Lin Xuan thrust out his sword.
"Falling Lotus!"
A beam of sword light shot forth, transforming into a lotus that spun rapidly.
The flower bloomed with twelve petals.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
The twelve petals shot out again, turning into twelve sword rays.
They merged into one.
As each sword ray fused, the combined ray grew larger and larger.
In an instant, the twelve sword rays merged into a single, terrifying sword ray a hundred zhang in size.
It seemed to possess the power to tear the sky, sending chills through everyone's hearts.
The crowd stared at the massive sword ray casting a shadow over half the square, their hearts filled with dread.
A sword ray of this size could be manifested at the Spirit Yuan Realm.
But the larger it was, the more dispersed its power became, actually reducing its might.
Yet Lin Xuan's sword ray, a hundred zhang in size, had condensed power, its sharpness piercing to the bone, its might equally awe-inspiring.
Even more terrifying was that Lin Xuan himself wasn't at the Spirit Yuan Realm, but the Spirit Opening Realm.
This showed just how immense Lin Xuan's spiritual power was.
It was even greater than that of these Spirit Yuan Realm cultivators.
Keep in mind, Spirit Yuan compared to spiritual power was at a ten-to-one ratio.
This further highlighted Lin Xuan's astonishing talent.
The crowd sighed inwardly once again.
They gained a clearer understanding of Lin Xuan's level of talent.
At the same time, they knew this match should be Lin Xuan's victory.
The two had agreed beforehand to settle it with one move.
There would be no holding back.
Zhang Yuchen should have used his strongest technique.
But the sword net formed by the nine Solar Flame Sword Rays, in terms of perceived power, was clearly inferior to Lin Xuan's hundred-zhang sword ray that seemed capable of tearing the sky.
Indeed.
On the field.
The sword net formed by the nine Solar Flame Sword Rays descended from the sky, enveloping Lin Xuan.
The hundred-zhang giant sword rose from below, slashing upward.
Rip!
A loud, clear sound like tearing cloth echoed.
The sword net in the high sky was split in two by the hundred-zhang giant sword before it could land.
The nine Solar Flame Sword Rays scattered in all directions, their momentum reduced by several degrees.
But the hundred-zhang giant sword didn't stop, nor did it slash toward Zhang Yuchen.
Instead, it swept horizontally in all directions.
The nine Solar Flame Sword Rays were less than half the size of the hundred-zhang giant sword.
The moment they touched.
Boom, boom, boom...
Deafening explosions rang out continuously.
Without exception, the nine Solar Flame Sword Rays shattered and broke apart in an instant.
The hundred-zhang giant sword, with slightly diminished momentum but unchanged size and speed, continued to slash down toward Zhang Yuchen.
Its terrifying might seemed to tear the sky apart.
"So, I've lost after all?"
Zhang Yuchen let out a bitter laugh, muttering softly.
His face was full of defeat.
His strongest strike could defeat an ordinary Spirit Yuan Realm fourth layer.
But against Lin Xuan's sword technique, it was crushed and repelled by a single sword ray.
And Lin Xuan had remained calm throughout.
It was likely that Lin Xuan hadn't even revealed his true strength.
The gap was almost unimaginable.
It shattered his pride as the self-proclaimed number one genius and sole prodigy of the Red Sun Domain, leaving him barely able to bear it.
The descending hundred-zhang giant sword also brought him a great sense of threat.
He didn't dodge.
First, because the momentum was too strong for him to evade.
Second, since he had lost, this massive sword ray wouldn't harm him.
The Grand Elder nearby would intervene.
As expected, the hundred-zhang giant sword halted mid-descent.
A large white hand appeared out of nowhere, grasping the hundred-zhang giant sword and crushing it with a gentle squeeze.
Not even a ripple spread, and it left no impact on the field.
It was the Grand Elder of the Sun Yuan Sect who had acted.
Then, the Grand Elder leaped onto the arena and announced loudly:
"This match, Lin Xuan wins!
The top three rankings: Lin Xuan, Zhang Yuchen, Chen Feng!
The first place in this Red Sun Domain Grand Competition is Lin Xuan!"
The Grand Elder knew that since he had intervened, the match was over.
And Lin Xuan had won.
Otherwise, Fire Yuan True Person would likely have stepped in.
Facing the wrath of a late Yuan Sea Realm cultivator like Fire Yuan True Person, neither he nor the entire Sun Yuan Sect could withstand it.
Moreover, the other major forces of the Red Sun Domain wouldn't allow it.
After speaking, his gaze swept over Lin Xuan with considerable shock.
Although he had extinguished Lin Xuan's hundred-zhang sword ray, he had sensed its power.
Not even a Spirit Yuan Realm fourth layer, but a fifth or sixth layer might not be able to withstand it.
And Lin Xuan's calm demeanor showed no sign of exhaustion.
It was uncertain if Lin Xuan had used his full strength.
Even more frightening was that Lin Xuan's cultivation aura was only at the Spirit Opening Realm eighth layer.
A single sword ray possessed such might.
It was clear how terrifying Lin Xuan was.
The Grand Elder sighed inwardly.
He knew that this time, Zhang Yuchen had been thoroughly defeated.
In terms of both strength and talent potential, he was completely surpassed by Lin Xuan.
As expected, Lin Xuan would become another prodigy.
And his ranking would far exceed Zhang Yuchen's.
As for the Cloud Flow Sect from which Lin Xuan emerged, the Sun Yuan Sect would have to change its attitude and actively show goodwill.
With Lin Xuan's talent, he might rise to prominence in just a few years, surpassing the Sun Yuan Sect.
It required careful handling.
As the Grand Elder's words fell.
The field erupted into noise, like boiling water.
"Damn, it's over already? I haven't had my fill yet! He wasn't even thrown off the arena!"
"Are you stupid? One move decides the winner!
Zhang Yuchen definitely used his strongest martial art, but he couldn't withstand Lin Xuan's sword, so Lin Xuan wins."
"If the Sun Yuan Sect Grand Elder hadn't intervened, Lin Xuan's sword might have seriously injured Zhang Yuchen.
The gap is too obvious."
"Yeah, Lin Xuan's strength is too great, probably reaching the mid Spirit Yuan Realm."
"Now, the title of number one genius in the Red Sun Domain falls to Lin Xuan, in both talent and strength."
"Lin Xuan will be the next prodigy of the Red Sun Domain, and one far stronger than Zhang Yuchen!"
"..."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, exclaiming in surprise.
Although many had guessed Lin Xuan would win this match.
After all, Lin Xuan's strength was unfathomable, easily defeating even the two young masters, Zhou Wenhao and Chen Feng, in under three moves.
Zhang Yuchen likely couldn't withstand it either.
But they hadn't expected such an outcome.
Lin Xuan had crushed Zhang Yuchen with ease, as if they weren't on the same level.
Rather than Lin Xuan being a whole major realm lower than Zhang Yuchen.