Bang!
With a heavy crash, Xie Zhi’s body slammed into the ground. As it vibrated, he rebounded unconsciously a few times. During the rebounds, blood kept spurting from his mouth until he was seriously injured and fell unconscious!
Rapidly, two martial artists from Heavenly Net Sect rushed over, fed him a pill, protected his heart meridian, and other actions were completed in one swift movement. Then, they carefully carried the unconscious Xie Zhi out of the arena.
There were no accusations or curses, only silent anger. Young Master Demon Sound Shang Lingqi of Heavenly Net Sect looked at the heavily concaved chest of Xie Zhi, his right hand uncontrollably gripping the Nine-Ringed Demon Sound Blade behind him.
With a slight shake, the Nine-Ringed Demon Sound Blade emitted a series of crisp tinkling sounds, and an indescribable killing intent surged from Shang Lingqi.
Next to Ye Zhen, Nian Xinghe and Zuo Xiong finally took a deep breath with unsightly faces. That instant had been so tense that they had held their breath.
Not just Nian Xinghe and Zuo Xiong, the faces of the martial artists from other factions nearby were also unpleasant. Some even felt completely unwell after witnessing that scene.
This first battle was so cruel; Yun Ce’s combat power was terrifyingly strong!
With just one strike, he incapacitated Xie Zhi, shattering his chest bone and severely damaging his internal organs. Had that attack been slightly heavier, Xie Zhi might have died on the spot.
One thing was certain: at least for today, Xie Zhi would not be able to participate in the martial competition.
As for why such a heavy hand was used, Ye Zhen understood.
It came down to the fact that Heavenly Net Sect and Qingyun Castle, each with four participating martial artists, were the strongest contenders for ultimate victory in the Spirit Returning Assembly, so they took the opportunity to disable the other’s martial artist at the first chance.
For the next day or even a day and a half, Xie Zhi would not be able to fight, let alone score any points.
If the martial artists of Heavenly Net Sect didn’t gain points, then Qingyun Castle would benefit.
However, these were not the most important points. What really mattered was that Yun Ce had knocked out Xie Zhi, who had the same level of Cultivation, with a single blow, and this display of prowess was truly astonishing.
"Your Yun Family really dares to invest heavily, even granting him the powerful mid-grade Spiritual Artifact, Seal of the Overturning Sea," finally, Sect Leader Xiu Xuan of Heavenly Net Sect could not keep silent any longer and snorted coldly.
"Hehe, our Yun Family is willing, what about it? After all, no matter what, it’s still in the hands of our Yun Family descendants. Would you dare do the same?" Yun Chonggao, the second elder of the Yun Family, retorted.
"This is the Yun Family’s rather famous mid-grade Spiritual Artifact, Seal of the Overturning Sea, known for its immense offensive power. However, when compared to other mid-grade Spiritual Artifacts, it also consumes a lot more. When you face Yun Ce, be extremely careful! Zuo Xiong, if you face Yun Ce, just admit defeat!
Ye Zhen, if you or Nian Xinghe face Yun Ce, be very cautious about his first strike. Yun Ce has only reached the peak of the Third Stage of Vein Forging Realm, and at most, he can only activate the Seal of the Overturning Sea three to four times in a short period. He was prepared for the first strike and had been powering up the Seal of the Overturning Sea for a long time, so its power should be the greatest!
This was also the reason why Xie Zhi was blasted away by a single seal. However, there is a slight interval between each activation of the Seal of the Overturning Sea. As long as you survive the first strike, Yun Ce won’t be hard to deal with!" Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong’s voice resounded in the minds of Ye Zhen and the others.
"The second match, number two versus number thirteen!"
When Sect Leader Wug Mengshan of Heavenly Net Sect shouted the number "thirteen," the martial artist from Longevity Sect, Zhao Xiuming, who held the number thirteen token, visibly shivered.
The reason was simple. The martial artist holding the number two token was none other than Young Master Demon Sound Shang Lingqi of Heavenly Net Sect, who had the highest level of Cultivation among the competitors in the spirit rank competition.
What was even more fatal was that Heavenly Net Sect had just lost a martial artist, so Shang Lingqi might take it out on him.
Not only did Zhao Xiuming from Longevity Sect think this, but everyone else, Ye Zhen included, thought the same.
