An Unstoppable Force

On the second-floor viewing platform of the Martial Arts Hall, the Maple Leaf Style sect leader and the others continued their exchange.

The changes on the arena stage, however, were shifting in the blink of an eye.

By now, both Mu Yang and that Dolin Temple disciple named Wuting had erupted with formidable power. The two clashed back and forth in an unbroken stream of impacts, and blurry afterimages gradually appeared across the stage—many movements had already surpassed the limits of what an ordinary human eye could track.

"Hah!"

Mu Yang and Wuting launched into an offensive exchange, their palms striking together with a thunderous boom!

"Impressive!" Mu Yang panted slightly, his body stumbling back several steps. This was the first opponent he had faced in the tournament whose strength matched his own!

The disciples of Dolin Temple truly could not be underestimated!

It seemed he would have to unleash his ultimate technique!

Mu Yang bared his teeth, then stomped one foot into the ground, halting his backward momentum. The stone slab beneath him cracked into winding fissures with a sharp sound. In the next instant, his body sprang up violently, explosive force driving down from the sole of his foot, sending the shattered stone fragments rebounding heavily and scattering in all directions.

Mu Yang's body shot forward like a cannonball launched from its barrel, diving straight in.

"Tianxin Ki!"

Mu Yang's eyes narrowed slightly, his right hand raised lightly, two fingers forming a sword shape, an awe-inspiring aura surging from his entire body.

The moment the words fell, a cold gleam flashed between his bright eyes. A dazzling blue light materialized between his two fingers, and with a whoosh, a straight Ki Blast shot out like a laser beam, surrounded by several spiraling whirlwinds. It resembled a beast from the ancient wilderness, charging at Wuting with a savage, bloodthirsty aura.

Sensing the vigorous energy that suddenly erupted from Mu Yang and the unstoppable momentum of his Ki Blast, the Maple Leaf Style elders and the others shot to their feet, disbelief written across their faces.

"That's a Ki Blast—not far off from what even the older generation of martial artists can produce."

"Remarkable. I never thought someone so young could have reached such a level."

Several senior figures in the martial arts world stared in shock at the scene unfolding before them, unable to help exclaiming in surprise.

"Huh? Mu Yang's Ki has already become this strong?!" Xis rubbed his eyes in disbelief. Even he couldn't casually release Tianxin Ki, yet Mu Yang had just used it in the middle of a match. Watching how effortlessly he did it, Xis couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

It was at this moment that Xis realized his junior disciple's power might already surpass his own.

Meanwhile, the audience in the stands was in an uproar.

"No... way, he pulled off a Ki Blast?"

"A competitor who can use a Ki Blast, and his opponent is Wuting—it's really hard to predict who'll win now."

Both spectators and contestants alike stared wide-eyed, watching intently.

"You'd better be careful!" Mu Yang shouted across the arena at Wuting. At this point, Mu Yang's aura swelled higher and higher, an overwhelming pressure bearing down, its icy chill enough to rob a person of their will to resist.

Swish!

Faced with Mu Yang's ferocious attack, even the elite disciple of Dolin Temple couldn't help but change color. But Mu Yang's strike was already upon him. Among experts, the slightest gap can decide victory or defeat, and Wuting had already lost the initiative. A hasty defense would only lead to defeat or death.

Boom! The immense force of the Ki Blast landed on Wuting's body. His face went pale, and his body flew up like a kite with a snapped string, crashing heavily outside the arena.

"Tianxin Style's Mu Yang wins, advancing to the Top Eight."

With the final whistle, Mu Yang had decisively defeated Dolin Temple's seeded competitor and advanced to the Top Eight.

"I accept your concession." Mu Yang gave a calm, courteous bow.

Wuting wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and returned the gesture with his palms pressed together.

"Wuting actually lost." Elder Nali of the Qianhe Style clicked her tongue and murmured.

"That's only natural. Given the aura that young man just displayed, it might only take a few years for him to reach our level."

"Is that possible? He's still so young..."

"Sigh, the younger generation is full of talent. This loss is actually a good thing for Wuting." Master Xiulin quietly recited a sutra.

