Opening the Spirit Realm requires condensing true qi into a higher level, more powerful spiritual energy. Thus, any cultivator in the Spirit Realm is far stronger than a peak Condensation Realm cultivator. For a Condensation Realm cultivator to challenge a Spirit Realm one is extremely difficult. Not just in Cloud Flow Sect, but across the entire Cangyuan Kingdom, only a handful have managed it in centuries.
Moreover, Chen Yu is no ordinary martial artist. He's the top of the rankings, a premier genius across Cloud Flow Sect and Cangyuan Kingdom. After breaking through to the Spirit Realm, his strength far surpasses that of a typical Spirit Realm cultivator. He could likely contend with ordinary Spirit Realm second-layer or even third-layer cultivators. This greatly increases the challenge.
Everyone naturally believes Lin Xuan won't be a match for Chen Yu and will lose. Although after the ranking matches, Chen Yu will leave the inner sect and advance to true disciple status, and Lin Xuan will remain the new top of the rankings, many disciples, including some ranked ones, are more focused on another point: Lin Xuan's defeat.
Since joining the sect, Lin Xuan has advanced rapidly, reaching the inner sect rankings at an unimaginable pace. Now he's second, soon to be first. His aura is too dazzling, overwhelming everyone in Cloud Flow Sect. Many once-talented individuals now seem utterly ordinary before him. Though they dare not resent Lin Xuan due to his fearsome talent, discontent lingers. They hope Lin Xuan loses once, so he's no longer so perfect, easing their minds—or so they think. Thus, seeing this rare chance for Lin Xuan's defeat, they watch closely, secretly gloating.
On the small platform, Bai Yunfei, now ranked third, and Zhang Kuishan, fallen to twenty-eighth, are stunned. Recovering, they exchange glances, seeing bitterness and dejection in each other's eyes. They never expected all three to be surpassed by Chen Yu, who broke through first. They were no match for him before, and with the vast gap between Spirit Realm and Condensation Realm, they're even less so now, likely unable to withstand a few moves. They temporarily abandon thoughts of competing with Chen Yu. Yet soon, light flickers in their eyes. Chen Yu's breakthrough makes him unbeatable to them, but not necessarily to Lin Xuan. Since joining, Lin Xuan has shattered countless records; one more wouldn't be surprising. Zhang Kuishan, having dueled Lin Xuan, knows his terrifying strength. While others expect Lin Xuan to lose, he senses Lin Xuan might win. In their battle, Lin Xuan's strength seemed unfathomable, likely not even using half his power to defeat and severely wound him. With such power, Lin Xuan could beat Chen Yu. They can't defeat Chen Yu, but if Chen Yu loses to Lin Xuan, still in the Condensation Realm, they'd feel better, believing the gap between them narrows. Both look at the arena with eager anticipation.
On the high platform, all inner sect elders, including several Spirit Origin Realm elders, watch the arena with great expectation. Their insight tells them Lin Xuan is at Condensation Realm eighth layer, while Chen Yu has reached Spirit Realm first layer. This very disparity fuels their anticipation. A mere Condensation Realm duel wouldn't earn their regard, nor would they lower themselves to beg the sect leader for Lin Xuan's true disciple status. A Condensation Realm cultivator defeating a Spirit Realm one is vastly different from merely holding out without losing—the former is many times harder. Even Liu Qianyu, the current true disciple senior brother, never achieved this at the Condensation Realm, at most enduring dozens of moves against an early Spirit Realm foe. If Lin Xuan succeeds, it proves his talent surpasses Liu Qianyu's, making their efforts worthwhile. Can Lin Xuan do it? They wait and see.
On the arena, Lin Xuan stands calm as a mountain, unmoved by the Spirit Realm pressure around him, as if oblivious. Opposite him, Chen Yu's heart sinks with a bad premonition, but retreat is impossible now. He must fight on. Grasping his Red Origin Blade, Chen Yu shouts, "Lin Xuan, fall!" His dantian surges with spiritual energy as he slashes. "Golden Edge Shatters Void!" A golden flash transforms into a several-meter-long golden blade light, cutting through the air toward Lin Xuan. Though seemingly modest, its sharpness is terrifying, far surpassing all previous ranking match attacks, as if it could tear space itself. Even Zhang Kuishan's iron fist, which defeated the inner sect, would yield before this golden blade.
The surrounding disciples feel a piercing cold spread, their hairs standing on end with dread. A great terror descends, making them tremble, eyes wide with fear, scrambling backward. Even the ranked disciples react similarly; some nearly flee their seats. Then, from the high platform, a surge of power, vaster and more profound than Chen Yu's, envelops the arena, confining its effects to a hundred-meter radius. The disciples recover. A Spirit Origin Realm inner sect elder has intervened. Though Chen Yu is strong enough to become a true disciple, he's no match for a Spirit Origin Realm elder. The elder easily blocks the blade's momentum, preventing it from affecting the spectators and ranked disciples on the small platform. Everyone exhales in relief, their hearts still shaken. Is this the power of the Spirit Realm? How terrifying! The mere spillover nearly injured them all. How fearsome must the actual attack be? They can't imagine. And Lin Xuan, still in the Condensation Realm, faces Chen Yu. Can he handle it? They watch the arena with heightened anticipation, though now more believe Lin Xuan will lose, including Bai Yunfei and Zhang Kuishan, who lose their confidence.