Zhao Xiuming was unfortunate to have his fate in the hands of Young Master Demon Sound Shang Lingqi, and no one knew what the outcome would be.
The most important factor was that Zhao Xiuming had only reached the Second Stage of Vein Forging Realm.
While many of the combatants here were outstanding geniuses capable of overcoming the strong with the weak, the advantage of being a genius was essentially nullified with so many gathered here.
With such a large gap in Cultivation, challenging someone of a higher level became extremely difficult.
"Please!"
Young Master Demon Sound Shang Lingqi did not rage like people imagined. Although his face was as grim as water, he still maintained his composure.
"Mr. Shang, please enlighten me!"
"The competition begins!"
Ding!
Almost at the same moment, the Nine-Ringed Demon Sound Blade on Shang Lingqi’s back slashed forward in a straight line, enchanting all between heaven and earth with the glow of the blade.
But that was not the most terrifying part.
The most fearsome aspect was the chaotic clash of the nine copper rings on the Nine-Ringed Demon Sound Blade, whose piercing clashing sounds seemed to bore straight into the mind, even affecting distant spectators like Ye Zhen, causing an unprecedented feeling of irritation and confusion.
With a thought, Ye Zhen immediately entered the state of Sword Heart Enlightenment, transforming the vexing Demon Sound into an utterly ordinary noise, leaving Ye Zhen unaffected.
However, Ye Zhen certainly did not believe that Shang Lingqi only had this trick up his sleeve; the Demon Sound was definitely not going all out.
Protected by Sword Heart Enlightenment, Ye Zhen was fine, but the others were not so fortunate.
Nian Xinghe was still coping, but many martial artists, including Zuo Xiong, couldn’t help but retreat several steps, some even blocking their ears.
Under such circumstances, the fate of Zhao Xiuming, the martial artist from Longevity Sect in the center of the battlefield, was clear.
Barely blocking the first slash from Shang Lingqi, he became completely disoriented by the second one.
In the midst of the chaotic Demon Sound, Shang Lingqi’s third slash descended like lightning. Just when everyone thought Zhao Xiuming, who had lost all semblance of defense, would be cleaved in two, Shang Lingqi’s blade movement changed from a slash to a swat, and he retracted much of his force.
In the next instant, Zhao Xiuming was carried by Shang Lingqi’s blade momentum, gently floating out of the Spirit Threads that surrounded the Martial Arena. Except for spitting out a mouthful of blood, he was surprisingly unharmed.
"Thank you, Mr. Shang, for showing mercy!" An overjoyed Zhao Xiuming quickly bowed in thanks.Shang Lingqi didn’t say much, just gave a distant salute, and stepped off the stage.
Ye Zhen was somewhat puzzled by this, but upon further thought, he understood why.
Qingyun Castle had incapacitated a martial artist from Heavenly Net Sect upon entering, and Shang Lingqi clearly had the opportunity to inflict severe damage or even kill Zhao Xiuming but chose not to.
The reason was simple; he was leaving the martial artists from the other forces to cause trouble for Qingyun Castle. If Zhao Xiuming won just one or two of the following rounds against Qingyun Castle’s martial artists, it would be a huge gain.
"The second match, contestant number two, Shang Lingqi wins, earning ten points. Contestant number three, please come up to draw lots!" the voice of Wug Mengshan, the Heavenly Net Sect Master, rang out.
Amidst the calling, Ye Zhen stepped onto the martial arena, and before drawing lots, his gaze instinctively swept over the martial artists who had not yet fought, wondering whom he would draw.
A streak of Spirit Light shot from his fingertip, and one of the bamboo sticks floating in the sky fell to the ground, shattering the black clay and revealing a big ’nine’ character!
"Third match, contestant number three versus contestant number nine!"
At the mention of ’number nine’, the gazes of Yan Cong, Yan Yijun, and many other martial artists from Stars Tower simultaneously turned to another martial artist from Stars Tower who had survived and returned—Xing Fei!
"Xing Fei, fight well. Ye Zhen’s cultivation is only at the Fifth Stage of the Soul Sea Realm. If you get a chance, finish him off for me!" Stars Tower Master Yan Cong patted Xing Fei’s shoulder.
Xing Fei was stunned for a moment, pondering deeply, before he lightly nodded his head.
