On the arena stage.
Lin Xuan's expression also turned somewhat grave.
Facing Chen Yu, who had already broken through to the Spirit Opening Realm, he could no longer underestimate his opponent.
He could no longer respond with the same indifferent attitude as before.
Reaching out, he grasped a treasured sword.
"Wind and Flame Blaze!"
With a low shout, he swept his sword forward.
Wherever it passed, vast flames surged forth, gales swept through, and fiery serpents writhed within.
In an instant, the entire arena, including the area a hundred meters around, turned into a sea of fire.
The temperature soared sharply, the air crackling and popping from the intense heat.
The surrounding disciples watching this scene felt their scalps tingle and their hearts tremble in fear.
Though the Spiritual Origin Realm aura shielded them, preventing the flames from threatening them, the heat waves still seeped through that barrier and spread outward.
They couldn't help but feel parched, sweat pouring down like rain.
Even the Spiritual Origin Realm aura couldn't fully block it, a testament to how terrifying its power was.
Among the inner sect, it had long been rumored that Lin Xuan's strongest skill was his swordsmanship.
Now witnessing it, they saw it was indeed true.
This was merely a casual strike, yet almost no inner sect disciple could withstand it.
Everyone was deeply awed.
On the arena stage.
The next moment, the endless flames contracted like a tide, condensing into a several-meter-long flaming sword.
The fire within it condensed violently, churning like molten lava.
It made the onlookers' hearts pound with sheer terror.
Then, the flaming sword, as if piercing through the void, slashed down onto the golden blade light in an instant.
Boom!
After a thunderous explosion.
Crack! Crack!
The golden blade light shattered on the spot.
The flaming sword also broke apart, scattering into countless flames in all directions, only to be intercepted and extinguished by the surrounding Spiritual Origin Realm aura.
In this exchange, Lin Xuan and Chen Yu's strikes were evenly matched.
Witnessing this, the crowd was shaken.
They hadn't expected that Lin Xuan, clearly not yet at the peak of the Condensing Whirl Realm, could block a strike from Chen Yu, who had already broken through to the Spirit Opening Realm.
This was a clear case of a Condensing Whirl Realm cultivator fighting against a Spirit Opening Realm one.
The difficulty was unimaginable.
Only legendary top-tier geniuses could achieve such a feat.
Yet Lin Xuan did it with ease.
No wonder he was the sect's number one genius.
Everyone was filled with awe and admiration.
At the same time, they grew even more expectant.
Now, Lin Xuan had revealed his swordsmanship, displaying even greater combat power.
This battle would no longer be one-sided.
Instead, it would become a fierce clash.
And the outcome remained uncertain.
Such an exciting and intense duel, involving a Spirit Opening Realm cultivator, was extremely rare in the inner sect—almost never seen.
Now, they finally had the chance to witness it.
Naturally, everyone was brimming with anticipation.
On the arena stage.
Seeing Lin Xuan block his strike, Chen Yu's face turned cold.
Though that strike had been somewhat probing, without revealing his intent, it had still used the power of the Spirit Opening Realm.
Normally, even a peak Condensing Whirl Realm cultivator would find it hard to withstand.
Yet Lin Xuan had blocked it so casually, without losing any ground.
This showed that Lin Xuan's strength far exceeded the rumors.
He probably hadn't even used his full power in his earlier fight with Zhang Kuishan.
Chen Yu's heart grew heavier.
The only consolation was that Lin Xuan had used his rumored strongest swordsmanship.
This meant Lin Xuan didn't underestimate him either.
But the power of Lin Xuan's strike had also reached the Spirit Opening Realm, yet it too lacked any intent.
This further proved that Lin Xuan's strength was unfathomable.
Chen Yu's expression grew more serious.
"Lin Xuan, is this your swordsmanship?
It's indeed strong—probably no one in the inner sect can resist it!
But I'm already in the Spirit Opening Realm.
That's not enough!"
Chen Yu said in a deep voice.
"Come on, let me show you the true power of the Spirit Opening Realm!"
He decided not to waste any more time.
He would directly unleash power that Lin Xuan couldn't possibly withstand and defeat him.
Otherwise, the longer this dragged on, the more face he would lose.
As his words fell, Chen Yu's aura surged again.
A terrifying, sharp aura emanated from his body, shooting straight into the sky.
Even the surrounding Spiritual Origin Realm aura was torn open in several places.
This time, Chen Yu had unleashed a tenth of his blade intent!
Though he had comprehended twenty percent of blade intent, that was his final trump card and his strongest combat power.
If he had to use all his strength against Lin Xuan, who was only at the eighth layer of the Condensing Whirl Realm, even winning would be a huge loss of face.
Moreover, he believed that a tenth of his blade intent would be enough.
According to inner sect rumors, Lin Xuan had comprehended a tenth of his sword intent.
With the same level of intent and a full major realm higher in cultivation, he refused to believe he couldn't defeat Lin Xuan.
With that, he struck out with his blade.
"Golden Edge Splitting Clouds!"
This time, he even used his strongest blade technique, showing his utmost respect for Lin Xuan.
Instantly, a golden cold light flashed, forming a golden blade light radiating endless sharpness.
It was still only a few meters long, but with the boost from a tenth of his blade intent, its power had multiplied several times over.
Black cracks appeared around it, as if the void itself was being torn apart.
Such was its might.
Even for an early Spirit Opening Realm cultivator, it wouldn't be easy to withstand.
Then, the golden blade light, as if piercing through the void, shot toward Lin Xuan.
The surrounding disciples, watching this scene, felt their hearts shake once more.
This time, Chen Yu had unleashed his true power.
Except for the elders on the high platform, no one on the field could withstand this blade light—not even Zhang Kuishan or Bai Yunfei.
Everyone was stunned.
They had now witnessed the true power of the Spirit Opening Realm.
No wonder true disciples were far beyond them, the inner sect disciples.
At the same time, they were also deeply impressed by Lin Xuan's strength.
Chen Yu, having reached the Spirit Opening Realm, had now revealed a tenth of his blade intent.
This meant that without using his intent, even as a Spirit Opening Realm cultivator, he wasn't confident he could defeat Lin Xuan.
This showed that Lin Xuan's strength was no longer at the Condensing Whirl Realm but had reached the level of the Spirit Opening Realm.
Even the weakest Spirit Opening Realm cultivator was far beyond any Condensing Whirl Realm one.
Yet Lin Xuan, who hadn't even reached the peak of the Condensing Whirl Realm, had achieved this.
It further highlighted how terrifying Lin Xuan's talent was.
Everyone trembled in awe.
At the same time, they grew even more expectant.
Since joining the sect, Lin Xuan had advanced rapidly, winning streak after streak, never tasting defeat.
Now, facing Chen Yu, who had unleashed a tenth of his blade intent and reached the Spirit Opening Realm, could Lin Xuan still hold his ground and maintain his winning record?
Everyone was eager to find out.
Moreover, rumors said Lin Xuan had comprehended a tenth of his sword intent.
This time, he should finally reveal it, right?
They would get to see the rumored power of Lin Xuan's strongest swordsmanship and whether it could match Chen Yu.
All eyes were fixed on the arena stage, unblinking.