poker tightly with both hands, pouring every ounce of the two distinct, conflicting powers within his body into it without reservation.

"Hum!"

The Fire Poker surged with black mist and swirling blood-red light.

A fierce, overbearing aura that seemed intent on devouring everything erupted outward.

He used no technique; he simply exerted all his strength and smashed the Fire Poker in his hands directly into the cyan tornado.

"Boom!"

A deafening roar echoed out.

The cyan tornado and the black-red shadow of the staff collided violently.

Violent shockwaves swept out in all directions.

Everyone's eyes widened in shock.

The moment the fierce cyan tornado touched the Fire Poker, it melted away like snow under the sun.

Zhang Xiaofan's opponent was struck as if by a primordial beast.

His flying sword let out a mournful cry and flew backward.

He himself spat out a mouthful of blood, his body sent flying off the arena like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground where he lost consciousness.

He won?

The entire venue fell into a deathly silence once more.

Everyone stared at the panting youth standing in the center of the arena with the Fire Poker in his hand as if he were a monster.

If Li Xiaoyu's victory was built on peerless strength, then Zhang Xiaofan's victory was built on something bizarre and incomprehensible.

"What kind of sorcery is this?"

"That Fire Poker is truly wicked!"

The mocking laughter from below the stage turned into whispers of shock and uncertainty.

On the viewing platform, the gloomy eyes of Daoist Cangsong, the master of Dragon Head Peak, suddenly lit up.

He stared fixedly at the Fire Poker in Zhang Xiaofan's hand, his eyes flickering with greed and suspicion.

The aura of the Blood-Devouring Bead?

His heart shook violently. How could the most malevolent treasure of the Demon Sect end up in the hands of this brat?

A murderous intent quietly rose within his heart.

Below the arena, while the surrounding disciples pointed fingers at Zhang Xiaofan, Li Xiaoyu was the first to step forward.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he patted Zhang Xiaofan on the shoulder and praised him sincerely, "Junior Brother, that was a good fight."

Li Xiaoyu did not ask about the origin of the magic treasure, nor did he probe into the strangeness of the cultivation technique.

He saw only a friend who, despite everyone's low expectations, had relied on his own tenacity to win an impossible victory.

This appreciation was genuine.

Zhang Xiaofan looked at him, feeling the sincerity and kindness in his words, and the panic he felt over his magic treasure being exposed calmed significantly.

He offered Li Xiaoyu a simple, honest smile.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Li."

Li Xiaoyu turned, his gaze inadvertently sweeping over Daoist Cangsong on the viewing platform.

He keenly caught the flash of murderous intent in the man's eyes.

Li Xiaoyu felt a chill in his heart and, without changing his expression, moved to shield Zhang Xiaofan behind him.

The entire Heaven-Reaching Peak plaza fell into a brief silence before being drowned out by the clamor of discussion.

"He won? He actually won?"

"What kind of magic treasure is that black, ugly Fire Poker? It can devour the opponent's Daoist techniques!"

"It's too wicked. Are all the disciples of Big Bamboo Peak this strange?"

People's gazes darted back and forth between Zhang Xiaofan and the unremarkable Fire Poker in his hand, as if they wanted to see right through them.