If Yan Cong knew what Xing Fei was thinking just then, he would certainly have regretted his words.
Xing Fei was cursing at that moment, swearing at the mother of Yan Cong, the Stars Tower Master from the True Spirit Domain.
The reason was simple. Even at this juncture, Yan Cong still held onto his personal grudge, fooling him into believing Ye Zhen had only reached the Fifth Stage of the Soul Sea Realm and encouraging him to take the opportunity to kill Ye Zhen. Wasn’t this harming him?
At this point, who would believe that Ye Zhen’s cultivation was only at the Fifth Stage of the Soul Sea Realm?
Martial artists of Second and Third Stage of Vein Forging Realm had died within the Trial Secret Realm, yet Ye Zhen, purportedly at the Fifth Stage of the Soul Sea Realm, had returned. How could a martial artist at the Fifth Stage of the Soul Sea Realm sever the arm of White Bone Young Master?
With such terrifying strength, he was still being egged on to kill Ye Zhen?
At that moment, Xing Fei felt a strong impulse to turn around and leave.
Yan Cong was using him as cannon fodder, or as a whetstone, without the slightest concern for his life.
However, this was not the time to turn hostile.
With a light response, Xing Fei stepped onto the martial arena.
"In this match, you should be able to win easily. Kill if you can, inflict severe damage if you can. Just make sure to measure it yourself and be careful not to reveal too much of your true strength," the voice of Sect Leader Jian Qianxiong echoed in Ye Zhen’s mind.
As soon as the match started, Ye Zhen unleashed the Shattered Jade Seal.
However, every martial artist who stood there was not to be underestimated.
The moment Ye Zhen’s Shattered Jade Seal was unleashed, Xing Fei’s figure suddenly split into seven, each emanating extremely realistic fluctuations of power, and behind each figure rose a blade-like palm print. The moment they charged, seven palm prints simultaneously bombarded Ye Zhen.
Below the stage, both Zuo Xiong and Nian Xinghe’s expressions changed at once.
Out of those seven palm prints, surely only one was real, but the key issue was that they couldn’t distinguish which one. This palm print was a Heavenly Level Lower Grade Divine Power Martial Skill, and combined with the Illusion Divine Power Body Technique, it was simply unbeatable.
Even if it was a Heavenly Level Lower Grade Divine Power Martial Skill being hit squarely by it, one would not be able to bear it.
However, their worry was clearly superfluous. Before they finished worrying, the battle was over.
The Shattered Jade Seal that had just left Ye Zhen’s chest made a sudden detour, flying towards a shadow attacking from behind!
"Suppress!"
"If you want to see my Shattered Jade Seal explode, then try moving again!" Ye Zhen’s cold snort rang out at the same time.
This illusion was indeed ingenious, but in front of Ye Zhen’s Sword Heart Enlightenment, it was simply a joke!
Xing Fei, who had just unwillingly fallen to the ground under the suppression of the Shattered Jade Seal and was trying to struggle, turned ashen when he heard Ye Zhen’s words.
He could feel the terrifying energy contained within the Shattered Jade Seal hovering above his head. If it really exploded, he wouldn’t die but would be severely injured, likely as severely as Xie Zhi.
"I concede!"
Xing Fei, who had no intention of risking his life for Yan Cong, very decisively raised his hand to surrender!
This not only surprised the watching martial artists, but also left some of them disappointed.
Based on their expectations, given the hatred and conflict between Ye Zhen and Stars Tower, this match was likely to be extremely bloody.
They might even get to see some of Ye Zhen’s hidden strength during this fight.
To their surprise, they ended up with nothing!
They weren’t wrong—indeed, even for Ye Zhen, killing Xing Fei wouldn’t have exposed much strength.
However, Ye Zhen was not a bloodthirsty person. The ones he bore grudges against were Yan Cong and the Yan Family of Stars Tower, not the other people of Stars Tower.
Below the stage, watching this unfold, Yan Cong’s expression turned very ugly.
Beside him, Yan Yijun’s fists clenched tightly, "Fourth Uncle, rest assured. Ye Zhen’s strength is only so much, and even if we overestimate him by ten or twenty percent, he’s no match for me!
Just you wait, once I encounter Ye Zhen, I will twist off his head and present it to Fourth Uncle!" (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, you are welcome to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)

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