Even Zhang Kuishan and Bai Yunfei, the former top three on the Strength Ranking, would be instantly killed and unable to withstand Lin Xuan’s sword strike.
After witnessing this scene, the other Strength Ranking disciples were completely convinced that Lin Xuan deserved to be the new top of the ranking, with no further objections. They no longer dared to treat Lin Xuan as a new disciple. Although, strictly speaking, Lin Xuan was indeed still a new disciple, how could there be such a monstrous new disciple? They even dared not regard him as a peer. Lin Xuan’s strength had already leaped from the Condensation Rotation Realm to the Spirit Opening Realm, terrifyingly powerful. In their hearts, there was only reverence and admiration.
On the high platform, the inner sect elders were also slightly surprised. Lin Xuan’s performance had once again exceeded their expectations. They nodded slightly, their gazes toward Lin Xuan growing more satisfied. The better Lin Xuan performed and the higher his talent, the greater the benefit for the sect’s future. As the sect’s high-ranking members, they could also bask in his glory. Perhaps their martial arts, which had stagnated for decades, could even advance further. Naturally, they were pleased and overjoyed.
On the arena, Lin Xuan watched everything unfold with a calm expression. But deep in his eyes, a hint of surprise flickered. This result was also beyond his expectations. He had originally thought it would be a draw, or that he would be at a disadvantage. Instead, Chen Yu’s golden blade was as fragile as a thin biscuit, unable to withstand a single blow. If not for Chen Yu relying on the power of his Spirit Opening Realm spiritual energy, his sword strike would have done more than just repel him. At the very least, Chen Yu would have been forced off the arena, heavily injured and collapsing.
“I still underestimated the boost that top-tier sword talent gives to swordsmanship. Indeed, talent is the most important thing,” Lin Xuan mused inwardly, shaking his head slightly. He would need to copy more geniuses in the future.
On the opposite side, Chen Yu stared at Lin Xuan, his eyes wide with disbelief. He never imagined such an outcome. He had unleashed a tenth of his blade intent and his Spirit Opening Realm strength. Although Lin Xuan had also displayed a tenth of his blade intent, Chen Yu was a full major realm higher. After their clash, he was the one at a disadvantage. Even worse, if not for his Spirit Opening Realm cultivation, the result might have been far more dire. He simply couldn’t believe it! Even as the arena erupted in noise and he snapped back to reality, he subconsciously refused to accept it. But the dull pain in his right arm gripping the blade, the split tiger’s mouth, and the oozing blood all made it clear—this was no illusion, but reality.
Huff! Chen Yu took a deep breath, his gaze toward Lin Xuan turning extremely serious. He no longer dared to underestimate him in the slightest. He couldn’t treat Lin Xuan as a mere Condensation Rotation Realm cultivator anymore, even though Lin Xuan was indeed at the eighth layer of the Condensation Rotation Realm, not even at its peak. Instead, he regarded Lin Xuan as a peer in the Spirit Opening Realm, or even a higher-level martial artist. Because Lin Xuan’s strength wasn’t just a simple leap from the Condensation Rotation Realm to the Spirit Opening Realm; he might even be considered a formidable expert in the early Spirit Opening Realm.
Recalling that previous sword strike, Chen Yu’s heart trembled. With the same level of intent and a higher realm, his golden blade light had shattered under Lin Xuan’s flame sword light before even lasting a single breath, as if they weren’t on the same level. Although his golden blade light, formed from spiritual energy, was more powerful and subsequently broke apart most of the flame sword light, the remaining small portion of power had still sent him flying over ten meters. Even now, his arm still throbbed with pain, terrifying him deeply.
Given that their intents were of the same grade and his cultivation was higher, Lin Xuan’s sword light was stronger—far stronger. How could he not understand that this was because Lin Xuan’s sword talent far surpassed his blade talent? With such a massive boost, Lin Xuan’s sword talent was likely the highest in the entire sect, wasn’t it? No wonder the rumors always said Lin Xuan’s swordsmanship was superior. So that was it. Chen Yu was even more shaken by Lin Xuan’s talent, and he dared not underestimate him any longer.
But now wasn’t the time to dwell on that. Chen Yu’s expression hardened as he looked at Lin Xuan and said solemnly, “Junior Brother Lin, your strength is formidable, once again exceeding my expectations. I suspect even among early Spirit Opening Realm cultivators, few can defeat you. You truly deserve the title of the sect’s top genius. However, defeating me won’t be so easy. Next, I won’t hold back at all. I originally thought I wouldn’t need to unleash my full power in this ranking match, but now, with your extraordinary combat prowess, I have no choice.”
As his words fell, Chen Yu’s aura surged layer by layer. The full might of his Spirit Opening Realm was unleashed without any reservation, stirring up endless winds and ravaging the void within a hundred meters of the arena.
“Good! I accept! I’ve been wanting to witness the true power of the Spirit Opening Realm!” Lin Xuan replied coldly. His aura remained at the Condensation Rotation Realm, showing no increase, but Chen Yu’s Spirit Opening Realm pressure swirling around him had no effect on him.
The crowd’s spirits lifted, their eyes gleaming. After being repelled and falling behind, was Chen Yu finally going to unleash his full strength? They had yet to see the true power of the Spirit Opening Realm! And could Lin Xuan continue to hold his ground against Chen Yu’s full might? Everyone grew even more expectant, their gazes fixed unblinkingly on the arena.
On the arena, Chen Yu’s expression grew even more solemn. Then, a sharpness several times more intense than before shot into the sky—it was a two-tenths blade intent. Following that, two more auras emanated from Chen Yu: countless winds swirling around him, mixed with raging flames—a one-tenth wind intent and a one-tenth flame intent. The surrounding disciples were stunned once more. They hadn’t expected Chen Yu to comprehend three intents, with his blade intent reaching as high as two-tenths. No wonder he was the top of the Strength Ranking, far beyond what they, as inner disciples, could compare to. He was likely not far behind some veteran true disciples. The disciples were deeply shaken.
At the same time, they were even more astounded by Lin Xuan. For Chen Yu, a Spirit Opening Realm cultivator, to go all out with all three intents and his full strength against Lin Xuan, a Condensation Rotation Realm cultivator, showed just how powerful Lin Xuan was. It also highlighted the terrifying extent of Lin Xuan’s talent. Everyone trembled in awe, their anticipation for this challenge growing even greater.