Battle of the Final Four

The night slipped away in silence.

Early the next morning, the inner sect's Grand Martial Arts Plaza was once again buzzing with voices.

The semifinal matches officially began.

There were four semifinalists in total: Shen Yuan; Mu Yunfan of the Longwind Society, at the Peak Meridian Opening Realm; Su Wanqing, a female disciple who had emerged from the other bracket, also at the Peak Meridian Opening Realm; and Xiao Wuji, who had already secured a place in the finals.

The schedule was as follows: two semifinal matches today. Mu Yunfan versus Su Wanqing; Shen Yuan versus the winner between Mu Yunfan and Su Wanqing. The winners of the two matches would meet in the final and battle Xiao Wuji for first place in the tournament.

The stands were packed shoulder to shoulder.

Wang Dong was still squeezed into the ordinary stands, his gaze fixed tightly on Shen Yuan in the waiting area.

"Mu Yunfan, a core disciple of the Longwind Society, Peak Meridian Opening Realm. He cultivates the Longwind Palm and has received Gu Changfeng's personal guidance. He's extremely strong." From afar, Wang Dong gestured toward Shen Yuan through the crowd, quietly passing along the information.

Shen Yuan nodded slightly. Mu Yunfan was a backbone of the Longwind Society. Back when he had refused the Longwind Society's recruitment, they had already held considerable hostility toward him. If they met today, Mu Yunfan would certainly go all out.

Soon, the first semifinal began: Mu Yunfan VS Su Wanqing.

On the arena, palm winds and Sword Qi intertwined. Mu Yunfan's Longwind Palm was broad and powerful; personally taught by Gu Changfeng, its palm force flowed on without end. Su Wanqing's swordsmanship was nimble, but her true qi reserves were slightly inferior. After a bitter battle of a hundred exchanges, Su Wanqing exhausted her true qi and was knocked off the arena by a palm strike.

"Mu Yunfan wins! He advances to the next round!"

Thus, Shen Yuan's semifinal opponent became Mu Yunfan.

"Next match, Shen Yuan versus Mu Yunfan!"

The announcement rang out.

Shen Yuan leaped onto the arena.

Across from him, Mu Yunfan wore a fitted green martial outfit, the emblem of the Longwind Society embroidered upon his lapel. He looked coldly at Shen Yuan.

"Junior Brother Shen Yuan." Mu Yunfan spoke in a quiet voice. "Senior Brother Gu Changfeng values your talent. He invited you twice to join the Longwind Society, yet you refused twice. On the arena today, I will see just how much skill you truly possess."

There was a trace of resentment in his words.

"In fists and feet, each relies on their own cultivation." Shen Yuan slowly drew his sword.

"Please!"

Mu Yunfan said no more. The true qi of his Peak Meridian Opening Realm cultivation erupted with a roar. The Longwind Palm howled forth, palm winds layering upon layer like a gale sweeping across the arena. His palm technique carried the Longwind Society's distinctive unbroken continuity—before one move had ended, the next was already close behind, leaving his opponent no room to breathe.

Shen Yuan raised his sword to meet him, unleashing the First Seven Forms of Azure Cloud Thirteen Swords. His sword light drifted gracefully as he continuously blocked and dissolved the layered palm attacks.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sword and palm collided without cease, scattering chips of blue stone across the arena.

Mu Yunfan was at the Peak Meridian Opening Realm and had received Gu Changfeng's guidance, giving him rich combat experience. His palm techniques shifted between feint and substance as he constantly sought gaps between Shen Yuan's sword moves.

"Is that all you can do?" Mu Yunfan's palm force grew ever fiercer. "I'd like to see how long your incomplete sword art can hold out!"

His storm-like offensive pressed relentlessly upon Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan kept moving and evading, deliberately withholding the Fist-Sword Alternating Execution trump card and relying only on swordsmanship to contend with him. On one hand, he had to defeat his opponent; on the other, he could not reveal his hidden killing move to Xiao Wuji, who was watching from the stands.

Several dozen exchanges passed.

Shen Yuan had already been struck by the aftershocks of several palm winds, a faint trace of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. His true qi was also being rapidly depleted.

High in the stands, Xiao Wuji watched coldly, still having his confidants record every habit Shen Yuan displayed in battle.

"Keep forcing him. Force him to use stronger killing moves," Xiao Wuji ordered in a low voice. He hoped Mu Yunfan could force out all of Shen Yuan's hidden cards, allowing him to see through them in advance.

On the arena, Mu Yunfan understood the signals from Gu Changfeng and Xiao Wuji in the stands, and his offensive became even more violent.

Longwind Breaking Waves!

Mu Yunfan poured all the true qi of his Peak Meridian Opening Realm cultivation into both palms, blasting one strike toward Shen Yuan like a towering wave!

The overwhelming palm force sealed off more than half of Shen Yuan's space to evade.

There was nowhere left to dodge!

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed. He could not continue defending passively.

He stopped holding back, yet still did not use the Fist-Sword Alternating Execution trump card.

The Seventh Form of Azure Cloud Thirteen Swords erupted at full force!

Sword light filled the sky as layer upon layer of Sword Qi crashed viciously into the wave of palm force.

Boom!

True qi and Sword Qi collided violently, and a massive shockwave swept across the entire arena.

The two forces annihilated each other, and the raging blast sent both men staggering backward several steps.

Mu Yunfan's breathing was now clearly unsteady. After repeated high-intensity bursts, he had expended an enormous amount of true qi.

Shen Yuan seized the opening in his heart. No longer holding his ground, he charged forward and launched a chain of fierce sword attacks.

Several dozen more exchanges passed.

A slight flaw appeared in the transition between Mu Yunfan's old strength and new strength.

Now!

Seizing that fleeting opportunity, Shen Yuan's sword flashed like a bolt of white lightning, stabbing straight toward the acupoint on Mu Yunfan's shoulder.

Mu Yunfan's face changed drastically. He hurriedly drew back his palm to defend, but he was ultimately one step too slow.

Sshk!

Sword Qi pierced his shoulder. Mu Yunfan's large body staggered; one foot landed on the edge of the arena, and he could no longer steady himself, tumbling off the platform!

"Shen Yuan wins! He advances to the final!"

A tremendous uproar erupted throughout the venue.

[Defeated a powerful enemy at the Peak Meridian Opening Realm. Martial Dao Points +4. Current Martial Dao Points: 12.]

Joy rose in Shen Yuan's heart.

Twelve Martial Dao Points! Exactly enough to meet the requirement for deducing the Eighth Form of Azure Cloud Thirteen Swords!

The semifinals came to an end.

The final matchup was officially decided: Shen Yuan VS Xiao Wuji!

Across the plaza, roaring cries surged like mountains collapsing and seas overturning, piercing the clouds.

Everyone was anticipating this battle that had captured countless eyes. A Meridian Opening Realm Middle Stage cultivator challenging a Profound Communion Realm expert.

In the stands, Xiao Wuji slowly rose to his feet. His moon-white robes fluttered in the wind, while Profound Communion Realm mystic qi trembled faintly around him. His gaze fixed directly on Shen Yuan atop the arena, and a cold curve touched his lips.

"Finally, this moment has come."

Shen Yuan stood atop the arena, facing countless gazes, yet his heart was incomparably calm.

He had gathered enough Martial Dao Points. But he was now in full public view; he absolutely could not deduce it on the spot. He had to return to his small courtyard and use the interval before the final began to enter the Martial Arts Simulation Space and deduce the lost Eighth Form of Azure Cloud Thirteen Swords.

This sword was the only surprise weapon that could catch Xiao Wuji off guard.