"Both Kane and Wuting lost to that young man. I wonder how much of a chance Arlo and Lis have..." the Maple Leaf Style sect leader asked with interest.

"Not much hope." Elder Nali shook her head. "Lis is no match for that person."

Among the rising stars of the various schools, Dolin Temple's Wuting was considered one of the best. If even he had lost to the opponent, the others likely had little chance of victory either.

The Maple Leaf Style sect leader nodded.

Indeed, being able to release a powerful Ki Blast at such a young age was extremely rare in today's martial arts world. At this moment, he had already formed a rough judgment on who would be this year's tournament champion—Mu Yang.

"Hahaha, impressive, Mu Yang! If Senior Brother Aisafu knew you'd beaten an elite disciple of Dolin Temple, he'd rush over in excitement. Too bad Da Qingshan is far from Maple Leaf Island—Senior Brother Aisafu won't get to see you sweeping the field."

As soon as Mu Yang stepped off the stage, Xis walked over with an excited expression, showering him with praise.

Mu Yang smiled modestly. "Uncle Xis, I've only made it to the Top Eight. The tournament isn't over yet."

Xis shook his head repeatedly. "It's different, it's different."

Making the Top Eight and defeating Wuting were two completely different things.

Originally, in Xis's mind, if Mu Yang could just secure a spot in the World's Number One Martial Arts Tournament's Top Eight, that would already count as completing the mission. Think about it—with so many schools, how many could even claim a Top Eight spot? That alone was already more than satisfactory!

But judging from his performance so far, it seemed he wouldn't stop there. Though both results earned a Top Eight slot, the meaning behind them was entirely different.

After all, that Wuting wasn't just an elite disciple of Dolin Temple—he was also a hot favorite for this year's tournament championship.

If Mu Yang could defeat him, did that mean he also had a chance to seize that championship title?

If Mu Yang took the championship, Tianxin Style would gain tremendous prestige.

Even now, even if Mu Yang immediately forfeited and didn't compete in the following matches, Xis—having witnessed the power of Mu Yang's Ki Blast—knew that Mu Yang's name had already been made famous through this tournament. How many martial artists in the entire martial world could release Ki Blasts? Mu Yang was one of them. This was a matter of great honor.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself for the next few matches. Take it easy. We've already locked in a spot in the Top Eight anyway. Every win from here on is progress." Xis patted Mu Yang's shoulder excitedly, then noticed Mu Yang's face was a bit pale. Concerned, he asked, "You just released a Ki Blast. Can your body handle it?"

Mu Yang shook his head, indicating it was fine. "My body is fine. I'll be okay after resting a bit."

"Then rest well." Xis nodded, said no more, and stood by to let him recuperate in peace.

Thump—

While Mu Yang sat in quiet meditation, fierce battles were still unfolding on the other platforms. All 315 contestants from around the world were giving their all, fighting desperately for a chance to advance.

Crackle, crackle—blurring afterimages flashed across the platforms. Accompanied by the contestants' shouts, several craters of various sizes suddenly appeared on the ground. Broken stones flew in all directions, scraping across the surface and sparking trails of fire.

"Qianhe Style's Lis wins, advancing to the Top Eight."

"Maple Leaf Style's Arlo wins, advancing to the Top Eight."

"Cross Fist's Bani wins, advancing to the Top Eight."

"Western Pulai Village's Gilo wins, advancing to the Top Eight."

As the competition continued, the Top Eight spots were gradually filled. Along with Mu Yang, the eight strongest contestants of this tournament were all decided.

Mu Yang glanced at the list and noticed that among those who made it to the Top Eight, aside from himself and a contestant named Gilo from Pulai Village, the other six were mostly disciples of major schools.

He had to admit, the major schools really knew how to train their disciples. No wonder the overall level of martial arts on Earth had dropped a tier after these major schools chose to go into seclusion.

After a short break and verification that all results were valid, the gong sounded once more, signaling the end of today's schedule.

The Top Eight matches were set for the next day, giving everyone one night to rest.